Just the few threads I link in my resources section.
On a scale of 1-10, the 05-06's are a 4 to do the headunit.
I've never done one in either of those cars, but I have done a 2nd Gen DSM, Honda Accord and a 02 Firebird.

The only reason I'd put this as harder than any of those others are the steering wheel controls.

 

cool! at least i know it isn't nearly impossible!

you think if i get a shorter auto shift **** it'll solve the problem?

 

So long as you shift into neutral, you can open the flip face, and as put before, how often are you going to use discs? DVDs for the kids, maybe, but just dump everything on an iPod and never open the face again.

 

thanks for all the help wrathernaut! Time to save up some money!

this car is going to make me broke. Was never really into cars until we got this one.

it's not helping that I have a wedding to pay for as well. Looks like the money we get from the wedding goes into a new hu for the car, the kurookie/nisrookie combo, new rims/wheels (dont want to drop it because I don't to turn at angles for driveways), and custom headlights.

aww shoot I forgot I need to take it to the dealer to get the passenger side power seat working.

 

Some advice - never, ever go broke for the audio system... there's definitely going to be a ton of stuff you gotta buy that's more important in a new marraige, unless you're both in your 30's living on your own.

At least consider going with something under the 9960 - the other Kenwood units have garmin too, and the voice control added by the 9960 really isn't worth it.

I was able to drop whatever I wanted because I'm deployed out here (easiest deployment ever, and that's saying something for people in my career field) and am spending a total of like $50/month combined on snacks and souveniers. Rewarding myself with a good stereo for a year of being without my car is justified.

 

hi wrathernaut,

I was just kidding. I make decent money but am definitely not going to go broke.

it's more a want than anything. It'll probably take me 4 months to save up comfortably for everything. By then I hope the dnx9960 is cheaper. I'll keep an eye open. The bg 3 I wanted in a hu is garmin, handsfree bluetooth, ipod/usb playback

 

Alright, sounds good then.

9960 might come down some, but it's still their flagship and just became available a few months ago, for about $200 less, there's the 7160 - same garmin maps, same 7" touchscreen, about the only thing you lose is the voice commands (which suck on the Kenwoods anyway) and the ad-supported lifetime traffic. Or, if the voice control is important, the 9140 is still available for $100 less.

From an Amazon.com review:

 

hmm looks like i'll like the 9140 more. i would like the traffic updates, but that review makes me want to buy the 9140

 

I'm a big fan of the voice commands on the Pioneers "Play artist The Hanslick Rebellion" vs. the Kenwoods "Search artist H", "Next Page", "Next Page", "Line 4"

If the voice control isn't a draw for you, the 7140 or 7160 might suit you too.

 

9960 has quite a few bad reviews. Check out crutchfield.com. The expensive double dins just aren't worth it. Poor investments, no upgradeability. I would go for a $500 Clarion and call it a day.

 

I know this sounds dumb, but I'm just sold on the kenwood line due to garmin. Is the clarion running garmin?

I thught the kenwoods are upgradeable (firmware wise)

 

What upgradeability does a $500 clarion have over the Z120BT, ($895 after rebate) X920BT or ($700 after rebate when I bought it, no longer readily available) Z110BT? Oh yeah, you can add a $300 navigation unit to it!

As with prior Pioneer Z-series units I CAN upgrade it. The whole new interface and features in the new Z120, and new maps? Software upgrade. Next year's Z130? That'll almost definitely be another software upgrade away.

Will your $500 Clarion upgrade to next year's $500 clarion for 20% of the purchase price? Will it sell for $400 in a year so you can buy the new $500 clarion? I doubt it.

Poor investment? Very debatable. I spent $700 after rebate for my Z110BT. I don't plan on ever replacing it as long as I own the car. Last car I owned for over 10 years, so 20 cents per day. Few investments can give you that kind of pleasure for so little.

Here's your $500 clarion VX400.
Preamp outs: 2v - just about as low as it comes. (4v on the Z110BT)
Key button color: Blue. To match all the blue lights in your car. Oh yeah, none of them are. (32,767 different color combinations on the Z110BT)
EQ Bands: 2. It's a good thing you've got plenty of cash left over to buy an external EQ to get it to sound like it should. (7 on Z110BT)
Navigation: Oh yeah, THERE ISN'T ANY, want the "upgradeability" $300 unit? now you've just put yourself $100 over what I paid for my "expensive" Z110BT, and will it let you give voice commands? Oh, nope. Can you add custom POIs with an SD card in the SD cards slot? No? Oh yeah, you don't even have an SD card slot. But hey, at least it's another box to wire up and try and fit inside the console.

As for the rest of the add-ons - HD, Sirius, XM (whoops, no XM for the Clarion), they're all available for Pioneer as well.


We don't drive Civics, we don't drive Metros. We drive nice things. Put nice things in it. You're running some sweet turbos and other goodies under the hood there, rcdash. If there were a turbo that was half as good for $400 less, would you recommend it?

 

No, and no.

Kenwood does do firmware updates for bug fixes, but it's nothing like the Pioneer Z-series, where the Z1 could update all the way to a Z3, and the Z110 updates to a Z120. (fee for updates, but less than buying the new unit)

The $300 add-on for the $500 clarion doesn't run garmin.

 

damn it wrather...ur kind of swaying me back to the pioneers!

dunno what to do yet...oh well. Thanks for all the info.

so do the pioneer maps have free upgrades?

 

i'm sorry. Didn't mean upgrades, but updates (e.g. New road is added, is there a free update on the static maps)