[sternyy]

anyone see a commercial with the 07 Fusion and a Nav system? Looks pretty cool. Ive been checking around ebay to see if anyone has it up yet but havent seen anything. Id like to see it in real life.

 

[texdivot]

Checked at my local Ford dealership last week on the factory navigation unit as an add on to my 2006 Fusion SEL. The cost is $1895.00. OUCH!!! A little steep for me. Still trying to just get Sirius installed, just that is about $600 for parts and labor.

 

[sternyy]

yeah i saw that as an option and was like this thing better play dvds too lol. Aftermarket in-dash full screen units are probably much better.

 

[chris06fusion]

[quote author=sternyy link=topic=63999.msg1099178#msg1099178 date=1165331935]
yeah i saw that as an option and was like this thing better play dvds too lol. Aftermarket in-dash full screen units are probably much better.
[/quote]

Generaly they won't play DVD's unless car is in park and has the ABS.

 

[furious1auto]

They'll play while driving you just need to know what wire to supply constant power to so you can bi-pass the safty. The ford head unit for the nav center will only play DVD's on remote monitors. I'm suspicious that the head unit is capable with the right software though! The dis advantage to an aftermarket nav center is that the ford equipt steering wheel media controls are rendered usless!!!

 

[NaplesBill]

I think the factory nav is a very nice unit. If you go aftermarket there are definately products that will allow you to retain the steering wheel controls. Check out http://www.pac-audio.com

 

[furious1auto]

Thankx for the link but, I checked their intergration products and was unable to find a product description with mention of aftermarket radio, stock steering controls. Most description where for GM applications! Please assist!

 

[NaplesBill]

Ok, here is the main steering wheel interface page:

http://www.pac-audio.com/products/productsCatagory.asp?mmSearch=Steering%20Wheel%20Interface

Here is the application guide:

http://www.pac-audio.com/swixprogramming/swixprogramming.asp

Here are the Fusion install instructions:

http://www.pac-audio.com/swixprogramming/showstepbystep.asp?RadioGroupPioneer=0&InterfaceChecked=1&mmSearch=Ford&Submit2=Search+Vehicles&ID=412

 

[furious1auto]

You rock dude! Thats half the battle now it's a matter of finding a aftermarket model that's compatible that has a factory SD memory card slot in the face plate rather than a USB hub. Than I can switch my SD card from my phone to my MP-3 player to my car head unit. Screw pluging a wire or a mini card reader into my car, it looks sloppy And, if you accidetaly hit them while driving you can damage the port. Right now Clairion has a head unit with card slots. It looks much cleaner. Thankx Again! !!

 

[NaplesBill]

You may not want to hear it but the Jensen VM9021TS(which is actually an Audiovox design) has an SD slot. It's a double din touch screen DVD player with a lot of included features. I was sceptical about it when I saw it on display. I'm an Eclipse fan at heart. I decided to buy one for my Focus and I was extremely impressed. It offers built in IPOD support and a TV tuner as well as the SD slot and GigaMP3 support(up to 999 songs on a single dvd). It also has NO EQ functions which I consider a plus. I prefer using the amps or passive eqs over the ones that come built in to most HUs. I think 99% of people would be very happy with this unit. It does not include NAV but there is a NAV addon available for it.

 

[furious1auto]

Sweet, Normally the underdog tries harder! I'll check it out.

 

[sternyy]

its a hard choice for me... I posted another thread about putting a 7" screen in the dashboard compartment and moounting it so you can close and open the compartment. Since i already have the aux in i can put one of those portable dvd players in the glove compartment and be rocking everything factory with sound (the steering wheel controls of course will have no affect on switching chapters on the dvd, but everything else remains intact just as if i never installed anything)

But then there is the coolness factor of having a indash dvd player for around $600 and all the extra features it has.

But then, for the money, i can install a monitor and a dvd player for around $250.

I dont know what to do! :?

 

[NaplesBill]

Well, if you have an IPOD or MP3 collection it's much better than just a DVD player.

 

[sternyy]

true, but i have a hard time believeing that it is easier to navigate through 4000 songs through a touchscreen rather than the ipod click wheel. Ive used the steering controls to navigate an ipod and it was useless. Ive used a couple other radios to navigate my ipod and it was even worse. the clickwheel cant be beat. my setup... i have lineout and charging capabilities though the dock connector and i keep my ipod right next to me by my hand break.

The main feature of having the indash player i think is for navigation, using a carputer, other mp3 players or as you also said mp3 cds. You definetly need the touchscreen for that. organization/navigation purposes for theses items... you cant beat it. a monitor would be useless.

 

[NaplesBill]

Actually, the Jensen Ipod controls mimick the Ipod click wheel almost to the tee. It is really quite useful and makes the Jensen a great radio by itself. The display of the songs and text is outstanding as well.

 

[otaku]

I'm just going to buy a system I can take out of the car when I don't need it and or can use in other cars as well. Tom TOM systems are pretty good as are others (garmin etc) all cheaper than this. Pioneer makes nice in dash units but they can get expensive (though with more features than fords)

 

[sternyy]

not to get off topic from my original post but... does the jenson have a wheel control then? Ive seen a lot of touchpad stereos that say they mimic ipod controls with organization and navigation but they dont actually have the clickwheel or cant scroll through fast enough.

The orgranization, say by artist or genre etc, may be mimiced by the stereo, but the time it takes to scroll through every artist is what I have seen problems with. I've heard horror stories that if you have a lot of gernres, artists or whatever you organize your music by, that the ipod control from the radio cant keep up.

I remember when alpine came out with their ipod control a while ago and it could take a few minutes to scroll from a - z.

I guess it would have to really be a "hands on" test though. Its totaly not fair for me to say its not as good if i never tested it.

There is no doubt in my mind that a single din or indash double din dvd/navigation/ipod system is the most idealest setup, but i dont think the speed of the ipod control is perfected yet. Im more concerned about how fast i can look something up without taking my eyes off the road. Displaying the name of the song and all the other cool features are just a plus but only worth it if its the fastest way to search for songs.

Again navigation wise, i looks awsome.

 

[NaplesBill]

Well, I sold my Focus so I don't use it everyday(I have the same unit in my Explorer). It does have a scroll bar on the right when you go into a playlist so you can jump directly to say 3/4s of the way down the list. It has been caused me any distraction in use. It seems quite speedy to me. I seem to remember the newer Alpines have some called "full speed" Ipod control now. I think a hands on test would be in order. Too bad you aren't nearby I'd give you a demo.

 

[furious1auto]

Keep your eyes open, I read an artilce outside of Ford publications. It said that A Company has some sort of exclusive deal to develop and mass produce an in dash p.c. with WI-FI for Ford. It will Be capable of in cab surfing, accessing E-mail accounts, stocks, weather. It will be equipt with a hard drive, And I,m assuming with the recent explosion of MP-3 players well you know!

 

[otaku]

Yeah ford and some other companies are doing these pc setups but I thought they were only for trucks? Well anyway I have a question about these "portable"garmin's can you take them out of the car and use them on the streets as you walk? Or do they have to stay in the car hooked up via adapter?