Howdy Webriders! Dr. VW here. We haven’t gone on an auto adventure for a while, so I figured it was time to take a little trip! Today I’m going to talk to you guys about my newest best friend: My brand spankin new Garmin Street Pilot C550!

Now… I’m normally not one to buy into the hype of new technology that becomes available for cars. I was one of the last holdouts for a bluetooth headset,  and i still don’t even a basic AM/FM radio in my 1971 Squareback. So to my passengers it might come as a surprise to get into my aging wagon and see a shiny new GPS unit stuck to the windshield.

You might ask, why would anyone NEED a GPS? Well, I don’t think anyone really NEEDS one. But the fact is that Dr. VW is extremely lazy and does many things at the last possible moment. Case in point: I had a date with a pretty girl in a strange city and had no idea where to go or where to eat, let alone get to her apartment from where I was (a hotel). Now, I suppose google maps would have helped, but Dr. VW, being the genius that he is, planned poorly and had no time. Cue in my Garmin Street Pilot. With a few taps of the touch screen, I had a route, a place to go, and a restaurant all picked out! Crisis averted. Other times its made itself useful is while in a strange neighborhood on a job site (I moonlight as a house painter) I needed to find a place to eat. Well my handy dandy C550 happened to know where all my favorite fast food joints were, and I got there with plenty of time to spare on my break to take a nap.

Would I recommend people getting one? Sure! I bought mine on sale for 200 bucks at costco, and I couldn’t be happier. Plus, it has nifty features like bluetooth phone sync (quite possibly the coolest feature ever) and I can play music through it (keeping me from throwing down 200 on an HD radio and some more greens on speakers). Not a bad deal.

Well webriders, thats all for today but be sure to check in at the end of the week for Foreign Fridays! This is Dr. VW– out.

VTECnical’s 2007 Honda Civic was taken into the dealership after a local Circuit City installed a Pioneer AVIC Z2 navigation system.  After an inspection and diagnostic, they deemed Circuit City’s wiring a “fire hazard” and told VTECnical that he couldn’t take his car home.  After being quoted by the dealership a whopping $12,119 worth of damage, he is working on getting Circuit City to cover the bill.

This story brings up a few issues that need to be made more clear.  The 8thCivic.com forum thread shows that Circuit City is currently working with him on getting this sorted out.  But in our opinion, if Circuit City really gets smacked with a $12k check, they are the ones getting screwed.  First of all, the bill that was written up is blown out of proportion.  Worse case scenario is they mucked up the wiring, dash, and heater.  If it really takes a shop 40 hours to replace that, then they obviously have no idea what they are doing.  Secondly, a 2007 Civic is only worth about $14,000 according to Kelly Blue Book.  If he wanted site navigation so bad, he should have just paid the few extra bucks for the OEM setup.  On the other hand, he will probably get a new car out of all this, so props to you VTECnical!

Regardless of the vehicle in question, mobile electronics has taken itself through leaps and bounds over the past few years. It’s no longer about mere MP3-capability. The new generation of headunts offer a myriad of audio and video sources to choose from – CD (regular, MP3, AAC, WMV), DVD video / audio, FM / AM radio, iPOD, XM / Sirius satellite radio and so on. The list simply does not stop. And depending on what your budget limitations and music platform preference may be, today’s headunit is designed to accept them all.

This certainly is the case with the Pioneer AVIC-N4 multimedia navigation receiver installed in Project Evo. The single-DIN headunit is gadget freak’s dream, compatibility with all audio and video formats. And it offers further flexibility with add-on modules that can be thrown into the mix depending on what your mobile audio needs may be.

The greatest benefit of the AVIC-N4 is the navigation functionality. I tested a number of OEM, aftermarket in-dash, and PNAV (portable navigation) devices before making a decision on what option would be best for Project Evo. After consideration, PNAVs are definitely at the bottom of the barrel. Actually, most of them suck.

Why? The window suction mounts provided are poorly made and sometimes fall off. Can you imagine driving in the freeway and having your PNAV fall in your lap all of a sudden? Imagine the kind of distraction that would create.

Second, some PNAVs don’t come with a charger cable to plug into your cigarette lighter so the darn thing turns off completely after a few hours. You have to spend more money to have one. That’s a scam on the part of PNAV manufacturers, in my opinion. And speaking of the power cable, although it’s necessary, it sure doesn’t do much for the look of your interior. That long pigtail cable adds a hideous level of clutter to your dash.

Finally, since PNAVs aren’t bolted down to anything, you constantly have to remount then remove it every time you get in and out of the car. One day when you forget, the PNAV screams, “Bust the window and take me!” to any passing smash-and-grab thief.

With all that being said, upgrading the headunit is one of the best bang for the buck upgrades to any car. Even if a great OEM sound / navi system is offered, the aftermarket offers better, more powerful solutions for less money. Sure, you can finance that often overpriced OEM system, but do you really want to overpay AND pay those finance charges?

Beyond the great sound, multi-format compatibility and navigation prowess, the AVIC-N4 can be outfitted with a number of add-on modules. For Project Evo, 3 great ones were selected:

Pioneer CD-BTB200 Bluetooth adapter – With new state and local laws banning chatting away on the phone while driving, Bluetooth is becoming more popular than ever. But rather than sticking on a rather unfashionable earpiece to your noggin, this Bluetooth module allows you to keep your hands on the wheel and yap away limitlessly. And whenever you make a call or receive one, music is automatically paused or muted.

Pioneer GEX-P10XMT XM NavTraffic digital satellite tuner – Truth be told, regular radio falls short in many areas. Too many commercials, not enough choices based on music genre, censored songs (aka “clean versions”) and if you take road trips, the drive is burdened with stations that you don’t care for. Satellite radio tackles all these shortcomings and shines through with an almost unlimited range of aural pleasures. With our particular choice of tuner, however, you get a bonus. For 5 bucks more per month, the AVIC-N4’s navigation system can display instant traffic information on major roads and highways and create a new route to your destination based on traffic conditions. Rather than driving in circles trying to get around that jam, you can truly be the smart driver with this awesome add-on module and service.

Pioneer CD-I200 iPOD direct control cable – The iPOD is an almost ubiquitous electronic device. Considering its usefulness, why leave it at home? This simple cable plugs directly into the hideaway box module and you’re good to go. With an interface that looks very similar to that of the iPOD and quick controls, this $40 cable is worth every penny to any music lover.

With this mobile audio system upgrading the rather paltry stock stereo, things are really beginning to shape up for Project Evo. In the next installment (3.2), we’ll replace the stock Recaro seats with the newest offering from the German seat manufacturer – the Sportster CS.

Sourcebox

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.
Long Beach, CA
www.pioneerelectronics.com

At the heart of car customization lies the innate desire to be unique. True car enthusiasts shudder at the thought of driving around their prized vehicle only to see its counterpart at the stoplight across the street. The modifications can be as minor as window tint on a Honda Civic or as major as Lambo doors on a Porsche Cayenne. The consumer craves individualism and the ability to express themselves effectively. Whether it’s bigger, faster engines, 24 inch chrome wheels, custom paint jobs or mobile theatre systems; car enthusiasts are willing to spend some serious scratch in the pursuit of personal expression.

Cars and trucks have always been at the center of the aftermarket craze. Since its creation, the Ford Mustang has always been a favorite amongst wrench heads looking to squeeze every ounce of power out of the fabled Pony Car. Ford recognized this trend and began manufacturing not only bigger, faster engines but also suspension parts and aesthetic pieces as well. However, major car manufacturers have always been on the fence so to speak when it comes to a full commitment in the customization market. It’s always been somewhat uncharted territory and they’ve left it up to the aftermarket specific companies to pick up the slack. Yet with the amount of money the aftermarket industry is generating, OEM design and production can turn a blind eye no longer.

It goes without saying that the designs seen at SEMA will at one point or another find their way into popular culture. Spinners, LCD screens in headrests, neon undercarriage lights, carbon fiber body kits; these are all design elements championed in the aftermarket and embraced by OEM design. Most SUV’s today come with the option of 20 inch wheels, built in navigation and multiple DVD entertainment screens. The new BMW M6 and M3 models come stock with exposed carbon fiber roofs. Land Rover allows for instant ride height adjustment via air bags with the flip of a switch. iPOD and MP3 integration have become necessities with even base models allowing for plug and play right off the lot. Major car manufacturers would have to be blind to not see the scale and magnitude of the aftermarket and SEMA is the ultimate medium to display it.

One of the most notable OEM incorporations of aftermarket design and ethos has been the Toyota backed Scion division. Marketed explicitly at the youth demographic with customization in mind, Scion is a fully committed approach at tapping into the massive profitability of the tuner craze. One of the major drawbacks of expressing automotive individualism has been the voiding of warranties. As soon as car enthusiasts make that initial chop, engine swap, or body drop they release the manufacturer from their warranty honors. This is the one avenue where the OEM’s can completely capitalize over their competitors because with their own line of in-house products they can maintain the integrity and warranty of the cars they sell. Scion has exploited this issue and created an entire line of vehicles where the focus isn’t so much the car, but the options and performance parts that can be incorporated. Not only can you tack on spoilers, fog light kits and multiple wheel options; Scion has provided the ability to bolt on sport tuned suspensions, lowering kits, short throw shifters, bolstered clutches and even a supercharger kit. All these items have been developed by Scion and come straight from the factory. They have taken the passion of the aftermarket tuner and fused the process into OEM design. All these modifications can be processed with no worry as to how it will affect the warranty as well.

Car manufacturers have even gone the “old school” route, introducing new concept and production models at SEMA. The feedback from SEMA represents a faction of consumers with an extreme passion for automotive design and production and the reaction from such enthusiasts can be priceless. Feedback and suggestions are incorporated like any other car show premier but at SEMA the recommendations are on a slightly more advanced plane. Frankfurt might posit tightening up the lines from fender to fender, whereas SEMA will advocate hydraulic door mechanisms and more carbon fiber.

SEMA and the aftermarket have experienced elevation into the mainstream of car design and manufacturing. Car companies can no longer ignore the influence of this market. No longer are we dealing with a small population of tuners tweaking and coaxing every last drop of performance and homemade design from their vehicles. This is a market taking full advantage of its youth and technological prowess elevating it into the spotlight where it is hard to miss. Design cues and even entirely new methods and means of marketing have been derived from the aftermarket world. SEMA and its affiliates will continue to evolve and can look forward to more integration and cooperation with the OEM world.