I've been looking into touch-screen in-dash double DIN units and I'm torn between getting a unit with nav versus a unit for 'audio only'...I'll probably never watch DVDs so that ...

I've been looking into touch-screen in-dash double DIN units and I'm torn between getting a unit with nav versus a unit for 'audio only'...I'll probably never watch DVDs so that point is sort of irrelevant.

I usually use my Android phone with google maps navigation which is great, but I'm constantly having to have my phone in my hand, looking between the road and my phone, which can get hairy when I'm in a busy, congested area. A few reasons I'm hesitant are that the google version on my phone WORKS and it works WELL...I'm not sure any aftermarket system is going to be 'up-to-par' so to speak with the google system. It's quick to open, I can use voice command and just speak my destination (which are both great when you're in a bind), and it has real-time traffic updates. I've been looking between Pioneer, Alpine and Kenwood in terms of the Nav units and they all seem to have some shortcomings when it comes to Nav. I just don't want to spend $800-$1000 (which would be $300-$500 more than I'd be spending on a non-nav unit) on a Nav unit and have the navigation be less than stellar compared to my Android phone. I was looking at the new Pioneer 4400 that just came out...$500. A unit with built-in nav is going to run me $800 or more. Is the extra $300+ justifiable?

I'll be using bluetooth to stream audio a lot as well as my iPod. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of difference when it comes to these areas from unit to unit, though I really haven't dug too deep into these topics.

Any personal experience/advice when it comes to these nav units? Regrets?

it depends what touch screen you are getting into...some you have to add navi and some navigation ready...my navy works like a tom tom on my touch butt having said that i paid 900$ with navy ready for my pioneer.....To me its worth it i have the navy running while listing too music still...butt just a touch screen works and a 100$ tom tom...depending on navy unit some have some of the apps like tom toms....best gas prices,food,stores,traffic updates etc...i mean if you have the extra money i think its worth it...i've been there where im looking at my phone navigation trying to tell it where to go..i guess it comes down to if you have the money i think it was a good investment for me...i can give you the model of pioneer if interested! no complaints so far theres many other options my headunit can do also..

What model Pio do you have? Also, does anyone know what the difference between the Z and X models from Pioneer? (Example: Z140BT and X940BT)

I just put a Pioneer AVIC-Z130bt in my Silverado and I'm very impressed with it. It has voice recognition just like your android, live traffic updates and approx 12 million points of interest. I part I love best from using the maps on my iPhone to this is just the fact that the screen is so much bigger. Everything is far more legible. Also I don't know how fast your android phone can update the map as you move around, but the pioneer maps load instantly. Not to mention that you stream audio to it, use Pandora radio and Aha radio. I don't watch DVDs in my truck either, so it was mostly about the Bluetooth and navigation.

In my old car I had an Alpine IVA-W505, which was alright, but you had to connect your phone manually to the Bluetooth whenever you got in the vehicle, you couldn't stream music and when talking with the Bluetooth you had to speak up so the listener could hear you. Also if you needed new maps on the navigation you had to send the nav unit into Alpine, pay them $100 and they'd send you a new one back with new maps. Its probably not like that with their new ones, but I never looked into it much.

Overall, I think integrated nav units are 100% worth the money as you get more use out of them. I have no regrets buy the Pioneer I got. I do regret buying the Alpine because of the nav situation and the Bluetooth, but its hard to know these things unless you experience them. In the end its down to your decision, if you can afford it, i say get one with navigation.

Navi costs about another $400-$800 more. I love this head unit and I love my droid Google maps so i didn't see the point of spending the extra cash