Well, I finally got my Pioneer Avic-D3 system installed. I chickened out and had a local shop do the work with a lot of input from me via this forum. Thanks to all you guys who are so generous sharing your knowledge. Couldn't have done it with out you!!!
OK, the facts:
Avic D3
JL XR 650-CSI components speaks for the fronts; crossovers behind the dash
one JL 10" W1v2 in custom box in center rear bin
one JL 300/4 75W per front comps and 150W bridged to sub; also in rear bin
JL iPod cable
JL Bluetooth box
JL Rear view camera
Bluetooth makes it easy to voice dial my cell phone. Rear camera is cool, but so wide angle it isn't much good for avoiding objects behind you; but at least you can see objects directly behind you and in the Vert that's a big advantage when the top is up. The iPod adapter is in the glove box and works great. The front input jack is great when someone has a music player other than an ipod (like an iTunes phone or a Zune, etc.). The nav/dvd in a single slot is somewhat of a pain, but when you program your destination and then pull out the nav/dvd to put in a cd or a movie, the unit remembers the course for about 20 miles. Then you have to put it back in and it will update and continue. Another problem is if you just want to have the map show where you are as you are driving while playing a cd/movie it sometimes takes a half mile before the system puts you accurately on the map; sometimes you're shown off in a field or whatever, next to the road you're on. Note: I'm using a bypass to play movies/program directions while driving, so maybe that messes up the gps slightly. Seems to be getting better as time goes by (could it be learning my home area?).
The nav system is quite good although my wife's Prius has more extensive street naming abilities and the POI's are a little clearer. But the voice directions are great; viewing options are extensive and the color changing scheme is cool, although I like it with white lights to match the rest of the interior.
The sound is great btw, with a JL 300/4 amp and a 10" sub in the rear compartment and JL 6.5 components up front.
So for more than $1K less than the Z2, I'm happy with the slight inconvenience of the single slot D3 system. In fact my biggest complaint is that the digital clock in the D3 is so small and moves around with different screens. I'm putting in a 2" VDO clock where the ashtray is that looks completely stock.
To fit the double din D3 we just trimed the upper bezel opening top and bottom which seemed the most elegant solution. Mounting brackets inside were lowered a bit. The photos emphasize the shiny black of the D3 and the fil panels on both sides more than in natural light. It actually looks quite seemless. The sub box holds the amp and has a black metal grill so I can still load the trunk with my bass and other gear.
Now for the pics:



What do you all think? I know the JL sub is a little cheap, but it thunders and seems quite crisp.

 

I really like the rear box with the sub and the amp, luckily that sub doesnt have big excursion, the grill doesnt rattle?

 

No rattles. It's very solidly built and attached. The top carpeted piece with the grill is 3/4" MDF and has continuous velcro all around the edge which secures it to the actual sub box.

 

What did you do to keep the stock bezel size? In depth and more pics PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The top opening of the bezel was carefully trimed top and bottom with a dremel tool to expand it's hieght to fit the D3. Width was not changed, but two small filler panels were made of plastic and then painted gloss black to match the D3. Then they were firmly attached to the D3. Actually it was amazingly simple, a half hours work.
I was going to do the bezel mod of lowering the two horizontal bars and the heating controls, lose the ashtray, retexture, etc., but Chris of DreamToyz (Ossining, NY) said he wanted to try this and since I had another bezel I let him. Looks great to me and a lot easier (cheaper).
The photos emphasize the gap around the D3 more than in real life.
Of course I wish the D3 wasn't gloss black so it matched the heat controls, but you can't have everything...
What do you think?

 

I absolutely love the look of the sub/amp box.

 

Thanks. It feels real sturdy and obviously doesn't interfere with the ventilation of the amp. And btw, the grill is an eigth inch honeycomb, powder coated steel set into a rabbit in the mdf cover and is about a half inch above the amp and sub.