Navigation system, c6
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 11
From: Richmond, Ky
This is Pioneer's top of the line system. https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/P.../AVIC-W8600NEX
And this is Kenwood's https://www.kenwood.com/usa/car/excelon/ddx9907xr/
And this is Kenwood's https://www.kenwood.com/usa/car/excelon/ddx9907xr/
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,421
Likes: 2,303
From: Billings Montana. Out in the wild west
Problem right now is getting one, most of them are back ordered or out of stock. Anything with Carplay/AndroidAuto will be a huge improvement and let you use Google Maps as your navigation, which will always be up to date. Find one that has the features you want, personally I'd say get one with wireless CP/AA as I find it very nice, and add a backup camera while you're swapping the head unit.
Last edited by madsonp; Feb 5, 2022 at 08:21 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,421
Likes: 2,303
From: Billings Montana. Out in the wild west
Nice system, I can send you some info on adding steering wheel controls to your 05 if you're interested, I added them to my 05 and they work great. You just have to get a newer steering wheel with the controls on them (I found a good used one for sale on this forum) then find a newer air bag (I found a used one on eBay) then get a new clock spring (I bought mine from a forum vendor) Then just run three new wires to the old stock head unit connector that the interface plugs into. Here's the old dough boy steering wheel on my car (note the remote control on the center console which is what I originally used to control the Pioneer before adding the new controls).
Then here's the new steering wheel with controls in my car which now controls my Pioneer system
Last edited by madsonp; Feb 5, 2022 at 09:22 PM.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 630
Likes: 355
From: "Sweet Home" Alabama
I considered upgrading the head unit / speakers in my 2013 427 with an upper scale Pioneer unit/speaker kit from Crutchfield.
However, could not justify spending over $1K in audio equipment for a car that has the acoustics of an open paper sack and that’s with the top UP.
From a music listening perspective the stock head unit with the Bose speakers is good enough for the majority of top-up driving situations. For top-down driving, most 427 owners like to listed to something else besides a radio.
For NAV, when needed the I-Phone 13 pro Max on magnetic dash mount using Wave works wonders.
However, could not justify spending over $1K in audio equipment for a car that has the acoustics of an open paper sack and that’s with the top UP.
From a music listening perspective the stock head unit with the Bose speakers is good enough for the majority of top-up driving situations. For top-down driving, most 427 owners like to listed to something else besides a radio.
For NAV, when needed the I-Phone 13 pro Max on magnetic dash mount using Wave works wonders.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,421
Likes: 2,303
From: Billings Montana. Out in the wild west
I considered upgrading the head unit / speakers in my 2013 427 with an upper scale Pioneer unit/speaker kit from Crutchfield.
However, could not justify spending over $1K in audio equipment for a car that has the acoustics of an open paper sack and that’s with the top UP.
From a music listening perspective the stock head unit with the Bose speakers is good enough for the majority of top-up driving situations. For top-down driving, most 427 owners like to listed to something else besides a radio.
For NAV, when needed the I-Phone 13 pro Max on magnetic dash mount using Wave works wonders.
However, could not justify spending over $1K in audio equipment for a car that has the acoustics of an open paper sack and that’s with the top UP.
From a music listening perspective the stock head unit with the Bose speakers is good enough for the majority of top-up driving situations. For top-down driving, most 427 owners like to listed to something else besides a radio.
For NAV, when needed the I-Phone 13 pro Max on magnetic dash mount using Wave works wonders.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,421
Likes: 2,303
From: Billings Montana. Out in the wild west
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 937
Likes: 175
From: Raleigh Suburbs
In my C5 I had a Garmin hardwired, I didn't want to drop cash on one of the head units on the market. I have utilized their advanced models over years and find them superior tools with their 3D freely upgradable maps. They work snappy and are quite accurate, and can be mounted more line of sight. Their voice command / spoken commands work great. Free's up the phone as well.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
And again, double din android unit that you can add programs you want to the unit to work as you desired (like your cell phone), only cost about $200.
With factory locked units, your paying way too much in the first place, can never changes or add programs on the radio that you want as well, and when it comes to the charge to have a factory installed nav program on the deck, gouged to hell to begin with, and then in a few years when the upgraded maps are no longer free, charge even more for the upgrade maps.
With factory locked units, your paying way too much in the first place, can never changes or add programs on the radio that you want as well, and when it comes to the charge to have a factory installed nav program on the deck, gouged to hell to begin with, and then in a few years when the upgraded maps are no longer free, charge even more for the upgrade maps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 937
Likes: 175
From: Raleigh Suburbs
Oh really $200, that's less then a Garmin unit, I didn't know you could spend so less and get android or apple functionality, that's tempting. Still, I prefer the unit to be line of sight, and have no need for additional features.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 12,759
Likes: 10,655
From: Prosper TX/Austin TX
2020 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
All together I paid $450 for a Pioneer CarPlay/Android Auto CD head unit (yes I still prefer CDs), steering wheel control harness, front & rear cameras. The OEM Nav unit is like Atari Pong, and the fact that GM charged $1,795 for it in the C6 is ridiculous. My wife's '20 Grand Cherokee has navigation standard and already it requires an update for $195. We just use our phone in that vehicle as well.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 937
Likes: 175
From: Raleigh Suburbs
All together I paid $450 for a Pioneer CarPlay/Android Auto CD head unit (yes I still prefer CDs), steering wheel control harness, front & rear cameras. The OEM Nav unit is like Atari Pong, and the fact that GM charged $1,795 for it in the C6 is ridiculous. My wife's '20 Grand Cherokee has navigation standard and already it requires an update for $195. We just use our phone in that vehicle as well.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
Lost here, since the touch screens used on the open android radios, are the same ones used on the Kenwood and pioneer radio's as well.
Hence the main difference of the units, is the one's like Kenwood use priority OS systems that it's featured/programs can not be changed, while current android systems use open android 10, and you add what software programs you want to run on the unit/can set up the screen interface as you wish as well.
Hence the main difference of the units, is the one's like Kenwood use priority OS systems that it's featured/programs can not be changed, while current android systems use open android 10, and you add what software programs you want to run on the unit/can set up the screen interface as you wish as well.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 937
Likes: 175
From: Raleigh Suburbs
Hence the main difference of the units, is the one's like Kenwood use priority OS systems that it's featured/programs can not be changed, while current android systems use open android 10, and you add what software programs you want to run on the unit/can set up the screen interface as you wish as well.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 4,425
Likes: 1,377
From: SC
Got to say I really like having a dedicated GPS with all maps installed. I drive in far too many areas where there is little or no cell service so don't want to depend on a phone only. Also find Garmin directions much more useful than Google or Waze. I just bought a Garmin Drivesmart 65 after my previous Garmin stopped finding satellites but it was 12 years old so I got my monies worth.
The Android head units are interesting but they all seem to be made by companies I've never heard of with virtually no customer service. When I buy consumer electronics I want to be able to use it for at least 10 years, don't get that warm fuzzy feeling from any of the Android units.
The Android head units are interesting but they all seem to be made by companies I've never heard of with virtually no customer service. When I buy consumer electronics I want to be able to use it for at least 10 years, don't get that warm fuzzy feeling from any of the Android units.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 196
Likes: 120
From: Winchester, CA
Got to say I really like having a dedicated GPS with all maps installed. I drive in far too many areas where there is little or no cell service so don't want to depend on a phone only. Also find Garmin directions much more useful than Google or Waze. I just bought a Garmin Drivesmart 65 after my previous Garmin stopped finding satellites but it was 12 years old so I got my monies worth.
The Android head units are interesting but they all seem to be made by companies I've never heard of with virtually no customer service. When I buy consumer electronics I want to be able to use it for at least 10 years, don't get that warm fuzzy feeling from any of the Android units.
The Android head units are interesting but they all seem to be made by companies I've never heard of with virtually no customer service. When I buy consumer electronics I want to be able to use it for at least 10 years, don't get that warm fuzzy feeling from any of the Android units.
dr_gallup: Any photos of how you mount the Drivesmart 65?
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 4,425
Likes: 1,377
From: SC
Don't have a photo but I have a "tacky" mount that I bought for the previous Garmin that just sits on the dash. My C6 is in storage at the moment while I rehab my second knee replacement. It's 52 degrees and sunny right now and I can only go as far as the mailbox. It's killing me!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,421
Likes: 2,303
From: Billings Montana. Out in the wild west
The Garmin systems work fine if you're only looking for navigation, the advantages of an in dash navigation system is that you get all the added features such as voice directions, hands free voice assistant (Siri), bluetooth hands free calling, wireless Apple/Android Car Play, the ability of adding multiple cameras, a better sounding system, the ability to customize your system with personalized backgrounds etc. It's just up to you on the features you're looking for. For me, I like having all the bells and whistles.
Last edited by madsonp; Feb 8, 2022 at 01:06 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 937
Likes: 175
From: Raleigh Suburbs
Here you go, this is a review from Corvette Action Center website. They have pics and such, of different mounts and locations. But more importantly, a favorable review of the Garmin as a stand alone navigation system.
https://www.corvetteactioncenter.com...-gps-receiver/
https://www.corvetteactioncenter.com...-gps-receiver/
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,441
Likes: 3,925
From: Omaha
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Google Maps has an offline mode where you can download a cached copy of the maps for areas where you might have spotty reception. I do this whenever I'm going on a driving trip, and I keep several areas that I visit frequently (i.e. my parents area) as permanent offline maps.