My new in-dash Nav unit

[spark00]

that's freaking awesome!!! i wonder if i can move my heating unit to lower compartment to do the same. did u need any special brackets and wiring?

[Chills]

Thanks, Spark. I'm pleased with the way it turned out.

As for your AC unit move, I've seen numerous threads on the board about it. I'm sure there is a way, but it might be pretty hard. I got lucky enough to have cup holders.

[blinkwatt]

What did you do with the old cupholders?

[Travis]

Good Job!

How is the screen when the top is down?

I was looking at the same model (price starting to come down) but had heard the screen was hard to see with the top down.

[SD987]

That's really outstanding. The faceplate is obviously key, and it looks like you did a nice job. What did you fabricate it from? I'm contemplating installing the same or similar Pioneer unit myself, but not sure how long I'll be keeping this car. What does it offer for iPod integration, a jack input?

[Chills]

blinkwatt: I kept the old cup holders and head unit. I always plan to keep my cars a long time, but situations change, and if I decided to sell my Boxster then I'd like to put it back to stock.

Travis: Thanks. My fiance and I drove around on Saturday with the top down. The screen is easy to read, even in direct sunlight. I had polarized Oakleys on and I could read the screen, but it was easier to see if I tilted my head so I wasn't looking through my sunglasses.

SD987: Much appreciated. I built the faceplate from the frame that came with the AVIC and a car stereo kit from Pep Boys. I went there and found the biggest one I could to use for raw material, and that ended up being the kit for GM trucks. I cut apart the faceplate in the kit with a Dremel and fitted it to my Boxster. It isn't perfect, but it looks quite good.

The iPod jack input is standard for all iPods on sale now (mini, video, nano). I ran the cable under the rear console and have the iPod in my rear box. I didn't need to drill because the cable fits in the space between the lid and the rear of the box. The iPod integration is seemless. You control the iPod with the headunit, and the touchscreen has all of the buttons of the regular iPod. You can even watch videos (not while driving) from your iPod.

[Chills]

Oh, and the great thing is that if I want to put it back to stock I can in minimal time. The harness Crutchfield sent plugs directly into the one in the Boxster. The only thing I had to cut was the middle plastic piece between the OEM headunit and the cup holders. If I return the car to stock I can replace that piece, but it isn't really visible anyway.