can the dealer add the factory tom tom if you got one without it?

 

The price I was quoted thru my studio was like $1200 which is stupid money..they have to take the dash apart, cut holes etc.....no thanks!! Besides don't you think the in-dash looks way cleaner... dash wise and no obstruction of view plus $500 to $600 cost is easier to handle!

 

Just buy a after market Garman. I think I got one for about $130.00 from Best Buy.

 

Already got a Sirius system on the vents....don't need another thing hanging on, prefer the built in look....

 

My only gripe here is that without the built in tom tom, using my ipod through the USB is basically pointless.

 

Maybe call around to Visions or Best buy or something. See if they've done an install of something similar on a fiat before. If you talk to an install tech directly they can probably give you some decent info if they've done the job before.

 

I have that unit and it's not bad.
My 500 is a euro model but it should work in a NA version.

 

Do the steering wheel controls still work? Blue and Me?

Thanks!

 

I personally think it looks cheap and interferes with the a/c vents. Plus its not a name brand navi so i would think that Fiat will eventually offer a factory unit eventually.

 

not versed in these so any feedback would be cool!

Since you titled the thread "navigation system", I am assuming you're looking primarily for GPS mapping. To me, the important consideration is what map can I use, how easy is it to update the map, and at what cost.

With my Fiat/TomTom, you get the one update within 30 days of activation, and that's it. It will cost you money to update the map.

With my Garmin Nuvi 265WT (which cost me $50 near-new in box), map updates are available on the Internet and it's a simple matter of shuffling some files around as the Nuvi comes up as a "removable drive" when plugged into the computer via USB.

This particular nav/stereo says it can use TomTom, Igo, and Router66 maps, so I am guessing that a map is not included. Too bad (for me, at least) that it doesn't work with Garmin maps.

It sure LOOKS good though! Thanks to RUI for posting the "installed" pics.

Nice that the steering-wheel controls are still used. If these guys are doing it, I am sure other manufacturers will do so as well.

 

This is what I would want Nav, Radio, Sirius, in the dash. But a OEM version.

I hate the OEM Tomtom placement, that came with my car, blocks your line of sight. The cradle, could have been made shorter. It does control everything.

 

I have been using it for a month now.
Its a good system. The steering wheel controls do work but you will have to check that they will work on the NA version.
When I first got the system the controls did not work but my supplier mailed me a software update that got them to work.

The operating system is wince so you can use what ever nav you like, my one came with igo with full europe maps installed and its a good system so I have no need to change.
It will play music from my iphone via bluetooth and with the iphone cable, it also plays music from a usb stick and you can play music from a micro sd card.

The phone functions are OK but the microphone is on the unit and not external so people can not hear you as well as they could before. My seller is sending me instructions on how to set it up with an external mic, I will get that set up and it should be OK.
It does not do voice dial like blue and me

The screen folds down and you can adjust the vents behind it.

It plays dvd's and you can play them and still have the sound coming out of the speakers and have the nav screen on. This is only of use if like me you have a 2 year old son that loves toy story and cars. I just put the dvd on when he is in the back of the car and he loves just listening to it.

I am going to set up a back up camera, I know I don't need it with a small car but it's a good project to keep me busy and it looks good when you put the car in reverse and the screen automatically shows what is behind you.

The unit is not as good as a system that costs 4 times more than this but I was not expecting it to be. I paid £350 (about $550) for it including shipping and if my car was stolen I would buy another.

If I have some time I will put a video together showing what it is like.

 

Finally someone who had the stones to take the plunge. How hard was it to install and does it work with satellite radio?

 

We don't have satellite radio in europe, It may be worth checking to see if your supplier can specify that option.
Install is easy just plug and play.

 

I think that the fact that it didn't have satellite radio was the issue for me. The other thing was fit. It looks like the vents are bent in the middle and the corners have gaps.

 

I checked out several makes and I didn't notice the vent issue on them....see links. As to the looks....a hooky tom tom on a popsicle stick mounted on the dash looks super cheap in my view...but to each his own right eh!

 

Thanks RUI. I'm going for it! It will be my Christmas present to myself. I am going to use a professional installer and will end up paying twice the cost when all said and done but I want it done right!

 

That app will use the phones data. I have a unlimited data plan, on my phone.

I'd just get a head unit that has everything built in. Why cover part of you new Navigation system, with the Sirius unit?

 

What I want to do is get a faceplate adapter so the dash looks like the one above but throw the Pioneer AppRadio2 head unit in there. Can easily sync Google Maps or another GPS system via your iPhone/Android so updates are constant and free. Only concern is I would lose the steering wheel controls.

AppRadio 2