Recommendations for DVD player setup/Car starter/GPS-navigation unit

[Valakai]

Hey guys, I am new the forums, was sent this way by a rep at Mazda of Toronto.

Pretty neat to see a mazda 3 community for GTA.

Anywho, can anyone here recommend some dvd players that would work well with a Mazfda 3 2006 GT w/ stock cd audio system (not the 6-cd changer).

I've been browsing the net and came across only pioneer and kenwood models (FS and BB). Is there anything better available? Also, are there larger screen sizes than 7 inches?

Also can these screens/units be used for GPS and finally can anyone recommend a good automatic starter, now that it's winter, I want to warm up the car beforehand.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks. :)

[Jeff-TheBiz]

rep? Who?

BTW, if I was buying one, it would have to be an Avic Z2

[midnitehour]

compustar / viper for autostarters

most screens are only 7" max cus any bigger and it won't fit in a stock DIN opening..

get a model with gps in it and then no worries for upgrading..

and yes the compustar can be hooked up to your audio system to turn it on remotely..

[FLIPDADY]

That would be moi. :)

Glad you found us.

[Valakai]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the quick feedback.

I started researching the pioneer Avic Z2 all in one system. Looks pretty slick but I am seeing some reviews where you can only input on the system when the car is not in motion, ie:park w/ handbrake on. Can anyone confirm this? This would suck seeing as how it has alot of pros going for it including DVD, GPS and Ipod features.

I wouldn't mind seeing some Mazda3 interiors with DVD setups, feel free to post in this thread or link me a thread if this has already been posted elsewhere in the forums.

The guy who recommended me this site from Mazda of Toronto was someone in the Parts department. I forget the name though.

[midnitehour]

I started researching the pioneer Avic Z2 all in one system. Looks pretty slick but I am seeing some reviews where you can only input on the system when the car is not in motion, ie:park w/ handbrake on.

This is a safety feature; by law you can't drive while watching movies, and as for inputing information it'd be even more demanding of your attention.

however there are ways around it. usually pretty easy ways.

[3GFX]

I am trying to save up for the Clarion 675. Its a good starter Double din imho.

[S.F.W.]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the quick feedback.

I started researching the pioneer Avic Z2 all in one system. Looks pretty slick but I am seeing some reviews where you can only input on the system when the car is not in motion, ie:park w/ handbrake on. Can anyone confirm this? This would suck seeing as how it has alot of pros going for it including DVD, GPS and Ipod features.

I wouldn't mind seeing some Mazda3 interiors with DVD setups, feel free to post in this thread or link me a thread if this has already been posted elsewhere in the forums.

The guy who recommended me this site from Mazda of Toronto was someone in the Parts department. I forget the name though.

The motion lock on the Avic-Z2 is easily disabled. It is disabled on my unit, and MPS's unit. Easy to do as well.

The guy that referred you was Joe/FlipDaddy

[bubba1983]

my dvd setup, prolly not what you rlooking for, but oh well
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4725/picture33760ow6.jpg

[whodilly]

Hey bubs is that a carputer you got hooked up there? or is that running off of the head unit?

It its a carputer, is it a touch screen display and what spec are u running?

[bubba1983]

no, no carputer, just running off the HU

[Iturralde]

bubba1983 your display needs cleaning! lol

Anyone know how much these guys go for? $1k installed?

X

[nicker]

Ive been looking too, I liked the alpine until I saw it. Not afan that the GPS is a add on. And not a fan that you have to flip the face down. I don't like that.

You can disable the feature so you can play it while you drive. I am leaning towards the double din pionner as it stands. I like that you can load a dvd/cd right in and it has all the other features I like. The only thing I am unclear of is can you still use your steering controls, id like to keep that feature. Also the Pioneer is a great price at FS!

[bubba1983]

+1 i agree that the way the alpine double din and its "blackhawk" gps feature is layed out is quite silly!!

you think it needed cleaning when that pic was taken, haah you should see it now! wowzers, yay winter no cleaning!!! lol

[whodilly]

I've got my eye on the Kenwood dnx7100. Apparently a decent system with DVD/Gps. I like it cause the gps is by garmin and there is a usb input so you can use a usb key to play songs. Oh yeah and the maps are loaded on the internal 2gb memory so you don't need to run the dvd for the maps.

[Skarbro]

Maybe it's just me, but I never understood a need for a DVD player/screen in the front dash. The back seat I understand if you have kids. But does anyone actually sit in their car to watch a DVD? I would rather watch it on my couch on my TV.

[dentinger]

thats a good point.
the only time i could see me using the DVD feature was if i was waiting in a parking lot for someone.
i just dont like the look of single-dins in our car. its just looks to empty.
and i also want the navigation, as having to print maps off mapquest gets annoying after a while, and i still usually get lost. lol

[bubba1983]

to be honest, the screen and dvd player has come in handy more than i expected it too. Ive been in some nasty traffic jams where there was crap on teh radio, so i would pop in some family guy to kill the time....
or as you say, waiting for people...OR what ive known to do, is go to the drive in early, before teh gates open, be right up front in line, so you know you will get a good spot, and watch amovie before the gates open :P

EDIT: Plus, its nice filling up a blank dvd with mp3's...
im not into the whole ipod/portable music thing, so ill jus fill up a blank disc with mp3's....and once you have properly edited the ID3 tags, it displays nicely on teh screen what song/artist and so on is playing

[dentinger]

traffic jams!!! i never thought of that!! hehe good idea!

[whodilly]

I like the LCD screen as a user interface and gps more so than to watch dvds. When you want to access a dvds worth of mp3s a touch screen would be mint.

[RX9]

the model i like is too much (2000ish), the cheapers those i dont want, therefore i wait.:chuckle

[Operator]

I'm going the CarPc route myself. But as for a remote start. I've been using Autopage since 2005 and I'd reccommend it if you're still looking http://www.autopageusa.com/ Awesome range!!!!