Pioneer AVIC-N2 Navigation System???

[jbrasure]

Has anyone tried to install the Pioneer in-dash navigation system. According to Crutchfield, it should fit the Insight with some modification. That sure would be cool!

Here is a link to more info:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-OKbeFRQkr8 ... =130AVICN2

Please let me know if you have tried this. Thanks.

[vbrtrmn]

Too bad it is $2000!

[Rick]

Won't work. No units with a screen that comes out and folds up will work, and I'm yet to find anyone that makes one where the screen comes out and down.. The screen will hit the AC controls. The only way to do it properly would be to get the US left side drive dash trim piece that goes under the radio, then get a Japanese Right side double din one and have them laser cut and molded together so you'd have a double din opening. Then you could get the similar unit which doesn't fold in to the single din unit, you'd just have the screen there filling the entire double din opening. This would be expensive to do though.

[jbrasure]

Dang. Well, thanks for the info. I guess I'll give up on that one.

[Rick]

If you could find one with a screen that comes down instead of up it would work. You'd have less access to your cup holders, but it would work. I've found one off brand in dash DVD player once, I think the brand was DHL(?), where the screen came out sort of centrally so it was roughly 2 inches above and 2 inches below the unit itself. But if I were to go to that extreme I'd find a good name brand to put in to my dash.

I once spoke to some Panasonic representatives that had a truck setup outside my local Fry's electronics and asked if they had anything that opened up down and he said no. He also claimed he'd bring it up at the next meeting, but whether or not that happens I don't know. I don't think there are many other vehicles out there that would benefit from a downward opening screen unit.

[The Citrus Smoothie]

As Rick says, you will have difficulty with screens opening out. I went for the Alpine INA-N333 which has pretty good graphics within a single DIN head unit (plus a firm but polite woman giving you orders! ). Alpine must make one for the USA; European version here :

http://www.alpine-europe.com/content/en ... RS-RRS.htm

[Resist]

I just don't understand why Honda doesn't give the U.S. Insight version the NAV option to begin with. Here in a day and age when more and more U.S. cars have NAV systems from the factory.

[Rick Reece]

Toyota is selling a large number of fully loaded Prius vehicles (Bluetooth, Navigation, Leather, HID's etc. With demand for fuel efficient cars increasing I think Honda should come out with more than just A/C as a option on the Insight. Toyota has obviously found that there are plenty of customers willing to buy a Hybrid as long as they don't have to give up to much. Have fun, Rick

[gatornail]

I've also been wanting a NAV system in my 05 Insight and looked at the AVIC-N2. My local guy says that he can install it in my car (he said it would be an all day job and that he would build out the radio area so that the screen would be able to open without hitting the AC unit.) He did tell me that I wouldn't be able to get to the AC controls with the screen open, but I don't use the AC much anyway and the AVIC-N2 will still give voice commands for navigation with the display screen closed.

I'm still doing the research to decide on which NAV system I want to go with, since I'm also considering a Kenwood system where the nav module is separate from the motorized screen.

[jbrasure]

Interesting. I would love to know what your final solution is. If it works, then I might just try it myself.