Panasonic radio/monitor replacement ideas

[neilnbe]

Anyone replaced their "all in one" panasonic flip up screen rear view camera/radio unit? What did you find as a good replacement? I have the panasonic all in one unit that folds down and slides into the dash in an 05 Mountain Air DP. The radio will barely hold a station for more than a few miles and the unit as a whole seems very difficult to navigate, especially while driving. I noticed that Newmar only seemed to use them in the 05 models...apparently because they got so many complaints. I'm looking to swap it out to something of better quality, more reliable and easier to use...any thoughts?

[harleyman134]

I have a 2005 MADP with the Pioneer AVIC N1 all in one unit with the flip up screen as well. I'm not crazy about my unit either. I subscribed to xm and get pretty good service with xm, so I can't speak about the AM/FM receiption. I have found it difficult to navigate as well and the back up camera is marginal too. My GPS is not working at the moment and I would consider an alternative as well so if you find an alternative please keep us informed. Also if you do make a switch please let me kow I might be willing to take the old parts off your hands. Since everything on mine is working with the exception of the nav I might just buy something like a Garmin, but don't know the best way to mount it.

[Hudsoner]

I am also in the market to replace my radio. I looked around at Best Buy and Walmart, and all the single DIN sized radios have very tiny station preset buttons that would be hard to operate without taking the eyes of the road. In their wonderful ergonomic wisdom, Four Winds had decided to put the radio well out of the field of vision of the driver (as can be seen from the picture, it is above the climate control dials).

Would anybody know of a radio that has larger push buttons, that is Sirius ready and can control an iPot?

["007"]

Some have changed out to one of these.
Has use of remote which makes it easier to control.
My Sony has a remote and use it all the time.
GPS is mounted on dash and my rear view camera monitor is under my TV as your rear view mirror is located in your car.

[Hudsoner]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 007";795285]Some have changed out to [B][URL="http://www.concertone.com/zx690.html one of these[/URL][/B]. Has use of remote which makes it easier to control. My Sony has a remote and use it all the time. GPS is mounted on dash and my rear view camera monitor is under my TV as your rear view mirror is located in your car.

Aren't these units installed into a wall? Or where would one place them? They seem to be to big for surface mounting.

["007"]

Here is other selections of same type. NEW PRODUCTS
You may have to modifi for some different size units.

[927palmetto]

Well, I have just done this in a 2005 MADP. It was fitted with the Pioneer AVIC system with navigation. Never was thrilled with the unit, the navigation system was difficult to operate, and blissfully, the unit finally died.
I replaced with a Sony (can't remember the exact model number). It is a double din unit with touch screen, equipped with TomTom navigation. As the dash had to be cut, and a custom mount fabricated to account for surface contors in the dash, I had it professionally installed. Total cost was about $1700. Pricey, but it looks nice, the back up monitor has a much better field of view, and the navigation is easy to use.
The double din units work much better than the flip screen units, which have just about been eliminated from the market.

[harleyman134]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 927palmetto Well, I have just done this in a 2005 MADP. It was fitted with the Pioneer AVIC system with navigation. Never was thrilled with the unit, the navigation system was difficult to operate, and blissfully, the unit finally died. I replaced with a Sony (can't remember the exact model number). It is a double din unit with touch screen, equipped with TomTom navigation. As the dash had to be cut, and a custom mount fabricated to account for surface contors in the dash, I had it professionally installed. Total cost was about $1700. Pricey, but it looks nice, the back up monitor has a much better field of view, and the navigation is easy to use. The double din units work much better than the flip screen units, which have just about been eliminated from the market.

Could you post a pic of the new system, I'd be interested in seeing it.

Thanks

Sonny

["007"]

Here are some Sony units different prices.

[Hudsoner]

I had a double DIN GPS/radio in my last car. i ahted it. I was very expensive in the first place, and very expensive to update the GPS. I did not get it with my current car and prefer my portable Tom Tom GPS, which is the top of the line version for about a third of the price of the build in unit, and I can move it to any car I wish!

[TechWriter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilnbe Anyone replaced their "all in one" panasonic flip up screen rear view camera/radio unit?

My 2001 MADP had a Panasonic CQ-VA707WEUC -- the "flip up" screen with optional nav and rear view camera.

Flip up models are getting harder and hard to find, but I replaced the Panasonic with a Clarion NX500 which has AM/FM, DVD, camera input, built in nav, and satellite radio connection which I installed.

My old Panasonic had funky camera connections so I ended up replacing my rear view camera and running new camera wire to the Clarion. Try to avoid this at any cost.

The Clarion is a much better unit that has ok nav and a fairly intuitive interface.

However, if Rosen ever makes a flip up, buy it.