Nav v. Aftermarket system

spearfish25

I'm not sure why there is so much interest in a cubby replaced aftermarket unit. As Roque said, you'll still have the factory stereo beneath it. If you think the cubby looks dumb, imagine having a nav above a factory stereo!

As for the factory vs aftermarket decision, I'd say this:

If you plan to keep the car FOREVER, I'd go aftermarket and replace the factory stereo. This way your car won't be dated, and you can easily upgrade your aftermarket nav every 3, 5, 7, whatever years as you choose.

If you want the slickest, most integrated, trouble free, streamlined installation, get the factory nav. No aftermarket navigation system will be 'perfect' and there will be some compromises. For example, my PAC steering button harness can only do a handful of assignments for those buttons. I've given up on activating and cancelling voice dialing through the steering wheel. Also, there is a delay in the button presses that was never there in the factory unit.

On the flip side, if you want some special features not offered by or not capable of by the factory unit then aftermarket is the only way to go. For example, watching DVDs while driving, inputting GPS destinations while driving, Pandora control (Pioneer), etc etc. Those are your prime reasons for aftermarket systems.

I went aftermarket and replaced my Bose stereo beneath the cubby. I still have the cubby for my sunglasses and the aftermarket HU looks great below the cubby. I'll take the tradeoffs with the steering controls in return for being able to use every feature even while driving.

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z