hi
im wondering what i should put in. either a pioneer Z1 or the factory NAV. I really dont understand whats the better one to choose.
Thank you:help:

I would pick the z1. It gives you a better navigation, better and bigger screen, bluetooth speaker phone, steering wheel controls still work w/adapter, ability to add aftermarket amps, better eq, easier to add acessories (xm, sirius, ipod)...the list goes on and on. I have the z1 and love it. The only hardpart about the z1 is getting all of the adapters, harnesses, etc. to fit in the dash.

what do you do with the rear controls then

One thing to watch out for is the fact that you are limited to the number of adapters you can use. Example; using the control adapter and warning bell adapter may keep you from using a video adapter or satellite radio adapter.

Do you have a Bose equipped truck? If not, I would go with the Pioneer.

I personally wanted to keep the factory look, not to mention all the adapters needed to keep the accessory inputs functional. I have also added an audio and video input adapters and run a back up camera and movies through my stereo. I am very happy with my setup. Sure, there are those here that say it could be better, but at major $$$ more.

To answer you question about the rear controls, I'm not sure, but I believe they are on the same cuircut as the sterring wheel controls, but wait for an answer from someone who has done it.

One thing to watch out for is the fact that you are limited to the number of adapters you can use. Example; using the control adapter and warning bell adapter may keep you from using a video adapter or satellite radio adapter.

Do you have a Bose equipped truck? If not, I would go with the Pioneer.

I personally wanted to keep the factory look, not to mention all the adapters needed to keep the accessory inputs functional. I have also added an audio and video input adapters and run a back up camera and movies through my stereo. I am very happy with my setup. Sure, there are those here that say it could be better, but at major $$$ more.

To answer you question about the rear controls, I'm not sure, but I believe they are on the same cuircut as the sterring wheel controls, but wait for an answer from someone who has done it.

If you have the bose, you need the 3 adapters - Steering wheel control adapter, speaker outputs, power, on/off power, etc. - also includes the onstar adapter if you have it, and the chime adapter. From my experience Day dream is wrong about the adapters. I hear you can use the factory antenna, but i know that you cannot use the factory xm "box". As far as video adapters, the z1 has output for the rear, has backup camera input, auxilery audio input, auxilery a/v input, ipod interface, xm/sirus...etc. The quality of video that you will get out of the z1 is much better than a factory nav that was designed without the intention of video use. The only problem with the z1 and the factory bose is that the eq on the z1 cannot control the factory sub. So if you turn the bass up to much, the speakers distort. I decided to put in subs and use the factory amp for the speakers and it sounds pretty decent.

As for the rear controls, I never used them, so I don't miss them. If you wanted to get crazy you could probably mount the factory headunit somewhere else, maybe under the cupholders? Then you would have to figure out the speaker, power, keyswitch wires on the factory harness and tap into those with the z1. It would be a lot of work, but I think it could be done and you wouldn't need all of the adapters. The steering wheel controls would not work because the are on the data bus, or whatever it is called, and i don't know how to disconnect that so the signal doesn't get to the factory radio. However, the above is just an idea and I'm not sure if it would actually work. Have fun, post your results if you end up trying it out.

I stand corrected... like I said, read from someone who has done it.

All I did was read, read, read, & read (from others who have done it one way or the other). Then I went and priced a couple aftermarket units (I don't remember the model numbers). When I saw the HU at $2100.00 and then you had to add the GPS feature for another $XXX.xx (again, can't remember the price, I was looking at kenwoods & pioneers), then add the adapters to keep your steering wheel controls, XM, Onstar, warning bells through the speaker, changing out all the speakers (can't get great results with Bose speakers and aftermarket components, different impedences), it was well over $3k for what I wanted to do.

I already had the Bose system, and figured I'd upgrade to the luxury system with navigation. The way I looked at it, if I didn't like the results, there's plenty of buyers waiting for these components on ebay (or here). After the luxury mod and adding two ten inch subs, I was happy with how it sounded. It cranks pretty good with NO distortion at full volume. And best of all, I probably have $1000. to $1500. still in my pocket.

With the two Video and two Audio inputs, I can view my back up camera or watch a DVD with a flip of a switch (kids love that, sounds like a home theater). I plug my laptop in on long trips for MP3s (Ipod? what's that? J/K, I pod is in my future). Yes, the video quality is probably better, but I'm not watching a movie while driving, (the kids have head rest monitors, wife the laptop, myself the navigation screen).

Entertainment is just a question of money... How much do you want to spend?