[jstretch]

Decided on a vx400. Was most interested in the afforable price with built-in bluetooth for my Iphone3GS, built-in mic and rear usb (don't like cables in the cab). Got it online for 380$ and finished installing yesterday. Install was relatively painless (for a newbie, 4 hours) had to get the Haynes book for wiring diagram. I drilled small hole in the upper glove box for the usb/iphone adapter cable. Also ran the video 'safety' cable to the handbrake is recommended, however a simple ground toggle and you can probably bypass this feature.

Pros:

• affordable

• easy install / fits perfectly

• builtin bluetooh - signal strength is good with Iphone 3GS

• many possible mods (such as nav, monitors, rear cam, hd radio)

• builtin mic works well

Cons:

• 
  GUI is clean looking, but very limited and annoying at times

• Always defaults to radio when first started

• Bluetooth controls do not work with my IPhone 3GS (only stop and start work, next/previous dont), furthermore not able to browse song library via bluetooth.

• Have to disengage and re-engage parking break every time to enable video, probably a con among all video enabled units

• Another annoying bluetooth/3GS is setting the Iphone audio output. If you have your iphone connected to the USB and also sync'd to the bluetooth then you'll have to set which output to send audio on your Iphone. If you disable bluetooth then handsfree calling doesn't work. However, if you use purely bluetooth for handsfree / music, the music nav controls dont work. Very frustrating. So when you sit in your truck, the bluetooth syncs and iphone audio is outputting to bluetooth, then you plug it into USB and have to touch the screen and select "Cable Connection" as output instead of "VX400" which is the bluetooth signal.

You get what you pay for. I enjoy it overall, but if you have another 200$ to spend would probably do research into a pioneer, just avoid units without built-in bluetooth if you have an iphone, I hear the reception on bluetooth add-ons are not good.

Hopefully someone out there has a suggestions as to why the bluetooth controls are bunk. :comphead:

 

[cybereclipse]

so it fits and drops in perfectly? you didn't have to go buy plastic trim or anything right?

 

[jstretch]

Came with two trim pieces, first one i tried looked great

 

[cybereclipse]

awesome! looks like I'm gonna get one of these... price is great and looks like an awesome system

 

[Dren]

That really is the cleanest looking DD HU I've seen installed in our trucks. My 2010 XE dash is the same as yours and this Clarion looks like it could not fit any better.

Have your opinions changed at all after having it for a few months?

How is the GUI limited and annoying at times?

Did you have any trouble getting all those cables tucked into the dash behind the HU?

 

[domoMKIV]

• Bluetooth controls do not work with my IPhone 3GS (only stop and start work, next/previous dont), furthermore not able to browse song library via bluetooth.

That is not due to your headunit, that is due to Apple.
This is supposedly going to be taken care of in iOS4.1.

 

[domoMKIV]

4.1 has fixed the issue of being able to change the song.
Do you get any info (song, artist, album, etc) on the screen when connected via BT?

 

[KyleHimself]

Re: parking brake issue.

I had my sound tech install a small switch inside the compartement just below the climate controls. Illegal yes but it's nice that my passenger can a watch a video while I drive.

 

[jtack]

That looks really nice! Matter of fact, like someone else said...that is probably the cleanest double DIN install that I have seen. Is there anyone else besides Clarion that look this clean with no huge gaps, etc? How is the sound quality?