Question Of The Day: Hit The Deck

by Derek Kreindler

March 23rd, 2015 10:48 AM

Today’s QOTD comes from a reader, who wants some car audio advice for his Smart ForTwo.

Reader Ed writes,

I have a 2008 Smart ForTwo (don’t mock me, I live in San Francisco and I use it as a commuter car). When I bought it used, it had a JVC head unit with navigation, Bluetooth etc. The only problem is that it won’t work with my iPhone 6+. I am in my car quite a lot, and I *need* to be able to take phone calls while I’m driving, since my clients are used to being able to reach me at all times. I also wouldn’t mind being able to play my music and charge my phone in the car.

I’ve seen the newest generation of Apple CarPlay head units, and I am really intrigued by them. Do any of the B&B have advice on which one is the best? The Pioneer unit comes highly recommended. Alternately, I am open to other options, provided they have Bluetooth, navigation and the ability to sync my phone. I am also looking for a good local shop to install it. I am willing to pay for the best deck and a good install, so budget is not much of a concern – I am not a big gearhead and I am also a very anxious person, so paying extra for a well-functioning, properly installed deck is paramount.

Anyone have any suggestions for Ed? I am not much of a car audio guy, so unfortunately, I can’t offer too much help. Hopefully someone in the readership can step in. By the way, if you have a QOTD you’d like answered, email us, editors at ttac dot com.

#Apple #AppleCarPlay #QuestionOfTheDay #Smart #SmartFortwo

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14 of 69 comments

Art Vandelay on Mar 23, 2015

JVC has always worked well for me but felt kind of cheap. Kenwood decks are basically JVC but better built. I'm not a huge Pioneer fan because I typically lime a volume knob which all but their most high end stuff lacks. Go play with some at best buy or whatever then check crutchfield.com. they will have the entire model range so you can pick out he deck you like then order it with the features you want.

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Ccd1 on Mar 23, 2015

I know you have probably drunk the Apple "coolaide", but I would suggest a head unit that can handle Apple Carplay as well as Android Auto. There are currently such units from Pioneer, Kenwood and Parrot with others to follow. I'd pick the cheapest unit that does this, but none of them will be cheap as head units that handle this are very new

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Burgersandbeer on Mar 23, 2015

There is no way to get the Iphone 6 working with the current JVC unit via bluetooth? Did you already remove all paired devices from the JVC unit and then try to add the phone? There might be other troubleshooting steps to try as well. I thought bluetooth was a well-defined standard. You might not be able to sync your contacts to the head unit, but that is surprising that you can't make a connection at all.

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- MBella on Mar 23, 2015
  
  Apple likes to make it difficult. I have had so many issues with IPhones where they won't pair correctly on Mercedes. The OEs always have to update their software to make it work with the newest IPhone. The differences aren't even always new generations, even the same IPhone product built a few months apart might pair differently. Why people put up with this companies crap is beyond me. I have never had a problem pairing an Android phone to any bluetooth device. What's funny is that some of these IDrones are more likely to replace their car than they are to replace their phone.
  
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- Sigivald on Mar 23, 2015
  
  @MBella Difficult? Mine always work with my relatively basic Pioneer 1-DINs, and when I was doing test drives, I had no problem pairing my 5S with an Audi, a Mercedes, a BMW, a Honda [actually I think it was the most difficult, but I blame Honda's terrible UX], and a Volvo. But, yes, please call people "IDrones". That's clever and makes you right. (A quick search reveals that you're probably thinking of how iPhone 5 models wouldn't pair with things that ... didn't support Bluetooth 4. Mean old Apple, using a current version of Bluetooth, adopted in 2010, in a phone they released in 2012, before *every piece of hardware on Earth* was updated to support it! Jerks.)
  
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- Tuffjuff on Mar 23, 2015
  
  @B&B I'm not sure if it's an iOS thing, but my iPhone 6 Plus does not play nearly as nicely with my 2013 Equinox' MyLink as my previous Note 3 did. Bluetooth pairing routinely requires a full restart of the car if the connection is lost, and connecting to the car (i.e. you forgot to turn Bluetooth on and then started the car) is spotty at best.
  
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- Art Vandelay on Mar 23, 2015
  
  JVC in my wife's car works fine with her 6+ over Bluetooth and via lightning. It is not a touchscreen though but does one really need to mirror a 6+? Just mount it high and use the phone as the touchscreen. I do this with my Z ULTRA which kind of dwarfs the 6+.
  
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- MBella on Mar 24, 2015
  
  @Sigivald The cars I'm talking about supported the new protocol. Apple's products are designed so that manufacturers of accessories play by their rules. Then they decide to change the rules constantly. There were about 3 or 4 different changes made on the both the 5 and 5s during their runs that caused interface issues, and required software updates for the head-units to get to work. You could have two identical IPhones in your hand, one would work fine and the other would have issues just because Apple decided to change something that month.
  
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Tuffjuff on Mar 23, 2015

Admittedly I only read 30 or 40 responses first, but it seems I'm the only person who may actually try and answer OP's question. Pioneer seems to have the best combination of usability and aesthetic. Their AVIC-NEX series (5000NEX, 6000NEX, 7000NEX) are in the $650-$900 range. All three - and likely other models - support iPhone 6/6Plus with a software update that Best Buy, etc, would do during install. They'll interface with Siri, and to my knowledge phone calls, the reading of text messages and playing music or podcasts all integrate seamlessly with your iPhone. If the HVAC weren't combined into it, one of these is what I'd put in my 2013 Equinox to replace MyLink. I *really* want navigation, and aside from a shady looking $1,200 add-on kit which, if I'm reading correctly, involves sending a shady company my old center stack after installation, I seem to have no other option. Not sure how factory back-up camera or other in-car controls integrate into these decks, though. http://wwv.crutchfield.com/p_1307000NEX/Pioneer-AVIC-7000NEX.html?tp=20217 http://wwv.crutchfield.com/p_1306000NEX/Pioneer-AVIC-6000NEX.html?tp=20217 http://wwv.crutchfield.com/p_1305000NEX/Pioneer-AVIC-5000NEX.html?tp=20217

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- Internet Commenter on Mar 23, 2015
  
  I'm looking to do something similar with my 2006 Scion xB, but I have an Android phone (Nexus 5). The 5000NEX seems to fit the bill, but it appears to be Apple- centric. Do you think it would be a waste to use an Apple focused unit with Android? Is there a system with a similar aesthetic that is more Android-centric? The Parrot Asteroid looks promising, but the reviews imply that it's not fully baked. Anyone have any experience with it? Lastly, is installing one of these really as simple as people are saying?
  
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- Burgersandbeer on Mar 23, 2015
  
  @Internet Commenter If you swapping one standard sized unit for another, yes, it is pretty easy. If the new unit has a nav, you'll have to find a home for the GPS antenna and run the wire behind your dash to the back of the head unit. You'll probably have deviate from the directions if you want it to work with the car moving too. Even if you don't already have a standard DIN head unit and have to add some kind of adapter bracket, it's just tedious. If you lack space behind the dash, stuffing the wires back there can be frustrating too. There is certainly no special expertise required. It's also free to attempt, since if you fail the car is still driveable; you just have to tuck your tail between your legs and have a pro fix your mess at some point. The simplicity of this applies to professional installation as well. Make fun of Best Buy's Geek Squad all you want, but car audio installation doesn't take an advanced degree, and this is what they do for 30+ hours per week. I would have no problem taking my chances with an install at Best Buy or similar.
  
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- Internet Commenter on Mar 24, 2015
  
  @burgersandbeer Thank you for taking the time to write a detailed response. I suspected a "you don't know what you don't know" scenario (i.e. GPS antenna set up). I'll likely go the professional route.
  
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- Kyree on Mar 24, 2015
  
  Trust me, you do *not* want to mess with installing an aftermarket head unit on any of those GM cars with the Global-A electrical architecture (everything introduced in or after MY2010). And of course swapping the non-navigation MyLink for one with navigation is a complete nightmare. I believe only Chrysler's latest Uconnect system allows you to add full-fledged navigation after the fact (although with a few capabilities removed); the other automakers expect you to simply buy a car with navigation even when there's no reason not to make it an optional add-on, still use separate units for nav vs no nav, or compensate with some kind of app that lets you use your phone for GPS/Internet connectivity (with an optional higher-priced unit that has built-in nav in the case of Toyota). GM does the latter with its smaller Sonic and Spark models, which use a different version of MyLink than your Equinox (there are actually *four* separate systems that go by the trademarks MyLink or IntelliLink). And don't get me started on those weak "Turn-by-Turn" navigation subscriptions that both Ford and GM offer...
  
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- Epsilonkore on Mar 24, 2015
  
  @Kyree It was a daunting and ultimately self defeating journey that I took with my Saturn Sky trying to upgrade it to a Pioneer unit several years ago. I agree, if you have multiple GM systems already... just stick with it and weep when you see someones superior aftermarket solution that you cant have because of all the integrated Onstar/IntelliLink/Turn Signals/Door chimes/Diagnostics going through the basic function GM stereo :/
  
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