Pioneer AVIC-F900BT

Very disappointed – The Pioneer Avic was in the vehicle when we bought it. Bluetooth okay for a while then could not pair. Maps were out of date so paid $249 for update still no good appears they sent me a software update instead of map update. I am told the map update is now $150. Had to get some part replaced at a cost of $700. Think I might buy a new gps with lifetime map updates and just use the pioneer for my music SD card.

Unreliable & Frustrating Equipment – Brief Overview of System It is an installed in dash with a color touch screen to navigate through the various functions which include DVD player that plays Movies/Music. Wireless blue tooth hands free phone connection to a blue tooth suitable mobile phone also enabling your phone book to be downloaded and run from touch screen. Plugs to connect Iphone/ipod/hard drive & usb.

SD card slot enabling music to be played from the card. (I am using a 32 gig card with no problems)

Reversing Camera.

Pro's :.....

The Sound System including SD card works well.

Color Touch screen.

Con's:......

Price Very expensive when first released, prices have dropped but still not worth the money considering the frustration when things go wrong and don't work properly.

Blue tooth on mine used to work now no longer works & wont pair with my mobile. (I have tested the mobiles blue tooth and it still works fine with other devices but the pioneer now refuses to work with it.

On occasions my system has crashed & removed the phone book causing frustration in putting them all back.

Map updates very expensive simply not worth it. Would be cheaper to buy a portable unit which offers cheaper updates.

System updates, You have to be careful, they are hard to find for Australia and if you should instal or update using the wrong one or do it the wrong way there is a very big chance of rendering your expensive system totally unusable.

The main control knob (Volume control ) is too narrow (Depth) and makes using it a pain as you find it hard to grip & turn

There appears to be no off switch so when you start the car it starts & there is no way to turn it off.

The reversing camera is ok BUT it takes far to long to come on, usually you are out of the drive way before it activates (most annoying) this makes it pretty well useless.

The system as a whole takes a long while to start up before you can use it.

The color screen is not bad but is badly affected by sunlight making it unreadable on bright days, there is no shroud or deflection to prevent this.

The stereo works well but the range for picking up radio stations is very poor and once you get outside the metro area it drops away. This could be the fact that the antenna is a series of metal strips attached to the side rear windows.

Finally my impressions of this unit after having it in the vehicle & using it for two years has not been a happy one. No complaints against the quality of the sound etc it is just too expensive an item just to listen to music only when the other things don't work properly or take to long to activate.