I hadn't installed car electronics in ages, and just decided it was time to replace the factory stereo in my 2002 Toyota Highlander. I was sick and tired of juggling with the lousy sound and wires all over the place, cassette adapter, iPhone charger, Sirius radio... it was time for an upgrade. With Amazon running a sale on Pioneer car audio, it seemed it was time to jump. In the process, I learned a few things that I hope will help you make the right decisions.
TIPS
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1) Pioneer sells a $35 "Double DIN install kit". I'm sure it's needed in some cars, but the 3200 was a perfect drop-in in my Highlander, at least as far bolting it to the equipment chassis. The screw holes are exactly in the same place as on the Denso factory double DIN stereo it replaced,.
2) Getting a wire bundle adapter (available from Amazon, cost is under $10) simplifies the installation tremendously and makes it easy to put the original stereo back in. It's basically a connector that looks like the one on the factory stereo and has a color coded bundle of wires attached. You solder or crimp these wires to the bundle that comes with your new stereo and you're in business: it's now a perfect drop in substitute for the factory stereo. The bundle adapter is specific to your car, not the stereo you're installing.
3) Lock-out of some features (movie playing, phone number pad dialing...) is done by detecting the state of the parking brake. If you don't connect the parking brake wire, you will not be able to use these features, ever. Of course if you were a bad person you would just attach this wire to the ground somewhere, which would disable the lock-out. I'm just sayin.
4) Why are there so many iPod cables for this family of receivers? It's infuriating! There's the CD-IU50, the CD-IU50V, and the CD-IU200V. The IU50 is just a very expensive iPod/iPhone USB cord like the one that came with your iPhone. Despite what its description says on the Amazon page, it will not provide video. The IU50V will play video from the iPod (it has a USB jack and also a minijack for the video, which both plug into the front). The IU200V is similar to the IU50V but is for the 4200DVD only (according to the manual). If you want to play video from your iPhone on the 3200BT or 3200DVD, get the IU50V.
5) There's a hideous gap of 3/4" to the left and right of the receiver, and a smaller one at the top and bottom. Once again, Scosche to the rescue; they make an inexpensive kit that fills the gap. It was harder to find than I would have hoped.
Now that this is out of the way, how about performance and ease of use? Well, here goes.
PROS
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Sounds great, lots of equalization options, easy to configure, lots of power.
Great user interface, very responsive and easy to use.
Displays all songs in iPhone (I used with iPhone 4), allows browsing by artist, record, song, even displays the album artwork!
PACKED with features (supports rear view camera, second zone video, HD radio, Sirius/XM, etc...)
Customizable theme
Plays DiVX
Bluetooth phone feature very easy to setup and works like a charm. Loaded the contact list from my iPhone 4 in seconds, and people I have been talking to can't believe I'm using a hands free system in a car, it's just that good.
Convenient USB and A/V inputs in front.
Convenient SD memory card reader
Charges iPod/iPhone during use. You can still use your iPhone while music is playing.
Available AVIC-U220 navigation option
CONS
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Screen washes out in sunlight and can get very hard to read
Must use front connector for iPod/iPhone, so leaving a discrete connector permanently plugged in is not an option with the 3200BT model.
No stereo bluetooth, if you need that get the AVH-P3200DVD and purchase the pricey CD-BTB200 option
Remote control is optional
Options are prohibitively expensive (Navigation, Bluetooth for 3200DVD and Sirius satellite radio options cost way too much)
CONCLUSION
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Love, love, love this receiver. It's a lot of functionality for the price, easy to install, easy to use, iPod integration is top-notch, and the minor flaws don't really warrant not giving it the five stars it deserves, considering its very reasonable price. Highly recommended.
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