Pioneer AVIC-S1 user reviews (GPS receiver)

Pros Brilliant Screen, Thin & Lightweight, Touch Screen, SD Card Slot, Very Intuative Menus, Bluetooth, & Overall Great Design

Cons No Phone # POI Search, Can't Sync or Add Contacts out of the box

Summary I love this little device. I'd even love it if I hadn't gotten it free with the Pinooner in-dash DVD Nav' Promotion. this portable GPS has everything. Voice navigation prompts, lots of granular settings for Map display options, Bluetooth, compact, lightweight, Auto Map Zoom, etc. If you want it on a hand-held GPS, this one has it. This GPS even had my new subdivision addresses where my wife's in-dash Pioneer Nav unit did not. All the options & settings are perfect, the size and clarity of the screen is outstanding. It comes with all the needed accessories too (vehicle charger, USB cable, AC charger, & carrying case. The one thing I don't like is that I can't do a Points of Interest Search by telephone #'s and that it won't allow me to sync my contacts in Outlook out of the box so that I can use it to dial people via Bluetooth. I assume I need to have an SD mem card in order for that feature to work which I don't have.

Pros Cheap. Ready to use right out of the box. Just charge & play

Cons Limited nav options. Limited ( software ) menu options.

Summary First things first the unit it's self looks amazing, and is easy to use. All the features that are advertised work pretty well. With that being said here is a small list of issues I have with this navigation system.
1) You can not place calls from your call list it's a view only option.
2) You can not disconnect the bluetooth conection via the unit only from the cell phone it's self. -- It realy isn't a problem just a little hassel.
3a) The POI ( piont of interest ) is lacking current names ( Ex. Mobile gas station in my neighborhood is now Lukoil, but the AVIC-S1 says Mobile. )
3b) The POI is far from up-to-date there are two WaWa's only blocks away from my house and the closest location AVIC-S1 can find is on the other side of Philly.
4) There is no listing of your route so you can not plan for known detours.
5) The navigation software makes ten or twelve little lefts and rights instead of one or two turns. (it's trying to do a diagonal across from one point to another).
6) In the package there's only one " true mount " there's a suction cup mount and an adhesive sticker to suction it to the dash.

With a few large software upgrades this unit could be the best out there. But it's half the price of the Garmin Nuvi 350/360 and it will get you where you need to go, just an extra $10 or $12 dollars in gas.

Pros Screen is bright and clear, awesome looking case, interface is clear and concise, easy to use

Cons Very undependable maps, bizarre routing that makes NO sense, pathetic POI database, Customer Service is non-existant

Summary In opening, I have owned 3 Garmin models, a Lowrance, and a MIO. I know what works and what doesn't and I know what to expect, in general.

When the box arrived I was impressed with the nice case that comes with it, the overall appearance of the unit, the inclusion of an AC and a DC charger, computer interface cable and the great graphics of the unit. It was easy to set up, program in my addresses, and personalize. I was so impressed I made the mistake of ordering a mount for my car from ProClipUSA for $60 BEFORE I knew what a thundering piece of crap this GPS turned out to be.

For brevity, I will bullet point the numerous problems.

- In northern IN is a major hwy running east and west. To go almost anywhere from Chicago to Fort Wayne to South Bend will include this hwy. The GPS did everything it could to get me to get off that hwy; u-turns, county roads that are gravel, etc. It wanted me off that road when it is the only way that makes any sense at all. I called Pioneer twice and e-mailed them three times trying to get an answer. Long story short, they were not interested.

- I was driving back from Columbus OH to Fort Wayne, IN and the GPS directed me to take a hwy west that I did not even know existed. It had four lanes and was practically empty so I took it. Part way down that hwy the AVIC-S1 directed me to get off that hwy onto a 2 lane rural hwy still heading west. I did. I was disturbed to see this 2 lane road running visually perpendicular to the 4 lane hwy I just got off. It ran this way for 12 MILES! The GPS then warned me that it was time to turn off this 2 lane hwy. I did as I was told. GUESS where I turned to? You got it! back on the 4 lane hwy I got off 12 MILES AGO! I was furious.

- I was in South Bend IN and needed to find a hotel for the night. I looked into the POI database. According to this piece of junk there are NO hotels in the city of South Bend. I happen to know there is a Holiday Inn select in downtown so I went back into the POI and clicked on MOTELS instead of HOTELS. There was the HI Select at $150 a night listed as a MOTEL!

- I called Pioneer again to ask about a map update. "No, it is STILL not available but it should be ANY DAY." BTW, it will cost you $150!

The straw that broke the Camel's back was a trip to Cincinnati. I drove all sorts of back roads at the direction of the AVIC-S1 to get to my customer. When I took my customer out for lunch I told him that his facility is not easy to get to. He asked me what route I took. When I told him he said "get rid of that junk on your dash. It took you MILES out of the way. All you had to do was stay on the interstate practically to our front door!"

I purchased this because I am a long time Pioneer Elite audio fan. Needless to say, this company has done a fantastic job of destroying any hope of me doing business with them again. Not only because of a bad product but due to terrible customer service and dismissive attitude.

Pros Good graphics, Bluetooth, Menus

Cons WinMobile ruins this device

Summary At first use, I loved this unit. It is stylish, has a great looking screen and maps, and has great controls. The bluetooth was a great feature, but the quality didn't make me want to use it over holding my phone to my head. Then it all went wrong.

First the directions were completly insane. I found myself getting off on exits, only to continue back onto the highway on the other side of overpasses. This is extremely frustrating when you dive accross 4 or 5 lanes of traffic to catch the exit, just to get back on the highway. I thought I might have changed an option somewhere, but no matter what I did, I still got these crap directions. Then the freezing started. In usual Windows Mobile fashion (ask a Moto Q owner) it would stop in mid traffic and get stuck. Pressing on the screen did nothing, until it becomes unstuck (if it ever does) and then everything youve pressed comes in a fury of screen flashes, followed by more freezing. THEN, the suction cup would not stick for longer than 2 or 3 minutes at a time, no matter what. I cleaned the cup and the window, tried the 'dash-disc'... nothing.

I was bending a paper clip to have handy for pressing the reset button, and thinking about glue for the mount when i realized it was the 14th day of its return policy, and took it back without hesitation. I've got better things to do with $600 (i'm in canada). The guy at the store said that most of those he's sold have come back... maybe its a canadian thing.