I still feel the Android Head Unit was one of the best modifications I did to my 200. It has worked great for 6 years. I like having my music loaded, being able to connect to the internet if I am near a wifi point and use my GAIA topo maps when offroading.
I love the Android Auto in my new Tacoma and also my head unit has never been able to connect to my phone as a hot spot. I haven't worked it to hard though
I was following this thread on the new Android 13 version from Phoenix Auto It seems to be a good unit and with their online coupon it comes to about $750. I asked them a bunch of questions and there is definitly a Language barrior. I keep asking them about Android Auto and I get yes it has Car Play
@re500 has done a good job of integrating it and still has a few issues to work through.
When I bought mine I compared Phoenix Auto with EC Off Road. They sell what looks like the same Radio, but EC Off road says they have customized theirs working directly with the factory. They also install them into a lot of Land Cruisers being they are in Australia. That is why I bought from them the first time and when I had an issue on install, they quickly helped me through it.
Phoenix's unit is Android 13 and EC Offroads is Android 11. EC said the factory was looking at an upgrade Android version for thier unit, but the newer units had their own issues. They did not eleborate. EC Off Road assured me that their unit has wireless Android Auto. Their unit is twice the cost of the Phoenix unit.
I feel with Android Auto, this would likely be the last upgrade I need.
So more expensive unit with more 200 series experiance and supposed customizations and known great customer service or a lower cost unit that looks the same with a newer version of Android. The hardware specs seem to be similar.
Delima delima - But WAIT ANOTHER OPTION
I saaw a video on line and loaded this app via Google store. I think it works with Carplay as well
In just a few minutes I was up and running with Android Auto on the Head Unit. Maps, my phone, and everything worked using the USB Cable. I could switch back and forth from Android Auto and the head Unit Apps. Easily opened up HVAC controls
Here is the Phone GAIA on top with Phone apps below. The 2 in the bottom left was telling me I had two texts which displayed when I selected that. Phone worked directly from the Phone icon
So I played with it for 10 minutes. The issues I had was when I reconnected I sometimes had to disconnect the phone from the USB cable once or twice and then it would automatically connect and display Android Auto. First time gave me an error on my phone, but that only happened once.
Now for some testing and also to see if I need to tweak the settings
For $4.99 I can live with a USB vs Wireless connection. If it doesn't work within the next few days I can get my $4.99 back
I love the Android Auto in my new Tacoma and also my head unit has never been able to connect to my phone as a hot spot. I haven't worked it to hard though
I was following this thread on the new Android 13 version from Phoenix Auto It seems to be a good unit and with their online coupon it comes to about $750. I asked them a bunch of questions and there is definitly a Language barrior. I keep asking them about Android Auto and I get yes it has Car Play
@re500 has done a good job of integrating it and still has a few issues to work through.
When I bought mine I compared Phoenix Auto with EC Off Road. They sell what looks like the same Radio, but EC Off road says they have customized theirs working directly with the factory. They also install them into a lot of Land Cruisers being they are in Australia. That is why I bought from them the first time and when I had an issue on install, they quickly helped me through it.
Phoenix's unit is Android 13 and EC Offroads is Android 11. EC said the factory was looking at an upgrade Android version for thier unit, but the newer units had their own issues. They did not eleborate. EC Off Road assured me that their unit has wireless Android Auto. Their unit is twice the cost of the Phoenix unit.
I feel with Android Auto, this would likely be the last upgrade I need.
So more expensive unit with more 200 series experiance and supposed customizations and known great customer service or a lower cost unit that looks the same with a newer version of Android. The hardware specs seem to be similar.
Delima delima - But WAIT ANOTHER OPTION
I saaw a video on line and loaded this app via Google store. I think it works with Carplay as well
In just a few minutes I was up and running with Android Auto on the Head Unit. Maps, my phone, and everything worked using the USB Cable. I could switch back and forth from Android Auto and the head Unit Apps. Easily opened up HVAC controls
Here is the Phone GAIA on top with Phone apps below. The 2 in the bottom left was telling me I had two texts which displayed when I selected that. Phone worked directly from the Phone icon
So I played with it for 10 minutes. The issues I had was when I reconnected I sometimes had to disconnect the phone from the USB cable once or twice and then it would automatically connect and display Android Auto. First time gave me an error on my phone, but that only happened once.
Now for some testing and also to see if I need to tweak the settings
For $4.99 I can live with a USB vs Wireless connection. If it doesn't work within the next few days I can get my $4.99 back
