iPad install
 

Does anyone have any idea what's the easiest/best/cheapest way to mount an iPad into the dash and use it as the head unit?
I've got a few ideas but any input would be appreciated

Get yourself on YouTube mate......
their is a lot of people that have been doing the modification for a long time now on their cars.SJ.

hello mate why don't you get a pioneer with apple car play i have one in my audi a4 it works pukka, can use the maps off your phone as sat nav it works really well, my friend put it in his blob when he went nurbergring

Cheers guys I'll have a look
I had seen the Apple play head units but was leaning towards the iPad because of the bigger screen
I'll have to find a double din touch screen on display and have a play

The main problem you'll find is these two are mutually exclusive (as is easiest to some extent). A mate of mine put a nexus tablet into a navara a few years ago and it cost him a fortune but the end result was superb, you could do it on the cheap but you'll probably be disappointed by the end result.

Tablet install
 

Not sure about an iPad but I've just finished doing an install with a nexus 7 tablet into my 04 STi. Really easy to install and gives an OE look and feel. Lots of options to expand the system but main things to consider is power and audio.

The Nexus required to be rooted (android equivalent of jailbreak) and then a custom operating system which powers down and up on power loss etc.

Any pictures of yours mate?

Have just returned from a car show and saw an iPad mini in a dash (not Subaru) but it looked completely OEM.