Coinneach said:
I'm not really locked into any particular EFIS at the moment. I've looked at GRT and they're shiny, but I don't really mind not having full integration for half the price.
It is good you are thinking about this "stuff" now but do not purchase any of these items until the very last minute. The reason is that all of these electronic displays (EFIS, EMS, GPS, etc.) are improving so fast that by the time you are ready, they could all be different from what you know today.
The discussions regarding the advantages of one product over another have been delt with elsewhare on this forum so don't get hooked into those arguments yet.
When you plan your panel, keep your mission in mind and an eye towards future improvements. (For this reason I HIGHLY recommend spending the money on the Affordable Panels panel.)
Also, don't forget to think about interconnectivity. For instance, the Dynon EFIS & EMS can output a warning tone, where are you going to wire that in? That simple issue drove me towards the iCom radio because it has three mono audio inputs. However, I gave up the monitor feature of the Garmin radio. (I know, the new iCom has this feature and I am now thinking of upgrading even before my first flight.)
Things like an auto pilot can be added later but leave room for extra breakers or CB's, space on the panel, etc. (I went as far as starting the extra holes on the back side of the panel so that in the future it will be easy to drill them through and they will line up with the existing holes.)
Good luck