The Automotive Thread

[Dexman PE PMP]

Dex you know anything about "car toys" they seem to be a local shop and are advertising a free install this month for car audio? there is one in boulder, but I am kind of hesitant to let some pot smoking hippie tie wires in my car ?

They're just a smaller version of Best Buy who only deal in Car audio and cell phones (similar selection & prices). You can safely extend your thoughts of Best Buy to them. Usually they're pretty good about getting everything installed properly. Only reason I'd go to a shop is the fact that if anything is broken during the install or if it doesn't work, they have to fix it (including dashboard parts) and I have a bad track record with trying to take those stupid plastic clips apart.

 

[mudpuppy]

I'm excited about the new Chevy Colorado--depending on fuel economy and price I might just have to start looking for one of those in a few years. I just can't justify a full-sized truck due to the fuel economy (not to mention sticker price).

 

[Capt Worley PE]

^The Colly looks waaaaay better than I guessed, based on the Rest of the World model.

The z71 looks badass.

 

[Supe]

The new Colorado is ugly as sin. Grill looks like a Cobalt crashed into a wall, and that windshield swept back for about a mile is heinous.

 

[mudpuppy]

I assume the swept back windshield is for aerodynamics since they're attempting to get pretty good mileage out of it.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

The new Colorado is ugly as sin.

Far, far better than the last one.

 

[knight1fox3]

Anyone have any good recommendations for a car stereo these days? My neighbor mentioned Alpine. I used to be pretty involved with that arena until the PC scene. And then I typically went with Pioneer products. Still do for my home theater equipment.

Anyway, so I go to Best Buy yesterday after work to see what kind of cost I'd be looking at for a new deck and custom installation. After all said and done close to $600?!?! :blink:

 

[Capt Worley PE]

^I'm not an audiophile, so usually the factory shizzit is good enough for me. If it cost more than 200 bucks, I'd probably just listen to the engine.

 

[knight1fox3]

That or maybe some headphones. I agree. But the factory is fading in and out and sometimes just goes out. But I like listening to some of the talk radio programs in the morning on my 30 min. commute to work. Decisions decisions.

 

[envirotex]

Anyone have any good recommendations for a car stereo these days? My neighbor mentioned Alpine. I used to be pretty involved with that arena until the PC scene. And then I typically went with Pioneer products. Still do for my home theater equipment.

Anyway, so I go to Best Buy yesterday after work to see what kind of cost I'd be looking at for a new deck and custom installation. After all said and done close to $600?!?! :blink:

Try Amazon or Walmart.

 

[MA_PE]

As with anyting these days you can spend a fortune if you want. Most of the newer factory units are pretty good. Look at Crutchfield online. they have a huge selection and can funnel it down to units that will be a simple install in most vehicles and they provide details installation instructions for the specific car. I have a Pioneer deck in my car and threw in some cheap aftermaket speakers in the factory location using the factory wiring.

A custom install for $600 sounds reasonable assuming it's a deck 4 speakers (are they separate woofer/tweeter/midrange too?) and installed.

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

The only complaint by most audiophiles with today's vehicles is the fact that the newer models are increasingly more difficult to go aftermarket. The stereo in my Camaro is damn near impossible to replace with anything aftermarket because of it's configuration/layout on the dash...

 

[Master slacker]

I swapped my wife's factory unit with one from a 2010 Scion. This thing is SO much better even with factory speakers. I plan to do a light upgrade when we shell out for the next child bus - HU, separates for the fronts, new rears, and a small sub. Nothing barbaric and definitely not over $500 total.

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

If I did anything else to my system (already added a 12" sub & amp), I'd probably upgrade the rear 6x9's. The rest of the system is already pretty nice.

 

[mudpuppy]

The only complaint by most audiophiles with today's vehicles is the fact that the newer models are increasingly more difficult to go aftermarket. The stereo in my Camaro is damn near impossible to replace with anything aftermarket because of it's configuration/layout on the dash...

On the other hand, factory stereos are a ton better than they used to be. Back in the 90s I did several installs and most vehicles came with crappy paper cone speakers. On the Aveo I replaced everything and honestly the factory speakers were pretty decent. Head unit was junk, though.

Back in the day Alpine was the shiizzit, but I have no idea how they stack up any more.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

The only complaint by most audiophiles with today's vehicles is the fact that the newer models are increasingly more difficult to go aftermarket. The stereo in my Camaro is damn near impossible to replace with anything aftermarket because of it's configuration/layout on the dash...

You ever see one of those radios in a Chevy Citation? Mounted sideways....

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

The only complaint by most audiophiles with today's vehicles is the fact that the newer models are increasingly more difficult to go aftermarket. The stereo in my Camaro is damn near impossible to replace with anything aftermarket because of it's configuration/layout on the dash...

On the other hand, factory stereos are a ton better than they used to be. Back in the 90s I did several installs and most vehicles came with crappy paper cone speakers. On the Aveo I replaced everything and honestly the factory speakers were pretty decent. Head unit was junk, though.

Back in the day Alpine was the shiizzit, but I have no idea how they stack up any more.

Agreed. My car actually came with a Boston Acoustics setup that would blow the doors off of the aftermarket setup I had in my previous car. It has 6 speakers (two in each front door and a pair in the rear), and the only thing it really needed was a sub, which was fairly easy to add.

 

[Flyer_PE]

Another vote for Crutchfield. I put a radio in my old truck and they included an adapter plate and wiring harness specific to the vehicle at no extra charge. All I had to do was connect the stereo harness to the adapter for the car. The wiring/soldering took under an hour on my bench. The radio install took 5 minutes. The only thing I replaced was the head unit though. The speakers were fine.

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

^^^ Dashboards are increasingly more difficult to remove too.

My last car only needed a few screws and a couple plastic clips and you could access the stereo. I have to pull the entire dashboard out of the car to work on the stereo in the Camaro...

 

[knight1fox3]

^ Amazon will install it for me? :blink: Because I would certainly do that. LOL

And Walmarts are scary in this area. LOL