MP3/CD player thingy...

[streetster]

evening,

seeing as i'm gonna have to be using my mums car for the next few months before i go off to uni, i was thinking about getting a resonably useful radio doohicky in there...

only real criteria is that:

- it'll work in an astra (cos it has a sketchy little 7-segment type display above the radio, not sure what happens if i were to put a new cd player in there
- its a cd player, mp3 cd player would be better as i'm not gonna get a multi changer
- erm less than £150?


what do you recommend, and what sites are there where i can have a mosey at some prices (google just throws up loads of sites.. i'm sure there is one site which has loads of bargain electronicy stuff but i cant think of its name.. arg!

cheers

mark

[Vimeous]

If it ain't your car and it has a tape player why not just get a portable with a car kit? That way you can use it in loads of other places and not loose out when she gets the car back

[unrealrocks]

If it ain't your car and it has a tape player why not just get a portable with a car kit? That way you can use it in loads of other places and not loose out when she gets the car back

Thats a pritty good idea.

If you do want to check out lots of products, try http://www.caraudiodirect.com

[unrealrocks]

From what I can find the dashboard is a standard size, you'll need a wiring convertor to use the steeringwheel/stalk buttons as thats a non standard connector (allways is, lol).

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/prod..._id=3028&tab=4 This would do you well, seeing as your keeping the stock speakers there not going to be great quality or greatly powerful. At a guess that'll do 35Watt sine as it quotes 50Watt peak.

[streetster]

empiredirect.co.uk was the site i was trying to think of last night.. stupid brain wasnt working then, kinda is now

If it ain't your car and it has a tape player why not just get a portable with a car kit? That way you can use it in loads of other places and not loose out when she gets the car back

thing is, i would be sharing the car, and then when i went to uni have no car (cos southampton dont seem to let you as a 1st year), so i wouldnt be losing out - if/when i get a new car i would put the cd player into the new car, leaving mum with her slightly knackered radio/tape player.

speakers is another point, but i doubt there is any point using anything but stock speakers so 50w peak should be fine..

From what I can find the dashboard is a standard size, you'll need a wiring convertor to use the steeringwheel/stalk buttons as thats a non standard connector

there are no buttons on the steering wheel, so no problems there, i was just wondering about the whole display thing above the radio (which has radio station/temperature/clock on it) - its a N reg astra, not one of the newer ones.

anyhow i'll have a look around some sites - cheers for the links buddy

mark


edit picture of thing i'm talking about above radio off google

[dkmech]

What a "tasteful" wooden trim...

[Rave]

thing is, i would be sharing the car, and then when i went to uni have no car (cos southampton dont seem to let you as a 1st year)

Sorry to go OT, but as far as I can see, although Southampton say that you're not allowed a car in the first year there's really not much they can do to stop you bringing one and parking it in a side street outside halls. I knew a few people that did that when I was there. Equally though, I didn't have a car in my first year, and didn't miss it at all, it's a piece of cake to cycle everywhere. In fact, although I had a car in the second year, I hardly used it then. Once you factor parking in, you can get pretty much anywhere in the university, or into the centre of town, as quick or quicker by bike. There are lots of shortcuts across the common.

Try and get into the Glen Eyre/Chamberlain/Hartley halls, they're nearer the campus. The Wessex lane halls (Montefiore, Stoneham, Connaught) are a bit of a trek and they're in a crappier area.

Rich :¬)

[streetster]

going OT is fine when it helps me like i said, i wouldnt have a car, i cant see a need for one if i'm gonna be on campus the first year - maybe when i move out of halls it may be useful (unless i cycle/rely on public transport)... when do i get to choose what hall i want to go in - or is it pot luck, and i'll only maybe get in them if i ask nicely?

[Barakka]

If you change the radio the display will just show Temp/Time and nothing else.

But you can get convertor boxes for Sony stereos which will display the radio station name or CD Text name in the display if you want it to, but they're probably about £50 ish...

The adaptors are made by Connects2 (http://www.connects2.com/c2products.asp#STALKDISP) but sold through McHellfords and ICE shops.

Hope this helps

[Vimeous]

The longer without a car the more you save. Besides that you'll become the local taxi if you have one in the first year. Best to wait until you're off campus

[daniel_owen_uk]

picture of thing i'm talking about above radio off google

Mate I hate to be the one to have to break this to you, but some scumbag has swapped the steering wheel onto the wrong side

[streetster]

*sigh* lol, its stolen of google! its not my car lol!...

anyhow, more cd players need to be listed looks & functions is gonna be the deciding-ness... i'm getting paid on friday aswell so even more moneys to burn

mark


edit:

how about that ? £127.99 inc shipping?

[Lowe]

www.celdirect.com

Doubt you'll beat their prices and you'll be able to get the headunit and the adapter

[streetster]

£114.99 + £12 shipping saving a whole £1, bargain..

and the adaptor

adaptor for what... i have zero knowledge of cars and their electronic stuff, so you'll have to bear with me... will i need some kind of adaptor to use that cdplayer with the car? im really confused

mark

[dkmech]

Some cars have different connectors for the stereos. I had to get an adaptor for my 106. Basically check what the connector on new stereo is and see if u need an adaptor for the make of your car

[streetster]

ok, makes sense, i'll have a butchers on google see what i can see... maybe the actual car manual would help too i'm guessing looks like work for me to do instead of you guys