RANT: Why do car manufacturers have to integrate the stereo so much with the dash

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ILikeStuff

Senior member
Jan 7, 2003
476
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<Rant> Know what I really HATE about the newer automobiles, the newer Nissans in particular... the damn intergration of the stereo into the dash(or worse yet, the way Ford make the stereo and climate controls all 1 unit). It 's going to make it a pain in the a$$ to replace it w/ a nice aftermarket system. That really pisses me off! Take the 2004 Maxima (look at the 4th pic down on the left in the gallery at the bottom of the page)i, for the entire lower half of the center console, you have the CD slot and the tape player and then further down some sort of storage compartment and it's all one piece. That is gunna be a b!tch to get a single din aftermarket stereo in there and actually make it look half way decent. </Rant>


<-----Nissan fanboii w/ a boomin system in his Maxima
 
M

mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
7,804
1
0
Originally posted by: ILikeStuff
<Rant> Know what I really HATE about the newer automobiles, the newer Nissans in particular... the damn intergration of the stereo into the dash(or worse yet, the way Ford make the stereo and climate controls all 1 unit). It 's going to make it a pain in the a$$ to replace it w/ a nice aftermarket system. That really pisses me off! Take the 2004 Maxima (look at the 4th pic down on the left in the gallery at the bottom of the page)i, for the entire lower half of the center console, you have the CD slot and the tape player and then further down some sort of storage compartment and it's all one piece. That is gunna be a b!tch to get a single din aftermarket stereo in there and actually make it look half way decent. </Rant>


<-----Nissan fanboii w/ a boomin system in his Maxima
Click to expand...


Heh..don't look in the dash of the new Mazda 6 then...
 
J

Jombo

Golden Member
Aug 19, 2001
1,048
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0
yup that's an issue, did you look at cars w/ nav systems? even worse, the controls are built into the nav system, so good luck.
 
rudeguy

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
its because they want to give you more features, but run outa dash room...unless you're an installer...then they do it just to piss ya off
 
A

Alternex

Senior member
Oct 9, 1999
531
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0
So what can you do if you have a car like this? Let's say I wanted to listlen to MP3s, can I add a CD Changer that plays MP3s in the truck that broadcasts the audio so you can listlen to it on your radio?
 
I

ILikeStuff

Senior member
Jan 7, 2003
476
0
0
Originally posted by: rudeguy5757
its because they want to give you more features, but run outa dash room...unless you're an installer...then they do it just to piss ya off
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only an installer on my own car ;)

features are overrated :) I just want a kickass sound system

plus, did you look at how much room they leave on the center dash... it's crazy, you've got a ton of empty space and all they put there is the cd slot and the tape slot... ghey
 
B

Beau

Lifer
Jun 25, 2001
17,730
0
76
www.beauscott.com
If they'd just start putting things like RCA adapters on the back for external amps, and maybe a set for auxillary input for your MP3 keg or whatever, it really wouldn't be that big of a deal.

On a side note, I'd be pissed if I was a aftermarket car stereo manufacturer.
 
W

WarSong

Golden Member
Jan 16, 2002
1,147
0
0
Originally posted by: Beau
If they'd just start putting things like RCA adapters on the back for external amps, and maybe a set for auxillary input for your MP3 keg or whatever, it really wouldn't be that big of a deal.

On a side note, I'd be pissed if I was a aftermarket car stereo manufacturer.
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yeah that would be nice. leaving the stereo stock wouldn't be so bad then.
 
A

Alistar7

Lifer
May 13, 2002
11,978
0
0
although the number and quality of recievers is limited, Crutchfield will include for free all adapters and most importantly, wiring clips that match your facotry plugs to your replacement deck....
 
NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,177
647
126
I know exactly what you mean. Mazda6 is a great lookin car and I thought it was great, until I saw that dash. I cringe at the thought of having to use a stock stereo. Unfortunately, I don't think the demand will be high enough from the public that manufacturers will change. I think we all need to start writing letters to Honda, Mazda, Nissan, etc... While it might not be many letters, not too many write to begin with so they should at least take some notice.
 
StageLeft

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Because it does look nicer if you don't do a swap and the fact is the vast majority of car owners will never do a swap with their factory system, so the manufacturers just don't care much.
 
I

ILikeStuff

Senior member
Jan 7, 2003
476
0
0
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Because it does look nicer if you don't do a swap and the fact is the vast majority of car owners will never do a swap with their factory system, so the manufacturers just don't care much.
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all I can say to that is... B4st4rds!!
 
M

mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
7,804
1
0
Originally posted by: NutBucket
I know exactly what you mean. Mazda6 is a great lookin car and I thought it was great, until I saw that dash. I cringe at the thought of having to use a stock stereo. Unfortunately, I don't think the demand will be high enough from the public that manufacturers will change. I think we all need to start writing letters to Honda, Mazda, Nissan, etc... While it might not be many letters, not too many write to begin with so they should at least take some notice.
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can't you keep the headunit and just change the speakers and amps though?
 
C

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
0
hahah, just like the pod on the tauruses and escorts!
ugly as hell, and not very friendly for upgrades.
 
NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,177
647
126
Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
Originally posted by: NutBucket
I know exactly what you mean. Mazda6 is a great lookin car and I thought it was great, until I saw that dash. I cringe at the thought of having to use a stock stereo. Unfortunately, I don't think the demand will be high enough from the public that manufacturers will change. I think we all need to start writing letters to Honda, Mazda, Nissan, etc... While it might not be many letters, not too many write to begin with so they should at least take some notice.
Click to expand...

can't you keep the headunit and just change the speakers and amps though?
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Lets see, my current HU, 2 years old and $300 when I bought it, has 10x more adjustments then any factory system. The thing about factory HU's is that they lack adjustments and lack preamp outputs/inputs. So if you want to use amps you have to use line-level inputs (crap) and if you want to add something else like a MP3-changer you need to use an FM modulator (crap). Furthermore, if I spent the same $1000 on the car manufacturers "premium" system, I still wouldn't get as much as I do going out and buying my own equipment.
 
NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,177
647
126
Originally posted by: Yield
hahah, just like the pod on the tauruses and escorts!
ugly as hell, and not very friendly for upgrades.
Click to expand...

But that pod was still removeable and there's a nice kit for it. Look at the maxima and 6, you'd literall have to cut up the dash to get anything else in there or to even get the stock one out:|
 
K

kyutip

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2000
1,729
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0
I thought I'm alone in this regard.
We know that they stick the cheapest crap in there anyway.
For me, upgrading HU is pretty important criteria in selecting a new car.
I think it is going to take a whole heap of mods and moola to change the HU on the new Maxima or Mazda6 or other cars like that.
It's a shame that car makers do not make this (HU) as an option.
I'd gladly take a new Maxima without any HU and take off $500 from sticker price.
 
N

nguyendot1

Senior member
Mar 31, 2003
325
0
0
You guys bought the car, DEAL with it.. geez you rant about it, and its your own fault for buying the car. If you're REALLY serious about your car audio, then nothing is 'too much of a problem' to install a new HU into your car. You guys seem very eager to change it, and very serious about ur audio..so do whatever it takes to change the hu... If you're worried about anything else, you're not serious, and you shouldn't complain about something you bought on the car. You bought it to work, it works. Car companies don't design their cars for aftermarket systems, mind you. You have to design the system to your car.

I put a lot of work into making my system feasible, and it is well worth it. Just get some custom work done and it'll look tons better than if you just slide a HU into the dash and call it good.
 
Ryan

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
2
81
Originally posted by: nguyendot1
You guys bought the car, DEAL with it.. geez you rant about it, and its your own fault for buying the car. If you're REALLY serious about your car audio, then nothing is 'too much of a problem' to install a new HU into your car. You guys seem very eager to change it, and very serious about ur audio..so do whatever it takes to change the hu... If you're worried about anything else, you're not serious, and you shouldn't complain about something you bought on the car. You bought it to work, it works. Car companies don't design their cars for aftermarket systems, mind you. You have to design the system to your car. I put a lot of work into making my system feasible, and it is well worth it. Just get some custom work done and it'll look tons better than if you just slide a HU into the dash and call it good.
Click to expand...

rolleye.gif
You're dumb ;)
 
NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,177
647
126
Originally posted by: nguyendot1
You guys bought the car, DEAL with it.. geez you rant about it, and its your own fault for buying the car. If you're REALLY serious about your car audio, then nothing is 'too much of a problem' to install a new HU into your car. You guys seem very eager to change it, and very serious about ur audio..so do whatever it takes to change the hu... If you're worried about anything else, you're not serious, and you shouldn't complain about something you bought on the car. You bought it to work, it works. Car companies don't design their cars for aftermarket systems, mind you. You have to design the system to your car.

I put a lot of work into making my system feasible, and it is well worth it. Just get some custom work done and it'll look tons better than if you just slide a HU into the dash and call it good.
Click to expand...

Shut up. You missed the point completely. Anything can be accomplished w/ money but why should I spend $500+ just to make it feasible to upgrade the stereo. That's ridiculous. Stupid n00b:disgust:
 
M

mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
7,804
1
0
Well the new Sentra should work out for you guys since they offer an AUX IN jack on their headunits.
 
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