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iDriveX · Jul 15, 2003, 09:00 AM

According to a press release listed on the front page of MacNN and other news sites, Apple has teamed up with Volkswagen to offer an "elegant solution" where when you purchase a new Beetle (excluding the convertible model) you get a free iPod and the iPod Connection Kit for the Beetle (a retail $600.00). Has anyone seen how they are mounting the iPod in the Beetle? Anyone know if you can buy the iPod connection kit at any Volkswagen Dealer? I'm sure it would work with any car and is just some sort of redesigned dock, if not the same dock everyone has just pasted somewhere in the car with the line out going to the stereo.

benb · Jul 15, 2003, 11:00 AM

I thought you got mad and left for good.

::maroma:: · Jul 15, 2003, 11:13 AM

Originally posted by iDriveX:
According to a press release listed on the front page of MacNN and other news sites, Apple has teamed up with Volkswagen to offer an "elegant solution" where when you purchase a new Beetle (excluding the convertible model) you get a free iPod and the iPod Connection Kit for the Beetle (a retail $600.00). Has anyone seen how they are mounting the iPod in the Beetle? Anyone know if you can buy the iPod connection kit at any Volkswagen Dealer? I'm sure it would work with any car and is just some sort of redesigned dock, if not the same dock everyone has just pasted somewhere in the car with the line out going to the stereo.

I'm wondering the same thing. I would jump all over that if you could get it separately.

GORDYmac · Jul 15, 2003, 11:21 AM

[Off Topic] I've heard that the Beetle is in trouble, and that VW has already planned to cease production next year. Seems like a cool car.

Zim · Jul 15, 2003, 11:41 AM

You may want to check/join this thread...

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=936522

escher · Jul 15, 2003, 01:11 PM

Originally posted by Zim:
You may want to check/join this thread...

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=936522

In addition to the full press release, the VWVortex website has a great picture of an iPod and New Beetle in action.

Looks good to me! Like everyone else, I wonder whether this "connectivity kit" is available separately. A well-integrated car solution is one of the elements that has been holding up my iPod purchase.

It's a shame the free iPod offer doesn't work with the New Beetle Convertible. But those are probably selling like hotcakes without any promos.

Escher

The Placid Casual · Jul 15, 2003, 02:38 PM

Beetle? Wrong image to me...

Now a Cooper S on the other hand....

AssassyN · Jul 15, 2003, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by The Placid Casual:
Beetle? Wrong image to me...

Now a Cooper S on the other hand....

Oooooh yes! *drool*

I drove a Mini Cooper S and it was nothing short of awesome...the 6 speed manual is a dream. If only the interest rates would have been a touch lower...

Sorry, to the topic, I hope they do offer these as stand-alone parts and that they'll somehow fit in other vehicles as well.

Zim · Jul 15, 2003, 09:35 PM

Having been a VW onwer for almost 20 years, and a vortex member since 99, I don't think there is anything that VW has brought out (even just to European markets) that someone at vortex has not found a way to get and install in the US. Methinks a question to vwguild may be in order...

Only possible complication I can forsee would be a different head unit.

I'll start a thread over at ClubB5 too (for Passat owners)

Mike

Commodus · Jul 16, 2003, 11:15 AM

I believe you can actually get an aftermarket connector kit to hook up an iPod to a Mini Cooper or Cooper S. Not a bad idea, since I don't think TOO many people are going to buy a car because it comes with an iPod.

JB72 · Jul 16, 2003, 05:38 PM

Originally posted by The Placid Casual:
Beetle? Wrong image to me...

Now a Cooper S on the other hand....

That was my first thought

.

Steve · Jul 16, 2003, 11:24 PM

Originally posted by Zim:
Having been a VW onwer for almost 20 years, and a vortex member since 99, I don't think there is anything that VW has brought out (even just to European markets) that someone at vortex has not found a way to get and install in the US. Methinks a question to vwguild may be in order...

Only possible complication I can forsee would be a different head unit.

I'll start a thread over at ClubB5 too (for Passat owners)

Mike

I've been a VW owner for about 3 years, and a member of the Vortex for about the same amount

. What is your nick over there? I mostly hang out in the G/JIII forum, and read the Car Lounge and Computers.

Anyways, if this device is as cool as it COULD be, it WILL be brought to the American market. The influence that the Vortex actually has over something like this is pretty incredible, and along with a bunch of Mac users, will probably result in something that is definetly needed.

blybug · Jul 18, 2003, 03:58 PM

To see exactly how the connection kit works, and that for the most part it's really nothing that special:

Click here

then click on "the deal". It appears the connection kit is the middle of the 3 "things" and it simply combines several accessories already available separately, with a cool new custom-fit mount by Belkin that fits in the Beetle's cup holder. Pretty nifty, something I'd pay $100 to get everything all in one package, though I'd really just like the cup-holder thingy.

This thread on the Apple iPod forums summarizes my frustrating attempts to get some information about the availability of this kit as a separate item.

Go figure...2 underdog companies I've supported for 2 decades, finally get together and I can't play because I already OWN the 2 items in question!! But I won't be scraping the Apple sticker off the back of my Beetle

Incidentally for those Beetle/iPod owners out there looking for a neat gadget, this thing lets you patch into the CD changer hookup in the trunk. You can then run a standard stereo mini jack up to the front of the car, plug in any audio device you want including the iPod, set the head unit to "CD" and play! This avoids the need for a cassette adapter and the sound is much better. I've been using it for 2 years, first with a CD player, then a Nomad Jukebox, now with my iPod. It's just that there's still no obvious place to PUT the iPod!

::maroma:: · Jul 18, 2003, 04:21 PM

Originally posted by blybug:
It's just that there's still no obvious place to PUT the iPod!

This is also my dilemma. I have a VW, and I am getting an iPod. I already have the connection kit that you are speaking of (running from CD changer hookup), but no good place to put the iPod when I'm driving. The 3rd party holders made for things like Palm devices are bulky and ugly. I'm looking for something discrete. Hopefully someone will answer the call!

ulmer · Jul 18, 2003, 09:58 PM

I have a Jetta and the CD Changer input to line in converter. It works great except that the stereo reverts to the in-dash CD or FM (depending on if there is a CD in) every time I turn the car off and back on. Not that big of a deal but annoying to get back in and have to mess with the source selection every time. I had a similar converter in an Audi previously and had it always defaulted back the the CD changer input. Anyone have this same problem or suggestions to prevent this?

I keep the ipod in the center armrest and it fit's pretty nicely. Also hides it from view when the car is parked...

michaelb · Jul 19, 2003, 07:07 AM

I just want to know...

Do a lot of elegant women listen to The Polyphonic Spree?

Welcome to my playlist then!

voyageur · Jul 19, 2003, 10:59 AM

I can't play because I already OWN the 2 items in question!! But I won't be scraping the Apple sticker off the back of my Beetle

Another beetle here with an apple sticker! I'll look for your bug if I'm ever down in TX (me: red beetle w/ rainbow apple sticker)

Captain Obvious · Jul 20, 2003, 10:10 PM

I don't get it. They can make a jacket with a great interface to control an iPod but this car kit is the best they can do?
If they made a stereo deck that could control an iPod from a car trunk I'd pay money for it. This is a very sad "innovation" from Apple.

-Q- · Jul 21, 2003, 08:51 AM

I don't think this is an engineering project. Sounds more like a marketing gimmick to see if they can spur sales of the New Beetle (which I understand aren't doing as great as VW would like). Heck, I don't even know that Apple designed the cupholder. Could have been VWs project entirely. Either way, they probably wanted to keep costs down for a marketing promotion in case it doesn't do well, hence the lack of a cool holder.

ASIMO · Jul 21, 2003, 05:43 PM

Originally posted by Captain Obvious:
I don't get it. They can make a jacket with a great interface to control an iPod but this car kit is the best they can do?
If they made a stereo deck that could control an iPod from a car trunk I'd pay money for it. This is a very sad "innovation" from Apple.

Captain Presumptuous, what evidence have you that Apple had any part in "making" this $600 bait?

-Cpt. Debunker