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spalding12 · Sep 25, 2003, 06:05 AM

just wondering if anyone knows of auto manufacturers who have standard audio inputs on new cars, allowing easier IPOD use in their vehicles...

i know that the new beattle must, because of the advertising campaign and free IPOD with that purchase....
and i think i saw one in a HONDA ELEMENT recently on the showroom floor.

any others come to mind?

thanks so much in advance

greg

subego · Sep 25, 2003, 10:58 AM

Those are the only 2 I know of. More are no doubt coming.

Best option is still to ditch the mfr's head unit, and buy a new one. JVC makes one that I have and don't really like, but it has a front panel mini input.

southtdi · Sep 25, 2003, 11:57 AM

Actually the New Beetle doesn't have an input. They just use a cassette adapter.

boardsurfer · Sep 25, 2003, 11:59 AM

The Honda Element (albeit ugly as heck) has a mini-in on the face of the stock stereo. Only one I know of.

edit: should have read more closely

subego · Sep 25, 2003, 12:14 PM

Originally posted by southtdi:
Actually the New Beetle doesn't have an input. They just use a cassette adapter.

tooki · Sep 25, 2003, 01:56 PM

Check Macintouch's iPod reader report. Half of it revolves around this very topic.

tooki

rishio · Sep 25, 2003, 04:50 PM

the minicouper comes with aux-in as an option when you build it:

http://www.miniusa.com/crm/load_mini.jsp

Most car audio players have aux input in the back. I am getting a cable and am going to connect the aux cable to the back of my $100 car stereo so i can connect it to the ipod (when i get the ipod)

Originally posted by tooki:
Check Macintouch's iPod reader report. Half of it revolves around this very topic.

tooki

spalding12 · Sep 25, 2003, 05:19 PM

Originally posted by tooki:
Check Macintouch's iPod reader report. Half of it revolves around this very topic.

tooki

thanks for that info
i was just looking at the macintouch site... the first time for me, but i can't find the exact article of which you speak

can you please direct me to it when you have a chance

thanks again in advance...

greg

spalding12 · Sep 25, 2003, 05:20 PM

Originally posted by subego:
Those are the only 2 I know of. More are no doubt coming.

Best option is still to ditch the mfr's head unit, and buy a new one. JVC makes one that I have and don't really like, but it has a front panel mini input.

a new head unit would be ideal, but i lease my cars and that is NOT an option available to me, unfortunately.

greg

spalding12 · Sep 25, 2003, 05:22 PM

Originally posted by southtdi:
Actually the New Beetle doesn't have an input. They just use a cassette adapter.

i can't believe that....
how pathetic...
and with that expensive advertising campaign and free ipod with the purchase of the new car...

greg

spalding12 · Sep 25, 2003, 05:23 PM

Originally posted by boardsurfer:
The Honda Element (albeit ugly as heck) has a mini-in on the face of the stock stereo. Only one I know of.

edit: should have read more closely

strangely enough, i used to think the same thing about that Honda Element... then i saw one in person... especially the one in that red-brick color/2-tone... it was quite nice. yes, it IS rather utilitarian on the inside (and the relatively low price reflects just that)... but, for WHAT it is, it isn't too bad in my mind.

greg

shrink · Sep 25, 2003, 10:24 PM

A few months ago I listed a few inexpensive aftermarket headunits with front aux inputs in this thread:

http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.p...;highlight=rsx

I'll also posted some pics of my iPod car install here:

http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread...ght=ipod+mount

However, as mentioned above, I don't know of too many other cars besides the Element that have front aux inputs in the stock stereo system.

pjmurphy · Sep 26, 2003, 05:18 AM

Originally posted by spalding12:
a new head unit would be ideal, but i lease my cars and that is NOT an option available to me, unfortunately.

greg

greg:

I always lease my cars and I have changed out the stereo many times. You simply keep the mfg. unit and de-install your when your lease is up..

spalding12 · Sep 26, 2003, 08:03 AM

i should have started doing that years and leases ago. thanks

greg

ph0ust · Sep 26, 2003, 10:58 AM

Originally posted by subego:
Those are the only 2 I know of. More are no doubt coming.

Best option is still to ditch the mfr's head unit, and buy a new one. JVC makes one that I have and don't really like, but it has a front panel mini input.

actually there are other options. on the back of pretty much all head units are one of two things- an aux input and/or a cd changer aux input. there are adapters for both of these, one is made by blitzsafe and one is made by autotoys. both are about $80. i am getting the autotoys aux input adapter for my audi. they claim you can even control your ipod with the steering wheel controls. i will post when it is done.