Anybody with a USB port in the car??????

Ace Modder · 18 Mar 2013 at 20:02

Hi guys.

I have recently upgraded my stereo head unit in my Subaru. The stock headunit was single disc CD with no mp3 data playback and even had a cassette deck (what are you doing Subaru!!!!). Anyway I bought a new head unit back in October. I finally got round to fitting it this weekend just gone. Anyway all was good. I improved my audio output quality, the stock headunit amp was terrible. I was considering new speakers in my car, but the new Pioneer amp in the headunit is much better and makes my speaker sound twice as good as before, so I'm not going to bother now.

Anyway I got a USB drive and copied over some music and all good plays brilliantly on my headunit, however one niggly problem was that the USB pen sticks out the front of my headunit about an inch or so. It just looks terrible. So I got into OcUK this morning and had a look at what USB storage pens we had that would look good plugged in the front of my headunit. I came across the Patriot AutoBahn drives. So I bought one

Anyone after a USB pen for the car - I would 100% recommend these.

Here it is on my desk, compared to a 50pence coin

And plugged into my keyboard here

and here

The write speeds are not the best but for the price it's not the end of the world, and to be honest 16GB of music I doubt I will need to put any more stuff on soon. (Maybe 1 album every month or two - as and when I buy them)

I am going out in a short while so I will plug it into my headunit and show you a photo of the footprint that sticks out the headunit itself.

All in all I'm very happy with it.

Patriot 8GB Autobahn USB Drive

ONLY £5.98 inc VAT

Patriot 16GB Autobahn USB Drive

ONLY £9.98 inc VAT

Patriot 32GB Autobahn USB Drive

ONLY £18.98 inc VAT

Rybo89 · 18 Mar 2013 at 20:29

Great way to shift them!

I may take one ready for when my Pioneer arrives.

PhillyDee · 18 Mar 2013 at 20:30

Blatant promotion . . . .

But seriously, I never knew drives this small existed, now I know I will recommend to anyone looking for one they can easily swallow when on a spy job.

ins0mn1ac · 18 Mar 2013 at 20:35

I always lose USB drives as it is, it's the only reason I have to replace them! one of these would make stuff worse

bledd · 18 Mar 2013 at 20:38

can you do a read test, chuck a 200mb file on there then see how fast it copies back

bsoltan · 18 Mar 2013 at 20:42

But how does it look in your car?

ng93 · 18 Mar 2013 at 20:52

I've got a Kingston micro 16GB in my car, so small I don't even notice it's there.

Don't know what kind of read/write speeds it gets, but considering it's only used for music they don't really matter.

Would definitely recommend.

Sirrel Squirrel · 18 Mar 2013 at 20:54

ng93 said:
I've got a Kingston micro 16GB in my car, so small I don't even notice it's there.

Don't know what kind of read/write speeds it gets, but considering it's only used for music they don't really matter.

Would definitely recommend.

Ditto, think mine is a 32GB, write speed is slow but it's only for music.

Ace Modder · 18 Mar 2013 at 20:56

bsoltan said:
But how does it look in your car?

Here are the pics from my car (the flash has picked up the fact my car needs polishing and dusting inside

Also you may note the blanking plate for the lower half of the double din OEM headunit I bought was the wrong size lol. Correct one on order. Be here tomorrow hopefully.

Ace Modder · 18 Mar 2013 at 20:57

bledd. said:
can you do a read test, chuck a 200mb file on there then see how fast it copies back

I will do that tomorrow. It's in my car now and I cba going out to fetch it back in.

andy_mk3 · 18 Mar 2013 at 21:00

I fitted a USB port to my centre console as the USB port on my head unit is round the back. It's not a perfect job but certainly handy

LED backlit too

gillywibble · 18 Mar 2013 at 21:01

32 GB SD card and HDD.

USB is so last year.

Ace Modder · 18 Mar 2013 at 21:04

I'd be concerned with a HDD that the movement of a car would scratch/damage the HDD.

TripleT · 18 Mar 2013 at 21:04

Yer mines in my storage box between the seats so not really a concern

gillywibble · 18 Mar 2013 at 21:13

Ace Modder said:
I'd be concerned with a HDD that the movement of a car would scratch/damage the HDD.

It's built in to the unit.

PhillyDee · 18 Mar 2013 at 21:15

gillywibble said:
32 GB SD card and HDD.

USB is so last year.

Used SD cards with my previous car stereo, it was terrible.

I now just have an ipod living in the back of the glovebox, the front port has the bluetooth module in it.

HecFam · 18 Mar 2013 at 21:15

I would lose that after about 3 to 4 seconds after receiving it. Can always slap it on my Pokemon keyring, good to go.

james.miller · 18 Mar 2013 at 21:16

front mounted usb ports on a headunit......what a retarded design. I will never understand it.

Ace Modder · 18 Mar 2013 at 21:22

james.miller said:
front mounted usb ports on a headunit......what a retarded design. I will never understand it.

I know, my old headunit was rear USB, made more sense. But when I was looking at a new headunit in my current car the price of this offer at Halfrauds was too good to pass up. Thats after I have always said I would not get a headunit with a front USB port - taking up the rear is much preferable lol :eek:

PhillyDee · 18 Mar 2013 at 21:24

Mine has both front and rear, and since the bluetooth module is USB, and needs to be in all the time, it means you always have an unsightly module sticking out the front as I much prefer to have the ipod stashed away!