What have you done to your car today?

Akagi · 14 Oct 2017 at 17:15

New knobs all round. Well the E30 one is the original, re-trimmed in new leather. (not perfect, I did it.) - And the chrome thing won't be to everyones taste (and its not got the collar done up fully in this pic either

) - I just had it laying around and thought I'd switch it.

Dis86 · 14 Oct 2017 at 17:31

Yeah...that chrome sex toy isn't attractive.

Akagi · 14 Oct 2017 at 17:37

The only part of the Shedica/Celicant which I still have.

I had a Mishimoto Rockstar on there before! Stupid thing... I won it in a competition...

Diagro · 14 Oct 2017 at 19:32

Found the knocking... Was the caliper bolts! Were loose ffs

Blackhawk47 · 14 Oct 2017 at 20:10

That will be fun when its sunny and hot.

mjt · 14 Oct 2017 at 22:25

Why?

Akagi · 14 Oct 2017 at 22:41

I've already taken it off, it ****ed me off for the opposite reason. Too damn cold!

And it looked crap. I don't like the stock knob too much though, looking at OE alternatives atm. Wondering if a GT86 knob will fit.

mjt · 14 Oct 2017 at 22:44

Get a stubby

Akagi · 14 Oct 2017 at 22:47

Got one.

... Oh right

OR....... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/White-Dre...:GT+86&hash=item2cc573aca2:g:Cp0AAOSwFM1Zdb49 :eek:

mjt · 14 Oct 2017 at 22:52

Dare you

MichaelAwkward · 14 Oct 2017 at 22:53

Fitted new plates (goodbye privates), and an active antenna to try and get the sat nav working.

IC3 · 14 Oct 2017 at 23:10

Fitted a DAB radio along with the antenna, got it for £25 delivered to my front door... Whilst getting the antenna, saw the price in Halfords. Do people really pay £140 for radios like this?

Akagi · 14 Oct 2017 at 23:18

Apparently so.

I don't see why though. I bought a Sony car radio new for £35, it sounded decent, had an aux and USB input, and didn't look ****. Had it in three cars. I've had those £150~ jobbies come with a couple of cars now and I can honestly say that they look and feel crap... They just have RGB lights, DAB, bluetooth, hands-free, and a bunch of other stuff crammed in. None of which works particularly well or is particularly easy to use...

IC3 · 14 Oct 2017 at 23:31

DAB is easy to use, it setups up itself and finds all the channels (someone will probably correct my terminology) with most radio stations on. It does feel cheap, I wouldn't pay more than 50-60 for it, if it was brand new.

http://www.halfords.com/technology/car-audio/dab-car-stereos/pioneer-deh-x7800dab-car-stereo

I think the guy didn't know how to change the language, as the radio was in Russian when I got it. Good thing is, I still remember some...

BTW I'm not Russian.

agw_01 · 14 Oct 2017 at 23:38

Acme said:
I don't see why though. I bought a Sony car radio new for £35, it sounded decent, had an aux and USB input, and didn't look ****. Had it in three cars. I've had those £150~ jobbies come with a couple of cars now and I can honestly say that they look and feel crap... They just have RGB lights, DAB, bluetooth, hands-free, and a bunch of other stuff crammed in. None of which works particularly well or is particularly easy to use...

I can assure you, unless your £35 brand new Sony head unit was from eBay as old stock, it's crap

And yes, because all a £150 head unit has to offer is flashy lights and DAB, BT and hands free. Ok, scrap the flashy lights, but the other stuff is actually quite useful. Not to mention (from my experience with my £150 Pioneer DEH-X9600BT), 4v pre-outs, 5 band EQ, multiple rear USB ports, high resolution display. Sod it, I'm going to throw it in the bin and buy a £35 Sony instead.

I bet you'd even turn your nose up at a P77MP because it doesn't have USB ports!

IC3 · 14 Oct 2017 at 23:43

How many of those functions, do you actually use on your daily commute?

I use DAB and Bluetooth paired with Spotify (you can control the songs via the radio controls, pretty handy).

agw_01 · 14 Oct 2017 at 23:58

Since when was a car just about commuting?

Anyway, as my commute is 50 miles each way I've been able to compare between my Impreza with the DEH-X9600BT and my ZT with a DEH-1500UB. The X9600BT having multiple rear USB ports, BT, handsfree and a much better display.

I can 100% say that the X9600BT is a far superior and easier unit to use than the 1500UB. The ZT has a separate hands free kit installed and is always interrupting the music because it thinks I've asked it do something. Never had this with the 9600.

The rear USB ports are aesthetically cleaner and means I can run multiple sticks at once. Also, no USB drive sticking out the front of the dash. If I don't fancy listening to the radio, I can stream directly from YouTube to the 9600 via BT. No need to plug an AUX cable into the front of the head unit.

The display (3 lines instead of 1) is also so much nicer to use. Both headunits have a 5 band EQ but the 1500UB is not as aesthetically pleasing, the 9600 takes me back to my P80MP days in terms of its menu/EQ layout. It's just a nicer experience.

The 9600 does have something called MixTrax which causes the unit to cycle colours and attempt to mix tracks itself. I agree with Acme on this sort of feature which in my case, is absolutely turned off.

I spend more time in the MG than I do in the Scoob, and am always longing for the features that the 9600 has to offer.

IC3 · 15 Oct 2017 at 00:52

agw_01 said:
Since when was a car just about commuting?

Weren't cars created for getting from A to B faster and easier, no?

agw_01 · 15 Oct 2017 at 13:45

IC3 said:
Weren't cars created for getting from A to B faster and easier, no?

Yes, but going from A to B isn't always about the commute to work. I think I'm missing the point

adam cool dude · 15 Oct 2017 at 15:19

DAB seems like a great idea but seeing how cheap data is on mobile phones I think it will die fast. I normally listen to kiss/tory and radio x through my phone.