Touch screen head unit in an old softop
Discussion
As per the thread title, I have an NA MX5 with a headunit that's showing it's age. I'd like to replace it with something a little more up to date, like the Kenwood ddx-3023 touchscreen head unit. Being an older softop car it can occasionally feel a little damp inside despite the roof being in good nick. Would a more modern headunit be prone to problems in a car like this? If anyone has experience of this I'd be interested to hear how you got on. Not too concerned regarding security of the headunit, more the potential for it having issues.
Mods, I've put this in the general section rather than MX5 chat as it's applicable to other cars than just MX5's.
Mods, I've put this in the general section rather than MX5 chat as it's applicable to other cars than just MX5's.
Read a lot of reviews and make sure the screen is going to be visible with the roof down.
(Also, buy an older head unit. You'll save money, your music will sound exactly the same, it definitely won't get nicked and it will be in keeping with the car. After market touchscreen head units are for chavs.)
(Also, buy an older head unit. You'll save money, your music will sound exactly the same, it definitely won't get nicked and it will be in keeping with the car. After market touchscreen head units are for chavs.)
I had a double-din JVC jobby. The main controls are on the right - nearest the driver - and these are still buttons / knobs, so you can adjust volume etc. without looking down or stabbing aimlessly at a touch-screen.
One thing I really liked about that head unit was that if you parked in a dodgey looking area the whole screen came off and could be stowed in a little draw-string bag. I'd go for a similar removable fascia especially fitting it to something as easy to break into as an NA Mx5...
For what it's worth though, you have to spend mega-money to get the equivalent performance of a single-din and the main advantage of the big screen is to show off and watch films on the fly. The novelty quickly wore off. I preffered the single-din Pioneer with better spec and a BMW E30 clock/cubby-hole setup beneath it on my MX...
This is the best picture I could find -
One thing I really liked about that head unit was that if you parked in a dodgey looking area the whole screen came off and could be stowed in a little draw-string bag. I'd go for a similar removable fascia especially fitting it to something as easy to break into as an NA Mx5...
For what it's worth though, you have to spend mega-money to get the equivalent performance of a single-din and the main advantage of the big screen is to show off and watch films on the fly. The novelty quickly wore off. I preffered the single-din Pioneer with better spec and a BMW E30 clock/cubby-hole setup beneath it on my MX...
This is the best picture I could find -
Bennet said:
Read a lot of reviews and make sure the screen is going to be visible with the roof down.
(Also, buy an older head unit. You'll save money, your music will sound exactly the same, it definitely won't get nicked and it will be in keeping with the car. After market touchscreen head units are for chavs.)
Your first point is valid, then you seem to lose the plot. (Also, buy an older head unit. You'll save money, your music will sound exactly the same, it definitely won't get nicked and it will be in keeping with the car. After market touchscreen head units are for chavs.)
Given that a lot of MX5s came with double DIN stereos updating to a touch screen with built in cd/dvd/nav/bluetooth/handsfree/USB etcetera is a good idea.
kambites said:
I didn't even know you could get touch-screen head units, but surely it's a stupid idea? The whole point of a well-designed head unit is that you can fully operate it without taking your eyes off the road.
If the screen is well designed then you get the same effect. On mine you have small volume push buttons along a bottom bar. The rest is on the screen but the virtual buttons are big. Hook up to your smartphone and you have free sat nav apps, ipod music, Bluetooth phone and if you really wanted facebook, youtube and web browser.Bennet said:
Read a lot of reviews and make sure the screen is going to be visible with the roof down.
(Also, buy an older head unit. You'll save money, your music will sound exactly the same, it definitely won't get nicked and it will be in keeping with the car. After market touchscreen head units are for chavs.)
The problem will be when tea-leaves realise that some of the older ones can be worth a few quid(Also, buy an older head unit. You'll save money, your music will sound exactly the same, it definitely won't get nicked and it will be in keeping with the car. After market touchscreen head units are for chavs.)
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