RE: Ferrari future proofs its used fleet
Discussion
This :
A few points re previous comments though.
1. You do need a radio.. even in a Ferrari.. you are not driving at 7k RPM all the time.. and when cruising on the continent to South of France or stuck in traffic a radio can be a huge relief..
2. The Becker unit (at least in the latest iterations) already has BT (and it pairs with an iPhone 4+) and ipod connection..
keith2.2 said:
1)
Surely an elegant, future-proof solution that Ferrari COULD have developed, if they could be arsed, would have been an LCD replacement for the Rev-counter - which could have been switchable for nav and radio info (heck, it could even have been programmed to auto-switch to RPM at 70% max revs or under full throttle for extra "trick" status) - controllable from a single DIN DAB compatible headunit to reflect the original design. This latter solution may even have been worth the eye-watering price.
That would have been a proper engineering solution, probably even full dashboard a la 458 keeping the physical rev-counter. And not a dire, chavvy, tacky and awful looking solution. But probably investment cost of developing that would not have been repaid by people taking the upgrade ? Although that is something people would have considered as opposed to this, although I wonder how it would have been to just install a TFT based set-up broadly ready-to-go as on the 458 ?? Surely an elegant, future-proof solution that Ferrari COULD have developed, if they could be arsed, would have been an LCD replacement for the Rev-counter - which could have been switchable for nav and radio info (heck, it could even have been programmed to auto-switch to RPM at 70% max revs or under full throttle for extra "trick" status) - controllable from a single DIN DAB compatible headunit to reflect the original design. This latter solution may even have been worth the eye-watering price.
A few points re previous comments though.
1. You do need a radio.. even in a Ferrari.. you are not driving at 7k RPM all the time.. and when cruising on the continent to South of France or stuck in traffic a radio can be a huge relief..
2. The Becker unit (at least in the latest iterations) already has BT (and it pairs with an iPhone 4+) and ipod connection..
Craikeybaby said:
I agree, it would be interesting to hear the editorial reasoning behind running this story, I notice it isn't a regular PH writer and it does seem very advertorial, not really what is expected from PH.
Yes it is clearly an 'advertorial' and I think as such should be labelled so; like in magazines or when companies run adverts dressed up as programmes on American TV.Shame on PH.
I, for one, will be cancelling my subscription!
Yours Sincerely,
Disgruntled of St Albans.
I WISH said:
Incorrect information. The government were originally working towards a target switch over date of 2015 .... but the great British public have voted with their tuning knobs and stuck firmly with analogue .... predominantly FM.
As with many new tech things digital radio promises loads but doesn't deliver the goods. The sound quality is not as good as a quality FM set and the coverage is still patchy. Add to this poorer battery life, expensive up front costs and very poor penetration into the motor industry and you have what amounts to an embarrasing failure.
It is now by no means certain that a switch over will happen at all. The government may be forced into a compromise situation where the two platforms will continue to co-exist.
I'm sure that I'm not alone in having at least seven FM radios dotted around the house ..... plus one in each of my two cars. Why the hell should I invest a small fortune replacing them for something which is inferior?
I have one DAB (and analogue) radio in the car, and a spare DAB/analogue head unit in the house from a car I no longer own. I don't know about the rest of the country, but in the South East I find DAB reception better than FM, and when I go to Somerset, DAB is the only choice for anything other than Radio 4, as there are no radio stations other than Radio 4 worth listening to once you get there.As with many new tech things digital radio promises loads but doesn't deliver the goods. The sound quality is not as good as a quality FM set and the coverage is still patchy. Add to this poorer battery life, expensive up front costs and very poor penetration into the motor industry and you have what amounts to an embarrasing failure.
It is now by no means certain that a switch over will happen at all. The government may be forced into a compromise situation where the two platforms will continue to co-exist.
I'm sure that I'm not alone in having at least seven FM radios dotted around the house ..... plus one in each of my two cars. Why the hell should I invest a small fortune replacing them for something which is inferior?
I have no radios at all in the house, as I just use the internet.
I don't see internet radio as the future in cars though. Much worse cover than DAB, and why would anyone want to pay ongoing data costs?
f328nvl said:
"Ferrari has all sorts of stuff on offer, from luggage sets to carbon ceramic brakes, all to a quality that rigorously matches production line standards."
I have a Ferrari 355. The quality of its cabin materials is famously "sticky", to the point that a casual search will list hundreds of Sticky F355 threads. Mine is here:
http://www.honestjg.com/2013/05/ferrari-355-trim-t...
As for the product: Not as bad as Aston martin's leather boxer shorts of a few years ago, but how would you use the Bluetooth phone with the roof down? Maybe a cheaper radio might be a better investment, the standard one is crap.
Not just Ferrari either, and certainly not just the F355; I have an 89' 348 with exactly the same sticky parts problem and a much newer Maserati Granturismo that went the same way after only 3 years - Maserati replaced everything under warranty though, but I had to fix the Ferrari myself by taking each part out, removing the rubberised surface coating using oven cleaner (yes honestly) and then respraying with plastic primer and black satin top coat. I have a Ferrari 355. The quality of its cabin materials is famously "sticky", to the point that a casual search will list hundreds of Sticky F355 threads. Mine is here:
http://www.honestjg.com/2013/05/ferrari-355-trim-t...
As for the product: Not as bad as Aston martin's leather boxer shorts of a few years ago, but how would you use the Bluetooth phone with the roof down? Maybe a cheaper radio might be a better investment, the standard one is crap.
I was never really happy though and went nonstandard in the end with genuine carbon parts from Japan - expensive, but they do look and feel really nice. I put a Becker F1 head-unit in the 348 as well (I just couldn't live the the old Blupunkt Cassette anymore) and although its newer tech with an iPod interface and Bluetooth etc it still looks quite retro, highly recommended if anyone was thinking the same way.
More sloppy work from PH. This is clearly a 'press release' article, which effectively amounts to a thinly disguised advertising feature. Funds the site perhaps, but in this case it is a perfect example of where the 'internet journalists' (ie. the commenters in this very thread) do the job the real ones should have done and add opinion and observation to balance the bias of the people producing/paying for the article.
PS. I seriously doubt that analogue switch-off of broadcast radio will happen until the regulatory situation is changed, which does not look like happening any time soon (hence the inevitable postponement-after-postponement). We had a long thread on this somewhere else that covers the situation very well - no need to repeat the details here, but the 'predictions of doom' opening lines of this article are going to look very stupid in google searches in a year-or-two's time when yet another deadline passes with no change to the status-quo.
PS. I seriously doubt that analogue switch-off of broadcast radio will happen until the regulatory situation is changed, which does not look like happening any time soon (hence the inevitable postponement-after-postponement). We had a long thread on this somewhere else that covers the situation very well - no need to repeat the details here, but the 'predictions of doom' opening lines of this article are going to look very stupid in google searches in a year-or-two's time when yet another deadline passes with no change to the status-quo.
Edited by r11co on Wednesday 16th April 10:59
I made the mistake of fitting the same Clarion unit to my TVR T350 about 2 years ago out of pure desperation for a sat nav (I have no sense of direction). It broke after 9 months, and Amazon refunded it.
Refusing to learn from my mistakes, I replaced it with the Philips version of the same system, which was £200 cheaper and marginally less awful (bought from Halfords, yes!).
So now I have a 360 Modena, and unlike some of you I appear to be a bit of a wuss as I find an exhaust note a bit tedious after listening to it for 40 minutes in traffic or at a constant 50mph on the M25.
...and of course I still have an atrocious sense of direction.
So, in an attempt to turn this thread into something Pistonheads didn't want, i.e. a useful piece of information for owners rather than a blatant advert, what should I fit???
The Becker unit fitted was rubbish in 2001 when the car was new.
A flip out screen is clearly not the way to go because of the vents (even a blind monkey could tell you that).
There is a Parott system that has a small screen that mimics your phone, so can display Google maps, but apparently (at least the last time I looked) the software was so poor it crashed every 15 minutes, and something like 85% had been returned under warranty.
The Kenwood and Alpine systems are again flip out screens and cost a fortune and are multi part units (i.e. the sat nave has to be located elsewhere in the car).
What would be ideal is a single DIN unit that has an LCD screen covering 90% of the front of the unit. How hard could this be?
I also saw a Philips one that has a spring out clip for an iPhone, so that its conveniently held for you. Only problem is that its now outdated as Apple changed plugs, I use a Samsung, and most of all, it may work in a Vectra but it would fly off at the first enthusiastically taken roundabout.
Over to you PH'ers...
Refusing to learn from my mistakes, I replaced it with the Philips version of the same system, which was £200 cheaper and marginally less awful (bought from Halfords, yes!).
So now I have a 360 Modena, and unlike some of you I appear to be a bit of a wuss as I find an exhaust note a bit tedious after listening to it for 40 minutes in traffic or at a constant 50mph on the M25.
...and of course I still have an atrocious sense of direction.
So, in an attempt to turn this thread into something Pistonheads didn't want, i.e. a useful piece of information for owners rather than a blatant advert, what should I fit???
The Becker unit fitted was rubbish in 2001 when the car was new.
A flip out screen is clearly not the way to go because of the vents (even a blind monkey could tell you that).
There is a Parott system that has a small screen that mimics your phone, so can display Google maps, but apparently (at least the last time I looked) the software was so poor it crashed every 15 minutes, and something like 85% had been returned under warranty.
The Kenwood and Alpine systems are again flip out screens and cost a fortune and are multi part units (i.e. the sat nave has to be located elsewhere in the car).
What would be ideal is a single DIN unit that has an LCD screen covering 90% of the front of the unit. How hard could this be?
I also saw a Philips one that has a spring out clip for an iPhone, so that its conveniently held for you. Only problem is that its now outdated as Apple changed plugs, I use a Samsung, and most of all, it may work in a Vectra but it would fly off at the first enthusiastically taken roundabout.
Over to you PH'ers...
Would voice only directions be suitable for you?
I've got a single DIN headunit with iPod connection and if I need to use navigation I set the turn by turn navigation on my phone at the same time as listening to music from it. The phone handles the blending of music/navigation audio.
I work for an audio company and have access to a range of headunits, but double DIN/flip out screens don't work on my car, so settled on the above solution.
I've got a single DIN headunit with iPod connection and if I need to use navigation I set the turn by turn navigation on my phone at the same time as listening to music from it. The phone handles the blending of music/navigation audio.
I work for an audio company and have access to a range of headunits, but double DIN/flip out screens don't work on my car, so settled on the above solution.
black11s said:
I made the mistake of fitting the same Clarion unit to my TVR T350 about 2 years ago out of pure desperation for a sat nav (I have no sense of direction). It broke after 9 months, and Amazon refunded it.
Refusing to learn from my mistakes, I replaced it with the Philips version of the same system, which was £200 cheaper and marginally less awful (bought from Halfords, yes!).
So now I have a 360 Modena, and unlike some of you I appear to be a bit of a wuss as I find an exhaust note a bit tedious after listening to it for 40 minutes in traffic or at a constant 50mph on the M25.
...and of course I still have an atrocious sense of direction.
So, in an attempt to turn this thread into something Pistonheads didn't want, i.e. a useful piece of information for owners rather than a blatant advert, what should I fit???
The Becker unit fitted was rubbish in 2001 when the car was new.
A flip out screen is clearly not the way to go because of the vents (even a blind monkey could tell you that).
There is a Parott system that has a small screen that mimics your phone, so can display Google maps, but apparently (at least the last time I looked) the software was so poor it crashed every 15 minutes, and something like 85% had been returned under warranty.
The Kenwood and Alpine systems are again flip out screens and cost a fortune and are multi part units (i.e. the sat nave has to be located elsewhere in the car).
What would be ideal is a single DIN unit that has an LCD screen covering 90% of the front of the unit. How hard could this be?
I also saw a Philips one that has a spring out clip for an iPhone, so that its conveniently held for you. Only problem is that its now outdated as Apple changed plugs, I use a Samsung, and most of all, it may work in a Vectra but it would fly off at the first enthusiastically taken roundabout.
Over to you PH'ers...
You could buy a map...Refusing to learn from my mistakes, I replaced it with the Philips version of the same system, which was £200 cheaper and marginally less awful (bought from Halfords, yes!).
So now I have a 360 Modena, and unlike some of you I appear to be a bit of a wuss as I find an exhaust note a bit tedious after listening to it for 40 minutes in traffic or at a constant 50mph on the M25.
...and of course I still have an atrocious sense of direction.
So, in an attempt to turn this thread into something Pistonheads didn't want, i.e. a useful piece of information for owners rather than a blatant advert, what should I fit???
The Becker unit fitted was rubbish in 2001 when the car was new.
A flip out screen is clearly not the way to go because of the vents (even a blind monkey could tell you that).
There is a Parott system that has a small screen that mimics your phone, so can display Google maps, but apparently (at least the last time I looked) the software was so poor it crashed every 15 minutes, and something like 85% had been returned under warranty.
The Kenwood and Alpine systems are again flip out screens and cost a fortune and are multi part units (i.e. the sat nave has to be located elsewhere in the car).
What would be ideal is a single DIN unit that has an LCD screen covering 90% of the front of the unit. How hard could this be?
I also saw a Philips one that has a spring out clip for an iPhone, so that its conveniently held for you. Only problem is that its now outdated as Apple changed plugs, I use a Samsung, and most of all, it may work in a Vectra but it would fly off at the first enthusiastically taken roundabout.
Over to you PH'ers...
I am shocked and appalled that a motoring journalist would trade their website's valuable space for a free drive in Ferrari.
This "story" has completely ruined my lunch break and I shall be drafting a sternly worded letter to the Press Complaints Authority once I have finished my burger and coke and looked at the classifieds.
Enraged of Ealing
This "story" has completely ruined my lunch break and I shall be drafting a sternly worded letter to the Press Complaints Authority once I have finished my burger and coke and looked at the classifieds.
Enraged of Ealing
Just ghastly, especially that stick-on aerial. The flip-up screen will neatly cover the fuel gauge in an F355 which will be really useful. As for Sat Nav, I just use a TomTom GO when I need to which tells me about speed cameras as well and costs a fraction of this effort. If it wasn't past 1 April, I'd think it was an April Fool...
jdw100 said:
Yes it is clearly an 'advertorial' and I think as such should be labelled so; like in magazines or when companies run adverts dressed up as programmes on American TV.
Shame on PH.
I, for one, will be cancelling my subscription!
Yours Sincerely,
Disgruntled of St Albans.
Tell me about your favorite spoon.Shame on PH.
I, for one, will be cancelling my subscription!
Yours Sincerely,
Disgruntled of St Albans.
black11s said:
I made the mistake of fitting the same Clarion unit to my TVR T350 about 2 years ago out of pure desperation for a sat nav (I have no sense of direction). It broke after 9 months, and Amazon refunded it.
Refusing to learn from my mistakes, I replaced it with the Philips version of the same system, which was £200 cheaper and marginally less awful (bought from Halfords, yes!).
So now I have a 360 Modena, and unlike some of you I appear to be a bit of a wuss as I find an exhaust note a bit tedious after listening to it for 40 minutes in traffic or at a constant 50mph on the M25.
...and of course I still have an atrocious sense of direction.
So, in an attempt to turn this thread into something Pistonheads didn't want, i.e. a useful piece of information for owners rather than a blatant advert, what should I fit???
The Becker unit fitted was rubbish in 2001 when the car was new.
A flip out screen is clearly not the way to go because of the vents (even a blind monkey could tell you that).
There is a Parott system that has a small screen that mimics your phone, so can display Google maps, but apparently (at least the last time I looked) the software was so poor it crashed every 15 minutes, and something like 85% had been returned under warranty.
The Kenwood and Alpine systems are again flip out screens and cost a fortune and are multi part units (i.e. the sat nave has to be located elsewhere in the car).
What would be ideal is a single DIN unit that has an LCD screen covering 90% of the front of the unit. How hard could this be?
I also saw a Philips one that has a spring out clip for an iPhone, so that its conveniently held for you. Only problem is that its now outdated as Apple changed plugs, I use a Samsung, and most of all, it may work in a Vectra but it would fly off at the first enthusiastically taken roundabout.
Over to you PH'ers...
you can get navs integrated into rear view mirrors.Refusing to learn from my mistakes, I replaced it with the Philips version of the same system, which was £200 cheaper and marginally less awful (bought from Halfords, yes!).
So now I have a 360 Modena, and unlike some of you I appear to be a bit of a wuss as I find an exhaust note a bit tedious after listening to it for 40 minutes in traffic or at a constant 50mph on the M25.
...and of course I still have an atrocious sense of direction.
So, in an attempt to turn this thread into something Pistonheads didn't want, i.e. a useful piece of information for owners rather than a blatant advert, what should I fit???
The Becker unit fitted was rubbish in 2001 when the car was new.
A flip out screen is clearly not the way to go because of the vents (even a blind monkey could tell you that).
There is a Parott system that has a small screen that mimics your phone, so can display Google maps, but apparently (at least the last time I looked) the software was so poor it crashed every 15 minutes, and something like 85% had been returned under warranty.
The Kenwood and Alpine systems are again flip out screens and cost a fortune and are multi part units (i.e. the sat nave has to be located elsewhere in the car).
What would be ideal is a single DIN unit that has an LCD screen covering 90% of the front of the unit. How hard could this be?
I also saw a Philips one that has a spring out clip for an iPhone, so that its conveniently held for you. Only problem is that its now outdated as Apple changed plugs, I use a Samsung, and most of all, it may work in a Vectra but it would fly off at the first enthusiastically taken roundabout.
Over to you PH'ers...
http://www.tinydeal.com/5-Resistive-Touch-Screen-W...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/REARVIEW-MIRROR-NAVIGATION...
bit cheap and nasty but you should be able to find a nicer unit with a bit more googling.
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