Ipod replacement for in car use

[boyse7en]

Some thieving scrote nicked my iPod Classic (80GB) from my car this morning.

I've been using the iPod played through a cassette adaptor as my car (Saab) doesn't have any way of connecting a multi changer easily.

Is there any (cheaper) equivalent to the iPod that will do the same job?

[dave7692]

If you do go back down the Ipod route, Griffin do a great FM transmitter which connects to the Cigarette light and charges it at the same time. Although it requires an app for the ipod touch to function.

[conkerman]

Your mobile phone?

64GB Micro SD card.

[Toaster Pilot]

If you do go down the ipod route again I have seen head units which have storage for an iPod behind the fascia (where the CD player would normally be) - I don't think people really nick head units any more and they aren't going to look for an iPod behind there!

[StuntmanMike]

I had this two years ago, i really didnt want anything Apple but in the end bought a 160gb classic, secondhand phone shops and cashconverters generaly sell classics for 100 pounds, personelly i would entertain a touch, way too expensive, way to small memory.

[boyse7en]

conkerman said:

Your mobile phone?

64GB Micro SD card.

My mobile is a Samsung e1210 which I bought for £2 Don't think it does anything except calls and texts. Does last for 2 weeks on one charge though!

[boyse7en]

Toaster Pilot said:

If you do go down the ipod route again I have seen head units which have storage for an iPod behind the fascia (where the CD player would normally be) - I don't think people really nick head units any more and they aren't going to look for an iPod behind there!

Nice idea, but my Saab 95 has an integrated stereo system, so you can't just replace with a DIN-sized unit. Actually, who do Halford's sell standard replacement head units too these days? Every car I've been in in the last 10 years or so has got a bespoke-sized stereo.

[AnimalMkIV]

Maplins do a FM transmitter that plugs into the cig lighter socket and has AD card and memory stick ports. Also has Bluetooth for phone calls. I used this with a 64Gb stick with no hassles. Thing it was about 25 quid. Only downside was no real display, so not able to choose tracks, just left it on random.

[eybic]

You get adapter plates to fill the hole left after you've fitted a normal sized stereo.

ETA: like this http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Edited by eybic on Friday 7th February 12:00

[RizzoTheRat]

Depends how much you want top spend really. I bought a cheapo MP3 player from e-bay for about £10 which I use for running, can't remember how much memory it has but it's got for a few hundred songs.

On the other hand if you want to keep your entire music collection on it then you want something a lot bigger, and second hand iPod is probably worth it as that's what you're used to.

Audio quality presumably doesn't matter too much if you're playing it in the car via a tape adaptor, but the quality on cheapo ones is surprisingly good, it's the headphones that let them down.

[V8forweekends]

boyse7en said:

Nice idea, but my Saab 95 has an integrated stereo system, so you can't just replace with a DIN-sized unit. Actually, who do Halford's sell standard replacement head units too these days? Every car I've been in in the last 10 years or so has got a bespoke-sized stereo.

Most of those "bespoke" sizes are actually single or double-din with a odd-shaped front. Halfords (and lots of more specialist places) sell adapters to make the fascia look more OEM with an aftermarket unit.

There are lots of mechless headunits that rely on solid-state storage, and you can get adpaters that will plug into a system with a CD changer and act like a CD changer, treating the folders on a USB stick or similar device as a "CD" only with way more capcity.

The world's your lobster really.