New toy for the missus
Discussion
Er' indoors has decreed that she would like a CD player for her Ford Ka. As some of you (heh heh Mungo!) have probably seen, it's got one of the 'fitted' head units - so it's a CD Changer in the back for her.
Now trouble is, is that I haven't the faintest about what is good or not with these cd changers these days - so can anybody recommend a reasonably priced (car!) changer?
Ford are quoting £110 inc fitting, is this ok or can I get it cheaper/free elsewhere?
I've heard of some scary dodgy dealer stories so I want to do it properly...
Now trouble is, is that I haven't the faintest about what is good or not with these cd changers these days - so can anybody recommend a reasonably priced (car!) changer?
Ford are quoting £110 inc fitting, is this ok or can I get it cheaper/free elsewhere?
I've heard of some scary dodgy dealer stories so I want to do it properly...
OK sensible reply.
Neil, the Ford Ka is indead fitted with one of those lovely all in jobbies.. so you have two options.
1) Fit a CD changer in the car - underseat or in the boot
2) Replace the head unit. To do this, you can buy a "facia adaptor" that is the shape of the Ka headunit, matches the dash colour and allws you to fit a "standard DIN" sized unit into the space.
I assume the £110 includes the supply and fitting of the changer... otherwise you might be better going to Halfords.
EDIT - Ka Facia Adaptor;
See www.caraudiodirect.com/shop/acatalog/CAD_Ford_234.html for this... but check with Ford, in case they make them, since they are generally cheaper (e.g. a Fiesta one from Halfords is £15, from Ford it's £3).
>> Edited by Podie on Monday 16th December 16:05
Neil, the Ford Ka is indead fitted with one of those lovely all in jobbies.. so you have two options.
1) Fit a CD changer in the car - underseat or in the boot
2) Replace the head unit. To do this, you can buy a "facia adaptor" that is the shape of the Ka headunit, matches the dash colour and allws you to fit a "standard DIN" sized unit into the space.
I assume the £110 includes the supply and fitting of the changer... otherwise you might be better going to Halfords.
EDIT - Ka Facia Adaptor;
See www.caraudiodirect.com/shop/acatalog/CAD_Ford_234.html for this... but check with Ford, in case they make them, since they are generally cheaper (e.g. a Fiesta one from Halfords is £15, from Ford it's £3).
>> Edited by Podie on Monday 16th December 16:05
Podie said: OK sensible reply.
Neil, the Ford Ka is indead fitted with one of those lovely all in jobbies.. so you have two options.
1) Fit a CD changer in the car - underseat or in the boot
2) Replace the head unit. To do this, you can buy a "facia adaptor" that is the shape of the Ka headunit, matches the dash colour and allws you to fit a "standard DIN" sized unit into the space.
I assume the £110 includes the supply and fitting of the changer... otherwise you might be better going to Halfords.
The Cardiff Ford branch (theres three so I'm not naming and shaming
) said that fitting a changer would be two hours labour at £110 in vat total. Not including the changer. Podie (or anyone), can you reccommend what to get?
Sorry if this is obviously, but you will need to change the head unit anyway if you want to use a CD Changer, since the standard unit cannot drive one (unless that changed in later models).
As for changers - I tend to like Sony, and have a CDX-626 (probably superceded by now). This seems to deal with the bumps inside a Cerbie quite well, and sounds great. As for a head unit, I would stay to the same brand, since the connectors can be proprietary.
Edited to add recommendation
>> Edited by madasahatter on Monday 16th December 16:13
As for changers - I tend to like Sony, and have a CDX-626 (probably superceded by now). This seems to deal with the bumps inside a Cerbie quite well, and sounds great. As for a head unit, I would stay to the same brand, since the connectors can be proprietary.
Edited to add recommendation
>> Edited by madasahatter on Monday 16th December 16:13
Listen to a few and get the cheapest one you can with a "satifactory" sound quality (subjective I know) and with all the features you want/need (satisfactory for my missus £89 but I bought her a kenwood @£180 because I use the car too 
)
There's a million to choose from, the local company I use, fits anything you buy from them for free (so £15 for a conversion plate is actually a bargain) they've got pretty good CD players at about £120
Edited to say, I've got a Kenwood multichanger and can recommend it, but to re-itterate, I'd just change the head unit if at all possible
>> Edited by incorrigible on Monday 16th December 16:16
) There's a million to choose from, the local company I use, fits anything you buy from them for free (so £15 for a conversion plate is actually a bargain) they've got pretty good CD players at about £120
Edited to say, I've got a Kenwood multichanger and can recommend it, but to re-itterate, I'd just change the head unit if at all possible
>> Edited by incorrigible on Monday 16th December 16:16
madasahatter said: Sorry if this is obviously, but you will need to change the head unit anyway if you want to use a CD Changer, since the standard unit cannot drive one (unless that changed in later models).
Depends on the headunit installed. For example, the 6000 single CD Ford unit can drive a Cd changer, but the 6006 (6CD in dash) cannot...
Sorry - when the original post went in a "CD Player" was mentioned, and from this I decided that there was no CD Playing available at all.
I fitted the fit shown above to a Ka - it is a doddle, and even a novice like me can do it in under an hour!
Speakers aren't too bad as standard, so the upgrade is worthwhile.
Steve
I fitted the fit shown above to a Ka - it is a doddle, and even a novice like me can do it in under an hour!
Speakers aren't too bad as standard, so the upgrade is worthwhile.
Steve
I've just spoken to a very nice chap in Halfords in Cardiff (The Gabalfa one peeps...), and he told me this:
Yes, Yes, and Yes.
Basicly they can fit if I buy from them AND they do packages for head unit and changer from £190. The Ford Ka fascia adaptor thingy is £19.99 so probably looking £200 ish I imagine...
As much as I really didn't want to say it, but Halfords is getting a bit good these days, even there bike shop is pretty smart - I used to work for one of the best in the uk so I know what I'm on about there.
More than can be said about my missus' new toy...
Yes, Yes, and Yes.
Basicly they can fit if I buy from them AND they do packages for head unit and changer from £190. The Ford Ka fascia adaptor thingy is £19.99 so probably looking £200 ish I imagine...
As much as I really didn't want to say it, but Halfords is getting a bit good these days, even there bike shop is pretty smart - I used to work for one of the best in the uk so I know what I'm on about there.
More than can be said about my missus' new toy...
You're relatively safe with a Ford and Halfords... easy to do, connect the right bits and it'll work. Wouldn't let them near anything like a TVR, but I'd let them do the stereo in the Escort!
IIRC they've got a few specials on offer at the moment too, so take a nose around, see if you can get a bargain. Might be worth considering last years model at a reduced price if they have any...
... or you might be better waiting till AFTER Christmas... might have a January sale offer on!
Oh, and make sure the fitting INCLUDES all the connectors and stuff... you don't want to get charged for that!
Again, check Ford and the web to find a facia plate that matches the colour of the Ka's dash - finished artcle looks so much better than a plain black one..
IIRC they've got a few specials on offer at the moment too, so take a nose around, see if you can get a bargain. Might be worth considering last years model at a reduced price if they have any...
... or you might be better waiting till AFTER Christmas... might have a January sale offer on!
Oh, and make sure the fitting INCLUDES all the connectors and stuff... you don't want to get charged for that!
Again, check Ford and the web to find a facia plate that matches the colour of the Ka's dash - finished artcle looks so much better than a plain black one..
www.halfords.com/shop/item.asp?id=782938&cat=2&sub=156
Aready found one - silver £19.99
Thanks for all your help guys...
Aready found one - silver £19.99
Thanks for all your help guys...
on this subject can anyone recommend a good audio specialist in the St Albans sort of area....? also wanna get the missus a stereo 
cheers
Night
p.s. Neil...on the 'other' toy subject..would need to ask a number of questions you wouldn't want to answer to be able to recommend something.....
cheers
Night
p.s. Neil...on the 'other' toy subject..would need to ask a number of questions you wouldn't want to answer to be able to recommend something.....
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