Jack Orenstein

>>P.S. I contacted Audi customer relations about all this. They won't do a
>>thing. I called, sent a letter (real paper! no email), and they turned
>>me down each time. This lockin is ridiculous, their attitude is
>>horrible, and I am quite sure I will never buy another Audi.
>
>
> Really? I have never understood this idea that if EVERYTHING is not
> *picture perfect* on a complicated piece of equipment, then you just
> chuck the whole thing.

Really. Hey, I'm a software engineer, and I understand that complicated
devices will never be perfect. It's their attitude that has completely
pissed me off: We have gone out of our way to engineer a system in which
you must buy all components from us. We are going to charge a huge
premium on these components. The components happen to be crap, so we
will give you a tiny warranty. And if anything breaks, well, you have no
choice but to pay us again, which is just what we planned.

>
> The audio portion is such a small thing, after all. I agree that it
> should work correctly, and shouldn't have proprietary bits. But since
> that's not going to happen with this Audi, then you work-around.
>
> 1.) (Already mentioned) RF changer. Alpine makes one. My
> sis-in-law has one in her 80q. Works great, sounds good, was
> inexpensive.
>
> 2.) (Already mentioned) mp3-capable head unit. A better choice,
> *if* you have a bunch of mp3s of your music.

This is what I'd like to do. I've just discovered that all head units,
(at least those at my local electronics store), are incompatible with
the Bose speakers, because they are self-powered, (I think I've got that
right).

>
> 3.) Aftermarket head unit and changer. $$$
>
> 4.) Worst choice of all - the one you took. An expensive, barely
> functional unit that has already been a source of some problems.
>
> In the end, it's your money. I don't know why you're mad at Audi -
> the car *is* out of warranty, after all. breaks, man - that's
> life.

The changer is 2 years old.

Jack

Pronto Breakneck

On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 12:33:49 GMT, Jack Orenstein <jao@geophile.com>
wrote:
>This is what I'd like to do. I've just discovered that all head units,
>(at least those at my local electronics store), are incompatible with
>the Bose speakers, because they are self-powered, (I think I've got that
>right).

Asshat, did you read the article that I gave you the link for? It
contains step by step instructions for installing any standard head
unit into your car.

Spider

Jack Orenstein <jao@geophile.com> wrote in message news:<3F8D3EDC.9050303@geophile.com>...
> >>P.S. I contacted Audi customer relations about all this. They won't do a
> >>thing. I called, sent a letter (real paper! no email), and they turned
> >>me down each time. This lockin is ridiculous, their attitude is
> >>horrible, and I am quite sure I will never buy another Audi.
> >
> >
> > Really? I have never understood this idea that if EVERYTHING is not
> > *picture perfect* on a complicated piece of equipment, then you just
> > chuck the whole thing.
>
> Really. Hey, I'm a software engineer, and I understand that complicated
> devices will never be perfect. It's their attitude that has completely
> pissed me off: We have gone out of our way to engineer a system in which
> you must buy all components from us. We are going to charge a huge
> premium on these components. The components happen to be crap, so we
> will give you a tiny warranty. And if anything breaks, well, you have no
> choice but to pay us again, which is just what we planned.

I agree that it's not the best thing. But is a in' radio. Do you
get my point? A Geo Metro with a kick-*** stereo is what your after,
if you extend the logic.

> > The audio portion is such a small thing, after all. I agree that it
> > should work correctly, and shouldn't have proprietary bits. But since
> > that's not going to happen with this Audi, then you work-around.
> >
> > 1.) (Already mentioned) RF changer. Alpine makes one. My
> > sis-in-law has one in her 80q. Works great, sounds good, was
> > inexpensive.

JPF said these suck. 100% bullshit - they work just fine. BTDT.
Audi head unit, Alpine RF changer in trunk. No problems, ever.
Sounds good.

> > 2.) (Already mentioned) mp3-capable head unit. A better choice,
> > *if* you have a bunch of mp3s of your music.
>
> This is what I'd like to do. I've just discovered that all head units,
> (at least those at my local electronics store), are incompatible with
> the Bose speakers, because they are self-powered, (I think I've got that
> right).

Mmmm, I don't think that's right. Sounds like a sales-job to me.

> > In the end, it's your money. I don't know why you're mad at Audi -
> > the car *is* out of warranty, after all. breaks, man - that's
> > life.
>
> The changer is 2 years old.

And *out of warranty.* Dude, you got a lemon head unit -
HAPPENS! Get over it already - it was just bad luck. I realize that
you are pissed because they didn't just knuckle under and give you a
new unit. If we were all being perfectly honest, that is the only
solution that would have satisfied you. Now you are whining that the
whole car is a POS because they wouldn't give you a new radio.

I suggesting selling the damn thing, and going right down and buying a
Toyota. I hear that they replace everything up to 500k miles.

[/sarcasm]

Spider

Mr DJ

> Just fit a Car PC mine works great www.fsplanes.net/carputerdone.wmv
>
> Ron
>
>


Ron, how did u manage to get that setup? ive got an audi A4 1.8T 1997 model
in Canada. Got the regular tape deck and hate it. Wanted to change it for a
cd player but now im in love with ure car pc - i must have something like
it - can u please tell me where u got the parts, especially the screen and
software. Did u create the housing yourself?


thanx,
G

Chris Mauritz

Mr DJ wrote:
>>Just fit a Car PC mine works great www.fsplanes.net/carputerdone.wmv
>>
>>Ron
>>
>>
>
>
>
> Ron, how did u manage to get that setup? ive got an audi A4 1.8T 1997 model
> in Canada. Got the regular tape deck and hate it. Wanted to change it for a
> cd player but now im in love with ure car pc - i must have something like
> it - can u please tell me where u got the parts, especially the screen and
> software. Did u create the housing yourself?

I'll second that. Very nicely done!! Care to share some technical
details/howtos?

Cheers,

C