iPod Car Units

[MistressoftheHouse]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 11:53am

I know a lot of you guys use iTunes and have iPods, and I'm looking for something so that I can play mine in my car.

I have an iPod Nano and want something that will plug into the cigarette lighter, if it charges my iPod at the same time, that's a plus.

I've been looking online and things are either really expensive or look like they'll be annoying to use. I was driving with someone this weekend who had a Belkin she got for around $30 but we were constantly looking for new empty radio stations to get rid of the static. After like 20 minutes we just gave up.

Has anyone here found something that works well? What do you suggest?

[DAME]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 11:54am

The one thing I would suggest is to make sure their is a free radio station space available in your area so that you can play your itunes in it. In Los Angeles those things don't work because there is none available.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 12:01pm

I have the iTrip which plugs in and uses the radio. It can be inconvenient and annoying

100% get the cassette that goes into a tape deck and plugs into the ipod if you have a tape deck still. The sound is perfect and it is so simple to just pop in a tape.

Neither of them charge it though which is a downside.

[DAME]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 12:03pm

Only trouble with that is that a lot of the newer cars don't come with cassette players anymore. However any car/radio place can create a direct connection for you providing your car stereo has a aux connection.

Updated On: 10/30/06 at 12:03 PM

[MistressoftheHouse]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 12:05pm

See, the thing about the tapedeck is that I already have an adapter jammed in there from when I hooked up my CD player. It won't come out and it won't work...it's just stuck.

So I have to use one that plugs into the cigarette lighter. Are there any that aren't as much trouble with coordinating radio stations on your car and the unit and constantly changing them to see what's best? I mean I can probably deal, but I see it being a huge hassle if I'm driving by myself...probably shouldn't be messing with my iPod the whole time.

And thanks for the advice DAME on checking to see if there are empty stations in my area...I'm pretty sure there are, but I'll double check.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 12:14pm

Those wireless things are garbage. Don't waste your money.

[MistressoftheHouse]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 12:42pm

So there's nothing I could buy that would work well in your opinion, Me?

[DAME]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 12:45pm

Go to one of those car/ radio places and have them hard wire a connection. It should run you about $150.00. And while you are there.. have them pop out that cassette thing you have stuck in there. They will probably do it for free.

Updated On: 10/30/06 at 12:45 PM

[MistressoftheHouse]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 1:09pm

Hmmm...that sounds like a good idea, but I'm a broke college student. $150 for something I don't absolutely need is a lot...

I was really planning on asking for this for Christmas, but figured I'd see what was best so I can tell my parents because they don't really know anything about this kind of stuff.

[gcal]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 1:13pm

one of the best decisions i made was buying a new ipod ready stereo for my car. There is a special ipod hookup-- a cord in the glovebox to plug ipod into and i can control the ipod through the faceplate of my radio. Safer that spinning the clickwheel-- and a perfect sound.

[DAME]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 1:21pm

gcal,
They installed one of those in my car without having to change the radio.. ( that would have been a mess since it is all hooked up with the navigation system). It works beautifully.

Updated On: 10/30/06 at 01:21 PM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 1:39pm

I am going to have to look into this!

[shameless]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 1:54pm

I have the itrip. It works well when you find an open frequency, but you do have to keep adjusting it on longer drives.

[MistressoftheHouse]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 1:58pm

Thanks for all the input, guys. I love the radio idea, but again, the cost. Also, I might have to have someone install a whole new radio for that just because mine is old ('97) and probably is not compatible.

Shameless, I've looked into the iTrip a bit and it sounds good but seriously this weekend we were trying to find a new radio station every few minutes. Maybe it's because I live in a rural area or because we were traveling on a highway so stations were changing often? I don't know.

[MistressoftheHouse]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 10:30am

Bump for any other suggestions/experiences anyone has had with these things!

[DAME]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:04am

Stay away from Itrip and the sorts. Do the hard wiring.

[SuzyQzy]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 4:21pm

I recently went to Bestbuy and talked to the sales person about this.

Here's what I did.

I found the cheapest cd stereo with and AUX outlet (I got it on sale about $99, ofcourse there are way more expensive ones too.

Then all you need is the right wire, they can show you. And you pay based on length, not expensive at all.

The only negative is that it doesn't charge, but you can get cheap cigarette chargers for $15.