Fortuner Stereo Options

[nikster]

I thought this would be very easy but I have now already spent lots of time looking for car stereos to replace the 6CD changer front unit in my Fortuner. Mainly, I need to hook up iPods and iPhones.

Requirements:

- iPod-connectivity

- Front AUX-in, in case said iPod connectivity sucks, new iPods come out, etc.

- CD player

- Nice looking, fits in the Fortuner. Main problem here is that the Fortuner head unit is a 2 DIN size, and most stereos are 1 DIN.

I found one today, I think Panasonic, for BHT 7900 + 1800 for a special iPod cable (must be a very special cable, that!). The problem was that it was 1 DIN size and the guy in the shop had only one option to fill in the second DIN slot, a BHT 200 shelf. Which looked like cr*p.

I don't mind the shelf, but the BHT 200 piece looks more like it should be BHT 20, it's made from the dirt-cheapest plastic imaginable. Black, but you can still see it's super cheap. That would mess up my nice cabin.

So I need help - where can I get a shelf that looks decent, maybe even made for Fortuner? Black would be fine but needs to be nice material.

Has anyone pimped their Fortuner stereo, if so, how, does it do iPod, and can you post a picture? Am I really stuck with the BHT 200 piece of plastic?

The 2 DIN stereos that I saw in the catalogues were all entertainment centers that play DVDs and do all sorts of other tricks, and have an amazingly shabby-looking iPod interface to top it off. Like they are running X-Windows. And cost BHT 35,000+. And might get stolen etc, so no thanks to that. So I think there are no 2 DIN stereos that would be reasonably cheap, and do not much more than have a really great iPod integration.

[Dave the Dude]

Hi Nikster

You may want to check-out Kenwood website.

I have a 2din sized LCD touchscreen unit with I-pod/USB cables fitted as standard equipment into the glovebox of my Dmax GT model. I am very happy with the performance/userbility.

Good luck

Dave

[nikster]

Can't find it on the Kenwood website... do you have a link? Or model name? How much did it cost, if you don't mind me asking? Thanks!!

[Dave the Dude]

Can't find it on the Kenwood website... do you have a link? Or model name? How much did it cost, if you don't mind me asking? Thanks!!

Hi nikster. Its a DDX7039 and as (I think) I said it was standard equipment, so I dont know its cost. I hav'nt got them but auxilary TV tuner/Rear camera & GPS can also be added to this unit.

Sorry I dont have link

Dave

[nikster]

Looks nice but costs over $1000 on U.S. based websites so in Thailand it will be 40 or 50k... what did you have to do to get this as standard equipment?

[Thanh-BKK]

Hi

Why don't you get one of those FM-transmitter thingies? My boss got one, it works with his regular iPod and his iPhone as well. They plug into the cigarette lighter socket, the other end into the iPod and then you just select a frequency for it to send on (four choices) and tune your car stereo to that frequency, done. The unit is, i believe, original Apple (or at least in "original Apple style"). As it is so close to the car stereo even a strong radio station that happens to be on the same frequency won't disturb the transmission, even tough these thingies barely reach 5 meters distance.

Main advantage - works with every stereo, no need to change it, and no modifications whatsoever to the car. Also if a new iPod comes out and the plug is incompatible, just get a new one of those - they cost i guess around 2.500 Baht (whole unit), the size like a car charger for mobile phone (it DOES charge the iPod/iPhone as well).

Best regards......

Thanh

[nikster]

Thanh - thanks for the tip, I already have this, and it's crap. Maybe it's just the one I have (RoadTrip from Griffin, with charger, wasn't cheap either). I think how well these work depends on how strong the sender is, and on antenna placement in the car. In my Fortuner, it doesn't work.

I might get a cheapo stereo just with AUX-in though... no static...

[Thanh-BKK]

Hi

Hmm ok.... i don't know what brand is the one my boss uses but LOOKS like Apple....... and he's driving a Fortuner too, which is why i recommended that to you The sender can't be too strong, otherwise you'd be operating a radio station (i think in my home country those things would be strictly illegal at all)... usually the range is like 5 meters or so, in the next car behind you can't catch that signal anymore (i tried that when i followed him once in my Volvo).

Best regards....

Thanh

[Dave the Dude]

Looks nice but costs over $1000 on U.S. based websites so in Thailand it will be 40 or 50k... what did you have to do to get this as standard equipment?

Pay Isuzu 966,000 Baht and you get a free DMax 3litre 4x4 auto GT model in Starry Black mica paintwork