What's a good product for letting me use my ipod in my car?

[Forgotten Ancient]

Just got a new car that has a 6 disc changer...but it doesn't play mp3s 
I don't have a tape deck so I can't use one of those doohickeys.

So long as the cost is under $250 or so I'm willing to get anything as long as it works well.  I've heard some that you have to use through a channel on the radio and wasn't very impressed with the quality.

Help me stimulate the economy!

[Smooth Groove]

Did you contact your car dealer?  Some companies, like BMW, would add IPOD compatibility for a fee. 

[border]

Buy a new car stereo that accepts either Auxiliary Cable Input or direct USB connection with iPod.  Other than that, you will have to use a radio FM tuner.

[Fresh Prince]

Buy a new car stereo that accepts either Auxiliary Cable Input or direct USB connection with iPod.  Other than that, you will have to use a radio FM tuner.

This. FM tuners generally have a lower audio quality.

[border]

That would be good except for the fact that it's ugly as fuck.  All you need is an auxiliary input.  Just get something simple and classy that has it, unless you really care that much about HD-radio and other crap.  If it says "iPod ready" then they have paid Apple for the use of their trademark, and are jacking up the price.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

I really, strongly recommend that you just get an aux input and use that. 99% of all "iPod ready" dashes have a SHITASTIC in-dash interface that makes it nigh impossible to sort through your music. You just want an aux in jack.

[brawndolicious]

if your car has a tapedeck, you could get one of those ipod-to-tapedeck adapters.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

if your car has a tapedeck, you could get one of those ipod-to-tapedeck adapters.

reading comprehension = fail

[abrader]

try to get a stereo with an Apple licensed interface system - that way you can control the ipod selections thru the stereo....with an aux in option, you still control the plays using the ipod in your hand.

[Eric P]

try to get a stereo with an Apple licensed interface system - that way you can control the ipod selections thru the stereo....with an aux in option, you still control the plays using the ipod in your hand.

i have a friend who has that in her car and it's always a pain in the ass to scroll through artists to get to an album

esp DJ mixes.  if musical artists were continents, her collections of musicians with "dj" before their name would collectively make up antarctica

[lordmaji]

with your dashboard style it would be best to call the dealership and find out what kind of options you can have added to your cd player. The speakers is easy to interchange w/ after market stuff. But with the setup of your dash it would look best if you had the dealership/honda add that extra feature and keep everything in your dash looking nice.

imo.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

try to get a stereo with an Apple licensed interface system - that way you can control the ipod selections thru the stereo....with an aux in option, you still control the plays using the ipod in your hand.

I strongly, strongly, once again advice against this. You WANT to just control it using the iPod in your hand.

[lordmaji]

Maji, that's one thing I'm worried about.  The way my dash it, it's all digital and it controls my heat/air and everything else.  I dunno how they would actually install a cd player. 

Yep. Call the dealership mang.

[abrader]

try to get a stereo with an Apple licensed interface system - that way you can control the ipod selections thru the stereo....with an aux in option, you still control the plays using the ipod in your hand.

I strongly, strongly, once again advice against this. You WANT to just control it using the iPod in your hand.

No - I can control my ipod using a set of buttons on my steering wheel, my voice by saying an artist/album/song or by using the nav system touch screen. All of the same sort options, play features and playlists on the ipod are available if you have a proper interface system.

Holding it in your hand is better? with a cable connected? looking down like you are dialing a cellphone number to nav? hahaha no.

In order of best to worst possible solution....

BEST - apple licensed interface system on a car with a proper stereo and an air conditioned compartment for the AV electronics

- 3rd party interface system for stereo without AUX

- audio out -> AUX on stereo

- just wear the damn earbuds while you drive

- Tape adaptor

WORST - FM/AM broadcaster

To say its better to hold the ipod in your hand is to show you just havent had it any better - which is cool. I couldnt have imagined it could be as good as it is with the right set-up.

[tiesto]

try to get a stereo with an Apple licensed interface system - that way you can control the ipod selections thru the stereo....with an aux in option, you still control the plays using the ipod in your hand.

i have a friend who has that in her car and it's always a pain in the ass to scroll through artists to get to an album

esp DJ mixes.  if musical artists were continents, her collections of musicians with "dj" before their name would collectively make up antarctica

Geez, that sounds familiar 

spoiler (click to show/hide)

she single?

[close]

[Howard Alan Treesong]

try to get a stereo with an Apple licensed interface system - that way you can control the ipod selections thru the stereo....with an aux in option, you still control the plays using the ipod in your hand.

I strongly, strongly, once again advice against this. You WANT to just control it using the iPod in your hand.

No - I can control my ipod using a set of buttons on my steering wheel, my voice by saying an artist/album/song or by using the nav system touch screen. All of the same sort options, play features and playlists on the ipod are available if you have a proper interface system.

Holding it in your hand is better? with a cable connected? looking down like you are dialing a cellphone number to nav? hahaha no.

In order of best to worst possible solution....

BEST - apple licensed interface system on a car with a proper stereo and an air conditioned compartment for the AV electronics

- 3rd party interface system for stereo without AUX

- audio out -> AUX on stereo

- just wear the damn earbuds while you drive

- Tape adaptor

WORST - FM/AM broadcaster

To say its better to hold the ipod in your hand is to show you just havent had it any better - which is cool. I couldnt have imagined it could be as good as it is with the right set-up.

That's all fine and dandy, ab...but not all of us are multion zillionaires.

oh, excuse me, I forgot to mention the voice-activated steering wheel option

I have a friend who dropped like $1200 on his head unit alone - it's a full-color touch screen LED. It's the only thing I'd say is comparable for using in place of the iPod interface. The standard "single line of LEDs" on most head units is HELL, and as mentioned earlier, a lot of head units totally fail on compilations. Which would take me from about 450 "artists" to 5,000.

[abrader]

try to get a stereo with an Apple licensed interface system - that way you can control the ipod selections thru the stereo....with an aux in option, you still control the plays using the ipod in your hand.

I strongly, strongly, once again advice against this. You WANT to just control it using the iPod in your hand.

No - I can control my ipod using a set of buttons on my steering wheel, my voice by saying an artist/album/song or by using the nav system touch screen. All of the same sort options, play features and playlists on the ipod are available if you have a proper interface system.

Holding it in your hand is better? with a cable connected? looking down like you are dialing a cellphone number to nav? hahaha no.

In order of best to worst possible solution....

BEST - apple licensed interface system on a car with a proper stereo and an air conditioned compartment for the AV electronics

- 3rd party interface system for stereo without AUX

- audio out -> AUX on stereo

- just wear the damn earbuds while you drive

- Tape adaptor

WORST - FM/AM broadcaster

To say its better to hold the ipod in your hand is to show you just havent had it any better - which is cool. I couldnt have imagined it could be as good as it is with the right set-up.

That's all fine and dandy, ab...but not all of us are multion zillionaires.

Oh come-on

http://ipodcarparts.com/pontiac-ipod-interface-brwauxilliary-input-p-207.html

Less than $200

Dont you drive a Pontiac? Do what Smoothe Groove, PHD said and call your dealership for best recommendation.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

I also recommend you hire a hooker to ride around in the passenger seat and change songs when you ask her

[Eric P]

Geez, that sounds familiar 

spoiler (click to show/hide)

she single?

[close]

not really.

and she's moving to ireland shortly