how do you know? have you pulled one out before?

what gear do they put in the “Premium” stereo option??
(what Amp and speakers etc)

Serious audiophiles really just need amp and better speakers, the head unit is quite good. Some have had an issue with iPod connectivity having some background noise but only some and have sorted that with filters. By all accounts the ICC is very good for a standard unit.

if i was looking for an upgraded stereo, i would get the upgrade ford offers from the factory.
it would be cheaper anyway.
sure, you can go and get your JVC head deck for around 400 bucks, but it costs you another 500 big ones for the kit to enable you to still control it through your steering wheel.

i know someone with a Getz,
they were telling me all about the new JVC head deck they had just purchased so they could have an ipod input. little did they know until i told them that it wouldnt be compatible with their wheel controls.
the price for the kit was $500!!!!!

im not actually sure who ford use at the moment, but the last time they had any branding on their decks/speakers, it was pioneer, and before that it was phillips.
in Ford Euro’s range (mondeo, focus etc) they use Sony.
they may even have Sony in their cars here because at one point they had a promo “Sony Explode XR8″
You have given me a task to find out what they are currently using…..

i personally would rather upgrade the factory unit so everything stays intergrated and neat.
an aftermarket stereo in a car stands out like dogs…..

i was also told a while ago that the head decks in the fords are actually pretty good. apparently its the speakers that are the weaker link.
i was told that upgrading the speakers in the falcon was what was needed and not the head deck.

i didnt opt for an upgraded stereo because i find the factory unit good enough.
im not really a “doof doof” kind of guy

i spent the money on the beter wheels more airbags and alarm etc instead.
extra airbags and integrated alarm for a $600 tick of the box was a great deal i reckon

Good thing about the Commodore is ability to swap to a unit you really want. Good thing about Falcon is iPod/mp3/FMinfo all displayed on centre screen, full integration charges it and all and Bluetooth caller ID, voice tags, etc.

Sabine sure can steer.

Congrats on the new ute Andrew.M even though there’s a wait. Yours must be nearly delivered Wheelnut?

Whereas the Holden uses a standard sized head unit it can easily be upgraded to a better premium aftermarket head unit such as JVC or Alpine [which is what I am gunna do] as Blaupunkt like Philips ain’t that great.. it can then be connected back up to the steering wheel controls.

I would love Holden to put a Bose System in the ute though

Chucky – you might not get the same size car with a BM, MB or Lexus for 70k as the Caddy but what you do get is a lot better.
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I wouldn’t be so sure with this new Caddy. Apparently the interior build quality is on par with the Germans (except maybe Audi) and it looks a lot nicer inside. I like the new C Class and might buy one for my wife next year, but the dashboard just looks like a big grey hunk of plastic.

If I was in the market for a large luxury sedan I would definitely seriously consider it. Its direct competitors would be the Audi A6, Volvo S80, and Honda Legend which are all very forgettable cars that no one pays any attention to.

the commodores utes would have to have the worst visibility. i thought the blind spot was bad enough in the falcon utes, but the commodores have it twice as bad.

the centre console of the commys just looks cheap.
you have a tacky looking “Blaupunkt” branding label staring right at you. (not to mention the handbrake)

i may just sounded a bit negative on it, but if you are on the red side of the fence, it is nothing to be ashamed of.
it one hell of a fun drive.

my driving preference lies with the fords for a number of reasons, but if for some reason the only ute available to me was an SS, i wouldnt be complaining.

SV6 on the other hand pretty much isnt that special.
you have no grunt onboard till about 1000RPM after the falcons starts to sing. and even when its in its “singing range”, its still more like a whine.

i can see why holden sell a lot of cars though.
the salesmen there actually knew what they were talking about!!!!!!!
pity i cant say the same for fords salespeople.
fords salespeople are pathetic, they really are.
they cant even tell you the list price of the vehicle with out looking into their little pocket book.

if i was going around having done no research and knowing nothing about the vehicles i was being shown,
i would have signed for an SS.
holdens sales people were very informative and sales motivated

i reckon i got a great deal none the less.
i had to visit a second ford dealership to get it though.

even after the second offer it was still not at the figure i proposed.
it was 4:10pm and the dealership closes at 4pm.
yesterday was also the last trading day of the month. (they cant trade sundays here)
i told them i would take their offer home and think about it.
as i was walking out i was introduced to the sales manager and he asked how it went.
i told him it was not quite there and he asked what i would sign for.
i sort of said he was only half way there when hey presto $1800 fell off the price.
he asked if that was enough, and i said that it was now very tempting.
i sat back down while he reworked figures and came back and said he could do it.

and to ice it off, i reminded the salesman that as of September 1, DSC becomes standard on the utes and a price increase comes in to cover it.
the salesman knew nothing of it (typical) and went to confirm it with his manager
the manager came out and said yep, youve just gotten another $500 out of me.
i actually wouldnt have minded if i had to fork out the extra few green backs, but they just copped it on the chin with out even really talking about it.

the only thing is, ive got an 8 week wait!!!!!
and he said the waiting list is shorter than it was a month ago.

oh well,
it will be worth it.

i think im pretty much settled on breeze…….

BTW the female race car driver ywho did it in the transit is Sabine Schmidt.

CTS-V, R35, Viper, Z06, whatever, just gimme one, haha.

Although ant car that manges to do it in less than 8 minutes is impressive