dyerhaus

Good observations—the stereo was at least professionally installed, like the radar detector, so I'm hoping it's not destroyed back there. It shouldn't be, but, you never know until you see it. I also just spoke with the current owner, the red things are crossovers, the silver thing is a CD changer, and the there are amps as well. I intend on having all that professionally removed when I get the car. I had to do that with my Boxster as well. I loathe aftermarket audio equipment.

tharbin

One of the European car mags, I don't remember which one, did a test of the Classic Radio and put it in a bunch of Porsches including a non-MOST, 996 and it worked fine. I have the same setup with the token cup holders and the Classic Radio is on my list for Santa.

ZuffenZeus

Yea, I feel ya... most of the aftermarket stuff looks spaceshipish. Why they like to make the units looks like something off a sci-fi flick is beyond me. You have a lot of options, but you need to think it through before paying big bucks to have a professional rip everything out and start over.

Few things to think about...
1. Single DIN or Double DIN?
2. Factory re-install (e.g. Becker/Porsche CDR-220) or Aftermarket stock look
3. Bluetooth connectivity for streaming music and phone?
4. Factory 10 speaker setup with frunk amp and subs in the door?
5. Backup camera?

etc. etc. etc

dyerhaus

I couldn't agree more! It's not a low-budget sci-fi film, this a great car with great design!!

The only think I'm uncertain is whether or not I want to shell out for the Porsche Classic Nav System, or just pick up a Becker CDR-220. I'm much more concerned with a clean, factory look than anything else.

ZuffenZeus

Any chance the original owner has the factory CDR-220 that he's willing to give you? Personally, if the original factory look is what you desire, then reinstall what came with the car. Personally, I think the CDR-220 are better radio that the successor (CDR-23). I have both and thought about putting the CDR-220 back in the car, but I love the bluetooth streaming audio of my Blaupunkt and so I'm sticking with it.

JayG

Another alternative that would be plug and play
Bluetooth, USB, CD, etc
Porsche factory look
Under $300
http://www.continental-automotive.co...18UB_OR_en.pdf

ZuffenZeus

The only concern about the Continental unit, is that is doesn't show a pre-amp line-level output on the C connector like the CDR-220 has. This would be a problem if his car uses a frunk amp to drives the subs.

JayG

Could always drive it with the speaker outs

In my case, I don't have an amp, so speaker out is perfect and adds Bluetooth and USB

ZuffenZeus

Absolutely, if the car has the base system (8 speaker/4-channel) setup, then the Conti will work fine. It has a nice layout. I wonder how the sound quality is?

boingolover

The Porsche Classic looks very cool. Honestly the price, while it gives me pause, isn't the deal breaker for me. I have the MOST setup and this doesn't look like it will integrate with third party amps, even assuming I want to rip and replace the bose amp with something aftermarket. In your case, since you're considering ripping out the Alpine anyway, assuming you can get it to fit it might work well for you. Another option that could work for both of us would be the Becker Mexico Retro... But the price on that one very much is a deal breaker for me. But if your pockets are deep enough, that would likely work if you fed it into your existing Alpine, it also has speaker outs so it would work if you decided to rip out the alpine, and it would work for me if I wired up an adapter to feed it to my MOST amp.

ZuffenZeus

The Becker Mexico Retro?

boingolover

BEHOLD!!

http://www.becker-mexico-retro.de/en/

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIMITED-EDIT...-/252613847188

sfv_rider

Add the stock radio and use Waze on your cell for navigation.

dyerhaus

No, the current owner bought the car with this already in it, and he never got the original stereo. A CDR-220 is easy enough to find for $150 to $200, and I could easily get a cable that allows iPod/iPhone connection and/or bluetooth if I want. By far, that's the most cost effective solution.

I don't really like using my phone as navigation. When I do that, I then have to find a place to mount the phone which means some weird crap attached to some awkward place on my dashboard or console, or suction cup sticking in my window (which the state of California will not allow if placed in the center). Additionally, it looks cluttered and messy, and I don't want my car to look that way.

According to the option codes:

490 Basic sound system

My biggest fear is that the installer of the stereo might have cut up the wires. I'm hoping that's not the case, but I won't know until I take delivery.

boingolover

That's where I'm at too. So I'll probably end saying to hell with it and go double din, get something with Apple Carplay. The Sony unit actually even looks decent to me, but I wish it had an actual GPS in it as well.

For what it's worth, if you do go the aftermarket double-din route you already have your hvac controls relocated, you'd just need to get the double din trim bezel and you'd have to ditch your cupholders.