I just picked up a 20GB ipod this weekend and spent yesterday loading cd's on (currently have 943 tracks which takes up 3.6GB and gives me 2.4 days of unrepeated music!).

I spent today hooking it up to my car and mounting it and I have to say it's by far my best investment in my stereo so far. The sound quality is great (I'm using the 3mm input on the HU and the 3mm output that's on the Belkin car charger). So if you're thinking about buying a cd changer or something, I'd highly recommend just getting an ipod. The way it categorizes music, lets you rate songs, create playlists, etc makes it so worth it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'99 Eclipse GS-T
HRC Stage II
w/walboro 155lph, 30# injectors
Clarion AutoPC 310C
Avionixx
DEI Viper
IDQ12

New Car:
2004 350z base, Nismo CAI, pioneer avic-n1 (dvd, cd, navi)



Old Car:
1998 GS with hrc stage 2, HID 6000k conversion kit, AEM UEGO wideband, sfmu, ml, prokits, Greddy warning gauges: egt, boost gauge, and oil pressure, apexi tt, haydans tranny cooler, costum dp, groundwires, dynotune fp gauge. gst muff, turbo spoiler
Boostin since Aug 03.

nothing like driving with the windows down and the music low: i love hearing the turbo spool, swwwhhhttt!!!!

indeed. if you want to make even better use out of your ipod buy a new alipine HU and the module to let you connect your ipod. you now have full acess to your ipod via the HU interface. track listings, song info, etc. the sound quality is better than simply using the 3mm jack also. the signal is being transferred digitally to your HU through the data port on the ipod.

for the price this is also 100x better than buying a HU with a built in hard drive.

-marc

Something to consider since my other idea didnt fall thru

98' Eclipse GS- Hahn Stage 2- SOLD
02' Honda S2000- SOLD
04' Acura TL- Current Whip

New Car:
2004 350z base, Nismo CAI, pioneer avic-n1 (dvd, cd, navi)



Old Car:
1998 GS with hrc stage 2, HID 6000k conversion kit, AEM UEGO wideband, sfmu, ml, prokits, Greddy warning gauges: egt, boost gauge, and oil pressure, apexi tt, haydans tranny cooler, costum dp, groundwires, dynotune fp gauge. gst muff, turbo spoiler
Boostin since Aug 03.

nothing like driving with the windows down and the music low: i love hearing the turbo spool, swwwhhhttt!!!!

I love using my iPod in my eclipse. I always take it with me everywhere, even if im just driving to the grocery store or somthing. The only thing that really pisses me off about it is that I have to remember to turn the iPod off after I turn off my ignition. Sometimes I forget, and come back to an album thats 1/2 way over because its been playing for the last 20 min. Does anyone know if the new Alpine decks turn off the iPod for you if it's connected?

Check out the link and photos below for an autoplay/pause solution that is working excellent for me. My ipod and radio turn off together when the last door is closed, as when exiting the vehicle, and they both resume play when I remote-start or normal start the vehicle.

You will have to tap into your ipod remote to do this but I bought an extra remote on ebay and just leave the remote in the car all the time. I pull out the ipod as required but it's hidden in the center console anyway. I aso installed a lighted cig. socket with a switch that lets me select power between "always on", "always off" and "on with ignition". The remote is place easily within reach of my index finger when I am resting it on the shifter or on the E-brake handle. I lighted the remote button pad with a small LED so I can see it easily in the dark. I also have bypassed the amplifier in the Belkin power supply so I get pure line-out quality to my deck. I don't use the audio output from the remote so the volume is controlled only by the headunit.

For me this is the best solution, I select a playlist and after that the iPod is out of sight and out of the sun etc. It starts and stops just like the radio or CD player.

I also got creative and added a micro tactile switch (from one of those M3 electric razors) hidden just below the shift knob. It's connected to the "Telephone Mute" wire of the deck so I can mute or attenuate the audio without ever taking my hand off the shifter.

Bypass the belkin amp
http://www.cruze.org/pics/showdate.html?date=2004-03-13

Ipod autoplay/pause
http://www.ipodlounge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46305

Here's my install. If you notice I have also modded the center console cover to open 180 degrees so I can easily access the ipod controls without my elbow hitting the cover. The red switch lets me modify the output of the cig. oulet as explained above.


Here's my "in-dash" remote.

You do the cleanest installs I have ever seen man. All I can say is damn! It's actually fun to see all the different mods you have done with your car that are simple and sleek.

98' Eclipse GS- Hahn Stage 2- SOLD
02' Honda S2000- SOLD
04' Acura TL- Current Whip

wow that's pretty awesome. having to pause and unpause my ipod is kinda a PITA... i really wanna know if the alipine module has this feature built in. idk where to find info from people that have it though...

-marc

Yes, when you connect your iPod to the Alpine head unit through the Alpine interface unit, you control the iPod through the head unit. The iPod becomes in a sense inactive in that you don't have to use its controls, you can control the iPod through the Alpine head unit. This interface unit is a great addition to the iPod which is already such a great gadget, just make sure that if you do decide to go with the interface, you have a compatible head unit. I personally, am using the Alpine CDA-9835, which I have to say is the greatest out there and I highly recommend it if you have the funds. If you go to the Alpine website and look under their products and read about the interface and some of the new head units, you can see exactly which ones are compatible.If you have an iPod and a lot of music that you like to keep easily accessible at all times, this setup is a must have and its relativly cheep, good guys sells the head unit and the interface for $299 but the head unit is preaty basic but its all in the users preference.enjoy.

I might be getting an ipod mini I can't justify spending $500 on an mp3 player. Plus 1000 songs is more than enough for me anyways.

___________________

1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse Gs 10th anniversary OZ edition
aem v2 CAI|Toyo Proxes FZ4|ADR Silver Sukodo wheels|Tsudo muffler|Tein S-Tech Springs|B&M short shifter
Cardomain page*new pics soon*
STILL SLOW

hey... i got some crazy wires goin all over the place... want to help me rewire ? haha just playin man you are awesome at installs, I also like the HID install too.

Boca Raton, Florida
95 Eclipse GS- sold
99 Eclipse GSX- 386awhp
98 Eclipse GS- sold
92 Prelude

If anyone wants a 40 gig Ipod I have one for sale...brand new. PM me with an offer.

______________________________

Ryan
IRyanHester@Hotmail.com

'03 Mazda 6s

---------------------------------------

Black 98 GST missing her owner and looking for a new one...Inquiries welcome

btw a couple other companies released modules similar to the alpine one. pioneer and clarion i believe. alpine's got a one year head start on them so their second gen ipod HU's are a little more ipod friendly, but it's possible pioneer or clarion got it right from the start. i'm very curious to see how the other companies stack up. i wonder if 'ipod compatible' will be the next stand feature every company tries to incorporate.

*edit*
azdave it looks like you're sportin a pioneer deck.. are you gonna keep your custom setup or swithc to using the pioner-ipod module?

-marc