jassi 1 1 Cars Posted October 21, 2015 (edited) Hey Guys I'm finding using the stereo whilst driving a right pitta as I have to lean forward and down. Have any of you guys found a way around this? I was thinking of moving the stereo higher up to where the heater controls are or find some sort of housing to fix it to the top the dash but not sure if this is possible? Thx Jas Edited October 21, 2015 by jassi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dobboy 231 2 Cars Posted October 21, 2015 Yes it's a pain. Easiest option, buy a head unit with a remote control 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve@cornwall 100 Posted October 21, 2015 (edited) Simple but effective . Always one of my pet hates of the 205 Used head unit and remote radio/ volume controller from 306 and remote clarion CD changer. (Plugs into aerial so useable with any head unit) OK for background music Tec but hardly hi fi ! Edited October 21, 2015 by steve@cornwall Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GLPoomobile 958 Posted October 22, 2015 The first head unit I ever had in my first car was a Sony one that came with a wired "joystick" style remote. I really loved that solution, though it was a hassle finding a suitable place to mount it. No idea if you can still get ones like that but I always thought that from a usability perspective it was so much nicer than the "credit card" type remotes that so many stereos came with. Personally, if I was doing it from scratch I'd choose a headunit with iPod/MP3 compatibility and run tunes from a touch screen device - phone/tablet/whatever - mounted up high. Always choose a bloody good mount though, I really hate cheap flimsy ones that let the device wobble and vibrate. You may not be able to control volume directly though, so in that case I'd try and choose a headunit with a simple layout where volume can be adjusted easily (rotary knob would be good rather than small buttons). Doesn't remove then need to lean forward and reach down, but as a compromise if you can do it without looking (muscle memory if you like) then that's better. If you don't want to replace your existing hardware then relocating it is going to be a bit of work. On top of the dash will require complete customisation and would probably look a bit naff. In theory, you should be able to fit a headunit in the top air vents, but then you are obviously loosing them, and you will probably need to remove the dash to do the work. You can fit a headunit in to the cubby hole under the steering wheel, which makes it nice and discreet and less of a stretch to get to, but still party relying on feel to operate as it's less easy to see while driving. Oh, another option just sprang to mind......pretty sure I've seen some devices in recent years that are very compact and can be remote mounted. Rather than a single/doube DIN traditional unit sized for CDs and using a big internal amp, I think they are intended to take an MP3 input and rely on a separate external amp. Something to look in to. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Simes 248 2 Cars Posted October 22, 2015 I had that wired Sony joystick in my 205 back in 2000! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TAG 25 1 Cars Posted October 22, 2015 Halfords do a cheap and cheerful Sony unit for around £50. Just USB and AUX in, so no messing about with cd cases flying everywhere. Comes with a remote, which is handy to keep in the door pocket (especially when you've got harnesses!) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jackherer 543 Posted October 22, 2015 Year ago someone on here took a face off head unit and soldered a long ribbon cable to the connector on the back of the faceplate then onto the corresponding pins on the front of the head unit. Then they put the faceplate on the sunvisor IIRC although you can then put it anywhere, the faceplate and the headunit itself can be in totally different locations. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Simes 248 2 Cars Posted October 22, 2015 I had that wired Sony joystick in my 205 back in 2000! I then had an infra red remote control that I used once! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scbond 15 1 Cars Posted October 24, 2015 Nowhere you can move the stereo to in the dash. Heater box is in the way of most of it. Personally, even though the position is a pain, I see it as a quirky 80s design more than anything and quite like where it is. Then again, I have a Sony unit with built-in iPod and a remote. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Fenton 1,536 Posted October 25, 2015 You could move the head unit into the cubby hole to the right of the steering column I would think quite easily (I have never done so). It would then be a little bit nearer to hand I guess. But I have to say I have never really struggled too much with the standard location. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jassi 1 1 Cars Posted October 26, 2015 Think I have a plan The previous owner put a HU in and then wired it up to an amp to run 6x9's fitted to a really heavy reinforced parcel shelf and a sub in the boot taking the soundstage to the back of the car. I removed all that lot and have been running some coax's from the head unit. The car feels like its gained a few bhp having lost a few kg. So I'm thinking of ditching the head unit all together and running an iPod to RCA cable to a lightweight amp to run some comps and an under seat shallow sub. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites