Date:         Fri, 18 Feb 2005 10:15:35 -0800
Reply-To:     Markus Mumper <mumper@USA.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Markus Mumper <mumper@USA.NET>
Subject:      Re: Radio recommendations for '88 Vanagon?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

That's the same one I put in my '87 Westy about six months ago - very happy
with it so far. You can adjust the angle of the display so that it's face

tilts up - easier to see while driving.

The only difficulty I had while installing was that I needed to bend a "V"
shaped piece of sheet metal that (I think) helps support the dash - the unit
was too deep otherwise and the sheet metal piece was crushing the wires.

I also ran power to the radio from the second battery using a dedicated on/off
switch. The on button on the radio stays lit when the radio is turned off -
since my van can sit for extended periods of time I wanted the option of
cutting power to the unit so as not to drain the battery. This might be
overkill???

Lastly, the wire harness between the old and new wires will not mate so you
have to splice the connections (not suprising given the age of the van).

Markus in Pismo Beach with "The Girl"

------ Original Message ------
Received: Fri, 18 Feb 2005 09:54:19 AM PST
From: Richard A Jones <jones@COLORADO.EDU>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Radio recommendations for '88 Vanagon?

> Last spring my old tape deck was stolen.  I wanted to
> buy a combo tape+CD player--Sanyo makes/made one, but
> nothing was available in stock since a model change
> was going on.
> 

> I ended up buying a Panasonic with a "drop down,"
> detachable face plate.  "Drop down" means that you
> have to drop the face plate down on its hinges to
> put a CD in.  The advantage:  bigger screen since
> there isn't a CD slot in the face taking up space.
> I can't read the tiny screens (and buttons) without
> my closeup glasses which I don't wear driving....
> This screen is better--certainly better from bed!
> 

> Oh, yes, it has a remote, too.
> 

> I had it installed by a local (independent) installer
> who did a great job; I'd go that path again.  Anyway,
> he said that almost all models made now fit without
> any problem.  What I got was size "I" I think.  Similar
> to:
>
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-3oYQWMMiAoH/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=300&I=133C5210
> 

> There is a place in (my personal) Hell for all those
> Japanese gen-x-ers who design all this consumer stuff
> with tiny letters and tiny buttons.  Even this
> Panasonic is easier to operate when driving by
> the remote--which has bigger buttons--and I can
> hold it close to read them!
> 

>                         Richard A Jones
>                         Boulder, Colorado
>