I finally looked at CD/radios for my sister's car. What i found was that even the fairly expensive ones are literally crap compared to the stock honda unit. But i'm NOT talking features and sound. I'm talking build quality, and in that area theres just no comparison. My sister is 60 years old and doesn't know great sound from bad, and the only features she's gonna care about is the volume control and other basic functions ! The know the type......try and explain how to use a VCR and i may as well try and teach her brain surgury.

The fact is that the while aftermarket units are better in sound quality and features, neither matters to her, and in fact more features=more confusion !

So unless someone can tell me of an aftermarket unit thats built as well as the honda, i'll have to get her the honda unit. (which is very expensive) And to those who haven't owned the stock unit in a 2001, you probably can't recommend anything because you'll never understand the quality difference. I was wondering why the honda stuff was so expensive. I figured it was just a matter of the typical overblown prices that genuine parts always seem to suffer from. But i now realize it's because the aftermarket stuff is made like a cracker jacks toy !! The technology may be good, but the package is junk on every one i looked at. I looked at everything at a couple places including alpine, but all were just crap. I'm a electronic tech, and in my job i repair just about anything electronic, and i know what breaks and what doesn't. And everything i looked at today was obviously NOT made to last. I know some of you will say that yours has lasted years, but i won't be buying your perticular player. There will always be some who will be lucky, but i need to know that whatever i get her will have a very low rate of failure, and i feel the honda unit is just that. So does anyone know of a unit that is built far more solidly than most as far as moving parts (buttons especially) and plastic that doesn't bend when you just look at it?

Thanks....


[Modified by dazco, 8:28 PM 12/26/2002]

 

My girlfriend has a 2002 civic.

She didnt have a cd player but the stock unit was very well designed and easy to use. We have since replaced it with a Kenwood MP3 deck but that little tapedeck will always hold a piece of my heart...

 

Why is the stock unit dead?

I don't know the cost of the stock unit, but you can probably get 2 or 3 aftermarket units for the price. If they last 3 years each, you are set

 

"Why is the stock unit dead?
I don't know the cost of the stock unit, but you can probably get 2 or 3 aftermarket units for the price. If they last 3 years each, you are set"

It isn't dead, it's a cassette/radio.

As for the idea of replacing it with aftermarket units 3 times...... r u serious !

 

nakamichi CD-35Z. can be found for about $200 shipped give or take $20. easy to use? oh please..this thing looks stockier than stock decks high quality? sure.. up to your standards? i dunno, but its a good deck.

you'll only get cheap stuff if you go buy cheap stuff from the beginning. wonder why things are so cheap nowadays? (like cars)? its a marketing strategy. a car breaks, people go buy new ones (not all). like those 60's cars. made out of steel and you still see them running around. unlike those 80's car where its all junky. then again...what do i know

 

It's called "planned obsolesence" and it is indeed a marketing strategy to make sure you come back soon ! I bought and installed the honda CD drive for her today. She's totally happy and i can rest easily knowing it's likely gonna last as long as the car. It's obvious from the way it's made that planned obsolesence wasn't part of the marketing plan here. So it won't sound as good or light up like a circus, but the desired end result was aquired.