I love my 10-year-old Acura TL, but it's definitely an antique when it comes to its audio system (AM-FM/ CD changer, and -- wait for it -- cassette player). I'm addicted to recorded books, but my aftermarket solution for in-car listening to the scads of books I have on my iPod is completely inadequate for city driving, relying as it does on finding a clear FM channel on the very crowded L.A. band.
So while there are a lot of things I don't like about driving the Insight, such as its sluggish acceleration and less-than-posh interior, I am enjoying its (relatively) simple-to-use iPod interface. Listening to a mystery by Swedish writer Henning Mankell really makes the miles fly by. Who did kill that Latvian police major, anyway?
Carroll Lachnit, Features Editor @20,211 miles
bankerdanny says:
12:56 PM, 06/18/10
If your stereo has an input for a remote mounted changer there are a number of companies that sell adapters that allow you to replace the CD changer with an iPod input jack. They're not even expensive, about $70.
I've been struggling with the same issue as I look to trade down from my 2007 Subaru with an aux input to an older used (and payment free) car. My wife listens almost exclusively to music through her iPhone. The inability to replace the factory head unit with aftermarket, iPod friendly unit or to install a hard wired adapter will keep some cars off my shopping list.
thegraduate says:
01:01 PM, 06/18/10
Shame that it has an interface resembling the Apple IIe.
jeepsrt says:
01:15 PM, 06/18/10
My '06 Jeep doesn't have an aux input, came in the '07's so I had to buy a plug that goes into the dvd player in the back to listen to an iPod.
mikeolan says:
01:21 PM, 06/18/10
If there's a crappier looking interface for a nav/audio system, I haven't seen it!
wobbly_ears says:
01:55 PM, 06/18/10
What a cheap looking interface! Did Honda get it's inspiration from a 1980s Sony Trinitron??
hybris says:
08:06 PM, 06/18/10
So where is the DOS prompt?
jpr18 says:
08:02 AM, 06/20/10
OMG!!!
Another Kurt Wallander reader! I've never encountered one before!
If you are reading them in order you will get hooked!
wobbly_ears says:
08:04 AM, 06/21/10
@jpr18,
You'd be surprised. There are many other Wallander readers out there!