Visteon Mach MP3 deck? Any other factory looking decks?

[seanklsc]

We left the discussion off in March, but no one ever confirmed the availability of a wiring harness for our 95-98 Marks. Also, is this unit able to scroll "Track No. - Artist - Title"? If it didn't, I probably wouldn't get it.. it would be pretty useless to me. Does it light up green to match our dash?

So anyway, if this product isn't compatible with our cars... whats another aftermarket deck we can use while still keeping the dash looking factory? A double-din without crazy graphics and buttons. Just a clean simple to use interface.

If I can't find a good double din to buy, I will probably end up getting a crappy looking single din conversion kit. I'm sick of the idea, but maybe I'm being too picky about it. If I do have to choose a single din deck, this will be it:

http://www.nakamichi.com/auto/CD400/index.html
Clean and factory looking, amber or green color buttons (configurable), built-in 47x4 amp, 24bit dac (awesome!). Its only about $300 too. Downsides are no MP3 and not compatible with a cd changer.

 

[M Darrah]

I'm interested in the Visteon decks too, especially the satellite radio one. There's a dealer in Chicago, and I called them a while back. The guy told me that they only install them in new cars, for car dealers, as an upgrade to a factory system. It's been a while now, and I can't remember if he said they'd sell me one over the counter or not. I never got a price. What I do remember him saying is that it wouldn't be a simple plug-in for the Mark. The wiring harness is meant to fit current model cars' sound systems. No RCA's or anything simple like that.

So what it boils down to, is that even if you can get one, you're looking at a custom wiring job, and probably no warranty.

I'm still intrigued by it though and may check it out again. I'm off next week and may take a trip to this shop and see what the scoop is. Since they're meant to be installed in a variety of Ford cars, I would assume that the lighting color can be changed or ordered for a particular car. Do all Lincolns still use the aqua color we have? I really like the way all the lights in the console match.

 

[seanklsc]

Any news?

 

[maxmk8]

You can get a good looking MP3 car deck for about $140 from JVC. 50x4 watts (although thats max). Great sound quality/looks and increadibly cheap price, why bother with the factory look>?

 

[MonoPed]

Why bother with the stock look? Personal preference here, but to me, the single DIN dash kits look cheap in these cars. Another reason is the head units themselves. Head units used to be clean looking, with a no-nonsense interface/display, and basic black in color. Too many headunits are now silver, with wild graphics, and are better suited for ricer dashes than a Mark VIII. I'd be happy to find a stock AM/FM/CD to work in my '95 with JBL, for those reasons.
Brian

 

[seanklsc]

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You can get a good looking MP3 car deck for about $140 from JVC. 50x4 watts (although thats max). Great sound quality/looks and increadibly cheap price, why bother with the factory look>?
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It's just a concept I'm used to. Everything has to be clean and factory looking. You can't ever beat the factory look. Our dashes are wide and flowing, tilted towards the driver, wood trimmed, etc. You have to keep that luxury look.