High-Tech Toys For Your Stang
Part I - Mobile Video
Author: 40thGT1119
"I feel the need...the need for video?!?"
In today?s world of fast paced technology, more and more people are loading up their cars with some really high tech gadgets. No matter the age, sex, or occupation, people of all kinds are getting into the action. Advances in technology have made these gadgets smaller and more affordable to the general public. So what kind gadgets are people loading their cars, specifically Mustangs with? Well, read on and find out if some of these high tech toys are for you.
What?s better than listening to music in the car? Watching movies in the car (this does not go for the driver who I hope isn?t watching a movie while driving). Now that LCD screens have become smaller and more affordable, companies such as Alpine, Panasonic, and Audiovox have customized LCD screens into mobile video units. If you plan on buying a mobile video unit, you should probably consider the following questions before making a purchase:
- How often will you/someone use it?
- How much can you afford?
- Does it matter whether the system is concealed or not?
- Do you usually ride with passengers in the car (i.e. kids)?
- Do you plan on utilizing options such as navigation and surround sound?
If you?ve asked yourself these questions and have decided on getting a mobile unit the next step is seeing what type is for you. There are 3 main ways you can put a video LCD in your Stang: the overhead unit, the headrest/visor monitor system, or the in-dash video unit. How does each complement a Mustang? You?re about to find out.
The Overhead Unit
You?re stuck in bumper to bumper traffic and the kids are getting restless in the car. What do you do? Flip down the LCD screen mounted to the ceiling, stick in a Disney movie, and the kids are entertained.
With the overhead unit system this is now possible. This type of mobile video unit is mounted right under the ceiling of the car. The overhead unit has a flip down LCD screen with the DVD player mounted on the unit itself or in a remote unit placed somewhere else in the car. A remote control usually comes with overhead units for easy control access for passengers sitting in the backseat. These types of units are becoming a popular stock option in minivans and SUV?s because of the space that is in a minivan/SUV. They are relatively cheap compared to the other mobile video systems and easily accessible. Most overhead LCD screen sizes range from 5"-10.4".
Sony 9" LCD Overhead System including 2 wireless
headphones (not shown) for a little more than $950
But how practical is it to have one of these in a Mustang? In my opinion, not very practical at all. The overall interior size of the Mustang is small to begin with, not to mention the ceiling being low. The overhead unit will dip down anywhere from 1.5 to 2 inches below the ceiling and that?s with the LCD screen flipped up. Also think about your rearview mirror. What happens when the screen is flipped down? You?re not going to see anything in your rear view mirror. Want to hook up a Playstation 2? It?s rare to find an overhead unit with A/V inputs Got a convertible? Overhead units aren?t going to happen there for obvious reasons. Don?t want to spend time rerouting wires through your ceiling and down the side frames or money to have a professional install it? I?d steer clear of an overhead unit for a Mustang.
The Headrest/Sunvisor System
You?re in a buddy?s Mustang one day sitting in the passenger seat heading over to a party to meet some girls/guys. The windows are down and your buddy is doing 90 on the freeway in the Cobra. God only knows what your hair looks like when you get off the freeway. You pull down the sunvisor to check the hair situation in the mirror... only when you pull it down there?s a video screen there!
That?s right, video screen technology has become so advanced and made so slim that we can fit video LCD screens into sunvisors and headrests. Here, the DVD player is separate from the screen and can be either mounted under your seat, in the trunk, or in the dash section. With this system, not only is it possible for every passenger to have a video screen in front of them, but each passenger can choose to watch whatever they want separate from the other people in the car. Also, unlike the overhead units, these systems allow users extra options such as adding your Playstation 2, watching TV and VHS tapes, and wireless headphones for individual listening.
Epik?s Custom Headrest 7" LCD Screen for a Ford
Focus (a Mustang is a custom job). 2 of these headrests,
the DVD system hookup, and 2 wireless headphones will
set you back over $1400 for the full system.
Ok, the downsides to having this type of system. For one thing, if you wanted 2 headrest LCD screens with all the options, it?s going to cost you over $700 and that?s not including installation or the time if you do it yourself. By the way, for this type of system, unless you?re a professional installer of car electronics, I?d get a professional to do the job. A professional will have all the right parts for installing your system and know little tidbits like hiding wires properly and keeping the interior of your Mustang looking nice. And, if you don?t like advertising your video screens to the world, this is not the system to get unless you stick with the sunvisor LCD screens. You could also put some type of headrest cover over the headrest LCD screens that won?t scratch the screens, but taking these on and off can be a pain in the ass. If you want a 10.4" screen, don?t think you?re going to find a headrest big enough. Most headrest units are 5?-7? in LCD screen size. It will be a custom job to put this type of system in your Mustang because it is not a popular choice among Stang owners.
All in all, the headrest/sunvisor system isn?t a bad choice, but it?s not the greatest either.
The In-dash LCD screen
One day you?re riding in your stang with your girl on a long road trip. No radio reception is possible where you are, you?ve listened to each of your CD?s twice over, and the girlfriend is starting to complain how long the road trip is. What?s going to save the day? Your in-dash LCD screen. One press of a button on the receiver and out pops a 7" LCD screen. Of course you have all her favorite DVD?s with you to amaze her even more ensuring that at the end of this long road trip she?ll return the good services in other ways (just joking).
Ok, or maybe she won?t return the services in ways you?re thinking but whether you?re a video or technology buff, this type of system is the most appealing to most Stang drivers considering the fact that they can have other uses for the system other than video. Certain in-dash LCD screen systems can be bought with integrated GPS technology, hookups for video game consoles, and sound extras for those audiophiles out there. Many in-dash systems also have touch screen capability for easy control and access. When you?re away from your car, the in-dash receiver looks just like a normal car receiver and you don?t have to worry about any LCD screens out in the open drawing attention to would-be thieves. Installation is rather simple and most come with car kits and easy instructions to follow. It?s just about the same process you would do if you were installing a better receiver over the stock one.
Jensen?s In-Dash TV/DVD Receiver with
7" Widescreen LCD for roughly $800
Downsides? Well the only downside I see to this is cost. The least expensive in-dash receiver that plays DVD?s I saw was $800 not including any extra wires or attachments you might need to install the unit. Having a system with all the options such as GPS will set you back $1200 for a good unit.
Now that I?ve gone over the 3 main types of mobile video units, there is actually one more type of unit I would like to mention but not go into much detail on because no modifications are done to your car with these. This type of mobile video unit is actually a mini portable DVD player. Many portable DVD players are now coming with car accessories to make them easily integrated into your car. The DVD player is attached to a "strapbag" that attaches easily between the front two seats or to the back of one of the seats. Certain players have A/V inputs for video game consoles to be hooked up to. For more information, take a look at the additional sources section at the end of this article.
In conclusion, if you own a Mustang and are in the market for a car video system, the in-dash LCD system is probably the best way to go. Just be prepared to shell out some bucks for it but in the end you?ll be glad you did and so will your friends riding with you.
Additional Resources:
CarDomain Store
Circuit City
Crutchfield Advisor - good source of more detailed information on mobile video
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