1,2. h20boy changed both his head unit and the GPS. You can also use the same GVN-53 navigation he used and use it with the stock head unit just as well. The GVN-53, only works with the remote...no touch screen.

Other owners have fitted a new portable touch screen nav unit behind the wood dash to replace the exisiting display. (sorry, there is a writeup on this, but I cannot find the link at the moment).

3. If you want to have this kind of work done done, try to get a recommnedation for a high quality car audio installer in your area. You might get lucky at Best Buy, but personally I would not trust them with these cars.

4. Premium audio, including subwoofer was a factory option on the XK8, and comes standard on the XKR.

 

Well I live in a huge town of pop 4,000, so theres not gunna be anything here. the closest big town has a pop of 20,000, they MIGHT have something, but I wouldn't know who to trust with it.

 

If you love the car this should not bother you, but there are two more things to be aware of:

Do negotiate to have the seller give you a 3yr. or longer bumper to bumper Extended Warranty, before you buy the car. The other alternative is to keep $3,000 in the bank for future repairs

This is not really an all weather car, but I drive it in the rain anyway. When it is raining, water will drip onto the driver's seat or passenger's seat when you open the door. This is due to the design of the convertible top and the slant of the side windows. Just carry a thick cloth towel!

 

Only thing I can add to whiteXKRs information is that if you want touch screen access, you either have to repalce the screen or put an entirely new deck to replace the head unit. And yes, big touch screen units will leave you relocating the heated seats, fogs and emergency hazard switch row to another location - glovebox has been used before.

To get the NAV, knowing what I know now, the GVN via a remote control and that video switch is still the best, and most affordable option. Keeps the remainder of the car stock in appearance, and hitting a switch on the driver's side gives you the modern navigation access. "Tidy", as the brits would say.

Adding MP3 or the ipod audio is also very easy these days with that audio switch shown in the linked thread. It couldn't get any easier.

The hangup comes when you try overcome the poor bass produced by the stock system. (im speaking of the convertible here, the coupe is different) The small 6" subwoofers in the rear are not going to give you great feel for the music. Due to the gas tank being between the rear seat and boot, the option for a boot-mounted subwoofer is not achievable, trust me, I tried it. Most have accepted simply replacing the small alpine subwoofers with 6.5" JL audio subs and called it good. A step up from that, in addition to that upgrade, putting a small 2-channel amplifier in the boot, installing a quality component system in the front, where the new amplifier will send a full audio signal to the front, the midrange/woofer in the door can then handle some more of the lower frequencies with much improved sound quality. Remember the alpine fronts do not get the bass frequencies; the system has crossovers built into the amplifier that send some frequencies to the front, and the rest of the lower ones to those small subs.

Best buy can handle the sub replacements (bring your own in, they won't stock or be able to buy them), new amplifier, and new component speakers. Anything of greater complexity involving the deck or nav...don't let them touch it. We can help you with the aftermarket nav signal and audio if you decide to go that way. Or, find a custom audio shop to do that little mod.

 

Well I wont be getting one until spring-ish. there's a good amount of cars that I like and/or want, so this isn't my only option. Having said that, I have yet to actually test drive one, but from what I know of them I think I'd probably like it the best. I've changed car stereos and speakers before, that I can do assuming this car is pretty similar. As for the navigation, I can always just buy one and stick it on the windshield the few times I use. Not the prettiest option, but it's not any less effective.

 

Sounds like a plan! Remember, if you're considering any type of convertible...those prices go up in the spring. And if a nav screen isn't for you, you'll find a few xk8s with just the gauges on the dash, and those vehicles tend to be less desirable (aka, just a tad cheaper to compensate)