Stag double din media / receiver head unit?

Richard B-C Could you please put this question out, re updating the radio system on the Stag? Has anyone in the forum installed a double DIN media / receiver head unit in their Stag? It would be good to be able to update this part of the Stag, and get the bluetooth, phone, maps, music, and possible reverse camera in a single unit neatly in the dash. The Double DIN units I checked out at the local Supercheap (Kenwood DDX4018BT, Sony XAV-W651BT, JVC KW-M740BT) all had about 6.2 inch screens, and are about 100mm high, while a rough measurement indicates the maximum available in the Stag from the top of the ventilation slider controls to the dash is 80mm. I am wondering if anyone has done anything such as getting rid of the redundant ash tray and changing the vent controls to allow a double DIN unit to fit in. There would obviously need to be modifications to the radio / vent control mounting panel. Has anyone out there done this? If so would appreciate any advice on how it went, modifications, issues etc. Also any recommendations / problems with regard to any particular units. Maybe it is all too hard, but it would be interesting to know if anyone out there has successfully done it.

Requires some planning to modernise the entertainment unit in the Stag with the usual retrofit challenges to fit a modern large screen 'single/double/4 DIN etc' unit. Without cutting away anything, the modern large 'fixed' touch screens will not fit anywhere other than in the central air vents, which I have seen done. With AC this is not an viable option in my car. This only effectively leaves the head units that have the screens that slide out horizontally and pop up to a slightly angled forward or vertical position. Even this type of unit have some issues. Not many models on the market, are more expensive than the 'fixed' screens and you need to clear the dash/central air vents when the thing starts to angle up in the vertical or near vertical position. But do able. Also they do have considerable weight so the cradle they come in needs to be well attached to the centre console and also supported from the bottom. Not that hard to do either. Most like the inexpensive one I bought have SatNav, Bluetooth, touch screen, DVD player etc etc. Came with a rear view camera as well which is able to be mounted on the rear bumper as in a modern vehicle. Usually activated when reverse is chosen or any time by hitting a screen button. May save hitting a non visible object or even a life.... Lots of premium modern cars have multiple camera's that give you a wide angle top view (an image on the touch screen about 4 metres above the vehicle looking down), a bottom view (a camera that sees the ground below the bumpers which is a blind spot from the drivers seat), side, rear etc etc. No doubt the after-market head units will soon also incorporate these and more features. Some have voice command and play TV. So one unit can bring you into the new millennium of features. Add or subtract from the driving pleasure? Many may not need to go beyond this upgrade. These head units are reasonably powered too now; reasonable 'continuous/RMS' power. For the true 'audiophile' retrofitting speakers beyond the top of the door panel/vinyl trim and preparing the door and other cavities for resonance is a given. The best speakers will sound very ordinary if not mounted this way. Vibration being the biggest killer along with many other reasons but this email would have to be twice as long (and maybe twice as boring).. A small Sub woofer, 2 amps, 5" mid range drivers, mid/tweeter splits on the front doors, 7 to 9 speakers in all should however all fit for anyone wanting to take it to that stage.

Groges H.: Because my Stag has so much wind and exhaust noise, I have installed a heads up projection for the windscreen. This means I can project the music score and words onto the windscreen and enjoy the music no matter what speed we are travelling at. The sound is speed sensitive, it works off the digital signal from the taco with a 2.5 second delay for gear change. When the revs drop to idle the music switches from visual to audio output automatically.