> Definitely go for a good-LOOKING stereo in a 405 because these cars
> are so freakin' noisy at 100+ km/h that you won't be HEARING much
> music.
This is something I have to take issue with. My 405 (DL automatic, now of =
blessed memory) was noticeably quieter than my 505S. The 505 seems to reall=
y generate wind noise around the mirrors, and tyre sounds seem more intrusiv=
e.
> I used to think my Renault 5 was quite noisy inside, but when I got
> the 405 I realised there wasn't much to choose between them in the
> noise department. And the R5 is an econobox. Also, as my 405 has
> aged, the noise has worsened (shrunken seals I guess) although it's
> always been a VERY noisy car.
Interestingly, my 1977 R5 GTL is quieter than my 505 by a long shot - and g=
iven that the R5 has the full-length canvas roof, that's saying something. =
Of all the 505s, I've noticed that the V6s (especially after 1986) generally=
seem to be the best-insulated.
> To see how noisy it is, take a BMW 3 series, new Volvo or Mercedes C
> class for a test drive - they're quieter at 140 km/h than the 405 is
> at 60 km/h. Even my 1966 404 Coupé is significantly quieter at speed
> than my 405.
Right... But the first three are an inaccurate comparison, given their age=
. That the 404 is more silent presents the same conundrum as with my R5: I =
flat cannot figure it out. Both are monocoque designs, but the 505 seems to=
transmit more noise through the body, despite a completely different approa=
ch. Go figure.
> I guess what I'm saying is that in a noisy car, a better stereo is an
> investment with a very low rate of return.
Personally, I look on all car stereos as a wasted application: there will *=
always* be some flavour of background distraction to interfere with the musi=
c. Better to invest the serious money in a home deck.
However, I do have a Sony CDX-4250 in-dash CD player coupled to four Infini=
ty speakers which a previous owner was kind enough to install. OK, it may o=
nly have 45W output and a cruddy receiver, but quite frankly I do not view t=
he car as the ideal place to listen to music. At least CD playback is excep=
tional for an in-car unit.
> So you won't enjoy the
> improved sound much, unless you mostly drive in traffic jams. If
> that's the case, you'll also benefit from impressing the homeboys
> with your heart-rhythm-upsetting bass at stoplights.
God, do I hate that. I love to feel bass, but I like pronounced treble wit=
h it. Leave the thump-thump-thump-thump crap to the lowered Integra crowd.
> But even at
> idle your 405's stereo will have competition: the various squeaks
> from the dash and other trim will sing in sympathy with the music.
True. One thing I will always remember about my 405: the dash, its noises,=
and my quests to stop them.
> Also, remember: it's very bad form to buy a new audio system that's
> worth more than the entire car ;->
Yup.
If you really want killer graphics on a good in-dash system, check out the =
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri 19 Jan 2001 - 09:51:45 UTC