[StarBus]

Wow!! You and me both brother. I have less only 18,000 miles on my Mitsubishi Endeavor Ltd, and yet I am going to sell it within 2 months if I cannot find a way to get an audio signal into the d*mn Infinitiy stereo.

All I can say is "*&$^#($!!". Boy was I ever dumb to purchase a car without any way to listen to MP3, casettes, Ipods, DVD output, etc. Although I like the integrated LCD display with climate, radio, navigation, etc. I really can't imagine reverting to FM transmitters to connect every little gadget. What design maestro thought up this limitation?! Did they thought that it would build customer loyalty? They probably stole a page from Verizon and the v710/E815 Bluetooth fiasco.

If anyone knows how to get a stereo or 4-channel signal into the Infinity pre-amp without destroying the head console connection, please educate us all.

Ellery (at) StarBus (dot) com.

 

[StarBus]

O.K. that's a fair question. My answer:

1. I have good hearing. FM cuts out at about 17KHz and with very limited dynamic range.
2. s/n is acceptable, but not great. I am referring to "hiss"
3. Phase distortion from other transmitters, police radar and engine EMI
4. Yet another powered appliance. That means another set of batteries - or another cigarette lighter power plug. With cell phone charger, radar detector, laptop brick etc, it's just a bigger mess!
5. I would prefer to find a 4 channel or 5.1 channel interface, so that I can enjoy surrond sound. This last one may be unrealistic. I am assumin that the Infinity radio accepts signals into 4 separate preamps.

P.S. You already got a Nano?! Nice job. Of course, now you need a video iPod. But I'm goign to wait until they put in a larger landscape mode screen.

 

[StarBus]

That's correct. I purchased my 2004 Endeavor in July 2003 on the same day that I first heard of it. What caused me to run down to the dealer was the fact that it had a tip-tronic transmission. That means that I can drive it as a clutchless manual, while my wife can use it as an Automatic...

On the plus side, the auto transmission is so graceful and smooth, that I rarely override it. On the down side, the mileage absolutely sucks. I get betweet 11 and 15.5 in mixed city/highway driving. At $60/tank, I feel like an environmental outlaw. I also recognize that this glutony support the people who brought down the World Trade Center (Mid-grade gas is about $3.10/gal in Massachusetts Oct 2005).

There were many on the lot to choose from. I chose the Ltd that the owner of the dealership was driving. It already ad 2500 miles on it.

It must seemt that I am a stickler for trivial details, but I recall how frustrating it was that my 1988 Jeep Cherokee Ltd had no cup holders. (before the Grand Cherokee was introduced). I swore that I would never be fooled again. Imagine using $0.95 over the window cup holder in a $23,000 SUV! (and that was back in '88)!

But this time, it was my own fault. Audio input is not a new concept. And even though mobile MP3 was not as big 2 years ago as it is now, it should have been obvious to me that I shouldn't lock myself into the media formats that are built into the dashboard. How stupid I was! I could have purchased a Toyota Highlander, a Nissan Pathfinder, or even the Olds Bravada (or a the new Jeep Tribute).

Ellery (at) StarBus (dot) com

 

[StarBus]

Whoops!!!! I see what you mean. I meant to say 2004 Endeavor -- not 1994 Endeavor. I shall correct my profile.

Thanks for pointing it out!