In all the complaining about GM have cheap interiors, I decided to check out hondas. We all wonder why they never complain about the civics digital speedo, when GM was blasted for using digital dashes. But did you know their stock stereo is 2 different colors and one of the colors doesn't even match the interior at any point?

Compare that too a black tie stereo in the Cobalt.

On the other hand, atleast you can replace the stereo in the civic unlike the accord.

you can replace the stereo in an accord. look up "dash kit".

meanwhile, GM has the oil life monitor (and a few other important things) integrated into the radio, so if you DO choose to replace it, and you want those features, you're gonna need to have the radio rewired and stashed somewhere like under the seat.

haha The Honda one looks aftermarket and cheap. I want to see a pic of the model that doesn't include a radio..

That Honda looks like some 16 year old installed a Spark-o-Matic from K-mart. no wonder a radio isn't standard equipment on that overated POS

In all the complaining about GM have cheap interiors, I decided to check out hondas.  We all wonder why they never complain about the civics digital speedo, when GM was blasted for using digital dashes.  But did you know their stock stereo is 2 different colors and one of the colors doesn't even match the interior at any point?

Compare that too a black tie stereo in the Cobalt.

On the other hand, atleast you can replace the stereo in the civic unlike the accord.

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That's an aftermarket Honda accessory. Here's the basic OEM one...

Okay, but it still looks like $h!.. both ways.

Okay, but it still looks like $h!.. both ways.

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True.

Dare I say the GM looks more upscale. LCD is kind of old school.

GM has excellent radios. GM also has excellent ergonomics. Now if they could just nail down the style aspect of the interiors (and to an extent the exteriors) then they'd be fine. GM's are very practical cars...with the gotta-have quotient of a pair of Dickies jeans.

I like the GM radio too, though the integration disturbs me. IMO, they either need to work with some aftermarket companies for some sort of message center standard so that aftermarket head units can also act as message centers, or they need to get that integration out of there. At least it sounds like it's not disabling to the car to put something aftermarket in (a la late model LeSabres...)

IIRC, 2000+ LeSabres carried a DIC readout in the lower half of one of the gauges.

IIRC, 2000+ LeSabres carried a DIC readout in the lower half of one of the gauges.

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The problem with the late model LeSabre (and Park Avenue, I believe) is not really message-center related, but that in important computer component is located in the radio, and if you remove the radio, the car won't work. Best friend works in auto parts, and relayed a story of one of his customers

-customer came in, wanted a stereo & speakers. Bought them & left. Friend didn't ask for any details about the car, because most cars can use a stereo just fine.

-customer came back in, complaining that the car wouldn't start anymore. Friend guessed the car was a LeSabre, due to this problem, and the customer confirmed. Friend informed the customer of the problem, but the customer had already given the stock radio away to a friend, who tried to make it work in their car, and fried it.

-customer went to the dealership. Radio was uber-expensive. Once installed, the car still wouldn't work right, because information in the radio computer didn't match information in the rest of the car's computers. Paid the dealership more big money to reprogram multiple things, or something like that. Total cost was several thousand dollars.

Edited September 3, 200618 yr by PurdueGuy

you can replace the stereo in an accord.  look up "dash kit".

meanwhile, GM has the oil life monitor (and a few other important things) integrated into the radio, so if you DO choose to replace it, and you want those features, you're gonna need to have the radio rewired and stashed somewhere like under the seat.

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Not true with the Black Tie radios. You are thinking of the Malibu & G6 stereos of which are no longer going to be used after 2007.

Not true with the Black Tie radios.  You are thinking of the Malibu & G6 stereos of which are no longer going to be used after 2007.

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more integrated/can't replace, or less integrated, can replace?