I recently bought a 2001 Skoda fabia and I would like to put a new stereo in that I can connect my ipod to.

The CD stereo currently in the car is a panasonic CQ-RDP152N. Is this the original stereo that came with the car or one the previous owner installed themselves? I have no idea.

If I buy something like this....http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/3851254/art/roadstar/ru-400rd-mp3-usb-sd-car-r.html ....will it be compatible with my car? How difficult is it to install? I'm hoping its just a case of removing a couple of cables from the old one and putting them into the new one instead?

Thanks

I recently bought a 2001 Skoda fabia and I would like to put a new stereo in that I can connect my ipod to.

The CD stereo currently in the car is a panasonic CQ-RDP152N. Is this the original stereo that came with the car or one the previous owner installed themselves? I have no idea.

If I buy something like this....http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/3851254/art/roadstar/ru-400rd-mp3-usb-sd-car-r.html ....will it be compatible with my car? How difficult is it to install? I'm hoping its just a case of removing a couple of cables from the old one and putting them into the new one instead?

Thanks

Hi Skodabot

Looking at the radio you are thinking of getting, I would stick with the Panasonic, much better quality radio.

I believe you can get radio Ipod adapters which would be a lot better than fitting that radio which looks rubbish, and poss cheaper

Radiotwo

Hi Skodabot

Looking at the radio you are thinking of getting, I would stick with the Panasonic, much better quality radio.

I believe you can get radio Ipod adapters which would be a lot better than fitting that radio which looks rubbish, and poss cheaper

Radiotwo

Hi,

Thanks for the advice. What do you mean by 'radio ipod adapters'? I've heard the FM tuners don't work very well and some of the stereo connect kits like ICE seem to be really expensive and kind of difficult to install?

If I were to shell out a bit more on a stereo like this would it be compatible with my car and would it be difficult to install?

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/4938262/art/pioneer/deh-5200sd-cd-mp3-usb-sd.html

Hi,

Thanks for the advice. What do you mean by 'radio ipod adapters'? I've heard the FM tuners don't work very well and some of the stereo connect kits like ICE seem to be really expensive and kind of difficult to install?

If I were to shell out a bit more on a stereo like this would it be compatible with my car and would it be difficult to install?

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/4938262/art/pioneer/deh-5200sd-cd-mp3-usb-sd.html

Hi Again

This was the type of thing I was thinking about:

http://www.iworld.co.uk/p/3-in-1_FM_Transmitter_Car_Charger_and_Cradle.htm

But as you have got a decent make radio already why pay out again !

To answer you question, normally it is quite easy to swap radios, but there are a few types of cable harness's, so don't know what you have got, and what you need, but

unless some one has just cut the cables and connected with choc-blocks it not a major job.

I have just looked a the spec of that pioneer you linked to, do you know you would need a optional cable for the ipod anyway !

Where abouts are you ?

Radiotwo

You're right, FM transmitters are rubbish. If you care anything about sound quality, then avoid at all costs.

As for installation, it is easy. SEARCH is your friend (top right hand corner). I read through some of the threads on radio installations in this forum area and it gave me all the information I needed to install my own. Spend a little time using the SEARCH function and it will give you everything you need.

I've never heard of the first stereo brand you mentioned, so would want to hear it before I bought it. But as for the second, it's a reputable brand, but you still might not even need to spend THAT much. I bought a pretty low level Pioneer for around £100, it was MILES better than the factory deck with regards sound quality, and it came with AUX in and USB in, which is pretty much all I'm using at the moment. Radio is rubbish anyway (IMO) and I used to connect my iPod using the AUX connector (with a dock to 3.5mm connector for better sound quality) but now I simply drop MP3 files onto a memory stick and plug it into the USB connector. Works great and SO easy. And with the Pioneer the wiring connections were simple, only had to do the red/yellow wire swap which you'll read about extensively in this forum. You might need an aerial adapter and aerial signal booster, but then you might already have these since you've already got an aftermarket radio installed.

As far as I'm aware, ANY stereo should fit in your Fabia, just follow the instructions and get a reputable brand for quality and you should be good to go! Have fun.