Greetings from a newbie!

 

Just changed our 15 Fabia for a 66 Yeti (1.2TSI Outdoor DSG).

 

I knew that I'd yearn for the DAB (Fabia had it, Yeti hasn't) and that I could have Apple CarPlay enabled on the headunit (Bolero, I think, see below), but the options and choices are very confusing!

 

Option 1

Skoda dealership wants £145 to enable CarPlay, which would require a physical connection to the phone.

Halfords or local car audio specialist could install a Pure 400 DAB add-on (£105) or an Alpine EziDab (£220), which is an additional unit to have around the dashboard. So a total of £250 or £365.

 

Option 2

Replace the headunit with a Pioneer SPH-DA130DAB (CarPlay with physical connection and DAB), for which Halfords want £339 and the local car audio specialist £539.

But,

• will the rear parking sensors work (possibly), and will we still get the rear parking diagram on the headunit?
• What about the steering wheel controls? (Halfords said they would work, forgot to ask the car audio specialist)
• What about the auto aircon and climate control?

 

Option 3

Replace the headunit with a Kenwood DMX8019DABS (CarPlay via wifi - so no cable -  and DAB), for which Halfords want £589 and a different local car audio specialist £795.

But,

• will the rear parking sensors work (possibly), and will we still get the rear parking diagram on the headunit?
• What about the steering wheel controls? Halfords said they would work, forgot to ask the local car audio specialist.
• The local car audio specialist with this unit also told me that I would need a cable for the auto aircon and climate control. Halfords made no mention of this.

 

I'd appreciate knowing if anyone has been down this route at all, and how it has all turned out, please?

 

Thank you for your time - and by the way, the Fabia was good, but the Yeti is a great car!

 

God bless,

 

Robert 

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Robert Townsend

 

 

 

Hi Robert. I went down the Highway 400 route. Very pleased overall with it. Reception can be a bit hit & miss using the windscreen ariel. I installed it myself, only took about 30 mins. Hid the cables behind the trim.

Assuming you're otherwise happy with the headunit, you could also replace your existing Bolero for a Bolero or Amundsen with DAB support - you'd still need to add a DAB aerial though.

Hi RobertT, I had a similar dilemma.

 

In the end, I had Apple Carplay enabled, and I am very happy with it. Connect the phone and google maps works flawlessly. I have the app for Planet Rock installed on the phone, and when I select that on varplay it gives access to all the DAB stations. Sound quality is excellent.

 

I wouldn't hesitate to have carplay enabled!

A while back now, but just to update.

 

I paid to have CarPlay enabled - good choice, use it a lot.

 

I tried a portable dab going in via aux, but it was v fiddly and annoying.

 

That was until last week, when had one of these fitted : http://www.autodab.com/SmartDAB-FM.aspx

 

All very good so far. Unit is hidden away behind the radio, goes in via aux, and if you want to change channel (which I don’t very often!), then there is an app on the phone which does that.

 

This set up suits me fine, and for just over £100 it seems fairly good value thus far.