my basic question is whether or not to get a double din or single din head unit??

I live in a not so great area so the single din is nice because i can take the faceoff. But then again. Does it really deter theives?? because i know my lazy *** doenst take it everywhere with me all the time. and i know lots of people always just chuck it into their glove compartment.

should i just count my lucky stars that the max fits a double din and take advantage of it even though everyone looking in can see it? opinions?

 

If you want a d din than get one it will fit. About the stealing part I don't know anything about it. But do take the face with you if you can that's why they come off. I know that a single din can fit better in your pocket and there are carying cases that you can strap to your belt for those I have not seen any d din carying cases as of yet.
I prefer the single din units myself that way I can leave the pull out tray in there.
It's your choice.

 

i think they look incredible.... and i still have the pocket for storage..

 

GET THE DOUBLE DIN!!! when I go out and look for stuff to steal, I look for the most expensive. If I see a DD in someones ride, its gone in 60 seconds. j/k. anyways I would get the DD. theres some ppl I know that got their single din jacked even when the face was taken off.

 

Single DIN.

I had a double DIN. Notice the word had. Nice pimpin Alpine unit with 3-disc changer, tape, eq, the works. Gone. Now I have one of the Alpine phantom face type units and a good car alarm. And a gun for the next car stereo stealin piece of @$#^!

 

since the radio actually bolts to the frame inside the dash..it would take a theif a while to even get to it... hell, i KNOW how to get the dash off and expose the screws and it takes me 20mins... anyways id get the double and get it insured.. thats what I did..

 

Please don't mistake this as a flame....

I can take apart the entire dash and have the metal radio cage out in < 3 minutes on my 98SE. This is without using force or tearing anything apart. Just a panel tool and finger nails. It's pretty simple, top and bottom "waterfall" pieces pop out, unscrew the ash tray, 4 bolts for the cage. That's it. I've just done it so many times.

The guy who took my radio got it in prolly < 1 minute as he ripped out the bottom retainer for the tranny stick, the top piece with the clock and used power tools to remove the 4 bolts that hold the cage to the frame. After that 8 small phillips screws and a good tug to seperate the HU from the RCA's, changer, and wiring harness. These guys are professionals and know their business.

The Double Din was insured. Thank God. Insurance financed the new unit and new dashboard components as well.

 

Sorry, I should mention that though insurance did give me a nice payout (Thanks AllState) my rates when up $20 a month after the theft.

Also the maximum default coverage for stereo was < $1500. To get more coverage you need a rider which of course raises your rates. Luckily the guy didn't make off with my amps/sub/etc!

BTW - the physical damage to the dashboard, broken windows, etc does NOT come out of the $1500 for stereo. Which is great, because Nissan parts aren't cheap!

Ryan93SE : maybe the 3rd gen cars have a substantially different radio/dash setup? I haven't done any serious stereo work on that generation of Maxima.

 

a "pull out" radio in most cars vs. our taking apart the dash.. the theif will choose the other car.... but you are very true theifs are professionals and they will take either if they are bound to do it.
and actually my third generation was ALOT easier to get apart than this fourth gen.

 

Personally I think I was "cased" in advance. This was the first car radio theft at my parking complex in 10 years. I also had a V1 in the car, so I imagine it was very tempting.

 

i would get two single dins, probably a cd player and a EQ, or a tape and EQ w/ cd changer in the trunk. i'm just giving you some suggestions, you can put one din in each of your pockets. but whatever you decide to do, make sure you get it at a cheap price, check out http://www.etronics.com, they have this double din pioneer unit for $700, its $1000 at crutchfield. and as for security, i have a wireless camera that keeps my car visible when i'm inside my house (my car is parked outside), but i dont have a aftermarket stereo, so i dont have to worry. the camera is cool, its wireless, color, and hooks right up to your tv, its $70 for one at http://www.x10.com.

 

Come on Guys! You're talking about spending $1,000 on a stereo and worried about which is harder to steal a single or D din? Now, I know I spent close to $700 on my new Alpine deck, so I can understand having a nice deck. But, not once has anyone mentioned anything about installing an alarm! The factory is good for only if someone is trying to steal the car and actually opens the door! I invested $50 in a used Ungo 9000, bought a motion sensor for the center console and hooked the shock sensor up to the trunk, you can't get near my max more or less touch it! Plus, you can also wire it up to the fact. alarm! So, I say (IMO) get the deck you want, splurge! But, if you're going to spend that much money, get an alarm, new or used and install it yourself, I did, and as long as you know the wires, it's easy. If you want, I've got the wire schematic for anything you'd need to hook up an alarm too....lights, windows, horn, trunk, sunroof, locks, etc!

 

I specifically mentioned getting a new alarm along with my other theft prevention measure, a SIG P226. As for as alarms go, the interior motion sensor and a decent but not overly sensitive shock sensor make sense.

I live in apartments, and if the alarm goes everytime someone gets near it (like getting into their parked car) pretty soon my neighbors hate me and I'm ignoring the alarm. Boy who cried wolf......

I did like slick's idea of two single DIN units. The Alpine I have has a decent 7 band eq, but I've been thinking of stepping up to something better. Nice to have the space for enhancements.

 

Sorry, must've forgot after reading all the Double, Single, Double, single, threads. I know what you mean, I had my motion sensor set at one time to where if it rained, the drops running down the windshield would set it off, or in the winter, the heat rising off the vents would too! I fixed that though after actually taking the time to adjust it. What I meant when I said no one could get near it, I meant that the siren would give a warning chirp. I have it set though that it would only go off if either hit hard, or an arm was put INTO the car (dual zone sensor). Good luck!

 

Maybe you won't get your stuff stolen but it will get your car keyed in no time.

 

I live in Tennesse, I'd be more likely to have cow crap dumped on my car! Thefts happen here, but Johnson City area is still small, and unless you sleep with your friends girl or vice versa, most cars don't get messed with. So, if you don't leave your keys in your car (like my brother in law did!) you're okay. As long as the alarm is set right, you won't have many false alarms. Since setting mine, I've had one in the past year, at least I think it was!!