XM Radio option in accords...

I was looking at the cost of the XM radio option in a new accord on the
hondacars.com site. I was shocked when I saw that the price is $623.00 and
about 850.00 installed! I went to Best Buy and you can get a whole XM system
installed for about $400.00. I even looked at some small neighborhood
locations here in the North East and some were having specials for $320.00
installed, which includes the satellite unit, antenna and dash board
receiver, plus the installation. My question is: Is the Honda XM unit really
that great and better than an aftermarket unit that they can charge double
or almost triple?

 

This has nothing to do with quality. Has to do with appearance, brand
recognition, and they can get that for it.

JM

 

get the sirius, and you can listen to NFL!!!!111!!!!

 

My last car (a Nissan Pathfinder) had a Pioneer XM with a wired
modulator (not the wireless as with the Roady2) and it was great. But
I recently bought a new Infiniti FX-35 and had the dealer installed XM
(equivalent to the factory installed Honda). The sound is better
(although, the FX has a better sound system than the Pathfinder did,
since it is the newer system). The convenience of having the XM
controled on the steering wheel controls, etc., is nice, and the
digital display on the Nav screen.

The new Honda's are going to be heavily integrated with XM. Some will
even have a realtime traffic option that allows the Nav screen to
route you around traffic tieups using XM's Navtraffic facility
(something you can't get from the other satellite radio company).

I'd consider going with the Honda factory unit. One other option
would be to check out buying the Honda and a DIY install of the Honda
components. Lots of people have bought the dealer install Infiniti
kits and they report it takes about an hour to intstall. Have no idea
if this is the case with the Honda.

All in all, I'd go for the factory unit (even though Infiniti threw
mine in for free)....

 

Another reason why the EX trim is a good value if you keep your Hondas for a
while.

 

Does this Best Buy install include integration with the factory radio, or
will you have a separate control unit? I wonder if the LX and EX radio are
the same (since the 2004 EX already has the XM radio preinstalled??) I'm
expecting delivery of my 2004 Accord service manuals within the next few
days. Maybe the books will say.

 

I just went to Best Buy and it was a Pioneer or similar external system and
antenna and some square thing that goes under the seat. I think that was for
the satellite, but I don't know much about cars or stereos. It was three
piece set and installation. I wanted to have this put in my current car
which is a civic and they told me they could remove the dash board storage
door unit and put the receiver for XM there.

 

I have an FM demodulated XM Radio in my Civic....I do not recommend
putting it in the dash storage door if you need a place to store your
CD's.That is what it is for.I,myself located the display module next to
the outlet plug to the left and above the cup holder.This is just a
suggestion,of course.

 

They do not integrate with the stereo further than use an auxillary
sound input. The display on the tuner unit is to be used. One advantage
of a third party unit is the removable XM tuner that you can use in a
jukebox, home stereo, or other vehicle. Integrated XM requires an
additional $6 a month subscription for an additional unit to use outside
your honda.