>>>>> "dmoak" == David Moak <dmoakyahoo> writes:
 dmoak> Can anyone confirm whether the 97s (with Premium Clarion) already have
 dmoak> the adaptor and cable? I haven't bought a changer yet, but Crutchfield
 dmoak> wanted to sell me the adaptor for $20. How can I tell if I have the
 dmoak> adaptor and cable pre-installed?

My understanding is that some of them are pre-cabled, but not all.
I'm told that if the cable is pre-installed, you can see a DIN
connector under the trunk area carpeting.

A related question to the group: Has anyone mounted the Clarion unit
in the glove box?  The contrast between the high cryptotech security
on the head, and the total exposure of the GTI "trunk" bothers me
esthetically.

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I have a '97 w/ the premium clarion and the "CD ready" cable was under
the rear pass. side seat.  Check to see if you have it.  If you find the
cable, then just plug-in the changer and you're set.

Jose
97 VR6

> 
> Can anyone confirm whether the 97s (with Premium Clarion) already have
> the adaptor and cable? I haven't bought a changer yet, but Crutchfield
> wanted to sell me the adaptor for $20. How can I tell if I have the
> adaptor and cable pre-installed?
> 
> Dave Moak
> 97 DE jazz blue
> 
>
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Because a couple of people have asked recently about CD Changers, I thought
I'd post a things I found.

The newer cars with Clarion head units will control various model Clarion CD
Changers. VW is rumored to use the CDC605. A newer version of this unit is
available from Clarion, the CDC635. (CDC refers to Clarion's Pro Audio line.
There is also a lower line, starting with RDC, i.e. RDC605).

On my 98 GTI (VR6), the car did come (from the factory) prewired for the CD
changer. In fact, the 98 brochure also lists the CD Changer Cable as a
standard accessory (under Sound System). If anyone out there has a 98 GTI
without the cable, point your dealer to the 98 VW brochure. The location of
the cable end on my car is under the passenger side rear seat. The cable has
the 13pin DIN connector and is plugged into a small plastic tab to keep it
from moving about. An adaptor should not be needed.

As far as prices go, the CDC635 was available from Crutchfield and my local
car stereo store for $279. A big savings over the dealer's $500. But then I
came across the Great Lakes Audio/Video page, where they advertised new
CDC635s for $175(!). 

I found this price hard to believe (and my local stereo store came up with a
whole line of excuses why this price was impossible - they said they must be
repaired units, that Clarion would not honor the warranty, etc). Anyway,
after talking to Great Lakes, they said the units are new, under factory 1
year warranty (same as Crutchfield) and that they are a Clarion authorized
dealer. This is supposed to be a special promotion.

So I figured for $175, I'd try. I received the unit today. Perfect
condition. Clarion box, nicely packaged, warranty card, cable, brackets,
etc. Looks perfect to me. I haven't installed it yet, but I will over the
next day or two. I'll post to let everyone know if it works or not, but I
don't see why it wouldn't.

Anyhow, sorry if this is a bit long. Two web pages you might be interested
in: http://www.glav.com (Great Lakes), and
http://www.cyberenet.net/~atlantic/clarion.html#Mounting for those who need
to wire their own cable on older cars.

Merry Xmas!

Tom Doblmaier
98 GTI (VR6)

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My 97 came with the cable, it wasn't plugged into my headunit though. =
Pull up your back seat(passenger side) and you should see the cable. I =
tried installing a clarion 635(?) CD changer at a local stereo shop and =
it worked fine. I passed on the $300 changer and bought a Sony cd =
headunit for $200 instead.=20

----------
From: 	David Moak[SMTP:dmoakyahoo]
Sent: 	Wednesday, December 24, 1997 5:18 AM
To: 	Peter Fraenkel; gti-vr6dev.tivoli
Subject: 	Re: CD changer cable not pre-routed in '98

Can anyone confirm whether the 97s (with Premium Clarion) already have
the adaptor and cable? I haven't bought a changer yet, but Crutchfield
wanted to sell me the adaptor for $20. How can I tell if I have the
adaptor and cable pre-installed?

Dave Moak
97 DE jazz blue
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OK, correction:  After reading the advice that the cable might be
found under the right-side, rear seat, I looked there and indeed found
it neatly tucked away.  What I can I say, but Sovereign VW of
Hicksville, NY misled me -- whether due to ignorance, or in the hope
of billable hours, I don't know.

Two points:

1) While the cable and adapter were indeed present, they were not in
   fact plugged into the head unit.  I removed the head, and found the
   square CD plug dangling behind the dash.  Very annoying.

2) The cable they provide is routed along the right of the car, and is
   just long enough to reach the right rear corner, or the spare
   well.  Unfortunately, the right rear corner is largely filled with
   the carbon fume reservoir, so the changer is forced to sit at a
   really odd angle.  The left rear corner has a lot of room, but the
   cable doesn't reach that far.  Of course, if you have a Jetta, or
   never put down the rear seat, none of this is a problem.


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