[Limbery]

1. I wish they had a shark-fin antenna instead of the stick...

2. My old Buick had a nice feature that kept the radio and power windows on for 5 min. after the ignition was turned off (or until you opened a door whichever was first)....this was great for hearing that last bit of a radio show after stopping or letting a passenger still roll up a window after you've stopped.

 

[chefmark]

1. I wish they had a shark-fin antenna instead of the stick...

2. My old Buick had a nice feature that kept the radio and power windows on for 5 min. after the ignition was turned off (or until you opened a door whichever was first)....this was great for hearing that last bit of a radio show after stopping or letting a passenger still roll up a window after you've stopped.

I agree, not so much on the shark fin but the radio would be nice to stay on like in most GM cars

 

[ifonline]

I suppose it would be a nice feature to have the radio stay on, but why not just leave the car running until you are ready to get out? I guess I also don't understand the "shark fin" obsession (not just here but everywhere). Anyone care to elaborate?

 

[Limbery]

I suppose it would be a nice feature to have the radio stay on, but why not just leave the car running until you are ready to get out? I guess I also don't understand the "shark fin" obsession (not just here but everywhere). Anyone care to elaborate?

Uhhh...because it wastes gas idling etc....

The shark fin looks sleek....and it isn't something that will break off in a car wash or by vandalism.

 

[BLEXV6]

Uhhh...because it wastes gas idling etc....

The shark fin looks sleek....and it isn't something that will break off in a car wash or by vandalism.

I think what you are trying to say is that the shark fin is simply cool.

 

[RyansQuick6]

You really don't waste that much fuel while idling. I'm going to look into tracking down some kind of a "nub" antenna for it, or just fabbing something up. We don't listen to "terrestrial radio" anyway, it's either satellite or Ipod for us. My mustang had the antenna shaved 2 years ago, and I don't miss it all. I kind of prefer having no access to regular radio, just so i don't have to listen to commercials all day lol

I'm actually about to go to Lowe's anyway, so I'm going to see what I can find.

 

[Limbery]

I kind of prefer having no access to regular radio, just so i don't have to listen to commercials all day lol

I'm actually about to go to Lowe's anyway, so I'm going to see what I can find.

I've been listening to my Satellite radio preview and find that it's got commercials on it....If you pay, do you no longer get them?
....also, up here in Canada we have CBC public radio with no commercials shouting at you. I usually listen to it or other community channels if I use the radio and other than that I use my ipod....
I probably won't get the sat radio as I don't do any long commutes anyway....

 

[RyansQuick6]

I'm more used to Sirius, which has much fewer channels w/commercials. XM tends to have more, but not all of them. You have to kind of explore through your channels and you'll find them. I listen to Octane, Coffee House, and Backspin, and they don't have commercials, just a DJ every now and then.

 

[RyansQuick6]

Oh, and I eliminated my antenna, I found a black plug at the auto parts store that fit it. It's basically a plastic panel plug, I call the christmas trees because of the shape. They're all over cars now. You basically just have to find one that fits the hole. It was dark when I did it, so I'll give it a better look tomorrow and post up some pics if it looks decent.

 

[BLEXV6]

I'm more used to Sirius, which has much fewer channels w/commercials. XM tends to have more, but not all of them. You have to kind of explore through your channels and you'll find them. I listen to Octane, Coffee House, and Backspin, and they don't have commercials, just a DJ every now and then.

Well, I think you are wrong. XM and Sirius have merged in the USA and the programming should be the same. I also find many of the channels in Canada, even though they have not merged yet here, are amalgamated. For example the 70's station.

 

[RyansQuick6]

Yeah, I think they're all the same now for the most part, I have Sirius in the Mustang and XM in the CT. I stick to jsut a few channels though, I know the "talk" stations tend to have a few commercials, and the Pop stations are smothered with them, but it's Pop radio, that's kind of the point.

Years ago, it was a very obvious difference, and it's slowly changed with the merger, and continues to improve. The only way I'll stop paying for satellite is if the channels I love to listen to start going "commercial"

I freaked out when Sirius killed my Backspin, that is one of my top 3 and was enough to make me want to cancel, but I guess they got a lot of complaints and brought it back. I still chuckle every now and then when I have the sunroof open and I'm blaring some Mos Def in the CT and people around, espescially the younger crowd are looking around at the intersection to see where the awesome old school rap and the little sub bump is coming from lol.

 

[ifonline]

Well, I think you are wrong. XM and Sirius have merged in the USA and the programming should be the same.

Not entirely. There is still some separate programming, and it's a way for them to make more money. For example, if you have XM, you can also buy "The Best of Sirius." And if you're on Sirius, you can buy... wait for it... "The Best of XM."

What a joke.

 

[BLEXV6]

Not entirely. There is still some separate programming, and it's a way for them to make more money. For example, if you have XM, you can also buy "The Best of Sirius." And if you're on Sirius, you can buy... wait for it... "The Best of XM."

What a joke.

That seems stupid. You would think they would have the same programming. I bet one of those things you have to pay extra for on XM is Howard Stern. BTW, I find very few commercials in the XM, and I simply love it. That said, my MDX which is my daily driver does not have it, but my Wife's TSX has it and I just love it when I get to drive her car.

 

[ifonline]

Yep. Howard Stern is one you have to pay extra for as an XM subscriber. I called last night to get The Best of Sirius enabled on my trial subscription. I then mentioned offers I had received a a Sirius trial user in the past, and the rep informed me that the merger is only on a corporate level. The underlying systems are still separate entities. Stupid.

 

[BigDad]

Yep. Howard Stern is one you have to pay extra for as an XM subscriber. I called last night to get The Best of Sirius enabled on my trial subscription. I then mentioned offers I had received a a Sirius trial user in the past, and the rep informed me that the merger is only on a corporate level. The underlying systems are still separate entities. Stupid.

Worse than stupid. I have 3 XM radios on one account and 1 Sirius on another. Why separate accounts? Because Sirius/XM has not merged (and may not be planning to merge) their backoffice systems. It's a bonus for them as I do not get the "already a subscriber" discount on the Sirius account either.

If they do not merge some of their systems, they'll never realize the benefits of the merger and get out of the red ink. My Honda dealer thinks there is no chance they'll go under, as the car manufacturers have too much invested in the built-in radios to let that happen. Who knows...

 

[RyansQuick6]

Sirius was the only one that was ever successful, XM was constantly losing money. I'd love to know why sirius bothered buying XM when it seemed as though they would end up collapsing soon anyway. Only a few automakers offer it, Ford offers Sirius!!! The only thing I can see is that one of these days they'll integrate the hardware, so at least we can choose which side of the company we pay.

 

[BigDad]

Sirius was the only one that was ever successful, XM was constantly losing money. I'd love to know why sirius bothered buying XM when it seemed as though they would end up collapsing soon anyway. Only a few automakers offer it, Ford offers Sirius!!! The only thing I can see is that one of these days they'll integrate the hardware, so at least we can choose which side of the company we pay.

Not sure how you define "successful." Sirius was never profitable that I can see (sample link) and XM had more subscribers - at least in 2006.

I always wondered if Howard Stern brought in enough business to offset the obscene amount of money Sirius promised him.

The merger did create a technological mess - 2 different receiver/satellite technologies that need to be supported for the forseeable future. It would be way too expensive to shut one off and replace everybody's receiver in the process. I believe they are using the technological incompatibility as an excuse to not merge billing systems.

 

[hondaguy]

I wish it had a bigger sub.

 

[leafs]

How about a turbocharged engine like the RDX?