[Carlman]

My wife just got a new Toyota Rav4.  She wants to replace the fair-sounding OEM system with a much better sound system including a satellite radio.  

There's a problem, though... The radio is a double-DIN size and she has some basic radio functions on the steering wheel she'd like to keep.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to A; work with the space that will be left after installing a single-DIN unit....
or B; get the steering wheel functions to work with a new unit...

I'd appreciate any helpful links or whatnot.. I can't find any RAV4 forums that are at all helpful.... not in the U.S. anyway.. I did find one in Oz that was kind of nice, though.... but wasn't really electronics-related..

Thanks,
C

[Levi]

Hi Carl,

Perhaps, your local installer can answer that for your if not the dealer would.  I also have great responses from CircuitCity.  Crutchfield also is a good place to start.

Levi

My wife just got a new Toyota Rav4.  She wants to replace the fair-sounding OEM system with a much better sound system including a satellite radio.  

There's a problem, though... The radio is a double-DIN size and she has some basic radio functions on the steering wheel she'd like to keep.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to A; work with the space that will be left after installing a single-DIN unit....
or B; get the steering wheel functions to work with a new unit...

I'd appreciate any h ...

[Buzz38]

This is nothing that money and a good custom install shop can't fix.  The question is how much is it worth to you to have it all?  I see no reason why it can't be done.  Double din?  How about a *cough* navigation (video) screen over a sat radio?  The rest is just wiring.  Sounds easy but it will take a pro to get it done IMHO.

[Red Dragon Audio]

Do you hate the stock CD player and controls?

If not, the best thing to do is get an adaptor for the main double DIN head unit which will interface with an aftermarket amplifier.  Get yourself some nice after market speakers, a small 8" sub and a nice 5 channel amp with built in xover controls and perhaps some EQ functions.

The adaptor will allow you to keep your stock head unit and steering wheel controls but upgrade the sound significantly by getting better speakers and good amplification.

I would expect to pay around $1000-$1300 for all this to be done right by PROS.

www.onlinecarstereo.com is a good source for car audio stuff if you wish to tackle this yourself which I would recommend if you are handy.  Car audio stuff isn't rocket science and if you can read a manual you can do it.

YOU CAN DO IT!!

Good luck and get some good tunes going in the RAV4!!!