59 replies to this topic

[Mr_Bob]

Hi guys,
Looking at getting started on my system, but not sure that my current car is the best for audio.

Interested in starting a discussion on what car you would choose if you were buying it only to install an SQ system

So my thoughts are around:
Easy to install 3 way system for equal pathlength,
dash + centre console designed to optimise reflections
plenty of space for amps, processor and subbass
good cabin location and cabin acoustics for bass.

and preferably 2.5L Turbo, or 3L NA minimum to haul 200Kg of gear around.

max price $30K

anyone got any thoughts?

[blanketman]

just bought a new swift
nice dash
but it hasnt got the engine requirements you are after

[Jeam 405]

if you're building the car only for SQ, why would you need a 2.5L+ motor, even a 600cc suzuki carry can pull alot more than 200kg's along...

[Matt VIP]

I'd personally look for:

-something you can hack the metal in without feeling bad
- something with kickpanels and pedal setup that you can put a decent midrange or midbass into
- possibly a car that someone with a detailed build log has already installed into, so you've got an idea about what you're doing before you start
- something with a decent sized boot, possibly with an area you can put a stealth amp or sub install into

3 or 5 series beemer springs to mind, as they fit the power requirements above and have factory areas for midbass. I also REALLY like the 1/4 window area below the a-pillar on some new-ish hondas as an ideal area to install a midrange + tweeter into.

However, if you want epic bass for cheap, get a hatch. Same amp, same sub in my merc does 133.x db, and 145.x db in my girlfriend's 2 door starlet.

[Jeam 405]

don't buy a BMW, good for SQ yes, but crap at everything else.

Edited by 405Mi16, 16 February 2010 - 10:56 AM.

[xMplar]

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Agree with this BMW great for SQ hella hard to get numbers out of with out cutting great gapping holes in the metal

but for SQ youd be hard pushed to find a better factory sound deadend car

you can pick up a nice car for anywhere from 10k -50k a nice 325 e36 or e46 for asrount eh high teens to low 20s

Ren
xMplar

[Gobbledok]

you want a mercedes w140 my man. big solid doors, 12 body boot (before spare wheel!) and you can pick up a 5ltr for under 30g's

[blanketman]

explorer 03 model
worked ok i guess

[Gobbledok]

sound quality or cruise control? lulz.

[Frankston Car Audio]

McLaren F1 (the road car, not race car)
Can't beat that central seating position for ideal PLD's!

Seriously, if I was buying another car, it would be a Honda Odyssey.
Great dash and windscreen angle, good length for nice bass and Honda build quality/quietness

Just my $0.02

Mark

[HISPL]

Wide, massive kick panels free of hard to move ECUs or wiring is a good start.

I think the best "SQ Car" would be a Porsche 928 LHD with a rear engine conversion so that you could put woofers and other equipment "up front"

A more realistic option would be something like a Ford Mondeo hatch.

[blanketman]

GTi-FTW, on Feb 16 2010, 12:42 PM, said:

sound quality or cruise control? lulz.

my sound quality was OK
but i couldn't be bothered tuning it the way
i think others said it also sounded good and i just threw the speakers in trying different things each time


and cruise control was awesome
that guy was a tosser
i tried everything he said
and pulled up each time

[Mr_Bob]

Thanks Guys,
Matt, that's a good direction to think,
not a fan of BMW's, although i did look at the 318 hatch, i don't think it will meet my opwer requirements.
Would like an M coupe, but too exxy and no idea where i would fit a subbox.


I should probably elaborate a bit further on my preferences

i want this to either be a nice cruiser, or a car i can throw into corners and have some fun with.
So torque is very important and handling too (depending on the car)
would rather avoid 4door cars,

my subwoofer is 35Kg, and amps will weigh nearly 20kg
the subbox will need to be 60-70L with 20-30L of port volume
plus, i overbuild them (last subbox had 54mm thick MDF walls)
although this time, i am likely to do an intergrated install (rather than a box in a boot) it will still be overbuilt.
I can't imagine that this will come in under 200kgs, especially when my last car had 100kg of sound deadener.

never really been a fan of sedans for audio,
everybody seems ot struggle with bass, except those who fire through the ski port.
even then i have only heard a few who got this right.

no need for over 135db, not interested in hitting numbers on a meter at all.
but it needs to get low (sub box is likely to be tuned 25Hz or lower)
no need for any "storage" space


Happy for other ideas to float around, i think this is an important discussion for the forum, so it's not all about my personal needs

Cars i've considered:

pre-1970 american muscle car (auto, LHD)
lots of space between the brake pedal and kick panel for 8-10" midbass setup, and good angling for imaging.
possibility of using horns as they often have a shallow dash and plenty of space between your knees and the dash.
plenty of torque to haul a few hundred kilos around, but would be a cruiser, not a track car
would be concerned about rattles,
need to ensure it doesn't have a foot pedal e-brake (as they are mounted in the kick panel)

VW Golf R32
would remove rear seats so sub can be mounted forward to retain balance,
however i'm unsure how this would affect the acoustic loading.
pretty keen on this option

350Z
concerned that the boot seems to be quite shallow,
i've seen pics with a standard bar between the strut towers (not an allow strut brace, this is trimmed, with a 4" square cross section)
may not be 12" of height under this, whihc means mounting the sub quite far back, and the magnet may not fit under the bootlid.

JZA80 supra
same as above, although no brace.
however i have seen pics of the centre console which is rather tall, and wraps around the drivers legs.
i imagine this would cause issues with midbass, anyone had experience?

Oldschool porsche
can mount sub in the front (rear engine)
although unsure how to get bass into the cabin effectively as i'm sure the RTA will say the firewall is off-limits for cut-through
weight in the front might stablise the handling a little, as i hear they're pretty nasty once the back end steps out.

Falcon/commodore ute
subbox in the tray against the cabin and a cut-through setup
this means i have lot of flexibility with sub box size
all the weight is infront of the rear wheels for balance,
and the weight over the rear will hopefully give me some more traction through corners
not sure if i can deal with the interior though, they seem pretty nasty.

Thanks GTI
will check out the Merc W140, i don't recognise that model number

[Gobbledok]

blanketman, on Feb 16 2010, 01:04 PM, said:

my sound quality was OK
but i couldn't be bothered tuning it the way
i think others said it also sounded good and i just threw the speakers in trying different things each time


and cruise control was awesome
that guy was a tosser
i tried everything he said
and pulled up each time

lol too right. i couldnt imaginge why he would pull a hoax liek that. its just dumb. hehe

Mr_Bob, on Feb 16 2010, 01:05 PM, said:

Thanks GTI
will check out the Merc W140, i don't recognise that model number

its the body type. earlier models were xxxSE, SEL etc. newer models were Sxxx etc. heres a nice coupe in nsw. clickitty

[Tiger]

I'm thinking an E36 M3. I'd LOVE to get one of them

edit: Just reading your post above.. back in 5

Edited by Tiger, 16 February 2010 - 12:17 PM.