Morning/Evening.... So like the title says, I have never done an installation before...
I got a "new" second hand car the other day, but it does not have a radio.. and to pay someone to install one is a crazy price.. Basically all the wires in the hole are nicely grouped into some sort of plug which I assume you just plug into the back of a radio?

Well, my question is, I have these little volume and search button things on a stick near the column so I can adjust things while driving without having to use the radio face thing, but if I put a new radio in, will everything work properly? i.e. plug her in and shes off?

We need a lot more info than that buddy, but in short, I'm gonna take a guess and say NO you can't just plug it in and have the stalk controls work.
What is the car for a start? Why is there no radio? (radio removed or never had a radio?) Is the stalk control part of the car? (ie came with the missing factory stereo or some aftermarket brand?)
If the stalk is part of the old factory setup you can probably buy an adaptor to make it work with an aftermarket head unit.

To plug into the existing wiring in the car you may or may not need a wiring harness adaptor depending on 1) what the plug in your dash is and 2) what brand head unit you buy.

EDIT: Regardless of your answer, I'd suggest you go to a pro and get them to have a look at it and they should be able to tell straight away.

right "stalk control"... didnt know what it was called.. it is factory installed..ford focus..

the radio is missing because the dealer doesnt sell them with radios.. says you gotta pay extra or some little marketing game he plays.. nothing has been ripped out or something..

but i reckon you are right.. better just go to a pro....

thanks for your quick answer though.

You could just ring the dealer and ask what radio plug it is?
Does he sell the factory ones as an add-on? That's pretty dodgy..

lol what a scam.

To answer your question, when fitting an aftermarket radio it's never plug & play.
Only way to get away from wires is with the factory radio, if this isn't what you're after i'd also suggest the pro path.
And I've never heard of a dealer removing a stereo out of a car? Does he do it to all of the customers? Where abouts are you from if you don't mind me asking?

WTF? lol. So there's no radio, what goes in the hole where the radio is supposed to be?

I find this very hard to believe that a dealer would remove a radio and then charge extra for it to be put back in. Either you've got the details mixed up (eg CD player not standard - although I doubt it in this case) or the dealer is seriously dodgy.

I'd be making sure that the dealer sells them with brake pads or indicator globes and they aren't also an "extra"