geoffstgermaine

Hi, I've been looking at getting a stereo and nav system installed in my 2006 Pathfinder (with factory Bose). I'm looking at a system right now and I'm looking for feedback on the quote I have from a local shop. I have a lot of experience with home audio gear (and fabrication) but little with car audio.

The system is as follows:

Alpine IVA-W205 Head unit (7" screen, DVD, etc)
Alpine Blackbird Nav unit (dock in IVA-W205 or can be used on its own)
Alpine Type-R 2-way 6x9s (front)
Alpine Type-R 2-way 6.5s (rear)
Alpine MRP-F450 4-channel amplifier (main speakers)
Rockford T1500 1-channel amplifier (subwoofer)
0/1 gauge wiring for amplifiers
Bluetooth for head unit
Rear-view camera

Installed they want $4050+tax. This includes $765+tax for installation. Can anyone give recommendations on whether this seems like a reasonable setup and whether the price seems reasonable. I noticed that a lot of the component prices on the quote are a fair bit lower than the actual posted prices in the store. The only thing I'm really not sure on is the installation. They said that it is quite a discount from what they'd charge for installing each component.

Thanks a lot for your help.

Edit: I have two TC Sounds TC-12 OEM drivers that I'll be using in this system and I'll be doing the box for that myself.

LOWTONEZ

iTrader: (3)

Well heres a little help in your decision

- alpine IVA-W205 - 650$
- bluetooth for head unit(specifically KCE-300bt)- 170$
- alpine type r 6x9 - 99$
- alpine typ r 6.5 - 80$
- alpine mrp-f450 - 199$
- rockford t1500 - 550$
- alpine blackbird II -550$
- rearview camera without screen - 50$ / with screen - 100-125$
- 0 Gauge wiring ( no more then 25 feet needed ) - 40-50$
- rca cables 5 sets needed - 100$ (20$ each)
- misc. (fuses, wire, distrobution) - 100$

Grand total= 2700 + tax = 3051$

All the products you listed are excellent products but it seems weird that you wouldnt want an alpine single channel amp. This is no special prices on these products, this is what i would and everyone else would pay for them. So we do know that dealers overcharge a little or alot.
This would take a whole day for a guy to do. 2 guys 6 hours so depending on what the shop charges per hour thats how you get your installation. A shop in my mind should not put install parts in the installation price, this should be in the product portion of billing. So if it is gonna take them a whole 12 hour day and they charge 60$/hour installation should be 720. And services should not be taxed, only product.

So add the product cost with tax and installation cost it should cost 3771$

So the 4050 is a good price for a shop doing it, plus tax it is over 4600. All the prices i gave you were normal prices and not at cost. So i say go for it.

geoffstgermaine

Thanks for the input r1d1n5p1nn3r5. The guys at the dealer suggested the Rockford amp. Perhaps the PDX1.1000 could work since the Rockford is rated for the same power as the PDX at 2 Ohms, which is the nominal load of the two TC-12s if I wire them in parallel. That would keep it all Alpine, though it's not a big deal to me if it's not.

If I'm following right you're suggesting that this price is about $800 too high ($4600 vs ~$3800)?

geoffstgermaine

I've considered doing the install myself but I'm not sure I can do a clean install and the fact that it's a pretty new and fairly expensive vehicle. The only guy I know who could help me and has experience with installs is moving away shortly.

LOWTONEZ

iTrader: (3)

Thats right 800 diff. but it still is alright of price, if you are tooo worried of doing the install i suggest getting them to do it, it gives you piece of mind plus if something goes wrong, it wasnt you installing it, so they can replace the product for you if they are authorized dealers/installers.

geoffstgermaine

Yeah, they're an authorized dealer/installer (visions). The peace of mind of being able to just take it back to get fixed if there is something wrong with the install is what is pushing me that way over doing it myself. I've done simpler stuff, like swapping a factory deck for an aftermarket deck (simple MP3/CD player) and swapping speakers, but having to get all the hookups like the VSS for the headunit, mounting the all the adapters and making it look clean worries me.

carstereoguy

iTrader: (2)

keep in mind that ces is going on this week that means the the w205 is going to be replaced lets see what the best deal is out there on the blackbird and the w205 i may even consider one for my car or does anybody have an other double din with nav suggestions

geoffstgermaine

That's a good point. If a bunch of stuff is disco then it might be easier to get a better deal.