GPS Sirius Blutooth Valentine Ipod - Pimp my Insight!!

[Yelobird]

I have learned so much on this group I thought I would share my toys. I ordered my 06 Insight in September of 05 and after a wait the Silver tick (as my daughter calls it) arrived! As you can see by the photos I am a gadget freeeek. My job keeps me on the road quit a bit so I try to make the jorney as confortable as possible.
I started with an I500 GPS system to help me find my way. Most of my customers are in the most remote locations. I chose the i500 because it offered a very large touch sreen with maps of the entire US and Canada preloaded. The unit also has a 20 Gig hard drive to add as many MP3s as I can find. I wanted the install the unit so as not to upstruct my view and keep a low profile. I think it came out great and is very easy to operate and view while driving. (Do not operate while driving : )) I also added a remote antenna on the dash so I could keep the unit out of site.
If the MP3s ran out I next added the Siruis s50 satelite radio. One cant drive without Howard! What a great unit! It is set up like a DVR, I have it set to record all my shows and listen whenever. This unit also stores 100s of mp3s also. (A little back up to the i500) Plus the unit pops off the cradle to use as an Ipod. Nice feature.
Now on to my phone. I talk approx 3500 minutes with customers per month so I had to find a safer way to do my work and still keep an eye on the MPG indicator. (Oh the insanity!) I chose the Motorola IS1000 bluetooth kit. It is simply amazing! It tells me who is calling, monitors my battery, dial by name and all by voice command. Even with the Insight not being the quitest of cars my phone calls are crystal clear. It has sound canceling or something?
Next is the Valentine One radar detector. With all the talking on the phone, and watching the MPG meter I sometimes loose track of speed. (Even in an Insight) I used the Valentine remote station and installed it by the shifter knob. Very stealth install so as not to attract followers as well as the officer that doesnt like a heads up. All lighting is down low.
Last but not least is my added flip down cup holder. My oversized cup of morning gogo juice would never fit in the Insight cup holder. Plus the GPS blocks front access even though I still store all my pens and such in them still.
Next week I should receive my Okole seat covers and the long awaited cruise control. I know this all seems over the top but I truely love this car and I just cant be without my toys! Thanks again for all that contribute to this forum as it is a Wealth of information that truely makes this obsession more fun. Please take a look at the photos and tell me what you think. Please be kind!

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/yelobird8 ... 03&.src=ph

Thanks again
Dave

[Insightful Trekker]

WOW Nicely done

If your familiar with the new VW commercials and the german guy that likes to un-pimp rides (in one of the latest version he shows some excitement in doing so) he'd have a heart attack with a whack at your ride .

[Rick]

Wow very nice. You win, your the first one I know of who has a Valentine radar detector in an Insight .

I also have a Sirius S50, nice unit. If you haven't done so already make sure you update the firmware in it, it fixes some of the little glitches.

[Subterfuge3927]

Sweet! I want a write up on that V-one radar mod, that would be great!

Now you need to add a custom speaker set-up like mine =)

[Yelobird]

Wow Rick and John, I feel like I should bow as I type. You guys are the pinnacle of Insight so to speak. I have only had the Insight since November and have achieved great mileage. (69ish LMPG) However your achievements in milage bring on a whole new meaning. I have spent most of my days lurking through the posts to find the secret to Hypermileage. The formula seems to be :

Persistance
Insight
Mods (A dash for good measure)
Patients

OR, (PIMP) for short!! Anyway, thanks for the heads up on the S50 Rick. I did the update and all works great! I will try to add more photos of the Valentine one install soon. Thanks again for the kind words.

Dave

[Jerry]

Dave I would first like to compliment you on the very neat and professional
installation of the equipment. I know you said the GPS unit was an i500
but what make is it? I particularly like the big screen.

Jerry

[trunkout]

man I want that S50......

[Yelobird]

The GPS unit is an iWay 500c made by Lowrance. Very nice GPS with a very easy format. (I love the touch screen all Windows format) The unit has 2D as well as 3D viewing maps. I was also wrong about the MP3 storage, it actually holds 5000 songs! The MP3 player screen is almost like the Windows media player screen with the dancing color screen. My favorite part would have to be that the unit holds millions of points of interest. The unit will find every hotel, bank, atm, resturant, gas station, etc., even by name. I've never been lost yet. In fact at this point I would be lost without it.

Dave