Suzuki Reno Install?

[SlimBob]

Hey all,

I have a relative that just bought a Suzuki Reno with a sunroof. I've tried to find anywhere in the world to put a radio in this car, but it just doesn't look like it's going to happen. The only place suitable for mounting the radio is below the ashtray... And that fits a GTX too tightly without airspace. Ideas?

[Tom in D.C.]

Any remote head radio can be made to fit by putting the
head on one of those large, suction cup, windshield mounts.
It's not the ideal answer but it works. I ran an Icom 208 on such
a mount in a Subaru Outback for the past three years until I got an
Outback last May without the nav system which gave me a nice big
hole right in the top middle of the dashboard.

[SlimBob]

Radio I'm working with is a Kenwood TM-271A; I know that's heresy here, but it's what was purchased. Don't have the money to convert this one to an Astro Spectra W3 HHCH.

TM-271 is about the same size as a GTX.

[tvsjr]

Buy a real car?

You're going to have a hard time doing anything with a radio that is one-piece. I'd suggest looking at something else... XTL5000 O3 would work, Astro Spectra W3, etc. Seriously, take a look at the Icom ID-800, IC-208, IC-2820, Kenwood TM-D700, etc. Something you can remote.

[High_order1]

you could do the time honored bolt-it-horizontally-to-the-center-console trick. I don't care for it, but it is a quick solution.

Personally, I'd get froggy and whack that center button trim piece out and make a custom center install, but some people fear the drill....


-Shawn

[SlimBob]

Not a bad idea. We're going to look at the options available when we get some funds up to deal with it. There's a car stereo outfit that will install anything, but you mention cutting a hole in the roof and they run off and hide. Thank you again for your reply.

[High_order1]

Another thought....

You might could get an aftermarket (single DIN) stereo, and use the leftover space in the double DIN to mount a radio. (I forget what you said you wanted to use, sorry).

If it's a really big radio, you could even go as far as mounting it in the glove box, whacking the glovebox to fit, and just buying a replacement glove box and door when the time comes to resell it. Just watch your airbag safe zones. If you can run a dremel, you can do a lot of neat stuff.



-Shawn

[SlimBob]

This seems to be the best solution.