best buy car installation?? good? bad?

Alan Erceg · 06-28-2003, 06:22 PM

hi guys/gals,

Just recently been thinking about replacing the stock cd player in my 2003 cavalier. Its not going to be anything fancy just something better and more customizable than the stock cd player that is in there now.

I was looking at best buy the other day and saw some decent decks in my range, and i see the offer free installation w/ decks 99$ and up.

ANyone had any bad/good experiences with installation of a car cd player at best buy??

Thanks in Advance,
Alan

Carl Johnson · 06-28-2003, 06:40 PM

I haven't had much experience with best buy auto install but I came away satisfied. The first car stereo I bought was years ago in my parents station wagon and a couple of years later Best Buy transferred the system to my own vehicle for $20 despite the fact that I had lost the receipt.

Alan Erceg · 06-28-2003, 06:45 PM

Carl,

Thanks for the reply. I havent had any experience with them either, as far as the auto dept, and neither has anyone ive known, thats why i figured someone here on HTF would have had an experience, good or bad.

any more stories keep em coming..

Jeffrey Noel · 06-28-2003, 07:11 PM

I want to let you know that they will still charge about $40 for parts, which they do not include in the free installation. The only thing I would ever let Best Buy install is a headunit. Very hard to screw things up. If you know how to connect wires and are not colorblind, headunit installation is a piece of cake. I've installed over 10 headunits(6 of those were mine) and the only difficult part, sometimes, is taking off the dash panel.

I'd let them install it, but just be prepared to pay about $40 extra for the parts. I don't see how in the world they charge that much for the dash kit, wiring harness, and, if a GM car, antenna adapter. Oh well. At least it's guaranteed.

Tim Morton · 06-28-2003, 07:27 PM

Free Installation?? Trust me you get what you pay for...you are better off buying from crutchfield and installing it yourself. You will get a better deck, for a better price, and the mounting brackets are free, shipping is 5 bucks and when or if you have questions there tech service is ussually top notch. YMMV.

**HTF Ads**

Alan Erceg · 06-28-2003, 07:38 PM

Thanks for the replies.

Im a computer guy..not a car guy...lol.

I would have my dad install it for me, but he is very apprehensive about messing around with newer cars etc.(He put a head unit in my first car, and old 87 chevy celebrity).

Could i probably install it myself if i had to, yeah, i guess im also a little cautious about messing up my new car. I know it isnt a lexus or anything, but its all i got and i cant afford to mess it up.

I was just going to by a headunit right now, speakers would come later down the line, im not looking for a "thumping" system, just a step up from stock.

Alan

Leila Dougan · 06-28-2003, 07:48 PM

I had a local company install my cd player into my 1998 Cavalier.

When I picked up my car they were spitting mad because it took them a really long time. . .I guess the Cavalier dash is insane to take off. Apparently you have to take the WHOLE thing off. The guys said they do them all the time because it's a popular car, but they hate it because it takes a really long time.

Alan Erceg · 06-28-2003, 07:56 PM

Looking at my dash in my cavalier(2003) it looks almost identical to my g/f's 2001, and ive heard that that year's model was a pain in the ass to get off and stuff....

really dont want to do the install myself if i dont have to, i dont mind paying extra money for a better install somewhere else though...

Shane Bos · 06-28-2003, 08:29 PM

The worst install was my old 1980 GMC Vandura. I had to cut the opening in the dash to make it fit and rig up a mounting bracket for it since I couldn't find one to buy there was no place to attach the headunit into the dash. However my truck is super easy to install.