Unless you get a Base car, there is no point in replacing the head unit, and it will be WAY more trouble than it's worth. You will most likely lose all Sync functionality (although some people are saying there are harnesses that allow you to keep it, but I haven't seen any). Just get an add on processor to equalize the factory sound and add aftermarket amps/speakers/subs.

And yes, "good sound" is hard to define. However it is FACT that you can blow the $1300 Shaker 1000 out of the water in terms of Sound Quality and loudness with aftermarket products (and without losing your factory warranty). And if you use Molex plugs, the enclosure can be easily removed for track duty and if you go with the Scosche custom fit box you lose no space (you could also build a fiberglass enclosure into the same location, but unless you do it yourself you will overshoots the $1300 budget for sure).

I've driven Shaker 500 and 1000 cars back to back. After messing with the crude factory EQing, the 1000 does not prove worth its cost. The Glass Roof and Electronics Package are far more worth your money, even at twice the cost.

To each his own though. I'd like to know what kind of aftermarket stereo equipment you've heard/used to compare to the S1000.

 

Thanks, I'd go Shaker 500 and then add speakers/amp/sub to suite my personal taste then.

 

skip the shaker get the electronics package

 

I have the Shaker 1000 in my '05 GT and was has happy enough with it to order one for my '11 GT.

 

I don't have any idea what the Shaker 1000 sounds like but let's apply a little simple logic here. Obviously you would like the glass roof and a premium stereo, but don't want to spend the money for both. If you get the glass roof and a year down the line you find some extra cash in your pocket and have concluded you need better sound, there are thousands of stereo shops that can set you up with upgraded amplifiers and speakers. You can spend as much or as little as you want. And you might even come to the conclusion that the Shaker 500 is satisfactory anyway.

But if you spent the money for Shaker 1000 and later have some extra money, it's no simple thing to get a glass roof added to your car. It can be done but you may have to take your car half way across the country to get it done and it will be a lot more than getting the glass roof option from the factory.

 

Actually, spending 2400 on a touch screen and climate control is garbage... I'll stick with my S1000.

 

I'd skip it. My reasons have been mentioned by several already. If you want more out of your stereo, ante up to the Elec. Pkg. and then add the subs down the road in a stealth box. You'll save money for what you get (a good 10" sub and properly sized amp is $5-700) and you'll get equal performance out of it.

 

I think most would disagree. EP is much more than that. Everybody who has it says is well worth it.

 

I had the Shaker 1000 in my '05 and I was pretty happy with it. I wanted to get it again in the '11 and I can't tell you how many sleepless nights I spent trying to decide should I get the Electronics or the 1000. I ultimately went with the electronics package. To the guy that was debating between the glass roof and the 1000, I'd go with the roof. It's easier to change a stereo a than add a glass roof.

 

S1000 is a huge bucket of fail.

 

Fail by the bucket full is the best kind of fail you can get!

Plus the ford website compares the S1000 to a sonic boom. I've never heard one myself, but i'd imagine they are pretty loud!!

Also, the S1000 is only a grand up here, and I paid even less than that thru the pricing agreement I have with my dealer. I will be more than pleased to drive down the road listening to my fail thru 10 speakers

 

Ha, a sonic boom huh? If they want a sonic boom I'll break out my old Kickers. I used them to remove rust from my escort back in the day!

 

Taken right from their website:

"The sonic boom from this system comes courtesy of two door-mounted subwoofers, plus two additional 500-watt subwoofers mounted in the trunk"

I mean common, who can argue with that?

 

I'm sure it will sound great for a factory system, just not my cup of tea.

 

Not much Escort left after that, huh?

 

Haha, not at all. 160 db will do that. The windshield wipers bounced off the front window from the pressure. The amazing thing is that I can still hear (for now).

 

Show me a screen shot of your TL for that 160....

 

Ok, I've been out of the game for a while now so what is a TL? My, system when it was setup, was two 12" L7s and a Memphis amp.

 

Term-LAB: http://www.termpro.com/storefront/Page605.html

And I sincerely doubt you came anywhere near 160 with 2 12" L7s, no matter what enclosure you were running. I'd say 145 tops.

 

i had the 1000 in my 2002 GT coupe (back than it was called the mach 1000 )

It sounded AMAZING

BUT

Only when you put the back seats down and let the bass in the cabin

So MY question is, how does this bode for Vert owners? cant pull down the back seats----the bass of the shaker 1000 is essentiallly just trapped in the trunk!

Wasteful in a Vert, good to go in a coupe----JMHO