Need your guys help

Im doing a poll on what kind of car should I get for the big build. This car will be built to demonstrate car pc's and all the crazy stuff that goes with it. I plan on having it at SEMA next year but cant decide what to use. A van or SUV aren't very sexy but can demo very well to groups of people. A sports car or sdan can be made to look cooler but you cant demo very well and lots of people wont get in a small car to see it. So what do you guys think? I am not looking for a new car or exotic car. I will be using a late 80's or mid 90's since I will be chopping it up and rebuilding it anyway. That way parts are more available at junkyards if needed. I was going to buy a car today but cant decide and didnt want to get a car and post pics and listen to everybody say I should have got this or that so now you get to decide. I will probably let this go for a week or two so vote now.

Are you going all the way. Like with rear headrest monitors, separate video on all screens, high def, all out sound sytem, etc ?

Because that will be a major influence on what type of car/truck/suv you get.

An all out system IMO is best in an SUV. Now a system with engine monitoring, hvac control , multiple cameras, etc is more fitting for a sports car or sports sedan type of setting.

So what's the plan?

I disagree. You can add all the engine monitoring, havoc controls and multiple cameras to a SUV also. I say because Ive added the equipment to mine, I just haven't taken out the mirrors yet to install the cameras. Like Cade says, an SUV is easier to access, but also you can just do so much to it, with very little space sacrifice. I also consider SUVs a more safe environment because the PC has to be in the cabin, where as other vehicles usually have to use the hot trunk. Mind you some people do fit it under the seat, but from the route I think your trying to take, with a super decked out system, maybe similar to mine, you'll need an SUV. Now if you want to go for the "bling bling OMG thats f^&king crazy factor", then go with a van. Like the ones from Chevy.

http://www.explorervan.com/images/chevrolet_main_03.jpg

I would be all over one of those, but I hate vans and don't consider them sporty. You could do this behind the front passenger seats:

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...4e7217f034.jpghttp://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...4e71f4ecaf.jpg

This is actually in a Durango. He had to take out the middle row seats to do it though. On the van though, all seats are individual so you could have the screen, keep all the seats, then add personal touch screens to each seat on the armrest or something. Then maybe do like my install and have a main system, but then individual systems for personal use.

Sorry if I'm filling your mind with crazy ideas. I think I would make a great designer, but I have no patience for fabricating :( also its hard to get ideas out my head.

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Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

I disagree. You can add all the engine montoring, hvac controls and multiple cameras to a SUV also. .

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I never said you couldn't add it. I said it makes more sense in a sports car , because that is where that type of monitoring is usually done (think Fast and Furious). I mean most people don't jump in a family van or Suv and say "Hey look at my rpms and horsepower" :lol:

If it's for shows I imagine you would want to add all the Bells and Whistles anyway. In that case an SUV makes more sense. Lot's more room to add things and everything can be bigger of course.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hailrazer

I never said you couldn't add it. I said it makes more sense in a sports car , because that is where that type of monitoring is usually done (think Fast and Furious). I mean most people don't jump in a family van or Suv and say "Hey look at my rpms and horsepower" :lol:

If it's for shows I imagine you would want to add all the Bells and Whistles anyway. In that case an SUV makes more sense. Lot's mor romm to add things and everything can be bigger of course.

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LOL yea that is true, I actually do though. I pride myself on destroying little sports cars that think their fast. I think the only time I lost was when I was racing an audio A6 and my stupid limitor kicked in, that was scary. That is why I went with the Gen 1 Durango though, it looks like a muscle type SUV.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...85299bf5f3.jpghttp://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/imag...852a5e1ddc.jpg

Mine is going to look just like this, except mine will be silver with flat black stripes.

I think you should get a normal every-day type car. Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Ford Escort, something that people can relate to. Then when you go all out on it, they see that you CAN make a normal car really nice.

Personally I think you should do a second gen Ford Probe :)

I have done a few systems like in the pic with the big LCD between the front and rear. They work great for shows and displaying products. A van looks really cheesy but the amount of things you can do to them is REALLY tempting. I plan on making it an interactive system for people to enjoy. My idea revolves around two monitors stacked in the front with the top monitor displaying a very electronic futureistic face walking the people thru all the features which they get to do with the bottom screen. Example would be the bot saying "Welcome to the future of in car entertainment. As you can see below you have many options to choose from. Lets start with the radio. Please push the radion button on the screen." When they push it I want the computer to recognize it and move on to the description of the radio and then move on to the next feature. By the time its done the people are comfortable with using the system and now it seems like a great thing to have and then I say "Hello Pioneer, why yes I would love to sell you a license to our system. Half a million dollars you say, I dont know, I will have to talk to the other designers involved first."......LOL. Anyway, I want it to be interactive and have a full audio system based around surround sound and video quality. So yes an SUV or Van would be the choice so far but still want input. I am not so much impressed with the engine management since I have yet to see any that are really useful to the masses.

I am going to go out on a limb here and see what everyone thinks of this idea...

I like the idea of an SUV because of all the option you could do with it. If you were to put multiple cameras in it you could demo outside the vehicle. I think using an SUV with a screen that could come out of the front bumper along with a mount for a WiiMote setup would allow for interactive demos using just an IR pen and could all be run off the same CarPC. Possibly have the projector come out of a hood scoop. I have a feeling a few of you just said to yourself "What the F is he talking about!!" Check out the link below. I have actually tested this and it works
http://johnnylee.net/projects/wii/

With all the programmers on here I am sure you could have a screen setup that split all the displays onto the screen.

I like you!!!!!! You make my brain work overtime. Stay in touch with me.

Thanks I thought you might like that one. I have a few others that once you pick a vehicle.. then maybe they will come out...