Hi all. Thought id get some advise from the forum that helped me so much in choosing my car 6 months ago. (BTW the last six months of driving have been great!!) I am going to purchase soon the audi cell phone package from clair. i called the people here that do motorola installations for my cell phone company, and they acted scared to touch my car. I guess i will drive to cincinnati to have it installed at the nearest dealer. my question is: what should i expect the phone to do? what is the real deal with the voice recog. thing? can you really tell it to "phone home"? can you turn in on by just saying "on". how does it know when you are talking to it vs. talking to someone in your car? i hope anyone who has the oem phone can help me with these questions (that arent by the way answered in the archives)<p>second, i have the original stereo system, but have added the oem cd changer i bought from clair. now i want to add a sub-woofer and i guess an amp( if i need it). the concert stereo leaves a lot to be desired in bass. what do you guys recommend? i dont want to get too complicated with it, just want enough bass to make my 311 and beastie boys sound decent. <br>Thanks for your opinions!<p>Melissa<br>98.5 1.8TQMS<br>Cactus green/terra cotta

I agree, you really need a woofer to get good sound in your car.<p>Stig-Rune Reese<br>97 A4 1.8TQMS

To the best of my knowledge the Audi cell phone doesn't do any of the cool things you mentioned. It does not have voice recognition. You may be able to add voice recognition service with your local provider, but you'll still have to press a quick-dial button to make a call. The Audi phone is really an overpriced Motorola phone. The phone is not portable so you can't take it from the car. I haven't met anyone that has been happy with theirs.<p>I have a Motorola Startac and have sucessfully built a kit that lets you interface it with my A4. It isn't for everyone, but other solutions exist out there. <p>As for adding a subwoofer I think this is the one of the best add-ons that you can buy. Any kind of subwoofer will dramatically improve upon the stock stereo. I have a Kenwood 10" powered sub that I bought from Crutchfield. I installed it in the trunk tied to the back of the rear passenger seat. I wrote up instructions on how to do it which I believe are still in the FAQ section. Total install should take no more than 2-3 hours.<p>Good luck!<br>David

i tried asking motorola and audi about the audi motorola phone, and neither could tell me anything about it. it was kinda like well, just order it and install it and then you'll see. not very good marketing in my opinion. i wanted to keep the car as stock as possible because i dont trust anyone but the dealership to install things (i live in lexington ky and there is no dealership here, but there is in louisville and cincinnati), i especially am hestitant about these car stereo stores doing any installation. i heard a rumor that someone went to install something into someone's a4 and cut the fuel line accidentally!!! eek. anyway, i dont think i'd be able to handle your startac installation myself, and i dont even know if i can use that phone in my calling area. i doubt the dealership would install it for me....so i guess im stuck with the audiphone. is there anyone else who has the phone that can fill me in on features?? thanks!

What type of cellular plan do you have now, will it allow you to have two phones on one number? Otherwise you are stuck with a phone that you can't take from your car, hardly practical if you ask me.<p><br>BTW, what's your tie in with UK? I was just there a little while ago visiting my sister. Actually, had to stop by the Audi dealer in Louisville, they seemed pretty helpful, aimed my headlights for me.

interesting you should ask about two phones on one number. i was just in the archives reading old cell phone posts, and someone else mentioned this. my company (bell south) said it is against fcc regualtions to put two phones on one number. i reacted skeptically, but they said it was really true. this is why i was surprised to read that someone up in the northeast was able to do this. i really do think its illegal. anyway, i thought that the audi phone could be "popped out" of the little holding device??? if not i guess i can live with a perma phone - if it does really have this voice recognition thing i keep reading about. we could always get another line with the cheapo phone i have now for another $12 a month. do you know if the audiphone is digital or analog? <p>i work at UK....right in the heart of BB country! i do cancer control work. :) glad to hear the louisville dealership is reasonable. i may have to make a trip out there.

Melissa,<p>I added a very discrete sub ( Jl Audio 10" ) and a Fosgate Punch 400 to my otherwise stock system with great results.., not trashy BOOOMPing, but strong ,clean bass. I have not missed upgrading the stock speakers yet.<p>The sub is mounted between the rear deck speakers, with the enclosure bolted to the underside of the rear deck, next to the Cd changer. The two stock rear speaker grilles were removed, and replaced with a long grille that fills in the depression between the rear speakers. Looks totally stock. The sub enclosure is flush with the Cd changer, and is carpeted to match. Again, if you didn't know it, you'd think the trunk was stock - except for the amp which is mounted vertically in the left rear trunk cubbie. I need to post some pics of this on my registry page.. I had the job done at Car Toys in Portland.<p>(Guaranteed, the Propellerheads will sound better with BASS.)<p>Donnie

Melissa, I have another option for you if interested. I had the non OEM hands-free kit from Cellular Integration (now out of business) in my A4. This allows the use of a Motorola MicroTAC phone to be mounted in the console. It works great in handsfree mode (no voice recognition) using the existing microphone in A-pillar for voice and upper driver door speaker for sound. Also keeps the MicroTAC charged up .. just pop it out when you want to take the phone out of the car and plug in when you get back.<p>I loved the kit but my company went digital last week so I was "forced" to change phones so kit is of no use. I'd like to sell kit (its an easy install and includes detailed instructions) along with my MicroTAC 650 phone (also throw in desk charger, another battery, leather case and car antenna). All is great shape (phone is 8 months old -- 2nd battery kind of used).<p>Send me a private email if interested and we'll see if we can deal. Thanks.

I dont own an Audi, but my friend does. He has a Nokia phone that works fine, but if you want built in, good luck with the Audi. <p>Know to the sub, I think it is worth it, but watch where you get it, my friend had a surprise because he thought the store knew what they were doing. And it led to 4 holes in the gas tank. So be sure to ask many questuionms, and if you dont like the answers (Or they cant answer!) go elsewhere.

The Lexus phone in my mother's GS300 has voice recognition, and can be removed from the car. Maybe this is hat you are talking about?<p>-Stu Koch<br>99 2,8 qts