Adding Bluetooth to Shaker

Currently looking for '07-'09 Mustang GTs as the new DD. Most are optioned out pretty well for what I need but I've become spoiled w/ the Bluetooth hands free in my '12 Sierra so this will be a must have.

Mustang forums say the aftermarket supports the Bluetooth add on in different flavors for the Shaker 500/ 1000 w/ very few complaints. That would be (cheap) option 1.

Any disappointment w/ the factory Shaker 500 or 1000 audio down the road? ... or should I plan on a quality aftermarket head unit w/ Bluetooth built in? .... and maybe upgrade the speakers as well. I'm no real audiophile but I do like quality stuff.

It's all new to me so obviously I ask GRM first.

TIA

I replaced my Shaker 500 head unit with this one:

A Clarion one that has USB, Aux and BT for streaming audio, as well as a clear microphone for hands free calling. Was $198 through Amazon, and I got the install kit and wiring harness so it was a true plug and play (and easily turned back to stock when I traded the car in).

That's not bad looking.

Also worth a look if you're swapping HUs to a Double-DIN are Pioneer's App-Compatible units. Quite reasonably priced, touchscreen but with enough real buttons and knobs to not be frustrating, BT, USB, XM with an adapter, and if you have an iPhone or Android they can pull content off the phone and act as an in-dash Nav receiver as well as supporting Pandora and a bunch of other similar stuff. They also have selectable backlighting so you can match them to your car.

If you want adequate bluetooth without breaking the bank, changing out head units, or running any wires, iogear makes a pretty trick little solar powered bluetooth speaker you can just suction cup to your window.

I picked one up from Newegg about 18 months ago. It's not as elegant as factory integrated hands free, or a lot of the bluetooth equiped head units that are out now, but if you're like me and have a perfectly good head unit, that's only lacking in bluetooth, the $30 iogear hands free solar speaker is probably the cheapest answer.

I'll add that in the year-and-a-half I've had it, I've only had to actually charge it twice (not counting the initial charge when new) and I use the thing every day for 5 to 40+ min conversations. The solar charger actually does its job pretty well. The speaker is loud enough to very rarely have trouble hearing, even by my half deaf half tinnitus ears, and the noise cancellation works well enough to rarely have to repeat myself in my rattly old Volvo on crappy OH highways.

I'll stop rambling now, just another cheaper option.

• Lee

That Clarion unit looks pretty good. Good reviews on Amazon too.

Hope to bag a used GT in the next couple weeks.

Thanks

Sort of related, but not quite, why do automakers seem to be going back to the giant clunky stereo look?

In reply to Grizz:

I'd spose when Nav and touch screens became larger.

I actually like the larger dial on that Clarion for my meat hooks, it's pretty similar to my Sierra.