Suzuki Equator Forum

Hello all, I am debating the purchase of a 2010 Equator Sport, Crew Cab, Short Bed, 2wd. Going to go test drive tomorrow!

Finding one of these trucks around here is like finding a unicorn - it's just impossible. Seeing the Equator at the Chicago Auto show a year or so ago is what made me start wanting a truck, then I bought a new house with a big yard - now it's time (maybe).

The particular truck I am looking at has the 6-CD integrated audio system. Does theis CD player also play MP3 CDs, or is is strictly audio CDs? If the latter, that will suck, because the system is integrated and not easily changeable.

Thanks! Hopefully I'll be around here a lot.

I think almost all cd players these days can also play cd-r and cd-rw (if that's what you're asking). If it's just mp3 I think you'll be fine but if you use FLAC or another type of encoding you could run into problems.

The Suzuki website doesn't get that detailed but I'm sure the dealer will know. I'd bring along an mp3 recorded cd to try it out when you test drive the truck.

I know what you mean about being as hard to find as a unicorn. I live within a few hours of Seattle and very near Portland, OR and there are none to be found outfitted like I want. Congratulations on the (hopefully) new truck.

Thanks for the reply. I wasn't talking about making a music CD with a CDR or CDRW, but when you make a data CD and put a few hundred MP3s on it. After having had that in my current vehicle - I don't think I could go back to only having 74 minutes of music on a CD.

This wouldn't be an issue, as I'd just swap out the headunit for a new one that did what I want, but the integrated audio system makes that harder than I want it to be.

I'm currently price-haggling with the dealer over email - I love the age of the internet. If things continue to go my way, I'll drive it tomorrow. Then, there will only be one hard sell left (my wife). We had said that we were going to save for a down payment for a year, then I could get my replacement car next summer. However, with Suzuki's 0% for 60 months right now, that negates that whole strategy, since 0% means you should put down as little as possible, and finance for as long as they'll let you.

Judging by the description on the Rockford Fosgate website, I'd say the 6-Disc system does do MP3:

Rockford Fosgate® - Suzuki Equator Crew Cab

"6 in the Dash – In-dash mounted 6 disc CD changer with pre-wired satellite radio and MP3-CD-ROM capability. Digital audio friendly."

The Suzuki website also lists WMA (Windows Media) compatibility as well.

I'd double check with the dealer (perhaps take an MP3 file disc with you), but it looks like it'll do what you want it to.

I test drove the 2010 Equator Sport crew cab 2wd today. The integrated Audio does NOT play MP3 CDs. I made a disc right before the drive, and listened to it on the way there, to make sure the CD worked alright. After the test drive, I grabbed the CD and put it in to the Equator - nothing. The display just said track 1 and started counting up, but no music and no ability to change the track being played.

At the deal negotiated, this was a killing point. I told the salesman that I would probably wait for an RMZ-4 with the better audio package. There are none of those available anywhere right now. The salesman was making calls trying to find one (I couldn't find one anywhere right now either), with no luck.

Is there any kit out there to replace the integrated audio with an aftermarket player? I haven't searched yet.

It also did not have the subwoofer in the system.

Here's a kit for the Frontier (should fit the Suzuki as well according to a seach for 2010 Equator on the site):

2009 - up Nissan Frontier/Xterra Double DIN and DIN with Pocket



And here's another:

http://www.amazon.com/Metra-99-7428B.../dp/B001TJK5QK

Thanks! Those look like they would fit. Crutchfield also had one, free with purchase of a headunit (though it's probably cheaper to buy the headunit and this thing elsewhere).

I emailed the salesman to see if he can verify with his service department as to whether or not they are compatible. It seems like a stupid thing to make or break the deal, but after having all my music on MP3 CDs and USB thumb-drives for the past few years, not having that feature would be horrible.

Maybe I'll even get him to throw it in the deal. Doubtful, as I already have them $400 under invoice.

My installation was a bit simpler ('09 Extended Cab):



The base radio was quite....average. The worst thing was the lack of an aux input (I listen to iPod or Slacker G2 almost exclusively), so in went the 11 year old (!) Pioneer HU you see in the photo (along with the Nav kit soon after).

How'd you manage that?

Luck, and their desire to get it off the lot, I suppose. They had the price at sticker, and he instantly offered to take $1000 off if I came in this weekend. I had found another truck on autotrader and sent him the link, asking "beat this?" He had to make some calls and got back to me a few hours later with the ok. That knocked another ~$1300 off the price. I looked up the invoice according to Edmunds, and the negotiated price is $400 under that. Plus, I'll be taking the 0% for 60 from Suzuki.



O/T - road cyclist? I'm also big into road cycling.