Getting "Siriusly" Screwed

[stoavio]

I'm leasing a 2010 Mazda 6 iTouring and paid the extra $700 to have Sirius installed.

Well, the dealership installed it for me and I have to say I'm quite disappointed with the outcome. When I think of manufacturer/dealer installed Sirius, a tacky aftermarket-looking antenna mounted via magnet on my trunk doesn't come to mind. A sleek, integrated looking shark-fin antenna does. Much like the ONE I SAW ON THE SHOWROOM FLOOR!

If I wanted something that looked like an afterthought, something rigged up, I could've gone to Best Buy and spent $150 on a Sirius Satellite Radio installation and achieved the same tacky look. For $700, I want an integrated look with the shark-fin antenna. If they can provide this on the V6 models why are they claiming it's impossible on my iTouring just because it's an inline-4? They've said the inline-4 models don't have the proper wiring to accomodate that type of Sirius installation and there's no way to migrate the installation they did (resulting in the tacky antenna) over to the shark-fin antenna. What in the world does the engine config. have to do with the electrical/audio wiring of the vehicle? Am I being bamboozled here or what?

Anyone know anything about this? Please help!

Thanks!

 

[stereomazda3]

sounds like the dealer ship took you for a ride their sorry to say the only thing i can suggest is see if the shark fin will go over top of the sirius antenna. good luck though

 

[stoavio]

Yea, I just got off the phone with them. They claimed to have called Mazda USA directly and spoke to their technical department who confirmed that my vehicle is not properly wired to use a shark-fin antenna and that the V4 models have their own Sirius Satellite Radio installation kit, which they used for my install.

This is horsecrap. For $100 less every month I could've bought a 2011 Hyndai Sonnata, fully loaded with leather and nav, premium sound and get this, a SHARK FIN. Mazda, this is unacceptable. Somebody there needs to make this right.

 

[SKiZZ]

Buy a painted shark fin for $79 and be done.

 

[VRMS6]

Not horsecrap as you so eloquently put it. Your base model MZ6 does not come with all the bells and whistles and is not prewired for Sat Radio. Unfortunately for you the Sat Radio kit available for your base model car is the one with the external antenna. That being said it is still light years better than a $150 from best buy as its fully intergrated with your factory radio.
You saved some $$ by getting a 4cyl "i" model you have to expect that it would have some trade offs...

 

[jred321]

you could always just put the antenna on your dashboard or rear deck. i know you already paid to have it done the "proper" way but for years i've had my tack black antenna on either the rear deck or front dash and it works just fine. it also is pretty unnoticable, esp if you have a black interior

 

[mp3beast]

should have gotten the sonata

 

[DylanMitchell]

My 3 S Sport has the same style install. I was told the 3 S Sport doesn't have a factory installed Satellite radio it's either installed at the port or dealer. They had to take my car apart to put in the Sat radio and left pieces loose on a new car. It's been worked out, but I've had much cleaner installs at my local radio/ alarm shop.

 

[stoavio]

I had them order the Mazda brand shark-fin antenna, which comes with a bolt on the bottom that I've requested they shave off. Hopefully, we can shave it off and adhere it to the roof using a strong adhesive (3M maybe, not sure?) and conceal the plastic antenna by installing it on the inside of the car where the rear speakers are located.

 

[deadstick]

Still going to have to route the wire *through* the roof.
Do what I did when I installed the whole shooting match myself. I put the antenna y the center mounted brake light under the window; i.e., inside the car, and you can not see it at all unless you were looking for it.

Not one drop out yet.

 

[deo1929]

Check out this link to the Fusion Forum. There's an adhesive attached shark fin available for it. Maybe you can get one that's like it for your MZ6

http://www.fordfusionforum.com/index.php?/topic/2869-new-sharkfin-mark-ii-available/

 

[wannabe]

VG makes sharkfins for the first gen mazda6s already, so they may have one in the works for the new gen (if different than the first gen)

 

[tunersteve]

They make the Gen 2 now, it's just not on their main site:

http://www.visualgarage.com/Product_VG_SFA_MKII.html

Sounds like you have to email them to get the order form.

 

[deadstick]

Not wanting that cheap look, I had the dealer throw all the Sirius goodies in on the deal, but I installed it myself. I put that antenna tucked under the rear window, as far back as it will go right next to the center tail light.
Driven 4K miles so far without a dropout. I'm loving it, you can not see it at all, unless I told you to look for it.