There's a small chance that I might be ditching my TS wagon to buy a TJ Solara from a mate of mine. I already own another TJ Solara and love it. Both cars are fitted with the early double-DIN Mitsubishi headunits as fitted to the Verada of that year. One part is the radio/cassette part and the other is the in-dash stacker CD.

Now the Solara I own was ordered with a power antenna from new. The one I am looking at has a manual mast (now broken by some idiot at Chadstone Shopping Centre). My mate was going to replace the mast with one of those vandal-proof black rubber jobs but since he might be selling it that is on hold.

I'm rambling...I'll get to the point. On Saturday I went to see about the cost of installing a power antenna on the "may soon be purchased" TJ at a Car Audio place. I was quoted $180 for the part and installation...well and good. Then I asked the guy about just putting in the rubber aerial as my mate wanted to do. The Car Audio "expert" said that power still had to be run to the aerial to "feed the dipole" so it would still cost a lot to install. I almost feel over backwards! Power to "feed the dipole"? What kind of crap is that? Or am I in the wrong?

Those dipoles need feeding, they can get quite vicious if you don't feed them!

No, seriously, you were fibbed at. Go back and <<act of violence deleted to protect the children>>.

Just put in the rubber one, will look real ghetto.

Would it not be easier and cheaper to buy an electric antenna from a Verada and install it?

Hahahahaha! That's how I felt. Imagine..."the dipole needs power". Golly!

Would it not be easier and cheaper to buy an electric antenna from a Verada and install it?

That would be the same as installing the Aeropro specialised power antenna for Magnas anyway...roughly about $180 all up. No point in getting a secondhand one because you can't test them to see if they work at the wreckers and the labour cost will be the same.