Ok looking at a car, and a new system. Want something that goes hand in hand with each other. If anyone has any ideas/information would be much appreciated.

Music i listen to - The Cure, Tool, A Perfect Circle, Incubus, Deftones, Karnivool, The Butterfly Effect, Cog, Peach, Shivaree, Smashing Pumpkins, Third Eye Blind

Cars I'am maybe looking at - TJ AWD/VRX MAGNA/VERADA, Subaru Liberty 2004, Honda Accord Euro 2004, Ford BA Falcon XT

want some good sound quality, and a car that doesnt rattle too much or has bad road noise. i dont mind doing a bit of deadening, but nothing major.

Questions...

Which car is best suited for me?

What gear is gonna sound great on a budget of about $2000?

What size sub for the above music? (12" is a pretty safe size, but will 10" sound better?)

Is any of the Jaycar range pretty reasonable for this?

2 way or 3 way splits?

In the kicks or in the doors?


any help/info would be much appreciated

cheers

Trav

well i could only help with a few of them questions, as for the car being magna biased im gonna say get a magna :D but apart from that my next choice would be the accord, the BA would be a pain in the ass cos of the intergrated stereo, for that kinda music maybe go 2 10's? give you some good bass and because of the music (tend to have fast, eratic, ie not like a continuos doof doof doof) the speed and accuracy of the 10's might be more suited, as for 2 or 3 ways.... do some auditioning, the 2 ways may sound better than the 3 ways or vice versa, but keep in ming the 2 ways will be alot easier to install, well usually any way

buy phils vrx :P

Cars I'am maybe looking at - TJ AWD/VRX MAGNA/VERADA, Subaru Liberty 2004, Honda Accord Euro 2004, Ford BA Falcon XT
Which car is best suited for me?

My first choice would be the VRX if you like Manual or the Verada if you like Auto. They have big doors and plenty of boot space for subs with room left over.
I can't judge on the Liberty or Accord as I don't know much about them, apart from I'm not a fan at all of Subaru's interior build quality.


What gear is gonna sound great on a budget of about $2000?

Allow about $500 for cabling and deadening. People tend to forget this adds up very quickly.
I would get a set of nice splits, a sub, and amp/s. Don't worry about rear speakers. Use the stock rears off the HU until you get some spare cash. Have you got a head unit already?


What size sub for the above music? (12" is a pretty safe size, but will 10" sound better?)

I like the power of a single good quality 12 is better. But a good quality 10 will do what you are looking for. Go for a sealed box. Vibe make some nice subs already boxed.


Is any of the Jaycar range pretty reasonable for this?

Jaycar amps are great value for money and would be ideal on your budget. I use them and have had no problems. I also have one of their 12" Carbon Fiber subs and am happy with it.


2 way or 3 way splits?
In the kicks or in the doors?

2 way splits. Decent 3 way systems will cost a lot more and require a more complex and expensive install. Hertz, Morel, Boston, Focal, MB Quart are all popular brands.

Hope that helps,
Pete

Here's an insight into my bias; (awd) magna or subaru; Good split locations for front stage, quiet cars to start with, and don't rattle when they have some k's on them; sealed box,
and I would start with a quality headunit and see how the factory splits sound with decent wire running to them, as they are relatively cheap to upgrade later if you spend your budget on headunit, sub, amp, wiring, instal etc.
If you can find a good audio store/ installer who will look after you, it makes the task much easier, and, yes, audition as much as you can; mates cars, employees cars at the shop, whatever, or take your cd's with you.
Smashing Pumpkins make bass that i couldn't even hear until we went to a 15" dual voice coil JL, but a well set up smaller quality sub with a matched amp can be impressive.
And don't underestimate the value of a good install if you aren't able to do it yourself.
My chosen brand is Pioneer, but that is what I have always had and liked, and the gear has never let me down. But same thing; listen to different gear and see what suits.
Let us all know how you go.

I can't say much about the other bits of info you need but in terms of the sub I have a 12inch and listen to some of the same music as you (Gotta love Tool and APC lol) and I'm very happy with its response with those styles of music :D

Thanks for all youyr comments so far guys, much appreciated

Trav

i listen to the same sort of music and have had no issues with my sealed 15". it can start to lag a little bit when i go to the faster stuff (slipknot, etc) but mothing that worries me.