Nice. I haven't actually seen the unit in sunlight. Are the electronics really that visible?

I'm waiting on Crutchfield to deliver my new amp, speakers, and related wiring so I can install my unit in a 1998 Jetta GL. I'm hoping I can manage to do the wiring appropriately; I've never done anything except replace a head unit before.
I will be building a simple amp rack for the trunk; I need to go down tomorrow and make some preliminary measurements so I can build an appropriate rack (I'm really considering just a simple "stealth" mount that would be a single board fit to a cavity large enough to contain the amp. But I'm still trying to figure out how I'd attach it to the car, as it'd sit vertically).

I also need to call the dealer and ask about the radio assembly panel; I really like that idea and would like to do it myself. I don't know if they're available for an A3 Jetta though.

Nice work! I'll post pictures of mine once I get everything installed.