Still in process, just wanted to post that the monsoon amp
is the tool of satan........

Well, then, you should be all over it, shouldn't you?

When you get a minute, I have a bone to pick with you about that language you made (javascript).

dont make me bring back windows 2.0

That's why I went out of my way to get a golf without the "premium" monsoon crap.

Trust me, didnt want it.....not an option in the Turbo S. It kinda works with the Empeg.....kinda...

ARGH! Due to my finances at the moment I have to wait til the end of the month (I get paid monthly) to be able to afford an amp. Guess my Empeg still gets to go for rides with me (Its all mounted) and every once in a blue moon, play a song. (In the rare event it turns on the amp.....it pulled it off once, bless it's little linux soul)

does that amp have a remote turn on like a normal amp or is it some strange custom thing ?

It's that strange custom thing....

It just gets more and more entertaining.....
My Empeg is installed but does not work (Thanks Monsoon!)
So unitl i get paid at the end of the month and I can afford an amp, It gets a free ride in my car without having to work. (I still turn it on, gotta dream). This is when it gets weird......it was able to kick on the amps twice, both times when it was over 72 F outside........any colder and it wont work. Todays high was 68....tommorow its supposed to be warmer and I'm keeping my fingers crossed......

Have you tried www.vwvortex.com ? I sure someone has figured a work-around.

All over that.......Nope, nothing. No aftermarket adapter. Only thing to do is bypass monsoon amp with another amp.

It's finally done! Got my amp installed today, an alpine 4*45, good enough to run the stock speakers. God bless the 20 band EQ. The speaker layout for the monsoon system is to say the least......a little strange. I got the sound to about 90-95% right.....a little more tweeking and I should be there. I have to get my hands on a digital camera and take some pix.
I also want to thak everyone that has helped me out along the way, taking the time to answer my questions......thanks.

We need some kind of anti monsoon logo sticker for the people that have been freed

lol......I think I need a new boot logo for my Empeg....

We need some kind of anti monsoon logo sticker for the people that have been freed


It's about to get worse. You didn't hear this from me, but monsoon audio is going to become standard equipment on all GLS models in 2003. At least thats what they're telling us now, and the line has started rolling...

might as well you about had to bribe someone to get a vw without it

might as well you about had to bribe someone to get a vw without it

No [censored]. The only people who ever specifically request it are people who come in and insist they can get cars we know aren't manufactured and tell me I'm lying because (fill in name of inaccurate car buying website here, usually edmunds, sometimes VW.com itself) says you can, and no amount of taking them through our order guides will convince them otherwise. We're all thrilled to bits over it, because in 75% of cases where people order cars without it, it comes in with it anyway, and fucks us out of about $75 of our comission.

But then again, this is a company that sent us a $40,000 car (that only an idjit would buy), and 3 weeks later, still no literature on it, or even a color chart. VW sucks like that.

I have to say, the only thing that turned me off about the Turbo S was the fact it came with the Monsoon system. It is the most unfriendly pos I ever ran into. It was a happy day when I said Vio con Dios to that damn amp.

Yeah well I got my Golf TDI GLS with no monsoon, no luxury package and the steel wheels.

Your right about the VW website they need to update it more often when I got my car they still listed the side curtain airbags as an option when they weren't anymore.

msaeger - get thee over to Fred's

Re: bxgurl statment that all 2003 GLS are going to come with monsoon audio as standard - this kinda leaves me in a bind as a Jetta Wagon is in my future.
So what are the options for installing an Empeg in a Monsoon equiped VW?

Easy.....take the Monsoon amp out of the loop. Just buy a 200w 4 channel amp. Thats more then good enough to power the stock speakers. You also might consider getting a sub for the system. I have been able to get very nice mid's and high's out of the Empeg - Aftermarket Amp - Stock Speakers setup, but there is no real lows. Another month and this goes in.....
http://www.jlaudio.com/enclosures/81microsub.html

In the long run this might not be so bad:

1) Most of the waste heat is generated away from the HU. With a non-monsoon stock HU, I still have heat problems on long family drives. After 3 hours or so we have to go music-less for a while so that everything can cool off. (This is with the empeg below the HU).
2) The SQ from the monsoon should be the same as the non-monsoon stock HU or better. Certainly acceptable for the majority of people.
3) Hopefully more car manufacturers will start competing by providing separate amps as standard. They will probably get it right and provide an amp with standard line inputs and amp-turn on control, which in turn will hopefully galvanise VW to "Get It Right(tm)" too.
4) If every VW has monsoon, there will be a larger market for an aftermarket pre-amp to drive these things properly, hopefully enticing one of the aftermarket suppliers to oblige.
5) To use the non-monsoon stock HU you still need to buy a Blitzsafe adapter to allow you to use the CD input. This is about $70 anyway. And you still have the heat issues.
6) You can use that Blitzsafe adapter with monsoon HUs anyway. With the current lack of tuners for the empeg, this is a solution that shouldn't be overlooked. And you shouldn't suffer any heat issues.

Don't get me wrong. Would I rather see VW provide a standard amp? Yes. With a proper remote-amp turn on control? Of course. Is this likely to happen anytime soon? I doubt it.

But this standardisation to the monsoon system may have long-tem benefits for us VW drivers. I'm going to have to deal with their ICE solutions one way or the other, as I enjoy the rest of the car way too much for that to put me off buying a VW.

I have already been going to freds same user name

this kinda leaves me in a bind as a Jetta Wagon is in my future.
Well, if the sunroof doesn't matter to you, the GL will have the power windows next year (once again, you did not hear this from me, as it is not in print yet, but the line is rolling). It will supposedly also be coming with the single din cassette and the empty slot below instead of the double din ones they switched to in the middle of this year.