TransPod FM for use in Honda Element?

[Tom Brazelton]

Okay, this is kind of a specific problem. Specific to Honda Element's actually.

I was wandering around Best Buy the other day when I ran into this:

http://www.everythingipod.com/products/prolarge/w009-2002.jpg

It's called the TransPod FM. It has a modular arm that plugs into the cigarette lighter and an FM tuner to play through the car stereo.

I know, I know. The FM tuner option is touch and go at best. Why bother with that when you have an aux jack right in the dash?

Well, the TransPod FM does that, too. I has an audio/out jack built into the side of it. So you can go to Radio Shack, buy the cable and plug in.

Only problem, it's $100 dollars which is a little expensive. Also, the modular arm doesn't go that far, so I'm not even sure if it clears the overhang of the dash. You'd probably have to do some stretching to switch songs.

But opposed to other solutions I've read where you're ripping up the center console of the dash to install a cellphone mount, this is a pretty tidy fix. And if I ever decide to upgrade to an '05 or '06 Element, I can take this thing with me.

For more details, read here (http://www.everythingipod.com/suggest.tpl?command=search&db=dbs/products.db&cart=110546814319917525&eqPRONAMEdatarq=DLO%20TransPod%20FM%20All-In-One%20Car%20Solution%20%28For%20iPods%20with%2030% 20pin%20dock%20connector%29&searchSKU=w009-2002&max=1&eqAVAILdatarq=YES&max=1):

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with the TransPod FM and what their reactions were to it?

Let me know!

[random]

I tried something very similar, the Seidio mount that is almost the exact same thing. There are two problems: clearing the overhang, and having the iPod oriented toward the driver. I managed to get it to work, with an aftermarket lighter extension, but it was never very stable. I gave up and for now just use the Belkin charger (with the line out jack) and either keep it in the storage area (in my grey iPod sock, or if I am alone, leave it in the seat.