Don Is Upset That Chevy Doesn’t Offer A CD Player In The Equinox: Mailbag
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This article is part of the GM Authority Mailbag series, where the GM Authority Crew features and replies to your questions, comments, and observations.
The following comes to us from Don:
I am very upset. I was in a month ago to buy a new Equinox and was just about to sign the papers, when I said I could not wait to play my CD of Dean Martin hits, and was told there is no CD player, I said then get me one with it, and was told THERE ARE NO MORE CD PLAYERS, only MP3.
I am 60 years old, I have a simple flip phone cell. why in da world and who’s stupid idea was it to stop making trucks with no CD player?
They are gonna lose a lot of customers?
Pastor Don S.
Don,
We appreciate you writing in with this. Truth be told, if CD players are not a thing of the past already, they will be very soon — much like 8-tracks, audio cassette tapes, VHS, Mini Disks, and pretty much all other forms of physical media. What’s more, GM (Chevrolet) aren’t the only ones who have or are in the process of removing CD players from their vehicles.
Interior photo of the 2016 Chevy Equinox, which features a seven-inch-diagonal Color Touch radio with Bluetooth phone connectivity) and rear-vision camera on L and LS models as standard equipment
Now, we realize that the above probably doesn’t help much, if at all, so we would earnestly recommend getting a smartphone, loading up any and all music you own onto it, and enjoying it without the hassle of ejecting, looking for, and then inserting CDs. Instead, all of your songs will now be in one convenient location on one device, freeing you from the hassle of carrying around CD cases, folders, or binders, or from the perils of losing or damaging those precious, thin circles. But it gets even better with a good smartphone.
Consider that you got yourself an iPhone, arguably the most user-friendly smartphone on the market. Then you would, for instance, be capable of using Siri Eyes Free by pressing and holding the push-to-talk button on the steering wheel of the Chevy Equinox you almost purchased to tell the iPhone to play those Dean Martin songs. And if you want to hear a specific song by a specific artist but simply don’t have it on your iPhone, then the iPhone can use (the affordable) Apple Music to play it. And we should mention that all that happens using Bluetooth Audio, meaning that you never have to plug in your phone. Once you have gone through the one-time parading process, all you need to do is just get in your car and enjoy your tunes. It’s honestly that simple.
The cover of Dean Martin’s “This Time I’m Swingin” compact disk (CD)
All in all, we’re not telling you to geek out and learn the JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and Objective C programming languages (though there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that if you do; in fact, more power to you). Rather, we simply recommend embracing those parts of modern technology that can truly improve your life. Swapping out your flip phone for a good smartphone is a good way to start doing just that, if not for improving your life, then simply due to the fact that CD players in new vehicles will soon become as rare non-existent as carburetors.
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This can’t be a legitimate complaint
Unfortunately…
Of course it is. The slop produced by compressed streaming music is just that……slop.
It appeals to the “instant gratification crowd” today just like the slop photos from iPhones do too.
Studio cut CD sound is dramatically better than streamed music. But you can’t STEAL it like the kids today like to do….so it goes away.
Absolutely correct! You try going to any of the big box stores now and telling one of the 20-something “sales associates” that MP3 and other popular digital forms of music sound inferior to a CD and they’ll argue until they’re blue in the face. They would probably deny the reality if they heard it as well.
I’m an IT consultant with more than 20 years of experience in the digital world, and I’m not talking about Mom and Pop networks. Like everyone else, I’ve had to embrace parts of the “Internet of Everything” world, but the reality is that a LOT of it just plain SUCKS.
I know every company needs to cut costs wherever they can in order to remain competitive, and GM is no exception. Just give me a CHOICE though. I, too, just purchased a new Equinox – with the Premier package – and was unpleasantly surprised to find out a CD player was not even an option. Now I have to have some goofy connection rigged somewhere, or I have to rely on a crappy wireless signal to transmit my content. And yes, WiFi SUCKS too. It’s a nice convenience, but there is NOTHING (are you listening, Millennial Engineeers?), I repeat, NOTHING which is as good as a wire.
Give me a choice. Stop shoving your paradigm down my throat at every opportunity!
They (the salesperson) made it sound like I should know how to pair-up, use blue-tooth, download music to my new android phone, and play happyly ever after all my music on my CD’s, and tell everyone how easy it was!!….well, it isn’t and I still don’t play the music I want to hear, and I agree all the auto companies are cutting costs along with all the music related industries
to put it on the shoulders of some of us, not savvy enough to get all the music I want to hear…
anyway, they won’t listen to us , the buying public….Ford is cutting models, GMC is in line to do the same and all we are allowed to do is sit back and let it all happen !!!!!….Sorry folks, but I like the era in which I grew up….
The new 2019 Toyota Avalon doesn’t have a cd player. My husband and I saw one at our local Toyota Dealership. $42k with no cd player. He is keeping his 15. His money, his choice. Sooo to all you baby boomers demanding a cd player BUY SOON, like in 2018. 2019 does not look good for us and we can keep them a LONG LONG time. Like10-15 years long and by then our grandkids will be driving us around we won’t need a car anymore!!! 🙂
Maryjane MacNair
Totally agree. I love my CDs. I don’t want to pay for a music app nor do I have the time to record them all on my iphone. I support Chevy because I support made in the USA & union quality workers, but you missed the mark with this. After paying over $25,000 for a car you would think you could enjoy the ride especially when you hate the dark color interior!
Just now shopping the 2018 models because I have always be a Chevy/GMC girl. I’m 66 and love my SUVs. I’ve had great luck with Chevy. I am driving a 19 year old Blazer with 300k plus on it and it is great, but I want to buy my possibly last vehicle, but I am upset by no CD. Not only for my music but I travel with books on CD. Great way to stay up on my reading when traveling alone. Also as noted, CD sound quality is unmatched. I have an MP3 but don’t like searching for what I want to hear. Also get distracted while driving looking for the song I want to hear. And as for the advise from the article, I don’t want a smartphone. Too big, many features I don’t need. Just want to put in my book or Van Morrison or Maroon5 and hit the road. Chevy/GMC needs to remember that us baby boomers still have great buying power and we show our support or distain by spending our money on things that meet our desires. I’ve worked to hard to have a good retirement to “settle” for anything.
Ford and Nissan still offer cd players. There is also a cd player in the Toyota Highlander, just fyi.
Look at Hyundai also for CD players
Absolutely agree here.
Just found this thread as I’ve been in the market for a new car and I’m pretty upset I can’t buy many cars with a CD player. I have big collection and MP3’s, streaming, bluetooth just sucks. If I buy a car without CD I’ll be taking it to the audio shop day 1 to buy an aftermarket radio with CD still in it. Who wants to do that with their brand new car?
These auto manufacturers should at least have one audio package with a CD player for those that want it.
I’ll be now starting my auto search with vehicles that have CD players. I’ve been a big GMC Acadia guy with my last 2 cars but they’re off my list now. It’s a shame they’re willing to lose a buyer because of such a seemingly simple thing.
Toyota Highlander has a cd player, just fyi. Thought I’d mention since you like larger SUV’s.
I have to drive an Equinox for work. The lack of a CD player is one of many things that suck about it.
As for the arrogant, pedantic GM guy answering the complaint here: screw him!
I OWN CDs! I do not want to re purchase lots of music or tech just because I have a Chevy.
And as to the arguement about tech moving ever forward, you can buy record players again to play you old vinyl.
But not, of course, in a Chevy.
The GM response was rude and arrogant, I agree!
Doug I agree with you and I’m a baby boomer and I love my CD’s and now I can’t play them in our new Chevy Equinox as they said I could get a MP3 player and download onto it or buy an I phone etc. I have a phone and it is a flip phone. I use it when I go away so it someone needs me or I need to let someone know I’m going to be late I can do it. I know everything is changing but why not give us a choice and have a CD player installed from factory in stead of having a box to hook up and then hide as who wants a box in a new expensive car to look tacky. And yes I also agree we still can buy a record player that play our vinyl and I have one and it also plays cassettes and CD . All a thing of the pass it they have their way and so sad for us that love our CD , landlines etc.
You’re not a legitimate person, I was so mad when I found out my new GMC Terrain didn’t have a CD Player…You guys must be on drugs, my grandkids can’t afford the kind of SUV I bought!!!
> my grandkids can’t afford the kind of SUV I bought!!!
Yeah, because you and your generation has screwed all the younger generations out of all the jobs and growth. Your the first generation is American history to pass down a worse standard of living to their children than the previous generation. And you all love to brag about spending their inheritance. For shame.
You can’t be a legitimate person, I have yet to see a person under 40 drive a 2016 GMC Terrain like I’ve got, this is ridiculous! I’ve got a smart phone, ipad and etc; but I still want a cd player in my vehicle. I’ve spent the better part of an hour looking for the portable DVD/CD player I had for my grandkids all grown. Now I have to go out and buy a power inverter to use this player in my truck. Reminds me of when I had to drive around with my boom box in my car before you guys started putting cassette players in cars!!!
Yes, it is. My choir director gives us music via CD for practicing. Yes, I can upload it on my MP3 player but that has not been working well. Why should I have to go to all that trouble when all I need is a CD player in my car? I may not be as High-Tec as the rest of the world (along with my choir director) but I still own a lot of devotionals and such that are on CDs. The gnarly thing about it all, I can’t even buy one and have it installed by Chevy because they don’t make them. EVER? Really! Don’t they want their customers to be happy? I guess, the older you get, the less they care. Well, boomers are a large group. Get real.
Yes it is because I have the same complaint.
And I’m upset that my 2008 Chevy Impala doesn’t have Phasers, photon torpedoes, warp drive and cloaking.
I’m very upset that my 2008 Silverado doesn’t have an 8-track. Darn those CDs. They killed the 8-track.
Cassette killed the 8 track.
I believe the cassette tape killed the 8 tracks.
Once you make a complaint like this you shouldn’t be able to buy a car ever again!
Go play in traffic, and don’t worry about me, I am voicing my complaint, Witch is still free, r u a foreigner, they are the only ones think that THEIR silly replies matter ?
I bought a 2017 Toyota Camry XLE V6 WITH a cd player! Toyota! Let’s Go Places!
To be honest with all of you, I think smart phones are a waste of time and money. The cost of the phone and then data plans are ridiculous. I only see the need if you are doing a lot of stock trading and that sort of stuff. To me, it would be perfect, if I could use a thumb drive and then stick all of my music on there and play it through my car. I have so much music and refuse to pay ITunes for songs that I already have, just to play them on their phone.
BTW, I am 46 and drive a 2014 Impala Limited!
Well Joe, you’re missing out.
However in this case for Don, a thumb drive could be a much better option. I assume you can still use voice commands to control audio on the thumb drive. He could even go as far as having a separate thumb drive for each CD to minimize having to navigate folders in the audio system. They are cheap enough now. Just stick it in and press play.
Sent from my iPhone. 😛
Thumb drives are not sold with music or books on them. My wife and I listen to books on CD available from the library. I have no problem with using a thumb drive, but I want to go to the store and buy a thumb drive with music or a book on it, and util that happens, GM was stupid to drop the CD player
Sorry guys – I’m with Don in this. Does not GM offer an optional glovebox CD player?
There is no option for a CD player, glove box, of otherwise.
Hello Tomko, and Don
Well first we lost the Multi disc changers in 2009 and now they are removing the player all together.
The people most affected are people over 40 years old who have not adapted to the smart phone or other digital technology like a MP3 player etc. They will be upset for a while but in time they will adapt.
The reality is most people are now on cell phones with blue tooth and music. In fact like may get a little tough in the future if you do not have this as it will continue to replace many things in our lives as we move forward as they get smaller and more versatile.
I have tens of thousands of songs and most are converted from my own disc collection. I have yet to buy a song from I tunes. They convert for free from MP3 to I tunes or back.
To be honest since we started getting cars with blue tooth I miss it in my other cars. At least in my one older car with a multi disc player I put nothing but MP3 discs in and have almost 900 songs in the car at anytime. Well short of my phone but still useful.
We will hear some complaints from some non tech people but this will soon fade away as there are less hold outs all the time. This is an adapt of get left behind world anymore.
Interesting comment. I’m 50 myself and bought my first CD player in 1984. Been a Mac user since 1985. My first factory nav was 2008. But I have no smart phone (iPad works just fine for me) and no MP3 or other digital audio media. The newest vehicle in my fleet is a 2014 that came with a CD player in the head unit. I’m guessing Equinox is geared to a younger market than Don and me.
No the Nox was just one of the late vehicles to lose the CD feature. Most new cars it is no longer an option.
The truth is life as we have known it has transformed in the last 15 years with the Smart Phone. It has and will not stop as while the I watch may not be a big deal now they are working on something much more advanced than that. Read up on just what the Magic Band at Disney parks can do right now and it is a peak at where Apple is going.
With CC theft/fraud and so many issue with counterfeit money I see electronic transactions as a way of life in maybe as soon as 10 years.
The fact is so much is going to be relied on either a smart phone or a band you wear you will have to have one or you just will not function well in the future. To be honest I am waiting for some to call it the mark of the beast.
The real problem is CD’s themselves. Most are cut down to little circulation anymore. Companies just don’t want to make them. They can sell you a file with no MFG and No packaging and deliver it to your home free. If you just take a trip to Best Buys you can realize that their have cut their music section to 1/3 of what it was. The only other music places are often Local retailers that deal in used and odd music. That is where I shop anymore and with out them there would be little or nothing.
Even the flip phone is getting difficult to buy as my In laws are on our account and we had a heck of a time just finding my father In Law a phone that just made calls as that is all he wanted.
I really though our Terrain was going to be a pain when we got it as it did not have a multi Changer CD. To be honest I started to use the Bluetooth in it and now wish it was in all my cars. I have 18,000 songs in my pocket and control it from the wheel.
The only thing I do hate is to link it you need to be out of gear. I have mastered changing phones while coasting in neutral. I hate it when it links to my sons phone before mine. What the Fox Sounds Like is just not my thing.
I have a massive CD collection but I use it as back up only. I love MP3’s but do not trust my hard drive and back up hard drive with my best and most rare stuff. I have a lot of live never sold concerts and treasure them.
Cd Players are still offered in Ford Products and Nissan Products
Ya think! I want a CD player, and I am going to turn in my 2017 Chevy spark to get one. I am too old for all the BS.
I would agree with you if it wasn’t for the fact that this technological step is the first in which the quality of the music is reduced. We had to go from albums to cassettes because albums would skip in a car. CDs dynamic range make highs crisper and bass lower. Streaming and Bluetooth takes all that away for convenience. Let me b e the judge of how much better sounding music is worth to me. Give me my CD player.
How difficult would it be to have a built-in slot with power/speaker wire cluster , covered by a face plate , below the center console ?? Pop the face plate off and the owner buys and inserts or has inserted an after market CD player . How many people , who are retired , really need a smartphone……..seriously !!
Yes CD players will be phasing out and I wouldn’t expect new vehicles to have them. But deleting it in a carryover mode (albeit with some freshening) makes little sense.
What’s the difference, if it gets delete on an all-new or on a carry over model with a few updates?
Don can buy an external CD player w UBS attachment for $25 or so, yes?
I don’t think that’ll work with the head unit. The USB won’t be able to power it. I’m just guessing…
I have been searching for an external CD player with a USB connection and have not found one. Do you know of a brand or place to buy one?
Well now…sounds like Don needs to get with the 21st Century…
not really – i was brought up to be a LEADER NOT a FOLLOWER – if we let people control our lives, we are just robots, I mean why eat, take a pill ??????
Why should I have to buy a special phone just to listen to music ?????
I have a phone plan that cost me $ 10.00 a month ( Consume Cellular ), cause I am handicapped and ONLY need a phone in case I break down.
I enjoy my music, but NOT at the cost of $ 1000.00 for a phone, $ 42,000.00 for a truck, God knows how much to get the music ????
I’ll just hum or KEEP my 2015 Chevy Equinox !!!!!!!!
The end of the world will come about my social media and cell phones!!! Just look at all the trouble with cyberbullying and such that occurs with facebook, twitter, Instagram and all those others. I will never get involved in social media as I don’t want people tracking my every single movement of every single second of my life!!!!
I haven’t bought a new car since 1988 since they stopped putting tape players in these things.
Ok not really. Disappointed in the dealership for not selling an aftermarket CD player. There’s no reason they can’t make their customers happy by selling it as an add-on accessory, and they’d make some money to boot.
My 1995 Buick Regal had a cassette player. I removed the unit since I don’t use cassettes and its CD player stopped reading discs. I can offer it for sale.
Honestly it’s not like Equinox is the only one that doesn’t offer the CD player anymore. There are other ones that don’t offer as well and I’m sure of it. (I’m looking at you Cherokee)
2016 Toyota Rav 4 Limited does not offer a cd player. That’s why I didn’t buy one. Looking at the Nissan Rogue now which does still have a cd player. My money, my choice.
I just bought a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. Love the car and the many options they give for the money and the best warranty, but no CD player. I am pissed!
It’s why I bought a Camry XLE V6. It is one of the few cars that still offers a cd player although only at the TOTL. The thing that really bothers me is the salesman DO NOT tell you there is no cd player! Before I bought the Camry I was all set to buy the Rav 4 at the last minute I said “oh, you never showed me where the cd player is” the salesman looked kinda funny and said ” there is no cd player in the TOTL Rav 4, that is outdated technology” and I said “deal breaker”. Left the lot, went home and did my research found out what vehicles did and did not have a cd player and purchased the best I could afford with the options I wanted , the Camry. It is very deceptive what the dealerships are doing Robert. For me an omission is the same a s a lie. Just one other thing to stay vigilant about when purchasing a car. I am sorry this happened to you. Read some of the other comments in this forum. It has happened to LOTS of people.
I’m 45 years old and probably more tech savy than most my age. I talked to everyone. 17-46 and everyone thinks it is “stupid”. I bought a 2016 equinox and didn’t know until we got it home
Hey, Don! I am 64 years old, and have played with every audio format from 78 and 45 RPMs in the 1950’s to the latest MP3 and AAC formats on SD and USB storage as of today. My 2009 Equinox has a CD player, so why don’t you trade your 2015 Equinox for mine? BTW, I am more of a Frank Sinatra fan than Dino.
And for you other “modern” guys, I have a 2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid and it has a CD player! But it can also play SD and USB files.
I have a 2012 SRX that allows me to down load CDs onto the hard drive. Its a great system, I simply slide a CD into the slot and hit record. Not only is it easy, but it organizes all of my music by artist and genre. Its a great system, I wish my 2014 CTS had the same one.
Only problem is that the system is not very user friendly when it comes to finding/browsing for specific songs or artists, and it also stays with the car… I’m more than content with having my music and all of iTunes/Apple Music catalogue (available to stream) with me at all times on my iPhone, and playing it through Bluetooth or USB when I’m in the car. And when I’m at home, I simply use the Wi-Fi-based AirPlay to play the tunes to my home theater speakers.
I’m sure u can buy one from gmpartsdirect and put it in
I actually checked gmaccessorieszone.com and couldn’t find one for any year Equinox.
One thing automakers have considered is eliminating the sound system head unit from the car. You would just plug in a pad and or smart phone in these cars.
The idea is to cut weight and cost in the car and just keep the amp and speakers in the car. The smart unit would do the rest and be much easier to update etc.
Not sure how soon that may happen but with most radio stations now streaming it may be sooner than later.
How many have noticed AM is gone from many radio’s too? I bet many missed how many cars have killed AM already.
This too will kill satellite radio to unless they move it to the web.
This new 4G hot spots like GM offers and the rest will also will bring many changes to your car.
The whole point of satellite radio is that it works ANYWHERE where the vehicle is outdoors, not just in a city or bigger town. Very elitist of you to think that no one lives in the country, or in one of the thousands upon thousands of small towns around the nation.
Don,
I agree with you. I just purchased a 2015 Silverado and am pleased that I can still play my CDs. Many of us retired folks have a lot of CDs and are not ready to throw them out yet!
Dave
I wish people would stop clinging on to the past, look to the future! I bet these were the same guys complaining about the new HEI distributors replacing the old points distributors or the people that hated fuel injection when it replaced the carbs!
I bet you’d line up to get a chip installed in your brain if they told you it was “cool”, “cutting edge”, whatever the buzzword of the moment is, wouldn’t you?
You will note the initial shock but most people will forget about it soon as in the next 5 years CD’s will vanish much like 8 tracks did as the MFG will do away with them. Just look around how few are sold today.
I listen to books on tape everyday in my 1 hour commute. I get them free from the library. So, yes, this is an issue for me. I have a smart phone, go hands free, and all of the above. However there is no “free” replacement for the books on tape that I prefer. If anyone has a solution for that I would appreciate the suggestion.
Hi Martin,
Rip the CD to your phone/MP3 player. There are many free apps online to do this on your personal computer. Nowadays it will be a pretty quick process. I also doubt the audio books have any copyright protection on them, so they will be copied easily. And even if they do have copyright protection on them, there are numerous (often free tools) to circumvent that, as well. Finally, connect the latter to your car via a USB cable or Bluetooth. Problem solved.