The CD player on my wife's 1988 mazda rx-7 convert. has quit. With repair prices at close to $400 we decided to replace with new unit. I'm sure someone here knows where we can find an aftermarket stereo with cd that can be adapted to fit the "hole " left by the original stack unit. Adapters, homemade, open to all options and would love to hear your experiences. Or maybe my repair place just got it all wrong. Would consider inexpensive refurb but was quoted $375 to $425. tofix my unit.
Mark DeVane
Quiman, GA

 

Try this- Crutchfield. Go to Car Audio & Video, then you'll be able to enter year, vehicle, etc.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-hui0IjyGkMz/index.html

 

I haven't heard of any aftermarket CD player that would fit the "hole" on the original stack unit.

Your best option, and least costly (and far more flexible) would be to replace the factory head unit stack with a single or double-din headunit. A harness adaptor and install kit are available, and if you order from Crutchfield it's included free.

I'm looking to get an Alpine CDM-7892 (AM/FM CD with subwoofer output) for $280. Lots of flexibility and great build quality.

Though I'm thinking of shopping around to get a better price because I already have a harness and install kit in the car (using an old and unreliable Pioneer KEH-P4400 cassette deck).

I've mentioned the part numbers several times. If you get a better price for the headunit elseware, or want to get the harness and kit separately:

Manufacturer: Metra
Part No. Desc. (note/price)
70-1781 Harness adaptor (~$10)
99-7501 Install kit (NOT the 7500) (~15)
71-1781 factory replacement harness plugs (in case someone cut the plugs off the car's wiring harness, ~10).

If you want to keep the factory system, outside of a repaired or refurbished unit, there aren't any other options I'm aware of.

Price/performance wise, the aforementioned
Alpine unit gives a lot for less than what the factory offers.

 

The price is that high to repair the radio/CD because they don't want to do it and hope to scare you away.

An aftermarket unit fits fine in the stock CD location, but you will need to retain the rest of the radio, or build a custom trim ring.

I do not recommend any metra kit for the dash as most are plastic, don't mount well, and warp with age or even worse, put too much pressure on stock parts and crack the radio bezel.

You are 1000 times better off using the factory metal brackets that come on the stock radio and building a trim panel, or taking it to a shop that is professional enough to install it correctly for you (this rules out most best buys/circus city/joe chain store shops).

This is an Alpine aftermarket CD, with the factory pocket and a simple trim panel, all mounted using the factory FC metal brackets.

 

I should also mention: If you don't have any factory brakets, that Metra kits are an option. But I still recommend their adaptor harnesses.

In addition, I have had a metra install kit in my car for over year, and the fit and overall finish is good. If the kit in question that you're refering to Icemark is the 99-7500, I definitely DON'T recommend it. It doesn't provide any support for the headunit and is nothing more than a face. The kit you want is the 99-7501.

However, if you have the factory mounting brakets, then those are far better for mounting the new radio, and with a custom trim ring far better.