2005 Mustang Stereo

My .02 for what it's worth, leave the Pioneer right where it is and go with an Eclipse. Actually to be a real believer, hook up the Eclipse in the vehicle where the Pioneer is right now.

Another great sub is the Eclipse aluminum series (use them myself) and of all things that I can't believe I am recommending, the Lightning Audio Strike series. Even though you might not be a box builder it is fairly simple to do or to have someone custom build a box for you and ship it to you is definitely worth the effort. Good sub bass response is more about the box than it is the sub. Get the box built, second best move you can make, the first being another shameless plug for an Eclipse cd player.

Gottcha on the box. I can likely get one built easily.

Here is my issue with the head units. I want XM for their baseball coverage............

I know I could go the whole external route with the external receiver for the XM with the aux ports on the head unit, but that seems a little much (trouble, bulk and expense)

Unless there is something I dont know, in order to keep the XM.....It is basically down to Pioneer or Alpine.

Two things:

#2)

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-QavV5eQFiXA/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=182750&I=142FDMUS5U

I have seen a picture and it fits very neatly in trunk which is a positive. I need as much trunk as I can get but will not give up much quality for it.

Now....I have a feeling I already know the answer to this.......but if I can get the cu.ft #s and could get a sub to match that, would this be a good option or not?

Thanks for the picture!!! That clears a lot up! The sub is actually in the door panel itself..

So ... for the 8" or any speaker going where the 8" hole is, it will be important to determine the air space back there and purchase a driver that will work well in that space.

Many aftermarket speakers are designed to be infinite baffle - NOT small sealed.  You'll severely color the midbass sound if you don't buy an appropriate driver for the airspace.

.........................I am starting to really dislike all the monkey wrenches being thrown in.. ;) LOL

Ok.  So you need to find a driver that will perform well in 12 liters of space.  This is ~0.43ft^3. 

I'm impressed with ford engineering.  That's actually quite a bit of space for a sealed midbass enclosure.  In your search for an 8" look for a recommended enclosure size range that includes 0.43ft^3.

With that much space you have to worry much less about space if you put a 6.5" driver in.

I wish I had that kind of sealed space in-door.  :)