Car Kits

Affordable Car Kit

Pros and cons of add-on Bluetooth kits

Belkin Speakerphone

The Belkin can be mounted on any flat surface with a small adhesive disc. That gives you flexibility in its placement but can make it hard to move it between cars. Our Belkin plugs into an auxiliary jack, although an FM version is also available. The Belkin and GOGroove can be used only when connected to a car’s audio system.

Buddy Speakerphone

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There are many of Bluetooth Car Kit product in the market and for now, we recently bought four Bluetooth kits from Belkin, GoGroove, Jabra, and Motorola, which ran about $35 to $60. Each can be paired with a cell phone or portable music player so that you can carry on hands-free phone conversations and listen to music. They’re powered by plugging into a 12-volt socket or USB port (power from car battery output). Their different in designs affect the features of each item and determine how easy they are to use.

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The Motorola can also send sound through the car’s audio system via FM modulation (transmitting the signal to an unused FM frequency). The Jabra and Motorola simply clip onto the sun visor, which makes them simple to install and places the microphone close to your face, right where you want it. Because they have rechargeable batteries, they can even be used unplugged. Both Jabra and Motorola have an internal speaker, so they can be used in any car.

GOGroove Speakerphone

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Bluetooth kits let you keep both hands on the wheel during calls. The GOGroove has a 5.5-inch goose neck that plugs directly into a car’s 12-volt socket. But that design moves the microphone farther from the driver, which can affect sound quality. And the goose neck makes it hard to tuck out of the way. The GOGroove links through an AUX jack or FM modulator. We’ve found using an AUX jack provides the best sound.

Motorola Roadster Speakerphone

If you have to make a phone call from behind the wheel, go hands-free. It’s not only less distracting than trying to juggle a phone while steering but it’s also the only legal way to do it in many states. Most new car models offer Bluetooth technology, which frees your hands by wirelessly connecting your phone to the car’s audio system. But if your vehicle doesn’t have it, you can still take advantage of the technology without spending a lot of money.

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Car Kit Bluetooth Products

Product	Cost	Feature
Belkin CarAudio Connect AUX	$36	Connects with car’s audio system through an auxiliary jack. But adhesive-backed mount can be hard to remove.
GoGroove FlexSmart X2	$37	Connects to car’s audio system via AUX jack or FM modulator. But gooseneck mount can vibrate; hard to tuck out of the way.
Jabra Journey	$40	Clips to visor; rechargeable battery. But can’t connect to car’s audio system.
Motorola Roadster 2	$59	Clips to visor; rechargeable battery; connects to car’s audio system through FM modulator.

Before you buy, make sure your phone is compatible with the device. Prices vary, so shop around. And remember, hands-free or not, the safest way to make a call is when the car is parked.