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So since I’ve decided to keep the ‘Woo instead of upgrading to a sexy CX-7, I’ve decided why not go the next step and actually upgrade it.

My Leganza is an “SE” model. Not the absolute bottom line, but not the top end “CDX” version. But, what I have going for me is the fact that most of the stuff the makes an SE a CDX is already there. All of the internals are there - wiring harnesses, sensors, and the what not. And to be honest, for being a ‘bargain’ car maker, Daewoo did do a lot to the hardware side of things¹ - it gets over 30mpg, the 2.2 liter engine is surprisingly peppy, 4 wheel anti-lock disc brakes², power windows, locks, mirrors, etc. So it’s definately worth keeping around for awhile.

The best part is since they sold it all to Chevy, the Daewoo branded stuff is getting dirt cheap - I bought the service manuals and wiring schematics for over 80% off their normal price! Hell, I can buy the Daewoo allow rims for only $50 a piece, when they originally went for almost $250 each! Not to mention, the Daewoo website is amazingly helpful. I can buy, literally, any part that the car has - right there online.

But even better, and back to my original point - eBay has many of those same parts, and even cheaper. So since we’ll be moving to a place with a garage and multiple rooms soon, I might as well get started!

My car has plain old heating and AC controls - they aren’t anything special. One knob to turn the temperature up or down. Another to increase or decrease the fan. And another to change where the air comes out. That’s no fun - but luckily for me ebay has the fancy auto-temp sensing controlled HVAC unit, which I snagged for a mere $9.99

And another thing I don’t have, but would like - cruise control. Now, given the fact that I drive only about 800 miles a month or so³, and almost exclusively in the twin cities, you wouldn’t think I really need one. And I don’t. But for $10 for the module and another $10 for the switch - how could I pass it up?

Then there’s the next step - to build a nice Carputer for it. A carputer is exactly what it sounds like - a PC in your car. It’s been years since I last looked into it - at the time it was somewhat a pain in the ass. Now though, you can buy a car with it already built in - adding a navigation system gives you the same thing. And if that’s not enough for you, there are plenty of places more then happy to sell you complete carputer systems you can install yourself.

But I want to do it myself. I’m not very interested in the audio aspects of it - having an iPod and a receiver that charges and displays the iPod information is more then sufficient for me.

So I have a few blank spots in the dash where switches would go - right now they’re blanks in place to cover it over. Pulling one out, it looks like it will be a perfect spot for an On/Off switch, power LED and some activity LEDs.

So now I’ll have that - then there’s a place below my stereo that is a little ‘cubby hole’. If I had the factory tape/cd player combo, it would take up the entire space. Since I just have a receiver, they placed a virtually useless pocket below. But it would make the perfect are to hold an 8″ LCD touchscreen monitor to control it all.

So I have an on/off switch and status lights, as well as something to view and control it all. Now what to power it all?

Right now I think I’ll go with the Via Mini-ITX form factor EPIA SN 1800EG motherboard. Being a tiny 17cm x 17cm in size, it will be easy to hide and has enough power and external ports to run everything I need.

There will be audio and video connected to the stereo, of course, but my main objective is to create a carputer that will record GPS data and log my car’s information via the OBD-II interface. When I get home, it will auto-dock and upload all the information that is gathered then shut down.

Internet access will be provided through my Windows SmartPhone and the WMWifiRouter project that turns your phone into a wireless internet access point (Though it will favor my ‘home’ network and attempt to connect to it whenever it is in range)

So that’s my initial plans, once we move outta here. I’ll have more information and plenty of pictures as I create it. All in all, it looks like it will be insanely cheaper then it would have been to complete even a few years ago, and I’ll be able to have advanced things such as an online high-speed internet access that I can tie in with location based services such as BrightKite to tell people where I’m at, or to find the cheapest gas prices or a good burger.

But tonight I spend with my friend before he takes off to Houston for a couple of weeks. Later folks!

1. Taking away from the comfort side of things to do it [↩]
2. And it’s a 2001 mind you - there’s a lot of 2008 cars that don’t have 4 wheel disc brakes [↩]
3. Mainly commuting - we use Mishka’s car for everything else [↩]