Okay- this is a follow-up to the "speakers did the trick" post. My wife treated me to an amp for our anniversary so off I went to the car installer.
I used Car Stereo Warehouse same folks that installed my Focal front speakers.
The amp purchased was the Rockford Fosgate R250-4 channel amp- $129. Several other parts were needed (I will post the speaker wires and the other items used later).
Total cost of install was $428.00 The amp was placed on the left hand side in the boot (right next to the black vent that looks like a speaker cover. The job took a total of 6 hrs.
Sound- To be honest for my tastes I think the front speaker upgrade was all I really needed. Yes the system is crystal clear and plays extremely LOUD. Playing it ear bleeding loud the speakers did not budge or rattle or crackle at all. You DON'T need to turn the volume control up nearly as far as you would with the base head unit.
What came to mind immediately was that all road noise was eliminated with the system playing at high levels. Before if I had the air conditioner blower up to max that would get in the way of the music. Same with the windows down or sunroof open. This system plays loud enough and clear enough to mask any of these noises.
With windows up, sunroof closed and blower off- you DO get remarkable sound quality. I turned the system up fairly loud and cruised along in total bliss.
All in all- Front Speaker upgrade- $200 and Amp Install $428. Total of $628 for this monster system. I am glad I went this route vs getting the HK system but for my loudness tastes probably could have happily lived with just the front speaker upgrade.
Oh and my one worry/concern is if the rear speakers can handle the power of this amp.

 

Here are some of the amp reviews from Amazon- slightly better price for the amp

Also a youtube vid of the

 

Don't feel bad about not getting the HK system. I have to say that I think after market is the way to go. I just traded in my 2008 Camry (w/JBL sound system) for a 2012 MINI Cooper S Countryman with the HK sound system and I'm disappointed with the HK sound system. It really lacks the same level of loudness, clarity at high levels, and bass. I'm going to have to look into making it better.

 

I don't feel badly at all. There aren't many dealer purchased stereo systems that can match a carefully matched aftermarket upgrade. I'm not sure what the upgrade package for the HK system costs but it probably was a lot more then the $600 bucks I spent.

 

fkelly,

but don`t you think the Focal speaker are the first choise to use the the amp? There were right for the standard radio signal.
But with the amp a real 2 or better 3 channel system with sep. crossovers like the Focal P165V33 would "outbid" the amp.