You know, when I had that VX I was always very impressed with the reception. My Trooper has a Sony, another car has an Alpine and the wife's car has a Clarion. None of those has reception that was a good as that radio. I'm even planning on putting that kind of antenna on the red car that you saw. Maybe a fuse blew for the amplified antenna? The Pioneer and that antenna were a very good match in this area.
-Tad