Hi!

Would be nice, but I'm afraid back in '84, '87 and '88 respectively,
cars didn't come with CD players of any sort, hence my need to install
aftermarket units in mine.

I have seen some nicely designed car CD players (simple displays and simple
controls) for sale in various stores. One place I know to carry a few is
crutchfield.com (in the US, not sure if they sell overseas). They still
carry some fairly simple car audio devices.

This is a fairly new radio:
http://greyghost.dyndns.org/2003s10/radio-far.jpg

and to me it has a very simple, logical layout without all the flashing
widgets, whirligigs and doodads...I can run it with just one finger... Yes,
I replaced the factory CD player...my CDs are kept safely stored in a disc
changer and I like the concept of having a "direct" line in through the tape
deck OR being able to produce 120 minute mix tapes from any source I can
play into my stereo...turntable, CD, computer, whatever...

The tone quality of the factory radio was poor...bass, bass, bass all the
way. Had it read CD-RW discs I might have left it alone.

Not to mention I'm still not aware of any OEM units that will play MP3
discs, an essential feature to me that made all earlier CD players
virtually obsolete. 10 hours of music on one disc, no more fumbling with
CD's in traffic.

There do exist a few. I know that Chevrolet has one in their Aveo compact
car (not sure where all this is sold) and it will play MP3s.

William