Smart Car Care

The Pioneer Car Stereo: Car Audio with IASCA Award Winning Speakers

The Pioneer Company is a Tokyo-based corporation, and is one of the world leaders in digital entertainment products. If you look at any good car stereo/car audio system and youll almost certainly see a Pioneer car stereo unit plugged into the console. Alongside with quality speakers and a strong lineup of accessories like LCD panels and navigational devices, Pioneer audio products/Pioneer car stereos have earned a huge following the world over.

Pioneer car stereo/ Pioneer car audio units are not just simple head units. A car stereo can easily be comprised of several items built into the console of the car. Hardware like navigational devices, DVD players with LCD panels, coupled with the standard array of compact disc, mp3 and cassette players now usually go together. Usually, a Pioneer car stereo unit is a head unit with a radio, cassette and cd player. No matter how bare-bones this might sound, anyone will surely be impressed with the sound quality and features a Pioneer car stereo can boot.

Something like the DEH-P90HDD Pioneer car stereo single CD player head unit. The DEH-P90HDD allows you to record CD Audio (from the unit itself or from a changer) onto a 10GB hard disc drive, which holds about 200 audio CD’s (using ATRAC3 digital compression). Your CD’s are recognized by the pre-installed Gracenote CDDB database, which includes auto-playlists that make finding a specific CD easy. This Pioneer car stereo unit can also play your MP3 CD’s plus CD Audio, CD-RW, and CD-R discs. Also, the MagicGate Memory Stick player lets you play recorded Memory Stick tracks. The Organic EL display is easy to read and accepts image downloads, so you can customize its look. Built-in DSP offers a 13-band graphic EQ and a huge variety of tools. If cassettes are your thing, the KEH-P4020 Pioneer car stereo cassette player head unit is a good product to choose. It is a full logic cassette system with multi-color display, 45Wx4 High Power, EEQ equalizer system, Tuner, IP-Bus System Control, flap face and has a detachable face security.

If youre planning to buy a Pioneer car stereo unit, why not match it with a set of Pioneer speakers too? Pioneer car stereo has made another innovation in their REV Series speakers, which incorporates technological breakthroughs in their IASCA award-winning Premier Reference Series (PRS) speakers. Rev Series speakers boast Pioneers Kevlar Fiber Composite Cones, Soft-dome tweeters and Wave guides. Each speaker features a bright yellow cone and distinctive wave guides, plus a six-spoke grill with a titanium finish that simulates chrome wheels.

With all these impressive products, is it still a wonder why they call Pioneer car stereos for your car audio

In 2006, when IntelliChoice, a California-based information company that specifically studies automobiles and the ongoing cost of vehicle ownership, recognized the 2006 Isuzu Ascender 7-Passenger, Ascender 5-Passenger, i-280 Pickup and i-350 Pickup as among the top in their class for low cost, no one at Isuzu was surprised. They were confident they were giving the public high-quality, safe vehicles at affordable prices.

The list of IntelliChoice awards went on and on. The Ascender 5-Passenger (the 4WD version) was awarded the “Smart Choice” title in five distinct categories including operating, repair costs, ownership, depreciation, and fuel economy. The 2 Wheel Drive model was named “Top Winner” in two separate categories in which it competed against utility vehicles, winning for lowest ownership costs as well as lowest fuel costs. In addition to it’s wins, it was also named a “Smart Choice” with regards to low depreciation, low ownership costs, and low repair costs.

IntelliChoice, at that time, went on to recognize the Ascender 7-Passenger in several categories as well. The 4WD model was recognized for lowest repair costs, lowest maintenance and lowest operating cost while the 2WD model received kudos for lowest ownership and repair costs, lowest operating costs and lowest maintenance costs.

But it wasn’t just the SUV that received accolades. Isuzu’s pickup line was recognized by IntelliChoice as well. The i-280 Extended Cab LS was named a “Smart Choice” for lowest operating and repair costs, as well as lowest costs associated with maintenance and fuel. The i-280 Extended Cab S was a “Top Winner” in the compact pickup category for lowest costs associated with repair and considered a “Smart Choice” for lowest maintenance, ownership, and operating costs. It was also named a “Smart Choice” for lowest depreciation.

Why was owning an Isuzu vehicle in 2006 economically efficient? According to T. Jerry Maloney, Isuzu Motors America’s president and COO, it’s because the company pioneered the idea of value pricing. Isuzu doesn’t see value as simply a low sticker price. They try to offer vehicles that are affordable off the lot, but that continue to be affordable every time the owner stops at a gas station or comes in for service.

So what does this company that concentrates on value have in store for 2008? More of the same except better. The automatic transmission 2008 Ascender 5-Passenger 2WD sports a 4.2-liter DOHC Inline 6-cylinder, 285 hp starts at $22,149, a competitive price for SUVs in its category. The 4WD model starts at only $24,149. As for Isuzu’s pickup line, it’s offering three. The i-290 Extended Cab 2WD has a 2.9-liter Inline 4-cylinder engine, 185 hp, and is a 5-speed Manual. It starts at $14,399. The 4WD version starts at $15,488. The i-290’s bigger brother, the i-370, is available in Crew or Extended Cab. The Extended Cab model starts at $19,399.

All the features that make Isuzu’s vehicles valuable are still there: ample passive and active safety features, an impressive 7-year/75,000 mile roadside assistance program, and its incredible towing capacity. If you’re looking for a “Smart Choice,” starting with Isuzu might be just the way to go.

The 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe has been designed and crafted by Chevrolet the automobile manufacturer with family safety in mind. Just like any other vehicle from Chevrolet, the 2007 Tahoe has made it a point to be able to perform well as well as provide safety before a crash, during a crash, as well as after a crash. This vehicle comes in three trim levels that comprise of the LS, the LT, and the LTZ.

The 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe is one of the first creations of General Motors as per new full size sport utility vehicles. The interior layout of this vehicle is quite symmetrical and very engaging. It also incorporates a build quality that is vastly superior to any other previous vehicles crafted by the company. The vehicle had dropped off the hard plastic trim framing controls and put in its place modern and cohesive construction that provides and exudes a more European look. The new interior holds beautiful import materials thus providing a premium-touch surface and a tasteful element in styling. As per noise, this hubbub from the road and the wind is well hidden and kept away from its passengers. It holds the capacity to absorb persistent surface degradation. The whole vehicle is very rattle-free.

As per the companys leaning towards safety, they have included several features so as to showcase their efforts in providing extreme safety during inevitable accidents, crashes, and collisions. Antilock brake systems, or also known as ABS, has been designed so as to assist in maintaining steering control. This system does this by reducing wheel lockup during hard braking on slippery surfaces. The StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control System has been added in so as to improve vehicle stability especially on slick surfaces. When this feature senses that the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe is not responding to steering input, it automatically adjusts the engine torque and brake pressure at each wheel so as to assist the driver in getting the Tahoe back on track. Other safety features include Daytime Running Lamps, the OnStar system, the Lower Anchors and Top tethers for Children, or LATCH, system, frontal air bags, side-impact airbags, head-curtain side air bags, and front air bags with passenger sensing system.

Other features of the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe include bumpers, power doors, black door handles, halogen fog lamps, a luggage rack with center rails, heated mirrors, a rear parking assist, 17-inch aluminum wheels, cargo mats, cargo shades for the third row, a cruise control, climate controls, an electric defogger, a remote keyless entry, an adjusted and tilt wheel steering column, a sunroof, sun visors, temperature control and a theft-deterrent system among many others.

Whether having a journey on extreme conditions or on sleepy town roads, the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe deserves excellent maintenance so as to be able for this vehicle to continuously offer the best functionality and longevity. Maintenance involves taking care of its parts as well as involving replace worn out parts. Worn out parts could jeopardize the health of the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe and could pose to be a danger for its driver and passengers. Excellent and quality Chevrolet Tahoe and Chevrolet car parts could be found at Auto Parts Discounts online store. Auto Parts Discount is one of the leading online stores where owners can get guaranteed high quality parts at low prices.

As a driver, you should be prepared for vehicle breakdowns or other unexpected situations. For safety, the service specialists at Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge recommend keeping the following items in your car.

1. Disposable camera. In case of an accident, it will help you document any damage.

2. First-aid kit. It will come in handy for treating minor cuts, bumps or bites.

3. Charged cell phone. You might need to make a call if you are involved in an accident, your vehicle breaks down or you need directions.

4. Earpiece for your cell phone. This allows you to keep both hands on the steering wheel.

5. Flares. They will alert passing drivers to your presence if you are stopped on the road.

6. Spare tire. Always have one available in case a tire needs to be replaced.

7. Toolbox. You might need tools for tasks such as changing a headlight lamp.

8. Map. Even if you know where you are going, you may run into a detour and need to find an alternate route.

9. Driver’s manual. This reference contains information on everything from dashboard warning signals to the kind of gasoline your vehicle requires.

10. Water and snacks. They will be useful if you become stranded or are traveling with children or pets.

Be sure to have regular service and maintenance checkups by certified automotive experts to ensure your vehicle operates at its optimum level. For more information, call or visit your local Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealership. – NU

These days, Dolby is a household name. The infamous “DD” symbol can be found on almost every piece of modern audio equipment out there. This includes gaming consoles, HDTVs, home theaters, both home and car stereos, cinemas, and personal computers.

It all started in 1949 when a man named Ray Dolby went to work for Ampex Corporation part-time while still in high school. He worked on an assortment of ventures in correlation with audio instrumentation. He continued to work for Ampex while attending college at Stanford University. During this period, he branched off to unite with a small team of Ampex engineers who were determined to invent the world’s first video tape recorder. Dolby centered in on the electronic aspects of the project. The team succeeded with their introduction of this new technology in 1956. Ampex then sold its first video tape recorder for $50,000.

Dolby graduated from Stanford in 1957 and was awarded the Marshall Fellowship at Cambridge University, England. He studied at Cambridge for 6 years, earning a Ph.D. in physics. In 1965, Ray Dolby started his own company, Dolby Laboratories, Inc. His first product from this new and innovative company was identified as Dolby A-type Enoise reduction. It significantly reduced the amount of background noise or hissing sounds found in professional tape recording without jeopardizing the original content of the material being recorded. This was the beginning of the many advances Dolby would make in the complex world of audio compression and expansion.

Ray Dolby developed an ingenious method of noise reduction by separating soft signals from loud ones, then simply not processing those loud signals. He then split up the spectrum into several bands to avoid clashing or pumping, therefore generating white noise. This method would become integrated in numerous aspects of society’s rapidly growing fascination with electronic entertainment. Early on, consumers weren’t satisfied with the flat mono sound ordinary radios and cassette players emitted. Everyone wanted to hear music in stereo.

This new sound also found its way into movie theaters. Dolby sound made its debut in the original recording of Star Wars, and continues to revolutionize the audience’s experience even today. The sound is both more spectacular and more natural at the same time. Because of this technology, even video games are more realistic; the sounds are more powerful as they are not only heard, but also felt. The sound is so tangible it is as if fantasy has in fact become reality. More people are staying home instead of going to movie theaters since Dolby surround sound was introduced into the home theater system.

Recent advancements include Dolby 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, and 9.1 (that’s right, nine full-range channels), Dolby Digital Surround EX, Dolby SR, Dolby TrueHD, and countless others. It is obvious that Dolby is the reigning King of Sound and most likely will be for generations to come.

Beyond a Bad Credit Car Loan: The Additional Costs of Driving a Car

score below 620, you will be in the bad credit category. You can still get a car loan; youll just be charged a higher interest rate.

To offset the higher interest on a bad credit car loan, you need to do all you can to keep your payments as low as possible. Having a decent down payment or trade-in will help. Experts recommend putting at least 20% down to keep from getting upside down on your car loan. You can also extend the term of the loan. This will lower your monthly payment but you will pay more money in the long run.

If you are buying a new car, never pay sticker price. The sticker price or MSRPmanufacturers suggested retail priceis what the dealer wants you to pay for the car or truck. It is several hundred dollars higher than the factory invoice price, which is what the dealer paid. You can look up factory invoice pricing online. Remember, the less you pay for the vehicle, the less you have to finance with your bad credit car loan.

Besides your bad credit car loan payments, here are a few other financial figures you should be aware of:

Depreciation
Depreciation is the difference between the MSRP of a new vehicle and what its worth at a later date. If you buy a new car for $25,000 and it depreciates $3,700 the first year, thats almost 15%. On most cars, the rate settles down to between 7% and 10% annually after the first three years. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the average life span of a vehicle is about 13 years. Even if you keep your car only half that long, you will still have it for several years after you have paid off your bad credit car loan.

Tags and Taxes
The purchase of a vehicle is subject to sales tax, unless you live in Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire or Oregon, since these states dont collect sales tax. You will also have to shell out for title, registration, tags and emissions fees. These can add up to several hundred dollars depending on what you buy and where you live. You can roll all these up-front costs into your bad credit car loan.

Insurance
Liability insurance is required in order to register a vehicle. Collision and comprehensive insurance is required by your lender to cover their investment. Your insurance rate will depend on the year, make and model of your vehicle and the deductibles you choose on your coverage. Other factors that influence your insurance rate are: where you live, your gender, your age, your marital status, and your driving record.

Fuel and Maintenance
In 1950, when AAA began doing their annual analysis, the composite cost of driving a car was 9 cents a mile, and gasoline sold for 27 cents a gallon. The composite cost per-mile in 2006 is 52.2 cents. Thats almost $8,000, if you drive a medium-sized sedan 15,000 miles. And this figure doesnt reflect the recent hikes in gas prices. Nor does it include car loan payments.

Pre-approved Car Loan
One last piece of advice; get your car loan before looking for a car. Being pre-approved for your financing sets a realistic limit on your search. Knowing how much you can spend will also save you the embarrassment of finding a car and then discovering you cant get the financing.

Pre-approved auto financing can be secured quickly and easily online. One site specializing in bad credit car loans is www.fastcarfinance.com. They offer a no-obligation, free loan quote. Seeing how much you could be qualified to borrow is a good way to start shopping for the car of your dreams.

You may have liked having tinted car windows ages ago. But now, it seems like tinted windows are a thing of the past for you and you would like to see your cars windows clear and clean.

Window tints are also known as window films. They are plastic films or even metallic laminates which are transparent. They are, as their name implies, applied to glass windows. They are much used in cars, automobiles, and vehicles for these window tints actually reduce any visible light that goes through the cars windows and into the interior of the vehicle itself. They are very helpful especially when you live in areas where the sun seems to shine brightest.

On the other hand, window tints could also be quite a problem especially during night time. Because they darken the light that goes into the vehicle, the driver sometimes cannot see any road hazards that might be lurking on the streets and highways. This is why there are rules and regulations that the government has done so as to make sure that the window tints and films that would be used for automobile windows are not so dark that they could actually endanger the wellbeing of the driver, his passengers, and other motorists.

You can bring your car to a shop that offers services like removing the tint from your windows. Of course, you do have to pay a fee for such a service. But you can do the removing yourself and you would save yourself more money which you could use to purchase Merkur auto parts for your car.

A single-edged razor, a clean rag, as well as a spray cleaner would be used to remove the tint from your windows. You start by grab a corner of the film using the razor. Then you can pull the film off once you have a corner of the film already peeled off.

When you get the film off, you should put on the spray cleaner to the glass. This would clean up any remains of the film. Let the cleaner stay on the glass for around twenty minutes. Spray on more cleaner if you think your window needs more of that. Then, with the help of the razor, you can scrape off any of the residue. After that, just wipe the glass and your window is now tint-free.

My first answer to that would be who really knows? Its a very elusive term thrown around by about all the car manufacturers and car dealers marketing departments. You know after many years in the business, Im not sure I could tell you precisely what true dealer invoice or what is termed dead cost is on any particular vehicle. Im sure the owner or the ownership group could somehow calculate this elusive dollar figure but most of us humans will continue to search for the ever elusive animal we refer to as dealer invoice.

To say this term is a bit misunderstood is a rather large understatement. Maybe thats why it works so good for the folks in the marketing department. Many potential car buyers assume that what they uncover on the internet is the car dealers invoice price. Well, not really. Its certainly one heck of a lot closer than checking the MSRP of a give vehicle, but it probably isnt going to be dead cost.

You hear it all the time. In fact right here where Im at there is a local dealer that says all youll ever pay is $50 over factory dealer cost; and they have been selling cars this way since day one oh so many years ago. I guess it shouldnt, but it really baffles me how this works on the consumer. Just do the simple math; if this dealer sold 300 cars a month (about 10 cars a day!) times $50 over factory cost (the inference here is that you are paying $50 over what the dealer gets the car for) this dealer would be grossing $15,000 per month on new car sales. I can unequivocally tell you that this would never cut the mustard! Think about it $15,000 a month and this dealer hasnt even paid rent, utilities, insurance, salaries, benefits, and on and on. So, $50 over factory invoice not hardly.

So what is it then this thing car dealers call cost or invoice? Well, its a bunch of numbers being added subtracted multiplied and divided before anyone knows the dead cost of the car for the dealer.

Whats a consumer to do?

Getting out on the internet and doing your homework is a very good start. The exercise of comparing the information you gather is a good one and is to your advantage if you want to start your negotiations at invoice price. Which, by the way, you NEVER negotiate from the sticker price down.

While doing your research on dealer invoice prices its important to make certain you are comparing exact features and option packages to one another. This will at least give you baseline comparisons with which to work. All car dealers receive different incentives from the manufacturer; factory to dealer marketing incentives dealer holdback, and on and on. The fact that much of this is not disclosed is why it is very difficult to come up with dead cost for the car dealer.

For instance, in the case of dealer hold back; the dealer doesnt even get this money until after the car is actually sold.

There are other expenses that the dealer has that are applied to the overall cost of a particular car, including how long a particular car has been sitting on the lot. You see the dealership finances their inventory and as such pays interest on this financing so a car that has been sitting on the lot for some time has cost the dealer more than the ones that they are just unloading from the truck.

As you can see, there are too many variables to any particular car at any particular dealership to know exactly what the dealer has put into a car in terms of cost. However, as we talked earlier, doing your research on the invoice price is a good place to start. Just dont stop there thinking you have all you need and dont need to do any further negotiating on the selling price.

Purchasing cars and negotiating is almost synonymous. Getting a good feel for the invoice price is just a starting point. Now its time to roll up your sleeves and work on getting the best possible price you can.

During the early part of this decade Toyota was examining its vehicle line up and the decision was made to build a car to entice young people who were looking for something that was small, fun to drive, and affordable. While the Corolla served faithfully in this capacity, Toyota needed something that spoke excitement. The Corolla just wasnt that kind of a car and something radically different was needed. Enter the Matrix. Based on the Corolla platform, the Matrix does what no Corolla can do: turn heads. Lets take a look at this sporty compact and see how the 2006 model stacks up.

In 2003, the Matrix was introduced to the North American market. Built in California as a joint venture with General Motors the Pontiac Vibe is its twin the Matrix is aimed toward budget conscious young people who want a car that makes a statement. To save money, the Corolla frame was used, but the Matrix stands some 3 inches taller and is 8 inches shorter than its Toyota sibling. The roof line on the Matrix is completely different too as it slopes from front to back and ends in a wedge, giving the car somewhat of a wagon look to it. This rakish appearance is what gives the Matrix its unique look as well as an extra bit of room for people and their stuff. Indeed, both driver and front passenger sit higher up, much like in a small SUV or as in a car like Chryslers PT Cruiser. With four doors and a rear lift gate, the Matrix acts more like a wagon, but its sleek exterior easily refutes that fact.

Motorists have a choice between front wheel drive and a four wheel drive versions of the car, something not offered on the Corolla. The standard motor for the Matrix is a 1.8-liter DOHC 16-valve VVT-I 4-cylinder engine. Mated to a five speed manual transmission, the engine turns out a respectable 126hp. For more power, there is also a higher tuned version of the same engine delivering 164hp. It gets paired with a six speed manual transmission. Four wheel drive versions of the Matrix come equipped with a 4-wheel anti-lock brake system [ABS] which is optional on 2WD models.

Gas mileage for the Matrix makes the car a motorists dream. At 30 mpg city and 36 mpg highway, the front wheel drive version of the car produces some of the best results of any non-hybrid car sold in North America. A 13 gallon fuel tank makes 400 mile trips a possibility on just one tank of gas; this is particularly good for the student who has to drive back and forth between college campus and home.

Unlike many cars of its size, the aftermarket crowd has produced a wide variety of products to help Matrix owners customize their vehicles. Hood protectors, tail light covers, polymer air dams, fog lights, hood scoops and vents, mud flaps, and paintable window covers are some of the Toyota parts and accessories pitched to youth, who are the primary owners of the Matrix.

MSRP starts at US$15,110 [CDN$17,200] with a top of the line Matrix topping out at just under US$20K to about CDN$25K.

For the entire North American market, Toyota sells nearly 100,000 Matrix per year. Not bad for a car whose origins are fairly simple but whose heart is truly sporty and youth minded.

Its a Sony.

We all know their slogan and yes, they need not say anymore. Sony is a dominating and well respected name in world consumer electronics. From the Aibo to the PlayStation to the Vaio, Sony has created, innovated and excelled in the production of almost anything electronic under the sun.

The Sony Corporation, based in Tokyo is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications, and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Their music, motion picture, television, computer entertainment, and online businesses also make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world.

So it is not surprising to learn that Sony car stereos are also well renowned in the automotive audio market. In 2005, Sony car stereos launched their latest carrier car audio product, the Sony car stereo Xplod series which has an amazing lineup of head units, speakers, amplifiers, subwoofers, changers and accessories. It is impressive both in performance and aesthetic value.

A good head unit from the Sony car stereo Xplod Series is the CDX M9900 CD Receiver/Changer Controller/MP3 Player which boasts these features:

- 32,000-color TFT display
- Video Input for External Source Playback
- CD/CD-R/CD-RW/MP3 playback
- 4-Volt F/R/Sub Preouts w/HPF & LPF
- 52W x 4 High Power
- CEA-2006 Power Compliant
- CD/MD Control, CD Text
- XM Ready
- BBE MP, DSO, EQ7
- Auxiliary Input
- 1-bit D/A Converter
- Drive-S with 120dB S/N Ratio
- SSIR-EXA tuner, 18FM & 12AM presets
- Red key illumination
- Supplied wireless card remote (RM-X145A)
- Optional wireless rotary remote (RM-X6S)
- Optional wired rotary remote (RM-X4S)

This Sony car stereo goes best installed with matching items from the Xplod series such as:

Sony car stereo XS V6941H 6 x 9 4 – Way Speakers:

- 6 x 9″ HOP Woofer Cone
- Stroke Stabilizer Surround
- 2-5/8″ Cone Mid
- 1″ Balanced Dome PEI Tweeter, Super Tweeter
- 400W Peak Power (100W RMS)
- Flexible Mounting Options

Sony car stereo XM-2100GTX 2/1 Channel Amplifier:

- 600W Max Power
- 100W x 2 RMS into 4 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz @ 0.04% THD
- 250W x 1 RMS into 4 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz @ 0.1% THD
- CEA-2006 Power Compliant
- Variable 50 – 300 Hz low pass filter
- 40 Hz EQ boost
- MOSFET power supply
- RCA & speaker level inputs

Sony car stereo XS-L102P5 10 Subwoofer:

- 10″ Polypropylene Cone
- 1200W Peak Power (330W RMS)
- Unique cone design offers superior rigidity
- Gold-plated Binding Posts
- Small sealed/bandpass enclosure optimized
- 4-Ohm Voice Coil
- 2005 Subwoofer Parameters

Like other modern car audio manufacturers, the Sony car stereo also offers video capable units for playing VCDs, DVDs. A good item from the Sony car stereo Dream System Series is the MV – 900SDS Mobile DVD Dream System.

- 9″ wide screen TFT display with swivel function
- DVD/CD-R/RW/VCD/MP3 Playback
- Built-in wired FM modulator
- Reversible display image
- Slot-load DVD Mechanism
- Memory Stick media for playback of JPEG, MPEG, MP3
- Built-in Stereo Speakers
- A/V Input
- A/V Output
- Optical Digital Output (Dolby Digital, dts)
- IR transmitter for wireless headphones
- 2 sets of wireless headphones included
- Wireless card remote included

This unit is encased in a grey metallic finish and is ideally attached on the ceiling of the vehicle.

It is also an amazing fact that a lot of enthusiasts also incorporate the PlayStation into their Sony car stereos, which is probably one of the reasons why the Sony car stereo system has earned quite a following.