There is one universal concession I'll give to modern cars, and that is Bluetooth connectivity. I don't need a big screen, but hooking up my phone to the stereo system offers too much convenience to ignore - an endless supply of streaming music and podcasts, navigation directions, and hands-free calling. I am, however, enough of a purist that I prefer a factory radio to the garish, H.R. Geiger-esque designs of aftermarket units. And I found an easy way to keep the old-school head unit and add Bluetooth: The only prerequisite was radio prewired for a CD Changer and a little sense of adventure in online shopping.

A quick internet search lead me to the modern wonder that is Chinese electronics sold on eBay. A brand called Yatour offers a module that connects to nearly every factory system including Honda, Mercedes-Benz, and Ford, as well as Pioneer and Clarion aftermarket units. Even better, I found one that will splice in and keep the original, dealer-installed CD changer working as well.

Then a few connections, no wire cutting or splicing and only about 30 minutes of effort. The Bluetooth goes into discovery mode every time it boots up, which makes for easy pairing. I get plenty of volume over the wireless connection now, with better audio quality.