fresnelly

My car: 2001 Ford Focus Wagon.

The stock CD player in my car self-destructed yesterday and I'm in the market for a modest replacement.

I'm not looking for a debate on different models and brands, but instead about standards and the basics of installation. You know, so I don't feel like an idiot when I go in to buy a new one.

In the stores you only ever see a display of the faceplates. Are the boxes that house the player inside the dash all a standard size, or do different brands require special mounting brackets based on the make of your car?

What about the dimensions of the faceplate? The stock Focus one is huge compared to the sleek aftermarket faceplates available. How do you fill the gaps and get it to blend neatly into the dash? Are masking kits available for relatively cheap, or are you at the mercy of an expensive customizing job?

What about the electrical power? Again, are all models standardized or is extra work often necessary?

I'm not interested in adding speakers or components. How does this limit my choices?

In more general terms, what costs should I expect besides labour and the stereo itself? What will the salespeople try to push on me that I can ignore?

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Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life