Stereo questions...

No one has mentioned a cassette adapter for the CD input.

yes, they suck too partly because they spin the cassette mechanism even though there's nothing to spin.

Not sure about now, but back when they were regular use items, finding a portable CD player that didn't skip in a moving vehicle was the main problem.

If you had a separate car audio CD deck with 1/8" or RCA out, that would work but kind of hard to find back then, probably harder now.

I agree even the digitally tuned FM broadcasters suck. The analog ones are GOD awful.

Your least expensive, least troublesome solution is probably to go get a $35 wal mart stereo with a CD player.

I've been buying Pioneer 44/4400 models off ebay for my classics because I like the USB menu and want to standardize.