music in car? Or more guages??

Ok..my little dilemma.. I love music..and would really like to put a stereo in my Dart when it's on the street. But that means wiring, speakers, blah,blah,blah...Not to mention that tape decks don't survive in Texas, so it would most certainly mean a CD player (cutting dash to fit).

But, I would also prefer to cut the radio area out, and mount a dash plate for my VDO oil, volt and Air/fuel guages. I think they would look much better IN the dash than under the dash....

What say you???