Your best bet in a used car will be a well-maintained American car. I don't want to get into the U.S./rest of the world "discussion" being held on other threads. I'll just say that proper maintenance has more to do with a car's trouble-free operation than where it is made. Right now, there are some decent American cars out there, but perception has not caught up with the reality, so American cars suffer more depreciation than many foreign cars. As a buyer of a used car, you can take advantage of that. Some of the cars you might want to look at include the Ford Taurus, or just anything midsize or larger from GM. I'm guessing that, since you got to the age of 16 without being a "gearhead," you mostly want a comfortable, reliable car. These will do the job. They shouldn't cost a fortune for insurance, either. Mikie is right -- even if you're paying for your own insurance, it will be cheaper to piggyback on your parents' policy than it will be for you to go solo. Ask about discounts if you get good grades in school or are willing to drive only a certain number of miles per month, etc. Finally, what else I wish I'd known about cars at your age? Having a car is a joy and a privilege -- and a responsibility. As a teenager, you have the benefit of quick reflexes and (I hope) formal training. You can be an excellent driver. But there's no substitute for experience -- especially at night in the rain and on icy roads. I knew how to steer out of a skid -- until the first time I found myself in one and narrowly missed a fence as I spun into a farmer's field. It's different when it really happens. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that you're immortal (every teenager thinks so; so did I). You're in control of almost two tons of metal and glass and plastic, so be careful. When I was 16, nobody had cell phones and we were lucky if the car had an FM radio, nevermind multi-channel stereo systems and iPod links and the like. I know teenagers are better at multi-tasking than they used to be, but you still have one primary task in a car -- driving. Don't be distracted by fiddling with the stereo or talking with friends. It's okay to concentrate on driving. Professional auto racers do. Have fun! Getting my first car was a blast. I hope you find one you really like and have many happy miles with it.

Import the songs into iTunes: Insert the CD, and wait for iTunes to show the songs in the CD, and then click on "Import." The songs will automatically create a Library of songs within iTunes. Once a library is created, if you now connect the iPod to your computer, iTunes will automatically transfer the songs to the iPod. Of course, you can also download music from the Internet with iTunes. There is a PC as well as a Mac version of iTunes. The CD that comes with the iPod has both versions, but it's a good idea to update the application every now and then. For iTunes to do all that, you must set its "Preferences." There is something else about the iPod, and soon other products: Some car stereos (look at the Crutchfield catalog) are iPod ready, while others require an optional electronic box. If you use one of these radios and have an iPod, you no longer need a CD changer. All you have to do is to connect the iPod to the radio, or to the control box, and the radio's display show the songs being played. You can scroll to whatever song you have in the iPod from the radio display. If you have 10,000 songs in your iPod, you can drive across the US listening to your music. The control box, keeps the iPod's battery fully charged. Other companies should jump on this technology any time now.

it was busy time but I am back to this challenge :) first of all : thank you for your replies - I read them and decided I did not have time to bother by Xmas. Now the Time Has Come. Wharfedale setup is a pretty old one and connected to the Panasonic HiFi system. It sound good and balanced to me. It is old tape-cd player-FM tuner-amplifier setup. I have aux input and digital coax input on the back of the panasonic amplifier . I am not quite sure what is meant with "a receiver" but I presume this is my amplifier, more or less. I have ipod 4G. We also have 2.1 2300 Logitech speakers in the kitchen and tiny Sony hifi set with 2x40W speakers in the bedroom. Sony set has digital input, too. Logitech set is analog and at the moment we connect only to the headphone out of the shuffle. Now I am looking for some link that will send music to all 3 speaker sets, wirelessly if possible. I read sometimes you need to "set IP" with these wireless devices - this is not something I have ever done. I found a few products, but they differ a lot: (1) Nuvo Wirless - $599 + additional receivers http://www.talkaboutcedia.com/article/10246/;jsessionid=FC91D3C81D3B8B6F4195F6C86F3103FC pros: sound quality cons: price, setup (IP) (2) Creative Xdock Wireless - $300 + one additional receiver http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/01/09/creative.dock.for.ipod/ pros: sound quality, setup (no IP), digital connection for wired cons: could not find it in any shop (3) FM transmitters/receivers - about $100 http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000E79AMI/sr=1-6/qid=1168602228/ref=sr_1_olp_6/102-5231555-5058523?ie=UTF8&s=electronics pros: very good price cons: poor sound quality If you can see more benefits or problems with these or other products that would do the job please let me know. Thanks

How about just building a shelf somewhere -- recessed, protruding or whatever you like -- with all the wires you could conceivably want available at that shelf? You'd want a 110v outlet to power whatever device you'd use there. You'd want wires going to the speakers (RCA jack?) and you might want a network cable in case you decide wireless isn't the greatest way to get the music from your PC to the bathroom. Hide those three things behind some sort of aesthetically pleasing facade and you'd probably be okay.