2003 Chevy S10

The role of the mini pickup has changed over the years. Where it was once a sizeable portion of the new truck market, lately it seems that compact trucks, both domestic and imported, have been relegated to the entry-level loss leaders for first-time buyers or fleet trucks. In addition, many have grown into midsize trucks, and no where is this more evident than with the Chevrolet S-10 and its GMC counterpart, the S-15 Sonoma.

For '04 the S-10/S-15 twins have grown up a bit, into the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. While not a true midsize offering a V-8, like the Dodge Dakota, the Colorado and Canyon will be strong sellers in the marketplace. If you want a new S-10, you better hurry as production, which was continued in the Colorado/Canyon ramp up, will be discontinued shortly. Needless to say, with aggressive GM incentives, you can buy a brand-new S-10/S-15 with a full warranty for not much more than a late-model version. With all the aftermarket parts available for this long-lived platform, you can build up a unique sport truck from scratch for not much money. In addition, many are sold as fleet vehicles, which makes second-hand S-10s and S-15s both plentiful and cheap.

Over its long production run, the S-10's dashboard has undergone a number of detail and styling changes. From its introduction in 1986 up until 1993, the typically angular dashboard was designed to accommodate GM's then-standard 1.5-DIN receiver, which means that you'll need an installation kit to mount a conventional single-DIN receiver. Because mounting depth was restricted in this application, you'll probably require an install kit that extends through the dash bezel. From 1994 to 1997, the dash received a facelift, still using the ubiquitous GM 1.5-DIN radio, but with more depth available. Finally, from 1998 to the present, the dash received another facelift, yet stayed with the same 1.5-DIN configuration.

If you're just looking for a replacement unit for that tired factory-installed AM/FM/cassette deck, and you're on a budget, take a look at Dual's XDM6800 (MSRP $150). It's a high-powered, detachable-face receiver that not only plays conventional CDs, but is also equipped to handle home-grown CD-Rs and CD-RWs, and even MP3 files with ID3 tags, so it's easy to find the song you're looking for. Rare for such an inexpensive unit, it includes a rear panel auxiliary input; great if you have any sort of external audio input, such as the audio from a DVD player.

If you're looking for a high-performance unit,with some additional features, take a look at the Sony CDX-M3DI AM/FM/CD/MP3 receiver (MSRP $700). Its front panel features a high-resolution TFT screen that allows you to view a variety of preloaded images: 13 full-motion, 25 wallpaper, and 7 spectrum analyzer displays in addition to 23 still images. The CDX-M3DI has three standout high-end features. Three sets of 4-volt pre-amp outputs, including one with an adjustable subwoofer control, can drive your amplifiers to their highest dynamic range with the lowest possible distortion. The Dynamic Soundstage Organizer raises your soundstage up to dash level, which is great if your speakers are mounted down low in the doors. It also features Sony's EQ7, with seven preset EQ curves that can be fine-tuned with seven bands of equalization. Naturally, the CDX-M3DI plays CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs, including discs burned from your computer loaded with MP3 files. With its auxiliary input, you can even hook up an external source, such as Sony's PlayStation 2. This is a unit that will look great in any S-10 or S-15 dash.