The last 4 cars with a CD Player: Subaru WRX(optional), Subaru Outback Touring, Lexus IS, Lexus RC.

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Frequently_lucky@reddit

Do you start those cars with a crank?

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Dazzling-Rooster2103@reddit (OP)

No, but the WRX did just lose the turn key ignition on the WRX for the 2025 model year.

The base model didnt come with push button start, but the base model was axed.

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La-Ta7zaN@reddit

I like my fobs and remote start but NGL I keep forgetting either the fob in the car or forget the fob somewhere and only realize it once the car is parked and I need to re-start it.

It’s not a common occurrence. Perhaps a couple of times in the last 5 years. But it never happened to me with key ignition.

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One time I was at a gas station, put the fob on top of my car for some fucking reason, then drove away to continue my 2 hour drive. Parking at the destination, I wonder why the doors aren't locking... Oh shit.

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Tei-ren@reddit

Your car didn't alert you with a "key not detected" message as soon as you drove off?

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RunnerLuke357@reddit

Leaving it at home is one thing, but after that why not just leave it in your pocket? It locks and unlocks by proximity these days so you don't need to touch it.

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estephens13@reddit

Ok, this baffles me. Why would it ever leave your pocket?

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La-Ta7zaN@reddit

If battery is low it has to be physically sitting inside the cup holder of my car.

Sometimes I give it to someone to unlock it and grab something they forgot.

Sometimes my siblings would borrow my car and then I’d take over from her after they’re done.

Again the frequency is less than once a year but it’s not zero.

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epsiblivion@reddit

some people leave it jangling around in a cupholder or door card (crazy people that is)

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Gorgenapper@reddit

Can confirm, I start my '24 IS350 by feeding it some hay and brushing its coat.

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ArcticBP@reddit

No, but you do have to re-vulcanize the tires every fortnight.

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handymanshandle@reddit

Post-haste?

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beamdriver@reddit

Ahoy-hoy

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Viperlite@reddit

Geez, my current five cars all have CD players. I guess my fleet is growing old.

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evan4632@reddit

My ‘22 Impreza has a CD player. Pretty sweet if you ask me

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FedgeLouganis@reddit

I used to have an '04 Lexus ES330 and it had the same chunk in the center console but no cd player

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Seeking-Direction@reddit

I thought the Dodge Durango would be among them, given its geriatric age.

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mbbzzz@reddit

Last time I checked, Subaru sells the cd player as an accessory that goes in the glove box. Kinda tempted to get one as I miss playing cds in my car

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stametsprime@reddit

They do, but it’s standard on the Touring and Touring XT.

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Soupypops@reddit

BRB gotta go look inside my glovebox

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Happy-Organization99@reddit

What's the verdict!?

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RunnerLuke357@reddit

You could just get the files from the CDs and put them on your phone or a jump drive. Ignoring the novelty of it, there is no reason to keep using CDs when you can just get the files off the disk.

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Ghost1k25@reddit

On my car the quality is significantly better when playing CDs vs via USB (Apple Music lossless).

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maxdps_@reddit

Cadillac does the same thing (or used to, my ATS had one)

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handymanshandle@reddit

I’m curious if the remaining CD players in cars can pull disc information and display the album you’re listening to proper rather than just saying “Track 01” or something. I remember there was a time for a while that cars just came preloaded with the Gracenote database for this purpose.

Note that I’m not referring to CD-Text or any extensions like that to the format, just if it can read something like a mastering code (? I’m usually decent at this stuff but CDs aren’t something I’ve typically explored in depth) on the disc.

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Ghost1k25@reddit

I’m assuming Lexus just threw the same CD player into the IS/RC, and on my car it’s just track 01.

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Ancient_Persimmon@reddit

IIRC, the last car with a cassette deck was the SC430, so it's only fitting that the RC is one of the last CD equipped cars.

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weirdbutinagoodway@reddit

What car was the last with an 8 track?

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OoIIoO@reddit

Or dedicated iPod connector?

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Word_Underscore@reddit

MK5 Golf/GTI has the 30 pin connector optional. 2006-2010

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handymanshandle@reddit

That one might be something like a Maserati GranTurismo, or something that came out in the mid-2000s and just languished.

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Careful-Combination7@reddit

I thought it was the LS. Noice

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eirexe@reddit

I'm a cassette enjoyer and I really like the unit in my MR2, it has AMS, DNR, bass boost, everything, it's so nice.

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qwertzn@reddit

No, the last car with a cassette deck was the G50 Toyota Century when it ended production in 2017.

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Hnry_Dvd_Thr_Awy@reddit

You are and I’d love this for Lexus if they do it two audio mediums in a row.

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Ancient_Persimmon@reddit

If only they were around for in-car turntables.

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jondes99@reddit

I’m surprised the original LS don’t have an 8 track.

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OoIIoO@reddit

In car turntables?!

record scratch

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Ancient_Persimmon@reddit

I got sniped, but Highway Hi-Fi: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/03/highway-hi-fi-car-vinyl-player/

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dcbrah@reddit

Nope. Got a tape deck in my 2003 Acura cl-s

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handymanshandle@reddit

Yes, but the Lexus SC430 had one until it was discontinued in 2011.

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dcbrah@reddit

Oh lol I read that as sc400. Woops.

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ALaLaLa98@reddit

Came here to say exactly that.

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1nsider1nfo@reddit

This was gold for Audi B5 A4/S4 owners with the cassette-to-aux adapter lol

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Old-Tennis3870@reddit

I wish more cars had cd players, im a onerepublic fan, and over here in portugal radio dj's almost never play their music

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testthrowawayzz@reddit

Having a CD player is really nice if you have CDs and opted for the upgraded audio system.

Then again, many people seems to be satisfied with the quality of double compressed audio (compressed original from streaming -> another compression from Bluetooth A2DP), so whatever.

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gumol@reddit

can people tell a difference in a blind test between 320 kBps MP3 and lossless?

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MachineTeaching@reddit

No, this is most likely bullshit.

There are two types of people:

Those who have trained themselves to listen for compression artifacts and can pick them out on good equipment in a quiet space.

99% of the rest: people who claim that they totally hear a difference but never did an ABX test and wouldn't pass one.

Any decently high bitrate lossy codec is de facto transparent for the vast, vast majority of people in the vast, vast majority of songs. And I'm talking 160kbps MP3. Spotify premium for instance uses 320kbps ogg, Spotify free 160kbps ogg.

This is a settled debate, as far as anything remotely resembling a scientific approach goes. See just one example here:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/2019/8265301

There are plenty of internet "audiophiles" that swear up and down that they can hear a difference but will never ever actually do an ABX test though.

That said, of course with Bluetooth, SBC kinda sucks. But modern codecs like AptX and LDAC have also practically solved that. Or just use a cable if it matters so much to you.

Worth noting that anyone making a big deal about car audio in particular is most likely full of shit anyway. Cars are a reflection nightmare. The windshield alone will mess with the audio. You can only do so much with software corrections.

For reference, this is an A6 C8 with the B&O system:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?attachments/01_trf_80db-jpg.232710/

And this is a kinda shitty bookshelf speaker for about 200 bucks a pair, the Edifier MR5:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?attachments/01_1-png.470040/

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Ran4@reddit

No.

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TheArchist@reddit

if you trying to listen for it yeah

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SophistXIII@reddit

I definitely can - though it really depends on the quality of the system.

Base system, crummy bluetooth speaker or playing off your phone? Probably won't notice a difference.

But I definitely notice a difference in my S4 with the BO system or on my Naim/Spendor/Rega home system.

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testthrowawayzz@reddit

The second compression for Bluetooth A2DP is the one that kills the quality.

I can hear the difference in quality for Bluetooth audio vs plugging in directly via USB.

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pixel_loupe@reddit

The Lexus has a DVD player, seriously you can watch movies while parked

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10000Didgeridoos@reddit

I always wonder who would actually do this/where. Only place I could think of would be like eating lunch and watching a movie out in the parking lot at work.

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quantum-quetzal@reddit

I was stuck in my car for a few hours during a thunderstorm on my last camping trip. It would have been nice to have the option of playing videos on the main display of my car instead of my phone.

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SoupPot23@reddit

I've done it waiting in a punishing car wash line.

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TheFennecFrenzy@reddit

My Mercedes does this. It supports 5.1 surround sound, too. I've watched movies while in standstill traffic, waiting for people I'm supposed to meet up with, waiting for my table to be ready at busy restaurants, waiting out traffic while leaving concerts, etc. I once watched all of The Incredibles while waiting to leave the Daytona 500. The screen is small and bad, but the audio is as good my home theater setup and it's better than just scrolling my phone.

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Snikle_the_Pickle@reddit

We have a 2006 Chrysler Pacifica that has a DVD player and component output, but no built-in TV or infotainment screen. I don't think it's even been used.

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the_nin_collector@reddit

Miata in Japan as well. Not even extra I don't think. I think you get it if you get the bose speakers, not sure about the standard speaker package.

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RacerX3888@reddit

They read more than regular cds, more like a cd rom. My friend burned me a cd with god only knows how many hours of music on it and I just leave it in there. Between that and my USB thumb drive it's nice to have options when cruising

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Odd-Independent4640@reddit

This is why I’ll drive my 2019 MDX into the ground. CD and DVD players with ELS audio

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Ftpini@reddit

I mean, I haven’t used a CD for Music in at least 20 years. How many people still do that?

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caller-number-four@reddit

How many people still do that?

I do!

And SACD and DVD-A and vinyl! Oh, MiniDisc, too!

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eirexe@reddit

based minidisc enjoyer

I use minidisc and cassette, they are nice

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handymanshandle@reddit

Damn, no Blu-ray Audio discs?

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caller-number-four@reddit

I don't know that they ever made those expressly for audio.

SACD is pretty much cream of the crop.

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SpilldaBeanz@reddit

My mom got a new car last year and she insisted on a CD player so we ended up with the Subaru outback touring

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AntonRudinskii@reddit

Funny how a CD player is now considered vintage. Give it a few years and Lexus might release a “Vinyl Edition” with a turntable in the glovebox 😄

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V8-Turbo-Hybrid@reddit

Remember that many 00's Nissan models even had backup CD player in trunk. Well, CD was really so popular in early 00's.

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blueboatjc@reddit

Was it a backup cd player or a cd changer? I’ve had a few cars back in the day with a 6 disc cd changer in the trunk.

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3600CCH6WRX@reddit

Those cd changers were godsend for a family roadtrip.

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Ancient_Persimmon@reddit

BMW waited until CDs were on their way out before offering one in-dash. Pretty much all the classics had a changer only.

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weirdbutinagoodway@reddit

I had a 98 Grand Prix and could have had either a cassette or a CD player in the dash with a a 10 disc CD player in the trunk.

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Ancient_Persimmon@reddit

The first CD players are 42 years old now, so that counts, IMO.

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sicilian504@reddit

Get out.

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aprtur@reddit

They actually did do that:

https://www.drive.com.au/news/lexus-is-wax-edition-unveiled-with-onboard-vinyl-record-player/

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Jackloco@reddit

I found that I have a cd player in my Audi. Pretty neat.

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theENERTRON@reddit

my 328i has a dvd player so I keep a copy of the Transporternin the glove box

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Jackloco@reddit

HELL YEAH

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V8-Turbo-Hybrid@reddit

Remember that many 00's Nissan models even had backup CD player in trunk.

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ApprehensivePurple82@reddit

So a co-worker just bought a 22 outback wilderness. Kind of a base version. Bought an OEM Subaru CD kit on eBay and installed it himself. Love physical media.

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Jc110105@reddit

Just realized my 2022 doesn’t have a CD player.

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LexKing89@reddit

I love that they still have CD players. I guess they took it out of the LC500 too?

I still buy and use CD's.

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Impressive-Usual-451@reddit

The CD player in my 2017 continental with revel audio exceeds broadcast radio or satellite radio or streaming for the best fidelity. It’s great.

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WarCrimeGaming@reddit

The IS is getting rid of the CD player in 2026

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the_nin_collector@reddit

What do they consider a CD player?

Mine comes with a DVD player that plays CDs. Miata ND 2 (but the 3 still has the option... or it may be standard in Japan)

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Dazzling-Rooster2103@reddit (OP)

The WRX might be the last car that comes with a CD Player in America.

The Outback is losing it for its next gen, the Lexus IS is being refreshed, and the RC is being discontinued.