I own a blue 2011 Chevy Colorado WT, which I affectionately call Grumphry. The WT stands for Work Truck, which is the base level model. Grumphry doesn't have power windows or locks, and comes with the smallest engine available and a two seat split bench cab. The car has an AM/FM/CD player, but the Bluetooth is only available for hands-free calling through the OnStar system, not for music or podcasts. There is no Aux port, and no way to connect a phone to the car for music or podcasts.
I've tried different solutions to play music in my car, including putting my phone in my front shirt pocket and using a Bluetooth speaker stuck to the top of the dash with Velcro, but they didn't work well. I have been using a Bluetooth FM transmitter for the last couple of years, but it is not very effective due to constant interference.
In November 2021, when I upgraded my iPhone, the connection issues got worse, making it difficult to use my phone in the car. I have been listening to classical radio, NPR, or podcasts from my shirt pocket most of the time.
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Recently, I have been listening to my cassette tape collection on an old Panasonic Technics tape deck that I keep on my desk while working from home. I wanted to play these cassettes in my car, and a Bluetooth cassette adapter seemed like a good solution.
I searched for used and NOS aftermarket AM/FM/Cassette car radios on eBay, but they were more expensive and unattractive than expected. However, older cassette radios looked similar to my radio, and their wire harness connections were the same. Despite everything online telling me that an older radio model wouldn't work, I bought an unlocked AM/FM/Cassette radio from a 2004 Impala for $30, and it works great. I quickly replaced Grumphry's old, broken radio with this new, old cassette radio, and the Bluetooth cassette adapter is the perfect solution to my problem.
Now, I can listen to cassettes at my desk and in my car, which is a win-win situation
