I don't have Bluetooth built into my 2007 Honda, but I still listen to Music via Bluetooth in my car. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018E0I01I/ Can either plug it in via 3.5mm audio or use the FM transmitter if you don't have a jack in your car.
Had Bluetooth in my car without it being built in for a decade or more. It's really a non-issue.
Anyone looking to follow this, choose your Bluetooth adaptor carefully. I've gone through about 4 before I found one that actually had good audio quality. This is the one I settled on and it's been great, supports aptx and sound quality is great: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009NLTW60/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_NIpTAbKQEB5GE
This bluetooth'd my car inexpensively.
Nulaxy Wireless In-Car Bluetooth FM Transmitter Radio Adapter Car Kit W 1.44 Inch Display Supports TF/SD Card and USB Car Charger for All Smartphones Audio Players https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018E0I01I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_PTeJAb5BFVKHY
I know I've seen this one at Walmart before: https://www.amazon.com/Nulaxy-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Handsfree-Voltmeter/dp/B018E0I01I/
I think the one at Walmart had a different brand name, but was identical looking to this. Syncs up to the phone via bluetooth, and then you can either transmit to your radio via FM or through an Aux cable. Also supports SD cards, so you can load audio files on one of those and play directly off the unit.
Personally, the lack of a headphone jack annoys me a fair amount. It's manageable, but i haven't bought any adapters for it and i find myself wanting to listen to things at work when i need to be charging the phone. Better planning for charging my phone (i usually don't bother until I'm at work) or like i said, buying an adapter would help the issue. It's annoying that i need to spend money to solve a problem created by a crappy design choice in the first place, but the options are cheap enough i suppose.
In your case, something like this car Bluetooth adapter should solve your problem for less than $20. The one I've linked has a ton of decent reviews, so i think it should be a safe bet. The bottom line is the lack of a headphone jack is annoying and stupid. But overall it's a good phone and it's manageable enough that you can overlook the stupid shortcoming.
Edit: spend a few more bucks and get what u/funmonkeydisease suggested below instead. It'll probably sound better/clearer.
I would look for Kia Souls or Honda Fits. At your price point, those are the two likeliest candidates. Both can carry tons of stuff, decent mpg, and pretty reliable. Especially if you can drive a manual transmission, but their automatics are fine too.
You should be able to find something within under 75,000 miles at that price.
I think both have Bluetooth, but if they don't, just get a Bluetooth transmitter. This is the one I use (https://www.amazon.com/Nulaxy-Wireless-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Smartphones/dp/B018E0I01I) and it works better than the built in version in some of my friends' cars.
Not op, but I had the BTC450. Really great quality, and adds huge convenience of Bluetooth: it has a microphone built in for phone calls; one touch support for changing songs, answering/hanging up phone calls, etc; it looks nice and has a matte black finish to it; it is super small, doesn't take up any space either.
Pro tip for the "Static Computer Hum"--if you're using an analog mixer or mic plugged into your computer's line in and you hear an annoying buzz or hum on-stream, you probably have a ground loop (your mic and computer sharing the same ground wire). This is easily remedied by buying a "Ground Loop Isolator" off of Amazon for about $10: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EAQTRI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_FNDuybZZ8NK68
You can get a bluetooth Fm transmitter that will plug into your car and allow you to usb charge your phone and play music. Any 2003 car is not going to have the best sound but this will be much better than a cassette converter. Plus you have the added benefit of charging your phone. Here is a link for one on amazon with good reviews.
Good lord, highly recommend this one as the process to apply is so simple.
Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector [Glas.tR EZ FIT] designed for Tesla Model 3 / Y Dashboard Touchscreen - Matte/Anti Glare/Anti Finger Print https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B084BNC3FG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_Q26DRQATJHHFF4VN52B2
Upgrade to an iPhone XS. There is a device that you can use that makes your car bluetooth enabled for audio. Its a FM-Transmitter Bluetooth. I use it in my car and it is great and its pretty cheap in price. I link it for you
hmm. do you want to keep using it? you could bypass it entirely and just have a hidden amplifier with a line-in, running directly to your speakers and perhaps one of these volume knobs mounted under the edge of your dash https://www.amazon.com/PAC-LC-1-Remote-Amplifier-Controller/dp/B0002J226O/ref=zg_bs_10981741_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=B91H133GB0MYP2NC3N8N
Should have just spent a few extra dollars on a good power inverter on amazon, $10 more but will probably not burst into flames on the interstate at 88 mph. I mean some of the stuff at HF is great and cheap stuff, but I would not trust air compressors or power inverters from HF.
I have a 5+ year old chinese one off amazon that works great. I did try an anker one recently and it wasn't any better despite costing significantly more
older version of this thing:
If you have a smoke cigarette thingy (idk what they're called or what they're used for) Amazon has 13-15 dollar Bluetooth transmitter that has great quality and connects to it.
I personally have this one but there's others https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018E0I01I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_u736BbYJ87NBX
I have a scosche magnetic mount and love it. mount I really like the flexible arm mount but they are all pretty nice.
I checked my Amazon order history and back in 2013 I bought a 3.5mm ground loop isolator to solve this issue.
or
I use this and it works perfectly. Sorry you have to buy another accessory for easy connection. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018E0I01I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_BSK4RPFDBQE82JM09JRB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Do you have an iPhone? Because if you are just interested in recording when a cop pulls you over (or something else happens) then this may be of interest
Combine that with a neat magnetic mount on your dash and you're good to go!
Get one of these, works much better than they used too.
what I did in my 2015 S was get.a USB-powered dongle that converted the phone's bluetooth out to an FM station the radio played.
something like this:
it worked for the most part. Good for podcasts, not very good for music
Improper grounding/too much power coming through the line is usually what causes issues like that, my go-to fix has always just been to wire in a ground loop isolator. Amazon has one for $10, it might be worth a shot. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EAQTRI/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_8BLtvb0TY66F6 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EAQTRI/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_8BLtvb0TY66F6)
I have this thing that plugs into my charging port in my car (old 2002 jeep) that allows me to play bluetooth by taking an unused radio station and adapting to my phone (I actually dont know how it works, but that sounds kind of smart). Here's the amazon link if you're interested
Yeah, in that case, you'd need a USB-C to 3.5mm jack adapter. There are other options, you can see if your car supports bluetooth natively and if it doesn't, you can buy a bluetooth transmitter off Amazon for about 20 bucks (like this one) and have it to where your phone connects to the transmitter via bluetooth and the transmitter sends out whatever music you set to play on your phone via radio waves and you just tune your car's radio to that specific channel.
I bought a Bluetooth 12 V transmitter, stuck it in the center console and forgot about it. Phone auto pairs when I turn on the car, and it cost $17. It sounds perfect, haven’t had any interference either. Maybe my ears aren’t picking up the bad sound, or maybe the tech is better nowadays?
This is the one I got from amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018E0I01I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_DWRnBb2QBZR12
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I608BJ8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_OVnzFbG0PDFPM
I've used this one forever, cheap and effective. Place the steel plate inside your case without the adhesive so you can reuse it!
Get an inverter. They have ones that can plug into 12V outlets. Or, if you want to go a bit bigger, you can wire an inverter directly to the electrical in your vehicle. That’s not nearly as easy though.
I travel a lot for work, much of which is cross-country driving, and my inverter has saved me more than a few times.
Edit: Amazon link to what I’m talking about.
Power Inverter seems to be what would work best for you. Plug it into the cigarette lighter in your car and it can be used as normal plug. Here is the one that I own and am happy with. Bestek 300W Power Inverter.
Yeah that just sounds like a terrible idea. I have this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009NLTW60/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_JNR5W2EY6GJF05YGXQ3A?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
It's excellent. Full hands-free, no complaints from the other end of calls, and it's been super reliable.
https://i.imgur.com/McbkFR9.jpg
See the little puck to the right of my keys? That's it. Cables are routed behind the knee panels and center console, aux cable plugs in to aux, power into the two port splitter. The other port charges my phone in the ProClip mount.
I just installed this right about my 4x4 lock button in my 2010 RAV4, not too obtrusive and my phone hasn’t fallen once.
SCOSCHE MAGDMB MagicMount Universal Magnetic Mount Holder for Mobile Devices In Frustration Free Packaging, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I608BJ8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_TER3RF0CN1AXJD2Q2J1Y?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1