It's funny you mention this. I had to drive from Las Vegas to LA (6-7 hours across the desert) last year in a rental car...alone. I had with me everything needed to listen to my TDK Mojo through a tape deck.

I am a member of National Car Rental's Emerald Club, so I can choose whichever car I want from 3 or 4 rows. Out of the 30-or-so cars available, not a single one had a tape deck. I was forced to listen to the radio. In the desert, there's only one station. Unfortunately for me, it's county. Between the rental car's lack of balls, crappy radio, and no scenery change for hours, I was about to go insane. I am making the same trip in January. This time, I will have an FM modulator (with iPod, not Empeg).