Well folks,
Thanks for all your help...

Opted to go custom with an Alpine Head Unit (mp3 capable and aux in
for ipod...works great!

This was installed in the dash to replace the original failed unit,
using a marine cover...this is a smoky plastic cover that
slides/rotates down to cover the Alpine and protects the unit from
road dust (a major problem in the country) and rain. Does not protect
the rear of the unit from rain going into the dash from the top
however.

Very nice installation - the marine cover can be obtained at most
marine stores for about $50US, and the custom installation ran about
$130US on top of that.

BTW, the unit's optical remote works through the cover just fine, so
really no need to ever have the cover open except to insert CD's.

Cheers
Tom