By HOMER ASHBURN

THERE are two things that I hate when it comes to driving -- children and back-seat drivers.

Both groups are loud, irritating and have the uncanny ability to drive my blood pressure level -- and I suspect yours too -- up into the stratosphere.

It gets worse on those long, long inter-state trips.

Half-way through it, if dark thoughts haven't crossed your mind, then you're either dead or have the patience of a saint. There is a solution to this particular conundrum, converting the family MPV into an entertainment wagon on wheels.

Like everything in life, the decision to turn that Naza Ria, Toyota Estima or Proton Exora into a family recreational room on the move comes with its own pros and cons.

Let's start with the pros, the main pro being the fact that it can be done.

Most family MPVs today come with double DIN CD-Radio systems and speakers pre-installed.

If you're going down the AV route, these factory-installed audio units can be replaced with a double DIN DVD player with a built-in seven-inch screen.

It's not a big screen, yes, but it's probably not a good idea to be distracted by a movie when you're supposed to be driving.

Many of these aftermarket units from established brands like Kenwood, Pioneer and JVC even come with built-in Bluetooth capability, touch screen panels and reverse camera capabilities.

Some of them even have 5.1 audio outputs. The 5.1, by the way, is the same number of full range audio channels that you will find in most home theatre set-ups.

This is a start as, if you harbour dreams of a cinema on wheels, having a single seven-inch monitor and bog-standard speakers are not going to rock anyone's rolls.

That's where additional monitors come in.

There are several types of roof-mounted monitors available, ranging from seven, nine, 10.2 and 15 inches but, trust me on this one, having a roof monitor that's as large as most computer screens isn't going to do wonders for your rear-view mirror visibility.

A 10.2-inch screen I saw installed in a Honda CR-V was more than adequate for the job.

There is also the option of putting a small monitor in each headrest as well.

Then there's the sound.

At this point, after plonking down the ringgit and sen for the DVD player and monitors, most people would probably stick with the factory pre-installed speakers and the ICE units' own internal amp. It isn't the best of set-ups but it does wonders in a pinch.

For those keen on going to the next level, however, nothing beats installing aftermarket tweeters, mid-range and subwoofer speakers, crossover networks and an amp.

Or amps, if you're inclined to shake, rattle and roll your vehicle.

All these extras are especially welcome if your DVD system has 5.1.

With these installed, a true AV experience is very much in the offing in your cinema car.

Yet, for some this is not enough.

After all, what's the use of an awesome home theatre set-up in your family mobile if none of you can agree on what to see?

There are some shows that junior should not be exposed to too and dreams of automotive carnage is very much on the fore if drivers are made to endure umpteen screenings of a purple dinosaur spreading universal love.

That's when having multiple DVD players, separate monitors and headphones come in.

Plonk down for these additional goodies and the kids in the backseats can enjoy their own visions of fun while mum and dad in the front can bicker on whether the movie of choice is Doubt or Debbie does Dallas or whether Mika or Metallica take centre stage on the audio assault front.

For additional family fun, installing a step-up transformer for the 12V power adapter found in most MPVs today can facilitate the installation of gaming.

--The Star/ANN