In my GMC Sierra, the bass is overwhelming. It's the stock GM radio, but if you look real close, it's the same speakers as the Bose system upgrade. You just don't get the logo, and the Bose amp's.
It has digital controls so imagine a slider ranger from 0 (Lowest Setting) to 100 (Highest Setting). I have the bass set to 25, midrange set to 48, and treble set to 54. It's how I determine how my personal CD's are done. If I can listen while driving through town at the same volume and EQ settings without being compelled to adjust anything, I call it done.
I've often wished I could rig something up somehow to master my CD's in the driver seat of my truck. I know it sounds crazy, but it's dead silent, it's a tight space with very little surrounding area influence, especially without the engine running, and in the garage there are no outside sounds.
I imagine if my radio had an external input (it's old and doesn't have any inputs), I could throw Sound Forge or Sonar on a laptop and do it that way in the truck.
I also have a Honda Fit. The proprietary factory stereo (meaning it's part of the dash and nothing else will fit there but the OEM stereo), is 200watts, and kicks freakin' ass! It plays MP3's, WMA's, CD's, and has an 1/8" input. The new Fit's have a USB input standard! Unfortunately, this thing will last me 30 years so I'll never get one.
I set it flat and crank away.
Honda is so awesome. They thought ahead with the CD player. They put a little micro fiber brush where the CD slides in so it catches most of the dust. I lived on a gravel road for years. I had the truck and the Fit about the same amount of time. I destroyed two CD players because of dust in the truck, none in the Fit.