A vehicle multimedia system simplifies a user's interaction with the system. A user may access a specific media unit by actuating a switch corresponding to a media unit. A preference unit detects the user's selection of the media unit and selects an end item based on a programmed criterion. The preference unit may automatically activate the end item. The preference unit may be overridden by the user when a switch corresponding to the selected media unit is actuated multiple times. The preference unit may also manage data lists and data packets that store the information used for the criterion comparison.