What kind of travel system (or not) do you use for baby transport?

I'm a FTM and thinking about getting baby to and from places. Do I need a "travel system" or is it better to have separate pieces? The baby will probably only ever travel in my car so, on the one hand, I like the way it sounds to just have a semi-permanent fixture in my car. But on the other, something that lets a sleeping baby sleep also sounds good. I guess it boils down to what kind of lifestyle needs what kind of baby carrying apparatus? I have no idea what I need.