Firstly, Detroit should not be abandoning the market for sedans. That's just turning a huge slice of the market over to Japanese and Korean companies. Granted, there is more mark up in big SUV's and pickup trucks, which makes it easier to turn a profit. But there are a helova lotta people who just want something to drive to work. Most families have both husband and wife working outside the home, which means they need two cars. One car only needs to get a single individual to and from work. A small four door econobox is plenty. The other car can be a SUV big enough to hold the entire family, kids, luggage, skis, lunch. One key to a competitive sedan is distinctive styling. The old VW Beetle was distinctive , not especially handsome, but nobody would ever confuse it with a Toyota.
Another small sedan that would sell is one that could bring sheet goods home from the lumber yard and furniture home from the auction. Perhaps a lift off top? A really stout factory roof rack? A hatchback with a lift off top? As a hauler, it only needs to work in good weather and short range, on secondary roads. Interstate performance with a load is not required.
Features I would like to see: Power windows with a master "Close them all" switch. Switch to just work, and not require putting the key in the ignition. Even better would be a button on the key remote that would close all the windows while you are sitting on the deck. In summer I like to leave the car windows open to prevent the car from becoming an oven when the sun shines on it. It would be nice not to have to put one shoes, find the keys and go out to the driveway to roll the windows up in the evening.
An outside thermometer. Up here we want to know if that black patch up ahead on the road is just a puddle or black ice.
A plug to let your Ipod play back on the car's speakers.
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