Car manufacturers are out of touch with what the average consumer wants. Here is my list of wants and don't wants for any car I buy:
| WHAT I WANT | WHAT I DON'T WANT | WHY |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Transmission | Manual Transmission | Don't want to fool with a gearshift while driving under normal conditions. |
| Easy access to parts | Pull engine to change plugs | Stupid designs increase repair costs. |
| Second gear start - or Second gear position | Must start in first gear | For winter driving. A higher gear locked in puts the slipping in the torque converter instead of the road wheels. |
| 4-speed transmission | 6 or 8 speed transmission | A bad excuse for underpowering a car. |
| Manual windows | Power Windows | Power windows fail more often, and cost more to fix. |
| WHAT I WANT | WHAT I DON'T WANT | WHY |
| Manual door locks | Power door locks | Power locks fail more often than manual locks, and cost more to fix. |
| Manually adjusted seats | Power seats | Power seats fail more often than manual seats, and cost more to fix. |
| CD player | Cassette | Cassettes are unreliable. |
| No sunroof | Sunroof | A sunroof always leaks when it gets older. |
| Normal seats | Leather seats | Itchy. |
| WHAT I WANT | WHAT I DON'T WANT | WHY |
| Medium interior color | White or dark interior | White shows dirt, reflects sun into eyes. Dark makes the interior get hot. |
| Parking brake actually works | Parking brake will not hold car | Safety first. |
| Lights shut off after delay | Lights stay on | Keeps battery from running down. |
| Horn not alarm answer | Horn answers alarm command | Scares other drivers into thinking they did something wrong. |
| No cell phone capabilities | Cell phone antenna and/or devices | Use of a cell phone should be banned while driving. |
| WHAT I WANT | WHAT I DON'T WANT | WHY |
| Maximum vision all directions | Small rear windows | Safety first. |
| Four doors | Two doors | Trouble getting into and out of the back seat. |
| Space for safety equipment | Tiny storage area | Want to carry equipment for road emergencies. |
And I do not want a car with big mice in it. That Kia Soul ad backfired. It makes me look for big mice every time I see one.