Replacing the bumper stickers could be an issue!

(A little rusty here… pun intended.)

Since this country seems intent to stay on its 90 year path as a consumer economy, dependent on you and me to buy our way out of the Great Recession (see the Fed Chair Ben Bernanke’s $600 billion purchase of government debt) here are some thoughts for automakers who aren’t yet building what I want to buy.

My current trusty automobile is a 1999 Chevy Prism. The biggest issue it’s had has been a broken blower motor for the heater. And last week we replaced the battery for the second time. Nothing major, or even irritating in the way of repairs. Yet, the clutch is getting iffy, and I’m thinking it may be time to ante up for a replacement car.

I first shopped for a new car when my Prism was just a few years old, only to find showrooms wholly populated with big honkin’ trucks and assorted other gas guzzlers. So I put car shopping on hold.

The Prism’s fuel economy was 41 mph on the highway when it was brand new. The last time we measured gas mileage, on a trip to my sister’s in Iowa, it got 37 mph. So any new car will have to have fuel economy at least that good, and preferably be a hybrid.

Next, I want gadgets. Heated seats, which I’ve lived all my life without, and GPS, Bluetooth and other 21st Century addendum on the dash.

After that, give me four doors, a stick shift, fun color options and a decent price. Throw in good safety and consumer ratings, and I believe you’ll have a sale!