This last week in the middle of our vacation our car broke down and we were stranded on the side of the road for two hours. The dogs were with us. Luckily they had new antlers to keep them busy. They had to experience a terrifying tow to the dealership and once there they were overjoyed to be out of the car. While waiting for diagnostics to be performed we walked around looking at new cars. I haven't purchased a new car in over a decade and was a bit surprised at the $40,000 price tags. Our time is coming soon to purchase a new car and if I'm laying out that much cash, I want some features that will really make a difference when carting around dogs. With the number of people who take their dogs with them, adding these features would really make it a dog-friendly vehicle.

Please replace that fuzzy lining on the backs of seats and in the cargo area with something smooth and that won't make it impossible to clean all the dog hair out of the car. I vacuum, I brush with a rubber glove, I use a special pet hair eraser and none of them eliminate all the dog hair. It drives me crazy.

Let's find a way to vent some air into the back area so the dogs can safely get a whiff of all the smells we rush by without having to stick their heads out the window. A moonroof in the back or just windows that can be cracked a bit would do it.

On hot days we really need air conditioning that can reach back to the cargo area.

Tinted windows in the back definitely to help block out some of the sun.

Hooks for dog seat belts.

How about a built in cushion on the dog bed that can be flipped over for a hard surface for actual cargo when I'm not transporting the dogs but providing them a comfy place to rest when they are with me. I don't want to have to haul out a dog bed each time we go for an hour or two trip for a hike and on the return trip they'll appreciate a comfy bed. Don't forget that the bed part needs to be removable and washable - our dogs get muddy.

A gate to separate the cargo area from the main part of the car built into the back seat and that secures to the ceiling. Let's see if Flynn can escape from that.

As dogs get older, many need help getting into our SUVs. Maybe that same dog bed unit can also house a ramp. I'd give up 8-10 inches of height in the back if this could all be included.

How about you, what features above do you like and what features would you add?

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