Dual access useful

Automotive Industries,  Sept, 2003  by Mark Nordhaus

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While I agree that the center mounted instrument cluster is strange, and I agree with most of your other comments (AI August, pg. 22) on the quad coupe, I have to argue the functionality of the dual access rear doors. I have a three door 2000 Saturn coupe and I WISH I had the dual rear doors. They are far more functional than 'standard' four doors. The reverse opening rear door creates a huge opening to load large objects into. I can fit bigger things into my 3-door than I can in larger four doors.

The actual door opening is often the constraint to the size of the item that will fit in a car. Trunks on modern cars are just such an example. People bemoaned the looks of hatchbacks because they didn't look like a regular four door sedan, causing the decline of the image of cars because of their most useful feature. Now without hatchbacks we are forced to buy trucks to fit anything in. Don't do the same thing with the super useful rear access doors. I can get to the rear seat of my 3-door far faster and easier than I can with any of the dozens of four doors I rent a year. I wished for my Saturn even when I had an X-Type rental in Germany.

Oh, and get a dark color car and you will never notice the door gaps.

Mark Nordhaus

Farmington, Mich.

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