MoparNorm said:
You are probably not the target buyer, however I live in a climate nearly as hot as yours and there are OTHER colors of leather besides black.
I have dark saddle tan and with the remote start, and automatic climate control, my interior is nice and cool before I enter.
I'd point out to you that leather and climate control are part of the convenience option group that attracts these buyers. For buyers not able to want or afford those packages, the Chrysler isn't going to be for them.
Chrysler, the BRAND, cannot move upmarket by offering stripper models with cloth seats, it's as basic as that.
There is always the Charger for those folks and Charger sales reflect the swing...and the platform does not suffer.
I'm sure you're right ...
But I, too, live in the Phoenix-Metro area ( I'm northwest from Phoenix civic-center ).
Convection is a killer. The car sits in a garage or outside - unless the garage is 100% climate-controlled - you're in hell for awhile (varies day-by-day). You can inadvertently touch a metal piece on the interior and flinch due to the hot item touching your skin ... that could even be the seatbelt connection as you get in the car that accidentally touches you above your elbow.
I would never buy a car with vinyl or leather seats here. Not on purpose. Even with the A/C going, if you can see out your windows, the Sun can heat your interior. I have to see when I drive, so I don't have major tinting. I pay for it with heat overcoming A/C. Moral of the story is to have significant window tinting. Just be sure you can see out.
Here, it's both the light and the heat. The sun is wicked-bright, and the heat is actually hot.
Premium cars with Leather are just fine. We'll have to count the Leather-clad cars - premium or otherwise - here in the Phoenix-metro area which also have padded seat covers and steering wheel covers and seatbelt covers...
EDIT Later ...
PS : It's true; a certain number of folks here will go grocery shopping, for instance, and leave their car in Park ,engine on, to benefit from the A/C going to offset some of the affect. They usually have virtually black windows as well.
Also - Geraldg is right. The best desert colors are yellow, white and silver; pretty much in that order. Black/DarkBlue, forget it. Red was between. I look for yellow cars. Color hues matter to some extent.