Real Wheels

washingtonpost.com

January 21, 2004

Warren Brown talks about all your automobile issues! He has been covering the automobile industry for The Washington Post since 1982. Brown, who joined the newspaper in 1976, has what many people think is a particularly cool job: He gets to test drive all manner of cars, from top-of-the-line Mercedes sedans and the newest sports cars to Volkswagen Beetles and SUVs. His auto reviews are lively, detailed accounts of a car's good and bad points, addressing everything from a car's highway performance to its "head-turning" factor and sound system.

Join Brown online Wednesdays at 11 a.m. ET to answer your questions on every aspect of the automotive industry -- from buying your dream car to the future of the internal combustion engine.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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Woodbridge, Va.: Warren, I'd like to get GPS on my next car (i.e. 'talk to you' driving instructions). Do you know how I can identify what makes/models offer GPS? Before buying my last car 4 years ago I found a nifty on-line guide that made a customized list of all the makes/models that offered the options one wanted. Thanks Chris B.

Warren Brown: Good morning, Woodbridge. Good morning all. Woodbridge: Vehicle options list at cars,com, edmunds.com, kbb.com and others should be enough to tell you which vehicles have GPS equipment, type and cost. Also, going to automakers' website and clicking on vehicle specifications should yield much of that information. Hope this helps.

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Somewhere, USA - On the road: I am facing the nearing death of my 1996 Toyota Camry. It has served me well, and I am hoping to get at least another 50K out of it but the mechanic isn't so optimistic. So I am starting to research my options so that when my car dies I am not in a panic and buy the first thing I drive.

While I love my Camry, I don't want another one. The new styling is stodgy and I think that I want a car with a shorter wheel base to make parking a little easier. That said, I have a minor crush on the Hyundai Santa Fe.

My priorities for a new/used vehicle are: Internally quiet with very little road noise, enough get up and go that the left hand merge from 66 to 495 isn't an accident waiting to happen, decent gas mileage (>25mpg) large enough that I don't feel like an ant on the road and less than 18K

While traveling for work I have rented a Chevy Cavalier and HATED it and a Pontiac Vibe which I kind of liked. In general, I like the styling of Saabs and BMW 3-series but they are out of my dollar range. What do you recommend that I include in my research?

Warren Brown: Dear Somewhere: I understand, and suggest that you put these on your list: Mazda3, both hatcback and sedan; or the larger Mazda6 wagon. The Hyundai Santa Fe is good. But, do you want a small SUV or a regular car. The rental Chevrolet Cavaliers are easy to hate, because the car rental companies routinely buy the base models. Chevrolet does make good cars, as the recommended 2004 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, as well as the Cavalier replacement, the Cobalt, will prove.

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Carlisle, Pa.: Mr. Brown,

The Ford 500 AWD sounds interesting. Do you know if a wagon version is planned, or have U.S. manufacturers ceded the slightly upscale wagon to the Europeans and Japanese?

In a year or two I'll be replacing my Passat wagon. I want AWD and a little luxury, and would prefer more choices than whatever VW, Volvo or Subaru may be offering.

Warren Brown: Hello, Carlisle: At this moment, to my knowledge, no Ford Five-Hundred station wagon has been planned or announced. Mike Moran, Ford's Washington PR ace: If you are logged on, please let us know.

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Charlotte, N.C.: I drive about 8,000 miles a year and keep my cars until they die. I am looking for a basic, cheap commuter car. How do you compare the Hyandai Elantra, Saturn Ion and Suzuki Verona? Do you have a better alternative model.

Thank you

Warren Brown: Those are all good commuter cars, Charlotte. Frankly, Chevrolet is having a fire sale on Cavalier models ($3,000 cash rebate, or o to 1.9 percent financing for credit-worthy buyers). Despite the last chatter's comments, the retail market Cavaliers are pretty darned good buys for commuter work. Retail market? Yes, retail versus stripped model fleet sales.

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Oakton, Va.: Warren....has Pontiac given you an explanation why it is taking so long to get GTO's into local showrooms? You pointed out several weeks ago on this show that Pontiac Americanized this car in only 18 months. The anto magazines and auto press (which you are part of) has had this car for months doing road tests. Local dealers for several months have had both firm orders for new GTO's and a lost list for potential customers and test-drives. This car was shown at Detroit a year ago and at our local show also just last month. But even at our local show, it still wasn't out on the floor...only on the turntable. So WHERE ARE THEY? Why can't the public see them and test-drive them at dealerships? If it took only 18 months to Federalize this car, why should it take another 18 months just to get them from the lousy factories to the dealers? This just doesn't make sense. I know I'm venting here, but we potential GTO owners have something to vent about. Has Pontiac explained and justified this delay to you?...they certainly haven't to us.

Warren Brown: Oakton: It's not going to take another 18 months yop get the GTOs in show rooms. Production models should be available in ample number by March, certainly April. We tested pre-production models, as we often do in the automotive media. The pre-production cars are transported from test site to test site, often with a crew of engineers and mechanics (because some people think that testing cars necessarily means breaking them and driving them in a manner they wouldn't drive their own automobiles). All said, this is a reasonably fast GTO rollout.

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Washington, D.C.: How do you choose among minivans, assuming prices isn't the obstacle? I'd like easy access to the third row seats for carpooling.

Warren Brown: Hello, Washington: Inasmuch as all of the leading minivans are now highly competitive, and none really has a distinctive edge in terms of overall quality and performance, price becomes most important. My favorite are, in order of personal preference: 1. The Ford Freestar, which doesn't look like much on the outside, but has the best drivetrain and interior arrangement (although one friend of mine complained that the middle seats were too cramped for her leggy teenaged daughter.) 2. Toyota Sienna, the most child-friendly minivan. 3. Nissan Quest.--innovative styling. Respects the idea that all women aren't mothers and all motres aren't alike. Recognizes the possibility that parents still have libidos. Best in minivan styling. 4. Chrysler Town & Country--always good and getting better with second and third-row flat folding seats. 5. Honda Odyssey. Just finished test-driving the 2004 model. A good minivan, yes. But grossly overrated, especially in the pricing department.

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Gaithersburg, Md.: Hi Warren, love your column and gave your radio show a listen for the first time last weekend, I liked it. My question is my 2000 Cavalier wouldn't start twice in the last week. Towed it to a trusted mechanic (a rarity these days) and he couldn't find anything wrong with it. When it happened a second time, I called a Chevy Dealer to ask if they knew of anything. I'm hearing the words "frozen fuel line". Is this even possible for cars in this modern age?

Warren Brown: Yes. There is one in my driveway right now. The Chevy S10. But it isn't just a Chevrolet problem. Last Saturday, the Toyota Echo's fuel lines were frozen, too. I literaly call it the wind-chill factor. My driveway seems to take the brunt of any fierce winds blowing. Makes for troublesome winters.

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Vienna, Va.: Hello Warren. The caller from Charlotte mentioned the Suzuki Verona as a commuter car. I'd like to point out (and I think you didn't notice it) that the Verona is NOT a base commuter car. It is essntially a redone mid-size Daewoo Leganza with a straight-six engine rebadged as a Suzuki. This car was meant to compete with the Camry and Accord, not base compacts. I think that either you or the caller meant the upcoming Suzuki Forenza....a 4-cylinder compact that is also a rebadged Daewoo. That car (the Forenza) is more in line with the Saturn Ion comparison the caller asked about.

Warren Brown: You're right, Vienna. I should have made that note; and I thank you for doing so.

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Washington, D.C.: Hey Warren. I went to this year's Washington Auto Show with my kids and we came across an exhibit called WVSA arts connection. They were odig a project where kids were able to paint a van.

They had information on a new high school called AutoArts Academy they were opening in the fall 2004. Combining a school with automotive vocational training. Do you know anything more about this school? I think this would be perfect for my kids (going into 9th grade and 10th grade) since they want to get into the automotive industry. Do you have any more info on this neat idea for a school?

Warren Brown: Hello, Washington. I am sending this one to Gerard Murphy, president and chief executive officer of the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers's Assn., which has been doing lots of good work with regional high schools in setting programs such as the Automotive Arts Academy. Please e-mail me at warbro69@msn.com for detailed information.

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Washington, D.C.: Greetings...

Your selection if choosing between a Mazdza 6 or a Honda Accord Coupe -- both V6?

Thanks!

Warren Brown: The Honda Accord coupe gets it, promarily because it has a substantially better real-world turning circle than the Mazda 6.

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Minivan Help: Warren, I need to tap into your wisdom (and pithy comments too). How to convince my husband that a minivan makes more sense than a six passenger SUV...We have a toddler, and just found out another baby is on the way. We do a lot of hauling of bodies (friends, family) on the weekends, and two carseats in our Camry doesn't leave much space in the backseat. I think a minivan is safer and more practical (you've convinced me) than a larger SUV, but my husband thinks a minivan will be the death of him, and refuses to consider one. In all other things (car and otherwise) he is most practical and rational, but when it comes to minivans he runs screaming into the night (he thinks they are most uncool and most middle-aged). I need some of your common sense reasoning to get through to him. Thanks in advance Warren!;!;

Warren Brown: Here's help: You are right on every count. Your husband is wrong. And that, as you know, comes from someone who has long defended SUVs and will continue to do so. Here's my reasoning: . Your family is growing. There is no need to accumulate unnecessary debt in the process, which is what will happen if you buy an SUV large enough to transport everybody at the same time. You might as well take out a mortgage with Exxon. . Minivans, as a rule, offer more interior space and easier access to that space. Unless your husband is going to be the one always climbing up into a full-size SUV to make sure the child-safety seats are properly installed, he should relent and yield to your desires for a minivan. . Minivans are safer. They generally have lower centers of gravity than SUVs, which means they have less of a tendency to roll over in an accident. (In either case, minivan or SUV, all parties should be belted properly. NO EXCUSES. More than 60 percent of the people who die in rollovers die because they are UNBELTED.) . Considering the size and continuing growth of your family, your husband should have no worries about perceptions of libido. For that matter, neither should you. Congratulations on your expected new arrival. Take care of those kids. Put them in a minivan.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Hi Warren,

Please settle a dispute between me and the boyfriend. Issue is gasoline. If the manufacturer recommends unleaded gas why should I use premium? BF says I'll get better mileage and longevity. I hope to buy a Ford Expedition in a couple of months and see no reason to fill that huge tank with premium. Your chat is awesome! Thanks.

Warren Brown: Dear Silver Spring: The trouble with guys is that they are suckers for excess. Adequacy scares them. Dominance excites them. And thus the situation with gasoline. BF knows, but probably can't bring himself to accept the truth that higher octane gasoline DOES NOT increase the performance of an engine in which lower octane fuel is recommended or required. Octane is a measurement of a gasoline's ability to burn without pre-combustion, knocking or pinging inside of an engine. It is usually required for high-compression engines, such as turbocharged or spuercharged models, for smoother, more complete burns. Premium gas is of little to know value in lower compression engines. It is a waste of money there.

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Gaithersburg, Md.: I need to find a good auto mechanic. I've checked CarTalk's website and have found some ratings. Are there other sites out there with ratings or recommendations of Mechanic's? I'm relatively new to the area so I don't have many friends to ask and most people I know, don't know anything about cars. Also, What are some good questions to ask of a potential mechanic? I'm looking at needing a 75,000 mile check-up for a Plymouth Breeze.

Warren Brown: Yes, Gaithersburg. Go to the Washington Consumer's Checkbook, also listed as the Center for the Study of Services in Washington, D.C. For many year's, WCC has done an excellent job of recommending good local service shops, based on consumer ratings of service.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Lots of complaints on this forum last week ( mostly justified) about the lousy auto show here with no real new intros. I'd like to add my own two cents here: You mentioned that the problem was dates, that the show dates here don't allow showing of new models. This sounds like a bunch of nonsense to me; if the manufacturers can unveil something in the middle of January in Detroit, what on earth prevents them from simply bringing one down here ( to a new car market SIX TIMES the size of Detroit) and putting one on our floor too? Nothing...they simply give us that excuse. And then to add insult to injury, when they DO show off something, where is it? Out on the floor where we can see and inspect it? No...it's up on a turntable going around in circles like some merry-go-round with some guy in a buisness suit with a gold badge or some glamor girl in an evening dress parroting off a cue card script. No wonder there are so many complaints about this D.C. show. I can certainly understand why.

Warren Brown: Dear Silver Spring: You are wrong. Detroit remains internationally recognized as a major hub of the global auto industry. GM, the world's largest car company is headquarterd there. Ford, the world's second largest car company, is headquartered in nearby Dearborn. The North American operations of DaimlerChrysler Corp. are headquartered in nearby Auburn Hills. EVERY major auto company in the world has a research office, administrative office or some other significant presence in the Detroit area. And that does not even begin to include the many suppliers, outfitters, research and development companies situated along Interstate 75 and located in places such as Troy, Mich. Not to mention perhaps the world's biggest center of ground transportation studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. So, it makes perfectly good sense from the automakers' viewpoint to put their biggest and grandest North American international auto exhibit in Detroit. Makes perfectly good sense to me, too. It also makes sense that the car companies globally--and the Japanese car companies in particular--place major emphases on Los Angeles and thus on California, which is the single largest and most influential retail car market in North America. What does not make sense, and has never made sense to me is Washington's refusal, reluctance to play to its strength. To wit: We regulate the industry. No car or truck can be sold anywhere in the United States unless Washington says so. We set the safety, fuel and emissions rules. We pass the federal laws. But we don't do any of those things Dec. 26 through January 4th, when official Washington is nowhere to be found. When there are no safety, emissions, or fuel conservation seminars. When all of the Washington offices of the world's car companies are shut tight. Now, if you were a car company who wanted to impress Washington's movers and shakers as well as its consumers, would you choose to show your best stuff in Washington Dec. 26-Jan. 4th? I want you to think about this very carefully, because your answer can result in a multi-million-dollar mistake. I want you to pretend that I'm Donald Trump and you're one of those people trying to get a job running one of his companies. Because, if your answer is that you would put a costly automotive exhibit here in late December, and reap none of the benfits of doing it in front of Official Washington, well, my friend "YOU'RE FIRED!!!"

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Fairfax, Va: Hello, What are primary differences between the Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Forerunner? Thanks, lj

Warren Brown: The Toyota 4Runner is demonstrably better on and off-road.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Warren. Short version of a long story. Recently purchased a new Accord EX V6. Upon delivery the dealer noticed it had dents in trunk lid, so they offered me a replacement. Took it home and I found the next day that it had a small dent in the driver's door and the paint was peeling off around the tailight. This is unacceptable for a new car. I believe they owe me a new car - free of dents and peeling paint. I don't think I should be stuck with a car that needs body work simply because the only two Accords in the model and color I wanted they had in stock at the time both had dents. They have offered to "fix" these problems while at the same time telling me they can only touch up the paint and cannot guarantee no more is going to peel off (and I don't trust that the dent in the door will be removed properly based on my experience with them - i.e., they are very careless and unprofessional). Tried contacting Honda and they say that since the car was delivered without damage these problems are the responsibility of the dealership. Am I stuck? Should I file complaints with BBB and/or state attorney general?

Warren Brown: Dear Washington: I am posting this story in hopes that Honda and the dealer in question come to their collective senses. This is ridiculous. Where is the Honda advertisement, on air or in print, that says the company's responsibility for delivering a quality product stops at the dealer's door? Where is the Honda advertisement, on air or in print, that says if a dealer delivers a brand new Honda car to a trusting customer with dents and dings, well, heck, that's just too bad for the customer? Did the dealer tell you that you were getting a dented-dinged car that the dealership might not be able to repair to your satisfaction? I doubt it. Is Honda quality just a slogan, an empty boast, or is it for real? What do you have to say, Honda spokesman Kurt Antonius? Is your company going to put up, shut up, or just leave this guy wishing that he had bought a Toyota instead?

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Alexandria, VA: Minivan alternative...look at new and late-model wagons, or even 1990s Volvo 850 wagons (the 850 Turbo model is sporty AND big).

Warren Brown: Good idea, Alexandria. But if that guy is throwing male-menopausal tantrums over a minivan, what makes you think he'll be inclined to consider a station wagon?

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Washington, DC: What can someone do about a frozen fuel line? I have a new Toyota Echo, so I'm worried about the one that froze in your driveway.

Warren Brown: I honestly don'r know, and will put this one out for the tecchies.

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Reston, Va.: Hi Mr. Brown:

Any buzz on the Accord V-6 hybrid due later this year? in particular, the likely pricing premium? Thanks

Warren Brown: Probably coming in fall as a 2005 model--with base prices running around $22,000.

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Fairfax, VA: Re: Minivan Help's question

My wife and I went through the same thing (toddler and another on the way) a few years ago, only SHE was the one who favored an SUV over a minivan, mainly due to the minivan "image."

I took her to a nearby Dodge dealership where they had a Durango and a Caravan side-by-side. Naturally, the Durango looked much more interesting. But when we asked our 2-year old to climb into the Durango by herself, she couldn't do it -- the floor was too high -- and once she was inside it was hard for us to maneuver around the passenger area to get her out. Then we asked her to get into the Caravan by herself, and quicker than you could blink she was inside and clambering all over.

My wife instantly changed her mind and decided that a minivan was far and away the best way to go (although we went with something other than the Caravan)

Warren Brown: Thanks for that, Fairfax. As I said, libido is a two-way street. My lovely wife won't even test-drive any of the minivans that arrive in our driveway. Oops, correction. She condescended to drive two--the Toyota Sienna and the Ford Freestar, both of which she liked. But she turned her pretty nose up at the Odyssey and Chrysler Town & Country, and wouldn't go anywhere near the Mazda MPV. And, hey, she's an elementary school teacher. You'd think she'd have some empathy, some feeling for the Moms doing the minivan taxi thing to and from her school. But, noooo.....The Woman From Texas, the Royal Miss Thing just won't do minivans. Nope, no way. Let's see if she changes her mind when we get grandchildren. If we get grandchildren. Career-minded daughters, you know....

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Que, RY: Jeep Liberty? Tried it yet? Like it? It's very sassy, but I haven't heard any buzz pro or con.

Warren Brown: Hello, Que: Early reviews were mixed because some drivers found it tippy. Suspension reworked, Substantilly more stable. I like the thing. It's one of my favorites.

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Arlington, DC: I'm really torn whether to buy a minivan or keep my 4-door '95 Prizm, which works fine but is a bit noisy, has 93,000 miles, and whose back seat just barely holds my two-year-old (he kicks the front seats from his car seat). I have no doubt a minivan is in our future when we need a second car and when we move to the suburbs and get a dog, but right now we do fine with one paid-for, reliable, compact. It comes down to my frugality versus convenience; we don't NEED a minivan, but we could afford one and it would be a lot easier on my back and on my son's legs. How do I make this decision?

Warren Brown: Arlington, go on an get the minivan and be happy. If you'd like, I'll hunt up a Porsche or Corvette logo, and you can stick it on the minivan of your choice. And with that, good folks, I bid you all a good rest of the week. Hmmm, after those comments on The Woman From Texase, looks like I'll be eating out the next couple of nights. Any suggestions?

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