Warren Brown has covered the car industry for The Washington Post since 1982.

Brown test drives all types of cars, from luxury sedans to the newest minivans and hybrids. His On Wheels auto reviews are lively, detailed accounts of cars' good and bad qualities.

Brown's Car Culture column addresses the social, political and economic trends of the industry.

Brown comes online Fridays 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.

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Bethesda, Md.: Warren, Acura RDX vs. Infiniti EX vs. BMW x3?

Warren Brown: Good morning, Bethesda:

If you want to spend $31k+, the Infiniti EX35 is a good way to do it. Exceptionally well-styled and very pleasant ride and handling. Looks and feels better than the RDX. And it's more practical for daily hauling than the BMW X3.

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Washington, D.C.: Have you driven the new Subaru Forrester yet? If so what are your thoughts? How does it compare to the Honda CR-V?

Warren Brown: We've driven the 2009 Subaru Forester. But we tested only one in what is an 11-model/trim level vehicle line. Ours was the premium. We appreciated the sensible styling and superior (to the CR-V) utility.

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Eastern Market, D.C.: I would like to get a new car. I would prefer a wagon, crossover or car with ample cargo space. I don't care much about looks, but I do want one that gets good gas mileage, is well made, and is safe.

Also, I heard VW is coming out with a Jetta wagon that runs on diesel. I'm interested, but have two questions about it:

1. How hard will it be to find diesel in the D.C. area? and

2. Has VW improved its quality of late? I used to have a Golf in the early '90s. It was a fun car, but it was built with about the same quality as the Transformers my son plays with. Thanks.

Warren Brown: Hello, Eastern Market:

I just hit the wrong button and shipped my answer on the Subaru Forester earlier than intended. We were impressed with the utility of the Premium trim model we drove recently. All of the new Foresters come with a 2.5-liter, 170-hp, flat four (horizontally opposed) cylinders. We though there was reasonable power there. But we wouldn't be surprised if others disagreed. It's all-wheel-drive, as is the case with all Subaru models, which means it is not as fuel-efficient as you might think. But it certainly can meet your needs quite well. Extremely reliable and very well built.

I take it that, on the diesel question, you are referring to the excellent Jetta TDI. If you can get one, buy it. VW overall quality much improved. And VW/Audi finally have gotten around to fixing their repair bays.

Diesel availability? Google "diesel stations, D.C. and area."

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Falls Church, Va.: Warren,

How do you feel about the Volvo S40 base model? Is there something comparable, in terms of styling/size, and luxury? I just wish the Volvo didn't take mid grade fuel and got a little better gas mileage. I want the car (I don't necessarily need the car) but I also feel that I should use my pocketbook in a smarter fashion.

Warren Brown: Yes, Falls Church. Trust me, you are much better off buying the excellent new Toyota Corolla in that segment. Displacement, wheelbase, et cetera are reasonably comparable. But the Corolla beats it in fuel efficiency and overall costs. And the new Corolla appears to be as bullet-proof as its predecessors.

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Georgetown: Hi, Warren --

I'm looking for a new car, and my first priority is gas mileage, since fuel is getting so expensive. But a close second is the car's fun/sexy factor. No sunroof makes the Prius a dealbreaker for me. I'm thinking of a MINI cooper, but I can't find your review; have you reviewed it? Is there another cool fuel-saver that you recommend? Thanks very much.

Warren Brown: Hello, Georgetown:

I reviewed and bought the 2002 Mini Cooper. And my producer has that review at the ready. We've only had one annoying problem with our Mini, which we still own and refuse to abandon. There is an annoying rattle emanating from the front of the sunroof. No one seems capable of fixing that. I recently drove the Mini Cooper Clubman and loved it. It's a wagon, probably not what you're looking for at this point. But it's well made, cleverly designed.

The base Mini Cooper coupes are now approaching bullet-proof reliability. You should get at least 33 mpg hwy. The bummer is that our model strictly requires premium. I think that applies to newer models as well.

Another fun fuel sipper, truly reliable and well made -- the legendary Mazda3.

washingtonpost.com: Here's Warren's review of the 2002 Mini Cooper.

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Oak Hill: Recently we had the opportunity to rent a Toyota Prius. I'd never considered buying one but I might now because I found the car fun to drive. It could have been the unique experience, but I found it to be spacious and much more responsive, getting on the Interstate, for example.

I'd consider buying this not for its MPG -- I'm not one to buy because it is a hybrid, etc. -- but based on this experience. I drove this more than any other car before purchasing.

Any problems or issues you are aware of other than possible battery replacement/disposal, etc. Has there been any data on reliability? Can independent mechanics repair/service?

Sorry for the series of questions but I was really impressed with the performance and drivability.

Warren Brown: Hello, Oak Hill:

The Prius, so far, has proved quite reliable, based on testimony from a bevy of Prius owners. But don't be surprised if your mileage is lower than Toyota and some owners claim. Based on my extensive experience with the car, there is a lot of exaggeration on the mileage issue.

Future problems? Yes. But on this one, I've abandoned my habit of allowing the perfect to be the enemy of the good. Current Prius battery packs are nickel-metal hydride. They should become obsolete in five years or so. When that happens, and it will, Prius resale value will drop, too. Battery disposal is another problem. Remaining battery life at time of resale most certainly will lower resale price.

Treat a Prius purchase the way you would the purchase of a laptop, which becomes obsolete almost as soon as you take it from the store. Buy it and use it until it can't effectively be used anymore.

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Clifton, Va.: What are the greens and anti-SUV crowd going to do when GM, Ford Mercedes and BMW come out with diesel hybrid SUVs that get 30 to 38 mpg? This also means large pick-ups can get the same mileage!

I think you and Ria need to test new Porsche GT2 and the Aston Martin DBS. DBS is your type of car, Sir. Brown, Warren Brown.

Warren Brown: What's up, Clifton?

GM and Daimler, as you know, already have produced a dual-mode hybrid that substantially increases the fuel-efficiency of big rides, such as the Tahoe. Those two companies, as well as others, are working on advanced diesel engines and diesel-electric hybrids. GM has something else up its technological sleeves, the Homogenous Compression Combustion Ignition engine, or HCCI. Think of it as efficient diesel technology applied to a gasoline engine up to a point (55 miles per hour in the current case) where Spark Ignition (SI) technology takes over. We tested a prototype last week in Saturn Aura dress. Improved fuel efficiency over tradition internal combustion engine technology was 15 percent. There's other stuff, much of it, out there. I suppose the greens are going to have to figure out if they are more interested in viable solutions than they are in raising funds through polemics.

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Washington, D.C.: Is the MazdaSpeed 3 worth the extra money?

Warren Brown: Is Picasso worth the extra money? Rembrandt? Beauty here is very much in the eyes of the beholder. If you want and love speed and performance in a package that is reasonably affordable, you'll pay the extra money for a MazdaSpeed3.

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Lewiston, N.Y.:"All of the new Foresters come with a 2.5-liter, 170-hp, flat four (horizontally opposed) cylinders."

Wrong -- the two top models, the 2.5XT and 2.5XT Limited, come with a 2.5 liter turbo boxer, with 224 hp and 226 lb/ft of torque - this should allay the concerns of anyone who doesn't think it's powerful enough.

Warren Brown: You are right, Lewiston. I stand corrected. I forgot about those turbos. Top hp is 224, as you said. Many thanks.

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Charlottesville, Va.: Warren,

A few years ago, Ford released a new "Bronco Concept." Do you know what is happening with this concept? Will we see a new Bronco anytime? Also, does the new Subaru Forrester have any off-road capability? Thanks.

Warren Brown: Hello, Charlottesville:

I was surprised, three years ago, I think, when Ford had the temerity to unveil at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit a concept with the "Bronco" moniker. That name is synonymous to "lawsuit" and "rollover." Given the current environment of a down economy and high fuel prices, I doubt that Ford would trot out a new vehicle with a name that carries a lot of negative baggage. But, I've been wrong before...

The Forester is good for snow, slush, rain. It is nobody's rough-and-tumble off-road vehicle.

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Richmond Hill, Ga.: This is more a question/comment/rant on car buying than on cars themselves. A couple of weeks ago I had to buy a new car. The old Sable with 160K miles needed some major repairs and it wasn't worth putting the money into it any more. So I did my research on the Internet, narrowed my search down to three small cars, got comparison features and prices, and went shopping. In two of the dealerships they were only interested in selling me the cars they had on their lots -- loaded with options I didn't want -- rather than the car I wanted. When I asked for the full price of the car, they would only give me the per month payment for a 5- or 6-year loan with a minimum down payment. I finally walked out of the Nissan dealership when the salesman would only reply to any question by saying, "What can I do to make you buy this car now?" I finally bought a Honda Fit, which I do like very much, because the dealership said that though it didn't have exactly what I wanted, it could get it within a few days and would give me a loaner car in the meantime. They also gave me the full price when I first asked and reduced it when I showed them the comparison prices I had gotten from the Internet. But in this Internet era, why do car dealers still try to pressure knowledgeable consumers into buying what they don't want at inflated prices?

Warren Brown: Hello, Gerogia:

I'm posting this for all of those executives at the National Automobile Dealers Association who keep telling me that dealers no longer engage in such stupidity.

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Clifton, Va.: What are the greens and anti-SUV crowd going to do when GM, Ford Mercedes and BMW come out with diesel hybrid SUVs that get 30 to 38 mpg?: Umm, be happy that the producers are responding to the science of global warming? Although I still find it crazy to see a mom and one kid in a Yukon. As a Rob Riggle on the Daily Show says, just because there isn't a mountain in between my home and my kid's school doesn't mean I don't need a Hummer.

Warren Brown: You're whacked, Clifton.

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D.C.: Hi Mr. Brown

You mentioned the Subaru Forrester earlier, but how does it compare to the Subaru Tribeca? The Tribeca seems to be a Forrester on steroids (and a bulked up price tag). How do these 2 cars compare? Thanks a lot for the great columns and the chats.

Warren Brown: Hello, D.C.:

The Tribeca starts at $30,000, about $10K more than the Forester. It seats more people, seven versus five for the Foester. It has a longer wheelbase and a bigger engine -- a flat 3.5-liter six at about 256 hp, I think. Oh, and it has a much uglier rear end.

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Crystal City, Va.: Comfort (I'm 6'2"), reliability, good acceleration and resale value are important factors for me when deciding on a car. I am considering Cadillac CTS, or similar BMW and Mercedes models. Which one would have the above factors for me?

Warren Brown: All. Seriously. Nobody really slouches on quality and reliability anymore.

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San Francisco: The days of cheap gas are over ($4.00+ here!). It also appears ethanol is not the solution to the high cost of driving. Which kind of fuel-efficient vehicles will deliver the best value over the next few years? Hybrids, diesels, electrics, some combination or something we haven't even heard about?

Warren Brown: Hello, S.F.

Cheap gas is gone. Ethanol NEVER was meant to be the solution. But ethanol will remain one of many parts to the solution. It can be obtained from a variety of non-food sources. We will see a mix of vehicles -- hybrids of all sorts, electrics, natural gas, advanced diesel, biodiesel.

Despite what some of my media colleagues suggest, or what vote-hustling politicians would have you believe, there is not now, nor will their ever be a silver bullet to take care of our energy needs. The laws of thermodynamics control that. We're in the crux of a necessary, major change in how we relate to fuel and automobiles. Despite what any glad-mouthing politician claims, there will be pain.

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Northern Virginia: Hi Warren,

What is the most economical car that you can recommend that would have room for three child seats? Thanks so much.

Warren Brown: A Hyundai minivan. Seriously.

Okay, folks. That's it. Thanks for joing us today. Thanks, Amy. Eat lunch, Ria.

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Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.