Real Wheels

The Post's Warren Brown will be online to answer your questions about every aspect of the automotive industry.

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.

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The transcript follows.

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Washington, D.C.: I'm a 30-year-old 5'11" female in the market for a new vehicle. Can anything beat the Hyundai Sonata? It's what I'm currently looking at. In terms of the much boasted about leg room, price, style and perks? Thanks.

Warren Brown: Good morning, D.C.

The Sonata (2008-2009) offers the best value -- most quality for lowest price -- in the midsize sedan category. Can you do better? Of course, particularly if you are willing to pay more. Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Saturn Aura, Volkswagen Jetta all are good alternatives.

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Centreville, Va.: Hi Warren, I love your advice. My wife and I are adding our thrid child in a few months and need a bigger car. We need to buy used and are looking at 2004/05 Durangos and Pacificas. Which in your opinion is a better choice or are we missing out on something? We are looking in the $11K price range and my wife doesn't want a mini van but would like the option of the third row of seats. Thanks so much for the help. Happy Thanksgiving.

Warren Brown: Good morning, Centreville:

Skipp the Durango and Pacifica, new or used. The Durango is a gas hog. The Pacifica is marginally better. I'd advise hunting down a used Dodge Journey -- decent fuel economy, smartly designed, family oriented interior, decent ride and handling, good safety at an affordable price, although I suspect a couple of thousand north of $11k. If you are serious about the $11k range, get thee to Hyundai, which shouldhave something used -- perhaps the estimable Sorento -- available for that cash.

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Baltimore: Hi Warren, always enjoy your chats and hope you and yours are doing well. On the subject of our energy policy, I agree with you that a floor price for gasoline (you've cited $4/gal, and that may be a good point) is a better way to change our collective, wasteful behavior than is CAFE.

That said, you and I both know full well that we have a better chance of going to the moon next week than we do of finding, let alone getting elected, any politicians who would honestly work toward this goal. That is reality.

One thing I think Congress could easily do, however, is to change tax credits from supporting only hybrids to high-mileage vehicles. Why on earth should someone get a $2000 tax credit for buying a vehicle that gets 19 mpg (I'm thinking these hybrid Tahoes and Escalades here), and not one that gets 40, regardless of how it accomplishes that?

Warren Brown: That's a good suggestion, Baltimore -- using tax credits to support high-mileage vehicles. That strategy also could help us kickstart currently stalled vehicle sales. Moreover, it could help us reduce the fleet of older, more egregiously consumptive and polluting cars and trucks. Good idea!

How about, say, starting tax credits for cars that deliver a minimum 31 miles per gallon. We can adjust the credit upward in tandem with increases in vehicle efficiency. And you're right. Let's not cherry pick technologies. Any vehicle meeting or exceeding the minimum mileage -- and meeting current federal clean air standards -- gets the credit. Thanks, Baltimore.

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Anonymous: I read your Nov. 9 column and passed it on to others. It was spot on. I am from Chicago and know very well now the middle class, particularly the African-American middle class was built upon the auto and steel industries. My dad did some time at Ford. And I remember how the Midwest died economically as those jobs left the country. But I have owned two Nissans, one Toyota, and currently have a PT Cruiser, so I have not always bought American despite my Midwest roots. But I love my Cruiser and I am glad I purchased it. In fact, I am willing to buy another one if Chrysler survives.

What went wrong with Chrysler specifically? Many models like the Cruiser, the 300 and the Town and Country are fairly popular. If one of the three automakers goes under, it seems Chrysler would be the one. What is your forecast?

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washingtonpost.com: Here's a link to Warren's Nov. 9 Car Culture column: How Dignified Work Was Run Into a Ditch

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Warren Brown: Thank you, Anonymous.

My support of the domestic auto industry stems from the history of the good it has done for this country in general and my people in particular. Does that mean I'm a staunch buy-American advocate? No. In a free-market economy--or, at least what passes for a free-market economy for all of us except banks, insurance companies and hospitals--consumers should have the widest possible choices of products and services. Competition is a very good thing.

What went wrong?

My theory is that America got drunk on cheap gasoline. We actually believed that bigger was better, that the only good horsepower was more horsepower. The American Three fell into that mindset, egged on in no small measure by foreign car companies, nearly all of whom targeted the U.S. marget for trucks, sport-utility vehicles and big-engined cars. Myopia set in. And the American Three, aided and abetted by a Congress that refused to do anything to curb U.S. consumer consumption of gasoline, forgot all about making cars. They went truck crazy.

They are now trying to recover.

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Clifton, Va.: Chevy, BMW et al have diesel hybrids close to production that for the X5 get 36mpg and for a Surburban 30-32 mpg.

Congress and the Grenn lobby need to realize many folks buy cars or trucks for dual use. Commuting during the week and their hobbies, etc. on weekends. A little Prius or Civic just won't work. And owning two cars is cost prohibitive. My sis commutes to Vienna Metro in her Tahoe. from Bristow. Her work schedule for DHS prevents using the train or carpooling. She uses the Tahoe to haul her 3 BCs and for her SAR work. So if you see her all alone in her car during the week she does need the Tahoe. She can't fit her gear or dogs in anything smaller. She get 16-18 mpg commuting and 20 mpg on the highway.

Warren Brown: You're right, Clifton. Congress and the pinstriped, desk-bound, sources-said, expense-account, nanny-nanny-boo-boo media crowd need to understand that gas-electric hybrids are only one part, and not necessarily the best part, of an alternative fuels/propulsion solution to our reliance on foreign oil. Advanced diesel vehicles are 25 to 30 percent more efficient than their gasoline counterparts. Their advantage over electrics and hybrids is that they don't need exotic batteries (which have their own problems in terms of materials sourcing and longterm reliability... and disposal). Improved waste stream treatment (I'm thinking "Add-Blue" and "Bluetec" here) qualify them to meet our most stringent clean-air regs.

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Del City, Okla.: Warren, I love my wife dearly, and she needs a new car. However, she's not always too sensible. Point in fact, she wants a Chevy HHR, because she likes how they look.

This is OK with me. We can afford it; we'll get an end of year 2008 model; and we have $3,500 on our GM Master Card to put towards the cost. Also, she does not drive more than a few thousand miles a year.

However, I've not been able to find out much info on the car. I gather it's a middle of the road, not especially good or bad. Your assurance that, if we keep it well maintained, which we will, it will get her safely from place to place for the next few years would clinch the deal. Thank you very much.

Warren Brown: Good morning, Del City:

Your lovely wife is quite sensible. Here's hoping that she's also forgiving. How dare you question her intellect!

Here's why she's sensible in her pursuit of the Chevrolet HHR. It's one of the best urban wagons available -- fuel-efficient, utilittarian, reliable, reasonably priced (five models available from about $16,730 to nearly $23,00).

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Washington, D.C.: What are your views on a used 2008 VW Rabbit? Seem well built and fun to drive.

Warren Brown: A nice car. Great for the city. And, lucky us, all indications are that VW/Audi dealers in the Mid-Atlantic region are cleaning up their heretofore cruddy act in the repair department. It's safe for us to buy VW again.

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Washington, D.C.: Warren: I saw a story on ABC News last night that really brought home why Detroit is in such a fix. The story focused on a Toyota plant in Texas. Toyota, due to decreased sales, had to close the plant for three weeks. But the workers got their full salary and were asked to spend their time improving the community -- they were shown sprucing up a playground. On top of that, the president of Toyota takes a salary of $1 million a year. What is it that the GM prexy takes -- $17 million, plus bonuses, to preside over a company that's hemorraging? Then he comes to D.C. in a private jet to ask for bailouts. The corporate culture at GM is rotten, which is why Toyota wins.

Warren Brown: I disagree.

We praise Toyota for continuing to pay its workers at idled plants. But we pillory the American Three for doing the same thing via UAW-sanctioned "jobs banks" (which, by the way, is why Toyota is doing what it's doing).

We praise idled Toyota workers for their community work. But we seem to find it not at all worthy that almost in any community where there is an American Three plant, we can find UAW members doing exactly the same thing, if not more.

We praise the head of Toyota for taking a $1 million annual salary. But we're upset that American Three execs are much like the rest of us in America--getting as much as we possibly can.

And, personally, I find the hubub over American Three execs flying corporate jets more than a little bit silly and hypocrital. Let's pretend that the United States is a business. We're trillions of dollars in debt, involved in two go-nowhere wars. Our economy sucks. Does our ceo fly coach across country to meetings? Should we sell Air Force One? Should we require our Secretary of State to fly commercial? And, forgive me, but I distinctly recall a row of Hyundai corporate jets sitting on an airfield near Montgomery, Ala. a couple of years ago when that state, proffering millions in tax breaks, was wooing Hyundai to set up a union-free assembly plant near Montgomery.

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Riverdale Park, Md.: Hello Warren, this is a question for you and your Post colleague Steve Pearlstein.

The last British-owned mass producer of cars, the MG Rover Group, went bankrupt in 2005. Britain still has an auto industry, but it's either small and specialized (e.g. McLaren) or big and foreign (e.g. Ford).

Britain survived the loss of its biggest car producer. Can't the U.S., too?

Warren Brown: Hello, Riverdale Park:

Britain does NOT have an auto industry. Instead, Britain has been colonized by foreign-owned companies that manufacture cars and trucks in Britain.

How sad.

A once imperial country that does not control its core manufacturing enterprise. Here's hoping that Britain remains at peace with the United States, Germany, Japan, Korea and now India--countries whose companies now design, develop, and manufacture almost everything with engines and wheels in Britain.

If that is what we want for America, well, we seem to have a Congress that is more than willing to give it to us.

Poor Studs Terkel. America, once the country of broad-shouldered cities that once took pride in manufacturing, building. He must be rolling in his grave.

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Winston-Salem, N.C.: So the folks in Congress want to see that the Big 3 have a business plan for changing the industry because they have supposedly ignored American's demand for better quality, more fuel effient cars at low prices. What exactly does Congress want, and what can and should the mfg's change? Their quality as a whole has gotten much better the past few years, especially Ford. They have several reasonably efficient cars and trucks. There are several models in the pipeline that should be well received. I agree that the industry as a whole had problems, but there really is no quick fix. This isn't a turn-on-a-dime situation.

Warren Brown: I'll be frank, Winston-Salem:

Congress is full of it, and it is stinks to high heaven.

This is the Congress that sat on its tail refusing to do anything to give our country a meaningful energy policy. This is the Congress that couldn't or wouldn't figure out that demanding increases in technical fuel efficiency while maintaining the cheapest gasoline prices in the developed world would lead to increased consumer demand for driving, increased consumer demand for bigger vehicles and more horsepower, increased overall consumption of fossil fuels.

Yet, here is this oh-so-concerned Congress demanding that the American Three present a detailed business plan for a federal bridge loan. I have more respect for Sarah Palin!

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Ann Arbor, Mich.: Warren, I would like to offer a comment on the recent situation with the American automakers. You seem to be one of the few journalists who seems to "get it."

Of course, the collapse of the American automakers would be a disaster for a large number of employees and retirees who work for the them and their suppliers. I am very concerned for them.

Some people seem to believe this is a regional problem and production could be ramped up in the South. In the lead of this group are the Southern senators and congressman who gave billions in bailout money to foreign manufacturer to build plants there. (Georgia recently gave over $250 million to Kia to build a plant).

But there is a big difference. The U.S. automakers have the technical capability to take a product from an idea through to a high quality, affordable manufactured product. Of course the transplants can make the same claim. But the key is that virtually all of the steps, including vehicle design and development and assembly plant layout is done overseas. I don't think the public has any idea whatsoever what the loss of this expertise would mean -- not just for autos but for the rest of the industries in the country.

As one simple example, Dell became successful through the adoption of automotive practices of assembly and just-in-time supply chain management.

We seem to be a country that thinks that products magically appear and that wealth is created when we sell stuff to each other. But there will be no wealth if we can't manufacturer products.

Warren Brown: Truly, Ann Arbor, I am disappointed with how our putative political leaders have handled the American Three crisis. But my disappointment lately has morphed into cynicism. It amazes me that my media colleagues seem to find nothing at all smelly about solons from Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi and from other redoubts of the Old Confederacy (a region that once built its economies on feudalism and slavery, and now leading in the creation of "pro-business" non-union envieonments)stomping on the notion of federal aid to the American Three.

Is it because the Old Confederacy is now home to every foreign car company that wants to manufacture in the United States without interference from the UAW?

Is this all a lon-range ploy to do away with the UAW, or severely weaken it? Let the American Three fail and watch those UAW contracts disappear along with them? Is this an attempt to move toward complete union-free manufacturing in the United States? If so, do we want that kind of America?

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Clifton, Va.: Land Rover and Jaguar are now owned by Tata, an Indian company.

Bentley and Rolls Royce are owned by Audi and BMW repsectively.

Aston Martin is still owned by a Brit.

Mini is owned by BMW.

GM does sell cars in the UK under Vauxhall name.

Hoping Land Rover sell its entire product line in the U.S. now that it no lober aprt of Ford.

Warren Brown: Check Again, Clifton. I think Aston Martin is owned by Ford. If not, it's in play to be sold to another foreign owner.

Bottom line: Do we want America to become Britain, a country where foreigners control its core manufacturing enterprise? Do we want a Wal-Mart economy, one in which we're willing to import goods and services...and talent..., eschewing homegrown production and services, as long as we can get what we need and want at the lowest possible price? Is that our new vision for a robust America?

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But we're upset that American Three execs are much like the rest of us in America--getting as much as we possibly can. : I disagree. Not all Americans are this greedy. I think it's wrong that the top people at my company make millions upon millions, and get upset that they can only own 9 houses instead of 10. For those of us who can barely afford to own any home at all, this greed is disgusting.

Warren Brown: When was the last time you refused a raise?

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Washington, D.C.: From Jan 1 to Oct 31 of this year, GM has sold 637,000 more vehicles in North America than Toyota, Ford has sold 419,000 more vehicles than Honda, and Chrysler has sold 7,000 more vehicles than Chrysler. During the same period, in fact, Chrysler has sold 72,000 more vehicles than Nissan and Hyundai COMBINED.

So why are bloggers, posters, journalists, and -- even worse -- other auto journalists and lawmakers (during these "bail out" sessions) not challenged when they repeatedly make the untrue assertion that Detroit builds vehicles "nobody wants to buy?" By looking at the numbers, you could make the same assertion that no one wants to buy Honda vehicles, but you never hear anyone say that. You don't even ever hear anyone claim VW, BMW, Kia, Mazda, or Daimler build vehicles "nobody wants to buy," yet even Chrysler has sold more vehicles during this period than all of THEM COMBINED!

Granted the market share of Detroit-based manufacturers has declined over the years, but the numbers prove it has clearly never been within the realm of nobody wanting to buy their vehicles. Why are these commentators allowed to ignore truth and repeatedly make this assertion?

Please tell me that this is something other than really a case routinely bashing everything home grown and of secretly wishing "if you repeat a lie enough times it will eventually become true?" It certainly has painted a lot of people's perceptions.

Warren Brown: Well, Washington, my short answer, especially as applied to the media, is bias thoroughly mixed with ignorance and laziness. Your numbers are correct. They are right there at the Automotive News Data Center and Ward's Automotive for anybody to check. But it's so much easier to parrot nonsense such as "Detroit makes cars that no one wants to buy." It's shameful foolishness. It darned sure isn't journalism.

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Reston, Va.: Warren, enjoy your chats. To address the issue with the Big Three. I hope that they get the bailout but, with set requirements to include lowered salaries for execs until loan is repayed, a set plan for more fuel efficent vehicles, etc. The companies also have to show other changes to reduce their own costs (hey, sometimes you have to start flying commercial when the funds are low). Ford seems to be in better shape out of the three right now but, GM needs to seriously start building some of their Opel and Vauxhall models in America (diesel, fuel efficent). Even the Cadillac CTS has a diesel in Europe.

The only problem is if gas prices continue to stay low we will start buying those big gas guzzlers again. So I propose that the U.S. government adds an additional 50 cents per gallon gas tax each year for the next three years (the increase in fuel costs also were a major part to assisting with the global recession so incremental increase wouldn't shock the economy at at time when we are in a deep recession). Which the funds from this tax would be used for rebates to buy fuel efficent vehicles, the bailout of the Big Three, to establish a new CNG fueling network nationwide (at least one station every 25 miles), electric charging stations nationwide (again within every 25 miles)for new electric vehicles and the funding for the car companies to convert their vehicles (new and used vehicle conversions) until either cellusistic ethanol or hydrogen vehicles are ready.

Warren Brown: Okay, Reston.

But let's be completely fair.

We give the car companies the bridge loans. Their CEOs take a salary cut. But because our political leaders have helped to throw the U.S. economy into the toilet, Congress gets a salary cut, too. Ditto those folks at Treasury.

We set a $4 a gallon floor under the price of regular unleaded gasoline. Why $4? Because that seems to be the tipping point in terms of getting consumers to behave with more common sense. We increase gas-guzzler taxes and offer tax incentives for more fuel-efficient vehicles -- let's put the starting point at a combined 31 mpg city/hwy -- regardless of technology used. How's that?

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La Patera, Calif.: Blaming Congress for the Big 3's horrendous mismanagement and complacency is ludicrous. Yes, Congress has been inept and inert, but it didn't build a generation worth of crappy cars or force its CEOs to take $17 million paychecks.

I'm a union guy and have a brother who works for a company that builds components for the auto industry. But I gotta tell ya, I'm not feeling too pleased about throwing $25-50 billion at an industry that has stubbornly refused to remake itself into something smart and vital.

Frankly, I think you've been covering Detroit for too long. You're a smart guy and a good writer, but you're just way too close to the industry, and you've become its apologist.

Warren Brown: Baloney all around, La Patera. Except, thanks for calling me a smart guy.

Did Detroit make crappy cars? Yes, many of them. So did Volkswagen. So did Toyota (those early little death traps sold in the U.S.), so did Fiat; and darn so sure did Nisssan, aka Datsun.

But blame Congress? You betcha.

No industrial policy. No energy policy. Nothing at all to encourage energy conservation among consumers, Yes, I blame Congress. Me?

Haven't you noticed? I no longer spend much time in Detroit.Nowadays, its more like China,Russia, South America...which is why we need to get serious about controlling our oil consumption. The rest of the world is coming online.

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Fairfax, Va.: Okay, so I had an idea and I'm not seeing the big problem with it. Instead of giving the automakers $25 billion... why not just buy $25 billion in cars and trucks?

The government could replace its entire fleet and give the rest to state and local governments. Any leftover can be part of a foreign aid program (if so desired).

The older cars could be auctioned off to the public or included in the foreign aid program.

Doesn't that result in a massive cash infusion with guarantees that the money will actually be spent on jobs?

It would also significantly help out state and local governmental budgets, which saves jobs there too.

I realize there may be some tricky logistical issues -- probably should buy some from dealers and some directly from the car companies. It will require a competent Secretary of Transportation, who would be given the task.

This way the government at least gets something for their money, and they could even specifically target cars made in America, if they so desired.

Lastly, more American cars on the road is free advertising. The second and third order effects here could be excellent.

So ... am I missing something?

Warren Brown: Thank you.

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Rockville, Md.: Warren, will you ever get through even a single session without some racist or slavery remark?

Warren Brown: Well, Rocville, I very seldom mention slavery.

And I have no idea what you mean about "racist."

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Chaska, Minn.: Why is no one challenging the conventional wisdom? Various pundits, politicians (Romney) etc. ... continue to blame the auto industries problems on structural costs labor, health care, pensions etc. ... Time and time again we hear that these costs make American cars too expensive and carmakers are at a disadvantange relative to their foreign automakers. Yet everyone glosses over the fact that Americans of all income groups are buying foreign car at all price ranges. American cars tend to be comparable or cheaper than their foreign counterparts yet Americans are buying the foreign models. Market share for GM went from 52 percent to 20 percent. Does not look like cost is the problem but incompetent management that pushed cars that are not appealing to the market. So why would taking away pensions, getting rid of union contracts or shutting down plants increase market share increase auto sales. Remember Americans are choosing more expensive equivalent foreign models.

Warren Brown: Hello, Chaska:

Good question.

But look at any coubtry with a market as open as ours. In which one does a native car manufacturer own more than 20 percent of the market? I can't name any.

Did the American Three screw up. Yes. But everybody screws up. Look at Toyota, introducing its bigger-than-like Tundra pickup remake just as U.S. fuel prices spiked.

Blaming the unions for the American Three's problems is easy...and strategically wise for all of those people ponying up millions of dollars in government tax incentives to build foreign-owned, non-union plants.

Bottom line. We need an industrial and energy policy in this country.

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Toronto, Canada: Hi Warren,

First, your Sunday columns for the past couple of weeks have been really good, bringing a smart perspective to what's happening with the Big 3 and why they're important to America (and Canada).

Have you driven the Chevy Traverse yet? What do you think of it?

Warren Brown: Thanks. Getting into the Traverse next month. Will write more later.

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Wilmington, N.C.: I am wondering why there is not in development a hybrid/plug -- in electric car i.e. similar to the Prius, only instead of gasoline the hybrid mechanism or stored electric is used. Thanks.

Warren Brown: The Chevrolet Volt?

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re Rockville's Question - I Agree: "I am disappointed with how our putative political leaders have handled the American Three crisis. But my disappointment lately has morphed into cynicism. It amazes me that my media colleagues seem to find nothing at all smelly about solons from Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi and from other redoubts of the Old Confederacy (a region that once built its economies on feudalism and slavery, and now leading in the creation of "pro-business" non-union envieonments) stomping on the notion of federal aid to the American Three. Is it because the Old Confederacy is now home to every foreign car company that wants to manufacture in the United States without interference from the UAW?"

Warren Brown: You agree with what?

That many of the "pro-business" states that now make it difficult for unions to organize are the same states where foreign car manufacturers are now locating their plants?

That the economy of the Old Confederacy was built on slavery and feudalism?

That the Old Confederacy is now the prime location of those foreign plants?

That all of this is just a coincidence?

That there isn't at least a whiff of self-interest in solons from those states denying aid to the American Three?

That I am a racist?

That I am the descendant of former American slaves?

Specifics, please.

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New York: it strikes me as ridiculous that some U.S. taxpayers, many of whom have poor health insurance, are being asked to bail out workers who have the best benefit plans around. Will the UAW be willing to bring its salary and benefit packages in line with its transplant competitors?

Warren Brown: It strikes me as ridiculous that so many Americans have poor health insurance, or none at all. But, you have a point: If the UAW continues in its abysmal failure top organize workers at foreign-owned plants, it will have no choice other than to bring its pay and benefits in line with those plants. As for health insurance, I'd happily trade my plan in for that used by Congress.

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Warren Brown: Oh, we've had a grand time today. Lots of fun. Please join us again in two weeks. Maybe, we'll talk about cars. Anyway, here's wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving. Drive carefully.

Thank you, Sakina and Amy.

Eat lunch, Ria.

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