Real Wheels

Washington Post cars columnist Warren Brown was online Friday, July 17, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the auto industry and offer purchase advice to readers. Brown has covered the cars industry for The Washington Post since 1982.

The transcript follows.

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Warren Brown: To Washington with the Internet dealer problem: I'd like to think that the dealer's poor response to your Internet query was a fluke--for that dealer. Truth is, many dealers have set up sales forces that specifically are trained to work with Internet customers without making any of the elementary mistakes you described. Your dealer needs to get his/her act together.

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Columbia, Md.: Hi Warren- I'm planning to buy a Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey in the coming weeks. Today, the Post reported that auto sales dropped 27.7 percent last month. Seems like a good time to buy, but neither prices nor financing deals seem great for either car.

Is the problem that I am interested in two of the cars that are actually selling? Should I still consider a price at or slightly below Edmunds TMV to be a good deal?

Any thoughts on choosing the Odyssey over the Sienna? I'd like the Odyssey since it handles better, but my wife wants the Sienna. She feels that Toyotas are more reliable and the Sienna seems to be about $1,500 less similarly equipped.

Warren Brown: Good morning, Columbia:

Toyota has a 45 days' supply of trucks, which would include the Sienna, in a market where a 60 days' inventory supply is considered normal. Yet, 38,414 Sienna models were sold in the first six months of this year versus 64,270 in the same period for the same period 2008. Those numbers say that Sienna sales are way down, BUT that Toyota has done a good job of managing inventory, primarily by slowing production. That means you won't get as good a deal on the Sienna. The Odyssey is in a similar situation.

If you want a primo family hauler, go Sienna.

If you want a not as primo family hauler in terms of utility, but prefer one at handles exceptionally well, go Odyssey.

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Fairfax County: Warren, I am the second owner of a car whose first owner lost the title and when having the title renewed, mis-reported the mileage as 130k, when it was actually 100k. This was fully disclosed to me at the time of purchase (two years later, the mileage is now 116k), but I am pretty much stuck with the car until the mileage actually surpasses 130k? Or will a dealership still take my car as a trade-in? Two years ago, I figured that I would have surpassed 130k by now and it wouldn't be a problem, but a new work assignment has had me taking Metro for the past 18 months.

Warren Brown: Go to Carfax, Fairfax County. That's Carfax, the company that tracks vehicle histories via their VIN, vehicle identification number, usually located on the upper left side of the dashboard beneath the windshield. That's CARFAX, the vehicle history tracking people, as opposed to CARMAX, the vehicle sales people.

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Bristow, Va.: Did you ever do a review of the Mazda 5? What are your thoughts on that car? Anything else in that category worth looking at?

Warren Brown: Yes, Bristow. But I need to drive the latest model to update. I like it--a good, reliable compact family hauler especially suitable for urban-suburban commuting.

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Bonifay, Fla.: Any thoughts about Ford's Transit Connect van? It seems to have a 2.0 gas engine rated at 22/25 (for comparison with Ford cars.) I'm looking for something smaller than an Econoline but taller than a mini-van.

Warren Brown: Hello, Bristow:

The Transit Connect is a Ford of Europe product, popular there because of its reliability, relatively good mileage, and what I call its fit-ability--its ability to fit into tiny European side streets and parking spaces. Did I miss something? I thought, because of budgetary reasons, Ford has decided to delay Transit Connect introduction in the United States.

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Anonymous: Warren, I'm looking for a small commuter car along the lines of a Nissan Versa. What should I consider?

Warren Brown: The Nissan Versa--Good mileage, tight construction, excellent utility, a small car that has friendly leg room and head room for tall people.

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N. Arlington: I'm looking to buy a previously-owned SUV seating 7 or 8 somewhere in the $20k-$25k price range. I think we've narrowed our search to a 2005 Acura MDX or a 2006 Honda Pilot, both with low and comparable mileage. Any preference? Any vehicles we should consider instead? We're looking to hold onto it for awhile so longevity and durability are key as we have 2 small boys. Thanks - and hope you're enjoying the semi-retirement but I'm ever grateful you're keeping up the chats.

Warren Brown: Hello, N. Arlington. The Acura MDX and Honda Pilot mechanically, technically and structurally are the same vehicles. But one comes dressed in an expensive tuxedo--the MDX. The other greets the world wearing jeans and a plaid shirt--the Honda Pilot. Do you need a tuxedo?

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Washington, D.C.: Warren, thanks for doing these chats. I just bought a new car, and I'm really disappointed with the internet service from this dealer. They offered me a car, we negotiated online, and I went to test drive it and sign the papers.

I got there, and they didn't have the car pulled around to test drive, then they got the wrong car, then they got the negotiated price wrong (Fortunately I had all of our e-mails printed out and in my briefcase), and they didn't have the paperwork printed up and ready for me to sign.

I spent 2 1/2 hours waiting on things that should have taken less than an hour. I got a good deal, but I could have done all of this by verbal negotiations in that time.

When I complained to the sales manager about the problems, he said that "Hey, we thought the Internet would be easier too." Thing is, people like him are in charge of the shopping experience on the Internet.

Sorry, just had to rant about this. This dealer was the most responsive online of any that I dealt with, and I had relatively high expectations that would continue.

Warren Brown: Check out "To Washington, DC..." at the top of this chat. In summary, that dealer simply dropped the ball and offered a pitiful excuse for doing so.

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Bowie: Warren, with gasoline prices moving around a great deal recently, I find a lot of variation in the spread between the cost of regular and plus (87 and 89 octane). Sometimes it's as little as a dime and sometimes as much as a quarter.

Is there anything wrong with springing for Extra if the difference is 15 cents or less; but sticking with Regular if it's more? (2006 Hyundai Sonata)

Warren Brown: Hello, Bowie:

If your car (especially if its turbocharged or supercharged) requires premium, buy premium.

If your car "recommends premium for best performance," buy premium if you can afford it. But you also can run it on 89 or 87-octane, presumably getting less than best performance.

If your car says 87-octane is just fine, you can run it on 87, 89, our higher grades without worry.

Source: Society of Automotive Engineers.

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Anonymous: Ok here goes. I've been eyeing some of those geely small cars that China makes. In your professional opinion economically do you think we will see Chinese cars imported to U.S. or is the market saturated or is it morally wrong to even think about it? Thank you.

Warren Brown: At the moment, most Chinese cars--including Geely, Great Wall, and Brilliance--perform beneath the expectations, in terms of overall build quality, safety and road manners, of the U.S. marketplace. But the Chinese are moving swiftly up a steep learning curve. It won't be long before they get there and, possibly, surpass everyone else, especially in the development of attractive, user-friendly electric cars.

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Ann Arbor, Mich.: Hi Warren! I have a Mazda 5, based on your past review and recommendation. It's been a great car for us - two young children, need for occasional 6 seater when relatives are around, otherwise we keep the seats folded for lots of cargo room, great gas mileage. It also is pretty zippy and has been very reliable (we have a 2007). Great urban car!

Warren Brown: Thank you Ann Arbor. And I assume that means it's relatively easy to park in you pretty college town, where I've collected a variety of parking tickets.

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Arlington: Hi Warren - just curious: how are the Fusion Hybrid and new Prius selling. I have not seen a single one here in hybrid happy Arlington.

Warren Brown: The Ford Fusion (including the Fusion Hybrid) is ranked No.9 on the Automotive News Top Ten best-selling vehicles list with 85,146 sales for the first six months of 2009, according to the Automotive News Data Center. With sales of 55,751 for the same period, down from 91,440 for the same period 2008, the Prius doesn't make the list. The best-selling vehicle for that period is the perennial best-seller, the Ford F-Series truck with with sales of 179,632.

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Arlington, Va.: My wife is leery of buying a used car. We keep vehicles until they die, so reliability is key. My counter is that there isn't that big of a difference between, say, a new car and a 2-3 year old car, nor is there a big difference between a 7 v. 10 year old car. The difference is year 3 v. 5-6. So check reliability ratings for the 5-6 year range for the make/model. Am I off here?

Warren Brown: Both you and your wife are correct. She's right because she's looking at the human factor, how a car or truck was treated by the previous owner(s). You've been inside peoples' houses. Isn't it funny how a relatively new house can look like a dump, while a decidedly old one resembles a charming, well-kept palace?

You are right because, as a group, cars have gotten better. Innovations are entering the market more quickly than in previous years. Point is, there's not much difference mechanically, technically and structurally between most models that are to or three years apart.

But, I'm pretty much on the side of your wife in this one. Honor her caution.

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Tampa, Fla.: Have you driven the Pontiac G8 GXP? Both Consumer Reports and the car mags (Motor Trend, etc) speak very highly of it. Do you know if the dealers are dealing on it, as with the other Pontiac models?

Warren Brown: That's a hot car, even with Pontiac calling curtains for the division. Dealers continue to put premiums on that one. And why not? The mechanical/structral cousin of the G8, the Chevrolet Camaro SS, has an estimated 28-day inventory availability in a market where a 6-day inventory supply is normal. That Camaro doesn't need discounts to move off the lot.

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Wilmington, N.C.: Well I have to say that perhaps our automotive industrial designers were ahead of their time in some aspects. As I go about my day job, I've noticed that more and more of these new more fuel efficient aerodynamic CUVs and such look a lot like the Aztec but with a more curvy styling. I think they were on to something but just didn't market it right. Do you see what I'm trying to get at? Thank you always for your chats, I love how you stand up for our auto industry... someone somewhere has to save the endangered Pontiacs and I ain't talking horses.

Warren Brown: Hello, Wilmington:

Aerodynamics control vehicle styling. The more fuel-efficient the vehicle, the more aerodynamically styled is its exterior. Thus, the more vehicles are beginning to look alike. That applies to domestic and foreign models. Perhaps that is why those brand badges are getting larger and larger.

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Leesburg, Va.: Warren, suppose you are looking for your next vehicle. Your primary concerns are long-term reliability, not-bad mpg, and maybe a little comfort, luxury or style. Mostly suburban driving with a few long trips a year. Do you go with Group A (2-3 year old Accord/TSX or Saab 9-3) or Group B (new Hyundai Elantra/Civic/Focus/xB)? With the overall quality of cars now so high, how does this affect the new/used debate?

Warren Brown: I'd go with Group B and keep more money in my pocket.

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Doylestown, Pa.: Mr. Brown, I always appreciate your thoughts. Many times you mention the Mazda3 favorably. Any thoughts on the Mazda6?

Warren Brown: Also gets a favorable mention. With its sales down about 50.1 percent for the first six months of 2009, it should also be available at a favorable price.

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Lichtenberg, Germany: Dear Warren--I am writing to you from northern Bavaria, Germany. Even though I use the train as often as possible and own one the smallest and most energy efficient cars around (a VW Lupo), I love your columns and your blog. Whenever I get a chance to, I follow you up on the internet.

It's sad to hear you are going to scale down a bit. Well, whatever you will be up to in the future: all the very best to you.

Warren Brown: Thank you, Lichtenberg:

Not to worry.

I'm not scaling down. I am responding to economic reality. This was the third Washington Post buyout offer. I was eligible for all three of them, all of which were quite generous by today's corporate standards (Wall Street excepted). My wife threatened to do away with me if I turned down No.3.

So, I accepted the buyout. My wife is happy. I'm happy because I still get to do much of what I've always done for the Post on contract. That also frees me up to spend more time with Decisive Magazine, a multicultural, business, automotive, consumer and travel journal.

All's well.

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Warren Brown: Thank you all for joining us today. Please come back next week. Thanks to my wonderful, patient producers. And, as always, 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.