Real Wheels

Washington Post cars columnist Warren Brown was online Friday, October 23, 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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Rockville, Md.: We had a Ford Fusion as a rental and liked it enough that we are considering buying one but we are confused about the Taurus. Is it considered the top of the line for Ford? What's the difference between the two models?

Warren Brown: Good morning, Rockville:

The Fusion is mid-size. The Taurus, intoduced as a mid-size sedan in the 1990s, has now been brought back as a full-size family sedan. Both are now models that can compete with all rivals in their respective segments. The hot Fusion is the Fusion Hybrid. The hot Taurus is the Taurus SHO.

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Arlington, Va.: I am thinking about replacing my 03 Jetta with something larger. Are there any advantages to buying used over new? I'm considering a Huyndai Santa Fe or a Honda CRV or Pilot.

Warren Brown: Hello, Arlington:

Keep in mind that the HNDA Pilot is a mid-size -- Ford Explorer class -- SUV. Do you want something that large? The Santa Fe, CR-V and same segment Toyota Rav-4, Chevrolet Equinox and Nissan Rogue essentially are smaller, but quite serviceable, compact crossover utility vehicles. Buying any of those new comes with higher insurance costs, along with about a 30-percent value depreciation hit as soon as you drive it off the lot. If you can buy used, buy used.

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Alexandria, Va.: I have waited for one of the big three to make available a small diesel in something less than a heavy duty truck. For cars Mercedes, Volkswagen and BMW, and I believe Audi will or already have diesel offerings. GM previously planned to offer the 4.5 in the 1/2 ton for 2010 but that was canceled. There were also suppose to be diesel offerings from Ford and Chrysler both canceled. I am all for the big three making a profit but how can they when they are too risk averse? After reading your article on Sunday on the Dodge pickup and the bad fuel mileage I know I do not want to buy any vehicle like that unless it is a diesel. I do not trust our government to have the good energy policy and foresee $4-a-gallon gas again or worse. I noticed that Mahindra, a company from India, is going to have small diesel pickups for 2010: the TR20 regular cab and TR40 crew cab mid-size diesel pickups that get 30 miles per gallon. It is too bad that American auto companies will not lead but the foreign manufactures are already there. I am ready to put my money where my mouth is but would have preferred to have paid an American auto manufacture. Warren, when will you test this new vehicle?

Warren Brown: Alexandria, thank you for that note. GM, Ford, and Chrysler are driving me nuts on this issue. They could kick Toyota and everybody else completely out of pickup trucks with a solid, affordable diesel in something like the Dodge Dakota, Ram 15000, Silverado (where GM apparently is replacing the Duramax...eventually). I wish I could've had someone from those companies on my recent tour of central Virginia, North Carolina and more recently in Georgia, where I spent time talking with people who want and need trucks. They all said they'd replace their current guzzling gasoline models if somebody gave them a diesel engine they could trust and afford. And, NO, NO, NO, they don't want complex, expensive dual-mode gas-electric hybrids!

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Annapolis: Hi, Warren. I have a 2004 Solara sport six-cylinder that is so totally reliable even at 106k, but I am getting the itch (also tired of it pulling to the left; always has, always will). Along with the itch is the wish to better my gas mileage. So, I am looking at that new Lexus 250 hybrid which seems to be around $40k, the Prius of course, which can be mid-20s to mid-30s depending on the model, and the BMW diesel, the 335D. Or I could stick with mid-20s for mileage and go Acura TL or Infiniti G37 or the BMW 328i at mid-30s price range.

Or just drive the Solara until it keels over. Help me, sage one.

Warren Brown: Hello, Annapolis:

All of the alternate models you're loking at are good. I particularly like the 335D. When it comes to gas-electric hybrids, I advise you to do this, seriously:

Drive the Lexus 250 hybrid.

Then, drive a fully loaded Ford Fusion hybrid.

Then, come back here and talk to us about your experience. I'm betting that, for several thousand dollars less, the Fusion Hybrid is going to make a pretty good impression.

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Columbia, Md.: We bought a brand new 2004 Honda Accord V6 in the fall of 2003. The model we were interested in happened to have leather interior. We have been very disappointed in how the leather seats have worn. For the last couple of years, the seats have shown unsightly cracks (the service tech assured me, "this is how mine looks too."), and recently one of the cracks split open. We usually drive our cars for at least 10 years. This is the first time we've gotten a leather interior vehicle. We usually purchase a car with the fabric/plush seats, and the interior has always looked almost brand new for the whole length of the time we've owned our cars. It's hard for me to believe that an option we paid extra for could wear in such a disappointing way. The dealership quoted a price of $1,000 per seat in the front to replace each of the seats (the back still looks okay, but it is not used as much either).

I have a letter drafted to Honda complaining about the quality of the seats. Is there another entity I can write to that would make my letter carry a little extra weight, or am I just wasting my time? I'm including in my letter the content of the exact complaint from another consumer that I came across on the Internet. Makes me angry that Honda can get away with such shoddy materials, albeit a few years later. Thanks for any help or advice you can provide, Warren!

Warren Brown: Hello, Columbia:

Not all leather is created equally. I'm willing to bet that the leather in your Accord V-6 was hard and shiny at purchase, hot and slippery in summer, cold and uncomfortable in winter. That's all too common with many leather surfaces.

Tutorial: Next time you buy leather, test it for suppleness. Is it soft, warm? Does it conform easily to back and butt? Is it breathable? Chances are, assuming it meets those criteria, it will be more expensive leather. But you'll enjoy it. And you'll never have to worry about cracks.

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Columbia, Md.: Have you heard of shortages on the used car market? My local CarMax's inventory looks rather thin. Could the cars trashed as part of "Cash for Clunkers" and people keeping cars longer to save money be the cause?

Warren Brown: Yes, Columbia. The used-car market is tight -- a combination of people holding onto their cars longer, other people buying used in pursuit of reliable personal trasportation at a lower price -- the birth of The New Frugality. What's that? Nowadays, many people are less concerned about image than they are about saving money, using it more wisely. Perfect mentality for used-car sales.

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Washington, DC: How can I ask individual car manufacturers questions about their upcoming models? Specifically I would like to know about plans to introduce more fuel efficient engines in cars over the next year. Are there contacts within the firms to get a reasonably accurate understanding of their plans? The dealers either don't know or are more interested in selling cars they have in the lot.

Warren Brown: Rare is the OEM, original equipment manufacturer, foreign or domestic, who will give you details on upcoming models. Forgive me. I said "rare." It would've been better to say "non-existent."

But nearly all of them would be happy to talk with you in broad, general terms. But I wouldn't bank on too much of what you're told in that regard.

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Ashburn, Va.: Hi, Warren. This may be the wrong forum but I'll ask regardless. Why the big bump in gas prices over the last 10 days? Is is time for the "winter mix" and we're paying for what's left from the "summer mix"?

Warren Brown: Your question is welcome, Ashburn. Yes, some increased fuel refining costs are increasing prices. But, also, crude oil prices have been rising a bit.

The bottom line: As the global economy recovers, overall fossil fuel prices will rise. Factories increase output. Tankers and 18-wheelers are called upn to distribute that output. Construction of all sort increases. It all requires energy, mostly derived from oil.

It is simply insane for our national leaders to pretend that we in America could continue fueling our cars and trucks longterm for less than $4.00 a gallon.

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Madison, Wis.: Wife and I need a newer family friendly vehicle. We have a 2-year-old and a 2-month-old, kid seats and gear to haul most everywhere. We like the Mazda 5 and Kia Rondo and will probably get a "newer" used vehicle considering budget (under $12,000). You mentioned stabilization safety issues for the Mazda 5 in another post. Do you like one more than the other? Any other similar vehicles we should check out?

Warren Brown: I think the problem was that the Mazda 5, at that writing, did not have standard electronic stability control, which is highly recommended by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and other traffic safety organizations. That's easily checked at sites such as Edmunds.com, kbb.com, and Cars.com. Check under "safety." Go with the company that offfers electronic stability control/traction contriol for the best prie.

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Atlanta, Ga.: Hi, Warren. I'm shopping the new Buick Lacrosse against the Lexus ES. I like them both very much. I've owned a Lexus before and love the showroom, sales experience and how I'm treated during service calls. The Buick dealership was like shopping for a Kia. Why doesn't GM also match Lexus on the sales and service experience?

Warren Brown: Good question, Atlanta. I'm posting this for GM's notice.

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Atlanta, Ga.: I'm having a hard time deciding between the Subaru Outback and the VW Jetta Sports wagon TDI. They are close enough in size that either would work, but the Outback seems to offer a little more size and comfort, while the VW drives a little better, and gets better gas mileage. I have a wife, 10-year-old son and 90-pound Rhodesian Ridgeback. Given that information, which would you choose?

Warren Brown: The Outback. And, believe me, that's hard for me to say, considering that your other choice is the Jetta TDI, which I love.

My reasoning:

The Outback offfers more utility, especially for carrying dogs, especially big ones, like our chocolate Labrador who is fond off roaming around the back of the car during travel.

All-wheel-drive, standard on all Subaru models and wonderfully helpful in inclement weather, especially if you have to pull off road to let the dog doo what dogs doo.

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20615: Used car market thin? YES: Warren, I purchased six cars from Carmax over the last decade. Most of the time, the cars were advertised as "X dollars below blue book." This week, I found a low mileage 2000 Taurus wagon for $7K. I checked Kelley and others and found the highest value for a used 2000 Taurus wagon in excellent condition was $4.5K. I called CarMax and said "What's up? Why is the price $3.5K ABOVE Blue Book?" and they told me, "It is what it is." No haggling there!

Warren Brown: It is what it is. The used market is tight, and many used-car dealers are pricing accordingly.

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Washington, DC: I will probably be in the air at the time of your chat, so am submitting this early. My wife and I are in the market for a sporty hatchback, and think we have narrowed down our choices to the Mazda speed 3 or the Subaru WRX. Any thoughts on either of those two cars? Thanks so much.

Warren Brown: Easy. Mazdaspeed3. Lots of fun. Zippy. Looks more adult than the WRX.

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Arlington, Va.: I'm looking at getting a used car in the $12,000 to $15,000 range. I'm looking at a balance between reliability, fuel economy (25+ mpg or better), and getting a car that is fun to drive. Right now my top of the list consideration in that price range is a 2005-2006 Honda Accord sedan. Are there any other cars that I should be looking at in that price range? Also, in reference to the Honda Accord what are your thoughts on the V6 versus the four-cylinder version? Many thanks!

Warren Brown: Easy, Arlington. Get the inline four-cylinder Accord. Make peace with the right lane. Save fuel and be happy. And be prepared to live with that one for a long, long time. Those four-cylinder Accords last forever.

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Warren Brown: Thanks for joining us today. Please come back next week. Thank you, Delece, for a fine production.

Good luck, Sakina and new baby.

Ria is eating lunch on vacation.

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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.