Warren Brown (The Post)

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Real Wheels
Warren Brown On Cars and Trucks
Monday, Dec. 18, 2000; 11 a.m. EST

Warren Brown 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.

Warren is online to answer your questions on every aspect of the automotive industry, from buying your dream car to the future of the internal combustion engine.

Below is a transcript.

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.

Arlington, VA: All hail Warren Brown, slayer of stodgy American car companies! Do you think Buick will be next?

OK, a real question...have you driven the Maxima and I30? Not just cost reasons, but the Maxima seems to offer more than its finishing school cousin. Am I right?

Thanks.

Warren Brown: Dear Arlington:
I relinquish the title of "Slayer." So unbecoming of a peaceful sort, such as I am. But on the matter of Buick. Nope. It shall remain as long as there are 60-year-olds. The
problem was that Oldsmobile drove away from that crowd in hot pursuit of youth. A middle-age crisis that didn't work out too well, you might say. Buick won't make the same mistake. In fact, Buick makes a profit.

Newton, MA: Warren,
I love your chats, but this is my first time to ask you a question. We have a 92 Mazda MPV, which is in the shop for another transmission. It has 118K miles on it, and I've already had to replace the transmission twice, at 63K and 74K, both times with rebuilts, the shop ate the labor on the second one since it lasted less than a year.
We'd like to keep the car for about four more years - we have 6 kids and 8 seaters are rare these days, but in four years most of them will have flown the coop. Would a factory tranny last sufficiently longer than a rebuilt to justify the cost? This car has a power and econo transmission setting. I've always used the econo setting since I'm that sort of guy, but would the power setting help the transmission last longer?

Warren Brown: Dear Newton:
I have learned, over the years, to refer these matters to more technical sorts, which, with your permission, I propose to do here. Tranny techs, please sign in. Thanks.

Washington DC: Hi Warren,

In England, we're taught to use the handbrake whenever the car needs to be held in position. At stoplights, this practice reduces the possibility of a rear-ending chain reaction (because even if you take your foot off the brake, the handbrake is still on). And if you're stopped pointing up a hill, applying the handbrake prevents the car from rolling back just before you engage the clutch.

After that preamble, here's my question: When you review a car, do you pay attention to the handbrake? Some cars I've driven have soggy handbrakes that can barely hold the car, or require strenuous maximum extension.

Warren Brown: Dear Washington:
Thank you for pointing that out. But, no, I only pay attention to the handbrake on test vehicles when/if that component fails to work; or when, as is thetrucksith Toyota and Nissan trucks, it is one of those tortuous pull-twist-set things that should have been made obsolete years ago.

Suitland, MD: I'm going to be purchasing a car soon, and am strongly considering a Mitsubish Galantnt (LS trim). I've been doing a lot of reading online, though, and although the opinions I've read have been mostly positive, there seem to be some complaints regarding reliability and warranty issues from current owners. Do you know this car to be problematic, or am I just coming across a number of opinions from a vocal minority?

Warren Brown: Dear Suitland:
You should okay with the latest Galant. Problem was this: In Japan, Mitsubishi did a naughty and concealed lots of defects on Galants and other vehicles for about 20 years. Big scandal. Some corporate heads rolled. Mitsubishi apologized and, from all appearances, has taken steps to clean up its act. It's safe to go back, again.

Rockville, MD: I own a 1994 Saab 900S which I bought used two years ago. It is currently in the shop for it's second major repair($2k+). Both covered by extended warranty which runs out in Feb. 01. Should I hang on to the car figuring that the worst is over, or sell after this current repair? Any Saab owners care to weigh in? Thanks

Warren Brown: Dear Rockville:
Yes!! Anyone with a reasonably functional Saab 900S, one of the best Saabs ever built, should hang on to it as long as possible. Is there ANYONE out there who disagrees?

Cleveland Park, DC: Nice scoop last week, Warren. On this chat you predicted the death of Olds and that GM would turn its attention (and money) to Saturn.

We bought a Saturn L-Series this weekend (their midsize). Beyond the fact that we really like the car, the customer service was wonderful. It was one of the most pleasant shopping experiences I have ever had.

How do you think the increased attention from GM will impact Saturn? Can they retain their "a different kind of car company" image? What's the insider buzz on their SUV? Is it a nice ride?
Thanks.

Warren Brown: Dear Cleveland Park:
Saturn, which has yet to turn a profit, despite its good work, is on probation. GM will fund the division, give it what it needs, watch carefully Saturn's roll out of a 2002 (fall 2001) -model sport-ute, watch what happens to profits. IfSaturnn starts making money, it lives. If it doesn't, it dies. This new group running GM isn't playing games with losers. Besides, GM has a "global partnership" strategy that can be used to sub-out Saturn, if need be. That's the hard, ugly truth of it all.

Silver Spring, MD: Hi, Warren. Why is it in your opinion, do we not see more color diversity in today's vehicles? In the 1950's, two-tone paint was very common, and two-tone and even THREE-tone interiors were not unusual....even on entry-level cars like base Fords, Chevys, and Plymouths. This seemed to taper off in the 60's, although certain companies, like Chrysler, continued to offer a multitude of one-tone colors. As time progressed, paint color choices became not only fewer but also more dull and conservative. Today, entry level cars like Civics, Saturn SL, and certain Subarus offer only three or four color choices...all dull. Also, I notice that while sports cars and certain SUV's offer bright colors, almost without exception luxury cars and larger sedans are all painted to look like funeral hearses. For a perfect example, look at the color chips for the Lexus LS 400 and Infiniti Q45. So my question is: Why can't manufacturers offer bright blues, yellows, oranges, etc...on sedans and luxury models, and why can't manufacturers also offer two-tones on both the outside and inside like they did years ago? Is it costcutting, as I would guess? Once again, it looks like the lousy marketing people calling the shots? They have ruined the industry in so many ways.

Warren Brown: Dear Silver Spring:
Good question. The answer is that many consumers, nowadays, see two-tone paint jobs as de classe, something best suited to whatever that place is Elvis Presley called home in Tennessee. The deal today, in the U.S. anyway, is conservative. The folks at DuPont, who keep track of such things, say that U.S. buyers favor white, blue, gray (preferably corporate "steel" gray), black, and red for folks withrecalcitrantt libido. There's also something called "champagne," which is a color without commitment.

Vienna, VA: As far as the comment on the idea that Buick will make a profit and be in businesss as long as there are 60-plus year-olds, I would like to say that when I was 19, I bought a used Buick Electra 225 and absolutely LOVED IT! I would have given my right arm to have the money for a new one. Even as a youth, I appreciated low noise levels, a soft ride, and the ultra-smooth Buick Fluid-drive transmissions. My best friend had a Olds 88 and another close friend drove a Chrysler New Yorker. So the idea that young people don't like luxocruisers is a stereotype that the auto media has portrayed even to this day. Of course, musclecars were also popular in the days I grew up, too. Granted, Buick and Olds don't do a heck of a lot ofbusinesss to those under 40 but there ARE youths who DO like luxury cars.

Warren Brown: Dear Vienna:
When I was 19, I bought a Murray bicycle. But I get your point.
And please, folks, no harm meant by the 60-year-old jab. I'm 52; and I sure as heck don't want anything to get in my way of reaching 60 and beyond.
But the deal is that Buick has a constituency; and it serves that GM division well. A 60-year-old's dollar is as good as a 19-year-old'sdollar-thoughh, presumably, the 19-year-old will be around longer to spend more.
As long as Buick is making a good car that someonewants-att a profit to GM-Buick will be around.

Vienna, VA: It would be a real tragedy if Saturn got the ax. It is the one domestic manufacturer that delivers quality comparable to the Japanese (at least in the small S-series) and a level of customer service that is unmatched. No other car combines the plastic body panels with the screw-off transmission filter, the stainless steel exhaust system, and the durable timing chain instead of a belt. If GM won't keep Saturn, they should split off and go it alone...and do whatever it takes to stay in businesss.

Warren Brown: Dear Vienna:
Saturn won't get cut anytime soon, and probably not at all if it starts turning a profit. But GM is done with that business of keeping a division for nostalgia's sake.

Silver Spring, MD: My mother is a very recent widow. She's planning to sell the handicapped van she's been driving for the last 10 years to transport my dad around in his wheelchair. She's looking for a small, sporty, luxury car for under $35,000 that has a good track record for maintenance and repairs. She's a small (5'3") person who needs creature comforts in the car.

Warren Brown: Dear Silver Spring:
I think the Lady deserves something such as a Lincoln LS, Jaguar S-type, or Acura 3.2 TL. Don't you?

WDC: How would you compare the Mazda 626 with other cars in its class?

Warren Brown: Dear WDC:
As I've said many times, the Mazda 626 is one of the most underrated cars in the compact sedan category. High-quality, reasonably well-styled and priced, and very reliable. It's a buy.

Alex VA: Too bad about Olds, but it's been clear for years that GM has had too much overlap in its divisions. Along the old Chevy-Pontiac-Olds-Buick-Cadillac continuum, Olds was literally caught in the middle. Since Buick has a tighter hold on that higher-end market, Olds went in the Pontiac direction without success. Not to mention that a Cadillac is not quite the all-but-out-of-reach luxury item it was many years ago -- more people can afford them now, so why bother with something in the middle?

Warren Brown: Dear Alexandria:
Point well-taken. Clearly, GM's board agrees.

Alex VA: Good online column last week ... I think I have mentioned before in this forum that it ought to be much tougher to get a driver's license than it is now. People should be tested each time, the duration for renewal should be shorter rather than longer, and the cost should be whatever is necessary to ensure that the DMV infrastructure can support all of that. Not only would that help ensure safer drivers, but it would help encourage the use and further development of mass transportation. What can we do to make your suggestions reality?

Warren Brown: Dear Alexandria:
Thank you. And I don't know if a national driver's license or standard is the best idea. It's just a suggestion. But something needs to be done to get people to take driving more seriously. Thatdoesn'tt mean taking out the fun. It does mean a higher level of common sense. Exceeding a 70-mile speed limit (on I-40) in an ice storm? cutting off 18-wheelers on a slippery highway? What gives?
And while I'm at it:
In past articles and chats, I've taken passenger vehicle drivers for being goofy behind the wheel. I've pointed out that truckers are not always the villains and, according to state police, that truckers tend to cause fewer accidents than "civilians."
But, let's get something straight: That does not excuse some of the outright trucker arrogance, inconsideration and stupidity that I witnessed on the last road trip.
I mean, what's this business about planting one 18-wheeler in the left lane while another 18-wheeler occupies the right, completely blocking traffic? And what is thisnonsensee about using your big trucks to tailgate and intimidate someone doing the legal speed in the right lane? C'mon. Stop that.

Salt Lake City, UT: Speaking of Buick. Any thoughts on the Regal GS?

Warren Brown: Dear Salt Lake:
I recently drove a 2000 Regal GS. I was impressed by the build quality and overall excellent performance of the car. I like it.

Mike: Hi, Warren...to the lady who asked for a reliable small sporty luxury car under $35K to replace the van, the Jag S-series you mentioned starts at $40,000-plus. How about the Infiniti G20? It is BOTH small, sporty, AND luxurious, has the excellent Infiniti track record and customer service, and best of all, only costs $20-25K. An alternate choice could be a BMW 3-series or an Audi A4, and they are both in the 30-35K range.

Warren Brown: Dear Mike:
Okay, you're right. But, geez, isn't there a kind-hearted dealer out there who would give this Lady a good price on a Jag, or any of the cars you mentioned? C'mon, it's the Holiday Season, after all, and she surely sounds like she deserves some kind of Good Person Award.

SF,Ca: Have you become aware of any electrical problems with Volvos? My 98 Volvo C70 is having electrical problems. The alternatorr died. I got it warrantied, but I see my "light bulb" out light appear. But all the lights work! Thank you!

Warren Brown: Dear SF:
Not yet. But, as always, anyone with complaints, et cetera, is welcome to e-mail the details to me at brownw@washpost.com, or browar57@aol.com

Cleveland Park, DC: Uh oh. So, should we have held off on buying a Saturn? Do you think they'll be able to compete in the midsize and SUV market?

Warren Brown: Dear Cleveland Park:
No. You're Okay. Besides, I really believe that Saturn has gotten the message. What is that saying? Nothing so focuses the mind as the prospect of execution, or something like that?

Columbia, MO: Graceland. Elvis's place in Memphis was called Graceland. I think he liked monotone (pink) Cadillacs, if memory serves.

Warren Brown: Dear Columbia:
Many thanks. Yeah, Graceland, Graceland, moving on to Graceland, and pink Cadillacs. Not too far from Tupelo, Miss., where two-toners were once common. Graceland, Memphis, Tupelo and the Natchez Trace Indians. An interesting part of the country.

Van Ness, DC: Re: Oldsmobile
One of the most enthusiastic supporters of Olds had to be the Olds dealers. I don't know that any Olds dealers are owned by GM, but there clearly is a tight business arrangement. As we see the car selling business evolve in the age of Saturn and the internet, do you see the demise of Olds as a sign of the shift in power back to the manufacturers? Will we see more manufacturer ownership of dealerships? I believe the manufacturers are hesitant to get involved in direct sales (via internet) due to pressure from the dealers. May this be changing?
Take care.

Warren Brown: Dear Van Ness:
Very good question; and here's inviting any Olds dealers to join in. We'll be at this about 30 minutes longer today.
At latest count, there were 2,800 Olds dealers in the U.S. But, according to GM, only about 15-percent to 20-percent of them were responsible for selling most of the 260,000 Olds vehicles expected to be sold by the end of this calendar year. And that's 260,000, way down from 1.1 million Oldsmobiles sold in 1985.
So, it seems the franchise was dying, dealers or no dealers.
There is a power shift going on; but it's not to the manufacturers, nor is it to the dealers. The shift is to the consumers, which is why we now have so many different product segments and segmentss within segments, as well as new ways of selling all of that stuff.

WDC: This question may have been addressed in previous chats, but I'm dying to know. As a single female in the DC area, the car I love most is not exactly an eye catcher - Volvo station wagon. Any news on an SUV?

Warren Brown: Dear WDC:
I'd take a look at the latest Volvo Cross-Country, which is more of a sport-utility wagon than a straight station wagon.

Washington, DC: Warren,

Just got back from a trip to Brazil, where my husband and I developed a serious crush on the Mercedes A-Class, which is popular there. I would describe it as a tiny minivan, if I can use the word minivan for a vehicle that is so sleekly designed. Why doesn't Mercedes sell it here? Do they have any plans to do so? I hope the answer is yes.

Warren Brown: Dear Washington:
I like that A-Class, too, especially the coupe/roadster version I recently saw in Paris.
Mercedes-Benz isn't selling it here largely because it has spent so much time and money to get the thing going in Europe. A-Car sales were slow, slow there for the longest time, prompting debate about whether or not M-B would keep that model. Not to mention that the company spent abundlee of money on a recall fix to make sure the car remained upright in sharp turns.
Current M-B thinking is that America isn't really ready for a car as tiny as the A-Class, just as America is not enamored of things like hatchbacks, which are popular in Europe and Brazil.
This is a big, big country. Lots of land. Lots of space. You just don't realize how big and diverse it is until you drive it, taste its various cultures at ground level. Every time I do that, I'm amazed that we only had one Civil War.

Bethesda, MD: Re: Trucker arrogance. I drive a wimpy car and it's hard for me to go the speed limit on highways, let alone over it. I stick to the right-hand lane, but I still get tailgated, etc. by trucks. My response is just to throw on my flashers. That says, I'm here, I'm going the speed that I'm going, and if you don't like it you'll have to go around me. Seems to work pretty well.

Warren Brown: Dear Bethesda:
Good suggestion. But it would also be nice if those errant truckers simply obeyed the law and showed some common courtesy.

Alex VA: "Champagne" is just a marketer's word for beige. I think these things run in cycles; people will get bored with all these dull neutral colors, and we'll go back to some bright ones for a while. Remember when the Ford Maverick came out in the '70s (for $1995) and it came in colors like "Anti-Establish Mint"?

Warren Brown: Dear Alexandria:
"Anti Establish Mint"? Seriously? How cool.

Westport, CT: Warren -

Loved your article on drivers. Good stuff.

Question is about Europe. Will be there in January. Is it ok for a non-German speaking person to drive to Stuttgart from Munich (ie, safe/easy)? Also, any thoughts on taking a train vs. driving?

Thanks.

Warren Brown: Dear Westport:
Yeah. Just stay the hell out of the left lane. The people in that lane go verrrry fast. Move to the right, and stay there, unless you're going to pass.
And, oh, if you think you can get into trouble drinking and driving in U.S., you haven't seen troubleuntill you make that mistake in Germany. The police there don't look too kindly on that behavior. You will be arrested. Period.

Rockville: I bought my son a used 83 Saturn SL2 in 85. It's been one of the best small cars we've owned. Both he and I are excited about the new Saturn SUV. Perchance will there be one at this year's auto show?

Warren Brown: Dear Rockville:
You mean 93 and '95, don't you. Saturn wasn't conceived until about 1985, and didn't start production until about 1990.

Oak Hill, VA: All this talk about Buick...how about some more? I hear GM is planning a new rear wheel drive sedan. Could this lead to a new muscle car like the Caprice-bodied Impala SS or perhaps something akin to the old Buick Grand National? Thanks for your time!

Chris

Warren Brown: Dear Chris:
Yep..depending...on what happens to oil prices, consumer confidence and the economy. Hints of things to come coming up at the next North American International Auto Show.

WDC: Any word on when you're going to have a chance to drive the Volvo S-60?

Warren Brown: Dear WDC:
No, but thanks for reminding me to call Volvo.

Ocala, Fla.: Hi Warren,

Just wondering, does your earlier advice to the Saab 900S owner apply only to the so-called "New Generation" 900 ('94 and up), or to the earlier 900S as well? I have an '89 4door that's needed about $2K in repairs this year. That's about the same amount it cost last year, even though the body and drivetrain are in decent shape. Am I likely to reach a point where the problems stabilize, leaving me with a reasonably reliable car? Thanks.

Warren Brown: Dear Ocala:
Sorry, transmission was interrupted. Gotta get a DSL or something. Anyway, yes. Those 900 Saabs were among the best. Keep it.

DC: I'm sorry to hear that Saturn may not be around much longer. I love my 94 SL1. Why are they having a hard time turning a profit? Is it because they mainly sell economy cars, which tend to have small profit margins?

Warren Brown: Dear DC:
To be clear: Probation is not a death sentence. It's simply GM's way of reminding Saturn that they are in business to make money, as well as to make nice. Nice without money is broke. Stockholders like money better.

Reston,20190: Warren,
RE: Mitsubishi,
I have a 99 Mirage, and it's been very reliable. Over a year old and no problems. Not even any squeaks, rattles, etc. Gets excellent mileage, too. Of course, I do all the recommended maint at the recommended intervals. That's how I got 250K out of a 73 Cutlass.

Warren Brown: Dear Reston:
So noted. So posted.

20037: What's up with the new 4 wheel steering on pickups (from Washington Post on Friday). How much harder is it to pilot something that will be deciding for you what way the rear wheels turn....?

Warren Brown: Dear 20037:
Four-wheel-steering has been tried before, as you know. But the electronics in the GM system are super. You will not believe how easy it is to steer and part a full-size pickup with that system! I tried it out a couple of months ago at GM's proving grounds in Michigan. If the production system works like the prototype, it's a winner.

Rockville (again): Yeah. I meant a 93 Saturn that I purchased in 95. Second question: Perchance will the Saturn SUV be at this year's auto show?

Warren Brown: Dear Rockville:
In Detroit, LA, and New York, I'm sure. D.C.? I don't think so, but I will check.

Alex VA: Wonder how many of those 2800 Olds dealers sold nothing else. I would guess nearly all of them also have at least one of the other GM brands, so it won't be a huge loss overall. (That would also account for how 80 percent of the dealers sold only a tiny fraction of the cars, to reverse your statement.)

Warren Brown: Dear Alexandria:
You are right. Most of those Olds dealers sold everything except Olds.

Washington DC: Hello-
What are your feelings on the end of Oldsmobile? Do you think it was time, or could GM have tweaked a little more to find success? It's too bad to see such a historic name go.

Chris

Warren Brown: Dear Chris:
The only things that don't end are love and change. All physical reality has an expiration date. It was Olds' time to go.

Timonium, MD: Warren:
Although you are not a "gearhead", maybe you can point us in the right direction. Last year stepdaughter brought a new 2000 VW Jetta. Between her scheduled service in August and November when her oil pressure light activated, the car used 2 1/2 qts of oil. The service interval for oil changes is 10,000 miles according to the manual and in that period, she drove approx. 3,000 miles. The service tech at the dealership told her that she should expect to use about a qt of oil every 1000 miles. During the period in question, she was driving about 25 miles/day, mostly highway. If there are no leaks and there are no signs and if the service tech filled the crankcase in August, the oil usage seems excessive to me. Any suggestions? And, happy holidays to you and your family.
Thanks,
Sam

Warren Brown: Dear Timonium:
Seems excessive to me, too. I'm posting your question in hopes of getting a chat response or one in e-mail at brownw@washpost.com, or browar57@aol.com

Waverly, TN: My 2001 Toyota Camry appears to have pin hole size pits in the paint on the hood. They are tiny black pits. I do not think it is from road debris. I am disappointed and plan to take it to dealer ASAP. What remedy should I expect. THANKS!!!!

Warren Brown: Dear Waverly, TN:
Hmph. I've seen this one before. Little speck of grit, dust that create pimples and air bubbles during factory paint processs. Toyota usually pulls this bodywork off the line for a through re-do. Take it to the dealer quickly, before those pimples become dimples, and those dimples become pregnant chads. You know where that leads.
;;;;;;;;;
Anyhow, good folks, it's time for face-time at the old office. Keep those memos, ideas, complaints, suggestions, criticisms, et al coming. I will try to get to as many of them as possible. E-mail: brownw@washpost.com and /or browar57@aol.com. Happy Chanukah. Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. Drive carefully. Fall in love with a designated driver.