Live Q&As

I always turn off the cruise control when it is not in use. it simplifies things and reduces the chance of mistakes.

Yes, they are quite reliable. But my personal experience is that they areexpensive to repair when something does go wrong.

I'd go with the Ford Flex in which third-row seating has relatively easy access plus adult-sized seating space.

Take a look at the new XC60, which is more of a wagon than it is a SUV, minivan, or anything else. Cargo bay is exceptionally useful. But the price point is about $13K north of where you want to start. That being the case, take a look at the new Kia Sorento, lots of utility and style at a lower price. Good safety rating, too.

The new Toyota Avalon will make him happy. Completely updated, but still mindful and respectful of the senior citizenry it serves. For that matter, both you and he will be delighted by the new Chevrolet Impala. You'd be cheating yourselves not to take a close look at it.

My hunch is that Audi hasn't found a business case for selling traditional manual transmission cars in a market where less than 11 percent of ALL new vehicles sold are bought with traditional manual gearboxes. But I'm sure there are automated manuals--automatic gearboxes that can be operated manually--in both the TT and the S5 convertible. Automated manuals rapidly are displacing traditional manuals because consumers are demanding them. They are two-in-one transmissions designed to please people who want automatic convenience in the same household where another driver prefers shifting./

We are "wagonphobic" in this country. It's absolutely silly. Has something to do with self-image and illusions of perpetual youth. The silly part is that most of the things we're buying in substitution of wagons essentially are wagons. "Crossover utility vehicles," the silliest of product nomenclatures, essentially are wagons. SUVs routinely are used the way we use wagons. Vehicles such as the Honda CR-V, Toyota Rav-4, Chevrolet Equinox, Volkswagen Tiguan et al essentially are wagons, which is why I call them wagons in my reviews. This silliness of calling them something else to placate consumers who are clinging to notions of eternal youth is not something I can go along with. They are wagons. Get over it, America!

Yes, in Europe. And we're looking forward to their eventual appearance in the United States. Why do I believe that will happen? VW aggressively is pursuing a strategy to become the world's largest car company. That includes building new plants in North America, improving product quality, and giving consumers the drivetrains they want. Look for a diesel Passat in the U.S., soon.

Here's the deal: If you don't downsize, living with two gas-guzzling SUVs will kill you. In fact, if you don't need one SUV (look at how you actually use the thing), get rid of that one, too. SUVs are nothing but wagon substitutes for most of their owners. Are you one of them? If so, ditch the SUVs, buy any one of the substantially more fuel-efficient (aka "crossovers") available and be happy. As for sedans, our product cup runneth over with foreign and domestic models, all of them worthy of consideration. Most mid-size sedans adequately address the transportation needs of a family of five. Full-size models, such as the new Chevrolet Impala and Toyota Avalon, certainly do.

That's easy. I'd go with the Volvo XC60. It has a well-deserved reputation for safety. It also has one of the best designed cargo bays in the business. It's no star when it comes to fuel economy. But it's no demon, either.

You heard it here, first. VW has one of the smartest marketing departments in the world, meaning it actually listens to consumers. Expect a diesel Passat wagon in the United States, or its equivalent, by model-year 2014, if not earlier.

Just check out the transcript of today's show. Here's your answer:

EcoBoost engine technology makes perfect sense. The idea is to give you maximum power with minimum fuel consumption and tailpipe pollution. EcoBoost does this by maximizing air-fuel mixture in engine combustion chambers, via forcing more air into those chambers through turbocharging, and burining the mixture as thoroughly as possible before sending the spent gasses through emissions treatment on to exhaust. Translation: You can get the power of a V-6 in a four-cylinder engine without V-6 fuel consumption and emissions. A pretty good deal all around.

The short answer is the Toyota Corolla, which offers everything offered by the similar-sized Volvo S40 for substantially less money. Most consumers are rational economists, which means they go for the best deal. Volvo simply accepted the truth that the S40, when compared with models such as the Toyota Corolla and Mazda 3, was not the best deal. It acted accordingly.