Live Q&As

I understand your angst and anger. You are right. All pertinent information related to towing, etc. should be clearly stated in the marketing language. Let's use this as a starting point to loudly demand full disclosure on all optional components and costs.

I'd go on and get the 3.6 flat six and get it new. You might as well take advantage of a full, standard manufacturer's warranty and avoid the cost of so-called extended warranty coverage. Subaru models are addictive, like Timex watches. Not the most stylish vehicles, but the very seldom let you down.

Yes. Check out Consumer Reports, which has technical facility and know-how for determining tire quality, among other things. If you are local, check out the Washington Consumers' Checkbook, or contact the Washington Center for the Study of Services.

A very keep it simple idea. There would have to be a way to engage the car with the weight of the baby. This might not work for People who don't have new cars, or old baby seats. And let's face it, with the new jobs report that came out, money is going to get tighter.

Congratulations on the babies.

A couple weeks ago I did a spot on KCRA-Sacramento about fuel efficient cars - over 30 under $30K. 

http://www.drivingthenation.com/?p=4770

Since then I have driven the Nissan Altima and was really impressed with that vehicle. 

A political candidate contemplating political suicide would do the right thing and suggest a higher federal gas tax. A political panderer would do what all of our Palinesque political panderers, Democrats and Republicans, Right and Left, are doing: They would pretend that all we have to do is "drill baby drill." They would pretend that we could frack free of environmental charge. They would pretend that, somehow somewhere, there is a magic button that can be pressed to get us all of the fossil fuels we want at the  developed world's cheapest price. The same people would pretend that, as long as we have an all-volunteer military force in which their sons and daughters aren't involved, we can always march into someone else's country to take the fossil fuels we need. It's pathetic. But it's a sorry state of affairs in which too much of the American electorate is a willing, gullible participant.

You seem to want something German, which is fine. That being the case, I'd go with something such as a BMW X3 or X5. Utility matters. The Bimmers offer decent utility and are reasonably good on-road and off. But, frankly, I'd rather save the money, get more utility, and choose a good and decent runner such as the Kia Sorento.

There are a couple I like:

1. My neighbor, Sheri, has a Dodge Ram 1500, crew cab (4-door). She has fourd dogs, I have one. With the help of a dog ramp we can get most the dogs in the bed, but my dog, PJ, has to go in the backseat. Her seats fold up and there is nothing under the seat for the dog to trip on. On other vehicles you have little boxes, stereo equipment etc. My dog is 12 1/2 years old and doesn't have the ability to stand while the truck is driving, so he needs to lay down. 

2. Ford - Warren and I interviewed Dawn Piechocki.  Piechocki is 4’10″ so she is the perfect person to go to when the rest of the team wants to make sure they are integrating new product for vertically challenged people.

It's so humorous to watch Warren in the video because what he is saying is true, it's tough for short people to get into pickup beds. 

http://www.drivingthenation.com/?p=2574

CTS, particularly the CTS-V. The new XTS.

I drove the ILX last month and loved it. I road with Nina Russin from www.carspondent.com and she loved it as well. You can read her article at http://www.carlist.com/newcars/newcar.php?id=2219&yr=n

Acura is going back to the V6, which I found interesting till I drove the past generation and realized they had a great V6. 

I'm driving the Acura RDX this week at home and like that as well. It didn't have a netting, or a well in the back to store my purchases, so you would need to buy one. 

Is it battery cooling or something related to the gasoline  engine?

Figured as much.

"Service campaign" and "consumer satisfaction campaign" simply means that Toyota has found a problem and is fixing it voluntary.  Good for Toyota. It best to be ahead of a problem before it gets bigger. "Recall" is a statutory term usually referring to a government threat of legal action, or an actual court case demanding the recall of a product. Court cases, often too expensive for either side, are rare. Most "recalls" are rare. They are usually voluntary or euphemistically dressed up to look like something else.

I can't think of a single website. If someone were looking to create a new automotive website that would be the perfect one to create, a website that allows you to pick options that are on a car. 

I had a friend, Robert, visit yesterday. Robert is from Wisconsin and he has cerebral palsy. He is also under 5 feet. He was lamenting about the car issues he has. I wish I could go to a website and click a button that would show me all the cars that had:

pedals that moved back and forth (remember he's short and doesn't want to sit to close to the windshield) 

land departure warning (he almost fell asleep once, so he's always concerned about that) 

blind spot detection (his neck doesn't turn well, so having the blind spot detection in the side mirrors would be great) 

But, alas, no such website. 

Money.

Wagons are making a comeback! If manufacturers want more sales they need to get on the band-wagon :) 

All you have to do is look at hatchback sales to know wagons are a welcome commodity. 

Both Warren and I keep saying it, wagons are practical and more of them should be built and sold in the United States. 

As ironic as it seems, your previous soft visors weighed a few grams more than the current hard visors. Car companies nowadays are nuts about excluding as much weight as possible in their quest for better fuel economy. We'll post this to let them know that some of their otherwise noble efforts can cause injury.