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Real
Wheels
Hosted by Warren Brown
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2002; 11 a.m. EST
CANCELLED
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.
Submit your questions and comments before or during today's discussion.
Warren comes 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.
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.
washingtonpost.com:
Warren Brown will be with us momentarily.
washingtonpost.com:
We're sorry for the inconvenience but Warren Brown will not be able to conduct the Real Wheels discussion today. Join us next week on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. EST
Arlington, Va.:
Thanks in advance...
If I'm used to a '99 Jeep Grand Cherokee (and a '93 Mazda MX-6 before that) what will be the things I like and dislike the most about a Toyota Echo -- or any hybrid car, for that matter?
Warren Brown: Dear`Arlington:
The Echo isn't a hybrid. It's a small-displacement, gasoline-power econocar that isn't selling terribly well in the United States. Drawbacks are its looks, which some people see as too-forward, something akin to abstract sculpture.It's small, which may not meet the needs of a family, or an owner who tends to haul many things and people.
Other than those complaints, it's a well-constructed little car. Reliable. Fuel-efficient.
Gas/electric hybrids (the more fuel efficient diesel/electric hybrids aren't offered in the United States) will save you lots of money at the pump. They are wonderful for urban driving, but not so great on the open highway, where their lightweight alminum bodies get shaken and stirred in crosswinds. Hope this helps.
washingtonpost.com:
We're sorry for the inconvenience but Warren Brown will not be able to conduct the Real Wheels discussion today. Join us next week on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. EST.
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