Chat Transcript

<Edmunds Moderator1> Welcome to EdmundsLIVE, live from Atlanta. We'll be starting in approximately 5 minutes. Remember - only selected questions submitted from members of our audience will be published to the chat. Thanks for joining in!

<Edmunds Moderator2> Don't forget to sign up to test drive vehicles at an upcoming EdmundsLIVE event near you! Click on the banner for more details.

<Edmunds Moderator2> Test-drive 50 different vehicles at EdmundsLIVE in Washington DC, August 4-6. Click on the banner for more details.

<Edmunds Moderator2> Have you ever wanted to drive vehicles at an auto show? At EdmundsLIVE you can. Click on the banner for more details.

<Edmunds Moderator1> Welcome to EdmundsLIVE, live from Atlanta. Remember - only selected questions submitted from members of our audience will be published to the chat. Thanks for joining in!

<Edmunds Moderator1> chris: How many are attending the Atlanta event??

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: Hi This is Britt Johanssen, we're chatting live from the Atlanta Motor Speedway here in Atlanta, and I can answer any questions about EdmundsLIVE and our Summer Tour

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: We have over 2000 people registered for the Atlanta event. We will be here tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

<Edmunds Moderator2> dragracer: What is the most popular car everyone wants to drive?

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: Hi, I'm John Clor, Detroit editor, I'm here to answer any questions you have about some of the cars you'll see at EdmundsLIVE.

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: So far, it's provign to be the LexusIS 300.

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: That's primarily because it's a brand new model that people are hungry to learn about.

<Edmunds Moderator1> Welcome to EdmundsLIVE, live from Atlanta. Remember - only selected questions submitted from members of our audience will be published to the chat. Thanks for joining in!

<Edmunds Moderator2> Don't forget to sign up to test drive vehicles at an upcoming EdmundsLIVE event near you! Click on the banner for more details.

<Edmunds Moderator2> MotoGrrl: What is the most popular vehicle segment or test track?

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: seems like the most popular vehicle segment is the near-luxury Sedan segment.
<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: the SUV test track is most popular

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: there are some really cool features of this track. Not only can they drive on pavement to do fast starts and stops

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: But they can also go off-road, there are dunes, ditches and railroad ties for people to maneuver through.

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: Plus, it's fun!

<Edmunds Moderator1> roger: What is the speed limit on the test tracks?

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: There are some acceleration sprints that are the fastest segments, the limits are really how fast you can maneuver through cones without knocking cones down.

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: You're only limited by your ability.

<Edmunds Moderator2> Test-drive 50 different vehicles at EdmundsLIVE in Washington DC, August 4-6. Click on the banner for more details.

<Edmunds Moderator1> Welcome to EdmundsLIVE, live from Atlanta. Remember - only selected questions submitted from members of our audience will be published to the chat. Thanks for joining in!

<Edmunds Moderator1> Presta: Which SUV is proving to be the most popular?

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: So far, we're finding many consumers agreeing with Edmunds.com editors that the Nissan Xterra is a very popular choice.

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: We expected it to do well, It seems like our female drivers are enjoying the Honda CRV.

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt; My male friends who drive CRVs aren't going to like that!

<Edmunds Moderator2> cager: How long does it take to test-drive a vehicle on the tracks?

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: again, we can say it depends on your ability

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: You go through at your own pace and your own speed.

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: Most of the tracks are mostly a half a mile in length, so it shouldn't take more than a few minutes to conquer each track.

<Edmunds Moderator2> Have you ever wanted to drive vehicles at an auto show? At EdmundsLIVE you can. Click on the banner for more details.

<Edmunds Moderator2> Lyza: How many vehicles are in the show?

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: we have a total of 132 vehicles on site, which represent 50 different vehicles for consumers to compare and test drive.

<Edmunds Moderator1> roger: Is the Ford Escape going to be there?

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: the Ford Escape is planned to be in the show. We have quite a few consumers interested in driving it.

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt; distribution has been delayed, however, but we plan to have the Escape at EdmundsLIVE in Washington D.C. l

<Edmunds Moderator1> Welcome to EdmundsLIVE, live from Atlanta. Remember - only selected questions submitted from members of our audience will be published to the chat. Thanks for joining in!

<Edmunds Moderator2> Sunny: Why, in particular, do you think women prefer the Honda CRV?

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: I think it's a comfortable size, it feels good in the handling dept, and it's good looking

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: I hate to say the word cute, but they like it because it's cute.

<Edmunds Moderator2> rocket: How many vehicles can you sign up to drive?

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: Our reservation system online asks that you select the segment that you would prefer to drive while on site

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: however, once here at EdmundsLIVE, you can drive as many vehicles as you would like.>

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: One consumer today, who was interested in the SUVs, drove 8 different SUVs and still didn't have enough driving and chose to drive 8 near-luxury sedans and 4 sedans.

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: before she called it a day!

<Edmunds Moderator2> Don't forget to sign up to test drive vehicles at an upcoming EdmundsLIVE event near you! Click on the banner for more details.

<Edmunds Moderator1> chris: What the big deal with the new Lexus. Doesn't seem special to me. Why all the interest? And what's with the shifter console??

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: It's a big deal because Lexus is actually trying to compete in the performance market

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: this is a personal performance car designed to go up against the Germans

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: The shifter console and the strange-looking instrument panel is an attempt by Lexus to add "personality"

<Edmunds Moderator2> GoCarGo: What other activities are there at EdmundsLIVE?

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: don't forget that Lexus has long been accused of being bland, being vanilla!

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: there are a variety of things to do at EdmundsLIVE

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: not only can you test drive and compare 50 different vehicles on 8 specially designed test tracks, but you can talk to our experts about vehicle features and learn how to best evaluate vehicles and attend interactive workshops where Edmunds experts present topics of interest to car shoppers all in a pro-consumer unbiased environment.

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: Plus, you get to meet Edmunds editors!

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: and me, of course!

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: one more thing...

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: one of the other neat features, you can talk to our partners, eCoverage, PeopleFirst, CarsDirect, and 1 Source Auto Warranty to get the same no-nonsense, straightforward information you expect from Edmunds.com.

<Edmunds Moderator2> Test-drive 50 different vehicles at EdmundsLIVE in Washington DC, August 4-6. Click on the banner for more details.

<Edmunds Moderator1> steve: What are the crowds like at EdmundsLIVE? Is it like Disneyland where you have to wait in line for a while to take a test-drive?

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: No, one of the reasons we ask consumers to register online and choose the segment of vehicle they prefer driving is so they can experience the vehicle displays and the test tracks without needing to stand in long lines or endure any waiting.

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: It's organized, unlike Disneyland, and because it's so organized, the wait is only a few minutes.

<Edmunds Moderator1> Welcome to EdmundsLIVE, live from Atlanta. Remember - only selected questions submitted from members of our audience will be published to the chat. Thanks for joining in!

<Edmunds Moderator2> CarMan: What other cities will you be in (besides Atlanta)?

<EdmundsLIVETeam> Britt: The remainder of our tour includes Washington DC, Chicago, Englishtown NJ (for you New Yorkers), San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

<EdmundsLIVETeam> John: for example, Detroiters can make it to Chicago, or if you live in Indianapolis or Milwaukee. People drive long distances to go to an Antique Show, why not EdmundsLIVE?