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"HOT Cars
for 2001."
No need to go to the local car exhibition at the state fair. Ask Karl. He's got
the scoop on what's hot for 2001, whether it's your favorite vehicle's revamps
or one of the new mouth-watering models. As Managing Editor for Edmunds.com, he's
right in the midst of what's the latest, greatest and mind-blowing gotta-haves.
This chat is sure to be exciting for both the auto aficionado, as well as the
new car buyer looking for the best deal. |
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Karl Brauer - Managing Editor Edmunds.com |
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Karl Brauer - Managing
Editor, Edmunds.com.
Before joining Edmunds.com, Karl Brauer spent four years at Petersen Publishing
writing for a variety of automotive titles including Hot Rod, Car Craft, Circle
Track, Rod & Custom and Super Street magazines. His automotive passion ignited
during the mid-'80s in his hometown of Denver, Colo., where he purchased a 1968
Dodge Charger R/T at the ripe old age of 15. This vehicle ownership was followed
by a 1969 Plymouth GTX, a 1957 Mercury Montclair and a 1970 Plymouth GTX, all
before graduating high school. With the escalating performance of new cars, Karl's
interest has turned from classic muscle cars to modern technology and how it is
used to create 320-horsepower engines that get 20-plus mpg. Karl still owns and
drives his 1970 Plymouth GTX, but he also fully embraces the creation of 400-horsepower
BMW sedans. Karl lives in West Los Angeles with his wife and already-car-freak
infant son.
Karl drives a 1970 Plymouth GTX and a 1991 Ducati 851 Superbike. |
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Chat Transcript |
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<Edmunds_Moderator>
Welcome to our Special Event Chat with Executive Editor, Karl Brauer He's got
the scoop on what's hot for 2001, whether it's your favorite vehicle's revamps
or one of the new mouth-watering models. Just type your question in the box and
he?ll answer as many as he can. Thanks for joining us?and ask away!
<Karl_Brauer> Glad that you all could stop by. There's a lot of excitement
coming in the next year from various auto manufacturers, and I look forward to
giving folks a heads up on some of the models to watch for.
<Edmunds_Moderator> mike: I was reading some reviews of the Edmunds.com
Road Tests. The Mazda Miata looks cool, what do you think?
<Karl_Brauer> Mike, the Miata gets a 15 horsepower bump this year,
to 155 horsepower.
<Karl_Brauer> You can now get a 6 speed manual transmission in all
models, as opposed to just the special edition Miatas.
<Karl_Brauer> the car's already a great drive, it should be even
better for 2001.
<Edmunds_Moderator> tokemak: Hi Karl, this may sound like a geeky
question, but I'd like to know if we're going to see MP3 players in cars next
year.
<Karl_Brauer> That's actually a good question.
<Karl_Brauer> Many people want to see MP3 audio in their vehicles
(myself included) and it does indeed look as though factory sound systems will
include CD players that can read MP3 files off of a CDR
<Karl_Brauer> It will only be the high-end vehicles at first, but
should permeate much of the model offerings in the next year or two.
<Edmunds_Moderator> timmy: Karl, I?m a major Subaru fan and thinking
about buying a new one. Any opinion about the 2001 Outback?
<Karl_Brauer> Good question, Timmy.
<Karl_Brauer> The Outback gets a more powerful 3-liter opposed engine
that will make 212 horsepower. That's a 30% increase over the existing 2.5 liter
engine.
<Karl_Brauer> This makes the car much more attractive but also much
more expensive.
<Karl_Brauer> At over $30,000, it's a bit steep for a Subaru, but
if you really like those kinds of cars, it would be a logical vehicle to look
into.
<Edmunds_Moderator> mimi: Are there going to be any changes in the
minivan area? New models or revamps of old that will make a minivan wannabe take
the plunge and "buy"?
<Karl_Brauer> Mimi, the Chrysler minivans are redesigned for 2001.
They offer more horsepower and more gadgets.
<Karl_Brauer> This includes a power-operated rear lift gate, and
a re-configurable center console.
<Karl_Brauer> However, we still think the Honda Odyssey, with it's
disappearing 3rd row seats (something the Chryslers still don't have) offers more
value for the money.
<Edmunds_Moderator> robert: I am looking to buy a new pickup. I have
a big boat, and am looking to do a lot of traveling with it in the upcoming year
so am looking for some super horsepower. Any suggestions?
<Karl_Brauer> Robert, if horsepower is your major concern, both Ford
and GM offer attractive trucks.
<Karl_Brauer> Chevy Silverado can be had with a number of different
engines, as well as the Ford. We personally like the Ford's overall ability to
provide a comfortable truck with good interior ergonomics and a comfortable ride.
[<Karl_Brauer> The GMC or Chevy offerings are even more attractive
and offer excellent towing abilities, but their build quality often doesn't match
the comparable Ford model.
<Karl_Brauer> Personally, if towing is your #1 concern, I would go
with either the Sierra Heavy Duty with the 8.1 liter V8, that makes 340 horsepower
and 455 pounds of torque.
<Edmunds_Moderator> Trish: I'm looked at a Santa Fe Hyundai, and
liked it very much. I can't find an invoice cost for this car anywhere on the
Internet to get a better idea of what I should pay. Can you help, and what do
you think about this car? The salesman said they would not be flexible about cost
because they only had one on the lot. Should I believe this?
<Karl_Brauer> Trish, the Santa Fe is a brand new vehicle from Hyundai
and as such, it can be hard to find pricing and models are still scarce.
<Karl_Brauer> Edmunds has a pending road test for this vehicle, but
as of right now we haven?t got a lot of information on it.
<Karl_Brauer> A similar vehicle like the Honda CRV is another possibility
for your needs.
<Edmunds_Moderator> Porkibear: What do you think about the reliability
of the new Audi line-ups?
<Karl_Brauer> Porkibear, Audi has shown relatively solid build quality
and reliability in recent years.
<Karl_Brauer> Even better, the factory warranty is now good for four
years instead of three and still covers the first 50,000 miles.
<Karl_Brauer> Generally, I like Audis, and think they make a wise
and often less expensive alternative to BMWs and Mercedes.
<Edmunds_Moderator> mimi: Back to minivans - I liked the Honda Odyssey
(I drove one at your EdmundsLIVE event!) but it doesn't have leather seats. Any
chance that Honda will reconsider in the 2001 and make leather an option?
<Karl_Brauer> mimi, if the Odyssey has a weakness, it is a lack of
luxurious feature content or options.
<Karl_Brauer> I recently saw an Odyssey at a dealership that had
been done up in after-market leather seats and a full tilt audio-visual system.
It was really cool, but it cost over $30,000.
<Karl_Brauer> My thinking is that things that you can't change about
a minivan like reliability and good crash test scores are important to consider.
<Karl_Brauer> The Odyssey is very strong in these areas
<Karl_Brauer> Items like leather seats and an audio-visual system
could be added if you needed them. But you'll never get the Chrysler minivans
into 5-star crash test ratings
<Karl_Brauer> Or the Ford Windstar into a less wallowy ride (the
Odyssey is the only minivan with independent rear-suspension).
<Karl_Brauer> Looks like our Moderator lost his Internet connection...
so I'll just talk a little about the hot cars for 2001.
<Karl_Brauer> Going Alphabetically, the cars to watch for 2001 would
include:
<Karl_Brauer> the Audi S4 Avant (station wagon version of the already
hot S4 sedan)
<Karl_Brauer> Audi TT Roadster-- of course this car has already been
out for a few months, but it's technically a 2001 model, and it offers style,
fun, and a beautiful interior
<Karl_Brauer> The BMW M3-- this car will feature a 330 horsepower
3.2 liter inline-6 and should prove quite the performance king.
<Karl_Brauer> The Corvette ZO6-- the hottest C5 Corvette yet. This
one makes 385 horsepower
<Karl_Brauer> The Chrysler PT Cruiser-- another one that has been
out for several months but is technically a 2001.
<Karl_Brauer> The 2002 Ford Thunderbird-- while officially a 2002
model, this one will be out in Spring 2001. This will have a 250 horsepower 3.9
liter V8 and feature retro styling similar to the original Thunderbirds.
<Karl_Brauer> The Lexus IS 300-- this was the hottest vehicle at
our Edmunds LIVE event. Lexus has broken outside its own boundaries and created
a worthy competitor to the Audi A4 and BMW 3-series.
<Karl_Brauer> The Mercedes C class-- they totally redesigned for
2001
This car will have Baby S class styling, excellent performance, and a fair amount
of luxury.
<Karl_Brauer> The Porsche 911 Turbo-- 415 horsepower and all-wheel
drive will put this car from 0-60 MPH in less than 4 seconds.
<Karl_Brauer> that's it for the Hot Cars list, I'll take some more
questions.
<Edmunds_Moderator> Bobcat: With gas prices so high, I hesitate even
looking at SUV's...any 2001 models you can recommend taking into consideration
gas mileage?
<Karl_Brauer> For pure gas mileage, there are two hybrid vehicles,
the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight
<Karl_Brauer> both of these cars will get 50+ mpg, but you won't
get the kind of storage you'll get with an SUV. IF you're looking for a combo
of gas mileage and cargo, a station wagon would be a good alternative
<Karl_Brauer> Continuing with Bobcat's question: something like a
Subaru or Audi (if you've got that kind of money) makes an excellent choice.
And the mini-utility vehicles, such as Nissan Xterra, or the new Ford Escape also
offer utility and reasonable gas mileage.
<Edmunds_Moderator> trent: Karl, if you were to pick any new vehicle
to buy in the upcoming year for yourself, what do you think you would get?
<Karl_Brauer> lets see-- my personal picks from this year's cars...
<Karl_Brauer> That's tough with so many new cars coming out, but
the new BMW M3 or maybe a Porsche Boxter S would be very high on my list.
<Edmunds_Moderator> MAKI: From the topic of hot 'cars' do you feel
SUV's will continue to be a large segment of the buying public or will gas prices,
general economics, and recent safety issues put a brake on their sales?
<Karl_Brauer> Yes to the latter part of your question... the bad
publicity from the Ford/Firestone debacle along with rising energy costs and a
somewhat slowing economy have already affected SUV sales (particularly Ford)
<Karl_Brauer> While I believe the SUV will be with us forever, its'
recent dominance of sales trends and its general position as a cultural fad is
likely over.
<Edmunds_Moderator2> carl: I am looking to buy a midsized sedan.
Can you direct me to some of the better deals?
<Karl_Brauer> carl, that one's easy, the VW Passat.
<Karl_Brauer> We just added a used Passat to our long-term fleet.
I drove it home tonight and it's GREAT!
<Karl_Brauer> These cars (in sedan or wagon form) offer an unbelievable
level of luxury feel, spirited drive, and functional ergonomics at a great price.
<Edmunds_Moderator> mark: I heard the PT Cruisers were going to have
a bigger engine in them for 2001. Is this true? Is the look going to remain the
same?
<Karl_Brauer> mark the engine won't be bigger, but it will be turbo-charged,
bumping the vehicle from 150-200 (or more) horsepower.
<Karl_Brauer> The engine is certainly the Achilles heel on the PT
Cruiser
<Karl_Brauer> Unfortunately, there's not enough room in the engine
compartment for a V6, so Chrysler will be forced to squeeze as much hp as they
can out of 4 cylinders
<Karl_Brauer> as for visual changes, I don't think anything major
is planned in the near future.
<Edmunds_Moderator> Mike: I'm also high on the Passat. What options
are "must haves?"
<Karl_Brauer> Mike, good question!
<Karl_Brauer> While the 2.8 liter V6 is nice, the 1.8T is more than
adequate at propelling the Passat, plus it's less expensive.
<Karl_Brauer> This year there's controls on the steering wheel for
radio and cruise. VW makes an excellent leather interior and the sound system
is excellent as well, so a higher option factory radio isn't a bad idea.
<Edmunds_Moderator> MAKI: Although the Honda Accord continues to
be a sales leader, as well as a great overall car, is it correct that it has dropped
from # 1 or 2 in sales to around #6
<Karl_Brauer> MAKI, I'm not exactly sure how the race for best-selling
car is going at this point.
<Karl_Brauer> I do, however, know that both the excellent Passat
and the much-improved Ford Taurus are cutting into the Accord's sales.
<Karl_Brauer> The Accord is still an excellent sedan, but I believe
the Taurus offers better value and of course, the Passat is just a better overall
car.
<Edmunds_Moderator> paul: What about these new hybrid cars I?ve been
hearing about like the Aztec? What is a hybrid car??
<Karl_Brauer> paul: first, the terminology is somewhat confusing.
<Karl_Brauer> People refer to the Aztec as a hybrid, when actually
a hybrid is supposed to be a vehicle like the Insight.
<Karl_Brauer> One that combines two types of propulsion systems
<Karl_Brauer> (gas and electric)
<Karl_Brauer> However, the Aztec can be considered a crossover vehicle
in that it tries to serve the purposes of both a SUV and a minivan while offering
lots of interior gadgets.
<Karl_Brauer> We actually just had an Aztec last week, and while
it drove rather well, and offered some interesting options, the exterior was beyond
reproach and most of the editorial team simply could not get past that.
<Edmunds_Moderator> shaliac: What about all the new electronic gadgets?
will you tell us about what is new coming up?
<Karl_Brauer> shaliac, the big one on the horizon is in-car email.
<Karl_Brauer> This will appear on several high-end vehicles for 2001,
including the Mercedes S class, the new Lexus LS 40
<Karl_Brauer> the other big one coming is "smart" cruise
control
<Karl_Brauer> This will also appear on high-end vehicles and can
actually maintain a vehicle's specified distance from other vehicles on the road,
without driver input, through the use of an advanced radar system.
<Edmunds_Moderator> shaliac: Out of all the VW's, which would you
say is the best deal for the money?
<Karl_Brauer> shaliac, the Passat wagon 1.8T
<Karl_Brauer> with either a manual or auto tranny and cloth interior.
<Karl_Brauer> This car isn't particularly loaded with luxury options,
but it's a great value for the money.
<Karl_Brauer> We have time for one more question...
<Edmunds_Moderator> Jeanne: What do you think of the 2001 Acura TL?
<Karl_Brauer> Jeanne, this is another good value in terms of what
you pay and what you get.
<Karl_Brauer> The TL isn't as sporty or as luxurious as some entry-luxury
sedans
<Karl_Brauer> However, it comes so well equipped for roughly $30,000,
plus it has a great drive train and a great reputation for reliability and build
quality.
<Edmunds_Moderator> Thank you for joining us Karl! Hearing about
the new 2001 vehicles has been really interesting and informative, we hope you
come and chat with us again soon!
<Edmunds_Moderator> Let?s give Karl a big round of applause!
<Karl_Brauer> Thanks everyone who stopped by. We got some great questions
and I had a lot of fun. I hope everyone keeps checking out the site and we'll
keep you updated on the latest developments for the 2001 model year as they become
available.
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