Q. What are two of the biggest mistakes of teen drivers? — H.E. (via Internet)

A. They don’t look what’s going on behind or alongside their vehicle and they don’t anticipate the stupid moves other drivers make. Many also drive too fast for conditions and haven’t got a clue about how to handle an emergency driving situation.



Q. You’ve tested cars all over the world and driven with some of the best factory auto test drivers. Are those drivers really all that superior to the average or even above-average motorist? — J.C. (via Internet)

A. You bet they are, by a long shot. They seem to become an integral part of the car when they get behind the wheel.



Q. Crossover vehicles are very popular but don’t make much sense to me. Most just seem like elongated sedans and thus look inherently ungainly. And they don’t offer much more utility than a sedan with fold-flat rear seatbacks. Or a nicely designed station wagon. Your opinion? — E.J. (via Internet)

A. For the most part, I agree. As for their appearance, many bring to mind the old saying about sightless people designing a camel.



Q. I can’t afford a new Ferrari, but what about buying a used late model one? — P.G. (via Internet)

A. I recommend against it. Maintenance costs for these cars are tremendous, although it isn’t as bad as it used to be. However, if you’re determined, you’ll find that many Ferraris located in the Midwest have relatively low miles because owners don’t take them out during winter. Just make sure you get maintenance records. But decent used ones still cost a lot.

Q. Haven’t a good number of high-performance domestic models, such as the Camaro and Mustang, come close to, or equal, Ferrari performance for a fraction of a Ferrari’s cost” — J.C. (via Internet) 

A. That’s correct. But, of course, they don’t have the “magical” Ferrari name. How much do you want to show off?



Q. What do you think of Porsche models and Porsche in general? — L.S. (via Internet)

A. Porsches are wonderful cars (I own a 1969 Porsche Targa) but are overpriced, both in terms of initial cost, maintenance and parts.



Q. Q. Do you still think that a used Volkswagen diesel car in good condition is a good buy? — H.S. (via Internet)

A. Still do.



Q. How do you feel about the new “affordable” Tesla auto model just coming out?  — J.T. (via Internet)

A. I’d rather opt for an electric car from a big, established automaker which has a solid dealer network. An increasing number of such cars are coming from the big boys.

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