ASK PAUL

When Paul Brian was 15 years old, he asked a question that would fashion a great deal of the rest of his life. The question was, "Sir, I really don't understand what your team seems to be doing--could you explain it for me?" The answer came from a man who was willing to take the time to answer the inquiry of a young man with a genuine interest in racing and cars. The answer came from automotive legend Carroll Shelby sitting on the pit wall of the 1966 Sebring 12-Hour race. From that day on, Paul and Shelby became friends and Shelby's stature as a business and racing icon helped Paul Brian through the rest of his life--even to today.

"I'll never forget that day and what it meant to me," said Paul. "I suppose that's why, when people started writing and calling with their questions about what type of vehicle they should buy, I felt a responsibility to help them through the process. The natural outgrowth of that was the "Ask Paul" feature that we now have on DriveChicago.com. I don't profess to know the correct answer, nor even think that there's a single best answer to the question of what a customer should or shouldn't buy, but I know enough to help them down the path of making a sound, sensible decision."

Over the past 11 years, Paul has guided countless callers on his Drive Chicago radio show, as well. The show, heard weekly at 8 a.m. on WLS AM890 in Chicago, is an audible version of what you'll find in print and online.

"There's a great deal of satisfaction I get when I hear back from someone who has asked for my advice and acted on it with favorable results," said Brian. "The absolute best is when they write to let me know that it's their second time looking for advice because the first time was so successful. I love that!"

The $64,000 question, "Does he know Jack about cars?"

Featured Question

Q. My husband and I are looking to buy a small minivan or small SUV. Which one gets the best gas mileage and rates high in overall performance? We want a well-built vehicle because we are moving to Florida and will make trips back to Chicago to see our kids, so we need a great vehicle with the best gas mileage. Is a 4 or 6 cylinder best? It's been a while since we have bought a new car. You're help would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

A. You're not alone in this market, which makes it good for you. The first thing I want you to do is not go looking for a hybrid-unless you're looking to make your own personal environmental statement. Dealerships are currently filled with people who are looking to purchase fuel-efficient vehicles, so if you're absolutely set on buying a new vehicle you're going to find a selection that's in demand, and that translates to dealers holding the line on prices. I'd like for you to think a bit out of the box, though, ok? If you're making one or two trips a year between Florida and Chicago (1500 miles approximately) let's do some math. Two round trips: 6,000 miles Gasoline used for a vehicle that gets 20 mpg: 300 gallons Cost at $4 per gallon: $1,200 Gasoline used for a vehicle that gets 30 mpg: 200 gallons Cost at $4 per gallon: $800 Cost difference between the two: $400. Now think about buying a one- or two-year-old SUV, where values are currently in the tank and used car lots are brimming with vehicles traded not because they were bad, but because the owners were trying to save bucks on gas-and keep in mind that the overall fuel cost difference for your trips was $400. If you could save $2,000-$3,000 on the original price you paid, it will take you about five years to have the fuel costs outweigh the savings you made on the purchase. So, be on the lookout for a fairly new SUV where you can get a factory backed extended warranty and I think you'll be miles and dollars ahead of doing the reflexive "buy something with good mpg NOW" thing that's going on. The media is driving a lot of this hysteria, so I'm suggesting you take advantage of it.