The Tappet Brothers tackle a variety of quirky topics while offering practical car advice. A caller from Pittsburgh prepares his 1993 Ford Escort GT for its first winter, receiving tips on antifreeze, battery checks, and the importance of a tune-up. Another caller shares a humorous story about her daughter being born in a Subaru at a dealership, leading to a discussion on minivan options for her growing family. The episode blends humor with useful insights, making for an entertaining listen.
Leslie’s family was about to upgrade in more ways than one. They were on the prowl for a minivan when Leslie, 9 months pregnant, had a sudden, urgent need to make a very memorable impression on everyone at the local Chrysler dealership parking lot. Was the birth of their daughter sufficient downpayment on a new ride or did she have to make her case to the service manager, too? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
"...my car, which is a 1993 Ford Escort GT, five-speed stick, by the way. So what about it?"
The Ford Escort GT is a version of the Ford Escort that is designed to be sportier and more fun to drive. The 1993 model is from a time when compact cars were becoming popular and had some sporty features.
The Ford Escort GT is a sportier variant of the Ford Escort, known for its performance-oriented features and manual transmission options. The 1993 model is part of the fourth generation of the Escort, which was popular in the compact car segment during the early 1990s.
"...that your master cylinder is no good on your brakes and you wouldn't find that out down in Atlanta maybe forever."
The master cylinder helps your car stop when you press the brake pedal. If it's broken, your brakes might not work properly, which can be dangerous.
The master cylinder is a crucial component of a vehicle's braking system that converts the force from the brake pedal into hydraulic pressure, allowing the brakes to engage. If the master cylinder is faulty, it can lead to brake failure, which is a serious safety concern.
"...and you should probably get snow tires. Oh, all right."
Snow tires are special tires made for driving in snow and ice. They help your car grip the road better when it's cold and slippery, making it safer to drive in winter weather.
Snow tires, also known as winter tires, are specifically designed to provide better traction and handling in cold weather conditions, particularly on snow and ice. They have a different rubber compound and tread pattern compared to all-season tires, optimizing performance in winter conditions.
"...it's kind of a general question about manual clutches..."
A manual clutch is a part of cars with manual gear shifts that helps you change gears. It connects and disconnects the engine from the wheels when you want to shift gears.
A manual clutch is a component in a manual transmission vehicle that engages and disengages the engine from the transmission. It allows the driver to change gears smoothly and is essential for operating a manual vehicle.
"...it's an 89 miles to 626. It's a manual. I've always had manuals..."
The Mazda MX-6 is a small car made by Mazda that was popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It has a sporty look and is fun to drive, especially with a manual gear shift.
The Mazda MX-6 is a compact car that was produced by Mazda from 1987 to 1997. It is known for its sporty design and performance, especially in the manual transmission variant.
"...I'll actually creep up and I'll leave it in first and I'll balance the clutch and the gas. That's bad."
A manual transmission is a system in some cars where you have to change gears yourself using a stick and a pedal. It gives you more control over how the car drives.
A manual transmission is a type of vehicle transmission that requires the driver to manually shift gears using a clutch pedal and gear stick. This allows for greater control over the vehicle's power and speed compared to automatic transmissions.
"and you're balancing it. So gravity's trying to pull you down the hill and you're creating just enough friction between the three pieces of the clutch to hang there."
The Lucid Gravity is a new electric SUV that is designed to be very fancy and have a long driving range on a single charge. It's part of a new wave of cars that run on electricity instead of gas.
The Lucid Gravity is an upcoming all-electric SUV from Lucid Motors, known for its luxury features and impressive range. It aims to compete with high-end electric vehicles by offering advanced technology and a spacious interior.
"those three pieces are turning in unison. The three pieces being the flywheel, the clutch cover, and the driven disc."
The clutch cover is a part that holds the clutch together and helps it work properly when you change gears.
The clutch cover is a component that houses the clutch assembly and applies pressure to the clutch disc when engaged. It plays a vital role in the clutch's operation and overall performance.
"those three pieces are turning in unison. The three pieces being the flywheel, the clutch cover, and the driven disc."
The flywheel is a part that helps keep the engine running smoothly by storing energy. It works with the clutch to help the car move.
The flywheel is a mechanical device that stores rotational energy and helps maintain a smooth engine operation. It works with the clutch to transfer power from the engine to the transmission.
"The three pieces being the flywheel, the clutch cover, and the driven disc. And the driven disc is the one that's made out of a very soft material and made to wear out so that you don't destroy the other two."
The driven disc is the part of the clutch that connects to the engine and helps the car move. It's made to wear out so that it doesn't damage other parts.
The driven disc, also known as the clutch disc, is the component that engages with the flywheel and transmits power from the engine to the transmission. It is designed to wear out over time to protect other components.
"We also have kept an 86 Toyota van that has almost 200,000 miles on it. That used to be our family car when our daughters were younger..."
This is a type of minivan made by Toyota in the 1980s. It was popular for families because it had a lot of space.
The Toyota van mentioned is likely a reference to the Toyota Van, a compact minivan produced in the 1980s, known for its practicality and family-friendly design.
"...That's my car that I drive. We also have kept an 86 Toyota van that has almost 200,000 miles on it. That us..."
The Toyota Corolla is a small car that many people trust because it lasts a long time and doesn't cost much to keep running. It's a great choice for anyone looking for a dependable vehicle to get around.
The Toyota Corolla is one of the best-selling cars in the world, known for its reliability, fuel efficiency, and affordability. It has been a staple in the compact car segment since its launch in the 1960s and is often praised for its low maintenance costs.
Car
Chevy Spectrum
"Our third car, the car that my husband commutes two hours every day in, is an 87 Chevy Spectrum. However, our mechanic who has a great sense of humor calls it a Chevy Rectum."
This is a small car made by Chevrolet in the late 1980s. It was designed to be affordable and easy to drive.
The Chevy Spectrum is a subcompact car produced by Chevrolet in the late 1980s, known for its affordability and compact size, making it suitable for commuting.
"... Doug Mayer and send a picture of the car of the Pathfinder. You guys are nuts."
The Nissan Pathfinder is a type of family-friendly vehicle that can carry a lot of people and gear. It's good for both driving around town and going on adventures, making it a popular choice for families.
The Nissan Pathfinder is a midsize SUV known for its spacious interior and off-road capability. It has been a popular choice for families and adventure seekers since its introduction in the early 1980s, offering a blend of comfort and utility.
"...My husband drives a Subaru Outback, but we need something even bigger than that. Sell the Outback, keep the Camry..."
The Subaru Outback is a type of car that's great for families and outdoor adventures. It has a lot of space and can handle rough roads well.
The Subaru Outback is a crossover SUV that combines the features of a wagon and an SUV, offering all-wheel drive and ample cargo space, making it ideal for families and outdoor activities.
"...buy a Honda Odyssey, and you're all done. See you."
The Honda Odyssey is a minivan that has a lot of room for families. It's designed to be comfortable and safe for kids and parents.
The Honda Odyssey is a minivan known for its spacious interior, family-friendly features, and strong safety ratings, making it a popular choice for larger families.
"...I know the Toyota makes a minivan, right? Yeah, the Sienna."
The Toyota Sienna is a type of family vehicle called a minivan. It's designed to carry many passengers and has a lot of space for cargo, making it great for families.
The Toyota Sienna is a minivan known for its spacious interior and family-friendly features. It is one of the few minivans on the market that offers all-wheel drive, making it a versatile choice for various driving conditions.
"And the question really is, is that something that we should be looking at? I mean, we live in Buffalo."
All-wheel drive means that power goes to all four wheels of the car, which helps it grip the road better, especially in bad weather like rain or snow.
All-wheel drive (AWD) is a drivetrain configuration that allows all four wheels of a vehicle to receive power from the engine simultaneously. This enhances traction and stability, especially in adverse weather conditions.
"I want to look at that new caravan. No, it was totally coincidental."
The Dodge Caravan is a type of family vehicle called a minivan. It's designed to carry many passengers and has a lot of space for things like groceries or luggage.
The Dodge Caravan is a minivan that was first introduced in 1984. It is known for its spacious interior and versatility, making it a popular choice for families.
"...when the kid was born in the Chrysler dealership?"
Chrysler is a car brand from America that makes different types of vehicles, including family cars and SUVs. They have been around for a long time and are known for their comfortable cars.
Chrysler is an American automotive brand known for producing a range of vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, and minivans. They have a long history in the automotive industry and are part of the larger Stellantis group.
Four-wheel drive means that all four wheels of a car can move at the same time, which helps the car grip the road better, especially in bad weather or off-road.
Four-wheel drive (4WD) is a drivetrain system that allows all four wheels of a vehicle to receive power from the engine simultaneously. This enhances traction and control, especially in off-road or slippery conditions.
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Hello and welcome to Carrot Talk from National Public Radio.
With us, Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers.
And we're broadcasting this week from the Employee Motivation Center here at Carrot Talk Plaza.
Now, we're always looking for ways to inspire our fellow employees.
And I never thought that the hard metal seats and the 54-degree temperature in the office would have done that.
But apparently not.
No.
But, but, but.
Go ahead.
But, but.
We've got some ideas here from someone whose name is, we don't know.
Someone.
Annonymous.
Annonymous.
Someone sent us this email and it's, it says how to, how to drive other people crazy.
And I suppose it's ideas for things to do at work, most of them are.
Go ahead.
Put your garbage on your desk and label it in.
Now, I remember when I worked at my, with my dear friends at the Foxboro company, I discovered one day that I had some kind of insurance that would pay my salary or 80% of it.
Oh, I know.
If I was judged to be incompetent, mentally.
Incontinent?
That too.
That was the second phase of the operation.
Because I remember that you and I discussed it at great length and I decided I had to come up with a strategy for invoking this insurance policy.
Yeah.
And I think it's called fraud.
And I remember we decided that I would, I would start out by sobbing at my desk every day.
Just sit there at the desk and start crying.
And when people came by and say, no, I'm all right.
And then you suggested that I should start peeing myself.
And that works.
That did it.
That was the clincher.
Here's a couple of more.
Reply to everything that someone says with, that's what you think.
Start all your sentences with in accordance with the prophecy.
I like that one.
As often as possible, skip rather than walk.
I love it.
Put mosquito netting around your cubicle.
I like that.
I like that.
But I think my idea for-
And if all else fails, pee in your pants.
That worked, man.
They can't take back that money now, can they?
The money they sent me.
Oh, no, I think you're well beyond the statute of limitations.
I think it's 20 years.
Oh, no, it's been 20 years.
Well, look, if you'd like to drive us nuts with a question about your car,
the number is 1-888-CAR-TALK.
That's 888-227-8255.
Hello, you're on CAR-TALK.
Hello, guys.
This is Patrick calling from Pittsburgh, PA.
Patrick.
Patrick from Pittsburgh.
Yep, just moved here from Atlanta.
Atlanta to Pittsburgh.
Yes.
To attend Folk Music School.
Really?
Really?
Yep.
Does a Folk Music School in Pittsburgh, PA?
There's a small place called Calliope.
It's in one of the surrounding towns.
And they teach everything from finger-picking 101 to harmonica to
Appalachian harmony to songwriting.
And when you finish school, will you be joining the Folk Song Army?
I'm hoping to.
I'm hoping to.
Wow.
I'll be unencumbered by the employment process.
I never knew such a place existed.
That's really good.
I mean, this is a full-time four-year, one-year, two-year or whatever school.
No.
It's not quite that formal.
It's more eight-week sessions.
And you can take as many sessions as you'd like.
Oh.
Depending upon how good you think you are or think you want to be.
How many disperse among the music lessons are panhandling?
Yeah.
Maybe you get your own paper cup when you leave.
How many students are there at this place?
Gosh, you know, I'd have to add up all the classes.
I mean, is that hundreds?
There might just be hundreds.
But I mean, there might just be two or three or four hundred.
Well, I love it, actually.
I think it's neat.
Well, when you're ready to go, it's called Calliope.
Just give us a call, Laura.
I'll be there.
Great.
And you'll bring your own tambourine.
So what do you need us for?
Well, my car, which is a 1993 Ford Escort GT, five-speed stick, by the way.
So what about it?
Well, it's about to spend its first winter north of the Mason-Dixon line.
And I want to make sure it's prepared.
And being unencumbered by the employment process as I am, I don't have a lot of money.
You know, I want to make sure I don't wind up having something go wrong
because I haven't done any preventive maintenance that it hasn't needed.
Oh, yeah, yeah, I understand.
Well, you're absolutely right because in the warm weather, as we say, everything works.
Right.
And some of the things that don't work, you may not find out about until it gets cold.
But some of them you can prepare for.
Okay.
I presume you have antifreeze in it, but I wouldn't really presume that.
Okay.
Well, I know there's coolant.
Yeah.
I know there's watery stuff in there that's got to be in it.
Well, that's the same thing.
But it's possible that if you ever had a leak somewhere along the way,
or if anyone ever had a leak down there in Atlanta,
that it would have been replaced with just plain old water,
which would have been fine down there.
But you can easily go into a service station if you can find one
and ask them to check to see how good it is.
Okay.
You want to make sure in Pittsburgh that it's good down to zero degrees Fahrenheit.
And the test takes about a minute.
Oh, okay.
Yeah.
Suck out some of the coolant and no matter what it says,
that there are little balls that will float, you know,
in this little device and four balls is good for 25 below,
five balls is good for 45 below.
But no matter how many balls are floating,
they'll tell you you need to have the system flushed anyway.
So you can do that.
And the other thing that's important is to make sure that your battery is up to snuff.
Okay.
And that your belt is tight enough, your alternator belt.
Okay.
Now, I have accidentally killed the battery once very recently.
And then I got a jumpstart from my landlord,
and it seemed to be fully charged by the time I got to class.
Yeah.
Well, it would be in this weather,
but you'll separate the men from the boys when it's six degrees out.
Okay.
So you need to have it really tested with a load tester.
Okay.
They'll put a machine on it and they'll simulate trying to start the thing
by imposing a load across the terminals.
Okay.
And they'll read the voltage.
And if it goes down below nine volts,
you'll probably need to have the battery replaced,
but at the very least charged up and to make sure the charging system is working.
And that's other than that, Patrick.
That's it.
Yeah.
And you may discover that some of the other things that I said you may discover only when
it does get cold is if you haven't had a tune up for a long time,
like if you've got plugs in there that have been in there for 90,000 miles,
it's possible that it won't start because everything works when it's warm.
Right.
So it may work warm and it won't work when it's cold.
So you may find out that you need a tune up if it doesn't start.
Okay.
You may find out, for example, that your master cylinder is no good on your brakes
and you wouldn't find that out down in Atlanta maybe forever.
Oh, okay.
Because the cold weather would cause that to make the brakes fail.
And you should probably get snow tires.
Oh, all right.
I've got like all weather radials on there.
Good enough.
You're good.
Oh, you think so?
Yeah.
No, just stay home.
The biggest consideration is that you have no experience driving in the snow.
Well, actually, I do have a little.
My family's from this area, so I've traveled up here a lot
and I've gotten most of my driving snow driving experience in rental cars.
Good.
That's the way to do it.
Yeah.
Good thinking, man.
Yes.
Your position's on as dumb as you look.
No.
You're all set, Patrick.
Hey, good luck with your first winter up here, man.
You're going to love it.
Thank you very much.
We'll be looking for you on the cover of Sing Out.
Do they, is that still published?
Yes, it is.
It is.
Cool.
All right.
See you later.
Thanks, guys.
Good luck, Patrick.
Bye-bye.
All right, Tommy.
Do you remember last week's puzzler?
A puzzler, a puzzler.
I still haven't fixed the exhaust leak in your MG, huh?
Exhaust leak, exhaust leak.
We'll be right back with the answer in just a minute.
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Hi, we're back.
You're listening to Car Talk with us.
Click and Clack the Tapper Brothers, and we're here to talk about cars, car repair, and da.
The answer to last week's puzzler.
What was it?
Here it is.
This is the second...
Oh, the string!
Yes.
Was it the string puzzler?
Yes, this is the second in a string of string puzzlers.
We did the first string puzzler back in the spring.
That was the spring string, and here are the facts.
You have two pieces of string that each take exactly an hour to burn,
but their burn rates are not linear.
So, one string may burn quickly for five minutes or 15 minutes
and then slowly for the next 10 minutes and so on,
but we know that after exactly an hour, both strings, if they're lit at one end,
will be completely burned up, burned to a crisp.
Mon die!
Okay, and the spring string...
The spring string...
The springsteen, the Bruce Springsteen puzzler was this.
How could you measure a 15-minute period of time
with this knowing these things, that you have two strings,
both of which will burn up in an hour if lit at one end,
and all you had was the two strings and a cigarette lighter.
You had a zippo lighter or such thing.
And the way you did that, you took the two strings
and you light three ends at once, right?
It doesn't matter which three ends.
Any three ends.
The first piece burns up entirely in half an hour, right?
If it takes an hour to burn the whole thing and if you light it at both ends,
it's going to burn up in half an hour, okay?
And because you've lit both ends, it has to burn up in a half an hour.
The second piece burns for half an hour,
because it was lit at the same time as the other two ends.
Okay, so then you know that half an hour's burned time left in the second string.
You light that at the other end and voila, you've got 15 minutes, right?
Sure.
I think I follow that.
Right.
So what was this question this time?
So now the puzzler was, how do you measure six minutes?
Six minutes!
Six minutes.
I'll make it easier.
A minute.
Anything.
Oh.
Well, it has a completely different answer.
Oh, I knew it!
I knew when you were being so generous.
I said, gee, do you want to give such a big hint?
And little did I know that the big hint was a big red herring.
I should have known you wouldn't be so generous.
I didn't even give a hint, did I?
Well, you repeated how the old one was done.
That was unnecessary.
Because you were trying to lead everyone down the wrong track.
Oh.
And now you just admitted that.
That was awfully sneaky of me, wasn't it?
Yeah.
It was very sneaky.
Well, here's what you do.
Here's what you do.
You take the zippo lighter and you tie it to one.
Now pay attention!
Tie it to a doorknob.
To a doorknob and to one of your incisors.
There's a string and it opens the door and there's the clock right there in the other room.
Not quite, but close.
You tie the zippo lighter.
You tie the string to the zippo, one end of the string to the zippo lighter.
Yeah.
Okay.
And you may not realize it, but you have constructed a pendulum.
You then take the lighter and you light the other string at both ends.
Not the one that you just tied to the...
No, no.
No, the other one.
Okay.
You light it at both ends.
You light it at both ends and you immediately set the pendulum as swinging as they say.
And you know it's going to take 30 minutes for that string to burn up.
And what you do while the string is burning, you count pendulum swings.
You count pendulum swings and of course everyone knows that a pendulum's cycle is independent of its amplitude.
That's why pendulum were so popular in clock use.
Yes.
Because as the pendulum seemed to slow down, it really didn't slow down.
As the amplitude of the cycle decreased, the time it took for it to swing from point A all the way to point B on the other side and then back to point A.
Remains the same.
Remains the same.
So very...
A little known fact about pendulums.
Well, it's only true if the arc is small.
If it gets too big, then there are other mathematics that gets involved.
Much too complex for me to explain here, because...
I don't understand.
Was that covered in 801?
So you count the number of swings and when the thing has burned up completely, you say, huh, it took 30 minutes for...
Let's like pick a nice number like 300 swings of the pendulum.
Therefore, if I divide this by 5...
Which will be 6 minutes because 30 divided by 5.
So 300 divided by 5 is 60 swings of the pendulum.
And so you set it a swing in again and you count up to...
You count up to 6 minutes.
So you can count any amount of time.
Anything. 6 minutes was a red herring as well.
See, if you had said how could you count up to anything?
Well, I consider...
No, that would have been too easy.
I considered having...
I was considering having the string tied to a red herring.
These puzzles are getting really, really interesting.
Oh man, the winner is Ed Chrysalwire from Mountview, Wyoming.
And for having his correct answer selected at random from among the thousands of correct answers that we received,
Ed's gonna get a copy of our brand new CD above Fathers and Cars,
the title of which is Why You Should Never Listen to Your Father When It Comes to Cars.
Our kids actually suggested that title.
God bless their rotten, black little hearts.
So congratulations, Ed, and enjoy the CD.
We'll have a new, I would say semi-automotive.
Ah, quasi-automotive.
This is messed up, quasi-automotive.
Semi-automotive puzzle coming up in the third half of today's show.
So stay tuned for that.
In the meantime, you can call us and ask any question you want.
Automotive or not, we don't care.
The number's 1-888-CAR-TALK.
That's 888-227-8255.
This is Jason. I'm calling from Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Jason?
Yeah.
Colorado Springs.
Yeah, so what's going on, Jason?
Well, it's not a problem so much as it's kind of a general question about manual clutches.
I drive, I mean, what I drive isn't too pertinent.
It's an 89 miles to 626.
It's a manual. I've always had manuals.
And I think I'm kind of clutch savvy, I suppose.
So if I'm pulling up to a stoplight that's on an incline,
instead of actually putting on the brakes and putting it in neutral,
I'll actually creep up and I'll leave it in first and I'll balance the clutch and the gas.
That's bad.
That's what I wanted to know.
That is bad.
It is.
How many miles have you gotten? How many months have your clutches lasted?
Well, it may surprise us to find out that they've lasted a long time.
It's lasted. I just went past 102,000.
100,000 miles?
102,000 miles.
Right. Well, obviously you don't do this very much because when you do this,
what you're doing is you're counteracting the effect of gravity.
Gravity wants to pull your car down the hill.
Right.
And you are using the clutch to engage very slightly the wheels to make the car try to go up the hill
and you're balancing it.
So gravity's trying to pull you down the hill and you're creating just enough friction between the three pieces of the clutch
to hang there.
To hang there and that's the time when the clutch wears out the most when it's not fully engaged.
Because when it is fully engaged, that is, when you're driving down the road and your foot is off the clutch,
those three pieces are turning in unison.
The three pieces being the flywheel, the clutch cover, and the driven disc.
And the driven disc is the one that's made out of a very soft material and made to wear out
so that you don't destroy the other two.
But when it wears out, the car no longer moves.
And the way you wear it out is by doing exactly what you do.
But you must be good at it or you're not doing it often enough to burn out the clutch because that's a killer.
You can't be good at it because the more good you are at it, the more you're wearing out the clutch.
But it is a nice little challenge to be able to find that point.
You know, because it feels good, doesn't it?
It's a matter of the clutch, the position of the clutch, and the amount of fuel that you're feeding to the engine.
And you can reach that point where you have that balance so good.
There's a certain zen to it.
There is.
You feel as though, how can this be wrong?
It just feels so right.
Yeah.
You're just sitting there.
It's not rocking forward and backwards, just sitting there.
You could use up a clutch in about an hour that way.
Depending on how long the light is.
Yeah.
Right.
So don't do it, man.
Well, that's why I called you guys.
It's a very good question.
All right.
Glad you called.
Thanks a lot.
See you, Jason.
Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
Bye.
1-888-CAR-TALK.
That's 888-227-8255.
Hello, you're on Car Talk.
Hello.
I'm Bobby from Northern Virginia.
Bobby.
Bobby with an I?
Yeah.
An IE.
And I have to say.
IE.
Yes.
I just have to say, you guys are great.
If anyone had told me, I would be tuning in to listen to a show about cars.
I would have told them they were nuts.
Yeah.
But I do because you two are nuts.
You're great.
And here you are calling us and so you are nuts too.
Well, I know.
I was starting to wonder what they said to you in your little booth there when you were
on, but I guess you're just crazy all the time.
They're just nuts.
Yeah.
That's pretty much the case.
Oh, well, that's why I like you so much.
Maybe we're related.
We probably are.
Okay.
Well, do you want to hear about my situation?
You bet.
Okay.
My husband and I have three cars sitting in our driveway.
Great.
First is a 93-path finder with 130,000 miles on it.
And it's in good condition.
That's my car that I drive.
We also have kept an 86 Toyota van that has almost 200,000 miles on it.
That used to be our family car when our daughters were younger, but now it's my husband's wannabe
truck.
Our third car, the car that my husband commutes two hours every day in, is an 87 Chevy Spectrum.
However, our mechanic who has a great sense of humor calls it a Chevy Rectum.
Well, because that name really fits it.
My husband loves this Chevy Rectum and he commutes it every day and he takes care of
it and all of that stuff.
How many miles on that one?
255,000 miles.
No.
Yes.
Okay.
Now, our youngest daughter just moved to New Hampshire and I loaned her my path finder.
The one best car we have.
Mm-hmm.
How old is she?
She's 22.
22 and she moved to New Hampshire.
I moved to New Hampshire and I loaned her my path finder.
Would she like to meet Doug Mayer?
Oh, well, if he's a nice guy.
No, forget it.
Get me out.
All right.
Wait a minute.
You're not following me.
I'm following you.
I'm following you.
She's in my car driving to New Hampshire and unfortunately in Pennsylvania she's in an
accident.
Now, she is fine.
That's what really matters.
Yes.
But my car isn't and my car is still in Pennsylvania.
Anyway, I don't want to talk about that.
No, let's not talk about it.
My car is going to be fixed up there but I won't get it back until, oh, mid to late
November.
So, guess what?
I get to drive the Toyota.
86 Toyota.
Yesterday, I went to a luncheon and I felt like I had a hat on in the car because the
ceiling's falling down and this material is draped on my head and all this junk my
husband has.
It's just a mess.
I know I can clean it up but there are a couple trips I had planned to take these next few
weeks.
Don't do it.
And my question to you was would either of you feel safe driving either the Toyota or
the Chevy Rectom on a trip?
How far?
Well, one trip is like a four-hour trip each way, the other is a six-hour trip each way
or should I rent a car?
There you go.
That's it.
You took the words out of my mouth.
My husband just feels these cars are just fine.
Well, your husband's nuts.
Well...
No, I mean, it's probably fine for him to go driving around in a junk like that and
I don't mean that in a sexist way.
But if you're not ready with the tools to get out and stop by the side of the road
and replace stuff, then you should rent a car.
Okay.
Just to kill two birds with one stone, try to rent a car that you think you might want
to buy to replace one of these dogs.
Yeah, maybe you can rent a nice 89 spectrum.
No, I don't want to have anything to do with spectrums.
No, I'll get something else.
Yeah, you definitely have to rent a car.
Right.
So rent a car, have a wonderful time, six hours from Virginia.
You must be going to Pennsylvania where your daughter was.
Well, I'm going to have, yes, well, I'm going to go to Pennsylvania to pick up my car when
it's ready.
Well, look, if your daughter is really desperate for a date, tell her to email Doug Mayer and
send a picture of the car of the Pathfinder.
You guys are nuts.
You guys are actually nuts.
Keep laughing and thanks for your help.
You're great.
Thanks, Bobby.
Good luck.
Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
All right.
Look, it's time for a short break.
Oh, you weren't kidding.
I mean, we have already come up with like three or two maybe correct answers, haven't we?
Oh, yeah.
We're busted.
We'll be back in a minute.
We'll be back.
Hello and happy new year.
It's Michelle Martin from Morning Edition.
Thank you to everyone who donated during our end of year fundraising campaign.
2025 dealt a big blow to NPR and local stations with the loss of federal funding for public
media, but we are so heartened by the outpouring of support and we will get through this together.
Thank you for keeping NPR strong moving into 2026 and beyond.
We're back.
You're listening to Car Talk with us.
Click and Clack the Tapper Brothers and we're here to discuss cars, car repair and of course
the new puzzler.
The new quasi-automotive.
So to speak.
It's quasi-automotive.
I may have to drop some hints here and there, but I'll read it to you just like I got it.
Okay.
This came via the internet.
The date is June 1996.
You know this email is great.
I mean someone says it, bang, it's right there.
And all you got to do is read it.
Well, I pile them up, you know.
June 1996, really?
This came from a fellow named Dan Gallagher.
He says, you guys are such turkeys.
Last week's puzzler was so incredibly lame.
I feel embarrassed for you.
That could have been anything.
Any one of a thousand puzzlers.
He goes, he claims to have sent this puzzler before and he could have.
I think he might have said the 94, 95 also.
I only got the 96 version of it and he says, here it is again.
Pay careful attention.
Yeah, I'm going to.
In qualifying for the camel trophy off road race, potential drivers and their teammates
were told that they had to traverse a course in as close a time as their partners
without the use of timepieces like clocks and watches, etc.
For example, the first man of the two-man team would drive the course
through the woods, over bridges, through streams,
and then return to the starting point and give his vehicle, his truck,
to his partner who would then drive the same course
and try to finish it in as close to the time of his partner.
So if the partner finished in, say, four minutes and 25 seconds,
the other guy would try to duplicate that.
But how could he do that without the use of any kind of clock or timepiece?
How could he possibly finish in the same time?
That's the question.
So the guys that won the race figured out a way to finish in the same time.
It had nothing to do with the string and the lighter, but it's close.
Now, if you think you know the answer, write that answer on the back of a $10 bill.
Ten?
Or three-fives.
And send it to Puzzler Tower, Car Talk Plaza, Box 3500, Harvard Square, Cambridge.
Our fair city?
Matt02238, or you can email your answer from the Car Talk section of cars.com.
If you'd like to call us, the number is 1-888-CAR-TALK, that's 888-2278-25.
Hello, you're on Car Talk.
This is Leslie from Buffalo.
Hi, Leslie.
Leslie.
Buffalo.
Yes.
Home of Buffalo Wings.
That's right.
Yeah.
Have you ever been to that place?
The original.
The original Buffalo place?
I sure have.
You have?
Yeah, sure.
What's it called?
It's called the Anchor Bar.
That's right, the Anchor Bar.
Wow.
And all this time.
Paul Anchor used to play there.
All this time, you know, I've been ordering Buffalo Wings for decades.
And I always thought that they were the wings of real flying buffalo.
But you knew that couldn't be true because buffaloes were almost extinct.
Yeah.
Where would they be getting all those wings?
Exactly.
Except what I figured was that the Buffalo Wings must be so big that they must chop
them up into little pieces.
You get probably a hundred wings out of one wing.
I hadn't thought of that.
That's what I always concluded.
Yeah.
And instead, it turns out they don't come from buffaloes at all.
They come from the Anchor Bar.
Well, a lot of places make them.
Well, we know that now.
Now they do, sure.
But they were the originators.
Right, right, right.
In fact, in Buffalo, they don't call them buffalo wings.
We know that they're just wings.
I mean, we don't have to.
We know what they are here.
Well, there you go.
Well, do they call it New York?
In New York, do they call it New York Sirloin?
A New York Sirloin?
No, they call it a Sirloin.
Sirloin.
And in France, do they call them French fries?
No.
No, they call them Pomfrit.
Well, Leslie, thanks for bringing us up.
Well, I'm just so glad that you guys have something to add to your show.
Isn't it interesting that we can talk about such nonsense and drivel?
Yeah.
And they haven't thrown us off the air.
So what's up, Leslie?
Well, my husband and I are looking for a minivan.
We have three kids.
We have three very young kids.
And our youngest, in fact, is just seven weeks old.
Oh, boy.
So, yeah.
And so now we have two car seats in the back seat.
And I drive a Camry.
My husband drives a Subaru Outback, but we need something even bigger than that.
Sell the Outback, keep the Camry, buy a Honda Odyssey, and you're all done.
See you.
Well, you know, I'll tell you what we've done.
And I actually have another interesting story to tell you guys what you think you'd like.
First is we've looked at a bunch of...
We haven't looked at the Toyota exactly.
I know the Toyota makes a minivan, right?
Yeah, the Sienna.
Okay.
So what do you guys think of that?
Haven't driven it.
We don't know.
We have however driven the Honda.
You have.
Which is the one I just recommended to you.
Right.
And why do you recommend that?
Because it's sweet.
One of the questions we have, which is a big question, is we've looked at all-wheel drive.
Yeah, they don't make an all-wheel drive yet.
And the question really is, is that something that we should be looking at?
I mean, we live in Buffalo.
Yeah.
We like to ski.
We like to go on...
You know, we hopefully will be going on family vacations and just throwing them all in the
car and saying, this is where we're going.
Well, I may have been a little...
You should pardon the expression a bit precipitous then when you mentioned snow about recommending
the Odyssey, because it is not all-wheel drive.
Well, do you think the all-wheel drive is necessary?
Yes.
Oh, yeah.
Well, you live...
Are you kidding me?
All-wheel drive is a wonderful thing, especially if you live in the crazy places like you live.
Okay.
Well, I have to tell you this one part of the story, because it's sort of...
I'm not quite sure how to bring it into this whole conversation, but my youngest child,
which is our...
The seven-week-older.
Our seven-week-older, she's our first girl, was actually born in our Subaru, in the front
seat of our Subaru.
But get this, get this at the Chrysler Plymouth dealership.
No kidding.
Really?
So she's got a lot of car stuff in her already.
She does.
I mean, we drive past the dealership every day too.
So, you know, it's always bringing back that special memory.
Boy, did you put it in her little baby book already?
We did.
The police officer who assisted my husband in the delivery, he got his name in the paper.
We got our names in the paper too, but he got quite a bit of recognition.
Oh, good for him.
So how exactly did this happen?
It was like, Mike, take me to the hospital right now, but let's stop at the Dodge dealer
for us.
No, no, no.
I want to look at that new caravan.
No, it was totally coincidental.
So we were on the way.
We were literally three or four minutes away from home and, uh, and, you know, and you
said, this is it.
And I said, honey, pull over.
He's coming.
And he said, we'll be there soon.
I said, no.
No.
Really?
Really?
It really happens.
It was, it was around lunchtime and it was, it was crazy because we pull in and right
by the service entrance, there was like this employee lunch going on with people grilling
and the table.
I was the potato chips and I have this memory of pulling in and seeing the ketchup bottle
sitting out and I'm yelling, we need towels.
And we had been to that dealership because we were looking at the, the, the town and
country.
Oh, well, then you're going to have to buy one, aren't you?
Well, I don't know.
Yeah.
How many times between contractions did you think, boy, we're going to really need a town
and country?
Well, it's easy for you guys, you know?
Oh, you'll give me all that hand holding, warm me out.
Yeah.
I was not laughing.
What?
I mean, it's, it's, it's in the stars, Leslie.
I mean, how could you go out now and buy a Honda Odyssey when the kid was born in the
Chrysler dealership?
I mean, you can't do that.
And the town and country isn't bad.
I think they may be awaited for them to the dealership to get some promotional info out
of this.
They should give it to you.
A little deal.
Yeah.
I thought it would be a good idea.
A big deal.
Well, if there's anything you guys can do to help us out on that one.
Well, we'll call them in the morning.
I mean, you just tell them that they're going to get another front page story out of it
because they're going to give you a town and country.
Tell them to give you a caravan and you'll pay the difference between the caravan and
the town and country.
All right.
Yeah, sure.
Go for it.
That's what you should do.
Go for that.
And of the two cars that you own, I would get rid of the outback and keep the Camry.
Really?
Oh, yeah.
No, your husband drives the outback.
Let him drive whatever he wants.
And that's four-wheel drive.
Get rid of the Camry.
Yeah.
He'll be an eight-wheel drive family.
Wow.
See ya, Leslie.
Thanks a lot.
Good luck.
It was a pleasure talking to you.
Thanks a lot.
Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
Boy, oh boy, oh boy.
Boy, she sounds like a good sport.
Women, women really.
Man, they're tough.
They are.
Oh, yeah.
A lot tougher than most guys.
Oh.
Well, it's happened again.
You squandered another perfectly good hour listening to car talk.
Our esteemed producer has dug the subway fusion of not a slave to fashion Berman.
And not here, too.
Oh, yeah.
Absent, by the way.
Our associate producer is Ken, the diaper slayer, Rogers.
Our assistant producer is Frau Catherine Fenolosa.
Our engineer is Dennis de Menesfoli.
Our senior Web Black.
He has done sheep boy mare.
And our technical, spiritual, and menu advisor is the bugster, John Bugsy.
Did somebody say free lunch?
Lawler.
Our public opinion pollster is Paul Murky of Murky Research, assisted by statistician
Marge Avera.
Our customer care representative is Haywood Jabuzoff.
Our director of medical research is Bacipo Domingo.
Our talk's director of clandestine meetings is Ron De Vu.
Tom's personal matchmaker is Robin D. Cradle, our sexual harassment counselor is Pat
McCann.
And our director of sickle-fantic activity is Eileen Yourway.
And our chief counsel from the law firm of Dewey Cheetahman House, Uluas Dewey, known
to the Harvard football team as Huey Louie Dewey.
Thanks so much for listening.
We're clicking the clock to tap at brothers.
And remember, don't drive like my brother.
And remember, don't drive like my brother.
We'll be back next week.
Bye-bye.
And now, here is Car Talk Plaza's chief mechanic, Mr. Vinnie Gumbaz.
Thank you very much.
Now, if you just want to copy this year's show, which is number 44, just pick up your phone
and call this number 1-888-CAD-JUNK.
And what if I wanted the new Car Talk CD?
You know, why you should never listen to your father when it comes to cars?
Would I call that same number, Vinnie?
No, you'd call Quantico Virginia directory information, you dope.
Of course, you'd call the same number.
You'd call the Shameless Commerce Division at 888-CAD-JUNK or visit it online at the
Car Talk section at Cars.com.
Thank you, Vinnie.
And that chronicle remark, that was a stroke of genius, you know?
Hey, genius dispel.
Car Talk is a production of Dewey Cheatham and Howe and WBUR in Boston.
And even though Linda Wertheimer fights back the tears every time she hears us say it,
this is NPR, National Public Radio.
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