Aaron Has a New Car, Most Stolen Cars of 2025 - Shift and Steer EP 566

“Chevelle” refers to the Chevrolet Chevelle, a classic American muscle car line produced by Chevrolet. In this segment, they’re talking about Chevelles they’ve owned and how to identify the right ones when shopping.

The Buick Regal is a mid-size car that has been offered across multiple generations, typically positioned as a comfortable, more upscale option. In the podcast, it’s brought up through a name reference (“Gary Regal”), which suggests it’s being used as a clue or reference point rather than a deep technical topic. That kind of mention often happens when hosts are talking about names, models, or memorable associations.

A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique 17-character code assigned to each vehicle. “VIN codes” refers to specific parts of that number that can reveal details like the model year, plant, and sometimes engine or trim information—useful for verifying what you’re actually buying.

The Skoda Octavia is a compact car known for being practical and widely used, with a reputation for offering a lot of space for the money. In the podcast, it’s mentioned in a design/creator context (“Gary designed that car”), which suggests the conversation is about a specific custom or themed build rather than the standard production model. That makes it relevant as a recognizable platform that can be adapted for show or concept work.

West Coast Choppers is a custom motorcycle company. In the segment, the speaker mentions a person who became design director there, connecting the design work across automotive and custom bike culture.

“Fox Body Mustang” refers to the Ford Mustang built on the Fox-body platform (roughly the 1979–1993 era). It’s a popular chassis for restorations and modifications, especially in the drag and street-performance communities.

Ring Brothers is a well-known custom-restoration and automotive build shop. When the hosts mention work on a “Ring Brothers car,” they’re pointing to a specific style of high-end craftsmanship and project car culture.

Volvo’s “T8 hybrid” XC 60 is a plug-in hybrid version of the XC 60 crossover. The “T8” label indicates a hybrid powertrain that combines an internal-combustion engine with electric drive, which is why the host describes it as a “sleeper” with strong acceleration and torque.

In car talk, a “sleeper” is a vehicle that looks ordinary or family-focused but is actually very quick or capable. The host uses it to frame the Volvo XC 60 T8 hybrid as unexpectedly fast for what it appears to be.

A “seat delete” is when someone removes a factory seat (often in the rear) to create more space or to reduce weight. It can also be done for storage, equipment mounting, or a specific interior layout.

“Blacked out” windows usually means tint or blackout film to reduce visibility from outside. It’s often used for privacy, sun/heat reduction, and sometimes to match a specific aesthetic.

“Defender” refers to the Land Rover Defender, a rugged SUV known for off-road capability and modular interior space. In this segment, the speaker mentions different rear-seat setups and removing the floor area for equipment.

This refers to aftermarket audio (“kicker” is commonly used to mean Kicker-brand speakers/subwoofers) plus solar power equipment installed in the vehicle. Putting this gear on the floor can change how seats and flooring are arranged.

“Drop down” rear seats are typically fold-down or swing-down child seats integrated into the vehicle’s interior. They’re designed to make it easier to secure children without needing a separate seat every time.

“High mileage used car” refers to a previously owned vehicle with a lot of miles, which can increase the chance of wear items needing replacement. The speaker uses it to explain how pricing and expectations change in their local market.

The Ford Explorer is a midsize SUV that the speaker cites as an example of a problematic, heavily used vehicle they encountered while shopping. They mention it alongside other cars to illustrate how many different engines and issues can show up on older, abused listings.

“Marketplace” here refers to an online listing platform where people buy and sell vehicles. The speaker uses it to describe finding a specific car listing and evaluating whether it seemed suspicious.

Alcantara is a synthetic suede-like material used for upholstery and trim. It’s popular because it feels soft and premium, and it can look more upscale than standard cloth or leather in certain interiors.

This is about the vehicle’s ownership history not matching the seller’s claim. Ownership count matters because more owners can correlate with more maintenance variation, modifications, or unresolved issues.

A salvage title is issued when an insurance company declares a vehicle a total loss (often due to major damage or theft recovery). It signals to future buyers and insurers that the car has a significant history, even if it later gets repaired.

An insurance company can pay out for theft or major damage and may declare a vehicle a total loss, which can lead to a salvage title. In this story, the insurance payout happened quickly and the owner later bought the car back.

Reissuing a title means the state updates or replaces the vehicle’s title record. The key detail here is that it was reissued with a clean title branding removed (no salvage branding at the top).

A clean title means the vehicle’s title record does not show major damage branding like salvage. In practice, that usually makes the car easier to insure and easier to register compared with a branded title.

AAA is an auto club that provides services like vehicle registration help and title-related paperwork in many states. In this context, the host used AAA to handle the title/insurance steps.

The DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) is the state agency that handles vehicle registration and title processing. The transcript suggests the insurer/insuring process required going through the regular DMV for a vehicle with a branded title.

“Buying it back” refers to the process where the owner (or a buyer) purchases a totaled vehicle back from the insurance company after the insurer pays the claim. The car is then typically repaired and may return with a salvage title depending on local rules and the insurer’s process.

A mild hybrid plug-in combines a small electric assist system with the ability to plug in to recharge. Compared with a full plug-in hybrid, it typically has a smaller electric-only range, so the engine still does most of the work most of the time.

This describes a hybrid powertrain switching from electric-only driving to the gasoline engine. Many hybrids are designed to use the electric motor first, then bring in the engine when battery power is low or more power is needed.

Recharging the battery in a hybrid typically happens through regenerative braking and/or by running the engine to generate electricity. The key idea is that you’re restoring battery charge without plugging in, depending on the hybrid’s design.

“Hybrid goals” here refers to driver targets for how the hybrid system should manage battery use during a trip. It’s essentially planning when to use electric power versus when to save it, based on route and charging opportunities.

Tahoe is a high-elevation region where long downhill stretches are common, which makes regenerative braking strategies more effective. The route’s grade influences how much energy the hybrid can recover on the way down.

Pure mode typically prioritizes electric-only driving by limiting when the gasoline engine turns on. It’s meant to maximize EV operation until the battery state or driving demands require engine assistance.

Sport mode is a driving setting that changes how the hybrid responds to your inputs—often sharpening throttle response and adjusting power delivery. In this context, it also affects how much electric assist you get versus how the car prioritizes charging/regeneration.

“B” is a drive/gear mode on many hybrids that increases regenerative braking. Downshifting into B typically makes the car slow more when you lift off the accelerator, helping charge the battery on descents.

“Regenning” is short for regenerative braking, where the electric motor slows the car and converts some of that energy back into the battery. It’s why hybrids can recover energy on descents instead of wasting it as heat.

Regen rate is how aggressively the car uses regenerative braking to slow down and recharge the battery. Higher regen rate means stronger deceleration when you lift off the accelerator or use the brake, which can be useful on long downhill grades.

“Miles per gallon” (MPG) is a measure of how far a vehicle can go using one gallon of fuel. Plug-in hybrids can show very high “MPG” figures because some driving is powered by electricity, which gets converted into an MPG-equivalent number.

A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) uses both a gasoline engine and an electric motor/battery. You can charge the battery from an outlet, and the car can run on electricity for some trips while still having a gas engine for longer range.

The speaker is referring to battery capacity in kilowatts (more precisely, kilowatt-hours, kWh). A “10 or 10.5” kWh battery is relatively small, meaning it can power electric driving for shorter distances before the car relies more on the gas engine.

“Electric mode” means the car is running on its electric motor(s) instead of using the engine. In this context, it’s being used to estimate how far the car can go on battery power alone.

A “10 outlet” is likely referring to a 120V household outlet (commonly called a “110” in the U.S.). It typically charges more slowly than higher-voltage outlets, which affects how long it takes to replenish the battery.

A “20 outlet” likely refers to a 240V outlet (often described as “220” in the U.S.). Higher-voltage outlets generally allow faster charging, which is why the hosts discuss them alongside charging time.

A “circuit breaker” is an electrical safety switch that trips when too much current flows. The hosts mention it because older home wiring or higher charging loads can require protection to avoid overloads.

“110” refers to the common U.S. 120V household power standard used for basic charging. Charging time depends on the car’s onboard charger and the outlet’s voltage/current.

“220” refers to a higher-voltage (typically 240V) outlet used for faster charging. The hosts imply they improved charging speed by adding access to this outlet.

“Juice Box” is a consumer-facing name for a home EV charging unit (commonly associated with ChargePoint). It’s the kind of charger you plug into a dedicated outlet to charge a vehicle more conveniently and safely.

A dryer plug adapter lets you connect an EV/PHEV charging setup to a household dryer outlet. Dryer outlets typically provide higher power than a standard wall outlet, which can reduce charging time when the vehicle supports it.

Amperage (amps) is how much electrical current a charger draws from the outlet. Higher amperage generally means more charging power, which can shorten charging time—assuming the vehicle and charger can accept it.

“Low end torque” is the twisting force an engine/motor makes at low engine speeds. It’s what helps the car feel responsive right off the line and during slow-speed acceleration.

An electric motor is the component that produces drive power using electricity (typically from a battery). In hybrid setups, it can assist the engine and sometimes drive the wheels on its own.

The rear axle is the assembly that connects the drivetrain to the rear wheels and helps distribute power to them. When the transcript says the electric motor powers the rear axle, it implies the rear wheels receive drive from the motor.

“Dual charge” here refers to using two forced-induction methods together—supercharging and turbocharging—to improve boost response and power delivery. The goal is to reduce turbo lag while still achieving strong high-RPM performance.

A supercharger is a forced-induction device that compresses incoming air to increase engine power. Because it’s mechanically driven, it can provide boost at lower RPMs than a turbo in many setups.

Turbocharging uses exhaust gases to spin a turbine that compresses intake air, increasing power and efficiency. It’s a form of forced induction, and when paired with a supercharger (“dual charge”), the system is designed to manage boost across a wider RPM range.

Volvo is the automaker being discussed, specifically in the context of how its owners maintain cars and how the vehicles hold up over time. The speaker claims Volvo’s maintenance culture and service records contribute to long life.

In car talk, “grenade” is slang for catastrophic engine or drivetrain failure—something that breaks suddenly and expensively. The speaker is saying that with proper care, these cars are unlikely to experience that kind of failure.

GTS is a performance-oriented trim designation used by some automakers (including Porsche). It typically sits above base models and below the top track-focused versions, aiming for a balance of sportiness and everyday usability.

Polestar is the brand the speaker says the “R design” became. They’re describing how Polestar’s trim hierarchy changed over time, with the R design being dropped and replaced by a Polestar option in the third generation.

“Third generation” means the next major redesign cycle of a model line, typically involving updated styling, interior, software, and sometimes powertrain changes. Here, it’s used to explain when the trim naming/positioning changed (R design dropped, Polestar option added).

Air suspension is a suspension system that uses air springs (instead of steel coils) to automatically adjust ride height and damping. It’s often used to improve ride comfort and can help the car level itself, but it adds complexity and cost.

Bowers & Wilkins (often abbreviated B&W) is an audio brand known for high-end speakers and car sound systems. When a car uses B&W, it typically means the speaker hardware and tuning are designed to deliver a more detailed, “audiophile” sound.

AC Delco is a parts brand/company associated with General Motors and supplies aftermarket and OEM components. Here it’s mentioned as an example of audio-related suppliers/components that many manufacturers may source from.

In car audio, “tuning” means calibrating the sound system—like speaker balance, equalization, and signal processing—so it sounds right to human ears. The host’s point is that even if manufacturers use similar underlying components, the tuning by brands like Bose/B&W can change the final sound.

Bose is a well-known audio brand that supplies and/or tunes many factory car sound systems. In the context of the episode, it’s mentioned as one of the brands that applies its own tuning to shared speaker components.

“B&O” refers to Bang & Olufsen, a premium audio brand. The episode uses it alongside Bose and Bowers & Wilkins to describe how high-end audio brands may tune systems even when the underlying components are similar.

An aftermarket audio system is a car sound setup you install or upgrade outside of the factory option. It can include speakers, amplifiers, and wiring tailored to your preferences rather than the vehicle’s original configuration.

DSP (digital signal processing) is electronics that digitally adjust the audio signal—like equalization, timing, and volume balance—so the system sounds right in the specific car cabin. With DSP, aftermarket setups can be tuned much more precisely than typical factory audio.

Ohms (Ω) describe electrical resistance, and speaker impedance is measured in ohms. If you swap to a speaker with a different impedance than the factory system expects, the amplifier may not drive it correctly, which can change volume, distortion, and overall sound quality.

“Kicker” is an aftermarket audio brand known for car speakers and subwoofers. When someone says “put Kicker speakers in the door,” they mean replacing the factory door speakers with Kicker units to improve sound quality.

“Eight track” refers to the 8-track tape format, a vintage in-car audio medium. The hosts mention it to contrast older playback hardware with modern tuning and speaker setups—implying that system setup matters even with older sources.

The Chevrolet Tahoe is GM’s full-size SUV, and “95 Tahoe” points to the 1995 model year. The hosts use it as an example of how factory audio and cabin acoustics can sound worse in older generations, then improve in later ones.

Speaker positioning is how and where speakers are mounted in the vehicle (door, dash, kick panels, etc.). Because sound reflects off surfaces like the windshield and dashboard, changing speaker location can noticeably change clarity, imaging, and overall perceived quality.

“Driver positioning” in car audio usually refers to audio “listening position” settings that aim sound toward the driver’s seat. Systems may adjust timing (delay) and balance so the driver hears a more centered, accurate soundstage.

A “stadium” preset is an audio equalization/effects mode that simulates a large venue’s acoustics. In car stereos, these presets typically boost certain frequencies and add processing to make music sound more spacious or “live.”

A subwoofer (often shortened to “sub”) is a speaker designed to reproduce low-frequency bass. Adding a sub can dramatically improve perceived sound quality in a truck or SUV because factory systems often under-deliver on bass.

“Retunes it” refers to adjusting the audio processing settings so the factory system’s equalization and signal routing match the new hardware (like an added sub and amplifier). This is important because adding bass without retuning can sound muddy or unbalanced.

EV means electric vehicle—cars powered primarily by an electric motor and battery rather than a gasoline engine. In this context, it refers to Volvo’s newly revealed electric version.

Infotainment is the car’s integrated system for entertainment and information—typically including the touchscreen, navigation, audio, and smartphone features. The speaker says the current system feels a bit slow and lacks some of the features they want.

NVIDIA is a technology company known for designing high-performance computer chips used in AI and graphics. In the automotive context here, the speaker claims a new EV will use NVIDIA chips to improve speed and responsiveness of the vehicle’s computing/infotainment systems.

The Porsche Macan is a compact luxury SUV from Porsche. In this segment, the hosts discuss driving a Macan as a loaner while their other Porsche was in for service, and they compare it to the idea of buying another Macan.

The Porsche 911 is Porsche’s iconic sports car line. Here, the speaker says they took their 911 in for servicing and had the dash replaced, and later mentions dashboard/gauge glitches that prompted further work.

The Porsche Cayenne is Porsche’s luxury SUV line. In the conversation, it’s used as a comparison point to explain that the Polestar is in a different “category,” even though the rental still feels quick and drives well.

The hosts are visiting the Matranga collection, a private car collection housed in a purpose-built facility. It’s described as having dedicated spaces for building, painting, and cleaning cars.

A “build shop” is a dedicated workspace where cars are assembled, modified, or restored. In this segment, it’s part of the Matranga facility’s in-house setup.

A cleaning room is a dedicated space for washing, detailing, and preparing vehicles before or after work. In a collection facility, it supports keeping cars presentable and ready for display or further work.

A “three inch slab” is a thick concrete layer poured over an existing concrete base. In a garage context, thicker slabs can improve durability and provide a stronger foundation for heavy vehicles and equipment.

C-TEC is a brand name used here for EV charging units. In a parking garage or collection setting, “chargers everywhere” means each car can be connected to power so batteries stay topped up.

“Plugged in” implies the cars are connected to external power rather than running on their own. For EVs or plug-in hybrids, this is how you keep batteries charged between drives, and it’s also why garage setups often include outlets and dedicated chargers.

Power strips are multi-outlet extension units used to distribute electricity to several devices from one wall outlet. In a car-collection or garage context, they’re often used to manage how many cars can be plugged in at once, though they can be limited by outlet spacing and electrical load.

An extension cord is a temporary electrical lead used to reach power outlets farther away. In car-related setups (like charging or powering tools), using the wrong length or a cord that runs hot can be a fire risk.

Jumper cables are heavy-duty cables used to start a car with a dead battery by connecting it to a working battery (usually from another vehicle or a jump starter). They can generate heat if connected incorrectly or if the battery is in poor condition.

Harbor Freight is a retail brand known for selling tools and automotive supplies at lower prices. People often buy jump-starting and electrical accessories there because they’re inexpensive.

C4 is a type of explosive (commonly referenced in pop culture), not a normal automotive product. Mentioning it here is likely a joke or hyperbole, but it highlights that the speaker is talking about flammability and fire risk.

A “flat bottom drag boat” is a purpose-built racing boat designed for straight-line speed, with a hull shape that helps it plane and reduce drag. The “drag” part implies it’s optimized for short, high-intensity runs rather than general cruising.

The Chevrolet C10 is a classic full-size pickup platform from the 1960s–1970s era, often associated with hot-rodding and restoration culture. When someone says “C10 pickup trucks,” they’re usually referring to that vintage Chevy truck look and aftermarket support.

“22s” refers to 22-inch wheels, a common enthusiast/customization shorthand. Larger wheel diameters can change ride feel and steering response, and they often pair with lower-profile tires.

The Chevrolet Blazer is a midsize SUV that has been offered in multiple generations, including classic versions that share styling and heritage with other Chevy trucks and SUVs. In the podcast, it’s referenced in the same breath as a “70 C10 Bronco” mix-up, pointing to the kind of collectible 1970s-era SUV/truck builds people shop for at auctions. That makes it relevant to discussions about classic American vehicles and what collectors target.

The Ford Bronco is a rugged SUV known for off-road capability and a strong enthusiast following. In the podcast, it’s mentioned in the context of a classic 1970-era Bronco being bought at Barrett-Jackson, which is a common place for collectible vehicles. That makes it a natural topic for discussion around history, desirability, and what makes certain builds stand out.