Car Pro Radio Show July 18 26 Hour 3

The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup truck and a direct competitor to Ford’s F-series. The hosts say next week they’ll talk about the Chevy Silverado, positioning it as the next vehicle in their “top 10 vehicles sold” style discussion.

The Kia Telluride is a midsize three-row SUV, and the “Hybrid” version adds an electrified powertrain to improve efficiency versus a purely gasoline setup. In this episode, Todd Chambliss is specifically talking about a 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid as his newly acquired vehicle.

The Kia Palisade is a three-row midsize SUV, and the “Calligraphy” series is Kia’s top, more upscale trim. In practice, that usually means nicer interior materials, more standard comfort features, and a more premium look than the base trims.

Self-leveling shocks are suspension dampers that automatically adjust to keep the vehicle’s ride height more consistent as load changes. If they “fail early,” the car can sit unevenly and ride/handling can feel worse, especially under varying passenger/cargo weight.

The Hyundai Palisade is a three-row midsize SUV known for family-friendly space and comfort-focused tuning. In this segment, the hosts use it as an example of an SUV that’s been broadly well-liked and a strong seller.

The GMC Yukon XL is a full-size, three-row SUV variant of the Yukon line, built for more interior space and towing/cargo capability than smaller crossovers. In this segment, it’s mentioned as one of the vehicles the buyer already has paid off.

A vehicle history report compiles records tied to a specific VIN, such as prior ownership, accident or damage events, title status, and sometimes odometer history. It helps you spot red flags before buying a used car, especially from a private seller.

A salvage title is issued when an insurer determines a vehicle is a total loss due to damage and the car is not worth repairing to their standards. Cars with salvage titles can be repaired and put back on the road, but they often carry higher risk and may have undisclosed damage or quality issues.

When an insurance company deems a vehicle to be totaled, it means the estimated repair cost is high enough that the insurer considers the car not economically worth fixing. That decision often follows significant damage, which can affect future reliability and safety even after repairs.

A rebuilder is the party that buys a totaled/salvage vehicle and repairs it for resale. Repair quality can vary widely depending on the rebuilder’s standards, parts used, and how much they try to minimize cost.

In the salvage context, an auction is where totaled vehicles are sold after the insurer declares them a total loss. The buyer (often a rebuilder) can then decide how repairs will be done, which can influence repair quality and cost-cutting.

“Cut every corner” refers to cost-saving shortcuts during repairs—such as using cheaper parts, skipping steps, or doing less thorough work than required. On salvage vehicles, this can translate into weaker structural repairs or systems that don’t perform correctly later.

The Buick Roadmaster is a classic, full-size car that’s known for being part of Buick’s older lineup and for its big, comfortable design. It comes up in the podcast as a “classic” reference point, likely tied to the hosts’ history and memories of the model. Discussions like this often focus on what made the Roadmaster notable in its era and why people still talk about it today.

Fiat is an Italian automaker known for small, budget-focused cars. In this segment, the hosts are talking about a new Fiat EV that’s priced under $15,000.

An “EV” is an electric vehicle, meaning it’s powered by an electric motor instead of a gasoline engine. The host uses “EV combination” to describe a specific kind of low-speed, small electric vehicle setup aimed at short trips.

“All electric” means the vehicle runs entirely on electricity from a battery, with no gasoline engine. That typically implies charging at home or a public charger, and it changes how the car delivers power and how it’s driven.

Top speed is the maximum speed a vehicle can achieve under typical conditions. Here it’s used to set expectations for this low-cost electric vehicle’s limitations (around 25 miles per hour), which affects where it’s practical to drive.

Golf carts are small, low-speed vehicles typically used on golf courses and in some neighborhoods with relaxed vehicle rules. They’re often powered by electric motors or small gas engines and are popular where short trips are common.

A “lift” raises the vehicle’s ride height by changing suspension or body mounting so the wheels sit higher. On a golf cart, lifting is usually done to clear obstacles and to fit larger tires.

Bigger tires and wheels increase the effective rolling diameter, which can change how fast the vehicle travels at a given motor speed. They also affect ride comfort, traction, and how much power is needed to accelerate.

The rear axle ratio is the gear ratio between the driveshaft and the rear axle. Changing it alters the balance between acceleration and top speed—lower (numerically) ratios typically help the vehicle run faster at a given engine/motor speed.

The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup known for being a daily-driver workhorse with lots of engine and transmission options. In this call, the 2016 F-150 is specifically described as having the 3.5 EcoBoost and an automatic gearbox, which is a common enthusiast-friendly combo for strong real-world power.

“3.5 EcoBoost” refers to Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged V6 engine family. EcoBoost engines use turbocharging to make strong power and torque without needing a larger displacement engine.

A six-speed automatic transmission is an automatic gearbox with six forward gears. More gears can help keep the engine in a better efficiency or power range depending on driving conditions.

The Ford Mustang is a performance-focused pony car, and the 2013 model is part of the S197-generation era. Here, the caller compares his F-150 experience to a 2013 Mustang equipped with a 5.0 and a six-speed transmission, highlighting how gear layouts can feel similar even across very different vehicles.

“5.0” here refers to the 5.0-liter engine displacement used in many Ford Mustang variants. In enthusiast talk, “5.0” is shorthand for the V8’s size and is often used to distinguish it from smaller engines.

A manual transmission is a gearbox where the driver selects gears using a clutch pedal and gear lever. The caller’s “one more pedal” comment is pointing out the extra clutch pedal compared with an automatic.

“Mobile one” is shorthand for Mobil 1, a synthetic engine oil brand used to lubricate the engine and help it run cooler and cleaner. Oil choice and change intervals matter because it affects wear and how well the engine stays protected under heat.

“7,500 miles” refers to the oil-change interval the speaker follows. Shorter intervals generally keep oil fresher, which can help reduce engine wear, especially if the vehicle sees lots of stop-and-go driving or heavy use.

The Ford Escape is Ford’s compact crossover SUV, and it’s being used here as the wife’s current vehicle. The discussion contrasts it with a different Ford 3.5 EcoBoost application, implying the Escape doesn’t get that same engine.

The Ford Maverick is a compact pickup truck that’s built to be practical and more affordable than full-size trucks while still offering truck utility. It’s a notable topic because it represents a smaller, easier-to-own approach to pickup ownership, which many buyers look for when they want occasional hauling without a large truck footprint. In the podcast, it’s mentioned in the context of personal buying experiences and how the model fits into a driver’s needs.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was a trade deal between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico that reduced barriers for goods moving across borders. The host says NAFTA is “up in the air,” implying uncertainty about how future trade rules could affect GM’s manufacturing and pricing.

VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number, a unique 17-character code used to identify a specific vehicle. The host is using the VIN’s first digit as a quick way to infer the country where the car was manufactured.

An oil change is scheduled replacement of the engine oil to keep lubrication and engine wear under control. The speaker mentions doing it every 5,000 miles, which is a maintenance interval choice that can affect long-term engine health.

Brakes are the components that slow and stop the vehicle, typically involving pads and rotors. The speaker notes replacing “three sets of brakes,” which is a practical indicator of how the truck is used and how wear items are managed over high mileage.

EcoBoost engines are Ford’s turbocharged gasoline powertrains designed to deliver strong power while improving fuel economy. The speaker contrasts them with the F-150’s 5.0 and claims EcoBoost dominates sales and can offer better fuel economy plus towing-related capability.

“3.5” here refers to a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 option in the Ford F-150 lineup. The speaker is comparing it to the 5.0, implying the smaller turbo engine can meet or exceed expectations for power and usability.

Fuel economy is how efficiently an engine converts fuel into distance traveled, usually expressed as miles per gallon (or similar metrics). The speaker uses it to argue EcoBoost engines can be more efficient than the 5.0 while still offering strong performance for a truck.

The Ford Expedition is a full-size three-row SUV aimed at families and buyers who need more passenger space and capability than a smaller SUV. The podcast mentions a 2024 model because the host recently bought one to replace another Expedition, which highlights how owners evaluate fit, comfort, and day-to-day usability over time. It’s a relevant discussion topic because full-size SUVs often come down to long-term ownership experience and maintenance planning.

A turbocharger (often shortened to “turbo”) uses exhaust gases to spin a turbine that forces more air into the engine. That extra airflow helps make more power from a smaller engine, but the turbo is a wear item that can eventually need rebuilding or replacement.