In Wheel Time Podcast: Your Go-To Automotive Talk Show Dec 1, 2025

Le Mans 2000–2009, Inside The Official History with John Brooks

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Car

Chrysler New Chrysler

The Chrysler New Yorker is a big, fancy car that was popular a long time ago. It’s known for being comfortable and spacious, making it a nice choice for long drives.

Car

Le Mans

Le Mans is a famous car race that lasts for 24 hours. It started in 1923 and is known for being very tough on the cars and drivers, making it a big deal in racing.

Car

Audi R8

The Audi R8 is a fast and stylish sports car made by Audi. It's known for its powerful engine and unique design, making it a favorite among car enthusiasts.

Concept

aerodynamics

Aerodynamics is about how air moves around cars. Good aerodynamics helps cars go faster and use less fuel by reducing wind resistance.

Term

Dunlop bridge

The Dunlop Bridge is a bridge on the Le Mans race track. It's an important spot that drivers and fans recognize during the race.

Concept

open car

An open car is a type of car that doesn't have a roof. This design helps it go faster and makes it easier for the driver to see.

Concept

closed car

A closed car is a type of car that has a roof. This helps keep the driver safe from rain or wind while driving fast.

Car

Audi R8C

The Audi R8C is a race car made by Audi that has a roof. It was designed to compete in long-distance races, which are very challenging for cars.

Brand

Peugeot

Peugeot is a car company from France that makes different types of vehicles. They are also involved in racing, which is a big part of their history.

Brand

Audi

Audi is a well-known car brand from Germany that makes luxury cars. They also participate in racing events, which is important to their brand identity.

Term

turbocharging

Turbocharging makes an engine more powerful by using the exhaust gases to spin a turbine that pushes more air into the engine. This helps the engine burn more fuel and produce more power.

Term

supercharging

Supercharging helps an engine produce more power by pushing more air into it. This is done using a pump that runs off the engine, giving you extra power right away.

Car

BMW New Bmw

The BMW New Class is a group of cars made by BMW a long time ago that helped the company become known for making nice cars. They were sporty and fun to drive, which made them popular.

Car

Nissan Rogues

The Nissan Rogue is a small SUV that’s good for families and people who need extra space. It’s easy to drive and has a lot of room for passengers and cargo.

Company

Nitto Tire

Nitto Tire is a company that makes tires for cars, especially those that are used in racing or performance driving. They are known for creating high-quality tires that help cars perform better.

Car

Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is a small car that many people buy because it's dependable and doesn't cost too much to drive. It's been really popular in the U.S. for a long time.

Term

timing chain

A timing chain helps keep the engine parts moving in sync. It's usually stronger and lasts longer than a timing belt, which means you don't have to change it as often.

Car

Kia Rio

The Kia Rio is a small, budget-friendly car that's easy to drive and park. It comes in different shapes, like a four-door sedan or a hatchback, which is a car with a rear door that swings upwards.

Car

Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry is a popular car that is known for being reliable and comfortable. It's a good choice for families because it has a lot of space inside.

Car

Lexus Rx300

The Lexus RX 300 is a fancy SUV that’s comfortable and has a lot of nice features. It’s a good choice for people who want a mix of luxury and everyday usability.

Car

Chevrolet Silverado

The Chevrolet Silverado is a big truck that many people use for work or towing. It's known for being easy to fix and maintain, making it a favorite for truck owners.

Car

Ford F150

The Ford F-150 is a big truck that people use for work and everyday driving. It's popular because it can carry a lot of stuff and is built to last, making it a favorite among many drivers.

Term

aftermarket parts

Aftermarket parts are parts for cars that are made by other companies, not the ones who made the car. People use them to make their cars better or look different.

Term

bed liners

Bed liners are materials put in the back of trucks to protect it from scratches and damage. They help keep the truck looking good and last longer.

Brand

Chevy

Chevy is a popular car brand in America that makes many types of vehicles, like cars and trucks. It's known for its reliable and affordable options.

Car

Honda Accord

The Accord is a midsize car made by Honda that is known for being reliable and good on gas.

Car

Honda Civics

The Honda Civic is a small car that many people like because it's easy to drive and saves gas. It's a good option for anyone looking for a reliable vehicle that won't break the bank.

Car

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a small sports car that is very popular because it's fun to drive and easy to handle. It's known for being light and having a good balance, making it enjoyable for people who love driving.

Car

Mazda Miata

The Mazda Miata is a small, sporty car that you can drive with the top down. It's loved by many for being fun to drive and is great for people who enjoy a little excitement on the road.

Car

Chevrolet Corvette

The Chevrolet Corvette is a fast and stylish sports car that many people dream of owning. It's famous for its speed and looks, and it's often seen as a symbol of American muscle cars.

Part

projector headlamps

Projector headlamps are special headlights in cars that shine light more clearly and brightly on the road, making it easier to see at night.

Part

rain-sensing wipers

Rain-sensing wipers are special windshield wipers that can tell when it's raining and automatically start working without the driver having to turn them on.

Part

hands-free sliding doors

Hands-free sliding doors are doors on some cars that can open by themselves when you wave your foot or hand, so you don't have to use your hands to open them.

Part

hands-free power liftgate

A hands-free power liftgate lets you open the back of your car without using your hands. You can usually do this by waving your foot under the rear bumper or pressing a button.

Term

stow-and-go seating system

The stow-and-go seating system is a way to make more room in a car by folding the back seats into the floor. This lets you carry more stuff without needing to take the seats out.

Term

MSRP

MSRP is the price that the car maker suggests dealers sell the car for. It's a starting point for negotiations when buying a car.

Car

Honda Odyssey

The Honda Odyssey is a family van that has lots of room for kids and their stuff. It's great for road trips and everyday use, making it a favorite for parents.

LIVE

Welcome to another In-Wheel Time podcast.

Hello and good morning.

Welcome to the In-Wheel Time talk show.

Coming up, author John Brooks talks about his new book, Le Mans, official history 2000 to 2009.

Later in Jeff's car culture, Jeff has 10 easiest cars to work on.

And Mr. Mars has a review of the new Chrysler Pacifica.

Howdy to you and welcome, along with Mike out of this world Mars.

We always need more Jeff Zekin and Chief Engineer David Ainslie.

I'm Don Armstrong.

Thank you so much for joining, joining us here on this Saturday morning for a live broadcast.

If you're listening on a podcast, we thank you for that too.

We just thank you for everything.

Yeah, thank you.

Kind of thank you and don't go changing to try to please me.

There is that.

Well, let's just get right to it, shall we?

Our guest this hour is author John Brooks, who's talking to us from a little place just

outside of London called Isha.

And John, it's great to have you with us as the sun goes down there just outside of London.

Well, thank you for inviting me.

It's a privilege.

Well, so are you a well-known author out there in Great Britain?

Uh, not really.

This is my first book as such.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

I have written a couple of other things for wealthy people who want books about themselves racing.

Well, I can see that you've got all of the chapters right behind you there in the book show.

Yeah.

Time's going to be next.

Yeah, it will time.

And we'll take up the bottom shelf on that one, but at any rate.

So my first question is Lamont, the official history 2000 to 2009.

Now Lamont has gone on as long as I think I've been alive.

Am I mistaken?

1923 it kicked off.

That was the year I was born.

Yes.

Yeah.

And then, um, before that in 1906, they had the first ever Grand Prix on a circuit rather

than a race between two towns or cities.

Uh, but that wasn't near where the current circuit is.

It was out to the east of the track.

Um, I think it took two days and 14 hours or something.

So they have a big history of motoring in Lamont.

Well, you know, uh, before you joined us, I was talking to my partners here

on the show, I said, you know, there's something that's always been appealing

to me about the cars themselves.

And I assume it's been a while, uh, but, um, I assume that it's still

open top, uh, sports car racing, basically.

Uh, sadly, no.

Um, the last, the last of the open tops disappeared in 16,

17, um, well, safety.

Um, in, in 2012, Audi made the jump from, sorry, 2011.

Audi made the jump from, uh, open top cars like the R8 dominated, uh, prototypes

in the period covered in my first half of my book.

And they shifted to a closed cockpit, partly because of regulations on

tire changes, partly because, uh, the power was cut back.

So aerodynamics became more and more important if you were going to

maintain the speed.

And in many ways it was a very fortunate change because, uh, during

the race in 2011, both Alan Mcnish and Mike Rockenfeller

had massive accidents.

Uh, Mcnish landed on the roof on the, uh, barriers, uh, just past

the Dunlop bridge and Rockenfeller had some massive accident

ended up in the trees in the night.

Um, and they both stepped out and walked away.

Okay.

They went to the medical center for a bit of a check, but had

they been open cars, we might have been repeating what happened to

Paul Michele Alberto in 2001.

So they went in the right direction and, you know, I guess

the point that I was going to make is the fact that boy, isn't

that dangerous to have an open top car with today's speeds?

Who are the, who are the manufacturers of the cars?

Engines, uh, chassis, that sort of thing today.

Today you're asking a historian here, uh, from your book.

Yeah.

2009.

That's close enough today.

That started with shall we say Audi dip toe in the water in 1999

and they ran an open car and a closed car and they came to

the conclusion the open was a much better option, which is

a bit unfair on the closed car because the whole thing was

thrown together in a matter of months.

Um, and in the end, the, the theories and the design of

the, uh, closed car, the R8C, uh, set off the train of thought

that ended up with the Bentley, which was a closed car.

But, um, it's a lot easier to change drivers, a lot easier

with problems with when it's wet or humid.

There's no windscreen to keep, um, uh, to keep clean or keep

clear, um, you didn't need to carry an air conditioning unit.

Um, however, uh, the rules gradually pointed in that

direction, um, they reduced the amount of power, et cetera.

And that was going on even during the second half of

the, uh, book period.

Uh, Peugeot came with a diesel to chase Audi's diesel

and they ran a closed car.

And while they only enjoyed one, uh, win at Le Mans,

they went, they, they beat Audi in quite a number of the

other races.

Um, but Audi had a, a lot of very, very good people,

but not just drivers, but the, the engine guys, the

chassis guys, the mechanics, Reinold Jost's team.

Um, also the, there was a considerable American

contribution as well from champion racing down in Florida.

Um, so I must admit, I too think that the open top cars look

better, um, in some ways and, uh, but you know, things

move on and we can't afford to have accidents where

people are injured or worse.

So that's how it's come about now.

John, let me ask you this.

Why, why the timeframe from 2000 and 2009?

Was that something that you had a passion for or was it a

request?

How did you get to that timeframe?

Um, you might notice there's a number of books here and

there's a marvelous chap called Quentin Spurring, uh, who

had edited auto sport for 20 years and then set up his

own magazine called race car engineering, which is probably

the top magazine dealing with technical stuff and he

decided one day that he was going to do a history of

Le Mans.

So he contacted the automobile club to the west and

persuaded them.

He got them to answer, which is quite amazing.

Normally they don't bother if it's come from across

the channel, but obviously Quentin was more, more

inferential than me.

And he did for 23 29 30 39 49 59 60 69, et cetera, all

the way to 1999 and he completed that in 2014.

Then unfortunately, his wife developed a nasty condition.

Um, and being the gentleman that he always was and still

is, he decided that was it.

He was going to stop and his wife would be his focus

from then on, as I said, a proper gentleman and then

somebody else had the book for a number of years.

I won't say who it was.

And they didn't turn anything in and the publisher,

Evro and the saintly publisher, a director, Mark Hughes

have actually lost his patience with this chap and

somehow gave me the job.

I've been involved with a book for the GT side of

things.

Um, Stefan retell who runs the, uh, the world championship

um, for GT cars GT three and he did a book to celebrate

25 years in business and somehow or other, I got asked

to do an essay and, um, Mark rather liked it.

Thought the style was okay.

Uh, I have to say, um, I was quaking in my boots

when I finally signed the contract because how do

you follow someone like Quentin sparing?

Well, obviously somebody thought that you were okay

to carry on willing to take the torch.

Yeah.

One thing you learn.

I mean, I now understand why the, um, other guy

didn't manage to turn things in.

He writes for about 10 magazines.

He's running and racing all over the world.

Um, he just didn't have the time.

Uh, it makes me wonder how the guys like, uh, Clement

Tassky, who, um, held down a senior executive position

at Ford managed to turn out the amazing books he

did and still does.

Um, I saw him a couple of weeks ago in London at

the RAC book of the year award, which he won one

of the categories at 91.

It's quite amazing.

Oh my God, it gives all of us hope.

Yeah.

It does.

You should, you should talk to him as well.

He's a, an Evro, um, publisher.

I mean, he's just turned out a three volume thing on

supercharging and turbocharging and it's several

hundred pages long and you'd need a supercharged engine

to lift the thing.

John, are you married?

Uh, I think I am.

It's got to say, because I was going to say, you know,

your wife is probably going to go and you're writing

what?

Yeah.

And, and, and you really are delving into turbocharging

and supercharging.

Way to go, John.

Yeah, exactly.

Well, uh, I chose not to do that.

I mean, I had an advantage over a lot of people in

that I took all the pictures in the book.

Ah, so that helps.

And that was going to kind of leads into my next

question.

Ken, is this, is this one of those books that I want to

buy for Christmas present for somebody?

Um, I think you should buy dozens of copies.

Right?

One of the things that I love about British folks is

their sense of humor.

And I've always been attracted to that.

And, uh, you seem to fit the bill quite well.

Well, you know, we have a lot to, uh, to laugh

about here.

Um, laugh or cry.

Yeah, it's exactly right.

You know, given my interest in America and I do

have an interest in America, there's plenty to laugh

about and cry there as well.

But, but having said that, um, you know, I got

very lucky, uh, I was an accountant till 97.

And then I was doing so much traveling around the

world doing photography that the chairman of the

design agency I worked for in London said, I think

you should do it full time.

The downside, of course, is no new BMW every four

or five months.

There was no, uh, nobody to pay the expenses.

Quite often you can get paid by the clients.

Um, or maybe it was just the rogues that saw

me coming.

So, um, I got kind of lucky, though, in that I

did, I did manage to stagger on financially

long enough to, uh, make it.

And then in the decade following the one I've

written about, I actually ended up doing PR and

making a film.

But in that, in the 2000s, the early 2000s, I

got lucky and ended up doing the American

Le Mans series.

Um, didn't cover every race, but vast majority

from 99 through to 2001.

So I got to know North America reasonably well.

Um, and then I wrote for a number of, uh,

websites, you know, like speed hunters or

driving line and they were sponsored by, uh, electronic

arts or, um, a tire company, Nito tire.

So you knew the money would come in each month.

And you also know that we fit right underneath all

of those famous and wonderful companies that

you have worked for.

And now you can brag about the fact that you

have appeared live on the in wheel time car

talk show.

Yeah.

You're going to be getting calls from all over

all over the next city.

Yeah.

I'm sure.

Yeah.

Well, I'm sure.

But I mean, I've been lucky in that I got

given the opportunity.

Um, you know, I've been put forward for a

couple of awards.

I didn't win them, but even being selected

is an honor.

You bet you bet.

Uh, we've got the Guild of Motoring Writers

over here.

And they've got their dinner at, uh, up at

the RAC club in Palmel on Thursday.

So I'm, I'm one of the three there.

Unfortunately, one of the others I understand

is, uh, Mr.

Carl Ludwigson and his huge book on turbo

charging and supercharging.

Yes.

Yeah.

Your wife is a big fan of his.

Yes.

Fortunately, fortunately for you and for me,

my wife's at work currently.

Exactly.

Who are these heathens that you're talking to

over there in the United States?

Why?

John, let me ask you, where is the book

available?

Can we get it on Amazon?

I believe so.

Um, uh, I'm not sure who's distributing

in the States.

Um, it took an awful long of the book was

originally printed in India and then took

ahead of a long time to get to the UK.

Three months or something.

Um, because you've got to go around the

south of Africa now rather than through

the Suez Canal for various reasons,

which we won't go near.

Um, and then I believe there was some delay

in getting the books over to North America.

They've only recently arrived.

Um, well, I think that our Jeff Zika

here probably had something to do with

them coming from India.

Uh, he is in touch with his cousin over

there.

Remember cousin?

No, no, no, no, no, we're not going

to mention that cousin.

There's that.

We've taken the cousin out of their

family.

That's it from India.

John, it's great to talk to you.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Say hey to the Crown family for us.

Yes, please do.

Um, well, maybe not.

Maybe not.

That's kind of like the law cousin

that Jeff has over in India.

One of those kind.

Yeah.

Uh, but at any rate, it's a real

pleasure to talk to you.

The book is called Le Mans.

The official history 2000 to 2009.

Again, the author's name is John Brooks.

This is going to be a picture book

as well.

John and people love to put those

out on the coffee table, especially

at Christmas.

Don't look what I got for Christmas.

Yeah, especially book collectors

and automobile freaks like us.

Quite well anyway.

Thank you so much for your time.

You at any time and, uh, hey,

give us a call.

Let us know what you're doing.

Will you?

Sure.

Well, I've got a few ideas to book to you.

Well, good.

And we're going to, we're going to take

the trip around the Horn of Africa.

Okay.

We appreciate you, sir.

Take care of yourself just ahead.

Jeff's car culture plus Mars reviews

the Chrysler Pacific after this

break here on the in wheel time

car talk show.

See you with us.

The tailpipes and tacos Christmas

edition 2025 happened Saturday,

December 13th from eight to 11 a.m.

and you'll want to be a part of it.

Tell pipes and tacos is the cruise

in everyone wants to attend

and the Christmas edition is extra

special.

Donate an unwrapped new toy

and help yourself to a free

loopy tortilla breakfast taco.

There'll be adult beverages

available for purchase to

and don't forget your ride.

Just cruise in and you're

automatically registered to compete

for one of three famous

chili pepper trophies.

Best hot rod, best classic

and best modern classic.

Tell pipes and tacos Christmas

edition will be held Saturday,

December 13th eight to 11 a.m.

at the loopy tortilla Tex

Max located at 703 West

Grand Parkway just south of the

Katie Freeway in Katie.

Oh, and don't forget to bring

the kids.

There'll be special trophies

and goodie bags for them too.

It's the tailpipes and tacos

Christmas edition 25 Saturday,

December 13th, eight to 11 a.m.

at the loopy tortilla Tex

Max at 703 West

Grand Parkway in Katie.

Bring a toy, get a free

breakfast taco and enjoy the

camaraderie in real time

will be there too.

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To join us tend to noon central

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automotive next week.

We're going to be out at the

Gulf Coast Auto Shield World

headquarters.

It's over there on the south

Sam Houston, Tollway Beltway

8 for some of those that

are not familiar with it.

And it's just going to be a

little bit south because

that's where the freeway

and the beltway interchange.

Yeah, just a little bit south

there by about a mile or

two.

So look it up.

It's right there where

the freeway does this.

Yeah.

On a good day.

Kind of like that.

Yeah.

When traffic does move.

Yeah.

Thank you, Morris for that.

He went to school for that.

I did.

I got a hula dancer.

He was a hula dancer

in college, I think.

That's a huli huli dancer.

Huli huli hut.

I played there.

I know you have.

I visited there.

All right.

Time now on the in wheel

time car talk show for

Jeff's car culture.

The easiest cars to work on.

Yeah, modern cars.

So if you're at home,

you're a you're a

Shaitree mechanic

or a home mechanic

and you want simple things

to fix on a vehicle

or maintain by choosing

the right brand

and model, you can ensure

most of the work

can be done without

visiting a repair shop.

I say most

so you have to take that

in for certain things.

So the first one

we've got we're talking

about is a Toyota Corolla.

May very well have been

one of the most

popular cars ever sold

in the United States

because of the popularity

you'll never have trouble

finding the parts

that you need.

Yes.

And the engine is

easy to access

because these are timing chain

rather than a belt maintenance

is even easier.

The best thing for the Corolla

is known for driving

hundreds of thousands

of miles without any

major malfunctions.

Even if the body eventually

wears out the engine

can keep going strong

only with motor repairs.

So there you go.

Keep that in mind

for the next one.

Kia Rio.

Didn't I didn't think

of this one

but it's a popular

subcompact car

that spent a lot of

years on the streets

multiple body style

so you can get the type

that best fits your needs.

Plus small engine design

makes it easy to get anywhere

under the hood

for quick repairs.

You're also aren't going

to spend a lot of time

and money on parts

helps keep the cost down

that way as well.

Kias are very reliable

nowadays

and the top of the list

most reliable cars

so they're up there

with all the good ones.

So chances are

that you don't have

many repairs

if you own one of these.

Hey what is that?

That's a Rio.

It's a Rio.

Uh huh.

It's a real car.

It's a real Rio.

And then you know

the next one on the list

is a Camry.

It is much like the Corolla

but the Camry is just

a little bit bigger.

You need more room

in that vehicle.

This vehicle also

has spanned many decades

on the road

with parts plentiful.

The Camry has been built

with multiple engine options

while the four cylinder engines

are the easiest to work on.

The V6 shouldn't cause

you any more problems

than what you might think.

So with the proper maintenance

you can expect the Camry

to last just as long

as the other Toyota cars

making it a good investment

if you're looking

for something long-term.

So if you know

how to turn a wrench

there you go.

Very easy stuff.

They don't make

too many V6s

and put them in vehicles

anymore.

Usually it's a four cylinder

but I've known people

that have had that six.

I actually had a V6

in the Lexus RX300

that I bought back in the day.

Yeah.

Kathy's got a V6 turbo in hers.

That thing was the smoothest thing ever.

Yep.

And one that I didn't

really think of

on this list

would be a Chevrolet Silverado.

If you want to work on a truck

there's nothing quite as easy

as the Chevrolet Silverado.

So they say.

There may not be

as many on the road

as the F-150

but the spacious area

under the hood

makes maintenance a breeze.

You can get underneath

the truck

and the engine

compartment just as easily.

You can crawl all around

in there underneath.

If you're looking

for the best models

for beginners

we recommend anything

from the 2003

to 2007 years

plus you can find

plenty of OEM

and aftermarket parts.

Making it easy to customize

you know, nerve bars

bed liners

and things like that.

So some Chevy cars

have been worked on easily

along with a few

of the SUVs

that they produce.

So if you're

just dedicated

to the Chevy brand

then you're bound

to find something

easy to fix

in one of those lines

specifically the Silverado.

The next one

to Honda Accord

is another top choice

sitting a little

bigger than the

compacts

the Civics

and all the

canvies

that we talked

about before.

Simplicity

is everything

in this Japanese car.

And it's

it's about

where the plenty

of different models

to choose from

spending several decades.

So if you're

into the Honda's

there you go.

While you may need

to keep up maintenance

the Accord is reliable

as they come

with proper care

you can get

this car

to go about

300,000 miles

which is awesome

without any

major problems

you can have

some minor stuff

the maintenance

repairs

even when

repairs are needed

you can find

a plethora

of OEM

and aftermarket parts

like that means

a lot.

Next one

last one on the list

and you could

pick any of these

out

and go with them

from there

but it's the Mazda

MX-5

Mazda MX-5

Miata

is a sports car

making a standout

among the list

even though

it's designed

to bring

a lot of fun

on the road

it's

simpler

than you would

think

to work on

the engine

is easy to access

all the spark plugs

down

are on top

parts in the car

are also

easy to swap

plus

there's a nice supply

of aftermarket

of things

available

if you want to

decide to

customize your

ride

considering

how cheaply

you can buy

a used

Mazda

Miata

it makes

sense

that this

project

would be a good

and if you

want to go

weekend

road racing

they've got

a whole racing

program

for the amateur

like you

and me

to get out there

and go for it

spec racing

it's called

and

I'll tell you

what I

visited

a couple of events

where

all

of the MX-5

Miata guys

are out there

racing their cars

and

what a

what a great group

of guys

can remind

me of the

Corvette Club

back in the day

you remember

when we went

to Kota

with Mazda

there was some of them

that actually

drove their car

to the track

changed the tires

went racing

changed the

tires back

and drove home

I mean

just amazing

well back in the day

that a lot of people

did they

before the trailer

there you go

all right

and will time

is now bringing

you a car review

one that we've

put off

way too long

Mars has been

chomping at the

bit for this

ladies and gentlemen

Mike Mars

and a review

of the new

Chrysler

Pacifica

you go

Mikey

yeah

so I have to say

up front

that my week

with this vehicle

reminded me

of why

I like those

many vans

they don't fit

my lifestyle

right now

but I do

love them

now this vehicle

was introduced

in 2017

and it is

the 2025

Chrysler

Pacifica

and

it's final assembly

point is

in Windsor

Ontario

Canada

a lot of parts

come from

a lot of places

that's where

they put it together

now it's available

actually in

seven trim

levels

with four

of them

involved

as part of

the hybrids

that's a

selected

the limited

and

the

pinnacle

now we happen

to be

driving the

limited

all-wheel drive

this week

it is a

minivan

and it has

passengers

seating

for

seven

now

front

you're

going to find

the

LED

functional

lights

all the way

around

projector

headlamps

got

rain-sensing

wipers

hands-free

sliding

doors

and it had the

S appearance

package

now this came

with a

brilliant

white

with black trim

and I love

that combination

whenever they do it

right

had the black

side mirrors

roof rails

black wheels

on it

had the hands-free

sliding doors

I mentioned

and then

it had panoramic

sunroof

now this is

the two-pane

sunroof

you know

gets hot down here

in Texas

but it's nice

on a nice

moonlit night

had the

hands-free

power liftgate

in the back

of it

and it was

rolling on

some nice

by 7.5

inch aluminum wheels

that were

painted black

to go along

with the package

it has a very

nice

sophisticated

look

I think in that

black

and white

combination

now inside

this thing

is really

where it

stands out

because this

is a

passenger-related

vehicle

it's a

people-hawler

it's got heated

front seats

the second-row

seats are heated

the front

seats are also

vended

so the

second-throw

seat

second

and the third-row

seats

are part of the

stow-and-go

seating system

that comes with

Chrysler

puts in these

vehicles

so that the

seats actually

stow down

into the floor

and the back

seats actually

got some push

buttons

the front seat

you got kind of

manually

maneuvering

but they all

fit down in there

nice

and flat

so you have

a flat

floor

now up front

you got a

10.1-inch

touchscreen

that's where you got

your Apple CarPlay

your Android

your 360

degrees

around video

camera

so that you

can see everything

around you

this vehicle

had the seatback

video

monitors on it

for the

second-row

people

and

it's great

for the family

because they

can get in there

and the itty-bitties

can play

and watch things

while you're going

down the road

and not be

hollering

and screaming

so much

and it also had

the family

cam

that way you could

look up

into your

rearview mirror

and it kind of

focuses on the

back of the vehicle

so you can see

what's going on

back there

it also had

Harman

Kardon

speakers

with a subwoofer

and a

760

watt amp

scattered around

and

there's just

a ton of stuff

on the inside

of this vehicle

as far as value

content

goes for a family

up front

it has a

3.6

liter v6

and this is

the rock

solid engine

that

Chrysler uses

in all sorts

of vehicles

287 horsepower

262 pound

feet

this vehicle

weighs in

at 4

over 4,000

pounds

and it is

all-wheel drive

so it has

a 9 speed automatic

to back up

that engine

tow rating

3600 pounds

now

the EPA

says

that you

should be able

to get around

17 miles

in the city

should look

for 25

out on the highway

and combined

it's

now I drove

this vehicle

172.1

so obviously

it was a lot

of in town

didn't get out

on the highway

much

but I got

16.7

miles per gallon

and I was

quite happy with that

knowing

what it would do

and how it would do

and how

I was driving it

the

because it has

more than adequate power

it'll get you

around through traffic

around town

it's easy maneuver

and drive

in between parking lots

and town traffic

and it's quiet

and it's

got enough audio

in it

that you can really

hear the quality

of the audio

because of the quiet

and it's got a lot

of glass

all around it

so you can see

around

what's going on

all around you

while you're driving it

and then

as far as

pricing goes

now you can actually

get into this vehicle

down to the base trim

level

the stripper level

$42,450

which I think is very

reasonable

for the base level

of this vehicle

now the base trim

price

that we were driving

is $49,570

as we tested it

with MSRP

and some options

in it

we had the

$59,165

it's still

under $60,000

for a nice vehicle

that's going to

comfortably haul

a family of seven

got room

for some cargo

and a lot of things

that you can do

with this vehicle

Comparables would be

a Toyota Sienna

now this is

a hybrid only vehicle

it starts at

$39,485

the Kia Carnival

starts at

$38,235

and the Honda Odyssey

which is the

higher price one

is at $43,754

again base model

comparison

across the three of them

so if you're

looking for something

for the family

for a people hauler

I mean we've seen

these things

used for

at concerts

picking up people

for taxi cabs

these are nice

people

hauler vehicles

and I really

enjoy driving it

this week

I always have

those things anyway

all right

in well time

car talk show

we'll continue

with a special

guest

NHRA

top fuel champion

that would be

Antron Brown

coming up

right after

this quick break

who doesn't

like a social event

how about one

that centers around

your love

for all things

automotive

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auto shield

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is back

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December 6th

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at 11 275

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just south

of the southwest

freeway

it's a morning

packed with

incredible cars

some of the finest

rides in town

from classics

to modern exotics

here's your chance

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grab a coffee

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meet the team

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and bring your love

for all things

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that's it

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About this episode

John Brooks, author of 'Le Mans: The Official History 2000-2009', shares insights into the evolution of the iconic race during that decade. He discusses the shift from open-top to closed-cockpit cars, emphasizing safety and aerodynamics, while highlighting key manufacturers like Audi and Peugeot. The conversation also touches on Brooks' journey as a writer and photographer in motorsports. Additionally, the episode features Jeff's list of the easiest cars to work on and a review of the Chrysler Pacifica, showcasing its family-friendly features and performance.

aerodynamics aftermarket parts Audi bedliners Chevy closed car Dunlop bridge hands-free power liftgate hands-free sliding doors Le Mans

Audi R8 BMW New Class Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet Silverado Chrysler New Yorker Chrysler Pacifica Ford F-150 Honda Accord Honda Civic Honda Odyssey Kia Rio Lexus RX Mazda MX-5 / Miata Nissan Rogue Toyota Camry Toyota Corolla

Original notes

What truly changed at Le Mans when the 2000s began—and why did teams abandon open cockpits just as speeds stayed sky high? We invited author and photographer John Brooks to walk us through the decade he chronicles in Le Mans: The Official History 2000–2009, and his trackside vantage point delivers a rare blend of technical clarity and human detail. From Audi’s R8 and R10 TDI era to Peugeot’s blistering 908, we explore how diesel power, aero efficiency, and rule changes made reliability the ultimate performance edge.

John pulls back the curtain on the engineering trade-offs that redefined endurance racing: the gains in safety that came with closed cockpits, the pit stop calculations that win 24-hour fights, and the unsung collaboration between European operations and American squads like Champion Racing. He also shares how he inherited the official history project from the legendary Quentin Spurring, why the 2000–2009 window stands on its own, and how writing the story with his own photographs turns a coffee-table book into a time machine.

We keep the wrenches turning beyond the track. Jeff breaks down the easiest cars to work on—Toyota Corolla and Camry, Kia Rio, Chevrolet Silverado, Honda Accord, and Mazda MX-5—spotlighting accessible engine bays, abundant parts, and weekend-friendly maintenance. Then we climb into the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica, a thoughtful family hauler with stow-and-go versatility, a smooth 3.6L V6, available AWD, and cabin tech that keeps everyone calm mile after mile.

If you’re searching for Le Mans history, Audi vs Peugeot, prototype safety, and real-world car advice in one place, you’re home. Hit play, subscribe for more smart car talk, and share this episode with the racing fan or DIYer in your life. Got a favorite 2000s Le Mans memory or a go-to easy-to-fix car? Tell us—we’ll feature the best on the show.

Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!

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