Gulf Coast Auto Shield is a place where you can get your car protected and looking new. They offer services like paint protection and window tinting for your vehicle.
Ceramic coating is a special liquid that you can put on your car's paint to protect it and make it shine. It helps keep your car looking new for longer.
Paint protection film is a clear layer that you can put on your car to keep it safe from scratches and damage. It helps your car look good for a longer time.
A radar detector is a gadget that helps you know when police are using radar to check how fast you're going. It can help you avoid getting a speeding ticket.
Car culture is all about the love and interest people have for cars. It includes things like car shows, racing, and just enjoying being around cars with other fans.
Nomex is a special material that helps keep race car drivers safe from fire. It was created to make their helmets and suits fireproof, which is very important in case of accidents.
Computer-aided design, or CAD, is a way to use computers to help design things like helmets. It makes it easier to create helmets that fit better and are safer for drivers.
Carbon fiber is a very strong and light material used to make things like race car helmets. It helps keep the helmets safe without making them heavy, which is important for drivers.
Kevlar is a strong material used in things like helmets to help protect people from getting hurt. It's good at resisting heat and impacts, which is important for race car drivers.
The Chrysler Daytona is a sporty car that was made in the 1980s and is known for being fast and having a unique shape. It was popular in car racing, especially in NASCAR, which is why it gets mentioned when talking about racing events. People remember the Daytona because it was an important car for Chrysler and racing fans.
A head-up display is a technology that shows information right in front of you on the windshield, so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road to see things like your speed or directions.
The Chevrolet Corvette is a famous sports car from America that is loved for being fast and stylish. The 2001 version had a cool feature that showed important information right on the windshield, so drivers could see it without looking away from the road. People often talk about Corvettes because they are a big part of car culture.
The Toyota Grand Highlander is a new SUV from Toyota that is bigger than the regular Highlander, making it better for families or people who need more room.
The Toyota Highlander is a popular family SUV that offers plenty of space and comfort. The 2024 version has some new features and looks different from previous years.
Trim levels are like different versions of the same car that come with different features. For example, one version might have more technology or better seats than another.
The front fascia is the front part of a car that includes the grille and headlights. It's important for how the car looks and how it moves through the air.
Dual exhaust tips are two pipes at the back of a car that let out exhaust. They can make a car look sportier, but sometimes they are just for looks and don't actually help the engine.
A CVT transmission is a special kind of automatic transmission that can change gears smoothly without the usual steps. This helps the car use fuel more efficiently.
The Mazda CX-90 is a type of SUV made by Mazda. It comes with different options, including a hybrid version that uses both gas and electric power to save on fuel.
The 2025 Mazda Miata MX-5 is a small sports car that's very light and fun to drive, perfect for people who enjoy driving.
LIVE
Time out for Mars' driving destinations, full travel tips and texts. Yeah, buddy, first up, we're going to talk about different places that you can go in the first episode.
It really takes your ground full throttle because that's the time when everything is allowed there. It really does have a lot of red noise in the yellow streets. If you think about it, there's more other than noise in the streets. It's hard to get into this area. You just have to have a lot of air to go in there. Saab and all river. That's really difficult. It's a really great place to go. It's as high as you can during the fall if you want to go all the way there.
You know, summer is kind of a dragon on here. It's not really letting things aren't cooling down like they're supposed to in the fall. We don't have good fall anyway.
David's going back to the UP in a few days and that's already starting to change up there. Yeah, he could get us some pictures. Yeah, moving on. Let's talk about the Texas Hill Country wine trail.
Wow. Texas Hill Country. Now, if you go out in the fall, this means the harvest festivals. They have great stomps going on in the wine trail from Fredericksburg all the way over to Johnson City.
When you say that, all I can think of is that famous wine stomp that Lucy had on her shirt. She actually got in the real fight with the actress that was playing the wine stomping lady. Well, yeah, that really didn't know that.
The fall is the harvest season in the Texas Hill Country wine world and it's a really good time to go out and explore the wine trail because it's a lot cooler.
And it obviously runs from Fredericksburg to Johnson City. You used to, nobody ever thought about Texas wines per se, other than you were making them in the backyard.
But there's actually a pretty big market for those. So during the fall, you get the Chris mornings and the mild afternoon. So you can go out and do these walkthroughs of these wineries and do some wine tastings.
You get some award winning whites and reds, particularly the reds because that's supposed to be hard healthy. So take care of that.
Oh, yeah, let's go for that. They also host great stomps and harvest festivals. Some places have live music in October and November on the weekend.
So it's a great place to go out and check out the fall. Now, if you really want to get ambitious and you really want to get serious about going out and about in the fall, head down to the big band country.
Well, head down to the big band country out west Texas because during the fall, the weather gets better. You go out there in the summer and it's like monster you'll melt down in the summer.
But during the fall and the winter time out there, when it's cool, you can go hiking. They've got river trips. And there's actually a lot of places you can go out there and do star gazing.
I've never been to these hills. Oh, it's a beautiful place and it's monstrously big. I went one time in the summer.
And that was it. That's kind of like going to New Orleans in the summer. You learn don't do that. But it does make it into the fall makes it into a much more comfortable adventure destination.
They've got places like the Chisels Basins, the Santa Elena Canyon and a lot of desert landscape. If you're out in there, we're looking at the cactus and things that grow out in the desert.
And you can actually get over to the Rio Grande. You can do some river rafting if you want to down through there.
And there's plenty of star gazing going on because a lot of people go out there during big bins international dark sky designation.
That's where the Milky Way is really gets brilliant that time of year. And it really offers a fall, offers a great time to do things like that.
Also, if you want to go back to the east, you can go over to Cato Lake. Now, this is a different. It's full of ball cypress trees that they're really old and they've been around a long time.
And it's me. Yes. Now, Cato Lake is one of those that's traveling the Texas Louisiana border. So during the fall, it's kind of got different.
You can actually get different kind of elements of the fall going on because they've got a lot of cypress trees that got Spanish moss in them.
And it gets kind of swampy in certain areas when you get on the Louisiana side. They got kayaking. You can do you can go by canoe. They got guided boat tours.
This used to actually be the main waterway that brought ships and our ships boats came up bringing cargo up from the coast up until it kind of.
The silt and stuff little in and it's shallow out where they can't do that anymore, but it's a great place to go if you're looking for something out in the lake area in the east Texas.
Fall travel tips in Texas. Mr. Mars, thank you so much. I hope I didn't cut you off, but the time is fast approaching that we need to take a break.
Yeah, I need to figure out how to get to where I can see the clock much better. Why did that not stop? I don't know, but at any rate.
When you're ready, Mr. Mars, it's time. Mr. Mars is now playing all the commercials. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
And it's time now for the in-wheel time car talk show to take a quick break. We will and we'll be back right after this.
You own a car you love. Why not let Gulf Coast auto shield protected? Houstonian John Gray invites you to his state of the art facility to introduce you to his specialist team of auto enthusiasts. We promise you'll be impressed.
Whether you're looking to massage your original paint to a like new appearance, apply a ceramic coating, install a paint protection film, nano ceramic window tent or new windshield protection called exo shield.
Gulf Coast auto shield is where Houston's car people go. Curved your wheels. Instead of buying new one, I'd have them repaired. How about a professionally installed radar detector? Gulf Coast auto shield does that too.
Get a peek inside the shop and look at the services offered by getting online and heading to GC Auto Shield dot com. Better yet, stop by their facility at 11275 South Sam Houston,
just south of the Southwest freeway and get a personal tour. Gulf Coast auto shield is your place to go for all things exterior. Call them today 832 930 56 55 or GC Auto Shield dot com.
The award winning in-wheel time car talk show now reaches 5.3 million folks each year. Check us out on in-wheeltime.com, the Odyssey Radio app, YouTube, Facebook,
and just about every other entertainment source out there, including our live broadcast every Saturday, 10 to noon, central time.
The in-wheel time car talk show has informative automotive guest interviews, new car reviews, along with popular features including Jeff's car culture, the latest new cars, cruise ins and racing dates. It's in-wheeltime.com. Join us.
Time now for just car culture helmets. Do they really protect your being? I don't know. Do they? Well, racing with its adrenaline fueled speed and daring maneuvers has always been dangerous sport behind the wheel.
The real driver's face immense risks going through curves straight away side by side and break next speeds. The most crucial defense. Well, it's the helmet.
In the early years of racing, drivers wore soft helmets that offered a little more protection than from bugs. Imagine leather caps and goggles. The bare minimum to shield their heads from the elements.
Racing evolved, so did the deed for better safety gear. So cloth, the soft cloth, gave way to football leather, while in improvement, it still fell short in the crash protection.
Racing was becoming faster, more intense and the drivers needed helmets that could withstand impact. Safety wasn't the priority and unfortunately the shows of the death rate of the drivers were really prevalent.
In the 50s, it saw introduction of the first fiberglass helmets which offered improvement, durability and impact resistance for their predecessors. These hard helmets were significant step towards the terms of safety, but they still lacked the features and modern racing racers that they were wanting for their helmets.
In the 60s, Dupont introduced the game changer called Nomex. This flame resistant material formed the basis of fireproof racing helmets. With the risk of explosions during accidents, Nomex was a crucial part for the safety of the drivers.
In the 70s and 80s, the introduction of the full face helmets, which was a significantly forward, these helmets with fire protective hoods, protective drivers from debris and fire.
Visors became standard enhancing the eye protection also, with the advent of the computer-aided design or CAD allowed for more precise shaping and the customized of the helmets for the person's head and the individual drivers as well.
This led to the increased comfort and reduced fatigue during long races and further enhancing the safety.
Then we come up to the 90s, where aerodynamics took the center stage, sneak helmets reduced air resistance enhancing performance. The 2000s brought lightweight materials, ensuring both safety and agility, because it's a lot of lightweight stuff on your neck.
Helmets are a marvel of engineering, made primarily from a combination of carbon fiber and Kevlar. The weight adjusted is about 2.7 pounds or 1.25 kilograms if you're in need reveal.
These helmets consist of about 12 layers, with the top layer adorned with bright designs and sponsor logos. Those are fantastic.
Helmet restraint devices reduced the likelihood of head and neck injuries during crashes. Helmet restraints included straps and attached to the side of the helmets, which prevented sudden head movements, basically to help in the crash.
However, these devices were not widely used in the motorsports in the 80s or 90s, only after the Dale Earnhard incident in 2001 on the last lap of Daytona was more focused given to the Hans device.
Looking into the future, aerodynamic shapes integrated cooling systems and helmets more advanced than ever before.
They're actually considering putting a head up display in the visor of the helmet, which I think is cool.
I've got a head up display in my car. I use it all the time, so it's fantastic.
You know, I got one of my old Corvette, 2001 Corvette's got a head up display. It was an option back in the day.
And yeah, I use mine all the time. I think it's cool.
And there you go. Protect your head when you're driving in the race car.
Time out for this hours car review. Had a chance to drive the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander.
The difference between the Grand Highlander and the Highlander, six inches of length at the back end of it that allows for a third row.
Final assembly location, Princeton, Indiana.
So it's built in the U.S. of A available trim levels, the LE, the XLE, the limited, the night shade, the max limited and the max platinum.
I had the max shade hybrid standard SUV seats, including the driver, seven exterior changes from last model year was all new in 2024.
Best front fascia award for Toyota looks really good.
Settle sheet metal creases create a conservative look to a conservative look to it.
Rear hatch design allows for more interior room, yet still very attractive.
Love the fake dual exhaust tips for a four-banger engine.
What I liked, one of the best looking SUVs on the market bar none.
What could use improvement? Nothing.
The interior highlights one pod for the instruments and one separate infotainment screen for accessories.
Center console has a sliding door for the cover of the storage area, which is a good thing.
You don't have to open it up to the left or the right.
That was good.
Seeding is comfortable.
Consider captain's chairs in the second row, if you're interested in buying one, I think that that would probably be a good thing unless you actually need the extra seat.
Third row actually has room for adults.
Thanks to that six inch increase in the length of the overall.
I was in that car, and yes it does.
It is roomy.
I made the comment when I was back there that hey, you could actually fit back here.
I really like it.
Yeah.
More room in the third row when the third row is up than most as far as cargo space is concerned.
What I liked, high marks for a well thought out interior.
What could use improvement?
Scale models could use a bit more bling.
The $1,350 glass roof option is for northern states only, unless you want to cook.
Cell phone charger allows the phone to slide off of its charger pad.
That was a little good issue.
2.5 liter four cylinder engine in the hybrid.
It also has a max option for more power, but then you use the fuel mileage.
And that's what this is all about.
The hybrid.
Horsepower 245 is what I had.
The max has 362 horsepower.
If you need all of that, okay, go for it.
But I like the mileage.
Now as a CBT transmission, now the max has an actual six speed transmission.
Toe rating.
3500 pounds.
All wheel drive.
I got.
Well, it's rated at 36 miles per gallon on the highway, 32.
I'm sorry, 36 city, 32 highway for combined to 34.
I got 29.7 miles per gallon over 475 miles.
What I liked about it, clearly the mileage.
What could use improvement?
Nothing.
Just get the base engine in it.
I think that you'll really be impressed.
Ride and handling.
The smoothness.
It rides like a big car.
It's not stiff.
It does not try to pretend to be something else.
It will go off road.
But let me ask you something.
Percentage wise.
How many SUVs actually go off road?
Not many.
My guess is less than one or two percent.
Yeah, not many.
That's what you buy them for.
They're like a big station wagon.
Dirt road is for this.
I go really gravel snow maybe.
That.
What could use improvement?
Nothing.
That I can think of.
Like I said here.
Who takes an SUV off road these days?
Base trim price.
52.610.
Price is tested.
58.187.
Base model price.
44.210.
Don't add too much to it.
Why?
Why junk it all up?
With all the options when you can't, you know,
that's an $8,000 savings.
Yeah.
And you tend to see for more stuff to break.
Competitors to this vehicle.
The Mazda CX90 hybrid plug-in.
They don't have a pure hybrid.
Yeah.
It's a plug-in.
49.95.
Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid.
37.8.
Kia Serrento hybrid.
38.690.
Next week.
You're going to review the 2025 Mazda Miata MX-5.
Beautiful.
Thank you.
About this episode
Exploring fall travel destinations in Texas, the hosts discuss scenic spots like the Texas Hill Country wine trail, Big Bend National Park, and Cato Lake, highlighting the best times to visit and activities available. The episode also delves into the evolution of racing helmets, from early leather caps to modern, high-tech designs that prioritize safety. A review of the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander showcases its spacious interior, hybrid efficiency, and competitive pricing, making it a noteworthy option in the SUV market.
Autumn reveals a side of Texas many travelers never experience. While summer heat dominates conversations about the Lone Star State, fall transforms Texas into a wonderland of outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, and natural beauty.
Our journey begins in East Texas, where maples explode with vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows that rival New England's famous foliage. The Sabine River region offers perfect fall temperatures for camping, hiking, and outdoor recreation without summer's oppressive heat. Moving westward, we explore the Texas Hill Country Wine Trail stretching from Fredericksburg to Johnson City. Fall means harvest festivals, grape stomps, and perfect weather for tasting award-winning reds and whites while enjoying weekend live music performances at numerous wineries.
For more adventurous travelers, we venture to Big Bend Country, where fall transforms an otherwise scorching landscape into a comfortable destination for hiking, river trips, and world-class stargazing. The region's International Dark Sky designation makes it perfect for witnessing the Milky Way in breathtaking clarity. Our final destination takes us to mysterious Caddo Lake on the Texas-Louisiana border, where ancient bald cypress trees draped with Spanish moss create an almost mystical autumn atmosphere perfect for kayaking and boat tours.
We also examine the fascinating evolution of racing helmet technology, from simple leather caps to today's carbon fiber and Kevlar marvels, and review the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, which combines impressive fuel economy with genuine three-row comfort thanks to its extended dimensions.
Whether you're planning your next road trip or simply dreaming of autumn adventures, join us to discover why fall might be the perfect season to explore Texas. What's your favorite fall destination in the Lone Star State? Share your experiences in the comments!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
---- ----- Want more In Wheel Time car talk any time?
In Wheel Time is now available on Audacy!
Just go to Audacy.com/InWheelTime where ever you are. ----- ----- Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider for the next episode of In Wheel Time Podcast and check out our live multiplatform broadcast every Saturday, 10a - 12nCT simulcasting on Audacy, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and InWheelTime.com.
In Wheel Time Podcast can be heard on you mobile device from providers such as:
Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Podcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Podcast, iHeartRadio podcast, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Castro, Castbox, YouTube Podcast and more on your mobile device.
Follow InWheelTime.com for the latest updates!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/InWheelTime
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inwheeltime/
https://www.youtube.com/inwheeltime
https://www.Facebook.com/InWheelTime
For more information about In Wheel Time Podcast, email us at
