The Subaru Forester is a popular SUV that is great for families and outdoor activities. The 2025 version has new features and improvements that make it even better.
The Ford Bronco is a tough SUV that can handle rough terrains and is popular for outdoor adventures. It was first made in the 1960s and has come back with new designs and technology.
A car customizer is someone who changes cars to make them look or work better. They can add special features or designs that aren't found in regular cars.
Suspension travel is how much the car's suspension can move up and down. More travel means the car can handle rough roads better without losing control.
A restomod is when someone takes an old car, fixes it up to look nice, and adds modern parts to make it drive better. It's like giving a classic car a new life with updated technology.
The Volkswagen Bus is a famous van known for its boxy shape and spacious interior. It was used for everything from family trips to being a mobile home for travelers.
The Hyundai i10 is a tiny car that's great for driving around the city because it's easy to park and use in tight spaces. It's also affordable, making it a good option for people who want a reliable vehicle without spending too much money.
Vintage cars are older cars that people love because they have a unique style and history. They are usually at least 20 years old and are often collected by car lovers.
A collector car is a special type of vehicle that people buy because it is rare or has a lot of history. Many people enjoy collecting these cars, and they can sometimes become more valuable as time goes on.
'Numbers matching' means that the important parts of a car, like the engine, have the same identification numbers as they did when the car was first made. This is a big deal for collectors because it shows the car is original and can make it worth more.
The Ford Torino is a car made by Ford that people like to collect. It was popular in the late 1960s and 1970s and is known for being powerful and stylish.
Ferrari is a famous brand that makes very fast and expensive sports cars. People love to collect them because they are known for being high-quality and powerful.
The Subaru Crosstrek is a smaller SUV that is good for people who like to go hiking or camping. It can drive on rough roads and is very practical for everyday use.
The Subaru Outback is a larger SUV that is great for families and people who love outdoor activities. It has a lot of space inside and can handle rough roads well.
LED headlights are a type of car light that lasts longer and uses less energy than regular lights. They help you see better at night and in bad weather.
A power rear lift gate is a tailgate that opens and closes automatically, usually with a button or a foot motion. It's helpful when you have your hands full.
18-inch alloy wheels are lighter wheels made from different metals. They help the car perform better and look nicer, but the size can change how the car feels when you drive it.
A four-cylinder engine is a type of engine with four parts called cylinders that help make the car go. It's a popular choice because it can be powerful while also saving fuel.
A flat four-boxer engine is a special kind of engine where the parts that help it run are laid out flat instead of standing up. This helps the car stay balanced and stable.
The Mazda CX-50 is a compact SUV that combines the comfort of a car with the space of a larger vehicle. It's designed to be fun to drive and has a nice interior, making it a good option for people who want something stylish and enjoyable.
The Honda CR-V is a type of vehicle called a compact SUV, which means it's a bit bigger than a regular car but still easy to drive. It's popular because it has a lot of space inside for people and their stuff, and it's known to be very dependable.
The Kia Sportage is a compact SUV, which is a type of vehicle that's bigger than a regular car but not as big as a truck. It's a good choice for people who want something that looks nice and has plenty of room for passengers and cargo.
The Toyota RAV4 is a compact SUV, which means it's a mix between a car and a larger vehicle, making it good for families or anyone needing extra space. It's very popular because it's safe, reliable, and has a version that uses less gas.
LIVE
Welcome to another In-Wheel Time podcast.
Five seconds.
So, the tailpipes and tacos, Christmas brings in at the Living Tortilla Tex-Maps in Caney, Texas.
Right.
Welcome to the In-Wheel Time car talk show.
Coming up in the next three hours, you'll hear from some of the attendees at today's event.
Later in Jeff's car culture, how to start a car collection.
Yep.
Stan is sick today, and he won't be here.
But I know that his son-in-law is going to tell us all about how to start a car collection.
Oh, definitely.
Because I know that he's schooled you well, as he does everybody.
Yeah, lots of lessons on that.
Yes.
Well, see, I've done things where we've talked about car collections, the big ones around
the world, but never how to start one.
So, here we go.
We're going to do that today.
Mars has a review of the 2025 Subaru Forester.
Howdy, along with Mike, out of this World Bars, we always need more.
Jeb Zeekin, Chief Engineer, David Ainsley, who's sick in many different ways.
He's here, and he is engineering the show today.
Came back with a nasty.
My name is Nod Nortsma, and I'm glad that you are here with us today.
So I've given you a preview.
We've already teased the fact that we have a guest sitting in the hot seat.
And I can see him.
Can they see him?
Can you see him?
You can see him right there.
So you need to scoot your chair in just a little bit.
So I'll scoot up close.
That's good.
Mars likes that.
Yeah, with all the boys.
Anyway, Chase Murray is here and Chase is standing son-in-law.
Step son.
Step son.
Step son, sorry.
Yeah.
We're all good.
Morning, guys.
How are you doing?
Well, yeah, we are good.
Good, yeah.
Yes, I'm glad to be here.
And he is the he is the child of Sheila Mamery.
That's it.
The one and only.
Yeah.
And so I met Stanton.
On the NHRA tour.
Yes.
And I think was it was it Pomona?
Sheila, did I meet you in Pomona in Pomona?
And oh, my God, what a memorable event that was.
It was so much fun.
You weren't there.
You missed it.
Right.
Yeah, I missed a good time.
Yeah, like always.
Yeah, he's building a spine.
And yes, no, he already had a spine.
So that was in 2006.
2006.
So how would you have been then?
Yeah, I was right at 18.
You were right at 18.
So in other words, you were hiding from everybody.
You and your dad were all bodied up and racing.
I was on the road.
But you you didn't go to Pomona that year.
No, so I didn't meet you there.
No, no.
And it was a few years.
So I made it to Pomona.
Yeah.
Well, anyway, I have stories to tell about Pomona.
It was it was good.
Most of them I can't repeat here on this public broadcast.
Of course, of course.
We'll save that for the after hour show.
Yeah, what a great idea.
Ray Ray after dark.
Yeah, in wheel times.
Ray Ray after dark.
Oh, boy.
We're going to have to borrow some listeners.
Yeah, or just Ray Ray in the dark.
It was a dark cloudy evening.
Ray Ray was about to.
Oh, my God.
Yes, this is going down the hill.
And there was also a place called the Pomona Mining
Company, which actually sits on a little mountain thing.
Little bitty mountain there.
You know where it is.
Yes, I'm sure you've been up there.
Yes, well, I have stories to tell.
Up there and in the parking lot, because you know,
you got to get on a short bus to go up there, right?
We're not familiar with the short bus.
Yes, stick with the script as we all are.
Anyway, great show here today.
And you know what?
Look at the people that have shown coming in.
I'm going to put the camera out there.
Please do. Yeah.
And there's all kind of and look, the in wheel time machine
is sitting in the in the handicapped spot,
which is perfect.
Honest belong.
If you look at that shot fitting coming up in that shot,
you've got the kids car show.
Coming up on that side on the left side
on the left side of your screen.
Yes, so there's that.
Biff is here.
He's going to take care of the trophies today.
Yep.
And the bug man is here.
The bug man building early.
Yep. He did come in early killing bugs.
I actually brought a car today.
Did you see it out there?
I haven't seen it yet.
Well, I don't know how you could miss it
because it's right up there in the front.
And it is a 2026.
OK, Ford Bronco to do it.
I did see it.
And then you brought it.
Can't miss it.
Yeah, of course, you can't miss it.
And it's the Stropy Edition.
Oh, and you're familiar with him.
He's a car customizer.
Yes, sir.
Well, apparently Ford has married up with him
and he's got lots of his own little tricks and trades
that he has done to the thing.
Interesting.
It is $77,000.
Whoa, a lot of tricks.
A lot of tricks.
But it is definitely an off-road vehicle.
It's definitely decked out.
Yeah, it is.
And it's got a lot of suspension travel.
It's got the great big beadlock tires on it.
I mean, it looks good.
I'm not too sure.
I'm not too sure about the paint.
But hey, it is what it is.
Yeah, so when you're definitely unique,
when you turn on the radio, does it go?
Dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun.
Have to pay extra for that.
Let me tell you something.
People from Ford Motor Company are listening.
I know.
And are too radio.
Pardon me.
Yeah.
And anyway, so we've got that out there to entice people
to come in and look at it.
Definitely.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's a great piece.
And thank you, Ford Motor Company,
for supplying us with that.
There's some friends of ours here, lots of friends.
This is a great car show.
And you know, I was telling to tell somebody the other day
about this car show.
And it's all different kinds of cars.
Yeah, it's a great collection.
A guy that I've known for very short period of time
has a beautiful Corvette.
If you want to call it a Resto Mod for C7, it is that.
He's done some little custom touches to it.
This is before I knew this guy, it was his car.
And I told Leslie, I said, man, I sure do like that.
It's kind of a maroon color, which is not something
that I typically am attracted to.
But it's done so nicely.
It's like, wow, this is really nice.
Yes.
Yeah.
And you know those kind of guys?
Yeah.
Like me?
Like me?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Just some little subtle touches to the car
that make it your own.
Not on it.
Not on it.
Not on it.
Crazy, crazy.
Just a little personal touch.
Yeah.
You're familiar with that?
Yeah.
Definitely.
Are you driving a C8?
I'm not.
I am in the tried and trusted 61 Cadillac.
Yeah, baby.
There you go.
Well, you have to.
I mean, that's me.
If it's red, I'm driving it.
It is you.
Yes.
It definitely is you.
I've never wavered since the very beginning.
Dude.
If it's red, I'm driving it.
I guarantee you that car stays there.
I guarantee you that that car gets more looks than a C8
any day.
Definitely.
Oh, absolutely.
You have people haunt the horn as they pass by it.
All the time, man.
All the time.
I mean, there's video and even the peace sign, everything.
You wear your scarf so it can flap all behind you.
It can flap all the way in the back, the long scarf,
you know?
How's the wife and the baby since we talked to you last
time, the baby was still an infant.
Yes.
How was the infant now?
The baby boy just turned one in November.
He and Wifey will be up here shortly.
Good.
He has a brand new power wheels to debut.
My God.
I saw that post that I'm thinking,
have you been jacking with that car?
Just a little.
You know I can't have anything stuck.
So this is a remote control, but it's a big electric car
that normally would be suited for somebody that's like four
or five.
Of course.
Yeah.
And so definitely not for a fresh one-year-old.
I was surprised that it was remote control.
I've never seen a remote control in that.
Well, that was courtesy of me.
They didn't.
That is a 2014 model of power wheels, you know?
So I had to do some research and find a used piece and do
all modifications.
Rest of how?
I mean, do they make a kit to put on it?
They make, yeah, several companies sell these radio
control modified kits.
And it took a lot of researching and poking and prying
with the wires and making it work.
Tinkering.
Yeah.
I'll be there.
You know, it's cool.
It's funny you should say that, because my oldest daughter,
Amy, who you know, who has my three-year-old grandson,
he's kind of in that boat where he's not old enough yet.
I found out this week when I told her that there was going
to be a kiddie show here as well,
she told me that she still has that old Porsche
that we gave her.
But she was like five, her grandmother actually gave it
to her.
She's deceased now.
It has basically a button for the go.
Right.
And you take your foot off and it stops.
That's it.
That would be absolutely perfect to modify that
to give to her son, who's three.
Of course.
Not me.
Don't be pointing at me.
That's what I was thinking, Mike.
Look, look, look.
Speaking of Porsche.
Oh, that's it.
That's a Volkswagen truck.
It's coming here.
Oh, check that out.
With Santa in the front, too.
Yeah.
He's all strapped down.
Yep.
The one Santa brought out.
Oh, Santa.
Yeah.
Fly out.
Probably not the first time for Santa to be strapped down.
Be my guess.
All the houses he hits, I'm sure it happened.
Yeah.
Yes, exactly.
That's a great show.
Who's Volkswagen Bus is this?
This is Daniel from Toys for Tots, actually.
Is that a 13 window?
It's this gentleman right here, right in front.
Well, I'll tell you what, man.
That's cool.
Is it his?
No.
Daniel, don't know where he is.
Well, it's OK.
Daniel, actually, when we went to Auto-Rama
over the Thanksgiving weekend, I didn't see Daniel,
but I noticed he has several Volkswagen buses.
And he had them over there at the display.
Very cool guy.
So Dave Kendig is his hero.
Yeah, for sure.
Because Dave Kendig, that's what he's all about.
And you've seen those customizing.
Oh, man.
Who's the comedian they call Fluffy?
Fluffy.
Fluffy's got up.
I think he's got, like, 20 or something.
Yeah.
All buses.
So we're going to have you on several times today, OK?
And the reason being, well, because I want to.
It's his show.
But I want to talk to you about drag racing.
Yes.
OK, so we'll have a segment on that with you.
Yes, sir.
OK.
Because this is Mr. Sportsman Racer.
You know, we're good friends with the Emmons boys.
Of course.
And we have them on a couple times a year.
Great group of guys.
Yes.
They're part of our little circle of family and friends.
Definitely.
Yeah.
And love them.
And they actually gave us the trophy that they won.
Was it Las Vegas?
Yeah, no, it was Dallas.
Dallas.
The 50th?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And so we got a walling.
Awesome.
From them that they gave us.
Yeah.
And great guys.
And we love talking to them.
When we talk to them, we talk to them obviously about
the car business, the used car business,
and their lot.
And we also talk about Sportsman Racing,
which they've been after it longer than you have.
Just a little bit.
Yeah.
But it's still very well schooled in that whole segment
of drag racing.
Yes.
Because it is.
And it's actually bigger than the pros.
Yeah, it really is.
They're a tremendous team.
When we go to Dallas especially,
we're able to easily pit real close to them.
But their whole strategy going into race day
is just tremendous.
They are up there supporting every person on the team.
They're taking notes on every qualifying lap.
They share their advice.
And the way they got the car set up.
I mean, they're in stock and super stock.
But there's so many similarities between the cars
that they can take, OK, we learned this on your car.
Let's go put it over here on this car.
They have a huge benefit of sharing that data
across the classes.
Do they have a guy that handles all of their stuff?
I would assume they do.
But those guys don't stop working.
They are out there all the time.
And it's a truly impressive team.
Well, I think they take, didn't he say they take six cars now?
Yeah.
Yeah.
They have a full 18-wheeler.
I mean, yeah.
But I mean, just all the brothers together and the others.
It's just a great team.
And they have their kids too growing up in the business.
We actually got to hang out a lot in Dallas.
You know, I had all the little push cars and stuff.
We had them for the kids out there in Dallas.
So, you know, we've been kind of looking for a sponsor up
there in the Dallas race.
And, you know, unfortunately, it works out
that we don't really have a connection to the sportsman
because you guys race when we're on the air.
Right.
But I think that next year we need to kind of add on
to our regular show and do a show that
is with the sportsmen guys.
And I'm thinking maybe Loopy, Tortilla, and Ed,
Emmons.com that we can all get together
and do a special broadcast.
That would be a great idea.
We can definitely discuss.
Everybody wants to talk to the pros, and I understand that.
We do.
But nobody really talks that much to the sportsmen guys.
And they'll be like, what, 10, 20 times as many sportsmen
in a race as there are pros.
More than that.
Definitely, yeah.
And the other thing about it is that way I can get Dale Hulquist.
Yeah.
And there's a whole group of great sportsmen guys,
especially in the Houston area, that are just
a wealth of knowledge.
For cars, for racing, everything,
it's just good to have those guys.
A bunch of car people.
So what makes the sportsman the sportsman class?
Really, it's just money.
Yeah, that's the main factor.
But you know what?
Well, that is the main factor.
But it's not to say that you don't put tons of money
in that sportsman class.
We put blood, sweat, and tears, everything
we have into sportsmen racing.
And you know what?
You learn the best way.
And that's from your dad.
Of course.
Round up budgets and time, because he
was working a full-time job.
Yes, sir.
And you go out of the, it's a lot.
Yeah, I remember growing up and trying
to figure out my racing schedule when I was young.
And I knew what we could afford.
And basically, I had to sit down.
And I was planning out these 15, 20 races for the year
and decide, what business can I go talk to and provide them
some return on investment and just help us out.
But we took trips to Indianapolis, Indiana,
for the Nationals when I was young.
Again, that's how me and my wife met Junior Drag Racing.
And we both grew up in that.
No, there's no how that happened.
You've got to be a team following
the mama's footsteps.
That's it.
I was going to say, your mom ran that side of it.
Yeah, the program, the division.
Yeah, so it's ingrained in every aspect of our life
as the drag racing thing.
You know, there's a guy there in a red shirt
by the name of Jackie Hansen, Fireman Jack.
And hey, man, and sir, good to see you.
Good to see you up and around.
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah, for sure.
Yeah, he's coming back around.
Yeah, but.
Wow.
Yeah.
Okay, we're gonna have you,
we'll have you on here a little bit.
We'll talk about, we'll talk about heart attacks
and all that stuff.
Wow.
We don't want to do that.
Yeah, fuel the system over.
There you go.
That would be the stomach.
Oh my God.
Yeah, he needs to be arrested, sir.
We've got the police here already, so yeah, yeah.
That's good.
Wonderful.
Yeah, it's interesting that this show
is definitely unique.
And, you know, we all, all of us here,
we've been to lots of shows.
Right.
This, there's something special about this one.
And I don't just say that because, you know,
we've got a connection with Loopy Tortilla,
but I think that that's part of it.
Honestly, I think it all goes back to Stan.
I just, everything goes back to Stan.
And by the way, and Stan's not feeling well
and he's not here today.
And so I'm sure that he's listening to hopefully
and that he is proud of what he's put together,
not only in the restaurant business, which is huge,
but with the amount of people that love him.
Yeah, I see it every day.
I know you do, yeah.
It's truly a great thing that I'm a part of that.
Yeah, it truly is.
And, you know, it's funny, you can't, you can't buy that.
No.
It's truly ingenuine from the heart.
And I think that's what makes this very special.
So we're gonna be here till 11 o'clock today.
And it's filling up.
It's filling up here.
Now our broadcast is gonna go until noon, right?
We're not gonna be sitting here at noon.
We're gonna, this is the hour
that's gonna be the extra hour from 11 to noon.
Okay.
It's complicated, but we're doing it that way
so we can do a three hour show.
Right.
And so the next two hours,
10, nine to 10, 10 to 11 is actually gonna be live.
This one's being recorded, but it doesn't make any difference.
No, who cares?
Yeah, it's all good.
It is, it is.
We're not gonna tell anybody.
No, we won't.
But anyway, we need to take a break.
All right.
Okay, and we got some things we've gotta do,
but let's have you back when you wanna come back.
You know, tell me and I'll be here.
Okay, well, we'll talk about that.
So let's take a break.
Sounds good, thank you guys.
Just ahead, Jeff's car culture
and how to start a car collection.
Plus, Mars reviews the 25 Subaru Forester.
It's coming up right after this quick break
on the In-Wheel Time Car Talk Show.
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your destination for Texas' best beef fajitas
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Since 1983, loopy tortilla has served authentic
and time-tested recipes made with the freshest ingredients.
Atmosphere is part of the award-winning experience
at loopy tortilla, all developed in the Little House
near Highway 6 and I-10 in West Houston.
Visit any of the loopy tortillas
and you'll see the same attention to detail
in each and every location.
Start your loopy experience with queso flamiado
and guacamole along with a classic frozen margarita.
Dine on famous loopy beef and chicken fajitas
or pepper shrimp brochette
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Find loopy tortilla in Houston College Station,
Beaumont, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas-Fort Worth.
There's a Texas location near you.
The recipes are authentic and time-tested.
The ingredients always fresh.
Loopy tortilla, he's pretty good.
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Inwheeltime.com has a list and we know you love lists.
Think that the commercial is on the air.
Didn't know.
I can barely hear it on YouTube.
I'm on my body and it's straight for you.
It's straight for you.
Ah.
Morning.
Well, tell me when we're back on the air again.
And in the meantime, when we're not on the air,
then you and David need to fix this.
Well, there's nothing I can do.
I know.
Clearly there's something going on over there.
All right.
Hey, the Inwheel Time car talk show
invites you to join us.
Ten of them in central, you think it's bad now?
No, boy.
Wait until noon.
Okay.
We invite you to join us 10 to noon central time
every Saturday for our live show, if you can hear it,
about all things automotive.
Next week we'll be back in our dual studios.
Maybe just one, not sure.
And we hope you'll join us.
Thanks for being with us today here
on the Inwheel Time car talk show.
Coming to you today from Tail Pipes and Tacos,
Christmas edition.
Toys for Tots, car show, kitty car show.
It's all happening right here.
Where?
This is at the Loopy Tortilla in Katie, Texas, okay?
This is at 99, the Grand Parkway in I-10,
the Katie Freeway, we're out west.
So come join us.
We will be here until 11 a.m. this morning.
There's that.
Yep.
Okay, time now for Jeff's car culture.
How to start a car collection.
Yeah, we talked earlier that we've talked about
a lot of the car collections around the world,
but catching, isn't it?
Yeah, prior to purchasing cars,
it's important to ask yourself questions
like what type of collectibles can I afford?
Jay Leno recommends listening to your heart
when beginning a car collection,
but you don't have his money.
So determine your storage solution
before you start making any purchases
you wanna arrange storage locations,
especially if you plan to build a collection
of more than four vehicles.
Square footage location, security,
that's all the factors
that you really need to consider.
Despite popular misconceptions,
classic car collecting isn't a hobby reserve
for the rich and famous.
You can actually start a collection
with hot rods and cars for under 10 grand.
So there's a market out there.
Establish your collection theme.
One of the tips for collecting is what do you wanna do?
It's gotta be cohesive.
What sets your collection apart
from the random assortment of vehicles?
If you're unsure where to begin.
Start with a muffler.
Start with a muffler.
Prior to purchasing cars,
it's important to ask yourself like,
what am I more interested in?
Vintage, sports cars, hot rods,
what type of collectibles can you afford?
So that's the main thing before you even get started.
Network with fellow collectors.
Be here at the Lupe Tortilla.
Other car shows here.
Get guidance, get technical advice,
get some things from the network people,
your networking with other cars as well.
It's invaluable.
Don't forget to set a budget.
Get caught up with the excitement of the first car
soon to be a collector.
Could be a reckless purchase with no decision.
Before buying a collector car,
build out your collection wish list.
Account for maintenance costs.
Is that car gonna be maintained in that spot?
So you gotta consider that as well.
And lastly, just ask questions.
Ask the questions that we all wanna know
about our hot rods.
So get involved in that.
Network, find out what you're gonna do.
Make a list, check it twice.
Start a collection.
Sure.
Right.
All different kinds.
I don't know how many he's got.
Lots, lots.
Fill up the entire barn.
I don't know another guy.
That his car collection is originals,
untouched originals.
All original.
Gotta have the paperwork.
Yep.
Numbers matching the whole line.
It's all originals.
It's all he's got.
He's probably got 75.
All originals.
One of them is a 4GT.
The 4GT that still has the original wrap on the seats.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, wow.
You open the door.
Everything's all still in plastic.
How much is that worth?
Wow.
Yeah.
Of course, I don't know how much it costs.
Probably a lot.
But those are the kind of things.
I got a Chevy collection.
Yeah.
I got a Chevy collection from the 80s.
I got a Buick collection from the 90s.
Yeah.
Whatever.
That's the whole collection.
And that's the point of it.
If you're, I like the Novas, the Cougars, the Torinos,
things like that, that would be something
that you would collect.
Other guys do the Ferraris.
You've got Corvettes.
How much money you got?
Exactly.
All right, time now for this hour's car review.
Mr. Morris drove the 2025 Subaru Forester
and hear his feelings about it.
Yeah.
So you did the wilderness last week.
So this is a little bit different one.
It is part of the 6th gen,
but this is new for 2025.
And it's the Forester Premium Hybrid all-wheel drive.
It is kind of more of a street car
versus the wilderness that we had last week.
So the final assembly locations in Japan,
there's actually nine different Foresters,
but there's only four hybrid,
the Premium Sport, Limited and Touring.
And I had the hybrid for the week that I drove it.
Now this is a small hybrid sport utilities
where it's classified,
fits in between the cross-trek and the outback,
fits in between those two different sizes
if you're out looking at these.
It comes with LED headlights
with the automatic height adjustments,
which I thought was rather different.
And it also has the automatic on-off for the headlights
if the windshield wipers come on.
If you turn them on,
you're automatically getting headlights,
which is kind of neat.
Yep, it's a lot.
Heated exterior mirrors with a de-icer.
You might need that a little up north,
not too much down here in Houston.
Had a panoramic moonroof
to get you more of that outside feeling.
Power rear lift gate
with a hands-free foot-activated clothes on it.
And we were rolling on the 18-inch alloy wheels
that come with that premium package.
Now the interior,
we had the premium cloth seats,
which I liked it a lot better than the leather
for this kind of vehicle.
They are heated in the front seats.
The second row seat is a 6040.
It does recline and it does fold.
And up front, we had a 12.3 inch LED digital gauge package
all the way across there.
Nice and big.
You can see anything and everything.
And it has 11.6 inch tablet-style multimedia touchscreen.
That's where you're gonna find your navigation
and all your infotainment systems.
It's got plenty of USB-C ports,
it's got a wireless charger on it.
I will say though, the wireless charger,
if you're driving,
there's nothing really to hold your phone in place
and it will slide on you a little bit.
So just be aware of that.
Got a rear cargo cover on it
so that you keep things out of sight, out of mind,
whenever you've got cargo back there.
And up under the hood is a four-cylinder 2.5 liter
flat four-boxer type motor
with two electric motor generators.
Now this is where the hybrid system that comes in.
Now combined, it puts out 194 horsepower
up from 180 on the regular gasoline-only engine.
It is still backed by a CVT,
but it does have a six-speed manual mode on it
that I kind of didn't mess with much.
I didn't think it was, why?
Yeah.
It has a tow rating of 1,500 pounds.
MPG in the city, the EPA says you should look for about 35,
highway 34 combined 35.
Now it has a 16.6-gallon tank
so it means you're gonna get about a 580-mile range
out of this vehicle with it even in the hybrid.
Now I drove it 391.6 miles
and got 32.3 miles to the gallon.
A little bit lower than the rating on it,
but I was well pleased with that by all means.
Now one of the great things about it
is it's got a wide opening doors
to make it easy to get in and out.
You don't have to climb down in it.
You don't have to climb up in it
like you do some vehicles.
It's also got an insulated front windshield
that reduces the road noise.
All the controls are easy.
Well, you know, some cars,
you gotta kind of fall down into it.
And then you gotta climb out of it.
I just wanna make sure that we're correct here.
You said climb down into it.
Yeah.
Well, I gotta climb.
It's either climb or fall
and usually it hurts when I fall at this age.
Continue.
That's where you're going to.
Yeah.
And it does have a little bit of a firm ride,
but that's an all wheel drive
and the suspension that's suspension
that's set up for this vehicle.
But it's not quite,
I don't think it's firm as the wilderness ride,
but you know, you've got to be the judge of that.
Now the base trim price on this vehicle is 38,015.
The base model price,
you can get into a Subaru Forester for $31,415.
Now, I did note that the premium,
the MSRP based on the premium is 34,850,
but you go to the hybrid,
the one that we're driving
and you're back up to that 38,015,
which means you're paying $3,200 to get into that hybrid.
Fall into it.
Just something you gotta count on
whenever you're calculating the sign
if you wanna go that route.
The competitors,
you're gonna find you can go look
at the Mazda CX50 Hybrid, 35,499 to start.
Mazda CRV's got a hybrid that starts at 36,045.
The key is Sportage as a hybrid.
That's $30,185.
I got a friend that's got a Sportage now
and he's looking to buy a new one
and he's seriously considering this hybrid.
I'd like to get my hands on one
just so we can kind of test it out a little bit more.
Toyota's even got a RAV4 Hybrid.
So there's lots of things to look at,
particularly in that small SUV.
If you're looking for a hybrid,
there are plenty to look at there,
plenty to choose from there.
And if you get a chance,
drive the Subaru Polarster Hybrid.
There you go.
Hey, you know what?
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About this episode
Tailpipes, Tacos, and Horsepower brings listeners to a lively car show event at Loopy Tortilla in Katy, Texas. The hosts discuss how to start a car collection with insights from guest Chase Murray, who shares valuable tips on budgeting, networking, and choosing a collection theme. Mars reviews the 2025 Subaru Forester, highlighting its features and performance. The episode is filled with entertaining anecdotes, engaging discussions about drag racing, and the camaraderie of car enthusiasts, making it a unique blend of automotive culture and community spirit.
Sizzling fajitas, a packed lot, and a sea of chrome set the stage at Tailpipes and Tacos in Katy, Texas, where we dive into the heartbeat of car culture. We welcome Chase Murray to swap NHRA road stories and shine a light on sportsman drag racing—the data-driven, family-powered backbone that rarely gets the headlines but delivers the grit. From pit strategy and shared setups to the Emmons team’s relentless note-taking, we get into how grassroots racers turn budgets and weather notes into round wins.
We switch gears into a practical guide for building a car collection that’s thoughtful and attainable. Theme before impulse, storage before car number two, and a real budget that includes maintenance, insurance, and tires you’ll replace by age rather than wear. You’ll hear why originality and paperwork matter for value, when reversible mods make sense, and how networking at shows unearths the best leads. Whether you’re eyeing underloved driver-quality cars under ten grand or saving up for a single halo piece, a clear wish list beats adrenaline every time.
Rounding it out, we put miles on the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid. Think all-wheel-drive confidence, a calmer ride, wide door openings, and a tablet-style interface that keeps the tech tidy. The hybrid’s extra power, real-world low-30s mpg, and generous range make it a pragmatic daily that plays well with weekend car life. From kids in remote-controlled Power Wheels to a custom Bronco and a row of originals, the lot proves a simple truth: great car culture includes everyone, and the stories are as important as the specs.
If you enjoy this kind of car talk—honest, hands-on, and community-driven—follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your feedback helps more enthusiasts find us and keeps the engines warm for next time.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
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