THE CARPOOL BOOK CLUB - YESTERYEAR
About this episode
A quick countdown to an upcoming auto show turns into real-life logistics: getting to St. Louis, juggling childcare, and trying to keep dinner and family plans on track. The conversation then shifts to a Vegas trip and a Bronco vs. Wrangler comparison, where modern off-road modes do much of the work. After that, the Carpool Book Club dives into “yesteryear,” weighing influencer/tradwife themes, romanticizing the past, and whether the narrator’s POV is unreliable.
Jeep Wrangler
"Now, if you are like, if you have a, you know, 2008 Jeep Wrangler respect, but if you're taking a 2026 for Bronco off road, I'm sorry, you, the car is doing itself."
The Jeep Wrangler is a popular off-road SUV. Here, they’re saying that even if you’re used to Wrangler-style off-roading, a newer Bronco can handle a lot of the hard work for you.
The Jeep Wrangler is a rugged off-road SUV known for its go-anywhere reputation and simple, trail-focused design. In this segment, it’s used as a benchmark for off-road capability, contrasted with newer driver-assist/off-road features on a Ford Bronco.
Ford Bronco
"but if you're taking a 2026 for Bronco off road, I'm sorry, you, the car is doing itself. It literally has this button called trail, trail climb or whatever, and you hit this button"
The Ford Bronco is an off-road SUV. In this clip, they’re impressed that the 2026 Bronco can automatically help you climb a hill so you don’t get stuck.
The Ford Bronco is a modern off-road SUV built to tackle trails with advanced traction and driver-assist features. Here, the hosts highlight that on a 2026 Bronco, off-road systems can actively help the vehicle climb obstacles with minimal driver skill.
trail climb
"It literally has this button called trail, trail climb or whatever, and you hit this button and it just goes up the hill for you."
“Trail climb” is an off-road setting that helps the car go up steep hills. Instead of you doing everything with the pedals, the car helps control the climb so it’s less likely you’ll get stuck.
“Trail climb” refers to an off-road mode that helps the vehicle maintain traction and manage throttle/braking while climbing steep terrain. The idea is that the car coordinates engine and drivetrain behavior so the driver can focus less on precise pedal control.
Toyota A90
"okay, is that really any different than wanting to give my kids a 90 summer? The answer, I'm sorry, is no."
The Toyota Supra is a sports car, meaning it’s made to be fast and fun to drive. People bring it up when they’re talking about performance cars and what makes them exciting. In the quote, it’s being used as an example of something that feels like a “want” for summer.
The Toyota Supra is a sports car known for its performance and driver-focused design. It’s frequently discussed because it’s built to feel quick and engaging, and it often sparks comparisons to other sports cars in terms of how it delivers excitement. In this podcast context, it’s mentioned as part of a broader conversation about wanting something exciting for the “summer,” even if the comparison is more about the idea than the exact details.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.