Episodes

Weekly sales and ownership talk kicks off with Todd’s new 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid and a question about Ford F-150, F-250, and F-350 sales. Callers swap shopping stories—one weighing a Kia Palisade Calligraphy and others debating private-party risk, salvage titles, and why history reports matter. The show then shifts into used-car market mechanics (Mannheim auctions, online bidding since 2020) and practical buying guidance, plus low-speed EV and golf-cart modification segments.

Spa qualifying sparks plenty of debate on P1 with Matt and Tommy: Q1 and Q2 knockouts, late purple laps, and how tiny gaps and sector-by-sector pace shape the grid. Aston Martin’s straight-line struggles and Hülkenberg’s qualifying woes (hydraulics) stand out, alongside talk of upgrades and who deserved them. The conversation then pivots to race odds—reliability, grid penalties, VSC/red-flag possibilities, and whether Antonelli can dominate if he stays out of trouble.

Belgian GP qualifying gets dissected through sector-by-sector pace, track evolution, and the knock-on effects of red flags and penalties. The hosts highlight how Antonelli’s lap management, high kerb use, and aggressive line choices helped him carry momentum to the pole, while Verstappen’s Q3 pace leaned on slipstream. McLaren’s middle-sector work and Norris’s battery/penalty shape the grid and strategy outlook, with clean air and undercut/overcut framed as key. They also touch on wet-weather coping, the 107% rule, and why turn one chaos matters.

A listener asks about oil seeping from a 2013 Volkswagen Passat valve cover—should they replace just the gasket or the whole cover? The hosts explain how to tell minor seepage from an active leak, and why sticking to the maintenance schedule matters. They also recommend routine checks twice a year and discuss why paying for undercarriage spray at the car wash can help prevent winter salt corrosion. Along the way, they touch on scan-tool codes vs mechanical noises and how to track intermittent symptoms.

Q&A Saturday #220 tackles how to shop for a next vehicle when recalls and manufacturing issues are on the table. The hosts stress that long-term dependability comes from a solid, rust-free platform and consistent maintenance—“Mileage does not matter. Maintenance matters.” They advise avoiding active recall problems, checking whether parts are available, and understanding warranty fine print (including how “lifetime” can end). They also share real-world durability examples and practical guidance for finding trustworthy repair help.

Hosts weigh whether Tesla Model Y FSD (Supervised) 14.3.3 is worth $149/month in Australia. They say it’s great for highway and slow, single-lane country driving—reducing workload—but it stumbles on speed-sign recognition (like 110 km/h), exits, and roadwork when map data is inconsistent or outdated. They debate best use cases (commutes, tourists, unfamiliar roads) versus risky ones (school drop-offs, pedestrian-heavy areas, peak-hour gridlock).

Keith Jones of Total Seal walks through a Q&A on choosing piston rings and getting them to seal for the engine you’re actually building. The conversation starts with basics—street vs racing, fuel type, boosted vs naturally aspirated, and ring sizing—then digs into gapless rings, end-gap clearance, and how gas-ported designs “activate” sealing under nitrous and boost. They also cover cylinder honing and break-in, including why measurement, oil choice, and avoiding long idles matter.

Weekend Drive weighs Toyota’s Koji Sato pushing Japanese automakers to cooperate on parts standardization—covering items like wire harnesses, steel, and plastics—to cut costs and speed development as China pressure ramps up. The hosts debate how far sharing can go, noting antitrust risk and supplier impacts, while giving examples like standardizing window switches and even sunroofs. The labor side turns to a DOJ grand jury probe into UAW President Sean Fane, plus a court-appointed monitor’s findings and possible extended oversight.

Hiring and leadership are treated like a truth-testing process: the guest argues the first hire at a new store should be a service manager, and the “golden question” for spotting fit is asking about the best and worst boss. The conversation connects bad hires to short-term thinking, lack of transparency, and managers who don’t make time for consistent check-ins. Culture is built with meritocracy, daily KPI routines, and clear expectations—so people feel ownership and accountability.

Auction talk and market reality checks kick off the conversation, from Barrett-Jackson Columbus to the National Corvette Museum and Bring a Trailer. The hosts then dig into collector-car pricing logic with Dave Kinney and Greg Engold of the Hagerty Price Guide, including how sell-through, generational demand, and “K-shaped” market behavior affect values. The episode also swings through Pebble Beach/Monterey planning, rare Studebaker Avanti details, and practical ownership themes like rust checks and why newer trucks can make more sense.

Road-tripping from Vegas with the 2026 Hyundai Venue SEL, the hosts weigh “cheap thrills” practicality—cargo space, infotainment quirks, and how the small 1.6L and CVT-like transmission feel on two-lane passing. They also zoom out to the tech and policy backdrop: Europe’s mandatory driver-distraction monitoring, connected-car privacy tradeoffs, and why solid-state batteries still face an unstable lithium-metal interface. The conversation also touches Tesla’s longer three-row Model Y and the growing off-road/overlanding scene.

Driving the Lexus LC 500 leads into a comparison of the non-hybrid V8 versus the LC 500h’s V6, with the hosts impressed by the V8’s cold-start sound and the hybrid’s shove in Sport Plus. They then pivot to Overfinch’s one-off Holland & Holland Range Rover—black-and-gold outside, shotgun-themed details inside—before debating what makes driving games feel real. The conversation ranges from Forza Horizon’s evolution to Gran Turismo memories and the joy of niche Japanese cars.

A winter-warmup debate kicks things off, with the hosts and a caller weighing idling versus driving and how older carbureted engines behave differently than modern fuel-injected cars. Classic Volkswagen talk follows, including a 1973 Karmann Ghia–type car that sputters and backfires—likely from missing ignition spark due to burned points and a bad condenser. Cold-weather door-latch and idle “singing” problems get practical fixes, plus a vacuum-leak diagnosis method and a mango-fence logic puzzle.

Day 5 of the Round Britain EV challenge focuses on whether EVs and charging access have improved since their earlier trip. They set out the six-day goal, then hit real-world variety: an Osprey charger near John o’ Groats (75 kW), a first charging failure that required rebooting and call-center help, and power limits when sharing a setup (25 kW). They also manage downhill efficiency with regen turned off and run into an Octopus World app issue.

Constantin Buschmann, Brabus’ CEO, joins Bloomberg Hot Pursuit, and the conversation quickly turns into a BMW M2 vs M4 value debate—especially the idea that the M2 CS is “so good” that the M4 step-up may not make sense. They compare shared inline-six twin-turbo architecture, then argue about modern dashboard screens versus physical controls and the cost-cutting behind losing manuals. The show also pivots to tinnitus and hearing protection, before shifting back to Buschmann’s passion-driven, V12 “pure GT” coach-built projects and brand philosophy.

After a quiet stretch following his father’s death, the host dedicates the show to Bill Holman and explains they’ll catch up on backed-up news in shorter chunks. The episode blends personal road-trip memories (including a GT-R weekend and a Diamondback Stadium mix-up) with “Have You Heard?” truck headlines: Cars.com’s American-made index, GM’s redesigned Sierra tech, Roush’s Ram 1500 street-truck tease, JD Power IQS results, and Jeep Recon EV details—plus safety recalls and a 777-hp Ram TRX update.

Vince Finaldi, the new president of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, explains how he went from trial attorney to running a European collector-car restoration and sales shop—and why Pebble’s standards, authenticity, and longevity keep it ahead of the crowd. The conversation also covers car-week strategy, the event’s charitable impact, and how Pebble plans to expand displays for the Miura’s 60th anniversary. Along the way, hosts dig into collector-market shifts, mileage anxiety, and why driving matters more than just viewing.

A throwback episode vibe kicks off with plans for live comedy/music at local venues, then the conversation turns into a string of humorous real-life stories—parking disputes, getting pulled over while comedy is happening, and a tense night involving flat tires and off-road talk. Between the anecdotes, the guest breaks down stand-up craft: how open-mics shape timing, how stories expand into longer sets, and how stage energy affects pacing. Travel punchlines and airline comparisons keep the momentum going.

Pierre Gasly joins the Autocar podcast live at Goodwood to talk about his first ride in the Alpine A110 future EV, calling it “very cool” and describing the electric shove and mid-corner grip. He then zooms out to F1: hitting “500 Grand Prix points,” setting a target to “keep that fifth place in the constructor,” and explaining how leadership and the 50/50 combustion-electric regulation shape power out of corners. He also reflects on subtle driving technique, late braking, and Goodwood’s 5g Maggots and Becketts.

A diesel shop owner recounts how an EPA investigation escalated into a subpoena, years of limbo, and ultimately “I went to federal prison.” He explains how investigators couldn’t separate legitimate work from “deleting,” and describes the personal toll: a “waiting game,” a four-month sentence, fines, and supervised-release limits like “for the first 90 days, you can't leave the state.” The hosts then translate his story into a warning: legality can flip, and “just chip” setups may be enforced later—sometimes requiring a “carb number.”

Friday’s Belgium running gets an in-car style debrief, with Mercedes’ pace standing out but their FP1 struggles and a big FP2 change explaining the swing. Spa’s fast sections highlight why the cars can look skittish—downforce loss, plus hybrid deployment warnings and long braking zones shaping what drivers feel versus what TV shows. The hosts also unpack rear-wing safety checks, McLaren and Haas upgrade details, and why energy management could make Sunday’s one-stop race more interesting.

Garage plans and car-care deep dives collide as the host bounces between a BMW E46 build, wheel fitment, and performance parts like an intake, basic exhaust, and a Spoon header. They map out what’s next—Type R timing, starting on the 1M, and sending a Bronco to APG—while also answering detailing and shop questions (soap dilution, wheel coating brake dust, vacuum suction, and garage drainage). The conversation widens to radar detectors, SUV practicality, and even bike-building lessons.

A Cummins build conversation that starts with how diesel enthusiasts find their way into the hobby, then follows a guest from lifting a Bronco to planning a 4th-gen Cummins. The hosts connect performance goals to real-world reliability: emissions systems, fail-safe behavior, and service access all matter. They also cover practical maintenance and shopping tips—like prioritizing a fresh transmission, watching rust, and servicing crankcase ventilation and transmission filters—before getting into fueling, DPF care, and bed/storage upgrades.

Dealers gather in Boulder for “CDG in the wild,” described as “over a mile high in the sky,” blending mountain climbing, networking, and leadership talk. The show pivots into practical dealership operations: Stellantis website compliance deadlines, CarGurus fee disclosure rules, and how brokers and ad compliance can affect fixed-ops competition. Industry headlines cover EV/hybrid export strength and logistics moves. The hosts then connect culture to daily decisions—leadership meetings, “trade walks,” coaching in CRMs—and discuss scaling with transparency and touchless buying.