Car Stuff Podcast
Consumer Guide Automotive, Tom Appel, Jill Ciminillo
Updated 1 day agoWhether you drive a car, need a car, or just occasionally bum a ride with friends, you’ve come to the right place. Join the editors of Consumer Guide Automotive as they break down everything that’s going on in the auto world. New-car reviews, shopping tips, driving green, electric cars, classic cars, and plenty of great guests. This is the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast.
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Episodes (337)
2021 Year in Review; 2022 Subaru WRX
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the redesigned-for-2022 Subaru WRX. Sam Fiorani, Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, joins us to give his insight on the auto-industry trends of 2021 and discuss the most significant vehicle introductions of the year. Tom has a "which came first?" quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a test-drive review of the new-for2022 Genesis GV70 premium compact SUV.
Catalytic Converter Thefts, Hyundai Ioniq 5
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the new-for-2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5. Mike DesMarais, Field Operations Specialist for Midas, joins us to talk about the recent rise in catalytic-converter thefts and how you can protect yourself. Tom has a "Hyundai Venue or Rolls-Royce Phantom?" quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a test-drive review of the redesigned-for-2022 Mitsubishi Outlander compact SUV.
Prep Your Car For Winter, Biden's EV Executive Order
Host Tom Appel and co-host Damon Bell start off the show by discussing the Biden administration's recently announced executive order to end gasoline-powered vehicle purchases for the federal fleet by 2035. (Co-host Jill Ciminillo is out on assignment this week.) James Shelton, Technical Field Support Manager for Jiffy Lube, joins us to talk about how consumers should prep their vehicle for winter. Tom has a quiz for Damon on 1.5-liter engines, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a test-drive review of the refreshed-for-2022 Hyundai Kona Electric Limited.
2022 Consumer Guide Best Buys
It's a special episode this week: the "sneak peek" announcement of our annual Consumer Guide Best Buy awards. Jill Ciminillo has the week off, as Tom and Damon run down the entire list of 2022 Best Buy award winners in each of our 20 vehicle categories. We discuss the winners in each category, from subcompact cars to premium large SUVs--and everything in between.
New Car Reliability, Hyundai N Models
Host Tom Appel and co-host Jill Ciminillo start the show by discussing Hyundai’s new-for-2022 "N" performance versions of the Elantra compact sedan and Kona subcompact crossover SUV. Jill also shares her test-drive impressions of the hydrogen/fuel-cell Toyota Mirai sedan. Jake Fisher, Senior Director of Auto Testing at Consumer Reports, joins us to talk about Consumer Reports' latest new-vehicle reliability ratings. Our conversation covers issues with electrified vehicles, as well as CVT and dual-clutch transmissions. With co-host Damon Bell out on vacation, Jill is the solo participant for this week’s car quiz, and Tom shares the latest content to hit the CG Daily Drive blog--including reveals from the LA Auto Show and a photo gallery of a 1965 Ford Falcon Squire station wagon.
Car Stuff Podcast Auto-Design Summit, L.A. Auto Show Highlights
Host Tom Appel and co-host Damon Bell start the show by discussing a few of the new vehicles revealed in conjunction with the L.A. Auto Show this week, including the 2023 Mazda CX-50 and Toyota bZ4X. (Co-host Jill Ciminillo is out on assignment this week.) Brendan Appel, Director of Operations at Sons of Speed, joins us for a roundtable styling-critique session on a handful of current vehicles. Tom has a "which sold better?" quiz for Brendan and Damon, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including our First Spin test-drive review of the redesigned-for-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Cars.com's Guide for the EV Curious, 2022 Mazda MX-30
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing their test-drive experiences with Mazda's first pure-electric vehicle--the new-for-2022 MX-30. Cars.com Executive Editor Joe Wiesenfelder joins us to talk about Cars.com's "Guide for the EV Curious"--an excellent primer on electric vehicles. Tom has a tricky quiz for Damon and Jill on the debut model years of semi-recent vehicles, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a test-drive review of the redesigned-for-2022 Nissan Frontier pickup truck.
Los Angeles Auto Show, EV Engine Swaps
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing the trends on display at the 2021 SEMA Show, the premiere trade show for the automotive aftermarket industry. Lefty Tsironis, Senior Director of Strategy and Business Development for the Los Angeles Auto Show, joins us to talk about the upcoming 2021 edition of the show. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on vehicles that achieve an EPA rating of 30 mpg or more in combined city/highway driving, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a vacation test-drive review of the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid and a "what if?" gallery of early 1950s station wagons that never were.
Flood-Damaged Cars, 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing the recently unveiled 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness. Patrick Olsen, Executive Editor at Carfax, joins us to talk about ways consumers can avoid buying a flood-damaged vehicle. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on 18-wheeler trucks, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a First Spin test-drive review of the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness and a test-drive gallery of the 2021 Nissan Kicks SR.
Chevrolet Vs Ford in the Forties, Our Favorite New-For-2022 Vehicles
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing their favorite new vehicles from a recent automotive-media test-drive event--particularly the new-for-2022 Ford Maverick compact pickup and Genesis GV70 premium compact SUV. Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel joins us to chat about the great features in the December 2021 issue, including a detailed overview of the Chevrolet/Ford rivalry as it existed in the 1940s. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on the best-selling vehicles in select U.S. states, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a First Spin test-drive review of the redesigned-for-2022 Toyota Tundra full-size pickup.
Lucid and Rivian Reach Production, 2022 Lexus NX
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the redesigned-for-2022 Lexus NX compact luxury SUV. Robby DeGraff, Industry Analyst with AutoPacific, joins us to talk about promising EV startups, in light of the fact that the Lucid Air luxury sedan and Rivian R1T full-size pickup have recently reached production. Tom has a quiz on China's automotive market for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a Test Drive review of the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L.
End of Internal-Combustion Engines, New Wave of Off-Road-Ready SUVs
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the latest wave of off-road-focused SUVs and sub-brands such as Ford's Timberline, Honda's Trailsport, and Subaru's Wilderness. John McElroy, host and editorial director of the Autoline family of automotive-industry newscasts, joins us to talk about his prediction/prescription for the forthcoming "sunset" of mainstream internal-combustion engines. Tom has a "manual or no manual?" quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a test-drive review of the redesigned-for-2021 BMW M4 Competition Coupe.
2022 Kia EV6, 2022 Toyota Tundra, 2022 Ford Expedition
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the recently unveiled 2022 Toyota Tundra full-size pickup and 2022 Ford Expedition large SUV. James Bell, Head of Corporate Communications for Kia America, joins us to talk about Kia's forthcoming EV6 electric vehicle. Tom has a true-or-false quiz for Damon and Jill on the Toyota Highlander and actor Tony Randall, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a test-drive review of the redesigned-for-2022 Honda Civic sedan.
Long-Term EV Battery Health, Most-Impressive Vehicles of 2021
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the new vehicles they've driven so far this year that impressed them the most. Scott Case, co-founder and CEO of Recurrent--a company that compiles and provides data on used electric vehicles and their battery health-- joins us to talk about Recurrent's services and give his perspective on the growing EV market. Tom has a paint-color quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a test-drive review of the new-for-2022 Volkswagen Taos subcompact SUV.
Ford Production Woes, 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the new-for-2022 Toyota Corolla Cross subcompact SUV, and the redesigned 2022 Infiniti QX60 midsize SUV. Sam Fiorani, Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, joins us to give his insight on Ford's current spate of production setbacks, including the Ford Bronco's hardtop production woes and the product-allocation challenges for the soon-to-arrive Ford Maverick compact pickup. Tom has a zany quiz for Damon and Jill that links the new Ford Bronco and actor Jimmy Smits, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a look back at the 2002 Mercury Marauder Convertible concept vehicle.
Best Cars for Teens, Chevy Bolt Fires
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the recently expanded recall of the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV due to a risk of fire. Next, Jamie Page Deaton, Executive Editor of the Autos team at U.S. News and World Report, joins us to talk about the U.S. News Best Cars for Teens awards. Tom has a tricky "left or right side of the road?" quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a test-drive review of the redesigned-for-2021 BMW 4-Series coupe.
Key-Cloning Car Thefts, Jaguar To Become All-EV Brand
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing Jaguar's plans to drop all of its internal-combustion vehicles and become a pure-electric brand by 2025. Next, Sergeant Thomas Mason of the Chicago Police Department joins us to talk about the rise in carjacking thefts, and what you can do to keep yourself safe. Tom has a quiz on the middle names of auto-industry luminaries for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a test-drive review of the new-for-2022 Kia Carnival minivan.
Pediatric Heat Stroke Prevention, Car Stuff Dead Pool
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Damon's recent drive of the new Hyundai Tucson Hybrid in the Lake Tahoe area, and then we share our "Dead Pool" picks--vehicles we think are soon to be discontinued. Brian Latouf, Chief Safety Officer at Hyundai Motor North America, joins us to talk about current automotive safety topics and fill us in on Hyundai's Rear Occupant Alert--a system that helps prevent pediatric heat stroke by alerting drivers of children or other occupants in the vehicle's back seat. Tom has another tricky quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including First Spin test-drive reviews of the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer and the 2022 Toyota GR 86 sports car.
Low-Cost Luxury Cars of 1966, Favorite New-Car Features
Host Tom Appel and co-host Jill Ciminillo start off the show by discussing several of vehicles Tom drove this week at a local media event; Tom was especially impressed by the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz and 2022 Volkswagen Taos. Tom and Jill also discuss some of their favorite new-car features, such as blind-spot alert systems and rearward-sliding sun visors. John Biel, Editor-in-Chief of Collectible Automobile magazine, joins the show to talk about the October issue, which is on newsstands now. We talk about this issue's full-length feature articles on the low-cost luxury cars of 1966, and the 1986-93 Buick Riviera. John sticks around to participate in this week’s Car Stuff Power Quiz. Recent Consumer Guide CG Daily Drive posts discussed include a Photo Feature of the 1970 Plymouth Sport Suburban station wagon, and a First Spin review of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. Co-host Damon Bell is on vacation this week.
Is Your Car's Fuel Gauge Accurate?, So Long NSX and Avalon
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing the recently announced cancellation of the 2021 New York International Auto Show. We also talk about the impending discontinuation of the Acura NSX and Toyota Avalon. Jeanette McGee, Director of External Communications for the American Automobile Association (AAA), joins us to talk about gas prices, fuel-economy tips, and how to prep for a summer road-trip vacation in the age of COVID-19. Tom has quiz on fuel-economy ratings for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a test-drive review of the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands.
Ranking the Most American-Made Vehicles, Used Car Prices
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing GM's lawsuit against Ford over the BlueCruise name for Ford's hands-free highway-driving feature. We also talk about the significant spike in year-over-year used-car transaction prices. Kelsey Mays, Assistant Managing Editor at Cars.com, joins us to talk about Cars.com's 2021 American-Made Index, a ranking of the most American-made vehicles sold in the U.S. Tom has "where is it made?" quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a test-drive review of the 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost.
F-150 Lightning Overview, So Long VW Passat
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing the impending discontinuation of the Volkswagen Passat midsize sedan, as well as VW's other product initiatives. Brian Bell, Marketing Manager for the Ford F-150, joins us to talk about the revolutionary new F-150 Lightning pure-electric pickup truck . Tom has a "which vehicle sold better?" quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including our Consumer Guide test-drive review of the 2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 392.
Chicago Auto Show Highlights, Stellantis EV Day
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show with a discussion of the Stellantis "EV Day" future electric-vehicle announcements. Next, we share our impressions of the 2021 special summer edition of the Chicago Auto Show, and the vehicles on display there. Tom has a quiz on the Chicago Auto Show for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a test-drive review of the 2021 Kia Sorento SX Prestige X-Line.
Mustang versus Mach-E, Minivan Road Trips
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show with a discussion of the current crop of minivans--and Damon's and Jill's minivan summer road trips. Paul Herrold, Chief Editor at Sons of Speed, joins us to talk about the SOS crew's "car guys' take" video reviews of the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, and whether they think it's a "real" Mustang. Tom has a quiz on the Acura ILX for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a test-drive review of the refreshed-for-2021 Honda Ridgeline with the new HPD Package.
EV-Startup Reality Check, Underrated Cars
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by talking about the current and recently discontinued vehicles they think are underrated. Sam Fiorani, Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, joins us to discuss the current crop of electric-vehicle startup companies and their prospects for success, as well as the ongoing microchip shortage and other auto-industry current events. Sam also sticks around for the third segment to serve as our guest quizmaster--he has a quiz for Tom, Damon, and Jill on which Hollywood celebrities serve as spokespeople for various automakers. Damon then runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a handy overview on buying a car from home via CarMax, Carvana, or Vroom.