Car Stuff Podcast
Consumer Guide Automotive, Tom Appel, Jill Ciminillo
Updated 4 days 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 (330)
Remembering the AMC Eagle, 2021 Chicago Auto Show Is a Go!
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start things off by discussing the Chicago Auto Show's recently announced 2021 "Special Edition" show, scheduled for July 15-19 as a scaled-down indoor/outdoor event. The gang also chats about a couple of their Chicagoland-traffic pet peeves. Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel joins us to chat about the great features in the June 2021 issue, including detailed histories of the 1981-83 AMC Eagle and 1958-68 Mercury Park Lane. Tom has another "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 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E and an overview of the best small crossovers of 2021.
Mitsubishi U.S. Plans, Jeep Wrangler 4xe
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing Jeep's Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid and the muscular Wrangler Rubicon 392--both new models for 2021. Jeremy Barnes, Senior Director of Communications and Events for Mitsubishi Motors North America, joins us to talk about the Mitsubishi brand in the U.S. and the redesigned-for-2022 Outlander SUV. 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 walk-around photo gallery of the 2021 Ford Bronco.
Hyundai Performance, Ford Bronco Dealerships
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the stand-alone Ford Bronco showrooms that some Ford dealers are planning to build as production of the all-new 2021 Bronco and Bronco Sport ramps up. Mike Evanoff, Manager of Product Planning for Hyundai Motor America, joins us to talk about Hyundai's performance-oriented N and N-Line vehicles. Tom has a quiz on the full 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 First Spin test-drive review of the 2022 Hyundai Tucson.
Creating Car Colors, 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the recently unveiled 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz--a genre-bending compact SUV/pickup "Sport Adventure Vehicle" that is slated to go on sale this summer. La Shirl Turner, Director of the Advanced Color and Materials Design Studio at Stellantis, joins us to discuss how she and her team develop paint colors and interior trim for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles. Damon has a Mopar car-color quiz for Tom and Jill, and Tom runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including test-drive reviews of the 2021 GMC Yukon AT4 and Nissan Leaf SL Plus.
How COVID-19 Changed Car Buyers, EV Sales Uptick
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the upcoming GMC Hummer SUV and pure-electric Chevrolet Silverado, as well as the uptick in EV sales. Cars.com Editor-in-Chief Jenni Newman joins us to talk about the effect COVID-19 has had on car shoppers, based on Cars.com's internal data and survey results. Tom has a "sales-per-dealer" 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 Hyundai Elantra SEL and a gallery of currently available new vehicles powered by 3-cylinder engines.
Electrify America HomeStation Charger, 2021 Ford Bronco Sport
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the their test-drive experiences with the new-for-2021 Ford Bronco Sport. Nina Huesgen, Senior Manager for the Electrify Home and eCommerce business units at Electrify America, joins us to talk about electric-vehicle charging and Electrify America's new HomeStation residential EV charger. Tom has a tricky "which vehicle has a higher horsepower rating?" 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 Ford F-150 PowerBoost hybrid and a look back at the 2009 Saturn Sky Red Line.
2022 Nissan Frontier, Microchip Shortage
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the worldwide microchip shortage, and how the auto industry is being affected by it. Randy Dale, Senior Manager, Product and Advanced Planning at Nissan, joins us to discuss the redesigned-for-2022 Nissan Frontier midsize pickup. Tom has a "name the fake trim level" quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a First Spin review of the new-for2022 Infiniti QX55 compact SUV and a look back at the funky American Motors AM Van concept vehicle.
Carjacking Epidemic, Ford Mustang Mach-E
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing their test-drive experiences in the pure-electric 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E. 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 "which vehicle is longer?" quiz on current-model vehicles for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a First Spin review of the refreshed-for-2021 Lincoln Nautilus midsize SUV.
New-Car Infotainment Trends; 2022 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the recently unveiled 2022 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer large SUVs. Robby DeGraff, Industry Analyst with AutoPacific, joins us to talk about the rapidly evolving world of new-vehicle connectivity and infotainment systems. Tom has a quiz on the home countries of foreign automotive brands 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 Chevrolet Suburban High Country.
Toyota Hybrid Strategy, 2022 Kia Carnival
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the recently unveiled 2022 Kia Carnival "Multi-Purpose Vehicle" (don't call it a minivan). Anthony Novak, Toyota Brand and Growth Audiences Marketing Manager, joins us to talk about Toyota's marketing strategies and the expanding role of hybrids in the brand's model lineup. Tom has a "where is it made?" quiz on new vehicles 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 Land Rover Defender 110 SUV.
V8s Aren't Dead Yet; J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the passing of dune-buggy pioneer Bruce Meyers and the results of J.D. Power's most recent vehicle-reliability survey. Paul Strauss, publisher of the popular websites The Awesomer, Technabob, and the auto-themed 95octane, joins us to talk about the latest batch of brawny V8-powered vehicles--the Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance, Land Rover Defender V8, and Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392. We also discuss the effect Tiger Woods' recent crash in a Genesis GV80 might have on the Genesis brand. Tom has a quiz on vehicle model-name origins for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a First Spin review of the redesigned-for-2021 Buick Envision compact SUV.
Lincoln Continental Mark VI, 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing the recently unveiled 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander compact SUV. Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel joins us to chat about the great features in the April 2021 issue, including detailed histories of the 1980-83 Lincoln Continental Mark VI and 1970-76 Porsche 914. Tom has a "who owns what" quiz on automotive brands for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a First Look report on the redesigned 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and its new SUV-like sibling, the Bolt EUV.
2021 Kia Sorento, 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the recently unveiled 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor pickup and the forthcoming Raptor R. Mark Savino, Kia Product Strategy Manager, joins us to talk about the redesigned-for-2021 Kia Sorento 3-row midsize SUV. Tom has another "buzzer-style" name-that-vehicle quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a First Spin test-drive review of the 2021 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo and a Review Flashback of the Hummer H2.
New-Car Affordability, 2022 Nissan Pathfinder and Frontier
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the recent unveiling of the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder midsize SUV and 2022 Nissan Frontier midsize pickup. Todd Lassa, veteran automotive journalist and founding editor of The Hustings (thehustings.news), joins us to talk about some current auto-industry trends and fill us in on The Hustings--a news website that is designed to deliver straight news and non-partisan political analysis, with liberal and conservative commentary all on one page. Tom has a "buzzer-style" name-that-vehicle 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 Ram 1500 TRX and 2021 Genesis GV80.
Infiniti QX55, Nissan Xterra Revival?
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing the recent reports of Nissan dealers asking Nissan to bring back its off-road-ready Xterra SUV. We also talk about the discontinuation of Kia's Cadenza large sedan and K900 flagship luxury sedan for the 2021 model year. Jeff Pope, Group Vice President, Infiniti Americas, joins us to talk about the new-for-2021 Infiniti QX55 crossover SUV, and the Infiniti brand in general. Tom has a tricky fuel-economy quiz for Damon and Jill--complete with a bonus question about mushroom varieties--and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a test-drive review of the all-new 2021 Kia K5 and a look at the brands of Stellantis.
2020 Auto Sales Analysis, 2021 Industry Forecast
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the auto industry's sales results for the 2020 calendar year, and examining a few of the winners and losers. Sam Fiorani, Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, joins us to delve deeper into the year that was, and talk about what industry trends are on the horizon for 2021. Tom has a sales-results quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a First Spin review of the all-new 2021 Kia Sorento.
Nissan Z History and Future, 2021 NACOTY Award Winners
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the recently announced winners of the 2021 North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year awards. Jonathan Buhler, Communications Manager for Sports Cars and Sedans for Nissan USA, joins us to talk about the North American Nissan Heritage Collection and the past, present, and future of the Nissan Z sports car. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on the Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including test-drive reviews of the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer RS and 2020 Ford Mustang EcoBoost, and a look at GM's new corporate logo.
New-Car Reliability, GM/Honda EV Partnership
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing the newly reported details of the General Motors/Honda electric-vehicle partnership. Jake Fisher, Senior Director of Auto Testing for Consumer Reports, joins us to talk about new-car reliability and CR's testing processes. Tom has a tricky quiz for Damon and Jill on 2011-model-year vehicles, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including test-drive reviews of the freshened-for-2021 Nissan Kicks and 2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport.
GM's Cars of 1961, Top Auto Stories of 2020
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing their test-drive experiences in the Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 midsize sedan. Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel joins us to chat about the great features in the February 2021 issue, including a profile on Bill Mitchell's Corvette Stingray racer and an overview of GM's cars of 1961. John sticks around for the third segment to help us review the top automotive stories of 2020, such as the effect of COVID-19 on the industry and automakers' increasing focus on pure-electric vehicles.
Christmas Wish Lists, Elon Musk Offers Tesla to Apple
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Elon Musk's recent tweet about his attempt to sell Tesla to Apple three years ago, and the reports of Apple's current plans to enter the autonomous electric-vehicle market. Instead of a guest this week, we share our automotive Christmas wish lists--vehicles we wish automakers would build (or start building again). Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on fake trim-level names, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including test-drive reviews of the Chevrolet C8 Corvette Convertible and the BMW X7 M50i.
2021 Chicago Auto Show, 2021 Kia K5
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing their test-drive experiences with Kia's new-for-2021 K5 midsize sedan. Mark Bilek, Senior Director of Communications and Technology for the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, joins us to talk about the outlook for the 2021 Chicago Auto Show. Tom has a tricky quiz for Damon and Jill on new-vehicle base prices, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a test-drive review of the redesigned-for-2021 Acura TLX and a look back at the 2006 Subaru Baja.
Ram TRX, 2021 Auto Show Outlook
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing the outlook for the first auto shows of 2021, and Acura's redesigned-for-2022 MDX midsize SUV . Carl Lally, Senior Brand Manager for the Ram 1500 pickup lineup, joins us to talk about the wild new TRX high-performance model. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on fake model names, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a test-drive review of the 603-hp Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63 S midsize SUV.
Carfax Vehicle History Reports; Hyundai Future EVs
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Hyundai's new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) for battery electric vehicles. Patrick Olsen, Executive Editor at Carfax, joins us to talk about the ins and outs of Carfax Vehicle History Reports. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on the entry-level engines in current vehicles, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including test-drive reviews of the 2020 Kia Forte GT and 2021 Toyota Corolla SE Apex Edition.
2021 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 2021 Best Buy award winners in each of our 21 vehicle categories. We discuss the winners in each category, from subcompact cars to premium large SUVs--and everything in between.
F-150 Hybrid; 2022 Honda Civic
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing four just-unveiled new vehicles: the 2022 Honda Civic Prototype, 2022 Infiniti QX55, 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, and 2022 Subaru BRZ. Brian Bell, Marketing Manager for the Ford F-150, joins us to talk about the all-new 2021 F-150 . Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on important auto-industry dates, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including our Consumer Guide First Spin review of the 2021 Hyundai Elantra compact sedan.