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)
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.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; 2022 Hyundai Tucson
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing the radically redesigned 2022 Hyundai Tucson compact SUV. Harvey Briggs, Editor and Publisher of Rides & Drives (ridesanddrives.com), joins us to talk about his brand-new book--Rolls-Royce Motor Cars: Making a Legend. Tom has a tricky quiz for Damon and Jill on vehicle-name spelling and punctuation, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a road-test review of the 2020 Aston Martin Vantage Coupe.
The Cars of 1960, 2021 Lexus IS
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing their test-drive experiences in the refreshed-for-2021 Lexus IS compact sport sedan, and Damon's recent appearance on the Cars Yeah podcast. Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel joins us to chat about the great features in the December 2020 issue, including a profile on the novel 1941 Studebaker Champion Coupe Delivery and an overview of the cars of 1960. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on the 0-60-mph times of current vehicles, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a road-test review of the 2020 Rolls-Royce Dawn Black Badge.
California EV Mandate; 2021 Toyota Sienna
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by discussing Toyota's all-new, hybrid-only 2021 Sienna minivan, which is set to go on sale soon. Ed Kim, Vice President, Industry Analysis at AutoPacific, joins us for a talk about California's recently announced electric-vehicle mandate for 2035. Tom has a quiz on tires for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including our Consumer Guide First Spin reviews of the redesigned Sienna and the outrageous new Ram 1500 TRX off-road pickup.
Karma Automotive; 2022 GMC Hummer EV
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing the recent unveiling of the genre-bending, new-for-2022 GMC Hummer EV truck. Joost De Vries, VP of Global Sales and Customer Experience for Karma Automotive, joins us for a talk about how the company started and where it hopes to go in the future. Tom has a surprisingly tricky "When was it introduced?" quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including our first-drive review of the redesigned-for-2021 Cadillac Escalade full-size luxury SUV.
2021 Toyota Venza, 2022 Volkswagen Taos
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing Volkswagen's recent unveiling of its new-for-2022 Taos compact crossover SUV. Ash Hack, Manager, Vehicle Marketing and Communications for Toyota Motor North America, joins us for a talk about the revived-for-2021 Toyota Venza midsize SUV. Tom has a Toyota-themed 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 incredible 2020 BMW M8 Competition Convertible.
LEGO Cars, 2021 Nissan Rogue
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by talking about Jaguar's recent decision to discontinue its XE compact sedan and the station-wagon version of its XF midsize car, before moving on to Damon's press-preview test drive of the redesigned-for-2021 Nissan Rogue. Freelance auto writer Cherise Threewitt joins us for a fun chat about her informative article on LEGO's various automotive building sets, and the design processes that bring them to market. Tom has a tricky quiz on wheelbases (yes, wheelbases) 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 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster.
Buying Tires Online, C8 Corvette Review
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by sharing their test-drive impressions of the Chevrolet C8 Corvette. Matt Edmonds, Executive Vice President at The Tire Rack, joins us for a talk about buying tires online, what to look for when tire shopping, and The Tire Rack's extensive tire-testing processes. Tom has a groan-worthy quiz on car/movie-title puns for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a Consumer Guide review flashback on the 1974 Dodge Monaco.
2021 Chicago Auto Show, 2021 GMC Yukon
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show with our test-drive review of the redesigned-for-2021 GMC Yukon--specifically, the top-of-the-line Denali model. Dave Sloan, President of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association and General Manager of the Chicago Auto Show, calls in to give us the scoop on the 2021 Chicago Auto Show and the 2020 USO Barbecue for the Troops fundraising events. Tom has a Chicago Auto Show-themed quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a look at the foreign-market Lexus LM luxury minivan.
Hyundai's EV Expansion, Nissan Z Proto
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by talking about Nissan's just-unveiled Z Proto concept vehicle, which heralds the forthcoming introduction of a new-generation production Z sports car. Yuval Steiman, Director of Product Strategy for Hyundai Motor America, joins us to fill us in on the details of Hyundai's IONIQ electric-vehicle sub-brand. Tom has a base-prices 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 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB250.
GM and Nikola, Road America Attractions
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start the show by talking about General Motors' plan to team up with upstart automaker Nikola to build the Nikola Badger electric pickup truck. We also discuss Cadillac Live, an online showroom that provides personal guided tours of Cadillac's current products. Enrique Ramirez, Director of Business Services at the famous Road America race course in Elkhart Lake, Wiconsin, joins us to talk about a few of the many attractions the Road America facility has to offer--even if you're not a racing fan. Tom has a "who made it?" quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a photo feature on a "plain jane" 1964 Ford Galaxie 4-door sedan.
GM/Honda Partnership, Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell kick off the show by discussing Jeep's revival of its Grand Wagoneer name on an all-new premium large SUV. Sam Fiorani, Vice President of Global Vehicle Forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, joins us to talk about the GM and Honda's recently announced partnership, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer concept vehicle, and the proper way to make a PB&J sandwich. Tom has a "front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive" quiz for Damon and Jill, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a review flashback on the 2004 Mercury Marauder.
Pontiac's Screaming Chicken, 2021 Ram 1500 TRX
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing the recent unveiling of the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, a ultra-performance off-road pickup truck with a 702-hp supercharged Hemi V8 engine. Collectible Automobile magazine Editor-in-Chief John Biel joins us to chat about the great features in the October 2020 issue, including a profile on GM designer John Schinella (one of the creators of the Pontiac Trans Am "screaming chicken" hood graphic) and an overview of the dashboards of the 1930s. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on optional-equipment prices, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a first-look article on the 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro.
Pickup-Truck Reliability, Hyundai's IONIQ EV Brand
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Hyundai's launch of IONIQ, its dedicated EV brand. We also discuss our test-drive experiences with the new-for-2020 Cadillac CT4 compact sport sedan. Tim Esterdahl, founder and executive editor of Pickup Truck + SUV Talk, joins us to chat about vehicle reliability and innovative features. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on various pickup-truck facts, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a test-drive review of the 2021 Toyota Venza.
2020 Buick Encore GX, Cadillac Super Cruise Subscriptions
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by talking about Cadillac being on the cusp of charging a subscription fee for its Super Cruise hands-free-driving system. We also discuss Ford Motor Company's recently announced CEO switch, as Jim Farley steps in to take the the reins from Jim Hackett. Buick Marketing Manager Rob Peterson, joins us to talk about the 2020 Buick Encore GX subcompact SUV, and Buick's transition to an all-SUV lineup. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on average-transaction prices, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a test-drive review of the 2020 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X.
2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave, Safe Vehicles for Teens
Host Tom Appel and co-host Jill Ciminillo (Damon Bell is out this week) start off the show by discussing Consumer Reports' and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's list of safe and reliable vehicles for teenage drivers. We also share our test-drive experiences with the relaunched-for-2021 Toyota Venza midsize SUV, which now comes exclusively as a hybrid. Pete Milo, Chief Engineer of the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator, joins us to talk about the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave and Wrangler Rubicon 392 Concept. Tom has a quiz for Jill on the best-selling vehicles by state, and also runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog--including a "what-if?" gallery of alternate-universe 1957 Ford Ranchero competitors.
Cars.com American-Made Index, 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Mercedes-Benz's reported plans to drop seven of its car models. We also share our test-drive experiences with Lexus's new-for-2021 LC 500 Convertible. Kelsey Mays, Senior Consumer Affairs Editor at Cars.com, joins us to talk about Cars.com's 2020 American-Made Index, a ranking of the most American-made vehicles sold in the U.S. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on option prices, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a test-drive review of the Mercedes-Benz CLA250.
Buying a Car During COVID-19, Discontinued Honda Models
Host Tom Appel and co-hosts Jill Ciminillo and Damon Bell start off the show by discussing Honda's discontinuation of its Fit subcompact hatchback, Civic coupe, and the manual transmission in the Accord. We also share our test-drive experiences with the "last of a breed" 2020 Volkswagen Golf TSI. Bill Haggerty, Chairman of the Chicago Auto Show, joins us to talk about buying a car in the COVID-19 era, and why now is a good time to take your vehicle in for any necessary recall repairs. Tom has a quiz for Damon and Jill on "short-timer" vehicles, and Damon runs down the latest articles on the Consumer Guide Daily Drive blog, including a walk-around gallery of the redesigned 2021 Nissan Rogue.
Summer Road-Trip Tips, 2020 Ford Bronco
With host Tom Appel off this week, co-hosts Damon Bell and Jill Ciminillo start off the show by discussing the highly anticipated and long-awaited reveal of the 2021 Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport. Jeanette Casselano, Director of External Communications for the American Automobile Association (AAA), joins us to talk about AAA's summer-travel forecast report, how to get your vehicle ready for a road trip, and how to travel safely during the pandemic. Damon and Jill discuss their test-drive experiences in the Toyota RAV4 Prime and Prius Prime plug-in hybrids, and also discuss Nissan's unveiling of its first pure-electric crossover SUV: the Nissan Ariya.