Cars The Podcast
Don Swier and Joe Black
Last episode 18 days agoDisturbingly curious about cars? We're with you! Podcasting from the shadows of Mt Rainier
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Episodes (180)
Rebroadcast: Don't let dealers run up your budget. Keep in mind actual needs. Seek advice from your mechanic. Where journalists misread buyers.
We love to hear from you! [email protected]. We'd love your suggestions for future topics. Please take time to rate & review at Apple Podcasts!
Rebroadcast: 9 feet of mountaintop snow in a DeLorean. Ford's Farley flirts with China
We'd love to have your review or rating at Apple Podcasts! Snowcats produced by DeLorean (and good ol' diesel fuel) are keeping our phones working! Ford CEO Jim Farley praises the Chinese Xiaomi SU7 that he drove for months. ...He can't be labeled a Grosse Pointe Myopian! Ford reveals plans for EREVs like many other markets are preparing. What if a Range Extender (in an optional mode) was a roaring V8 or a screaming Hyabusa engine being stressed with a load and software-enabled "gears" to emulate a conventional ICE? We'd love to hear from you! Topic ideas, corrections or questions.... [email protected]
Rebroadcast: 5-year anniversary. Unintentional damage. Marital problems. $940k decision? Fatality rates by model. $1.98 part + 7 labor hours!
Fatality rates vary widely among different classes of car. Lowering your expectations can yield an extra million dollars in a few decades. Bill's 7 hour job to replace a $1.98 part: common nowadays. We love to hear from you! [email protected] Questions? Criticisms? We can take it! We'd love your rating and/or review at Apple Podcasts.
No payments or debt is priority. Best car?? Car industry is world's most disruptive. Service bill includes costs you might not realize shop is incurring. Toyota dethrones Ford F150 with RAV4?
Alix Brothers puts Auto Industry at #1 for disruption this year. Lead time for new plants is 5 years....is DC aware of that? Leno buys cars that impress him, not the Hoi polloi. Reasons why small CUVs like RAV4 & Rogue have stolen sales crowns worldwide. Jeep Cherokee OTA takeover a decade ago still has ripples today,
Rebroadcast: Toyota not perfect. Subaru CR darling. Don't lose focus when buying. Tesla pushing envelope.
Listeners from Djibouti to Iceland to Jakarta: Bill's customer squeezing every mile & dollar from aging Sienna, but even Toyota can have teething problems with new engine. Subaru slow evolution of same platform scores a Conumer Reports #1 reliability rank. A cheap used car won't fundamentally worsen your life, but a cheap neighborhood will. Get a pre-purchase inspection tp avoid expen$$ive hidden problems. Corrections? Rant? Raves? Topic ideas you'd like to hear? ...send 'em all our way to: [email protected]
Ignorance of cars is co$tly. Gritty Tacoma car culture. Japan & Korea love gasoline cars. Pioneering engineer Salihi modified Chevy.
Basic knowledge of cars can save $$. Trivia not trivial. V8 swaps can be a grunty & fun fix for an old Jeep. Griot's hosts Corvairs, Skylines, Panhard, Lucid, VW & more. Regulations making cars disposable & costly. Was there a sweet spot in technology & reliability 20 years ago? Jalal Salihi engineered GM's first modern EV in the early 60's.
9 feet of mountaintop snow in a DeLorean. Fuel options that make sense for humans. Ford CEO blunt comments on Chinese cars and EV losses. Honda & Suzuki idea for glorious 13,000 rpm Range Extender Sports Cars.
Snowcats produced by DeLorean (and diesel fuel) are keeping our phones working! Fuel choice is important even for cell towers. Ford's CEO Jim Farley praises the Chinese Xiaomi SU7 he drove for months. Ford also admits EREVs are more useful & profitable than EVs for America. What if a range extender engine was a spine-tingling V8 or rev-happy Hyabusa alllowed to rev under load using creative software, and an optional "sound mode" to attract gearheads like us?
Honda & Nissan merger off. How both brands grew in USA. Scout & Honda plan direct sales like Tesla and Rivian to attract new generation of buyers.
How will Nissan cope now that Honda merger called off? Scout and Honda plan to introduce direct sales channel for new brands as Tesla has proven successful. Reducing order complexity helps buyers and producers.
Rebroadcast: Japan trip. Ups & downs of owning business. Honda, Suzuki, Nissan & Yamaha. When to give up DIY & see a mechanic.
Bill getting back to form after Europe trip. Don's trip to Japan for family and visiting Daikoku, Honda, Suzuki, Nissan & Yamaha: pragmatism & perfection on display. When is it best to quit a DIY procedure and visit a real technician? We love to hear from you! [email protected] Rant, Rave or just say hello!
Toyota not perfect. Subaru CR darling. Don't lose focus when buying. Tesla pushing envelope for other OEMs. Hyundai & KIa engines.
Listeners from Djibouti to Jakarta. Bill's customer squeezing every mile from reliable Sienna, but even Toyota can have teething problems with new engine. Lesson for buyers? Subaru slow evolution of same platform scores Consumer Reports #1 reliability rank. A cheap used car won't fundamentally worsen your life, but a cheap neighborhood will. Get a pre-purchase inspection to avoid expen$$ive hidden problems. Corrections? Rants? Raves? .....doesn't matter! We love to hear from you! [email protected]
Rescuing Dodge, Ram & Jeep with V8?. Beware flood cars! Edison Motors & EREV. Chinese parts sneaking in.
Can a late pivot to EREV save Mopar and inject missing soul? Disposable cars and flawed parts are frustrating the process of repairing. Chinese cars like Buick Envision, Lincoln Nautilus and Polestar are sneakily creeping into the US market. Driving an EREV 100 miles with no motor oil is fine? Aftermarket adapters are not safe.
5 year anniversary! Sticker pack sign-up contest. $940k decision. Fatality rate by vehicle: Hyundai. Corvette. Unintentional co$tly damage.
Fatality rate per vehicle has little to do with safety ratings. Cheap Hyundai & costly Tesla, Porsche and Corvette are notable. Unintentional damage by owners is costly. Why driving habits will cost $$. Pocket $940k in savings with one decision. Why oil changes are more important than they were 25 years ago. Send an e-mail to enter Cars The Podcast sticker pack contest! [email protected] We love to hear from you. Both ideas for discussion & criticisms welcome! Please 5-star rate & review us at Apple Podcasts
Sensor(y) overload. Toyota success path. Harley V-twin as generator? Tesla opens network to more OEMs.
Bill sees the unintended consequences of relying on sensors. Chinese parts and cars infiltrating. Scout blazes trail with ICE generator option, and 80% opt for it. Toyota rocky road to success today. Could a revvy, loud, lopey V-twin serve as generator in a roadster to instill soul and emotion?
Warranties pitched by washed-up actors? Flood cars sneaking into market. New Camry vs old Mercedes in real $.
Aftermarket warranties a bad bet? Good, fresh oil more critical than ever despite advances in engines. VVT, turbos, GDI and low-friction rings are picky. Are new car prices actually out of line relative to the 1980s? Ford, GM, Honda and more backtrack on EV plans. We love to hear from you! [email protected]
Benevolent dictators and Tesla create great ideas! OEMs not supporting older models with parts. EV road trips still suck. WagonFest
Model T. MINI. Beetle. Cybertruck? Iconic products rarely spring from focus groups. Reason #996 not to buy any all-new model. All non-Tesla public charging is still a hot mess. Flight to quality a response to high repair costs & long waits? We love to hear from you! [email protected] Topic ideas, questions and criticism all welcome!
Rebroadcast: Don't let dealers run up your budget. Needs vs wants. Seek a good mechanic's advice. Where journalists misread buyers. Upgrades can bite you years down the road.
Dealers are eager to maximize what you "qualify for"; That is not your objective. An experienced mechanic is worth consulting before a car purchase. An upgrade can shock you later with high replacement costs.
Japan 2024 trip. Daikoku, Honda & Suzuki. Pragmatic, weird, funky cars. When to take a DIY project to a pro?
Bill getting back to form after European week away from shop. Don's trip to Japan's favorite car meetup spot in Yokohama. Simply be being practical & pragmatic, Japan stands in contrast to America's overly indulgent car market. When should you tackle a repair yourself vs when to call an expert. We love to hear from listeners! Comments, critiques & corrections welcomed. [email protected]