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)
Bang for the Buck Off Road mods. Pinzgauer Heater. Supply disruptions affect shops and stores.
Pandemic aftershocks still rock the parts world. Oil disruptions spur hoarding on the East Coast. Bill and Don detour off the road into worthwhile Jeep modifications. Send us your suggestions for topics, auto industry or otherwise. We love to hear from listeners! [email protected]
Beware of cars engineered for assembly, not servicing. Car events finally return to Northwest.
Some cars cost owners more due to repair complexity and frequent needs. Awesome car events of all kinds return after a long hiatus. Inaugural Car of the Week chosen from many worthy nominees. Podcast staffing needs persist - send referrals!
Bronco party crashing Jeeps in Moab. Pocket thousands by selling car yourself. Price explosions.
Bill and Don explore the reasons for the current global parts delays and automotive price frenzy. Take advantage of the seller's market. Ford and Jeep dealers revel in the offroading boom.
Washington bans new gasoline cars in 9 years? A look back at Unintended Acceleration. Lemon Law high hurdles.
State legislature forwards a bill banning internal combustion. Good intentions but flawed logic? A sober look back at the frenzy surrounding Unintended Acceleration and Lemon Laws. Visit us on Instagram!
Your phone becomes your car's touchscreen: never outdated. Recall and TSB confusion.
Bill explains the increasing reliance on TSBs for diagnosis. Confusion surrounding recalls and Lemon Law. Send us your thoughts! [email protected] Visit our Instagram page, CarsThePodcast
F150 Police Truck. Supply Chain disruptions cause rising prices. Real-world EV ownership perspectives.
Bill and Don's candid, unvarnished, first-hand experiences with public EV charging on long trips. Multiple factors affecting car and parts availability (and prices). Ford reveals their newest pursuit vehicle based on the F150 EcoBoost. We'd love to hear from you! [email protected]
Basics to preserve a daily driver. Everyone rushes to online auctions.
Pandemic spurs shoppers and dealers to online auctions. Liquid fuel and hydrogen still the best for heavy loads and long distances. Bi-directional EV chargers can help alleviate rolling blackouts. Bill and Don cover the WHY of regular fluid changes. We love your feedback! [email protected] Send along your own recommendations for support staff names! Hit up Instagram for updated photos.
Ford Maverick, Jeep Wagoneer, 4XE & 392. Maintenance Costs list Questioned
Jeep reveals Wagoneer after 3 decade hiatus. Baby Bronco sprouts a bed, and renewed commitments to Plug-In Hybrids. Maintenance Cost lists questioned and compared to Repair Costs. Unsolicited advice to simplify model lineups.
Cars: Not Disappearing - Just Morphing into SUVs. More help with guiding a teen's car purchase: Salvage or Cop Car OK?
Proper care and feeding of car batteries - even for long-term storage. Morphing trends in the car industry: Trunks going bye-bye, Shades of Grey here to stay, and sacrificing durability on the altar of efficiency. Creative solutions for helping a teen find a first car they can afford. Visit our Instagram page, carsthepodcast Please send Bill and Don your topic ideas or questions - we love to hear from you!
Hybrid F150 Powerboost saves freezing Texans. Helping a Teen find a first car.
Deep winter blackouts in the American Midwest make buyers appreciate liquid fuels. EVs have their place, but more as a complement than a replacement. Bill and Don discuss the thought process for helping guide a first time car buyer. Simple, sturdy, analog cars help drivers develop driving skills before Active Safety Systems stifle those same skills. Be wary of recommending a car that does too much. We love hearing from listeners. Please send us topic ideas, criticisms or questions to [email protected] Check out the local scene in the Shadows of Mt Rainier at our Instagram page, carsthepodcast
Coolant: Silent car killer: Don't let antifreeze total your ride (rebroadcast)
From the early days of the virus, Bill and Don go over the reasons not to overlook your cooling system, along with other winter tips to save money on your car. Send us your topic ideas, corrections, or even just a car question at carsthepodcast@gmaildotcom Please rate & review us. Visit our Instagram page carsthepodast. See pics of the studio, the shop, and local events here in the Shadows of Mt. Rainer
Cadillac for Gearheads. Also, Part 2 of things that destroy your car without even driving it
Cadillac happily betrays its future EV plans to roll out the CT5 Blackwing: A glorious 6 speed manual, 668hp V8 swan song. Preserve your valuable car by recognizing the damage that time, moisture, sun and inferior parts can do. Bill and Don go cover what happens to cars that sit and also tips to prevent them. Check out our fledgling Instagram page for images of the car scene in the Shadows of Mt Rainier
Football ignoramuses, Musk Mirroring and avoiding damage to car while it's parked.
Football no-nothings save brain storage for useful and useless automotive trivia. Carmakers chasing down an as-yet invisible market. Folly? Money-saving tips for preserving your car whether it's parked for the night or even for the winter.
Synergistic matchups in the car and tech industry. Sincha Clause in the shop.
Be thoughtful about what your car needs before scheduling it for service. Some tasks are ideal to tackle while the car is already in the garage. Plus, carmakers and tech companies team up to forge a path neither could navigate on their own.
Cottage industry bill invigorates boutique car builders. 2021 predictions
Low Volume Vehicle Manufacturer Act finally signed! Predictions from Bill and Don for the coming year in automotive, culture, business and life
They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To: Usually, with Good Reason
From gravity-fed fueling and magneto ignition decades ago, to modern cars with dozens of onboard computers, Bill and Don go over the rationale for increased complexity and what that results in for car owners today.
Mechanics know your secrets! Also, is Tesla worth 20x Ford?
Elon Musk tops the world's wealthiest list: Tesla is now officially a disruptor in the automotive segment. Save time and money by giving your mechanic a complete history of your car's previous repairs and symptoms. As always, a proper diagnosis with by an experienced ASE mechanic avoids unnecessary work.
Tesla: Tail that Wags the Industry Dog. Mustang Reboot? Pandemic Vans!
Are VW (and others) forcing EVs onto the market (as their dealers and consumers ignore the hype for their own benefit)? Cadillac franchisees abandon ship with $500k apiece as GM pushes radical makeover. Ford simplifies and consolidates public charging for the upcoming Mustang Mach-E. Elon Musk hints at opening the Supercharger network to non-Tesla EVs. Is this part of their massive market valuation? Stay-at-home orders are making roomy vans attractive as offices/mancaves/spare bedrooms. Next Big Thing???
Veering off the Jeep Trail -Snow Wheeling in the YJ: A Cure for Cabin Fever.
Bill's tips and tricks for wheeling in the white stuff ...and making sure you return home! Check out the new snow pics on Instagram at CarsThePodcast
Instagram. Carmakers strike a balance; Modifiications tip the scales
Expect sacrifices when altering from stock. Performance and refinement can be mutually exclusive unless you spend $$$. Visit our new Instagram page CarsThePodcast
Every mod has an upside and a downside. New Instagram Page!
Bill and Don cover the compromises the manufacturers achieve to make their product idiot-proof. They also go over attributes you can enhance with modifications, as well as what shortcomings you can expect. Elon Musk's multi-billion dollar tax-planning moves, Long Beach Peninsula's missing car event and our new Coyote mascot are also discussed. Visit our new Instagram page at CarsThePodcast
Experience vs Book Smarts; Buying a Half-Done Project
Some people have lifelong mechanical curiosity, accomplishments and aptitude. Others excel at tests, but lack basic understanding of how things work. Bill and Don also hash over potential solid picks for a project car. Taking over someone else's incomplete project can be awesome.
F150 PowerBoost. GM EV madness. Olympus Rally reboot.
GM bets its future on pure EVs. Ford unveils clever hybrid pickup for both campers and contractors. Technology and this year's restrictions have changed the face of racing and sports worldwide. Bill details the fine-tuning and finesse needed for good driveability.
Hall of Shame
Car designs that are ill-conceived, notorious or best avoided. Before buying any model, always check the forums!
Offroad Project: Jeep, Toyota, Ford or Pinzgauer? Pros and Cons
Aftermarket support and community knowledge should factor into your choice of vehicle. We also cover the mods that provide the biggest gains for the buck when travelling off the beaten path.