The Thing About Cars
Mickey Desai
Last episode about 2 months agoWe're just people who really geek out on cars. We like to drive cars, fix them, and admire them. We're here to have as much fun as we legally can with other car enthusiasts. Come along for the ride.
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Episodes (259)
Playing with Hot Wheels with Mike Zarnock
We speak with Hot Wheels historian and brand ambassador Mike Zarnock about all things Hot Wheels. We learn about the origins of the coolest little cars, the world record for loops, how the cars are created, how passionate collectors can be, and we even have a look at the Hot Wheels coloring book! Mickey wants a Hot Wheels track that runs all through his house, Dave is feeling butch, and Ben has happy memories. Get out those Hot Wheels cars and play with them! We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
Peanut Butter and Tire Sammiches, Oh My!
The crew starts with culinary bravery- what don't you want in YOUR sammich? We welcome Greg Barner back to the table to discuss tires. Is Goodyear's new sustainable tire as good as it sounds? What about Michelin's airless tire? Will Mickey's fat ass fit in a 350Z? Misty is still moist and Dave wants to try the pine schnapps- just don't let him drive the RV when we go to the 24 Hours of Daytona next year. Yelotus is back on the road and Ben couldn't be more chuffed about it! All this and find out what questions we'll be answering in an upcoming episode. We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
Good Wishes And Duct Tape
Mickey generates his own susnspots! Dave and Jay from The Auto Authorities podcast join us to tell us all about their iAtoAgent business for being your agent to buy cars. What cars are always in demand? Have we found our new theme song? Misty has a thing about things that start with F.
Don't Deny The Fun!
How much intelligence is required for defensive driving? Misty is no longer contemplating sewing underwear for her cats but still has a serious grudge against Ford. How much charge can you get from an electric Dodge Charger? How much cheezy fake exhaust-noise does it need? Does Mickey need a muscle-car or an SUV? Tune in and be offended!
Shortest Episode Ever!
Dave sounds phlegmish and has BeeGees in his carburettors. Do you really need those BG services that dealers offer? Should you kiss your mechanic? Misty rants about Dutch Mazda dealers. Tim's rental car REALLY wants him to BRAKE!!! And just what the heck does Escalade mean anyway? This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
Flying Cars and Wienermobiles, Oh My!
Film-maker Scott Hardie made a documentary about Paul Moller, who has worked for decades to make flying cars a reality. Is Moller a genius or a crackpot? Are flying cars still 15-20 years away, as people have said since the 1960s? Misty is still moist and worried about her family's gene-pool. We park in gear, but wonder if our warranty will cover it. Bollard carnage ensues. We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
Don't Take The BatMobile Through The Drive-Thru
Guest Paul Sher talks about his work with movie and TV cars. How much fun is it to drive the A-Team van? Paul tells us! He also tells us how perfect the Mach 5 is for L.A. traffic, how K.I.T.T. can get you into places, chicken heads on Ferraris, and why it sucks to drive a BatMobile. Dave's childhood is validated, Mickey can't ask that question, and meatballs become weapons. We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
Sam Fiorani!
The man who knows all about all the cars. We are visited by Sam Fiorani, who has a background as an automotive salesman, author, show judge, industry forecaster and museum board member. We find out how to make a profit on an Austin Healey in less than a week. How does the automotive industry find out who is making how many of which product and when? Who makes the motors in today's hybrids and EV's? What does the ICE to EV changeover curve look like? What are the strangest doors ever seen on a production vehicle (hint: it's not Lamborghini.) What is in the Boyertown Museum of Historic Automobiles? Did Maytag make both appliances and cars? Why might one need OEM assembly line booties? In trivia, we find out about flip-up headlamps. All this and more... We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
I'll Tell You In a Second - Roadtrip Edition
Dave has a special challenge for us because he missed us all horribly and trivia asks us when the rumble seat last graced us with its presence. Dave threw down the gauntlet asking the gang to put together their very own roadtrip movie! Each submission would be scored on: The car and why that car The trip - Starting point, route, and destination The co-star and why? What's the point of this trip? Bonus - unexpected plot twist Ben leads off with 2 questionable (according to him) submissions. First he brings a 007-ish satire comedy through the US and follows up with a coming of age roadtrip through the US. Dawn had a slight misunderstanding, so showing her amazing ability to pivot, gives us an off the cuff Porsche flavored spy/romance cliffhanger begining with a high school reunion based in Europe. Mickey wrestled for a WHOLE 36 hours to deliver a Miami to LA race with a very special twist. Misty draws on her love for Egypt, Brendan Fraser, and The Mummy for an epic drive from Europe to Cairo with a brief segue into why The Mummy is a true love story for the ages, followed up with a book review about women and data bias. Who won? Listen and find out!! We take a strange turn into cyberpunk/steampunk DnD with a cyborg Henry Ford before finally finding out which auto was the last to have a rumble seat. And a delightful time was had by all. We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
Those Darn New Cars!
Gen-Xers complain about left lane bandits and new car features. After some exhaustive research, Ben lets us know which vehicles are most likely to be Left Lane Bandits and slow us down in the fast lane. The gang relates their tales of woe regarding newer vehicles and their safety features such as lane departure warnings and corrections, virtual overhead backup cameras, blind spot monitors, and reminders to keep your hands on the wheel. Misty tells us about the world's (or at least The Netherlands') smallest bagpipe parade and we wonder anyone will let us on TV. In trivia, we find out how to limber up our nylon parts (is it via yoga?) We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
Bonus Episode: Random Topics
A Blast From The Recent Past In this casually non-themed episode from a few months back, we do a poor job of foreshadowing already released The Abby K episode, then the gang meanders around some random topics to give us their take on: Flying Ferrari F1 cars at Imola, Italy. How can we do a racing series in Antarctica? Why can't Misty go out to her MX-5 and upgrade her bulbs to LED's? Off-brand gasoline: does it have anything in common with a smorgasbord and does that make it bad? How does Ben like his new to him Mazda 6? Is Mickey's newly found improvement in fuel economy due to using gasoline with a different octane rating or is it the manner in which he drove his car? Our trivia questions let us know: What was / is / will be GeVeCo service? What cars did / do / will come with a Vegan Leather interior? How many Nauga pelts are used in a typical Naugahyde interior? We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
THE Abby K
Abby K rocks our show. Professional rock singer and bassist Abby K joins us for this episode and we learn: Is she the sister of Alice Cooper's and Demi Lovato's guitarist Nita Strauss? Why does former TTAC guest Ricky Rachtman give her career advice? What kind of cars does an up and coming rock star have and why does Abby's daily driver need to be serviced by a NASCAR team member? What are the features of a musician's touring rig? What was the last new vehicle sold in the USA with a 4 barrel carburetor? Was it also the last vehicle sold with a cassette tape player? We wonder who can get Abby K a gig to play at the Daytona 500 or the Indy 500? Thanks for listening! We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
Bob Hall, Part 2
More Miata Madness: As we continue with Bob Hall's history of co-designing the original MX-5 Miata, we find out: What car Bob refuses to design in the future. Why "Designed in California" is a positive message about a cars and other products to the global audience. Concept cars: why we see some in production and why some just fade away. What the difference is in marketing a car and selling a car. What does Miata mean? How certain market segments of car designs boom and then go bust as others market segments become popular. What will your future EV sound like, how will you charge it and where will that power come from? What lurks in a Volvo's underpinnings? What is Bob Hall's dream (Frankenstein) car and what are his literary aspirations? Thanks for listening? Shameless plugs: Minis, VTEC's, and Nashes, oh my! We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
Bob Hall: Co-Designer of the Original Miata
Much ado about Miatas: We are joined by Bob Hall, one of the founding fathers of the original MX-5 Miata. Among the unique questions that are answered: What pricing number is considered lucky in Japan and China? Why was the original Miata priced higher than it needed to be and why did the price point help Mazda sell more of them? How did Japanese car models in particular end up on a 4 year product refresh cycle? How much cargo can you fit in an MX-5? How simplicity adds elegance and profit? All this and much more in this first of a two part episode with Bob Hall. Shameless plugs: 1978 Toyota Corollas. 1960's Lotus', maybe all of them. Emma Peel. We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
Roses & Birthday Cakes
Sometimes we replace the cars we love. Ben reveals how he was involved in a multiple mangled Mazda mishap which led him to buying a new (to him) car. Misty misses her mate's Mazda and is not a fan of the replacement. Nissan's recent styling ideas are brought into question and Dave speaks up for them but wonders what their designers use for motivation. The gang ponders what's in a car name, and how the same car has different names in different countries. Misty invites everyone to The Dutch Moto GP in Assen. Is this because she is now on parole? This episode is brought to you by Mazda, Nissan, VW, Tesla and the letter "M". We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
A Tailgating Culinary Corner Short Stack
The gang discusses which vehicles sell best in the USA overall and region by region. The results then lead us to a journey meandering around: Which vehicles can haul and tow which items and where? Which vehicles are best for tailgating and what items could and should be brought along? If you are an American ex-pat and Thanksgiving is coming up, what items should you cook for your family and friends? We hope you enjoy this trivia-free episode! We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
Weird Dreams are Made of Cheese
Dreams, the demi-monde, a double header of trivia, dangerous Jeddah, and where in the world is Dennis' McLaren. Mickey starts off with his odd dreams, and Dave speaks fondly of weaponized silence and the demi-monde nightlife. Mickey hits us with a double dose of trivia. Misty cries foul on the Jeddah GP, and waxes poetic about Sebastian Vettel. We mark the passing of Sir Frank Williams. Dave wonders if Misty could ever lost the ability to speak and then meanders off in F-Land (no worries, it's still family friendly), while Mickey wonders how long it would take us to actually define all the classes in the FIA. Misty brings us the first edition of 'Automotive Mysteries' with the Curious Case of McLaren #039. Maybe the biggest mystery is why Ron Dennis would ever want that color? And again, nuns make a surprise appearance alongside Paddington Bear. Misty compares her BFF's new car Midge to Waldorf Salad and Ben suggests a photo shoot once losing body parts to frostbite isn't on the table. Shameless plug: YT VinWIKI - https://youtu.be/Yn742vmAbEA We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
Gettin' Racy with Phil the Anthropomorphic Bollard
We're all fired up today but the BBQ will have to wait. Grand Trivia Auto asks who first made cars in Japan. Dave wants to know what all the formulae in racing mean, Tim tries to explain it but we go down the rabbit-hole of engineering and competitiveness in different types of racing Misty confesses that Sebastian Vettel is cute and wholesome, and we get obsessive about a poor abused anthropomorphic bollard. A listener wants to know about the hold button and we manage to 'go there' about it. Ben wants the car that runs on Fruit Loops and makes a poor attempt to speak Japanese, which doesn't stop Mickey from being a Honda-fanboy. We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
All Things Ambulance & Pornographic Licorice
We are joined by our friend Spencer for a wide-ranging discuss of ambulances and the life of emergency medical providers. We kick off with a discussion of Sharena sol. We unbraid the Pontiac rope drive. And, we learn the real meaning of the Pontiac Fiero! We promised the link to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you need help, we will support you in finding strength and peace. #NationalSuicidePreventionHotline 1-800-273-8255 We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
Gaffney's Butt On A Stick
Our guest Liam tells us about his unique collection of British motor vehicles and a Mopar econobox; British car jokes abound.The gang tries to remember which Mitsubishis are Dodges, which other Mitsubishi is a Chrysler and which Chrysler Corp.'s cars are amalgamations of parts from yet other manufacturers. Apparently, if you know more about this than Mickey, you might get a free meal? Dave beguiles us with details of art and zeitgeist at MOMA's automotive exhibit last fall. Our automotive trivia question takes us to the General Motors origin story and how it has become a major franchise. We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
The Gear Grinding Special
Ben's on some really good back pain medication and advises us on how long to refrigerate our car parts. He also presents our trivia question pondering the meaning of Pantera - both the car and by the associative property, also the metal band. Dave is shocked to find that Pep Boys no longer carries fuses, or any other car parts besides tires & batteries. Maybe this is what is making him want to turn his Jeep into a U-Boat. Dawn is threatened by the over-aggressive driving of others on the interstate and notes that the number of traffic deaths has gone up recently. Mickey grinds his gears after suffering some light abuse and the gang ponders whether there should be a nanny device for high beam restriction. Mickey also threatens to share his internet search history so our intrepid troop gracefully exits... We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
Deutsche Klassik 2021
Mickey and Ben drool over some really cool German cars! We lament a lack of sausage and beer, discuss older and newer German cars, admire many of the ones present, get indecisive about which one we'd like to take home, but abandon our indecision to go find some schnitzel. It was an AUSGEZEICHNET day to admire some wunderschönste Deutsches autos! We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
Riding in Cars With Cats
Ford's Bronco Pickup, Mustang Mach E, taking cats on car trips. Carrol Shelby, Spokane, WA, Hagerty goes public. Mickey lets us know that Ford's Bronco Pickup version might be a miss while the Mustang Mach E might be a hit. The whole gang tells tales of taking cats on car trips. Ben relay's his sightings of rare and odd cars in Spokane, WA. Dawn and Ben report on some things you may or may not have heard about Carrol Shelby. Did Dawn really deter Dave from stealing a car at Italian car day? What are some of the most obscure motoring laws in the USA? Is Hagerty going to take over our show? Answers within! We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
Riding the world with Paolo
KTM Ambassador Paolo tells us all about his adventures traveling the world on two wheels. We hope he survives India! Misty wants to get violent with root-vegetables, and a listener question gives us gas but we'd rather have a limoncello. We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website.
Dave's Not Here, Man.
Clint, from the Car Space (formerly known as The Auto Riff) podcast joins us to talk about how he got sucked into cars and into podcasting. We talk about running boot, running things into houses, Japanese K-Cars. Dave preemptively apologizes for his distant Canadian relatives, then we all fall slightly in love with K-Cars. Clint shares his next steps with the podcast, disses the Sonata, and reveals that his current vehicle is the only one that he hasn't named. The McRib makes another cameo, along with their boon companion, the Fried Apple Pie as we possibly witness the birth of a secret society of shade-tree mechanics. Misty loses what's left of her sanity over the Monza Incident, along with suggestions of how to best settle the kerfuffle between Christian Horner and Toto Wolff. Mickey rants about parking an SUV in a space marked for small cars. Dave wonders about the specifics of what makes a 'compact car', and Misty delivers the facts. We welcome your support via Patreon and your questions and feedback via our website. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.