The Truth About Cars
TheTruthAboutCars.com
Last episode about 1 month agoLike the site it’s named after, TheTruthAboutCars podcast lives up to its billing by delivering exactly that: the truth about cars. Each week Managing Editor Tim Healey is joined by different members of the colorful TTAC writing staff to cover the news of the week, discuss industry trends impacting car shoppers, and even geek out about topics like their favorite cars of the ‘90s. Plus, each week we’re joined by an industry analysts to unpack the news of the week. Rich with commentary, this podcast promises the unvarnished truth about the latest new vehicle debuts, where the industry is headed and whatever new wheels the team has been testing. Subscribe today!
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Episodes (130)
How Will Trump's Win Affect the Automotive Industry?
The U.S. presidential election has been decided in favor of Donald Trump. We discuss how his administration will affect the automotive industry with Robby DeGraff from AutoPacific. Matthew Guy pops by to discuss work gloves and the controversy at Martinsville, as well. Find us at TTAC.com and wherever you get your podcasts. We thank Robby and Matthew for their time and Matt Posky for editing. Most of all, we thank you for listening!
Why Are So Many People Upside Down on Car Loans?
We discuss the state of auto financing with Edmund's director of insights, Ivan Drury, and then Matthew Guy and I discuss angle grinders and the latest from the NASCAR playoffs. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. We thank Ivan, Matthew, and Matt Posky for editing. Most of all, we thank you for listening!
The Surprising Truth About Used Car Prices
On this week's episode Tim chats with Karl Brauer of iSeeCars.com to discuss the return of sub $20,000 cars in the used car marketplace. As well, in our "Stuff We Use" segment Matthew Guy discusses his favorite tire shine products and what to look for when shopping. And as always we've got our NASCAR segment covering why Joey Logano is the luckiest NASCAR driver - at least in the past few races.
Here's How to Avoid Buying a Hurricane Damaged Car
Hurricanes have socked the Southeast lately, and with that in mind, we speak with Patrick Olsen from Carfax about how you can avoid buying one of these vehicles that's been flood damaged. Matthew Guy and I then discuss retractable extension cords and NASCAR playoffs after the Alex Bowman disqualification. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. We thank Patrick and Matthew, as well as Matt Posky for editing. Most of all, we thank you for listening!
Here's Why We're Skeptical About the Robotaxi
This week we speak with Guy Mangiamele from AMCI about what it's like to test Tesla's autonomous driving in the madness of Manhattan traffic. Matthew Guy and I discuss car-care kits ahead of the imminent arrival of winter, and then we get into the Big One -- the really Big One -- at Talladega and Michael Jordan's lawsuit against NASCAR. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. We thank Guy Mangiamele, Matthew Guy, and Matt Posky for editing. Most of all, we thank you for listening.
Here's What It's Like to Import Classic Cars From Overseas
We speak with importer and car dealer Gary Duncan about his long career of bringing cars from overseas to American shores. Matthew Guy and I discuss ratchet sets and Kyle Larson's controversial comments about NASCAR fans. You can find us at TTAC.com and wherever you get your podcasts. We thank Gary Duncan, Matthew Guy, and Matt Posky for editing. Most of all, we thank you for listening!
These Are the Longest Lasting Cars
We chat with iSeeCars.com Executive Analyst Karl Brauer about the longest-lasting vehicles. We also talk about garage fridges and the Bristol short-track shootout during the NASCAR playoffs with Matthew Guy. Find us wherever you get our podcasts. We thank Karl and Matthew for their time and we thank Matt Posky for editing. Most of all, we thank you for listening!
These Brands Make the Best Used Cars
This week we discuss the best used cars, in terms of reliability, with Alex Knizek from Consumer Reports. We also discuss smart garage door openers and the NASCAR craziness at Watkins Glen. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks to Alex, Matthew, and Matt Posky for editing. And most of all, thank you for listening!
On the Road With an Automotive Spy Photographer
Here's what it's like chasing down the cars the automakers don't want you to see just yet. We pick the brain of automotive spy photographer Brian Williams on how that side of the business works and how he gets the shots. Plus we chat with Matthew Guy about air compressors and a wild first weekend of the NASCAR Cup playoffs. We thanks Brain and Matthew, and Matt Posky for editing. Most of all, we thank you for listening!
Helpful Maintenance Tips You Can Use
This week we have Mike Herzing, host of Let's Talk Wheels, with us to talk about car care. He's a long-time shop owner and we pick his brain on all sorts of car-care and maintenance topics. TTAC contributor Matthew Guy joins me to discuss impact wrenches and NASCAR's regular-season finale at Darlington. That race led to heartbreak for one driver and another got into the playoffs with a little bit of luck. We thank Mike and Matthew and Matt Posky for editing. Most of all, we thank you for listening!
Here's How to Beat Dealers At Their Own Games
We speak with Lauren Fix from Car Coach Reports on how to get the best deal when car shopping. Then Matthew Guy and I discuss creepers for your garage and an interesting NASCAR win at Daytona. We thank Lauren, Matthew, and Matt Posky for editing. As always, you can find us wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening!
How One Group is Pushing Back on California's EV Mandate
This week we talk with SEMA about how the group is pushing back on California's strict EV push. Matthew Guy and I also debate Austin Dillon's penalty, madcap drama in Michigan, and locking pliers. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. We thank Karen Bailey-Chapman and Matthew Guy for their time and Matt Posky for editing. Most of all, we thank you for listening.
10 Percent of EV Owners Have Been Left Stranded
This week we talk with Colum Wood, VP of content at VerticalScope, our parent company, about a study run by sibling site AutoGuide. This study shows about 10 percent of EV owners have been left stranded -- but not for the reasons you probably think. Matthew Guy and I discuss TVs for your garage -- and the surprising reason why he has one. We also discuss Austin Dillon's jerk move at the Cook Out 400. You can find us at TTAC.com and wherever you get your podcasts. We thank Colum and Matthew for stopping by, and Matt Posky for editing. Most of all, we thank you for listening!
These Are The Features You Want on Your Next Car
We talk with Robby DeGraff from AutoPacific about the features new-car buyers want, and we discuss the torque wrenches we use. Tim then evaluates some made-up NASCAR mid-season awards. We thank Robby DeGraff, Matthew Guy, and Matt Posky for editing. Most of all, we thank you for listening. Find us wherever you get your podcasts and we'll see you next time.
Here's Why Teslas Are Being Traded In For Gas Cars
This week on the TTAC podcast we talk with Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at Edmunds.com, about why Teslas are being traded in for gas cars -- and hybrids. Matthew Guy and I discuss onboard-diagnostic tools and since NASCAR is taking time off for the Olympics, we dig into the off-track moves and rumors that take place during silly season. You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. We thank Jessica and Matthew, and we thank Matt Posky for editing. Most of all, we thank you for listening!
Here Are the Vehicles That Might Face the Most Recalls
This week, we chat with Karl Brauer from iSeeCars.com about which vehicles might see the most recalls over the course of their lifetimes. The top of the list may shock you -- or not. Matthew Guy and I also discuss overhead storage options for your garage before getting into the NASCAR Brickyard 400 -- yours truly gets on a rant about NBC and streaming, and I have some issues with NASCAR's in-race decision making. We both discuss Kyle Busch's run of bad luck this season and some other assorted topics related to the race at Indy, as well. We thank Karl, Matthew, and Matt Posky for editing. As always, thanks for listening!
Here's Why Tesla's Market Share Has Fallen as the EV Market Has Grown
This week we chat with Chad Kirchner, the VP of Content at EVPulse.com, about Tesla losing market share at a time the EV market is growing, and we also get into some other EV topics, such as Tesla boss Elon Musk endorsing Donald Trump for president. We also chat with TTAC contributor Matthew Guy about gas generators and his experiences watching NASCAR at Pocono. We also, of course, discuss what happened at Pocono last weekend. Thanks to Chad and Matthew, and thanks to Matt Posky for editing. As always, thanks for listening.
Here's Why Younger Car Buyers Are More Open to Chinese Cars
This week we chat with Robby DeGraff from AutoPacific about why younger buyers are more open to buying Chinese cars, despite privacy concerns. Yours truly was also at the NASCAR Chicago Street Race in person, so TTAC contributor Matthew Guy and I discuss that. We also talk about LED garage lighting. We thank Robby and Matthew for their time, and Matt Posky for editing. As always, we thank you for listening!
Here's Why This Journalist Saw the VW Investment in Rivian Coming a Year Ago.
It wasn't a prediction, exactly, but journalist Peter Ramsay from EVInFocus.com did some reporting last year that suggested executives were calling for Volkswagen to invest in Rivian. Recently, the Volkswagen Auto Group did just that. So we asked Ramsay about what he was seeing a year ago and that led to a wider-ranging conversation about corporate investments, acquisitions, and joint ventures, particularly between legacy automakers and EV-only startups. As always, TTAC contributor Matthew Guy stops by to talk about the Stuff We Use (extension cords, in this case) and NASCAR's overtimes in Nashville. We also briefly discuss Martin Truex Jr.'s impending retirement and preview the Chicago street race. We thank Peter and Matthew and Matt Posky for editing. And we thank you for listening.
Here's What It Takes to Be American Made
What does it mean for a car to be American made? We chat with Patrick Masterson from Cars.com about the company's 2024 American Made Index, digging deep into the data and the methodology used to compile the report. It's an educational look into how cars are built in this complex, globalized world. TTAC contributor Matthew Guy and discuss why you need a ratcheting wrench and which ones to buy, and then we go over the wet-weather madness that NASCAR experienced in New Hampshire, and we also discuss some off-track stories, such as Kyle Busch running his mouth about his future. Thanks for listening!
Why Did California Shut Down a New EV Program?
This week on the TTAC podcast, we speak to Christian Robinson, the Senior Director of State Government Affairs and Grassroots for the Specialty Equipment Market Association, about why California governor Gavin Newsome vetoed a bill that would helped fund consumers who wanted to turn their used cars into EVs. TTAC contributor Matthew Guy and I discuss brake discs/rotors and what happened when NASCAR went to Iowa. We also preview a deeper conversation we'll have in the future about Kyle Busch's, uh, future. As always, thanks for listening!
Here's Why Used EVs Are Dropping in Value
This week we chat with Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars.com, about why the value of used EVs is dropping and has fallen below that of used gas cars for the first time. TTAC contributor Matthew Guy and TTAC managing editor Tim Healey discuss rear diffusers for your cars and what happened when NASCAR went to wine country. Thanks for listening!
Here's What Life is Like As a Pit Crew Member
We chat with Bozi Tatarevic -- motorsport consultant, pit-crew member, and automotive journalist -- about what life is like in the pits. The pit lanes at racetracks, that is. Bozi has worked IMSA and NASCAR and he tells us all about it. Bozi has written for TTAC at times, and today we also talk about NASCAR and gear oil with TTAC contributor Matthew Guy. Thanks to Bozi and Matthew, and thanks to Matt Posky for editing. Most of all, thank you for listening!
The Best Cars for Teens
With graduation season in mind, these are the best cars for teens. We also discuss NASCAR's rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 and a wet 'n' wild weekend in racing. Plus, we chat about the best oil drains pans that we use.
Here's What It Takes To Stage A Major Street Race
NASCAR will be returning to Chicago this summer. The series hosted its first-ever street race in the Windy City last summer, and it will return for 2024. We chat with Julie Giese, the president of the Chicago Street Race, about what went well last summer, how to improve the event for 2024, and what fans can expect. Speaking of NASCAR, TTAC contributor Matthew Guy and I discuss Ricky Stenhouse Jr. throwing hands after the all-star event. We also chat about how to select the best oil filter wrench for you. Thanks for listening!