Cars The Podcast

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! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com  Topic ideas, questions and criticism all welcome!

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.

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.

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Bill's impressions from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, France & UK car scene. Why differing uses dictate car and energy types in America. Warranties profit from irrational fear.

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Average age of cars has gone from 7 years to 12 years since 1984. Owners encounter issues they've never seen. Ram Ramcharger: a locomotive for the highway? Engines like Ford EcoBoost are powerful but complex.

Real investments appreciate. Complexity and regulations conspire to make many vehicles worse. EVs have positives but OEMs struggle to profit.  Tesla inks deals with nearly every maker to standardize charging.

Guidance for those curious about automotive careers. OEM Satellite tracking without permission? Layoffs at Dodge Ram Jeep Chrysler.

Dealers are eager to see what you "qualify for". Your task is to satisfy your needs with minimal cost. Flashy new models and features pale quickly when problems arise ...an experienced mechanic can help you choose wisely. Upgraded brakes may come with upgraded profit margins for the dealer's parts department.

Please reply with any factual corrections (or harsh criticism for that matter!)

We love to hear from you, and will call you out for anything constructive you offer.

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Olympus Rally: Racing through our woods since 1973 with a WRC legacy. Taking Silent Generation parents in a self-driving Waymo car. Hydrogen Highway progress in Arizona and California. Etiquette rules at the pump & EV charger.

Real car guys are like real estate investors - savvy, not impulsive. Actual running costs for EV vs petrol in the Pacific Northwest using residential electricity. Japan is only 2% EV. Pragmatism? Honda Prologue a true Honda?

Bill's guidance for those curious about automotive careers. Local families rocked by senseless abuse of traffic laws. Muscle cars banned from meets in Texas. OnStar was caught tracking GM drivers allegedly without permission. Uncertain future leads to layoffs at Stellantis.

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Magnussons get a laughable lowball on their Chevrolet Volt. Trips to Glacier National Park and Japan's automotive heartland. Suzuki, Honda, Toyota, Nissan Kei cars. Tribute 1967 Mustang Terlingua.

Car prices are escalating as fast as repair costs. Does Ram have the ultimate EV truck - carrying its own powerplant? Some carmakers have trouble building proven mechanical components. Vehicle choice legislation.

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Can cars be the biggest money issue in your life (& easiest to solve)? Serious cold weather EV charging issues persist. Cybertruck reveals some serious engineering under its paintless skin. Gasoline proves to be a valuable complement to electricity! 

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Pitfalls and pluses of cold weather EV usage. Gasoline proves its irreplaceable benefits. "Free" charging is a negative. Cybertruck appearance distracts from its serious benefits.

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A good diagnosis saves money by avoiding unnecessary repairs & parts. Tesla's NACS & Gigacasting adopted by Toyota. Unless your time is worthless, a reliable car beats a warranty.

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Used cars under $20k becoming rare. Inflation, interest rates and strike combine for higher prices. When a CEO employee makes more in a day than annual worker pay, does it dilute their argument? Opportunity for China and transplants? Should profits go to those who risked their own capital? 

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Addressing estimates as a consumer. "Toddler Test" and personal safety during EV charging is a real concern for both women and men. Dave Ramsey furthers confusion about the term "Car Guy".

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GM, Ford and Stellantis vs UAW. Are mandates dooming OEMs? Energy Secretary blocks public chargers for political event. Both frustrating and pleasant charging results.

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All comments & suggestions welcome!

Your mechanic can spot potential problems, but many issues with cars are entirely unpredictable. Interest rates, inflation and production have boosted inventories. How long will it last, and how will prices react? Multiple paths to make EVs palatable - Tesla seems to have a solution. Do Americans rebel when a radical change is imposed upon their lifestyle?

Bill recounts camping trip to Glacier NP; more makeshift RV repairs demanded. Don was treated to amazing hospitality in Japan. Toyota's own museum gives much credit to other OEMs. Japanese practicality takes long-term, strategic approach to electrification. Can US learn pragmatism, too? Cool Mustang Terlingua tribute spotted locally.

Bill's decades of ASE Tech experience meets keyboard warriors online who suggest faulty fixes. Elon Musk hints at reversing course on his distaste for advertising: extortion? Industry is unclear about EV charging and Levels 1,2 & 3. Jeep FC adventure van proposal. Constant mid-year updates affect repairs.

Tesla's landmark deal (starting with Ford) for access to the Supercharger network and the NACS port - will this temper the costly need for L3 public charging? Journalists who claim that dealer markups on popular models tarnish the brand may need to attend business school. Will the ID Buzz mark a Sea Change in the perception of vans?

Is it ever financially justified to trade in your old car? Rust, condition and parts availability all factor in the decision. OEMs losing billions on EV programs. Tesla signalling that they dictate pricing for entire car market.

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If car engineers had to be mechanics, repair time and costs would fall. Olympus Rally had great variety (Lexus IS stickshifts, Ferrari-powered WRX, 1969 AMC AMX, BMW 2002 and many more). Used car prices simmer, but low inventory will prop it up. Can OEMs keep losing tens of thousands on each EV for long? Is perfect still the enemy of good?

Metal thieves discover copper EV charging cables will bring $ while ruining plans for travelers. Do road trips in EVs always involve conflict? Are OEMs misunderstanding the Tesla appeal (much like the Corvair attempt to battle VW in 1960?). Ford CEO Jim Farley boldly reports the losses in their EV division that the ICE division is having to subsidize. Why are many EV advocates opposed to alternatives that still can cut fuel use +90%?

We love to hear from you and learn from your thoughts and suggestions!

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RAM and Toyota's adherence to ICE may pay dividends as they electrify their fleets. Did GM accidentally invent Voltec by towing a generator behind an EV1? Don't let outdated notions and terminology cost you more as you maintain your vehicle. New concerns and issues have replaced once-common problems of the past. No need to fix the entire laundry list of repairs your shop provides you.

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Deferred maintenance can cost you time, money and undue wear. Examples galore. Tesla uses their thick margins to cut prices and apply pressure to entire industry. Bill discovers manic drivers exist elsewhere. Don discovers being frugal can be dumb. Chevrolet applies some lessons from Volt to new E-Ray AWD.

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Costs for rental & repairs drive insurers to cut checks for wrecks. Used car prices suggest little relief in near future. Public charging issues are being ignored by those in power making the decisions but not forced to live with them.

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Experience, education, tools and knowledge are costs built into any diagnosis for your car. Don't waste time throwing parts at a problem. Avoid the mistake of replacing perfectly good OEM parts with inferior aftermarket parts.

Do other OEMs see that part of Tesla's advantage is their lack of hard-sell, cringey marketing? Will anyone ever challenge their huge public charging headstart?

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Services like Carfax provide great timeline and mileage data, but won't report all the issues you want to know. Depreciation affected by shortages - some vehicles like Wrangler, Cayman, 911 & RAV4 actually appreciated the past 3 years. Ford pulls trick move on pony car rivals?

Did Ford underestimate Lightning popularity and cost? Toyota and Koenigsegg display prowess with PHEVs and Range Extenders yet get pilloried by extremists: Fair? Relevance of warranties, both OEM and 3rd party. Whose fault are repairs after years of use & abuse? Insurers look for any excuse to shirk responsibility. Both GM and Hyundai Kia experience oil burning claims. Bill's recent examples show why even extensive repairs are preferable to the cost of a replacement vehicle now.

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No matter where you live, watch out for cars that have hidden water damage from several states away. If you happen to get salt on your car, what should you do? It's easy now to total a car by getting a simple but obsolete module wet. Never buy as much house or car as the bank allows - only purchase what will satisfy your need.

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Bill spots some light at the end of the parts shortage tunnel. Do Plaids and Lucids and Rivians actually take pressure off traditional OEM's horsepower wars? Toyota, Chevy, Ford and Ram durability is welcomed when vehicle pricing and repairs are inflated. Rare, low mile, 4x4 diesel 90's Nissan fire truck from Japan makes a compelling 2nd car.

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A look at two car events with massive turnout. Who says car culture is fading? Is it time to buy a "forever car" with an ICE powertrain? EVs have major pluses, but also unavoidable downsides. Why can't we let people choose what suits them best? Does Longer, Lower & Wider always win the beauty contest?

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Repo mania as values and interest rates climb.

Hypothetical $5k used car reality?

Is it fair of OEMs to scapegoat their franchised dealers for responding to a free market? Do $20 million salaried CEOs have the moral authority to berate small business owners adjusting to supply/demand imbalances?

Tesla's vertical integration allows them to respond to market signals overnight (and to price accordingly).

Bill describes a multi-state RV detour to avoid California's high diesel prices.

Jeep has a surprise hit: the PHEV 4XE models that outsell any other plug-in hybrid in the USA.

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Bill stumbled upon an easy fix to Duramax diesel woes on 3,000 mile towing trip. American simplicity of the pushrod V8. The rush to all EV is overlooking the brilliance of PHEVs and the complementary benefits of having both in a vehicle. Stellantis and Toyota's stubborn adherence to internal combustion is gaining traction amongst others in the industry. Public EV charging pitfalls are being ignored by those who are making decisions but not forced to deal with them.

We go over some of the most commonly promoted and hyped cures for gaining more efficiency from your vehicle. High oil prices are luring scammers and snake oil salesmen from their hibernation of the past decade.

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Bill preps for summer RV tow to mountains and desert. Can gov't pass gas tax relief while pushing EV cars? Long waits and car rental expenses force insurance companies to cut checks. 

Bill and Don defend living in a scenic high-cost area, but grumble about funding mobile meth labs. All the good cars are now taken, so finding a good used one takes extra discernment. 

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Bill and Don give USA and GenX perspective on VW past and future with ID Buzz and now Scout : attempts to capture Rivian, Tesla and Ioniq market. Ford CEO Jim Farley - welcome to podcasting! Coast Guard advises against ethanol mix for boats.

Beware many used cars concealing serious problems. Russian military suffering from deferred maintenance. Could a gas range extender in an EV pickup be the panacea? Are state EV mandates helpful?

Just in time for camping season, Bill offers some practical advice for RV buyers fresh off a purchase and a 4,800 mile tow. Advance preparation and some cool modern tech can prevent a vacation disaster. Wifi and remote access can make camping even more comfortable than home.

Old-school 4x4s coming out of the woodwork for fun and $$. Tesla boosts prices twice after seeing no lack of demand. High car prices bolster the need for proper, long-term repairs. OEMs create hurdles to independent shops accessing proprietary data.

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Maintenance may seem cheap vs thousands in repairs prevented later. Wrangler 392 spurs V8 swaps into earler Jeeps. VW ID Buzz may reignite the van market.

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Bill and Don discuss reasons for mechanic shortage and why it may be the right career path; Changing landscape of best-selling vehicles across the US. Companies that are slow to adopt new technologies are often smartest.

Bill's customer uncovers a legit vintage Chevelle SS396 stored for four decades. Jeep Wrangler steals PHEV crown again to the surprise of many. Vintage 70's pickups fetching six figures. Median new cars cresting $46k while used are nearing $30k. 

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Experience symptoms without any Check Engine Light? Many warranties are like a casino where The House always wins. Criticism of the CUV craze close-minded? Subaru: historically tight inventories bite them now.

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Both new & used prices blow up (and vary by region). Maintaining your current fleet will be money well spent for the next year or two. EV owners get real about hidden EV downsides.

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Age, materials and complexity of cars results in other parts getting damaged during repair and maintenance, despite careful work.

Whether it's a car you plan to buy, or one you own, identify and prevent expensive damage, either immediate or long-term.

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Tire rubber is black and squishy (and hides unique compounds!). Ford cries Uncle! with 200,000 pre-orders for the Lightning EV F150. Tesla flirts with more dynamic pricing and also opening charging network to other EVs. Lincoln Versailles hid proper goods under a snooty suit.

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Modifications have their downsides. Proceed with caution. Some carmakers struggle during shortage; others are advancing. Should the car industry enjoy the same free market pricing as housing does?

Topic ideas? Questions?

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Your mechanic will wince if you choose certain cars. Apple Project Titan rumors surface again. Will autonomy ever match human drivers' adaptability? Saab swan song spotted.

Top tips for storing vehicles that leaves them ready to run and well-preserved. Avoid wear, smells, rodents, insurance issues and more! 

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Top mechanics and good shops stay educated on the latest systems. If you can keep up as a consumer, you can avoid undermaintaining or overspending.

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Current scarcity no match for WW2. Does public EV charging pose a looming threat? Ford joins GM in the E crate motor game. Romance and sound of internal combustion in motorsport will keep it alive.

Toyota and Tesla chiefs downplay the speed of EV acceptance. Bill applies proper diagnostic techniques to vehicle with mystery issues. Popular, common vehicles prevent headaches on road trips. 

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Simple engineering often beats cutting edge. Explosion in car prices attracts shady actors. Parts shortage causes discontinuation of older line items. Van craze extends to AWD Japanese-market Kei-car microvans. 

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Era of disruption as Ford announces Blue Oval City in Tennessee. Elon Musk migrates from Palo Alto to Austin. Buyer scrutiny pays off as flood cars and rebuilds try to cash in on high demand. We love your feedback! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com

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Europe suffers both electric & petrol crisis. Car shortage is sharpest with vans now. Shouldn't EV market survive without subsidies? Tesla justifies its high valuation as competitors pounce. Radwood PNW.

LG and GM point fingers over EV fires. F150 buyers dig deep for reman turbo engines. Tips for getting the upper hand on car buying. Bill gives rare praise to Wolfsburg's finest.

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Pandemonium at End of the World event at Long Beach. Porsche and Toyota won't just roll over to EV hype. Insane car prices this year can be handled by careful shopping tips.

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Many of the best cars are now taken due to shortages, but keep a keen eye out for the hidden gems that pop up.

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Diesel pickups are efficient and capable, but costly. We find a rare Spartan II, a NeoClassic based on the 300zx from the 1980's.

Companies take on sellers of dangerous fake parts. Shortages predicted into 2022. We discuss an unspoken threat to buyers of BEVs. 

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Fresh posts on Instagram at CarsThePodcast.

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Brake advice to save long term. Hyundai pricing for Santa Cruz above Ford. Airless tires a cure for rubber prices?

Check Instagram for Car of the Week picks.

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Wrangler 4XE tops all others for PHEV sales crown. Hack a BMW i3 to force the petrol engine on? Bill heads to the Rockies with a 14,000lb backback. Gauges or Idiot Lights?

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Highlight and Misfits from the NW Concours D'Lemons. Why real car enthusiasts rarely buy new. If your shop points out expensive issues, we cover some that are better left unfixed.

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We lick our wounds from 110F heat, escape to the mountains & rivers, and discuss Ford's commitment to dominate and protect their niches. We continue to survey the fallout from the parts shortages affecting the entire global car industry.

We cover pros and cons of plug-ins and hybrids with our guest.

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Carmakers are wise to ignore buff book whining about top speed and panel gaps. James Dean 1955 transaxle fetches $382k. Look at your car's overall condition before major repairs.

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The worm has turned: Ford stops following Tesla by being proudly Ford-like. Jeep convinces skeptics that EVs are awesome at crawling. Carmakers would do well to listen to car BUYERS' needs instead of enthusiasts who whinge about 0-60 and panel gaps.

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Stellantis grants Jeep, Peugeot, Citroen, Dodge, Fiat, etc a 10 year stay of execution to justify their own futures. Parts backlog stymies shops and customers worldwide.

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Send us potential new recruit names. Lame and euphemistic puns are highly encouraged!

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!

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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!

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. 

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.

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Bill explains the increasing reliance on TSBs for diagnosis.

Confusion surrounding recalls and Lemon Law.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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 carsthepodcast@gmail.com

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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.

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 Visit our Instagram page carsthepodast. See pics of the studio, the shop, and local events here in the Shadows of Mt. Rainer

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 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.  

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.

Low Volume Vehicle Manufacturer Act finally signed!

Predictions from Bill and Don for the coming year in automotive, culture, business and life

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.

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.  

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???

Bill's tips and tricks for wheeling in the white stuff ...and making sure you return home!

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Expect sacrifices when altering from stock. Performance and refinement can be mutually exclusive unless you spend $$$.

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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.

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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.