Car Affordability Crisis questioned: Toyota vs GM. Canada allowing BYD, Changan, Chery, Geely, Great Wall & SAIC open access. Vancouver-bound soon!.We put hard numbers to the claims of car affordability. Best seller from 1981 to today's eqivalent. No comparison! Tell us why why we're wrong! Canada strikes back with low tariffs on Chinese cars. Are they harming themselves out of spite? We're going to the Vancouver Auto Show to catch consumer response. We love to hear from you (warts & all) Catch Joe's videos at FastCarsAndFreedom2 /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/39952790
Fox Body Mustang. From Indy Pace Car to Cop Notchbacks to 7-Up Fiasco. Serial owner drops facts. Why it matters for OEMs to have long lived nameplates and loyal fans.Serial owner of 17 Fox Body Mustangs (plus several Panther Police Interceptors) breaks down some highlights of this growing modern classic as it nears age 50. Ford holds on as Mustang fever goes through fat years and lean years. Honda, Toyota, GM, Mopar, Porsche, VW, Mercedes, Nissan and even Tesla learn lessons from an OG carmaker. Visit fastcarsandfreedom2 for Joe's videos celebrating muscle cars and pony cars. Send us your hate mail or love notes to CarsThePodcast@gmail.com /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/39682910
Fish out of water: V8 gearhead drives Cybertruck and self-driving mode, annoying fellow motorists. Why Charger and Jeep EVs don't connect with buyers, despite 75% energy cost savings.Avowed Muscle Car addict Joe drives Cybertruck through Seattle. He drives Tesla in self-driving mode confidently through busy gas station {backwards}. Why can't product planners see the disconnect between buyer mindset and the products they develop? We love to hear from you! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/39210455
Loud V8 drag boats a curse or a concert? Smashing teachers' cars punishable? Favorite type of automotive events. Is it OK to have different tastes in cars?We're taking the show in new directions and we'd love to hear ideas (& criticisms!) from you! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/39189230
New co-host Joe Black: Instagram, TikTok & YouTuber with questionable taste and a penchant for loud cars. Griot's Garage, Cape Cod and Santa Rosa.Introducing longtime car guy, serviceman, LEO, crisis intervention specialist, New England Accent Purveyor and Red Sox fan Joe Black. Please send questions, critiques, criticisms and topic ideas to We LOVE to hear from you! /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/38554555
Return from Summer Break. Exciting changes ahead. Request for listener email.After 6 years of podcasting, we took a long summer break here in the shadows of Mt Rainier. Look forward to new topics & full episodes soon. We want to hear from YOU at We want to cover topics you'd love discussed! /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/38362350
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! . We'd love your suggestions for future topics. Please take time to rate & review at Apple Podcasts! /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/37288800
Rebroadcast: 9 feet of mountaintop snow in a DeLorean. Ford's Farley flirts with ChinaWe'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.... /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/37065265
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! Questions? Criticisms? We can take it! We'd love your rating and/or review at Apple Podcasts. /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/36382380
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, /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/36120805
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$$ive hidden problems. Corrections? Rant? Raves? Topic ideas you'd like to hear? ...send 'em all our way to: CarsThePodcast@gmail.com /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/36018855
Ignorance of cars is co$tly. Gritty Tacoma car culture. Japan & Korea love gasoline cars. Pioneering engineer Salihi modified Chevy.Basic knowledge of cars can save $$. 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. /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/35705290
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? /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/35492595
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. /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/35300610
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! Rant, Rave or just say hello! /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/35092325
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$$ive hidden problems. Corrections? Rants? Raves? .....doesn't matter! We love to hear from you! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/34679940
Rescuing Dodge, Ram & Jeep with V8?. Beware flood cars! Edison Motors & EREV. Chinese parts sneaking in.Can a late pivot to EREV save Mopar and inject missing soul? Disposable cars and flawed parts are frustrating the process of repairing. Chinese cars like Buick Envision, Lincoln Nautilus and Polestar are sneakily creeping into the US market. Driving an EREV 100 miles with no motor oil is fine? Aftermarket adapters are not safe. /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/34542735
5 year anniversary! Sticker pack sign-up contest. $940k decision. Fatality rate by vehicle: Hyundai. Corvette. Unintentional co$tly damage.Fatality rate per vehicle has little to do with safety ratings. Cheap Hyundai & costly Tesla, Porsche and Corvette are notable. Unintentional damage by owners is costly. Why driving habits will cost $$. 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! We love to hear from you. Both ideas for discussion & criticisms welcome! Please 5-star rate & review us at Apple Podcasts /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/34334175
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? /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/34128301
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! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/33819474
Benevolent dictators and Tesla create great ideas! OEMs not supporting older models with parts. EV road trips still suck. WagonFestModel 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! Topic ideas, questions and criticism all welcome! /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/33441252
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. /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/33275532
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. CarsThePodcast@gmail.com /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/32686907
Bill's Euro trip - Tesla making inroads. Different Horses for Different Courses. Warranties? House always wins! Maintaining is cheaper than ignoring.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. We love to hear from you! comments, sugggestions, corrections! /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/32620742
Rebroadcast: Learn from our mistakes! Obsolete parts. Ramcharger a Goldilocks truck? Average car age at new high: creating new issues. Ford EcoBoost?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. /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/32285647
Rebroadcast: Cars aren't investments. $3,000 GMC taillights. $7,000 wraps. Ford losing $36,000 per EV. Tesla opens charging to nearly every OEM. Weather limitations.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. /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/32232542
Rebroadcast: Bill's career advice. DeLorean snowcat trip. Stellantis layoffs. GM OnStar tracking customers without permission?Guidance for those curious about automotive careers. OEM Satellite tracking without permission? Layoffs at Dodge Ram Jeep Chrysler. /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/31945162
Car buying? Media frenzy vs mechanic advice. Assess needs vs wants. Dodge veering off message? $4800 brake parts for Jeep!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. CarsThePodcast@gmail.com /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/31428052
Olympus Rally. Waymo driverless ride. Boeing and Tesla reports overblown? Pump and charger etiquette. Elon making life hard for Rivian, Ford & GM? Kei cars OK in Texas.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. /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/30994263
Running costs electric vs petrol. Japan slow to adopt EV: reasons? New & used car prices fell 4%. Don't let dealers push you into their inventory - car guys don't get duped. 25 year import law. A Honda made by GM?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? /episode/index/show/carsforlife/id/30910843