Don Swier and Bill Magnusson help you extract the most value from your 2nd biggest asset, your car. Contact carsthepodcast@gmailDOTcom
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! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com Questions? Criticisms? We can take it! We'd love your rating and/or review at Apple Podcasts.
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,
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$$ive hidden problems. Corrections? Rant? Raves? Topic ideas you'd like to hear? ...send 'em all our way to: CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
Basic knowledge of cars can save $$. 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.
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?
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.
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! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com Rant, Rave or just say hello!
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$$ive hidden problems. Corrections? Rants? Raves? .....doesn't matter! We love to hear from you! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
Can a late pivot to EREV save Mopar and inject missing soul? Disposable cars and flawed parts are frustrating the process of repairing. Chinese cars like Buick Envision, Lincoln Nautilus and Polestar are sneakily creeping into the US market. Driving an EREV 100 miles with no motor oil is fine? Aftermarket adapters are not safe.
Fatality rate per vehicle has little to do with safety ratings. Cheap Hyundai & costly Tesla, Porsche and Corvette are notable. Unintentional damage by owners is costly. Why driving habits will cost $$. 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! carsthepodcast@gmail.com We love to hear from you. Both ideas for discussion & criticisms welcome! Please 5-star rate & review us at Apple Podcasts
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?
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
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. We love to hear from listeners! Comments, critiques & corrections welcomed. CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
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! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com comments, sugggestions, corrections!
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. CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
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. We love to hear from you! Suggestions, topic ideas and feedback: CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
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. We love to hear from you! Suggestions? Ideas? CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
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! We love to hear from you! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
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. We love hearing from you! suggestions? CarsThePodcast@gmail.com We love 5 star ratings and comments!
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. We love to hear from you! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
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? We love to hear from you! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
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". We love to hear from you! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
GM, Ford and Stellantis vs UAW. Are mandates dooming OEMs? Energy Secretary blocks public chargers for political event. Both frustrating and pleasant charging results. We love hearing from you! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com 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. We love to hear from you! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
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! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
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. We love to hear from you! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
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. Don and Bill love to hear from you! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
Bill stumbled upon an easy fix to Duramax diesel woes on a 3,000 mile towing trip. The rush to EVs is overlooking the brilliance of PHEV and the complementary nature of having both ICE and battery. Stellantis and Toyota's stubborn adherence to ICE is gaining traction among others. Public charging issues are being ignored by those in power making the decisions but not forced to live with them.
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? We love to hear from you! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
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. We love to hear from you! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com If you enjoy the topics please rate and review at Apple Podcasts
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. We love to hear from you! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
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. We love hearing from you! Suggestions, questions or just say hello at CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
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? We love to hear from YOU! CarsThePodcast@gmail.com
Is it fair of OEMs to blame their franchised dealers for responding to a free market? Do $20 million salaried CEOs have the moral authority to berate entrepreneur family dealers who've invested their own personal savings in a business that legally allows them to adjust to supply/demand imbalances? Tesla's vertical integration allows them to respond to market signals overnight (and 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. If you think it's fair to shame dealers (or unfair), we'd love to hear from you at CarsThePodcast@gmail.com We love arguments! We'd also love it if you could give us a 5 star rating at Apple Podcasts. Let us know how we can serve you better!
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.
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