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 co

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.

Apr 26th, 2024 29m 12s

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.

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?

Apr 20th, 2024 33m 6s

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 career advice. DeLorean snowcat trip. Reckless and senseless Audi tragedy. RAM and Jeep cutbacks. Ford Triton part scarcity. GM OnStar suit.

Mar 25th, 2024 35m 55s

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 l

Rebroadcast: Glacier and Japan trips. Lowball dealer offers. Fuel costs EV vs Gas. Toyota museum, history and pragmatic values. Shelby Mustang Tribute.

Mar 10th, 2024 26m 18s

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 challenging parts & repair costs. Ramcharger: road locomotive? Hertz - Tesla. Timing chain woes. Aging car issues.

Feb 11th, 2024 34m 30s

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! Sugge

Dave Ramsey says sell your car! Cybertruck - hype or historical? Serious EV charging issues with cold weather and "free" charging.

Feb 3rd, 2024 30m 12s

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 electri

Dave Ramsey says sell your car! Cybertruck - hype or historical? Serious EV charging issues with cold weather and "free" charging.

Jan 25th, 2024 30m 48s

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? [email protected]

Rebroadcast: New Years Rewind. Bad forum advice. Tesla advertise? EV charging confusion.

Dec 31st, 2023 33m 40s

Avoid Parts Cannon repair method. Toyota copy Tesla plans. DeMuro destroyed warranties? Good looks trounce quality?

Nov 18th, 2023 34m 2s

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! [email protected]

48% car price increase since 2019 podcast debut. $10k per hour Detroit employee. Toyota RAV4 & Honda CR-V values. Strike aftermath. Car opinions shaped in early childhood.

Oct 28th, 2023 29m 2s

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 pro

Dave Ramsey "Car Guy"? Women wary of EV push. Tesla market share. Addressing repair estimates.

Oct 14th, 2023 27m 46s

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! [email protected]

UAW strike benefits Toyota, VW & Tesla? Hyundai V8 $40k! Jim Farley & Granholm EV road trip fails. Plugshare fails. Cool "63 Ford camper

Sep 23rd, 2023 27m 11s

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! [email protected] All comments & suggestion

Mechanics don't have a crystal ball. New cars are not immune to failure. Car inventories are up - temporary? EVs plateaued in their strongest US market - permanent? Car of the Week - Mitsubishi Pajero Mini

Aug 26th, 2023 31m 35s

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 pal

Japan visit. Glacier camping trip. Volt and Silverado lowball offers. RV build quality. Crazy Tokyo cars. Toyota museum. Shelby Terlingua Mustang.

Aug 12th, 2023 26m 18s

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 ele

Beware forum and YouTube advice. Diagnosis is paramount. Jeep Forward control van idea? Tesla ponders advertising. EV charging confusion.

Jun 24th, 2023 33m 40s

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 adv

Real Car Guys are savvy - not flashy. Tesla's deal with Ford and others over Supercharger and NACS access. VW ID Buzz. Markup$ will bolster a brand, not tarnish it. Used prices up 45%

Jun 11th, 2023 25m 45s

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 nee

Real Car Guys are savvy - not flashy. Ford first OEM to deal with Tesla over access to Supercharger and NACS port. VW ID Buzz revive microbus? Markups don't tarnish brands - they bolster them. Used prices up 45% in 3 years.

Jun 10th, 2023 29m 35s

Tesla's landmark deal (starting with Ford) for access to Superchargers and the NACS port - will this answer the costly need for L3 public charging? Journalists who say markups on popular models will "tarnish the brand" may need to go back to bu

Which dash lights to ignore. Can you ever justify trading in? OEMs losing billions on EV programs. Tesla dictating pricing due to thick margins.

May 21st, 2023 28m 57s

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

How would a mechanic design cars differently? Olympus Rally: Subaru with Ferrari V8. Used car prices down vs 2022, may not last. Mustang Raptor? Lose billions each year chasing Tesla? . Hyundai curbside EV charging ...obvious pitfalls ignored?

May 14th, 2023 11m 46s

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

Sell car "As Is" or perfect? 33% of consumers considering an EV. 11% of engineers believe current EV mandates are realistic. Throughput of petrol vs charging on trips. Ideology hampering consensus? Henry Ford asked pertinent question in 1900s.

Apr 30th, 2023 27m 46s

EV Oregon road trip hassles of vandalism, cable theft & charger squatting. Ford admit to losing billion$. Tesla success misunderstood by OEMs? ...VW analogy from history?

Mar 27th, 2023 29m 50s

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?). For

Ram REV and Toyota Prime have the magic formula for the future? GM Volt was accidentally discovered by towing a generator behind an EV? Prioritize repairs to maximize dollars.

Mar 6th, 2023 34m 19s

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. Ne

(audio fix) California Dreamin'. Stranded from delayed maintenance. Tesla price war rocks entire car industry. Corvette ingenuity. Toyota rekindles Prius.

Feb 5th, 2023 28m 30s

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 d

California Dreamin'. Stranded from delayed maintenance. Tesla launches price war and rattles industry. Corvette E-Ray. Toyota Hybrid and PHEV debuts. Ode to CarTalk

Jan 31st, 2023 28m 32s

Don't let delayed maintenance deflate your wallet, damage your car and waste your precious time. Bill discovers that manic drivers exist elsewhere. Elon Musk upends the entire new & used market with price cuts. Is this defensive, or does he sme