An Automotive Podcast for Automotive Podcasters

Being the largest auto maker has been VW's goal for the last few years and they claim they have moved up to number two, edging out GM. Or did they?

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But selling cars doesn't always mean profits. Ford and Fiat Chrysler seem to have figured out how to make money, even if they are far from the largest auto makers.

Tesla is surprising folks with its speed, including a Corvette driver at a drag race. Now the auto maker is looking to set a record, even if it is a questionable record.

VW massages its numbers

Snow has snarled the South. We can't blame anyone, but we can question, why it was so bad.

Apparently keeping all their old vehicles turns out to be expensive for car makers. We think that there are some better ideas for these.

And we have some other news. This will be the last GTSOTR podcast, as we look to create a new empire.

Research Says This Auto Podcast Is Attractive to Wealthy Drivers

We have a good debate about whether the U.S. government made a good investment in General Motors, as the Treasury sells most of its remaining stake, for a loss



There were several questionable "research" studies this week. The first claims that the government shutdown pushed used car prices lower.

This list is less questionable: Five vehicles that people in wealthy areas buy.

Do you think that a Tesla pick-up truck is reasonable. We debate it.

Apparently parking is at a premium, particularly parking spaces with plugs, and that is hampering adoption of electric vehicles.

According Audi's research, Americans don't even want electric vehicles, they would rather have diesels. Really?

Young people still want cars. Particularly ones they can customize. That goes against all the recent data we have seen.

Finally, the holiday season is coming and we both want a yacht pod. They are Italian. Enough said.

This Car Podcast Will Transport You Even If Your Badge Is on the Wrong Side

What do fewer sales days do to the monthly sales numbers? The make them much lower. That's what happened with September auto sales, but really it just looks bad.



Mercedes-Benz got a big boost from it's new sub-$30,000 CLA, selling 2,300 in it's first week on the market.

Does your car have a name? 

While the Mercedes brand carries weight, it's not as hefty or valuable as Toyota, which is the most valuable auto brand.

Telsa's valuable brand may have taken a hit with news that one of the Model S sedans caught fire right down the road from David near Seattle. No one was injured.

If you don't want your pooch to get injured, there is only one option among dog safety belts on the market.

The government shutdown has put the auto regulators in the pits, but at least Hyundai is giving those folks a break on their car payments.

Some Honda vehicle assemblers may soon be out of work after the auto maker found a bunch of Odyssey minivans with their badges on the wrong side.

Kids these days don't care about cars. They want multi-modal transportation options.

Finally, if your car has a name, you should have celebrated on October 2 along with Mathew and Guy.

This Podcast Will Drive Itself So You Can Snack Behind the Wheel

David is a purist who rarely eats behind the wheel, but Mathew admits to snacking in the car occasionally. When we do snack, we like pretty much the same things the most American's prefer when eating behind the wheel: Candy, coffee and fast-food.

Clever solution

Your cassettes are probably all going bad, but if you have a cassette player and an iPhone, here's an idea.

Those folks with i-devices might want to consider a Nissan if they want the best experience with new iTunes Radio.

Tesla is quickly shaking up the status quo in the auto industry and now they are promising "autopilot" for 90% of driving in just three years. We aren't surprised.

What about auto parking? That's already in many places and will soon be near enough that Mathew can give it a try.

Another technology that isn't coming fast enough for some groups is rear-view cameras, and now they are suing the DOT.

Fiat wants to avoid an IPO for Chrysler, especially because it wants access to the American auto maker's cash to fund its struggling European business.

Finally, GM has seen sales rebound, but now it has to try to lure the folks it gave great lease deals to four years ago when it killed off their favorite auto brand.

A Podcast About Old Cars, Old Buyers and 'Too Busy' Non-Driving Teens

Old guys usually like big old cars. But the Pebble Beach Concours is evolving from a pageant to a must-attend auto industry event. Next year we are going. Really.

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Boston's Red Sockets

None of the cars in this former dealers collection will likely make the lawn at Pebble Beach, but they might prove to be the wise investment he thought they would be.

Looking to shake off their old thinking, GM and Ford are turning to the tech folks in Silicon Valley. And spending money.

The super safe Telsa is a product of Silicon Valley, but it just because it's electric doesn't mean it's better for the planet than a Honda Fit.

Speaking of inexpensive small cars aimed at young buyers, it's actually older people who are buying them. But they are the ones buying most new cars overall.

That's because many teens are "too busy" to go and get their license. Which shocks us.

Developing a Seamless and Safe Connected Car Podcast

Cars are getting more connected, though drivers may be feeling less connected with their cars. David had a chance to listen to some industry luminaries discuss where they see things going for radios, data and distracted driving at the Connected Car Conference.

One thing that leaves many drivers disconnected is getting their car stolen, and vehicle thefts are on the uptick across the U.S., but particularly in agricultural areas.

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Jalopnik's map of the top selling new car by state.

Another dissatisfying experience is being had by folks related to their car insurance, which may relate to the amount of advertising that they are getting exposed to.

July 4th is the deadliest day for drivers in the U.S., and we explore the connection between hot dogs, apple pie, beer, fireworks and driving.

Many people will be driving to and from their 4th of July picnics and barbecues in a new Ford 150, according to this map created by Jalopnik. And the F-150 also took the top spot among American-made cars from Toyota's Camry.

That could change in the coming years as Tesla finds more support and success in change the way that people buy -- auto makers sell -- vehicles.

While This May Not Be a Golden Age for Cars, This Podcast Is High Quality

The latest new-car quality report from J.D. Power is out and while it's good news for most auto makers, including GMC and Porsche, it also sparked a discussion about whether this is a Golden Age for cars.

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A review of the BMW 2002 from the 1960s highlighted how diverse the market was.

But since we are griping over the quality of infotainment systems instead of quality or performance, maybe Apple will be able to sneak into the cockpit as auto makers look to develop competitive offerings.

One company that is on the rise is Telsa, and they had to issue their first recall, but they did with class and style.

A golden version of a BMW 2002 from the Golden Age of cars

Like Tesla, This Podcast Brand Is Practically Fully Charged

In this episode of the GTSOTR podcast:

Fiat is rounding up finding to buy the rest of Chrysler it doesn't own, but we think they will keep all the brand names intact.

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Rear-facing seats in a Tesla

Subaru is doing such a great job designing and selling cars which Americans want that it's running out of them.

We look at three automotive brands that could disappear in the very near future.

Tesla is brand on the rise and with its new supercharging stations, it's getting more practical. But we didn't realize just how practical the Model S it is.

The NHTSA is publishing some new regulations with the hopes of bringing some order to the autonomous vehicle development.

This Podcast Hopes 'Autodrive' Comes With Wireless Electric Cars

We continue our focus on electric cars and autonomous vehicles.

With the tax breaks and fuel savings, some electric car owners are finding their costs going down to zero.

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Tesla paid back its loan as it's stock soars and is started to battle state legislators -- and dealer lobbyists -- as it seeks to expand its network of retail outlets.

Wireless charging could help expand demand for electric vehicles.

A global study found that a majority of drivers are ready for vehicles that can drive themselves. Surprisingly, so are we as well as a group of legislators, but the benefits have to be explained better.

We Don't Need to Lower the Price for This Auto News Podcast

This episode of the podcast sparks discussion about:

Tesla's strong earnings, helped in part by t-shirt sales.

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You don't see as many Volt t-shirts, so GM is looking to cut the price of the plug-in electric by as much as $10,000.

Tesla jacket

That might make the proposed $100 electric-car tax in New Jersey more palatable.

Nissan is rejiggering its pricing because people aren't finding their cars when shopping online.

There is a group of vehicles that are in demand among people who don't have much money.

And here is a group of cars that probably won't be around on new-car dealer lots next year.

Toyota, Ford and Tesla Take on the World, and Virginia

We're trying out a new format this week, with quicker, shorter and snappier podcasts. Listen in to this episode for news and discussion on:

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Toyota hanging on to the global auto sales title yet again, topping GM and VW. But race is tight.

Ford posted big profits in the the first quarter of 2013, boosted by big sales in the U.S. while most of its other regions are struggling.

Tesla's stock hit and all-time high, even as it begins a battle with regulators in Virginia who denied it a dealer license.

Toyota Corolla, it's boring but it sells.

This Automotive Podcast Is Charged Up and Doesn't Fall Short

We have debated the viability of electric cars for a long time. Tesla's lovely and powerful Model S sedan has garnered some great reviews from the motoring press, but when the New York Times tried a real-world test that included the auto makers new high-speed charging stations, things didn't go so well.

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With fuel economy on the top of most shopper's list, car makers are looking at all kinds of ways to make improvements. Next up: plastic windows which might be too strong.

The cost of getting there on time.

We're obsessed with auto sales and with gasoline costs. If gasoline goes up one dollar in price, here's what might happen.


The Chicago auto show didn't have many new models or concepts, but there was enough to pique our interest. And Mathew -- thanks to his mom -- was able to peruse the Washington Auto Show in D.C. and snapped some photos that we will post.

Finally, another trip to the D.C. area proved costly for one driver but at least it didn't start like this.

This Fat Automotive Podcast May Explode Like a Counterfeit Airbag

Telsa and Toyota are experimenting with new ways to sell cars. Toyota has taken to hawking cars on the Home Shopping Network, while Telsa is opening stores in the mall. But Tesla's stores may be running afoul of dealership laws.

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Smart small cars are back

Fuel economy is on many people's radar, but they should start thinking about it when they sit down to meals. The U.S. obesity issue could run counter to efforts to increase fuel economy.
While people are getting bigger, small cars are in demand at levels not seen in 20 years.

Complicated infotainment systems are pushing car makers to launch call centers that drivers can ring to get help to learn how to use them.

Old people are probably using those services, but when they can't use the phone perhaps then they need  to consider giving up the keys.

Mathew says this air bag story is going to be huge. But David thinks it is a false alarm.