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.

A Podcast Where Car Sales Are Hot, But Prices Are Cooling

Our favorite time of the month, car sales, and it was a hot one in July with many of the big brands posting big double digit gains and very few stinkers, except Infiniti.

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As new cars sales have taken off, prices for used cars have fallen from the outrageous levels they hit in 2012.

Inside the BMW i3

Ferrari is actually hoping see sales decrease in an effort to shift profits into a higher gear.

BMW is looking got charge up its sales and boost overall fuel economy with the radical i3 electric vehicle.

Meanwhile, Ford is looking at the other end of the alternative fuel market with its F-150 powered by natural gas.

Finally, one used car that is getting some buzz is the very first Pontiac Aztek.

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

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.

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 Lost Its SmartKey at the In-Home Car Wash

The economy is coming back and car sales continue to hum along, with predictions for March sales looking good. One group of buyers, those between 24-34, are changing their preference from mostly Japanese brands to more Korean and American brands.

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Those young people are usually the most expensive to insure, and we look at the most and least expensive states for car insurance. One factor affecting insurance costs: lawyers. Insurance costs might be going up in Nevada, where some questionable folks are staging scam car crashes.

The government hoped to make electric cars safer for pedestrians, but car makers are saying the volume they want on the safety sound is too loud. In other electric and hybrid car news, the Mayo Clinic found they won't affect pacemakers.

Don't leave the car without it. via MSN

Someone on the Secret Service is probably having a heart attack after the wrong type of fuel led to a breakdown of President Obama's limousine.

Fuel savings is a big deal for big trucks and fleets, and now some are considering natural gas as a potential fuel, while others are working to make big rigs lighter and more efficient.

While this home car wash won't save much money, it is pretty cool. Audi's new super LED headlights are hot, so hot they are illegal in the U.S. Finally, keyless entry for cars is convenient, but also has the potential for other follies.

This Automotive Podcast Is Not Distracted by Tepid Car Sales or New Taxes

There were no surprises in February auto sales, nor is it surprising that a recent study supported by Zipcar found that phones are more important to young people than cars.

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While in Florida, David spotted several rare Chevrolet Captivas, which are selling well enough to get a refresh. But that's not a vehicle which would help improve Consumer Report's brand rating, which was released and the Japanese brands did the best, as usual.

Infotainment systems were some of the reason that American brands didn't do well. But GM is hoping that adding 4G services will help drive demand.

That might add more to the average cost of a vehicle, which according to one study is already more than most people in the U.S. can afford. Speaking of costs, the loss of gas-tax revenue is enough that states like Oregon are looking to charge more taxes for electric vehicles. That might be enough to dent sales, but probably not as much as the bad NYTimes article did to Tesla.

Speaking of bad news, Hyundai and Kia are looking to settle all the outstanding lawsuits related to their  sloppy fuel-economy numbers.

New parents, specifically moms, are the most distracted drivers. Teens are probably second on that list, and that might account for an increase in teen driver deaths.

Finally, Los Angeles is synchronizing all of its traffic lights to speed people along and save energy.

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 Charged-Up Automotive Podcast Is Lighter Than a Cardboard Bicycle

The auto industry is having a good year, but that may not last. We look at some of the things that keep auto industry executives up at night and the global industry outlook for 2013.

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Mercedes-Benz and BMW are battling for luxury-brand sales supremacy in the U.S., but Audi may be the brand which tilts the tables.

Cardboard bicycle

The Volt is gaining traction in the marketplace, and apparently at public charging stations. But with success comes some attention and a Volt recall sounds pretty scary to us.

A new gizmo deploys countermeasures to thwart traffic cameras, but will probably be made illegal before it hits the market. Another new technology allows Apple's Siri to start your car.

An inventor has designed and built a cardboard bicycle that is light and cheap, but probably not comfortable.

Finally, one blogger has written a classic rant against all the things that bad drivers do which make good drivers crazy.

This Is the Most Compatible Driver-Assisted Automotive Podcast

Great weather and perhaps a rebound in consumer confidence helped push up car sales in August. Toyota and Honda posted eye-popping percentage gains compared with a miserable last year when inventories were constrained by the effects of the Japanese earthquake.

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The amount people paid for a new car in August.

Here's a look at the best and worst selling models in August, though there is some debate about the top-selling car.

It's not surprising that most of the worst are very expensive, but we're a little surprised that the average new-car transaction price continues to climb.

One thing that is driving sales is pent-up demand, and perhaps a desire for new driver-aid systems, according to a new study. That sparks a discussion about what is safe to do when you are behind the wheel. Drink? Text?

Well, if you are driving bring along a friend to do your texting.

We've talked about how people are keeping their cars longer, but a lack of skilled auto mechanics means we will hope that those cars are built to last without attention.

One thing the mechanics of the future will need to deal with is a bunch of incompatible electric-car charging plugs.

Finally, the LA Auto Show wants to get some designs for the highway patrol car of the future.

This Automotive Podcast Is Hefty, But Not Obese

Car sales are back and they are confusing. While things didn't look as good as they have, the reality is that there were three fewer selling days. Still, most brands posted gains and the annual sales rate continues to rise for 2012.

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David has been doing some more intense car shopping and while a manual transmission hasn't been a priority, more drivers are choosing to shift themselves again.

Classic electric

One reason to shop: the rising cost of owning a car -- especially one that gets poor fuel economy. The annual cost rose to $8,946, up 1.9% from last year, mostly due to higher fuel costs.

Hefty drivers and passengers are also pushing up costs because they take more energy to push around, and that means more gasoline: $4 billion worth.

Obese drivers probably aren't well suited to scooters, but in China, dual-mode transportation like a car plus a scooter, is a solution to crowded roads and limited parking.

David got a chance to drive a Chevrolet Volt recently, and while he was impressed, we're not sure it's going to be a classic like this 1909 electric vehicle.

Finally, New Jersey wants you to chill out behind the wheel after making road rage a more serious offense.

The High Cost of Recharging Our Car Podcast Batteries

Higher gas prices and higher mileage rules are likely to push up new auto prices in coming years, and some folks are crying foul.

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Batteries remain expensive which is why electric and hybrids are much more than gasoline models, but things like carbon fiber may help lower costs.

No, not again! The Mustang II redesign.

Ford is betting big on electric vehicles, even pacing a Nascar race with the Focus Electric. It doesn't need to promote the coming Escape crossover, with about 8,000 pre-orders, but that isn't as many as you'd think.

It costs money to build, buy and own a car, and now Ford is considering using money -- old, recycled cash -- to actually make car interiors. Let's hope that works out better than many Mustang redesigns in the past.

Interiors are hugely important to car buyers, and Ward's ranked the top 10 auto interiors, and it's a diverse list.

A good interior can help a car hold its value, and Edmunds listed the models that hold most of their value. No diesels on the list, but they are gaining popularity.

Telsa and its corporate site SolarCity are teaming up to improve solar electricity retention.

Finally, we are car guys, we have Facebook friends -- more than most -- and apparently so do you, since you are reading or listening to us.

An Affordable, Dependable and Delightful Podcast About Cars

Even amid all the economic doom and gloom, it is more affordable to purchase a vehicle these days, according to a new study.

Cheap, dependable and delightful.

This podcast is all about studies and another found that Toyota and its brands remain among the most dependable vehicles.

Another study found that Hyundai, Honda and Ford made the most delightful vehicles, well from a brand point of view.

Good fuel economy is something that more buyers are finding delightful, and it shows in the average MPG of sales in January compared with last year.

That might ease the pain of higher gas prices, which are hitting now, much earlier than usual.

Smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles aren't typically the least expensive to insure, while larger rides are cheaper.

The government thinks it might lose less money than expected on it's investments in emerging and green vehicle technologies. That might help ease the cost of the electric vehicle tax break the Obama administration is considering.

GM employees aren't getting many breaks these days and now the auto maker is killing it's pension plan.

Finally, one thing that might be a more fun investment than a 401k is an amphibious truck thing from Gibbs.

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We Hope This Podcast Has Better Brand Perception Than Saab

Sales are down but profits are up for car makers and car dealers. We discuss why that could be happening because it doesn't make much sense.

Dealers are so desperate for low mileage cars that some are offering drivers who come in for service a deal for their ride. But Mathew thinks that is just crass.

Do you care what kind of car your going to buy next? Well, more people don't see much difference between the big brands, according to a new study by Consumer Reports.

Does Kansas hate electric cars. No, but they are unhappy they can't collect gas taxes for them and may find a way to change that.

Cellcontrol offers an even more powerful way to prevent drivers -- probably young ones -- from using their phone to talk to text while driving. But it's still limited.

We have a deep discussion of the recent Supreme Court ruling around the use of GPS devices by the police to track people. Unfortunately, the media botched their reporting and the ruling actually meant something else. Read more about it on the Scotus Blog. 

VW gets us excited for the Super Bowl ads

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Balancing This Podcast on One Wheel

It's election time, and voters in several cities expressed their displeasure with red-light cameras, voting to either stop using them or prevent their installation.

Ryno is one-wheel of weird.

At the same time, the Supreme Court is debating the legality of placing GPS tracking devices on vehicles. Is it Big Brother or just normal observation using new data gathering devices?

Toyota still can't catch a break, and is now having to recall almost 500,000 vehicles.

There is always some pain in being an early adopter. Portland, Oregon, has learned that with it's electric car and charging efforts.

Now electric cars are efficient and so are motorcycles, but they aren't as clean as you might think, MythBusters found out.

Cadillac is rolling out a new infotainment system, and we think it's awesome.

Finally, we like everything with wheels, even if it's only one. The Ryno is like a combination of a motorcycle and a Segway.

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Tesla Goes to the Mall and Asks for a Government Loan

Tesla plans store in Bellevue, Wash.

Tesla Motors appears to be a great place as its new Model S sedan gets closer to appearing on streets on showroom floors. One of those showrooms will be in the ritzy Bellevue Square mall, where rents are probably extremely expensive, but where many of the electric-car maker's customers and potential customers live.

But with the company's recent defense of the the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Program, which it has been a beneficiary of, could make it's mall shopping problematic.

Especially if the rumors that Tesla is looking for more government loans are true.

It's interesting that Tesla would open in the mall where rents are high and test drives problematic, when there are thousands of empty car dealerships across the U.S. causing headaches for local governments.

But Bellevue Square was one of the first places to install charging stations for electric cars, which was very smart considering how many Nissan Leafs are in the area. This will be Tesla’s 15th store in the U.S. and the 2nd store in the greater Seattle area.