The Best of Car Talk
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289 episodes
For decades American men drove hot rods and muscle cars produced with their testosterone levels in mind. Then came the 'automotive vasectomy' that is the minivan. How's a guy supposed to feel macho cruising into the Costco parking lot in a Dodge Caravan? Take off your fanny pack and ponder the wussification of the American male on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
Eric's Dad wants to do a once-in-a-lifetime roadtrip to Alaska but no one wants to join him. Are his kids obligated to go? And which is more important: finding a safe car or not falling prey to an enraged family member after 1000 miles cooped-up together? Join our trip to Walley World on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
Leland lives just outside Atlanta and his car won't 'pull a heel'. Has Leland stumped Click and Clack with a bit of local automotive jargon? Or is Leland pulling their heels and their legs, too? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
When Valerie ended up in the hospital her boyfriend didn't bring her flowers or donate his kidney, but he did take her brand new car out onto the highway to see how fast it would go. How fast did Click and Clack tell her to dump him? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
What are you going to do if two NPR hosts proclaim that you are so friendless you have to hang a porkchop around your neck just to get the dog to play with you? And what if those heartless hosts were your very own uncles? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
As far as tall tales go, it isn't quite 'War and Peace', but 'Max and the Schnauzer' is about as epic as it gets in the world of auto repair, and it's on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
Where were you in '96? Click and Clack weren't exactly on the front lines, but they did report on the serious vowel-drought in the war-torn region of Bosnia in this classic episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
If you've got an old British sportscar you'd probably call Car Talk about bad electronics. With an older GM car you probably have issues with your steering. But if you tell Click and Clack that you have a 1994 West Bend Deluxe Breadmaker that's churning out hockey pucks instead of brioche?.. Find out what they say on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
A few shows back, Click and Clack remarked that guys have a need to do stupid things sometimes -like driving through blinding snowstorms in order to pick up a few extra lightbulbs. And wouldn't you know that a PHD somewhere has seen fit to measure 'Guy-ness' with a quick, multiple-answer quiz. Find out if you're a 'real guy' on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
Most of us are happy to have been equipped at the factory with two feet, ya' know? Makes getting around a little easier. But two feet are a problem with some drivers -think grandpa with one foot on the gas and the other on the brake 100% of the time. What do Click and Clack think? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
CJ has an old Honda that she adores but it's costing her more and more in repair bills. Click and Clack suggest that maybe CJ's waning love for the Honda -as well as her savings- could be transferred to her mechanic on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
What's worse, pulling your dipstick and finding it covered with chocolate mousse or having to tie a porkchop around your neck just to get the dog to play with you? Our usual diet of kooky questions and the continuing saga of Click and Clack's nephew, 'porkchop boy', on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
You think YOU have a rough commute?!?! Richard from Denver writes to tell us about his cab ride from hell on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
Victoria's ex-husband is hoping that she'll forgive an alimony debt in exchange for his Nissan Stanza with 100,000 miles on it. Will Click and Clack applaud the couple's creative attempts to resolve their differences or will they demand that Victoria hold out for a new Lexus? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
When Michael and his family swapped houses and cars for a summer in Scotland, they probably imagined great hikes into the Scottish Highlands. But when their borrowed car blew up without warning and the owners blamed him, should Michael be telling the Scotts to 'kilt-up' and take a hike? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
Heidi has a little neighborhood bird that freaks out several times a day and starts pecking away on the chrome of her Lincoln, thinking that it is defending it's territory. Will Click and Clack recommend extensive efforts to save the little guy or should Heid just 'brick him'? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
Kieran from Louisiana has to leave his car for a long time. The last time he stored it the brakes rusted so bad they had to be replaced. Should he instead leave the car with his brother? Find out how many ways there are to say, "Absolutely Not!" from the Tappet Brothers on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
Stephanie wants to squeeze Mom for finishing off her ailing clutch, Bill's Blazer is belching a bit of smoke and Ray recounts the tale of 'The Great Montreal Hotel Fire' that consumed his Ford LTD -or so he thought, all on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
More than a few years ago, Montana reacted to the repeal of the federal 55mph speed limit by declaring there to be no speed limit on vast stretches of highway. That -and testosterone-poisoned truckers- has Tommy ranting and raving on this episode of the best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
Debbie's Toyota has a brake noise, and because she lives near a repair shop she's become very accomplished at mimicking various automotive sounds. It's music to our ears on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
Geraldine has uninvited passengers taking up residence in her car. Can Click and Clack help her get rid of these eight-legged hitchhikers or should she just torch her Toyota? Oh, what a tangled web we weave on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
From time to time mail intended for Car Talk and Ann Landers of 'Dear Abby' fame gets switched up. Of course, the brothers' handle such heartfelt missives with the requisite tact and sensitivity that their sainted mother, Elizabeth, instilled in them -after they have a few laughs first! Advice to the lovelorn from Click and Clack on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
Rick is in love with both Linda and with his Mazda Miata, hopefully, in that order. But Rick is bugging Linda to buy him a $2500 turbocharger as a sort of 'mid-life crisis present'. Will Click and Clack recommend the turbocharger or the couples' counseling? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy
Sally is a librarian who drives a '63 Dodge Dartre with brakes that fail -are you ready?- periodically. Dewey, Cheetham and Howe meets Dewey Decimal on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
Mike was feeling pretty good when he offered to help a neighbor replace the dead battery in her car. Mike was feeling 'something else' after he dropped his wrench and caused a fire under the hood. Is there any way Mike can save face with the neighbors or should he just move to a new city? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
Two Saab stories and the even sadder tale of Yvonne's Chevy Cavalier. All of that and a dog named 'Weasel' on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
Two completely different 'Babes in the Wild' calls from Newton on Safari in Kenya and Justin cruising in DC on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
If a nationally-known burger chain situated on a long stretch of highway is the only restroom for the next 75 miles is it ok to 'use the facilities' there without making a purchase? Click and Clack help Darrell probe the ethics of 'dining and dashing' without the 'dining' part on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
Kevin could really use some help figuring out a problem with his Nissan, but Click and Clack are more interested in Kevin's job at the car wash. Don't forget to order the 'hot wax special' on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
