Episodes

Ever wondered how a body shop brings a modern, sensor-packed car back to life after a crash? We sit down with Andy Noyes from asTech, driven by Reparify, to unpack the behind-the-scenes tech that turns chaos into confidence: remote OEM diagnostics, precise calibrations, and factory-level programming delivered through a simple plug-in device. From pre-repair scans that reveal hidden restraint faults to post-repair verifications that ensure every module is talking, you’ll hear how shops cut delays...

What if four words could save you thousands at the dealership? We sit down with veteran insider Randy Presgrove to unpack 47 years of wins, wrecks, and the unfiltered truths of car buying and selling. From boardroom bravado to showroom reality, Randy pulls back the curtain on how hits are made, how flops happen, and how regular buyers can tip the deal back in their favor. We trace the anatomy of failure through icons like the Edsel and head‑scratchers like Mazda’s youth‑aimed MX‑3, showing how ...

Want a drive that actually feels like driving? We chart Texas routes that reward focus and finesse—FM 170 along Big Bend Ranch State Park with vast desert sight lines, the short-but-epic Palo Duro descent into red rock, Devil’s Backbone across Hill Country ridges, the razor-tight Park Road 37 by Medina Lake, and the legendary Twisted Sisters with its switchbacks, blind crests, and breathtaking ranchland vistas. You’ll get practical advice on when to go, what to watch, and how to prep so the only...

Headlines shouted about a clean break from greenhouse gas rules, but we cut through the noise to ask what this policy swing actually means for people who buy, build, and maintain cars. We walk through the EPA endangerment repeal’s potential impact on standards, pricing, and long-term planning, then shift into the only lens that really matters: how drivers live. Short commutes, home charging, and quiet torque are wins for many; long highway runs, towing, and cold snaps still test the limits. Alon...

Think your state has the worst drivers? We put that assumption to the test with WalletHub’s 2026 rankings, breaking down where it’s cheapest, safest, and most convenient to own and drive a car—and why it rarely matches what your daily commute feels like. With WalletHub’s Chip Lupo, we unpack a clear four-part framework: cost of ownership and maintenance, traffic and infrastructure, safety, and access to vehicles and repair. We go beyond headlines to the practical questions drivers actually face:...

Safety isn’t a slogan when streets get crowded and celebrations kick off. We sit down with a Texas Department of Public Safety sergeant for an unfiltered look at Mardi Gras patrols in Galveston—how a small island city scales up with state troopers and partner agencies to keep families safe, traffic moving, and DWIs down without killing the vibe. It’s a masterclass in proactive policing and the power of visible, coordinated presence. From parades to neighborhoods, we tackle a growing hazard: min...

Sand roosts. Moving cities. Split-second calls. We sit down with Mercedes Lilienthal for an unfiltered look at the Dakar Rally—what it is, how it really works, and why accuracy can matter as much as speed. From Saudi bivouacs that can rebuild cars overnight to the reimagined stock class spearheaded by Defender, Mercedes shows how a modern OEM program comes together under tight regulations, compressed timelines, and the relentless pressure of 13 stages. We pull back the curtain on the logistics:...

Think Mardi Gras begins and ends on Bourbon Street? We hit the road to map the best celebrations across Texas—Galveston’s towering floats and nighttime crowds, Beaumont’s growing footprint with room for families, Texas City’s daytime routes, Seguin’s golf cart charm, and San Antonio’s Fiesta Texas makeover that turns the whole park purple, green, and gold. We also spotlight the small-town sparkle of Jefferson and Alvin, then head waterside for Kema, where lit-up boats parade past the boardwalk a...

Hybrids aren’t the backup plan anymore—they’re the headline. We break down Consumer Reports’ 2026 winners, from the Civic Hybrid’s sharp steering and 44 mpg to the Camry’s 48 mpg and old-school tactile controls that make daily driving easier. Subaru’s Crosstrek and Forester win on ride quality, visibility, and confidence in bad weather, while Toyota’s mid-sized SUV pick nails cargo space and comfort with an easygoing 35 mpg hybrid. For luxury shoppers, the Lexus NX balances a calm cabin with int...

The ground just shifted under the auto industry, and we take you straight to the dealer floor to show what’s really moving metal. With the $7,500 EV tax credit gone and emissions targets easing, automakers are recalibrating fast—dialing up hybrids, testing extended-range EVs, and even hinting at new life for V8 performance where demand is loudest. We connect policy changes to showroom choices, price pressure, and the practical hurdles that still stall EV adoption: high MSRPs, thin charging netwo...

Step onto the show floor at the 43rd Houston Auto Show and you’ll find a surprise: a show within the show. We sit down with curator Ben Miller, the connector who rebuilds a forty-car classic lineup every year from scratch—mixing concours-grade muscle, JDM unicorns, and offbeat imports to keep the display fresh, diverse, and unforgettable. Ben shares how he scouts “undercover” at Autorama, Texas Elite, and Cars and Coffee meetups, building trust with owners and tracking evolving builds so repeat...

Shoppers don’t just want specs—they want confidence. From the floor of the Houston Auto Show, we sit down with Team Gilman’s Acura lead, Marla Cardenas, to dig into what turns casual browsing into informed decisions, and why a calm, pressure‑free venue helps families and first‑time buyers ask better questions. The Integra Type S brings the sport, the NSX brings the sparkle, and the new ADX shows why smaller SUVs are winning hearts with agility and everyday comfort. We walk through the Acura lin...

Want a truck or Jeep that turns heads without turning your commute into a chore? We’re live from the Houston Auto Show with the crew from Texas Truckworks to map out upgrades that deliver real value: two-inch leveling kits for a cleaner stance, right-size tires for comfort and grip, and bed covers that earn their keep every single day. We get tactical about wheels that won’t punish ride quality, sidewall that protects on rough roads, and setups that keep your highway manners intact while adding ...

The line forms where the growl echoes. We’re set up beside Camp Jeep at the Houston Auto Show, and the first thing you notice is the 30-degree hill and the calm voice of a pro driver explaining exactly how a Wrangler keeps its cool. We brought the track manager, Nick Hoy, into the hot seat to decode the six-obstacle course, the Wrangler 392’s idle climb, and why a single button for sway bar disconnect can be the difference between spinning and sticking. From there, we open the hood on modern of...

Engines echo, tires climb, and families light up as we go live from the 43rd Houston Auto Show—where test drives, ride-alongs, and a boat hall next door turn the day into a full-on adventure. We walk you through Camp Jeep and the Ram Truck track, then step outside for Polaris side-by-sides and a monster truck ride that’s already creating legends in the lobby. Inside, the floor is packed: mainstream brands with full lineups you can sit in, scan, and compare, plus a luxury gallery ranging from Rol...

The cold rolled in, the guest line went sideways, and we decided to make the most valuable hour you’ll spend before hitting an icy road. We dig into the moves that keep you safe when bridges glaze over and confidence outruns grip: how to plan your route, why following distance is everything, and the simple car kit that turns a breakdown into an inconvenience instead of a crisis. From there, we get hands-on with winter tires and storage. If you swap sets, we explain why compound and siping matte...

New-car prices keep climbing, loan terms keep stretching, and shoppers are left to figure out what “value” really means. We bring on Alex from U.S. News & World Report to unpack the Best Cars for the Money awards, where expert road tests meet five-year ownership costs and real transaction data. The result is a practical shortlist of vehicles you can actually buy and enjoy without fearing the next payment or repair bill. We walk through the standouts. Kia’s dramatic rise from budget to benchmark...

Craving a car fix without a road trip? We spin a different kind of tour: five destination-worthy automotive museums that chart the arc from brass era pioneers to Hollywood legends, then we put a cutting-edge EV under the microscope. Our journey starts with the sprawling Gilmore campus and rolls through Tacoma’s LeMay, LA’s Petersen, and the Henry Ford’s sweeping narrative of innovation before landing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, where racing history crackles from every display. Wi...

Fires, fixes, and fumbles: we open with hard facts on Ford’s engine block heater recall affecting more than 119,000 vehicles, what symptoms to watch for, and why the only safe move is to leave the plug alone until the dealer repair is done. We also spotlight Land Rover’s labeling error and explain how a “simple” sticker can pause sales and complicate safety compliance. From there, we jump into a sold car roundup that shows how the market really moves. A clean 1999 Chevrolet Suburban crossing $2...

Awards shape buyer decisions more than most of us realize, so we sat down with veteran juror and radio host Jack Nerad to peel back how North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year actually get chosen. Fifty independent journalists, a year of testing, multiple voting rounds, and a marathon drive event near Detroit all lead to three names everyone talks about. We walk through the process, the politics (or lack thereof), and the real criteria that separate buzz from substance: class leadersh...

Looking for a winter car fix without a long road trip? We map out a string of Texas car museums that punch above their weight, from Austin’s rock-and-roll-infused collection to the Hillsboro time capsule and Woody’s Classic Cars and Baseball Museum. The highlight is the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum’s Chaparral Gallery, where engineering legends meet live demonstrations that keep these racers in motion, not mothballed. We wrap the route with Bill’s Backyard Classics in Amarillo—a grassroots tro...

Ever wondered why your first fast-charging session felt so pricey? We dig into the real numbers behind fueling an electric vehicle versus a gas car and show where the savings actually live. With Anderson Economic Group’s data in hand, we focus on fuel-only costs per 100 miles, stripping away purchase price and repairs to reveal a clean comparison that helps you decide based on your daily reality, not marketing claims. We break down how pricing shifts with your charging mix. Rely on commercial D...

Big SUVs promise comfort and power, but where do they land on efficiency, tech, and day-to-day usability? We took the 2025 Ford Expedition Tremor and the 2026 Lincoln Aviator Black Label on extended drives to find out. From grille details and cabin storage to third-row realities and highway manners, we dig into what these family haulers do well and where they fall short. The Expedition Tremor leans into body-on-frame muscle with a 3.5L high-output EcoBoost that churns out 440 hp and 510 lb-ft. ...

Fire up your curiosity: what happens when AI, humanoid robots, and digital manufacturing collide on the factory floor? We dig into the bold prediction that a fully automated car assembly line could be operating by 2030 and unpack what it really takes to get there. From wiring harnesses and delicate dashboard installs to the complexity of door modules, we separate headlines from the hard engineering work that makes or breaks automation at scale. We share practical examples of where automation al...