Aug. 25, 2026

How To Shop Smarter For Auto And Home Insurance - Chip Lupo, WalletHub

How To Shop Smarter For Auto And Home Insurance - Chip Lupo, WalletHub
How To Shop Smarter For Auto And Home Insurance - Chip Lupo, WalletHub
In Wheel Time Podcast
How To Shop Smarter For Auto And Home Insurance - Chip Lupo, WalletHub

Your insurance bill can jump overnight, and it’s not always because you did anything different. We sit down with Chip Lupo from WalletHub to unpack what’s behind today’s rising car insurance and homeowners insurance rates and what you can actually do to lower your premium without cutting the wrong corners.

We get specific about the moves that matter: when bundling home and auto insurance really saves money, why you still need to compare coverage line by line, and how shopping at least three quotes keeps you from overpaying out of habit. We also dig into the factors insurers use to price you, including your state rules, your zip code, traffic density, theft risk, uninsured drivers, and even higher-speed roads that raise accident severity in places like Texas.

Then we talk practical policy choices: raising your deductible, deciding whether collision coverage still makes sense on an older paid-off car, and why leases and loans can limit how much you can adjust. Chip also explains how telematics and phone-based monitoring can lead to discounts, plus the uncomfortable truth that credit score can influence insurance rates in many markets.

After the interview, we roll into Jeff’s racing calendar, Marrs’ This Week In Auto History, and a news update including US-Canada tariff drama and an NHTSA probe into nearly 1 million GM trucks and SUVs over L87 engine failure concerns.

Subscribe, share the show with a fellow driver, and leave a quick review so more people can find the strategies that help keep insurance costs in check.

Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!

The Lupe' Tortilla Restaurants
Lupe Tortilla in Katy, Texas

Gulf Coast Auto Shield
Paint protection, tint, and more!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

---- -----
Want more In Wheel Time car talk any time?

In Wheel Time is now available on Audacy!

Just go to Audacy.com/InWheelTime where ever you are.
----- -----
Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast provider for the next episode of In Wheel Time Podcast and check out our live multiplatform broadcast every Saturday, 10a - 12nCT simulcasting on Audacy, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and InWheelTime.com.

In Wheel Time Podcast can be heard on you mobile device from providers such as:

Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music Podcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Podcast, iHeartRadio podcast, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Castro, Castbox, YouTube Podcast and more on your mobile device.

Follow InWheelTime.com for the latest updates!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/InWheelTime

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inwheeltime/

https://www.youtube.com/inwheeltime

https://www.Facebook.com/InWheelTime

For more information about In Wheel Time Podcast, email us at

info@inwheeltime.com






InWheelTime.com/InWheelTimeCarTalk.com available on iHeartRadio, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch and most podcast providers.

00:00 - Welcome And What’s Ahead

01:39 - WalletHub Tools For Smarter Shopping

03:00 - Bundling Home And Auto Done Right

06:52 - Why Texas Rates Run Higher

10:08 - Telematics And Phone Based Discounts

11:55 - Deductibles Dropping Coverage And Loans

13:59 - Brokers SR22 Help And Local Options

15:41 - Why Rates Rise And Credit Impact

20:36 - Jeff’s Racing Calendar Rundown

21:49 - This Week In Auto History

26:03 - Headlines Tariffs And GM Engine Probe

29:07 - Email Us And Wrap Up

Welcome And What’s Ahead

Don Armstrong

And welcome to the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show. Just ahead, Chip Lupo with Wallet Hub talks about rising insurance rates. Oh, yeah, and they are. I can uh vouch for that and what we can do to help ourselves get around those extra high prices and maybe a bump in your own insurance. Plus, Jeff has the racing calendar. We'll have this week in auto history and uh have the stories making automotive news headlines this week. Howdy, along with Mike out of this world Mars. We always need more Jeff Zeke, Chief Engineer David Easley. I'm Don Armstrong. Glad you could join us for today's In Wheel Time car talk show. We tried to get him on last weekend, had a little problem with that. But ladies and gentlemen, you know how we are. We just keep bothering him and getting it right. And there he is, ladies and gentlemen. Here he is, Chip Lupo. Chip, good morning.

SPEAKER_03

Hi morning, guys.

Don Armstrong

How are you?

SPEAKER_03

Oh, good. How are y'all today?

Don Armstrong

Where are you? Well, we're fine. Hot. Is it hot up there? What where are you?

SPEAKER_03

Uh Columbia, South Carolina.

Don Armstrong

Is it hot?

SPEAKER_03

It was. Um, today we had like a micro burst blow through here yesterday, and it cooled things off dramatically. It's probably not even gonna get for the first time in like six weeks, it's not gonna crack 90 degrees. Last weekend the heat index was 116.

Don Armstrong

Nice. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Perfect for the first day they were moving students into the the University of South Carolina. They was moving. So they could not have picked a worse day to do that.

Don Armstrong

Yeah, no doubt. Well, it's uh it's great to have you with us. And uh tell us about Wallet Hub.

WalletHub Tools For Smarter Shopping

Don Armstrong

Let's uh let's get everything out on the table here. Tell us about Wallet Hub.

SPEAKER_03

Well, Wallet Hub is primarily a personal finance website that allows consumers to make um to shop around and whether it's for uh to find the right credit card, personal loan, those types of things. And it's also a good place for you to um monitor your credit. We offer free uh credit scores and credit reports update updates, and it does not affect your credit score. Let's throw that myth out right now that just checking your credit score does not affect your score. And we offer other services that have different levels 24-7 uh credit market. And for people who are willing to pay just a few bucks a month for a subscription, um, the budgeting apps. And budgeting is the key personal finance. That's like the fun it's like playing the sports or learn your man, you learn the fundamentals, you master the fundamentals, and ultimately you'll be successful. And we also use um data-driven studies, and you and I have spoken on numerous occasions about the auto-related data studies that we do. And my job is to come out here and chat with folks like you guys to break it down for you in plain English.

Don Armstrong

Well, and that's what we're going to do.

Bundling Home And Auto Done Right

Don Armstrong

So recently, what I learned was and there's a commercial, I don't remember who it was. Uh was it progressive? I can't remember. One of the big insurance companies that advertises a lot, and I thought that they had a really cute advertising campaign, and it was called Bundele Save, which translated to bundle and save. Yeah, with a spin-off.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, I think that was State Farm that did that. Yeah.

Don Armstrong

Yeah, whatever. I thought it was very clever, and uh so I started looking around because uh my homeowner's insurance seemed to be a little on the high side. And then I looked at my car insurance, and that was as well. So um I I was with Allstate for decades and decades and decades back in the day. Uh they wound up pulling the rug out from under me because they changed insurance agents, and I didn't even get a phone call from the new agency uh that took over the old agency. And it really angered me thinking, screw you, I don't know who this person is. And uh I so I left. Well, as it turns out, I did a little shopping around, and as it as it was, I got a better deal by going back to All State when I bundled my homeowners and my car insurance. And I'm I'm saving, I don't know, twelve hundred dollars a year by doing that. And I you hear it, and I'm here to say, I believe it now, because I didn't want to believe it, Chip.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, now bundling can be a good idea, particularly with one of these hot with one of these um with well-known carriers, whether it's all state or state farm or nationwide. But you do have to be careful though when you're bundling, because in a lot of cases, you have like a stellar reputation for auto insurance, but maybe they're not quite as reputable or not quite as offer as much when it comes to homeowners' insurance. So you may have to give up a little bit something, but obviously you've done your homework, you've shopped around, and you've got the pretty good deal. But buyer beware.

Don Armstrong

Well, I it actually, and let me and let me just add to that, and the fact of the matter is, is that I actually got more coverage on the car at a much lower price than I had before. And same thing with homeowners. I saved in both areas, and I got more coverage, which was kind of surprising.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, exactly. So it's always again, it's all about shopping around, but don't just immediately jump into bundling just for the just for the purpose of saving money because again, in one area, when it comes to homeowners insurance or car insurance, when you file a claim, you may find that some of the coverage might be lacking. So good for you.

Jeff Dziekan

Yeah, different, right, different coverage for the bundle versus the independent, yeah.

Don Armstrong

And these insurance companies, I mean, let's face the fact, I mean, All State is right in there with all of the majors, um, they're out to make money. That they're just like a regular uh like a like a Macy's.

Jeff Dziekan

They gotta pay for all the advertising they do.

Don Armstrong

Well, there is that, yeah. And um it it uh is it it's too much in in my estimation, but whatever. It's their money because I just gave it to them all. Um, but the the bottom line is is that if you go in knowing that they're out to make money, I think you'll feel better about getting a uh a review of your policy, uh, at least uh with three firms, which is what I did.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, absolutely. If you definitely have to shop around in three as the minimum, because you definitely now keep in mind also that insurance are state-run entities, so the deal that you're getting in the state of Texas m might be, in fact, it would be vastly different than it would be in Oklahoma or New Mexico or Arkansas or Louisiana.

Why Texas Rates Run Higher

Don Armstrong

And the fact that we live in a very large city with lots of cars, and depending on what it is that you're trying to insure, especially with a car, for instance, an F-150, most stolen vehicle here, it is also the number one seller here. So uh I would imagine that it would it's not it's not grandpa's old pickup truck that's all beat up from the farm that you're driving anymore.

SPEAKER_03

Right. And you're also in a very large state in which um things such as uninsured drivers are high, which is a factor, speed limits, and I correct me if I'm wrong, but there um there are stretches of Texas Highway where the speed limits 80 to 85 and 75.

Jeff Dziekan

I was on one yesterday, it was 75. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, so keep that in mind because this is part of the reason why insurance is high in Texas, probably going to remain high for a while.

Mike Marrs

Well, don't you know what's interesting, Chip? When you say that, recently one of my granddaughters, we w took her to Huntsville to Sam Houston, go up there, she w that's where she wanted to go to school. She's checking on insurance. Will her insurance cover from Beaumont to go up there? It's a couple hours away. Her insurance was cheaper in Huntsville than it was here because she was further away from the traffic interstate 10.

SPEAKER_03

Right. Yeah, in Houston and Houston and the surrounding areas are are the highest in Texas. Beaumont is one of the lowest. Um, this is according to Surify, the insurance marketplace.

Mike Marrs

Sure.

SPEAKER_03

The average full coverage monthly premium is going to be 267 in Houston, 221 in Beaumont.

Mike Marrs

Well see, I and I didn't know that until we ran into her, so my insurance theoretically could be cheaper than Don's and Jeff's over in Houston. Just because of where I'm related to Interstate 10.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, yeah, you're zip yeah, your z your zip code has a huge, a huge bearing on how much you're gonna pay for insurance and now you're gonna be able to do that. And again, things such as uh traffic density, uh risk for risk for accidents, that's always gonna be a factor. Age of drivers, if you're adding a adding a person to your child, or even a grandchild to your policy, that's gonna go up just just based on the numbers.

Jeff Dziekan

Right, sure. Getting back to the speed limit, uh yesterday I was on one for 75, but aren't the speed limits designed by populists? If you have a less population, less populated area, the speed limit will uh be given a higher rate or could be given a higher speed to 75 or to 65 or to 85 in West Texas. That's the way I understand it, is that it's based on how many people live in the area that you're driving through.

SPEAKER_03

Right, exactly. But um, but with higher speed comes a higher risk of accidents. So that's that's what the insurance company is looking at.

Mike Marrs

So and here's well, here's something here's something too far off track, but other things like the EPA comes into effect, like in Beaumont, Interstate 1075, I get into Harris County coming over towards Yala, and it drops down to 65 because the EPA regulations that the pollution that's over in that part of the world. So it's a bunch of things that go into it.

Don Armstrong

Well,

Telematics And Phone Based Discounts

Don Armstrong

here's here's here's another added little fly in the oil tidbit. This thing right here that I'm holding called a cell phone. If you if you dare sign up with your insurance company, you can even get a lower rate by having them monitor your your speed. And so I thought, okay, I'll play the game. And so um we're working on that now because I just made the change a month ago.

Jeff Dziekan

So see, they would tell me, hey, pick up the pace, buddy. Come on, come on, come on, move, move.

Don Armstrong

There was that.

Mike Marrs

Yeah, I wouldn't dare.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, that I'm a little that I'm a little hesitant to do because I'm one of these, you know, I I like to play the five five mile an hour buffer when I'm traveling down I-20 or I-26. So yeah, I don't, yeah, I have enough things in my car talk to me. I don't need the phone talking back to me.

Jeff Dziekan

Exactly. Just put them in the fence if they get in your way. Yeah, yeah, that's exactly.

Mike Marrs

Come through Houston, you better stay in the far right hand slow lane if you're only five over the speed limit.

Jeff Dziekan

Yeah, well, you're if you're in the right-hand slow lane, you better be doing 10 over because you're still. There's that.

Mike Marrs

Yeah, exactly.

Don Armstrong

So, Chip, let me ask you, is there a place that you your company, uh Wallet Hub, may offer this, that I can go and basically shop for insurance among all of the majors uh or any of the insurance companies that sign up and compare them?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, absolutely. And that's part of what Wallet Hub does. Again, we offer all kinds of um shopping tools for again credit cards, personal loans, and that also includes car insurance. Just log on to wallethub.com and just type in best for car insurance or something along those lines, and it'll give you a wealth of articles and plus the tools where you can filter exactly what you're looking for, and it'll spit out for you usually maybe the top three or five uh insurance carriers.

Deductibles Dropping Coverage And Loans

Don Armstrong

Because I mean, if I've got a five-year-old car, let's just use this as an example a five-year-old car, a Chevrolet, nothing, nothing spectacular. Uh, it is just a regular run-of-the-mill car, and that's not a put-down, by the way. Um, I'm just saying that you you you could if if you had a regular run-of-the-mill car that's five years old, um, maybe has uh, I don't know, close to a hundred thousand miles on it, you could probably get a pretty decent rate. And if you're really smart about it, you may want to even consider dropping your uh collision uh insurance. And uh I would like to think that most people realize that that's probably the highest number on your car insurance policy if you look at it.

SPEAKER_03

And also consider raising your deductible if you if it's a car, because we have a 2011 uh Honda CRV with like 250,000 some thousand miles, which is basically the grocery getter. That's the weekend airing car. So we basically drop that and raise it. It's like a thousand dollar deductible now. So the insurance is more than affordable on a car of that nature. But keep in mind though, if you're leasing a car or or making payments on a car, they're gonna require you to have X number, X level of insurance and usually include, I think it's like a $500 deductible at a at a bare minimum.

Don Armstrong

Interesting. Right. And generally speaking, what would be the difference? Would it be overall with a $500 deductible, $1,000 deductible? It would be all of it. It didn't make any difference what the problem was with the car, but you're gonna file an insurance claim and you've got to still meet that thousand dollars out of your own pocket to get whatever it is fixed. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Correct.

Don Armstrong

So it it but whatever it is that you're running the claim for, you got to fork over the first thousand. Right.

SPEAKER_03

Exactly. And that's that's how the deductible game works, just like with your health insurance, the same for car insurance.

Don Armstrong

Gotcha. Okay. And

Brokers SR22 Help And Local Options

Don Armstrong

you know, the other thing is that there are a lot of independent insurance agents out there. And sometimes, from what I understand, that they may have two or three agencies that they sell insurance for. Am I correct?

SPEAKER_03

Yes, those are insurance brokers, or that's those are ones that'll basically they're like a one-stop shopping. You tell them what you're looking for, and they give you the best the best rate from the best companies. But yeah, that's how that works, definitely.

Don Armstrong

And when when when when would you employ somebody like that to look for you on on your behalf?

SPEAKER_03

Well, tech typically, if you're maybe dropped by your insurance carrier or you have so many points that one of the major carriers are not even going to return your phone calls. So those people can get down into the weeds and they can really find like a budget auto insurance, or if you want just the absolute minimum coverage on your vehicle, yeah, those are the folks that can go down there and and do their do their research and find one for you.

Don Armstrong

Yeah, yeah. And I assume that Wallet Hub also offers that kind of stuff as well, or got can guide you to somebody that uh would be able to fulfill what you're looking for.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, absolutely. You type in your zip code and it'll tailor and it will tailor results to your locale so you're not having to call like some 1-800 number in Connecticut and then spend spend an hour on the phone trying to get someone localized.

Jeff Dziekan

Yeah, gotcha. Yeah, and then there's the SR22s, if you you know that that avenue for the SR22.

Don Armstrong

Okay, yeah. Um, well, I I don't have any other questions. Do you have any words of wisdom for us?

Why Rates Rise And Credit Impact

SPEAKER_03

Well, all I'll say is this is part of the reason that insurance is going up now, some now insurance can rise even if your personal situation hasn't changed. So keep that in in mind. Again, may raise rates because of broader increases in claims, repair costs, weather losses, crime, other risks. But it's inflation that is the number one culprit right now when it comes to insurance, whether it's homeowners or cars, because higher cost are vehicles, parts, labor, repairs, that's gonna lead those insurers again, as you mentioned at the very beginning, it's about all making money, so they're gonna have to raise their costs to keep those profits coming in.

Mike Marrs

Chip, is it true your credit report, your credit rating can also impact your insurance?

SPEAKER_03

Yes, absolutely. And just like with um if you're on a like a health insurance plan, yeah, they're gonna be based on numbers. Your credit score will go a long way in determining determining your rates. If you have poor credit, you expect to pay a little bit more. Average credit, you'll probably pay about the normal. And you might even get some um get some breaks if you have excellent credit. But that's usually based on the zip code. What's the average credit score for your for your locale, not necessarily based on a personal credit score.

Don Armstrong

Although sometimes so in other words, if if you live in the ritzy area, like where Mars lives, uh the the the there's a good chance that you're gonna be paying more than, say, Don Armstrong.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, again, your credit score will will determine that. Yeah, whether it's yeah, whether for if you're in some area like Highland Park or some ritzy area outside of Dallas, or yeah, your credit score will will not a lot, but you can expect some discounts.

Don Armstrong

And uh if you yeah, now if you own multiple properties like Mars does, can you get a discount for that? Multiple as in multiple vehicles or well, multiple vehicles or multiple homes.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, you you can you can get discounts for those as long as But no, insurance-wise, that's actually a pretty good deal if you can again you can bundle have all of the houses if they're in the same state. Now, if you're talking about properties in different states, that can get kind of complicated, not to mention individually.

Mike Marrs

And then you've got to find the insurance companies that'll finance or or that'll insure the type of property you have. Or, like I have multiple cars, I have four cars, but two of them are under 21, two of the drivers are under 21. You know, that didn't help at all.

SPEAKER_03

And if you have multiple properties and say you stay in one for like nine months out of the year, you're gonna be paying a pretty penny for that other one because the insurance goes up if the house is not full-time, have full-time someone in it full-time because risks of um risk particularly of theft, vandalism, or you know, natural disasters.

Don Armstrong

Yeah. Well, Chip, it's great to talk to you as always, and good to see you. Hope uh you stay cool up there, and uh we'll look forward to talking to you again this fall.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, look forward to the next one, guys. Y'all have a great weekend, and we will definitely talk soon.

Don Armstrong

Thank you very much, Chip. Chip Lupo with uh Walter. Thank you much. All right, just ahead. Jeff has the racing calendar, Mars has this week in auto history, and I'll bring you some headlines that you'll want to know about. The NW Time Car Talk Show continues after this. The Texas dining experience is defined by Loopy Tortilla, your destination for Texas's best beef heatest and frozen margaritas. Since 1983, Loopy Tortilla has served authentic and time-tested recipes made with the freshest ingredients. All developed in a little house near Highway Sticks and I can't. The recipes are authentic and time-tested. The ingredients are always fresh. Loopy Tortilla. Then it was a move to the digital world and social media, and you followed. Thank you. We continue to build and grow our fan base, and it's all because of you and your auto enthusiast friends. We appreciate your support. It's always great to see you at our remote broadcast, too, and we hope you'll continue to stop by and say hello. It's been a great ride, and we hope to bring you more fun and adventure right here on the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show. Talk show.

Jeff’s Racing Calendar Rundown

Don Armstrong

Time now for Jeff's Racing Calendar, sponsored by the Texas Muscle Car Club Challenge and big doings up in Washington, D.C.

Jeff Dziekan

Yeah, absolutely. But we're going to start with NASCAR first. They're in New Hampshire. You've got the uh truck series is going to be running today at 2.30, and then you've got the Cup Guys running tomorrow at 3 o'clock. Formula One, those folks are going to be running the Dutch Grand Prix tomorrow, and I think the trophy is a wooden shoe with yogurt in it. I'm not sure, but I think I've heard that before. NHRA, guess we're there. It's a clean shoe. Yeah, exactly. Uh NHRA, I watched a little bit of it last night in uh NHRA Brainerd Nationals at the Brainerd International Show. That's a party. Yep, that's gonna be uh debauchery. And of course, we talked about Indy, uh, of course, the uh Freedom 250, and the you've got our our boys up in uh uh Claremore, Oklahoma. Today is the Oklahoma, the OK Mower Racing at the WRD Motor Speedway. Motor, yeah, okay. Uh and then today and tomorrow is the National Lawnmower Racing Championships, and that's in Ontario, Canada, eh? So you hosers up there, get your smoke machines ready for this fall. Just telling you.

This Week In Auto History

Don Armstrong

This week in auto history, Mr. Mars.

Mike Marrs

Yes, sir. We found a few things this week that we thought were rather interesting in auto history coming up. Uh August the 23rd. Way. Way back in 1979, AMC introduces the Eagle. Now, this was one of their combinations trying to create a passenger car with comfort and four-wheel drive, and it was based on AMC's Concord. It uh had decent road manners and it was kind of a conventional, and you could get it in several body styles, including the wagon right here for you, Jeff. Still with the uh wood trim on it. And uh it's really it was part of an important predecessor today's crossovers and all-wheel drives, part of the industry development process, if you will.

Jeff Dziekan

I drive it, I tub it out.

Mike Marrs

Uh got the wood on it, you could do it. Then on uh August the 25th, back in 1910, the yellow cab company actually begins. Now it was founded by uh Walden Shaw as the Shaw Livery Company in Chicago. It was actually the first taxi cabs were horse-drawn carriages. And then, of course, it developed over the years, changed hands a couple of times, and yellow cab company actually had a yellow cab manufacturing company where they were building their own cabs for a little while. Uh so it uh and then, of course, one of the partners that came along in the process was a gentleman named Hertz, and of course, that's where you get Hertz rental cars from, so it all kind of transitions puts you in the driver's seat today.

Don Armstrong

Sorry.

Mike Marrs

No problem. I didn't know he had audio effects, I think it's great. Then on uh coming up on August 26th, back in 1959, the Mini Cooper makes its design coming from the British Motor Corporation, and it's basically just basically known as a mini. Now I saw one of these in California several years ago, much like the right one, the one on the right there, the white one. And it's really rolling on 12-inch tall tires. I mean, it looks like a little kid's car going down the freeway at 50 miles an hour. I don't know, they go much faster, but that's how fast that one was going. So it was originally sold as the Austin 7 and Morris Mini Motor Company, and so it actually became an icon today, and they're still in production. And um the original design was actually produced up until 2000, and they built 5.3 million of these cars along the way. Then we're gonna move on to August the 27th, 1957. One of Jeff's favorite cars. Ford introduces the Ed Sol to the press. We brought out the wagon for you, Jeff.

Jeff Dziekan

I know, I'd drive it all. I'd drive the I'd drive the the uh C dan.

Mike Marrs

So it was made its sales debut in 1957. Unfortunately, it became a very very quickly became a famous commercial failure. Part of it was due to the unusual styling, and a lot of people have decided that the ambitious marketing really uh is kind of what killed it. Went a little too far, a little too fast, but anyway, that's lessons learned as far as that horse collar grill just does it for me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. A lot of people like that. Push button, push button trans. The shifter. I love the shifter. Then uh August 28th, 1937, the Toyota Motor Company is established. Now, in 1937, it was actually coming out of the Toyota Automotive Automatic Loomworks Company. So this was a company, uh they developed an engine, they built their first prototype automobile, then they changed the name from Toyota to Yo to Toyota, and partially, because the Japanese characters to write Toyota it took eight strokes to actually make that character. So, and that's considered a fortunate number. So they changed the name of it based on how many strokes it took to write the name of the car.

Jeff Dziekan

Very yeah, very superstitious.

Mike Marrs

How well it looks like all the new modern Toyotas that are out there. So that was a few things that we found this week in automotive history that we thought were rather interesting coming up in the next week.

Don Armstrong

And that they were. Yep. Thank you.

Headlines Tariffs And GM Engine Probe

Don Armstrong

Well, I don't know whether you uh keep up with the news or not, but uh big doings between the U.S. and Canada. U.S. Canada trade talks fell apart at the last minute last night with fresh 50% tariffs on billions of dollars of Canadian goods taking effect, and Prime Minister Mark Carney promising to retaliate.

Jeff Dziekan

Is it Art Carney's brother? Probably.

Don Armstrong

U.S. tariffs kicked in today on hundreds of items the U.S. buys from Canada, such as plywood liquor, uh, electrical equipment, and hockey gear totaling around $20 billion. Kearney said he suspended talks and that his government would match those duties dollar for dollar to protect our workers and businesses. U.S. officials are pledging to present Donald Trump with options to escalate if he does. The two sides blamed each other for the collapse. U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer said the Canadian negotiators made 11th hour demands that upended a draft deal worked out over days of negotiations. No more moose oil. The two sides had been discussing a deal that included lowering tariffs on certain Canadian steel and aluminum to 25%, and cutting duties on Canadian autos to 15%, and eliminating a 10% lumber tariff. And they got a lot of lumber up there. U.S. officials said talks ended when Canada sought additional concessions in a couple of those areas but declined to say which.

Jeff Dziekan

Brother.

Don Armstrong

I don't know. Tickets to it, probably.

Mike Marrs

I'm more wondering about the whiskey tasting competitions.

Don Armstrong

Yeah. NHTSA said uh yesterday it is open to probe into 997,743 General Motors pickups and SUVs over concerns related to engine failure. This has been an ongoing story. The vehicles include the Cadillac Escalade, Chevy Silverado 1500, GMC UConn, among others, from model years 21 to 26, equipped with GM's L87 engines. I know somebody that had a brand new vehicle, and the engine was a total disaster. They didn't want to stand behind it. He called out the Lemon Law here in Texas, and guess what? Got it done. They bought the car back. The auto safety regulator said it received 499 complaints, alleging engine failures despite the vehicles having undergone an earlier recall remedy. GM issued a recall last year to address concerns related to engine failure in the impacted L 87 unit. The Detroit Automaker attributed the issue to a supplier. It's your fault, not mine. NHSA said its new engineering analysis would continue its investigation into post-recall engine failures and assess the effectiveness of GM's fixes. Good luck on all of that. They should take Ford's principle of recalls and just recall everything. I think you're right. Hey,

Email Us And Wrap Up

Don Armstrong

we'd love to hear from you. Shoot us an email. The address is info at nwheeltime.com. We'll be back right after this break. Your car is a direct reflection of you, so don't be satisfied with color fade or a dingy dull appearance. Get rid of those terrible automated car wash scratches. Gulf Coast Auto Shield is your save the paint company. John Gray and his team of detailing experts can help your cars finish without a full repaint. Searching for real experts in window tent or windshield protection, Gulf Coast Auto Shield. Dash cams, radar detectors, Gulf Coast Auto Shield. Got a new car? Get it protected as soon as you take delivery. If you don't know which of the multitude of protection products to go with, John Gray will give you an honest opinion and won't tell you something you don't need. John will help you understand the many options and pricing right on the spot. He's your guy to have your ride looking its best and protected too. See the state-of-the-art shop yourself, free tours anytime. Gulf Coast Auto Shield is easy to get to, located just south of the Southwest Freeway on the Sam Houston Parkway. Gulf Coast Auto Shield, full-service luxury car care today and online at GCAutoShield.com. Gift giving should be meaningful, and we have an idea: a hand-painted custom illustration of your car from one of the nation's leading artists. Now you can get one or a car show poster customized for you, a friend, or a loved one. Bill Sites will be happy to guide you through the process. No matter what the day, birthday, anniversary, or any day, an autographics custom illustration adds an extra touch of class to any home. Call Bill today, 832-922-0963. That's 832-922-0963. That's it for this podcast episode of the In Wheel Time Car Show. I'm Don Armstrong, inviting you to join us for our live show every Saturday morning on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and our InWheelTime.com website. Podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartPodcast, Podcast Addict, TuneIn, Pandora, and Amazon Music. Keep listening, and we'll see you soon.