The Best of Car Talk artwork

The Best of Car Talk

193 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago - ★★★★★ - 12.1K ratings

America's funniest auto mechanics take calls from weary car owners all over the country, and crack wise while they diagnose Dodges and dismiss Diahatsus. You don't have to know anything about cars to love this one hour weekly laugh fest.

Automotive Leisure Comedy
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

Episodes

#2424: Porkchop Boy

March 23, 2024 07:00 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MB

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. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NP...

#2423: Cab Driver from Hell

March 19, 2024 07:00 - 37 minutes - 34.1 MB

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. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

#2422: The Nissan Alimony

March 16, 2024 07:00 - 36 minutes - 33.7 MB

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. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoice...

#2421: Take a Hike, Laddie!

March 12, 2024 07:00 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MB

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. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: po...

#2420: I Think You Should Brick Him

March 09, 2024 08:00 - 39 minutes - 36.1 MB

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. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoic...

#2419: So Much for Brotherly Love

March 05, 2024 08:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MB

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. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices...

#2418: The Great Montreal Hotel Fire

March 02, 2024 08:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MB

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. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

#2417: What's the Matter with Montana?

February 27, 2024 08:00 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MB

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. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

#2416: Debbie's Automotive Impressions

February 24, 2024 08:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MB

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. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

#2415: The Wrong Kind of Horsepower

February 20, 2024 08:00 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MB

Ginny drives outo onto a field full of horses. If this were an old movie, Ginny would ride off on the back of one of them into the sunset but, since this is Car Talk, Ginny watches in horror as the horsies begin to eat parts of her car. No Hollywood endings on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy...

#2414: The Spidermobile

February 17, 2024 08:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MB

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 NPR Privacy Policy

#23101: You're Done For!

December 02, 2023 08:00 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MB

Joy's Cadillac has been making a cute little noise for a while and she called Car Talk for a little reassurance that it wasn't anything major. Click and Clack, customer service professionals that they are, managed to administer last rites with a smile on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.n...

#23100: Mechanics vs Lawyers

November 28, 2023 08:00 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MB

On this episode of the Best of Car Talk, Dorothea wants to sue her mechanic. Now you might expect Click and Clack to stand up for a fellow professional, but instead they take a few swings at a profession even lower on the 'trustworthiness scale' than car mechanics: lawyers. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or ...

#2399: A Few Bad Leasing Strategies

November 25, 2023 08:00 - 37 minutes - 34.2 MB

Kathleen commutes 100 miles per day in her leased Chrysler and the excess mileage charges are going to clobber her when she returns the car in a few years. She wants to know how likely would it be for the odometer to suddenly stop working, and could Click and Clack explain in detail how that might happen? Will they or won't they? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access ...

#2398: Autocide

November 21, 2023 08:00 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MB

Leslie from Washington parked her crummy Chrysler K car on a hill one day only to return later and watch it rolling backwards and into a tree. She's sure that she had placed the car in park when she left it. Is there a mechanical explanation for this or did the ol' bucket of bolts decide on it's own to end it all? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 C...

#2397: The Golf Widow

November 18, 2023 15:27 - 36 minutes - 33.7 MB

Of the two kinds of 'golf widows', Linda is the happy kind -more than willing to let her husband waste hours smacking a little ball around a field while she enjoys some time of her own. But Linda's quality time is threatened by hubby's golf cart acting up. Can Click and Clack the Golf(cart) Pros come to Linda's rescue? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 8...

#2382: Definitely a Dealership Rat!

September 26, 2023 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MB

Our boys didn't actually call a local dealership a bunch of dirty rats: quite the contrary. Click and Clack compliment and alienate throughout this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

#2381: Paul Murky's Revenge

September 23, 2023 12:00 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MB

Car Talk's Chief Researcher, Paul Murky occasionally helps Ray by checking out potential Puzzler questions. However, on this particular show Murky must have been in a bad mood because he sandbagged Ray something fierce. Enjoy the carnage on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk...

#2380: Nostra-Thomas

September 19, 2023 12:00 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MB

Click and Clack give up on mechanical diagnosis in favor of predictions. We predict a few laughs, some strange results and another installment of 'Stump the Chumps' on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

#2379: Let the Chump Stumping Begin!

September 16, 2023 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MB

As bad decisions go, letting two car mechanics have their own show on NPR was 'questionable'. 'Crazy' was letting the folks calling-in with car problems back on to the show to tell everyone how good that advice was(or wasn't). The debut of 'Stump the Chumps' on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at...

#2349: We Specialize in All Makes Foreign and Domestic

June 03, 2023 12:00 - 35 minutes - 33 MB

Gillian from our fair city of Cambridge, MA has to translate some French car manual descriptions into English. Can two knuckleheads who only speak 'Grease Monkey' help her? "Raconter des salades" it'll be on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2348: Martha's Civic Dance

May 30, 2023 12:00 - 34 minutes - 29.8 MB

Hey kids! Hear about that new dance called 'The Butt'?! Martha from Wyoming came up with it as a way to get her Honda Civic to start when it doesn't want to. We give Dick Clark a run for his money on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2347: Fix it or Dump it

May 27, 2023 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.1 MB

Robin loves her old Plymouth and wants to keep it running but her family is telling her to move on to some new wheels. Will Click and Clack support Robin's wish to keep it or just offer her Tommy's standard $50 to take it off her hands? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2346: Understanding Men and Their Exes

May 23, 2023 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MB

Mary Lynne's boyfriend has several of his most recent exes living with them. His 'ex-cars', that is, are littering their property in various states of 'heapdom'. Should she be concerned about this particular hoarding tendency or could it possibly be a good sign? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2310: Patty Settles the Bet

January 17, 2023 13:00 - 37 minutes - 33.3 MB

A few shows back we got a call from Patty in nearby Somerville, MA who wondered whether her mother should be driving an old Toyota from Texas up to see her. Our knuckleheads couldn't agree and instead decided to make a bet: if she makes it, Ray has to replace the '65 Rambler of Tommy's that he sent to the crusher years ago. Will she or won't she? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2309: Circumferentially-Challenged

January 14, 2023 13:00 - 36 minutes - 32.8 MB

From the Daniel Pinkwater files comes a tale of unexpected advice buried deep inside a BMW owner's manual. The boys also contemplate why men never pay for anything with coins, helmets for drivers and, oh yeah- some actual car problems! All on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2308: Automotive Wallet Diagnostics

January 10, 2023 13:00 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MB

Don't have enough money for the repairs that your car needs? That's ok, because Melanie's local shop has a repair job to match her budget. Her car's AC is leaking freon but that's $400 to fix. When Melanie balked, the service manager offered to unbend her radio antennae for $200 instead. Will Click and Clack offer to change her air freshener for $100 and get the job? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2307: When You're Hot, You're Hot

January 07, 2023 13:00 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MB

Sherry and Judy both drive hot cars. No, not 'hot' in the 'stolen' or 'desirable' sense - just plain HOT! Sherry's Mercury is having 'hot flashes' and Judy's ignition key gets almost too hot to touch. And then there's poor Ali who drives through downtown LA in a Chevy making noises that sound like gunfire. Grab a fire extinguisher and check out this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2270: Never Listen to Your Husband About Cars

August 30, 2022 12:00 - 32 minutes - 29.3 MB

Hubby takes it on the chin today! The show starts out with Amy from Illinois whose husband is trying to convince her that driving an automatic with two feet is better. Next, Sam receives last rites on his jalopy and then Eva delivers a low blow to Chris who is worried about the AC in their Volvo. Will our two married hosts give these guys a break? Fat chance! All this and a new puzzler here on the Best of Car Talk.

#2269: Too Cool for School

August 27, 2022 12:00 - 33 minutes - 29.9 MB

Fletcher from Detroit is a wonderful, wide-eyed 16 year old kid who can't wait to get his first car. Unfortunately, Dad thinks that a 1980 Plymouth Volare is a perfectly fine car for Fletcher. Hard to believe Dad was ever a 16 year old, y'know? Can Click and Clack suggest an affordable alternative and help Fletcher keep his cool at school? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2268: Donna's Hyundai

August 23, 2022 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MB

Donna from Virginia used to be a REAL Donna in the Car Talk mold: She owned a couple of Camaro's and was perfectly happy. But Donna decided to tempt fate and bought a Hyundai and now all is not well with Donna. Can Click and Clack help Donna or does she have to change her name? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2267: High Stakes

August 20, 2022 12:00 - 34 minutes - 30.9 MB

Genie from Kentucky thinks that her hubby shouldn't be stepping on the gas every time he starts their car and she's betting him a steak dinner that Click and Clack will side with her. And Rich from DC thinks he needs to put a stake through the heart of his wife's possessed VW Dasher. Them's the stakes on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2261: One Million Original Miles

July 30, 2022 12:00 - 36 minutes - 30.8 MB

Julie from Maryland is trying to sell her much-beloved Chevy SUV but all her potential buyers are scared off by the car's high mileage. She needs a new sales strategy and Ray shares the story of trying to sell his old Pontiac with a million miles. And don't miss the return of the Puzzler from extended Summer vacation on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2260: Don't Forget the Sunscreen

July 26, 2022 12:00 - 37 minutes - 33.2 MB

David likes to drive his Mercedes Diesel from Los Angelas to New Mexico occasionally and he thinks the car is having some trouble on his long trips through the desert. He adds that he only notices the problem after he takes his shoes and shirt off. Okee-doke. Will the boys have to avert their eyes while solving this one? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2259: Sherry's Menopausal Mercury

July 23, 2022 12:00 - 34 minutes - 29.2 MB

Sherry has an older Mercury that is becoming menopausal(Sherry's words -not ours!). She says that it exhibits 'hot flashes' with the dashboard gauges spiking up and down at random times. Don't worry: as usual, all wisecracks about 'irritability, moodiness and weight gain' refer to Click and Clack themselves on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2258: A Laser-like Focus

July 19, 2022 12:00 - 32 minutes - 28.6 MB

In order to help callers figure out what ails their cars, Click and Clack have to keep a lot of details straight. This, the boys assure us, requires a truly laser-like focus. From show-to-show we're never quite sure what that laser is going to be focused on exactly, but on this episode of the Best of Car Talk it would seem to be 'all things South Dakotan'.

#2257: Are We Really Brothers?

July 16, 2022 12:00 - 31 minutes - 27.7 MB

The Brothers Magliozzi disagree about many things. Old cars vs New cars, Ford or Chevy, fix or replace, boxers vs briefs. Car Talk exists to explore these differences, but you would think that there were at least a few things that they could agree on. Well...

#2256: Self Soothing Behaviors of the Modern Male Driver

July 12, 2022 12:00 - 31 minutes - 27.7 MB

Dani's husband has taken to unnecessarily shifting her automatic transmission Toyota as if it were a standard shift whenever he drives it. Is she right in blaming him and his 'neanderthalish' and unnecessary need to 'shift something' for the car's recent transmission failure? Could be... Will Tom and Ray grind some marital gears on the way to solving this one? You betcha'! Check it out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2255: How Cheap is Too Cheap?

July 09, 2022 12:00 - 32 minutes - 27.6 MB

Dick from California has kept his Volvo going for 20 years and he wants to know if he should spring for a new engine and go for another 20. Is this a case of overvaluing a Volvo?.. persnickety penury?.. or is Dick just a churlish cheapskate? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2254: Little Honda on the Prairie

July 05, 2022 12:00 - 33 minutes - 28.3 MB

Margaret from Minnesota has a Honda with an 'old-timey' steering problem. When she comes to a stop her steering wheel jumps in and out directly at her as if she were "churning butter". Has Margaret been watching too many episodes of 'Bonanza' or 'Little House on the Prairie', or is she just out of butter? Or maybe there really is something wrong with this car? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2253: The Engine Oil Thief

July 02, 2022 12:00 - 37 minutes - 33.2 MB

Nancy from Colorado has a thirsty engine. Her GMC Jimmy consumes a quart of oil every 200 miles. Her local dealership is running out of ideas and they are starting to doubt Nancy's veracity to the point that they have sealed the engine shut after adding dye to the oil to see if it indeed is leaking. Nancy thinks they suspect her of sabotaging her own engine! Can our boys make sense of this one? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2252: Don't Bother Us With Details

June 28, 2022 12:00 - 33 minutes - 28 MB

Mary from Illinois has been offered a company car by her employer . She can have either the reliable Mercury Sable, a sporty Jeep Cherokee or the vehicle of choice for seniors: the Chrysler New Yorker. Tom and Ray want to understand as much as possible before advising Mary and that leads to some unexpected answers on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2251: Driveway Diplomacy

June 25, 2022 12:00 - 33 minutes - 29.5 MB

Chip lives in a congested suburban area where his next door neighbor is in the habit of warming up his car every day for 20 minutes in the driveway that's right between their two houses. Chip isn't sure whether to approach his neighbor with the 'poisonous fumes' or 'you're wrecking your car' or 'you're wrecking our planet' approach. Will Tom and Ray be able to help Chip deftly navigate this situation, or will they just put a lit match to it? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2250: He Broke My Nose!

June 21, 2022 12:00 - 38 minutes - 33.4 MB

On this episode of the Best of Car Talk more callers with car questions and a story from the Magliozzi family facial-reconstruction files. Ray recalls how his older, wiser brother Tom turned a friendly game of catch in their yard into a trip to the hospital.

#2249: Sixty, Sexy and Single

June 18, 2022 12:00 - 31 minutes - 27.8 MB

Ann from Minnesota needs a new car that helps her maintain her self image as 'sixty, sexy and single' without making her look like she's trying to compete with her daughter. '63 Dodge Darts are few and far between, so which of the other available convertibles on the market will suit Ann? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2248: The Games of Ancient Grease

June 14, 2022 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30 MB

WBUR management used to make us host a party for our listeners about once a year as a way of apologizing for our lousy show. Having had our fill of Sock Hops and other themed events in previous years, we settled on a carnival-styled occasion and called it, "The Games of Ancient Grease". We rounded up a bunch of old car parts and we invented some games of (little) skill like 'the discus-brake-us toss', 'The MacPherson Strut' and 'Pin the Tail on Tommy's Dodge Dart'. In this episode of the Bes...

#2247: Steve's Fowl-Smelling Caravan

June 11, 2022 12:00 - 36 minutes - 32.4 MB

Steve from Virginia couldn't locate the turkey that he was sure he had just picked up at the grocery store the other day, so he went out and got another. About one week later, the guys at his local repair shop opened up his Dodge Caravan and found the missing turkey under the backseat! Find out how many air fresheners it will take to mask that smell on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2246: Have Another Starter!

June 07, 2022 12:00 - 35 minutes - 31 MB

Susan from Virginia took her trusty Dodge Omni on a long trip recently and encountered starting problems after stopping every few hours. A local mechanic at her destination talked her into replacing the starter but the problem persisted on her return trip. Did Susan get ripped-off and get a starter she didn't need? Can Tom and Ray interest her in another starter? Hear our know-it-alls try and figure out Susan's problem along with several others on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2245: To Wax Or Not To Wax

June 04, 2022 12:00 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MB

Andy from Colorado loves to wax his cars. Andy's friends think that he is completely wasting his time because, they say, modern cars have protective coatings that make waxing unnecessary. Hear the brothers waxing poetically, philosophically and in tight overlapping circular motions on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

#2244: Don't Furry About It!

May 31, 2022 12:00 - 31 minutes - 28.3 MB

The other day Ashley was standing behind her Toyota Camry while a friend tried to start it. At the very moment the engine roared to life, out of the car's muffler came a fur ball with enough force that it passed right by her. Now, the Camry has been having a few power issues lately, but is Ashley going to have to replace all four hamsters AND their little exercise wheels, or can her Camry run fine on just three of the little guys? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.