The Best of Car Talk
198 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago - ★★★★★ - 12.1K ratingsAmerica'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.
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Episodes
#2248: The Games of Ancient Grease
June 14, 2022 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30 MBWBUR 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 MBSteve 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 MBSusan 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 MBAndy 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 MBThe 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.
#2243: Mike Scuttles His Acura
May 28, 2022 12:00 - 34 minutes - 29.7 MBHow sea-worthy is your car? Not sure? Neither was Mike, but he found himself doing a little impromptu pond skimming in his Acura Integra at about 26 knotts and it didn't go so well. Find out what happens when your car takes a big drink of water on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2242: Picking an Urban Safari Vehicle
May 24, 2022 12:00 - 32 minutes - 29.2 MBKyla will be looking for a new ride soon and she has her sights set on an odd class of vehicle that includes the Geo Tracker and the Suzuki Sidekick, which were supposed to look like off-road vehicles. Well, they got the 'off-road' part sort of right: they never should have been allowed on roads of any kind. But it will take some careful persuasion to talk Kyla out of this potential purchase. That, a new puzzler and more calls on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2241: Krusty's Big Debut
May 21, 2022 12:00 - 37 minutes - 33.7 MBEvery car repair shop has that old, grizzled mechanic who's willing to be strapped to the hood of a moving car in order to listen for a noise, or to hold two wires together with his bare hands in order to check for high voltage current. At Car Talk, that mechanic was Krusty. Krusty could not only tell you -with a taste off his fingertip- whether that oil stain was 30 or 40-weight , but he could do it while wafting tailpipe smoke into his mouth as a way of double checking the shop's exhaust ga...
#2240: Car Talk Confidential
May 17, 2022 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.4 MB'Sonja Henie's Tutu'? A 'Full Chicago'? For the uninitiated, Tom and Ray take a moment to provide an insider's guide to a few of Car Talk's shorthand phrases while still finding time to 'help' Toni and others with their car problems. Also, the first mention of perennial puzzler foil 'Krusty' the mechanic as part of the new puzzler on this episode of The Best of Car Talk.
#2239: Le Citron de Karen
May 14, 2022 12:00 - 31 minutes - 28.5 MBBeing the owner of a French car can be, well... challenging. Poor Karen. Her Renault Encore has been in the shop regularly for major work and her most recent problem sounds like a doozie. The car is making a bunch of noises(in French!) that have her worried. Comment dit-on "paiement du bateau" en français? Check it out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2238: The Three Mikes
May 10, 2022 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30.2 MBAfter taking delivery of his recently purchased BMW, author and friend of the show Daniel Pinkwater struggles to interpret a few clues: Strobing dashboard lights, an overflowing ashtray, a pile of corn chips and the curious behavior of the dog. From Car Talk's 'Pinkwater Files' comes, "The Tale of the Three Mikes." Can Tom and Ray make like Holmes and Watson and solve this puzzler(and a few others)? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2237: Honk if I'm on Fire
May 07, 2022 12:00 - 34 minutes - 30 MBDeb's 12 year old Volvo has served her well but it's starting to show it's age. She's ok with driving a 'beater', but an oil leak in the area of her hot exhaust pipes has her pretty concerned. Is she going to go out in a 'blaze of glory' while bopping down the highway? The brothers attempt to calm her fears and have a little fun in the process. All this and the story of the 'Princess of Unidilla, New York' on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2236: What Number is This?
May 03, 2022 12:00 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBThe Puzzler usually goes off the rails when the brothers' grasp of the concept is 'imperfect', shall we say. This time it's the demonstration of the concept that almost gets them in trouble. Good thing they have 'faces made for radio' or the FCC would be all over them. That, and more, on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2235: Masters of Noise
April 30, 2022 12:00 - 34 minutes - 29.6 MBToday the boys try to help Erin from Maryland with her Honda's oddly-timed noise and then they say hello to one of the show's all-time favorite callers: Lyle from Alabama, who's suffering from a stuck dipstick. Imagine the possibilities. All this and a new puzzler on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2234: It's the Fuel Economy, Stupid!
April 26, 2022 12:00 - 36 minutes - 32.3 MBSheila's husband is running for President of the United States and the two of them are about to embark on a barnstorming tour of the US in Sheila's Chevy Chevette. So, yeah, we're guessing this has got to be a longshot campaign. Sheila says that her mechanic recently fixed something in the car's electrical system with his wife's earring and some epoxy and now Sheila and her Presidential hopeful husband want to know if they should reconsider at least the Chevette's candidacy? Check it out on t...
#2233: To Wash or Not To Wash
April 23, 2022 12:00 - 35 minutes - 31.8 MB"Ford or Chevy?", "Standard or Auto-magic?", "Two-door or Four-door?", "Hard-top or convertible?", "Does She or Doesn't She?". Add to this list of great automotive choices Jerry and his girlfriend Mari's, "To wash or not to wash?" Is it really necessary in the middle of a New York winter to wash your car when it will be just as dirty within a few days? As luck would have it, the brothers disagree with both choices. Check it out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2232: Donna's Theft-Proof Pontiac
April 19, 2022 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.1 MBDonna's Pontiac is giving her problems. Instead of being the prototypical 'Donna Pontiac' of Car Talk lore -a Firebird, she's stuck with a lowly Pontiac 1000 -a Chevy Chevette in disguise. And if that wasn't bad enough, her ignition key, of all things, is causing trouble. Can Tom and Ray talk Donna into trading-in this heap for a shiny new Firebird or will they come up with a fix for this 'starter Pontiac'? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2231: The Tale of the Two Wheeled Tailgater
April 16, 2022 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBOn a recent show the brothers flatly stated that no one ever gets cited for tailgating on the roads nowadays. Christopher, a humble student from St. Louis begs to differ. He was going down the road in his Peugeot when he got pulled over for following to close to the vehicle in front of him. Hear Chris tell the rest of his tailgating tale on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2230: Relevant Inexperience
April 12, 2022 12:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBKevin's Pontiac is outfitted with an early version of a modern digital dashboard and it's giving him trouble. But his mechanic won't work on it because he's never worked on one before. Click and Clack, however, are firm believers in broadening one's knowledge base and expertise at the customer's expense and they find this mechanic's wimpiness professionally disappointing. Find out if Kevin and the rest of the callers get any qualified car advice on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2229: Sarah's Ford Taurus IHOP
April 09, 2022 12:00 - 35 minutes - 31.6 MBYou may know that for a few years Ford produced a testosterone-poisoned version of their popular Taurus sedan that they labeled the 'IROC'. Well, it seems that Sarah from nearby Brookline, MA somehow ended up with the Ford Taurus 'IHOP'. She has an unrelenting smell of waffles and maple syrup every time she turns on her heat. Will the boys be able to figure this one out? Grab a cup of joe and enjoy this breakfast edition of the Best of Car Talk.
#2228: Hockin' Loogies
April 05, 2022 12:00 - 30 minutes - 26.9 MBRobert from Los Angeles has just about had it with the traffic on his local, bumper-to-bumper, take-no-prisoners highway and he's begun jousting with aggressive tractor trailer drivers to vent his frustration. To put it mildly, the truckers aren't amused or intimidated by Robert in his Ford Escort and they are letting him know this in a road-ragey kind of way. Can Tom and Ray calm Robert down, or will he end up 'flattened on the 405'? Also, a new puzzler and more calls right here on the Best ...
#2227: Bovine Auto Elixirs
April 02, 2022 12:00 - 36 minutes - 31.7 MBDid you know that 'cow magnets' -which keep our bovine friends from digesting too much metal- can also improve your car's(and perhaps the cow's)gas mileage? Neither did we. Listen, learn and laugh on today's Best of Car Talk.
#2226: The Klutz and the Clutch
March 29, 2022 12:00 - 35 minutes - 31.2 MBCarol was heading back to school in her Corolla and managed to knock the shifter out of 5th gear and into neutral twice and now it won't go into 5th anymore. Her mechanic is certain that she broke the synchronizer in her transmission and he's getting that 'instant boat payment' look in his eyes. Did Carol really break the synchro?.. And so what if she did? Does she have to fix it or is four gears 'good enough'? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2225: I Have the Answer! Now Where Did it Go?
March 26, 2022 12:00 - 35 minutes - 31 MBKris from Washington has a Subaru that 'thunks' around corners. After the boys ask a few probing and insightful questions they seize upon an answer -and promptly forget it in the excitement. Will Kris get some useful help? Will this week's puzzler be better than last week's? Only one way to find out: Check out this episode of the Best of Car Talk for all this, a new puzzler and more calls.
#2224: Breaking the Curse
March 22, 2022 12:00 - 37 minutes - 32.7 MBJill from California has a dilemma. Her family's habit is to drive their cars into the ground -past the point of usefulness(do not pass 'Go', do not collect $200). But Jill is having thoughts of selling her '82 Landcruiser, while it's still running ok. Should she dare attempt to break the family car curse and actually sell this car while it still runs? What will the neighbors say? Find out what Tom and Ray say to Jill and the rest of the callers on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2223: Everything's Bigger in Texas
March 19, 2022 12:00 - 34 minutes - 30.6 MBMelissa from Roseville, Texas has a car on it's last legs. Her mother has kindly offered to sell Melissa her Pontiac Grand Am, but Melissa's husband, 'Tex' -he of the Nissan Pickup with multiple roadkills to its name- won't have it. "Too small", says Tex. Can the boys settle this Texas-sized marital dispute? Check it out along with more calls and a new puzzler on this episode of the Best of Car Talk!
#2222: When Your Mechanic is Either Honest or Competent
March 15, 2022 12:00 - 37 minutes - 33.5 MBPoliticians aren't the only ones in DC that come in just two types. Allen from Washington, DC is facing a dilemma regarding his local mechanics and humbly asks the boys a very profound question: When faced with a mechanic who is either honest and incompetent or one who is competent but crooked, how do you choose? Fortunately(or unfortunately?), Allen has come to the leading authorities on automotive incompetency. That, plus more calls and a new puzzler on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2221: Calling Dr Cheapskate
March 12, 2022 13:00 - 32 minutes - 28.4 MBLinda from Ambler, PA has a boyfriend who is a medical doctor AND a cheapskate. We know he's a cheapskate not just because he drives an old Ford Escort Wagon, but Linda says it moans constantly when in motion. Can Tom and Ray save this patient? Check out this episode of the Best of Car Talk for this, more calls and a new puzzler!
#2220: A Little R and R
March 08, 2022 13:00 - 32 minutes - 29.3 MBIn the wider world, 'a little R and R'(rest and relaxation) is a good thing. But here at Car Talk Plaza, 'R and R' stands for 'Rant and Rave' and that means that it's time to duck and cover while Tommy holds court on one or more of his pet driving peeves. Today's target: inconsiderate younger drivers who don't yield right of way. And that's just the beginning. That, more calls and a new puzzler on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2219: Too Cool for School
March 05, 2022 13:00 - 33 minutes - 29.8 MBAlberto is a sociology professor in Utah teaching his students about issues of societal inequality. His old, banged up VW is consistent with his self-image as a hip college prof. But his wife is dead set on buying a new Volvo and Alberto is in a panic about what such a bourgie ride will mean for his campus cool factor. Will the brothers be sympathetic? FAT CHANCE! That, more calls and a new puzzler on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2218: That OLD Car Smell
March 01, 2022 13:00 - 34 minutes - 30.5 MBThat 'new car smell' has long been part of American automotive lore. Following distantly behind is the more familiar 'old car smell': a noxious blend of dust, dirt and whatever mysterious goo has been decomposing in between the seats for the past few years. Well, Fran and her boyfriend are athletes and their b.o. is taking the old car smell to new depths. Can the brothers hold their noses long enough to help them fumigate their Ford? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2217: A Haircut in Horsetown
February 26, 2022 13:00 - 36 minutes - 32 MBWith this installment of the Best of Car Talk we bring you a classic puzzler. On a cross-country drive a traveler is gripped by a sudden, irrepressible need to get a haircut. We've all been there, right? As luck would have it, our traveler finds himself in One Horse, Nevada where there are two barbers to choose from. How does he choose?
#2216: One Sure Fire Way to Test a Car's Airbag
February 22, 2022 13:00 - 35 minutes - 30.9 MBDavid from Texas has a newish Mazda Miata that's coming off its warranty soon. He wants to be sure that the airbags are functioning properly. The boys have ideas. Not particularly good ideas, but ideas nonetheless. That, a new puzzler and more calls on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2215: Working with Lexan
February 19, 2022 13:00 - 34 minutes - 30.5 MBGeorgia really loves her Fiat Spider but years of driving it in the hot California sun have baked the dashboard to the point that it looks like puff pastry. She's tried finding a new dash locally without any luck. Will Tom and Ray have any suggestions? I mean, will they have any USEFUL suggestions? Find out on today's episode of The Best of Car Talk.
#2214: Diagnosis by Intimidation
February 15, 2022 13:00 - 36 minutes - 31.8 MBLuis from Shreveport is having power problems with his Ford Escort. After they remind him that the Escort didn't have any power to begin with, the boys roll out two perfectly reasonable diagnoses. When Luis shoots down the first one, Tom and Ray cling desperately to the other -facts be damned. Did they get lucky or will Luis be forever pushing the Escort around Shreveport? This, more calls and a new puzzler on today's Best of Car Talk!
#2213: A Real Mickey Mouse Operation
February 12, 2022 13:00 - 33 minutes - 28.9 MBHaving cemented their reputations as America's preeminent purveyors of questionable car advice, the brothers would occasionally get invited to do the show from some semi-exotic locale like Alaska, Hawaii or even Hoboken. This show has them visiting wonderful Walt Disney World. Between fixing the monorail, cutting the line to Space Mountain, taking some calls and trying to remember where they left their kids they conducted a little tour. What could go wrong? Plenty!
#2212: Listen to Your Wife, George!
February 08, 2022 13:00 - 31 minutes - 28.1 MBGeorge has a problem with his Honda Civic that won't start. George also has a bigger problem in that his wife insists that he take the car to the Honda dealer who is sure to charge big bucks. Tom and Ray know that it's better to be married than to be right, but can they convince George before it's too late? Check it out along with the new puzzler and more calls on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2211: Click and Clack's Car Repair and Croissant
February 05, 2022 13:00 - 34 minutes - 30.2 MBBill's shift lever on his Ford Ranger Pick Up is constantly rattling. The boys, realizing immediately that this is a case of a problem too minor to actually spend money to fix, cast about for a more creative solution involving the local patisserie. Check it out along with the new puzzler and more calls on this 'delicieux' episode of the Best of Car Talk.
#2210: In Search of an Honest Mechanic
February 01, 2022 13:00 - 33 minutes - 29 MBHow to find an honest mechanic? Call AAA? The BBB? Or see if you can devise your own method? Listen while Tom and Ray try to help Bruce from Phoenix come up with a test to vet his local grease monkeys. More calls and a new puzzler right here on The Best of Car Talk!
#2209: More Good News from the Tappet Brothers
January 29, 2022 13:00 - 38 minutes - 33.5 MBLike a lot of callers, Kasey from Minnesota is hoping for some good news about her problem Honda Civic. Hard to imagine that a car that sprays oil all over the engine compartment at a rate of a quart per tank-of-gas is going to generate good news, but the brothers manage it somehow. This, more calls and a new puzzler right here on the Best of Car Talk.
#2208: How Safe is Too Safe?
January 25, 2022 13:00 - 36 minutes - 31.7 MBCarolyn lives just around the corner from 'our fair city' and is married to a former automotive safety engineer who apparently can't let go of his old job. He wants Carolyn to wear a bike helmet while driving -just for a little extra safety. Is this a case of inspired innovation, Social suicide?(Yep) or both? Check it out -along with the return of the puzzler- on this episode of the Best of Car Talk!
#2207: The Italian Tune Up
January 22, 2022 13:00 - 38 minutes - 33 MBLisa from Washington, DC was told by her mechanic that she doesn't drive her VW Golf often enough and that this will lead to all sorts of mechanical malfunction in the car's future. Tom and Ray try to explain why cars that only travel a few miles per day are prone to certain failures. Lisa thinks that an 'Italian Tune-up' should cure it. Find out why on this episode of the Best of Car Talk!
#2206: Click and Clack's 40 Weight Cleanse
January 18, 2022 13:00 - 33 minutes - 29.7 MBMost of us have had that family member who went off the deep end with some cockamamie diet or exercise or other 'miracle cure' for something. But the health and wellness industry has nothing on the world of automotive miracle cures. Stu from Maryland may be inadvertently on to something thanks to a recent maintenance mix-up on his Nissan. Find out what on this episode of The Best of Car Talk!
#2205: The Hitchhiker Test
January 15, 2022 13:00 - 33 minutes - 29.3 MBReggie from South Carolina noticed an odor coming from her car's air conditioning that smelled suspiciously like the stink of the kids in her car pool. Will the dealer's remedy for the problem work or will the ac and the kids continue to duke it out for 'stink supremacy' until one of them wins, Reggie perishes or both? Find out on this episode of The Best of Car Talk!
#2204: Na-nu Na-nu THIS!
January 11, 2022 13:00 - 35 minutes - 31.8 MBVacation is tough work! Especially if you're an academic like Tom and you have a hard time keeping all of your holidays, Spring Breaks and Sabbaticals straight. Following several weeks of time off from sweating over a hot microphone the boys are back and ready to dispense more questionable car advice.
#2203: Sonja Henie's Tutu!
January 08, 2022 13:00 - 34 minutes - 30.3 MBA lot of listeners want to know where Tom and Ray latched onto phrases like 'Don't drive like my Brother!' or 'No matter what it is, it's gonna cost you $200, if that's what it is.' Well ok, very few listeners actually asked, but the puzzler's still on vacation and there's a lot of air time to fill, alright? Enjoy this week's offering from the 'Car Talk Folklore Dissemination Division': "Sonja Henie's Tutu!'
#2202: How to Adjust Your Fahrvergnugen
January 04, 2022 13:00 - 32 minutes - 28.4 MBAutomakers are legendary for developing new ways to sell more cars. But cruise control, abs and premium sound systems have nothing on 'Fahrvergnugen'. What's 'Fahrvergnugen'? Find out(or not) on today's Best of Car Talk.
#2201: Let Me Break It In For You Honey
January 01, 2022 13:00 - 31 minutes - 27.9 MBDonna is tired of boring cars so she just went out and bought herself a new Mazda Miata convertible. Donna's husband convinced her that the car's "break-in period" is critical to the long, trouble-free life of the car's engine, so he really should be driving it now as a 'favor' to her. Yes, Donna's husband is a lout, but will Tom and Ray expose his ruse? Find out on today's Best of Car Talk.
#2165: Hello You're on Bird Talk
December 28, 2021 13:00 - 33 minutes - 28.8 MBMost of us have had the displeasure of walking up to our car to find an industrial-sized, avian ordinance splattered across the door handle and into places we'll never get it completely out of, but only a select few of us has asked, "Does it have to be so?" This and other non-ornithological investigations on today's Best of Car Talk.
#2164: Cross the USA in Your New Ford Festiva
December 25, 2021 13:00 - 34 minutes - 30.5 MBKatherine from Maine occasionally drives her Ford Festiva all the way to New Mexico for fun. The boys try to take her brake trouble seriously, nonetheless. Ditto Keith from Montana who swears that his Plymouth Horizon is trying to electrocute him, and Consuelo from Texas who wants us to believe that her Mercedes won't stay still after she parks it. All this and more on today's show!