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
#2163: The VW Golf from Hell
December 21, 2021 13:00 - 35 minutes - 30.9 MBElizabeth loves her VW Golf so much that she named it 'Miss Gilda'. Rather than love her back, 'Miss Gilda's' fusebox decided to burst into flames on a trip down the highway and ol' Gilda hasn't been right since. Is the problem the dealer who hasn't fixed the car after repeated attempts? Or does Elizabeth need to rename 'Miss Gilda' 'Chucky' and perform some sort of 'auto-exorcism'? This and more on today's Best of Car Talk.
#2162: Mid Life Crisis Car on a Budget
December 18, 2021 13:00 - 33 minutes - 29.7 MBLike a lot of middle-aged drivers, John from North Carolina wanted to cut loose and buy a cool car. But instead of reaching back to his youth for a 1960s muscle car he decided to settle for his idea of a contemporary mid-life crisis mobile: a Hyundai. How's that, John? This and more on today's Best of Car Talk!
#2161: Picking the Best Post Divorce Car
December 14, 2021 13:00 - 36 minutes - 31.4 MBAny old car salesman can talk a young and enthusiastic car buyer into an appropriate new vehicle. It takes a special skill set -honed by many trips to one's divorce attorney- to help the soon-to-be-unwed find the right car with which to reenter singledom. Hear Tom, the master, along with his unwilling apprentice Ray, at work on today's show.
#2160: Two Losers Try to Pick a Winner
December 11, 2021 13:00 - 36 minutes - 31.9 MBTo add excitement to the annual Car Talk Sock Hop listener party held at the Good News Garage, Tom and Ray run a contest that promises free airfare and accomodations to one lucky entrant. Pretty exciting, huh?! Well, not nearly as exciting as our two bozos trying to pick the contest winner out of the trunk of Tommy's '63 Dodge Dartre. Go figure!
#2159: Honey I Shrunk the Car
December 07, 2021 13:00 - 33 minutes - 29.3 MBSusan fr Florida has to put her beloved 1960 Austin Healey 'Bugeye' Sprite into storage for 3 years. According to Click and Clack there are two schools of thought on how to put a car into storage properly: The right way and my knucklehead brother's way. Will Susan get useful advice? Possibly. Will you be entertained? Probably.
#2158: Donna Drives a Datsun?
December 04, 2021 13:00 - 37 minutes - 33.2 MBBack 'in the day' Click and Clack observed that there were many species of peculiar drivers around their 'fair city'. Older men wearing hats were feared only slightly less than young women named Donna who zipped along in their Firebirds or Camaros without a care or a turn signal. Today the boys meet a conscientious, Datsun-driving ,Philadelphian Donna who is pretty sure that her mechanic is soaking her for a second round of major engine work. Can they talk her into junking this car in favor o...
#2157: Stop in the Name of Love
November 30, 2021 13:00 - 35 minutes - 30.9 MBSuzanne from San Diego always downshifts when coming to a traffic stop. Her husband David coasts in neutral with his foot on the brake. Will Tom and Ray declare one of them to be right and thus doom this marriage? Listen to today's show and find out.
#2156: Son of Oinga Boinga Boinga
November 27, 2021 13:00 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MBOn a recent show, the boys had to figure out what could possibly be the source of a car noise that went 'Oinga, Boinga, Boinga'. No sooner do listeners leap to their aid with the answer than they are then confronted once again with an odd and perplexing car noise courteousy of Karen fr CO. They also help Dayton fr AZ and Matt fr AL realize that speedometers and temperature gauges are helpful but hardly necessary auto accoutrements
#2155: Shake Rattle and Roll
November 23, 2021 13:00 - 35 minutes - 30.3 MBAs the boys near the date for their '3rd Annual Car Talk Sock Hop' Tamsen calls in from California with a VW Superbeetle that Shakes, Rattles and Rolls down the highway. Robin has a rotten exhaust, Debbie's Peugeot won't go, and Kirk wonders if the $19 alignments he's been getting regularly will eventually solve his Dodge's habit of heading for the ditch. All this and a new puzzler on today's show!
#2154: Being Right vs Being Married
November 20, 2021 13:00 - 37 minutes - 33.7 MBAfter several wives, Tommy came to the realization that within the spousal universe you can either be right or you can stay married. So when Warren fr IL called looking for help in settling a disagreement between him and his wife, the advice about the car was secondary to keeping the relationship in proper tune. That high-wire act, more calls and a new puzzler all on today's show.
#2153: Save the Skeets Foundation
November 16, 2021 13:00 - 30 minutes - 26.1 MBSomewhere between 'Save the Whales' and 'Save Our Planet' Click and Clack took up the cause of the endangered North American Skeet. Contrary to popular opinion, it was the desperate plight of these poor creatures who are bred in captivity for the sole purpose of blowing them to smithereens with shotguns that 'pulled' at Tom and Ray's heartstrings: Not the money-making potential to fleece unwitting listeners out of a few bucks. No, it definitely wasn't that. But just in case the SEC was listen...
#2135: The Camaro Contretemps
August 28, 2021 12:00 - 55 minutes - 50 MBWho better than Tom and Ray to solve a dispute between two brothers over a vintage Camaro? Well, lots of people, actually. But Cynthia wasn't able to reach any of them, so this week on The Best of Car Talk, she'll hope our heroes can bring peace to Thanksgiving this year. Elsewhere, Virginia's Honda keeps getting stolen and returned. She's resorted to drastic measures to protect it, but would she be better off just leaving the car unlocked and engine running? Also, John's Corvette's engine is...
#2134: My Dog Still Hates You
August 21, 2021 12:00 - 56 minutes - 50.6 MBThis week on the Best of Car Talk, we hear from Tom and Ray's all-time #1 nemesis, Melissa Peterson. Years after her first missive, Melissa wants to remind the guys that she (and her dog) still hate them, but would they mind giving her some potentially life saving advice? Elsewhere, Eric's horn started blaring in he middle of the night, and he resorted to a hammer to silence it. So now he's got a busted horn and still doesn't know what set it off. Also, Pat's Lumina is running out of gas with...
#2133: Joys of Family Car Trouble
August 14, 2021 12:00 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, Vern's sister-in-law's husband accused him of wrecking the engine in his Windstar by adding too much oil. On a scale of 1 to 10, how guilty should Vern feel? And does their tenuous connection on the family tree drive the guilt meter into negative numbers? Also, tales of VW Bugs: Maureen's caught on fire, and she's hoping for some encouragement that it won't happen again, while Wendy is wondering if the one she's been gifted by her parents can make it from Ka...
#2132: Choosing the Right Vehicle
August 07, 2021 12:00 - 54 minutes - 50 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, Amanda is getting married in a few days, and has one last item on her To-Do list—convincing her fiancé to get rid of his truck. Should she just throw the keys instead of a bouquet? Elsewhere, Glen's wife is a parish priest in need of a new car, and a cure for her habit of driving 120 mph. Also, Karen learned why you should let sleeping cars lie after her perfect Civic started running lousy following a tune-up; Jerry's taillight is exploding every few weeks; ...
#2131: Adventures in Bogosity
July 31, 2021 12:00 - 55 minutes - 49.9 MBThis week on the Best of Car Talk, Ray takes Male Answer Syndrome to a whole new level, trying to explain why Dave's keyless remote works better when Dave points it at his chin rather than the car. Is the Great Dispersion Theory utterly brilliant, or utterly booooogus? Elsewhere, Andy dropped a straw in his dad's Buick's gas tank, and somehow "forgot" to mention it. Now that dad's car is running lousy, does Andy need to 'fess up? Also, Doris may need to dump her mechanic after he sent her awa...
#2130: Til Death Do Us Park
July 24, 2021 12:00 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, Katherine's new job got off to a bumpy start (literally!), when she rear-ended her boss' shiny new car on her first day. Katherine has been eyeing a new car herself, but should she wait for her first performance review? Meanwhile, Elisa's parents say they'll buy her a new car if she marries her live-in boyfirend. Should she accept, or will she be opening the door to future car-motivated life events? Also, Spencer couldn't resist the urge to touch his lugnuts...
#2129: We Don't Recommend the Hot Wax
July 17, 2021 12:00 - 55 minutes - 50 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, we've all been there. You're in the midst of a long drive when nature calls but doesn't provide a venue for you to answer that call. If the only urgent haircut option is a fast-food restaurant, are you obligated to buy something if you use the facility? Elsewhere, Heather took her Volvo to Helmut The Mechanic because her glove compartment was stuck. Three weeks and $3000 later, Heather now has a new fuel system and a Volvo that stalls. Did Helmut get a littl...
#2128: Geek Camp
July 10, 2021 12:00 - 55 minutes - 49.9 MBThis week on the Best of Car Talk, got a pencil neck and an empty summer calendar? Tom and Ray are here for you, with the first (and probably last) Geek Week Summer Camp. Elsewhere, Shelly thinks she's killing a small animal when she turns her Subaru's steering wheel, because of the noise it makes. Might it actually be one of the gerbils powering its engine? Also, Steve's power steering needs a wake-up call for five minutes into his morning drive; Jackie's boyfriend's starting technique may n...
#2127: Perspicacity and the Sundance Kid
July 03, 2021 12:00 - 55 minutes - 50.2 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, after years of ranting and raving about bad drivers, Tommy makes a shocking confession. What previously unthinkable driving sin did he commit, and why? Meanwhile, Tommy's erstwhile soulmate Rob drives like a tortoise in a land of rabbits and is looking for a visual cue to keep his fellow motorists' blood pressure down. Elsewhere, Sherry loves her new Town Car but can't fit a bike rack on it. Alas, her husband isn't wild about Sherry's proposed solution—a use...
#2126: The Secret Male Handshake
June 26, 2021 12:00 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, Katie's roommate's pseudo-scientific explanation for getting her Civic's door stuck on a sidewalk struck her as bogus, so she's turning to two pseudo-MIT grads. Can Tom and Ray separate truth from bogosity? Elsewhere, Tim and Pam need a ruling on whether his joyride on a washboard road crushed her Saturn's engine mounts. Also, can Gene's Corolla survive 100,000 miles with a leaking fuel pump and axle seal, and a dope slap reminder to check both daily; Flo's ...
#2125: The Spark of a Bad Idea
June 19, 2021 12:00 - 55 minutes - 50 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, Steve left a fresh turkey in his car for a week, and well, things don't smell so fresh anymore. Will any combination of soap, air freshener, and bad cologne get the stench out, or does Steve need to call Vinny the Torch? Elsewhere, Michael doesn't know if he should be worried about a couple of green spark plugs; Maggie's son has fallen in love with a hand-me-down Buick Regal that could kill him; and Linda is about to relocate from Ohio to the Virgin Islands....
#2124: Empathic Shared Meaning 101
June 15, 2021 13:51 - 55 minutes - 50.1 MBThis week, The Best of Car Talk kicks off with some of our favorite Country song titles. Can anything top, "I'd Rather Pass a Kidney Stone Than Another Night With You?" Then it's off to Maui, where Jeff would be advised to stop bragging about the weather if he wants to find out why his brake pedal is sinking to the floor. Elsewhere, Inga is wondering which of her several mistakes caused her parked car to lurch down hill; Matt's brother talked him into a DIY timing belt change on his Acura, an...
#2123: But it Drives Pretty Good
June 05, 2021 12:00 - 55 minutes - 50 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, Ellen's Civic has been in three crashes, vandalized nine times, and had a tree fall on it, all of which has somehow convinced Ellen the car is cursed. If she tries to sell it, does she have to divulge these mishaps? Elsewhere, Keller's Beetle is missing its front passenger floorboard. Will a "found" street sign and a friend with an oxyacetylene torch cover the hole, without a 911 call? Also, Peter's Jeep knows when he's in a hurry, and chooses those moments ...
#2119: The Scrape Theory
May 08, 2021 12:00 - 55 minutes - 50.2 MBYou're driving down a long hill in San Francisco. Your brakes fail and there's a stop sign at the bottom. What do you do, aside from uttering every prayer in the book? This week on The Best of Car Talk, Tom and Ray offer two suggestions, one of which might actually help avoid a big hospital bill. Elsewhere, Robin loves her Tourismo, even though it needs more than $1000 worth of repairs and it's causing a family rift. Is it time for her to kiss it goodbye? Also, Alex thinks her boyfriend's tec...
#2118: The Rhinestone Sundance
May 01, 2021 12:00 - 55 minutes - 49.9 MBThis week on the Best of Car Talk, Savannah wants to decorate her Plymouth Sundance with rhinestones because, well, they couldn't make it look worse, could they? Is she going to appear even more wacko by asking Tom and Ray for advice? Elsewhere, Peter may wish that the whining sound coming from his car is his mother-in-law after he finds out what it's going to cost to make it go away; over in Germany, Steve is wondering whether his Tracer can survive keeping up with the BMWs going 100 on the ...
#2117: Inter-Species Commnication
April 24, 2021 12:00 - 55 minutes - 50 MBThis week on the Best of Car Talk, thanks to modern research we can decipher what your mechanic is trying to tell you through his grunts. Meanwhile, Liz can only communicate her Volvo's steering problem through song. Elsewhere, Marni wants to pay tribute to her departed dad by pouring some of his ashes into his beloved Corvette's gas tank; Su (yes, that's how she spells it) wants to use a hair dryer to straighten her dented fender; and is the whirring noise Eric is hearing the death-bed cry o...
#2116: Alas, Poor Wobble Butt
April 17, 2021 12:00 - 55 minutes - 50.1 MBThis week on the Best of Car Talk, Laurie's Pathfinder earned the unfortunate nickname "Wobble Butt" because its rear end rocks from side to side. Can Tom and Ray calm Wobble Butt down and save it from further embarrassment? Elsewhere, Bob wants to know just how wacko his brother in law is for proposing adding duct work to improve the heat in Bob's mom's car. Also, Ellen's dad scolded her for having too many keys on her key ring; Chris got a little aggressive with his Dremel tool on his Camry...
#2115: The Floral Belvedere
April 10, 2021 12:00 - 54 minutes - 50 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, Chris has flowers growing in his Belvedere, after birdseed got into his fresh air vent. To make matters worse, a kid stuffed chunks of blue cheese in the vents, so the car is stinky, too. Elsewhere, good intentions go really bad when Todd buys his girlfriend a 1973 Ford LTD, on the premise it would be safe and easy to work on. The car's loud backfire has led to one dead cat, several deceased goldfish, and one very strained relationship. Also, Andy wants to k...
#2114: Click and Clack Defined
April 03, 2021 12:00 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, Merriam-Webster helps answer the second most-asked question in Car Talk history: which brother is "Click" and which is "Clack." Unfortunately, they can't the answer the most-asked question: How did these jerks get on the radio in the first place? Elsewhere, Lee's mechanic told him he has a cracked "whoop tube," which may or may not refer to Lee's Town Car; a wayward binky has Marietta's driver's seat stuck in a bad spot; and traveling musician Valerie can't ...
#2113: Nature Vs Nurture
March 27, 2021 12:00 - 55 minutes - 50 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, if Art passes his AMC Concord onto his 16-year-old son, is he setting the kid on a life path of collecting junk cars? In other words, Art wants to know what Tommy's first car was. And worse, would the Concord doom his son to no social life? Elsewhere, James is about to relocate to Haiti, but needs a car with high ground clearance. His Honda Civic may not fit that description. Also, Wendy's husband is fogging up her car; Troy's VW sounds "satanic" at 1500 RPM...
#2112: Love and an Automotive Weenie
March 20, 2021 12:00 - 55 minutes - 50.2 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, Darlene loves her husband but his ignorance about cars has left her at the mercy of a mechanic she doesn't know if she can trust. Meanwhile, Susan may need to to dump her boyfriend before his "lazy shifting" croaks her Miata. Also, Richard is planning a road trip in a '64 Dodge Dart and wants to know what spare parts he should bring along--although he might do better with a spare car; Dick's van needs a new alternator every time the seasons change; and, will...
#2111: Miles Per Mothball
March 13, 2021 13:00 - 55 minutes - 50 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, Jim thought he had a disaster on his hands after he left his gas cap off during a rain storm, but his pal came to the rescue by pouring mothballs into the gas tank. Can Tom and Ray give any explanation for why the mothballs got Jim's truck running? Meanwhile, Ray's got a theory about Heather's Jeep's popping noise that may win points for creativity and bogosity. Also, Patrick hopes the guys can help him design the perfect soapbox derby car; Ann needs assuran...
#2110: The Evil Twin
March 06, 2021 13:00 - 55 minutes - 50 MBThis week on the Best of Car Talk, Stella bought matching Monteros for her kids but dumped one because it spent more time in the shop than on the road. Should she be worried about the second Montero? Who better to weigh the chances there's one good brother and one evil brother than Tom and Ray? Elsewhere, Heather has taken to calling her Jeep "Clunking Matilda"; Abe has an idea to navigate traffic in Our Fair City that may get him to work faster (but with a fat lip); and can Anne risk one mor...
#2109: The Roof Snow Theory
February 27, 2021 13:00 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBWe kick off with a proposal that could revolutionize snow measurement, if it wasn't completely bogus. Later, the bogosity continues as Tom and Ray try to explain why Anne's dashboard gauges all stopped working after she filled up her gas tank at a Shell station—twice! Also, Kay's 38 year old daughter left mom's Explorer running all night, and Kay's wondering if she needs to blow out the car's engine or the cobwebs in her daughter's brain; 14-year old Matthew's struggles to wash his parents' c...
#2108: Book This, Rebecca
February 20, 2021 13:00 - 55 minutes - 50.2 MBRemember Rebecca from a few weeks ago, whose anal retentive dad insisted she keep detailed records of her gas mileage in his book? This week, Dad has his say. Topher explains the book's origins in a Datsun 510, and what it will take for Rebecca to free herself from book duty. Elsewhere, Scott may have to decide whether he wants to be right or be happy, as he and his wife disagree on how to use their truck's 4-wheel drive; Art's wife drove home from an oil change missing one small ingredient—t...
#2107: My Tire Passed Me
February 13, 2021 13:00 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBYou've no doubt heard Tom and Ray warn callers about the danger of wheels falling off their cars. Well, this week on The Best of Car Talk, Mike's wheel fell off—twice! Happily, he lived to tell the tale. Can Tom and Ray help prevent Strike Three? Elsewhere, Carl's daughter drove from Boston to Colorado, and swears her truck added gas along the way; Father John has decided to splurge on a Miata, and doesn't know if he'll get the best deal with his clerical collar on or off; and on Stump the Ch...
#2106: Book This, Dad
February 06, 2021 13:00 - 55 minutes - 49.9 MBThis week on the Best of Car Talk, how do you handle a slightly anal retentive dad who insists on keeping verrrry thorough car records? If you're Rebecca, you ignore Dad's beloved gas mileage book, tell Dad what you really think, and then call on Tom and Ray to try to get Dad to re-open his wallet. Elsewhere, should Carl try quieting his Rolls Royce by bending the door frame, or splurge for official Rolls duct tape? Also, Jane fears her mechanic may have purged her of $87 with a bogus repair;...
#2105: They're All Jerks
January 30, 2021 13:00 - 54 minutes - 49.6 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, Joyce's mild-mannered husband teaches meditation by day, but when he gets behind the wheel, he turns into a cross between Mario Andretti and Tony Soprano. Is it the car, the traffic, or does Joyce's husband have a dark side? Elsewhere, Andrew is concerned about his washer fluid lacking testosterone; Catherine has lived five years with a buzzing oil pressure indicator; and Aaron's Impala now takes off like it's dragging a ton of bricks. Also, Jim is worried h...
#2104: Oh, Shut Up
January 23, 2021 13:00 - 54 minutes - 50 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, might three simple words be Cathy's best response to her dealer's accusation that she was lax in changing her Camry's oil? Elsewhere, Martin's love for his Cadillac has him concerned that he might actually be older than his Dad; Tony is sleeping on the sofa after his failed attempt to fix his wife's starting problem; and Sarah can only enter her car through the trunk, since the doors are frozen shut. Also, does the ECS light in Ilsa's Subaru mean "Expect Cat...
#2103: Acute Tirophobia
January 16, 2021 13:00 - 54 minutes - 50 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, Peterson is afraid to put air in his tires. Is he doomed to depending on the kindness of strangers with pumps, or can Tom and Ray help cure him—or at least outfit him properly in case there is an explosion? Elsewhere, towing may be Dave's best option for transporting his beloved LeMans cross-country, because the car could fall off somewhere in Nebraska; Hanz can't decide if his wife's behavior at stoplights is utterly brilliant or utterly wacko; and Elizabet...
#2102: The Roadmonster That Ate Cambridge
January 09, 2021 13:00 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, is Phil's Buick Roadmaster making noise because of a steering problem or because he needs to make 20-point turns to navigate the narrow streets of Our Fair City? Elsewhere, Fred doesn't know whether he should listen to his mechanic or his FSTB (Future Son-in-Law To Be) on how to start the Alfa that's been sitting in his garage for a year. Will siding with the mechanic doom Fred's daughter's marriage? Also, Steve's driver's window glare screen is now a stuck-...
#2101: The Mustang Compost Bin
January 02, 2021 13:00 - 57 minutes - 51.3 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, Mary loaded her Mustang's trunk with compost two months ago. Her husband says it's rotting the floor, but Mary wants to keep the compost all winter for ballast. One added wrinkle: Mary got the Mustang because her husband works for Ford—at least, for the time being. Elsewhere, Carla would love to escape from Alaska for a bit, but the fact that her truck will only drive backwards is making it difficult. Also, can Kathy figure out her Stratus's burnt popcorn sm...
#2052: Untowed and Unbowed
December 26, 2020 13:00 - 57 minutes - 51.3 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, Steve moved to Chicago for a job and a girlfriend. He lost both, but he's kept his sense of humor, and is just kinda confused about why his Acura was the only car not towed from a party. Elsewhere, we thought nobody could be more devoted to an old heap than Tommy, until we met Lita who has written a poem about her Monte Carlo—we're just relieved she didn't try to rhyme anything with "rust bucket." Also, the holiday season brings good cheer and the annual squ...
#2051: Predestination of Lightning
December 19, 2020 13:00 - 56 minutes - 51 MBThis week on the Best of Car Talk, Evelyn wants to know why a bolt of lightning spared her car and struck the road 20 feet away instead. Tom and Ray think Evelyn should just say a few kind words to the deity of her choice and move on, but will nonetheless offer a pseudo-scientific answer that's guaranteed to have MIT demanding its diplomas back. Elsewhere we find out if Bob's wife's car survived sucking a sock into the engine on Stump the Chumps; Gary's steering noise is scaring away his girl...
#2050: Stop the Snort
December 12, 2020 13:00 - 56 minutes - 51.2 MBThis week on the Best of Car Talk, can Ray grant one listener's Christmas wish by snorting less? And why can't Bob stop laughing about his Geo's starting problem? Elsewhere, Alan's Lincoln is starting to sound eerily like his mother; Karen's Caravan's dashboard is telling her she's always going 120 miles per hour on an empty gas tank; Steph wants to tempt the Blowout Gods by removing his Miata's spare tire so he'll have more trunk space; and Ariel is thinking of buying her first car and is wo...
#2049: The Brake Stomper
December 05, 2020 13:00 - 56 minutes - 51 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, Diana has a new boyfriend, and a Stanza that's begun chewing up brake pads at an alarming rate. What are the chances these two facts are not a coincidence? Oh, maybe 100%? Elsewhere, Bob is worried his car may have a permanent case of athlete's foot (or worse) after a sock got sucked into the engine; Patty may need to milk her Accord to get it to stop mooing; and, Elizabeth came home from Thanksgiving to discover her Volvo's windows permanently fogged. And M...
#2048: The Black Hole of Auto Metaphysics
November 28, 2020 13:00 - 55 minutes - 50.1 MBThis week on the Best of Car Talk, one listener postulates that a non-essential repair on an old car creates a parallel universe where everything else starts to break. Sorry, but for proof, you may have to tune to the Sci-Fi Channel. Elsewhere in the land of semi-wacko theories, Mark was told he could use rice to clean a carburetor, and Joyce's boyfriend insists on leaving his Taurus' trunk open overnight to keep it dry. Also, can Stephanie blame her mom for killing her Subaru's clutch, and i...
#2047: The Shrink Wrapped Land Rover
November 21, 2020 13:00 - 54 minutes - 49.4 MBThis week on The Best of Car Talk, Mike and his sons are about to embark on a two-year around the world sailing voyage, but the vintage Land Rover Mike's been restoring won't be much use at sea. Should he sell it or will late-night TV provide the perfect storage solution? Elsewhere, Lisa's wondering how much restitution she's entitled to for allowing her husband to buy a used Corvette; Charlotte's daughter spent $300 on a truck and may have overpaid; and Arnie's Accord's harmonic balancers wo...
#2046: The Exercise Diaries
November 14, 2020 13:00 - 54 minutes - 49.4 MBThis week, The Best of Car Talk kicks off with the tale of one man's descent to Dante's supplemental Circle of Hell, the local health club, where he is at the merciless hands of his personal trainer, Tanya. Then we're off to Virginia, where Shelia's Maxima smells like someone burned her dry cleaning. Elsewhere, Ethan's preparing to sell his truck, which was struck by lightning. Should he advertise it as "pre-disastered" or keep quiet? Also, from the don't-try-this-at- home department, Marty's...