🎄 Happy Holidays and welcome to Part 1 of our Cool Cars Christmas Special! 🎁

Before you head out to buy a gift for the car lover in your life, STOP and listen to this episode — because not all car gifts are created equal. In fact, some are just... downright awful.

In this festive and fun-filled episode, Chris breaks down the 7 worst Christmas gifts you could give a car enthusiast. From cheap swag to cringey gag gifts (we’re looking at you, truck nuts), you’ll learn exactly what to avoid if you don’t want your present tossed in the glove box and forgotten forever.

• The truth about “fuel-saving” gadgets and why they’re total junk

• Why low-quality car apparel is a fashion (and fabric) fail

• The universal-fit myth — and how it kills the vibe in any ride

• The kind of tools nobody wants in their garage

• And much more!

Whether you're shopping for a gearhead, a car collector, or someone who just loves their ride, this episode is your holiday gift guide of what NOT to do.

🎁 Stay tuned for Part 2 — where Chris shares the 7 BEST gifts to buy a car enthusiast, coming just before Christmas!

🔗 Links & Resources

🌐 Full archive & bonus content: coolcarswithchris.com
📬 Leave Chris a message or suggest a topic
📱 Follow on social: All links at the website above
🎅 Share this episode with your favorite car-loving friend

If you're shopping for Christmas gifts for car lovers, it's important to avoid the worst car gifts that can make even the most passionate car enthusiast cringe. In this holiday special from the Cool Cars with Chris podcast, we dive into bad car gift ideas, including cheap car gadgets, fake fuel savers, low-quality automotive apparel, and universal car accessories that don't actually fit. Whether you're looking for gifts for gearheads, automotive holiday gift guide tips, or just trying to find what not to buy a car guy, this episode is packed with helpful advice. We’ll cover everything from gag gifts for car guys and junk car tools to novelty air fresheners and in-car trash bins. If you’re searching for the best Christmas gifts for car enthusiasts, make sure to start here so you can skip the junk. Learn what real car collectors, performance car fans, and automotive DIYers actually want—and what they definitely don’t. This episode is perfect for anyone buying holiday gifts for auto enthusiasts, especially if you're new to the world of car culture, modding, or garage life. It’s a fun, festive, and informative car podcast episode for the holidays that will steer you in the right direction this Christmas.

00:00 – 🎄 Holiday Welcome & The Gift Warning

01:26 – 🚫 #1: Pseudoscience Gadgets (Fuel Savers & Fake Boosters)

02:41 – 👕 #2: Low-Quality Branded Apparel (Shrinky Tees & Faded Prints)

04:03 – 🪑 #3: Universal-Fit Accessories (Floor Mats, Seat Covers, etc.)

06:00 – 😂 #4: Gag Gifts (Truck Nuts, Peeing Decals & Fuzzy Dice)

07:52 – 🧰 #5: Bargain-Bin Tools (Multitool Messes & Infomercial Flops)

10:07 – 🌬️ #6: Cheap Car Wash Trinkets (Air Fresheners & Plastic Keychains)

12:36 – 🗑️ #7: In-Car Organizers & Trash Caddies (Do Car Guys Even Eat in Their Cars?)

14:39 – 🔜 What’s Next: The 7 BEST Gifts for Car Lovers (in Part 2!)

#CarGifts2025 ChristmasForCarLovers #WorstCarGifts #HolidayGiftGuideCars #CoolCarsWithChris

In this episode of Cool Cars with Chris, we're diving deep into the real-life drama of dealership repairs. Chris shares the shocking story of how his Ford F-150 nearly died in a Starbucks drive-thru, leading to a full engine replacement, a clown car rental, and a dealership that literally vanished.

With special guest Courage, the duo also breaks down the ongoing debate of DIY car maintenance vs dealership service, plus oil change myths, brake wear mysteries, and why some mechanics panic over a simple headlight sticker.

If you’ve ever dealt with frustrating service departments or wondered when to skip the dealer and grab a wrench yourself, this is your episode.

🔧 What You’ll Learn:

• Why rear brakes sometimes wear out faster than the front

• What happened when Chris’s F-150 lost all oil pressure 😱

• How dealerships handle full engine swaps (and what they don’t tell you)

• What voids a car warranty — and what doesn't

• The truth about “free” oil changes and rental cars

• How to log your own DIY maintenance in Carfax

• • Courage’s VIP experience with Infiniti — and a nightmare at Hyundai

  
  

  00:00 🎙️ Intro – Dealership Stories & Courage Returns

  00:51 🛠️ Courage’s Car Maintenance: Jack Stands & Brake Work

  02:25 🛢️ Oil Talk: OEM Specs, 0W-30 vs 5W-30

  04:00 🔧 Rear Brake Wear on Trucks – What’s Up With That?

  05:42 🚗 Chris Asks Courage to Do His Brakes

  06:45 🏢 What’s the Deal with Dealerships?

  08:25 📺 Crazy Local Dealership Commercials

  09:57 🚙 Toyota Tacoma at Costco – Worth $36k?

  11:32 📊 What Does “4x2” Mean Anyway?

  13:00 💥 Ford F-150 Engine Failure in the Drive-Thru

  19:35 🔄 Dealership Changes Ownership Mid-Repair

  22:30 🎪 The Clown Car Rental During Warranty Repairs

  25:45 🧾 Extended Warranty Wins & Rental Hacks

  27:40 🚙 Infiniti Dealership Loaner Experience (VIP Style)

  31:00 😤 Hyundai Service Center Letdowns

  33:00 🚫 “Modded” Headlights = No Service?!

  35:40 ⚙️ How Mods Affect Warranty Coverage

  39:20 ⏱️ Oil Change Timing – 3K, 5K or 10K Miles?

  41:25 🧼 Crush Washers, OEM Filters & Dealer Shortcuts

  43:30 📅 Tracking Maintenance Yourself via Carfax

  45:45 🏁 Final Thoughts: DIY or Dealer?

  🙌 Support the Show

  If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow, rate, and share Cool Cars with Chris!

  This episode covers key topics like Ford F-150 engine failure, dealership horror stories, and the debate between DIY car maintenance vs dealership service. We discuss rear brake wear issues, oil pressure problems, and what happens during a full engine replacement at a dealership. You'll also hear about Hyundai dealership service frustrations, Infiniti loaner car experiences, and how car modifications can affect your vehicle warranty. Plus, we break down oil change intervals (3,000 vs 10,000 miles) and how to log your DIY repairs in Carfax to maintain accurate service records. Whether you're wrenching in your garage or battling dealership quotes, this episode is packed with real-world car advice.

  #FordF150 #DealershipDrama #DIYCarRepairs #EngineFailure #CarMaintenanceTips #WarrantyWoes #CoolCarsPodcast

  
  

Ed Hanson’s Muffler Service – Custom exhaust solutions in San Diego since forever.
Looking to upgrade your ride with power, performance, and sound?
📍 3916 North Barcelona St, Spring Valley, CA
📞 (619) 698-7030
🌐 edhansonsmuffler.com

"Where your pipe dreams come true."

What do driving blindfolded, gorillas in the backseat, and camels on highways all have in common? They’re real traffic laws in the U.S.—and yes, someone actually did these things.

In this hilarious and head-shaking episode of Cool Cars with Chris, we break down the strangest, funniest, and most unexpected driving laws from across America. Whether you're a car lover, a road tripper, or just want to laugh at humanity's weirdest moments behind the wheel, this episode delivers.

🎧 You’ll learn:

• Why you can’t reverse drive in Arizona

• Where birds and peacocks have the right of way

• Which states will ticket you for snow on your roof

• Why rolling coal and burnouts are more than just obnoxious

• • The state where frowning at a cop is illegal (yes, really)

  
  

  00:00 – 🎙️ Intro: The Weirdest Traffic Laws in the U.S.

  00:27 – 🚗 Ed Hanson’s Muffler Shoutout

  02:01 – 📘 Driving Laws 101: How They Vary Across States

  03:35 – 🤔 “Why Is This Even a Law?” Edition (Blindfolds, Reverse Driving & More)

  06:42 – 🐫 Animal Laws on the Road (Camels, Birds, Elephants & Gorillas!)

  10:27 – 🧠 “Somebody Definitely Did This” Laws (Comics, Frowning at Cops, Age Limits)

  14:12 – ❄️ Seasonal Snow Laws (Winter Driving Rules by State)

  20:11 – 🚜 Yield to Snowplows, No Sled Towing in Alaska

  22:50 – 🔧 Illegal Car Mods (Lights, Coal Rolling, Burnouts & Takeovers)

  28:12 – 🎁 Bonus Round: Strange & Random State Traffic Laws

  31:27 – 💭 Final Thoughts: Don’t Be the Reason a Law Exists

  31:49 – 🌐 Outro: Connect at coolcarswithchris.com

  
  

  This episode of Cool Cars with Chris dives into the weirdest driving laws in America, covering strange traffic laws by state, illegal car mods, and funny vehicle regulations. Whether you’re searching for weirdest traffic laws in the USA, illegal exhaust mods in California, rolling coal laws, or winter driving ticket rules, we’ve got you covered. We also talk about exhibition of speed laws, car customization regulations, banned vehicle modifications, and surprising seasonal driving laws. Learn about bizarre state laws involving animals on the road, frowning at police officers, and even peacocks having the right of way. If you’re into automotive podcasts, car culture, and road trip trivia, this episode is packed with hilarious and head-scratching info for car enthusiasts everywhere.

  
  

  #WeirdDrivingLaws #CarMods #CoolCarsWithChris #TrafficLawTrivia #RollingCoal #IllegalCarMods #CarPodcast #CaliforniaCarLaws #USDrivingLaws