The line forms where the growl echoes. We’re set up beside Camp Jeep at the Houston Auto Show, and the first thing you notice is the 30-degree hill and the calm voice of a pro driver explaining exactly how a Wrangler keeps its cool. We brought the track manager, Nick Hoy, into the hot seat to decode the six-obstacle course, the Wrangler 392’s idle climb, and why a single button for sway bar disconnect can be the difference between spinning and sticking.

From there, we open the hood on modern off-road tech without the buzzwords. Nick walks us through the electronic lockers, Off-Road Plus, and the front-facing camera that turns a blind crest into a confident line. It’s a clean progression from the old days of manual hubs and pliers in the mud to quick, precise controls on the dash. We talk Gladiator, poke at the Grand Cherokee’s air suspension and skid plates, and admit that not every model is meant to crab-walk a rock garden. Still, capability shows up across the Jeep lineup, and the indoor course proves it in minutes.

We shift gears into memory lane with Jeff’s Car Culture: a countdown of the best-selling American vehicles of all time. The Model T’s assembly-line revolution, the Chevrolet Impala’s long reign, Silverado and Ram solidifying the truck era, and the F-Series towering over all—each nameplate marks a chapter in how America drives and works. The list is a conversation starter, and yes, the Oldsmobile Cutlass earns its spot.

To turn inspiration into miles, we map five spring road trips that reward any capable car or SUV: the flowered overlooks of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Montana’s Going-to-the-Sun Road drama, the quiet curves of the Natchez Trace, shoulder-season serenity on Pacific Coast Highway, and a burst of Texas bluebonnets along the Willow City Loop. These routes pair perfectly with a fresh set of tires, a full tank, and a curious mind.

If you’re at NRG Center, follow the signs to Camp Jeep for a guided ride, then swing through the indoor display to poke around the screens and seats—including the head-turning TRX. Listening from afar? Tap follow, share the show with a fellow gearhead, and leave a review with your pick: which Jeep would you take up that 30-degree hill?

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

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Engines echo, tires climb, and families light up as we go live from the 43rd Houston Auto Show—where test drives, ride-alongs, and a boat hall next door turn the day into a full-on adventure. We walk you through Camp Jeep and the Ram Truck track, then step outside for Polaris side-by-sides and a monster truck ride that’s already creating legends in the lobby. Inside, the floor is packed: mainstream brands with full lineups you can sit in, scan, and compare, plus a luxury gallery ranging from Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin to Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Lotus.

We dig into what buyers really care about right now—transparent pricing, base vs top-trim choices, and how QR codes help you validate features on the spot. Our conversation moves from tow ratings and hitch options to a smarter way to shop: plan a route with the official floor map, hit your short list first, and use the show to compare brands in minutes, not weekends. Along the way, we spotlight why Stellantis returned in force and how interactive experiences like Toyota’s game show and Subaru’s adoption corner make the event feel human and memorable.

Gearheads get a double hit. Jeff kickstarts racing season with Formula One’s new era testing notes, the I-500 snowmobile classic, and a calendar stacked with NHRA, NASCAR, and IndyCar—plus a fresh street race headed to Washington, D.C. Then we dive into the 2026 Toyota Supra Final Edition: Gazoo Racing details, BMW-sourced straight-six punch, an eight-speed that makes the manual optional, and the kind of poised stiffness that turns on-ramps into moments. We close with Joe Garcia from Central Houston Nissan, who explains why the Rogue keeps winning, how the new Dark Armor trim hits the value sweet spot, and why the V6 Frontier is the right-size truck for garage and budget.

Subscribe for more live showfloor coverage, share this with your car-curious friends, and leave a review with the one vehicle you’d test first at the show.

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

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The cold rolled in, the guest line went sideways, and we decided to make the most valuable hour you’ll spend before hitting an icy road. We dig into the moves that keep you safe when bridges glaze over and confidence outruns grip: how to plan your route, why following distance is everything, and the simple car kit that turns a breakdown into an inconvenience instead of a crisis.

From there, we get hands-on with winter tires and storage. If you swap sets, we explain why compound and siping matter, the right way to store wheels horizontally, and how to clean tread before bagging them up. We share real black ice tactics learned the hard way—crawl speed, smooth inputs, zero assumptions about stopping—and why hot water on cold windshields is a costly mistake. Even in a world of roadside apps, kitty litter, blankets, and a power bank still save the day.

We lighten the mood with seven unforgettable songs about car crashes, using those stories as a lens on risk, impulse, and how car culture teaches safety by stealth. Then we turn the dial to racing: Daytona is on deck, and we have candid thoughts about broadcast crews, what fans want from coverage, and how good commentary can raise everyone’s IQ without talking down to anyone. If you wrench on classics, you’ll love our take on modern fuel injection that looks like a carb but starts right, tunes itself, and laughs at cold mornings.

Join us, warm up, and get road-ready. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a winter driving reset, and leave a quick review to help more car folks find the show. We’ll be live from the Houston Auto Show next week—see you there.

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

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New-car prices keep climbing, loan terms keep stretching, and shoppers are left to figure out what “value” really means. We bring on Alex from U.S. News & World Report to unpack the Best Cars for the Money awards, where expert road tests meet five-year ownership costs and real transaction data. The result is a practical shortlist of vehicles you can actually buy and enjoy without fearing the next payment or repair bill.

We walk through the standouts. Kia’s dramatic rise from budget to benchmark shows up across gas, hybrid, PHEV, and EV segments, with thoughtful packaging and long warranties that protect your wallet. In compact cars, the K4 challenges class leaders on price and coverage. For SUVs, we parse needs honestly: the Nissan Murano shines as a two-row value with style and standard safety, while the Kia Sorento makes sense as a smaller, occasional-use three-row that trims fuel and purchase costs. For buyers who truly need bigger rigs, Ford’s Expedition and F-150 deliver lower lifetime costs relative to peers without skimping on core features at the entry point.

We also go deep on EV reality. Regional charging, climate, and daily mileage matter, which is why compact options like the Chevy Equinox EV can be a sweet spot in cities, while larger families may see the Kia EV9 as the right fit. Then we get hands-on with the Polestar 4 Dual Motor: big power, clean design, a camera-based rear view, and a minimal interface that trades knobs for screens. We talk range, charging time, and how a dimmable glass roof feels in hot sun, plus how it stacks up against Tesla Model Y and Hyundai’s Ioniq lineup.

Looking for clarity in a confusing market? You’ll get data-backed picks, real-world buying tips, and straight talk on how to stretch your dollars without hating your daily drive. If this helped your search, follow the show, share with a friend who’s car-shopping, and leave a quick review to tell us your favorite value pick.

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Craving a car fix without a road trip? We spin a different kind of tour: five destination-worthy automotive museums that chart the arc from brass era pioneers to Hollywood legends, then we put a cutting-edge EV under the microscope. Our journey starts with the sprawling Gilmore campus and rolls through Tacoma’s LeMay, LA’s Petersen, and the Henry Ford’s sweeping narrative of innovation before landing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, where racing history crackles from every display.

With that heritage fresh in mind, we jump into the driver’s seat of the 2026 Polestar 4 dual motor. Think 544 horsepower, a sleek profile, and one audacious choice: no rear window. We talk through the consequences of camera-only rear visibility, a panoramic roof that relies on electrochromic dimming, and a minimalist cabin anchored by a 15.4-inch screen. It’s clean, modern, and quick, but we weigh the trade-offs—less tactile control and more eyes-off-road moments—alongside real-world charging needs, range, and pricing that parks it in Model Y and Ioniq territory.

To round it out, we tip our hats to the unsung infrastructure that makes every drive possible: America’s longest tunnels, from the Hudson crossings to Colorado’s high-altitude Eisenhower bore and Boston’s Ted Williams. It’s a look at how engineering ambition underpins car culture, whether you’re walking museum floors or merging into traffic. If you love the intersection of history, design, and modern EV realities, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a fellow car nut, and drop a review to tell us which museum or EV deserves our next deep dive.

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

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Fires, fixes, and fumbles: we open with hard facts on Ford’s engine block heater recall affecting more than 119,000 vehicles, what symptoms to watch for, and why the only safe move is to leave the plug alone until the dealer repair is done. We also spotlight Land Rover’s labeling error and explain how a “simple” sticker can pause sales and complicate safety compliance.

From there, we jump into a sold car roundup that shows how the market really moves. A clean 1999 Chevrolet Suburban crossing $25,000 proves that durability and utility still command a premium. A 1977 Corvette landing at $11,000 illustrates how malaise-era horsepower drags value despite a four-speed. A sharp resto-mod 1972 Chevy C10 earns $36,750 on stance and drivability, while a 1963 Volvo 1800S hits $26,250 on design purity and nostalgia. Then the curveball: a 2006 Subaru Impreza for $1,300, a masterclass in how condition beats badge every time.

We keep it local and lively with new Tailpipes and Tacos dates, cruise-ins you can hit next weekend, and details on our live broadcast from NRG Center. Along the way, we break down sales momentum across BMW, Lexus, Genesis, and GMC, and unpack how tariffs and model overlap nudged Dodge Hornet off the stage. If you care about car safety, smart buying, and the heartbeat of car culture, this one earns a saved spot in your queue.

Subscribe for more candid car talk, share this with a friend who loves a bargain hunt, and drop a review to tell us which sold price shocked you most.

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

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Awards shape buyer decisions more than most of us realize, so we sat down with veteran juror and radio host Jack Nerad to peel back how North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year actually get chosen. Fifty independent journalists, a year of testing, multiple voting rounds, and a marathon drive event near Detroit all lead to three names everyone talks about. We walk through the process, the politics (or lack thereof), and the real criteria that separate buzz from substance: class leadership, value, significance, innovation, and everyday usability.

The car finalists tell a story of contrast—Nissan Sentra updates, a reborn Honda Prelude, and a radically flexible Dodge Charger that spans two and four doors, a potent turbo six, and an all-electric variant. Hear why the jury rallied behind the Charger’s breadth and execution. On the truck side, the Ford Maverick Lobo edged out Ram 1500 and Ram 2500 by pushing the compact pickup idea further, balancing capability with size, price, and clever packaging for daily life. And in the most crowded arena of all, the Hyundai Palisade claimed Utility of the Year by delivering family comfort, available hybrid efficiency, and true bang for the buck in a segment where buyers vote with their wallets.

We also tackle EV realities. Charging gaps remain a friction point—even in California’s backyard and especially across Texas—so vehicles that offer both electric and gasoline paths are resonating. Jack explains how the jury weighs those infrastructure challenges against performance and innovation without drifting into tech cheerleading. To round things out, we shift gears with Jeff’s Car Culture—five of the longest drivable tunnels in the U.S.—and Mike’s Driving Destinations, highlighting five standout car museums from the Petersen to the Henry Ford.

If you enjoy smart car talk that mixes industry insight with real-world practicality, follow and subscribe. Share your own winners in the comments, and leave a review to help more enthusiasts find the show.

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

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Looking for a winter car fix without a long road trip? We map out a string of Texas car museums that punch above their weight, from Austin’s rock-and-roll-infused collection to the Hillsboro time capsule and Woody’s Classic Cars and Baseball Museum. The highlight is the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum’s Chaparral Gallery, where engineering legends meet live demonstrations that keep these racers in motion, not mothballed. We wrap the route with Bill’s Backyard Classics in Amarillo—a grassroots trove of hot rods, muscle, and trucks that feels personal and welcoming.

Then we slide behind the wheel of the 2026 Lincoln Aviator Black Label. Think clean, American luxury with modern lighting, rich leather, and a ride that floats without losing composure. The twin-turbo V6 serves smooth, V8-like thrust, but we press on two fronts: efficiency that begs for a hybrid and driver-assist features that demand constant attention. We talk usability, eye-on-road alerts, and why partial automation should reduce cognitive load, not raise it. Pricing and rivals like the MDX, GX, and XC90 help frame where the Aviator shines and where it needs polish.

Ownership realities get real with a concise recall roundup across brands—airbags, cameras, battery cables, and more—followed by a tour of the market’s mood via Hemmings sold prices. From a budget-friendly C4 Corvette to a premium 1959 Cadillac 62, a sleeper Studebaker pickup, and a surprisingly strong Firebird, we unpack what drives value: condition, taste, and story. Local cruise-ins and Monster Jam bring the community energy, while two trends shape the future: dealers reconditioning older, higher-mileage cars to address affordability, and modern salvage networks that make parts sourcing smarter and faster. We close with Honda’s new minimalist logo for its electrified era—a small emblem with big signaling power.

If you love car culture that stretches from museum halls to test-track impressions and neighborhood meets, you’re in the right garage. Subscribe, share with a fellow enthusiast, and leave a review to tell us which segment you want more of next.

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

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