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Car Stuff Podcast

Consumer Guide Automotive, Tom Appel, Jill Ciminillo

298 episodes

4 days ago

Paul Herrold of the Sons of Speed sits in for Jill this week. Jill will be back for next week’s show. Paul and Tom open the show by discussing consumer-battery maker Duracell’s foray into electric-vehicle charging. Duracell branded car chargers are showing up now in the U.K., and are expected to arrive in the U.S. in the not-to-distant future. The hosts go on to discuss two big General Motors announcements. First, GM will be launching full level-3 semi-autonomous drive systems for the 2...

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Paul Herrold of the Sons of Speed sits in for Jill this week. Jill will be back for next week’s show. Paul and Tom open the show by discussing consumer-battery maker Duracell’s foray into electric-vehicle charging. Duracell branded car chargers are showing up now in the U.K., and are expected to arrive in the U.S. in the not-to-distant future. The hosts go on to discuss two big General Motors announcements. First, GM will be launching full level-3 semi-autonomous drive systems for the 2...

Show more...

Episodes (20/298)

Car Stuff Podcast

Killing CarPlay, Driving the McLaren GT, Fuel Cells for Big Trucks

Paul Herrold of the Sons of Speed sits in for Jill this week. Jill will be back for next week’s show. Paul and Tom open the show by discussing consumer-battery maker Duracell’s foray into electric-vehicle charging. Duracell branded car chargers are showing up now in the U.K., and are expected to arrive in the U.S. in the not-to-distant future. The hosts go on to discuss two big General Motors announcements. First, GM will be launching full level-3 semi-autonomous drive systems for the 2...

5 days ago

56 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

Ford's "i-Pod" Steering Wheel, VW Golf R, Stellantis Manufacturing Shakeup

Jill returns this week after a two-show absence to participate in the 2025 edition of the Rebelle Rally. After Jill wraps up her thoughts on the event, Tom shares news regarding Toyota launching a new premium brand to be positioned above Lexus in the maker’s corporate portfolio. Tom goes onto complain about/fawn over the new steering wheel controls in the 2025 Ford Expedition. Tom describes the new interface as “i-Pod-like,” and appreciates the aesthetic appeal of the simple design. Lis...

1 week ago

57 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

Chevrolet Bolt Returns, Driving an Electric Lotus, Talking Big Pickups

Paul Herrold of the Sons of Speed sits in for Jill this week. The hosts open the show by discussing the reborn Chevrolet Bolt small electric crossover. Pricing comes in about $5000 below the least-expensive Chevy Equinox EV, at around $30,000. Paul and Tom also discussed the new Tesla Model 3 and Model Y “Standard" models, which are both priced around $40,000, though lose some features and range to hit the new price point. Still in the first segment, Paul shares a quick review of ...

2 weeks ago

56 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

Jeep Drops Wagoneer, Cadillac Optiq Review, ChargePoint Hones Charging Network

Brendan Appel of the Sons of Speed sits in for Jill this week. Brendan and Tom open the show discussing rumors of the Jeep Wagoneer’s demise, which would leave just the Grand Wagoneer in Jeep’s lineup. The hosts share sales numbers for large SUVs--listen in to hear which large ute is the best-selling. Brendan shares his thoughts on the post-federal-incentive EV sales environment. For those who don’t know, the incentives of up to $7500 for a new EV ended September 30. Still in the ...

3 weeks ago

56 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

Lexus Drops Model, Driving the Redesigned Leaf, Polestar Deep Dive

Jill and Tom open the show noting that the well-regarded Hyundai Kona EV small electric crossover is only offered in a dozen states, so availability is very limited. This point comes into play as the hosts discuss the redesigned Nissan Leaf later in the show. Tom shares news regarding new tariffs, this time on heavy-duty trucks. Interestingly, big-truck maker Volvo (Volvo, Mack) produces almost all of its vehicles in the U.S. Listen in for where other heavy-duty truck makers build their...

1 month ago

56 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

Nissan Kills EV, Driving the Audi SQ8, Shopping for Car Insurance

Tom opens the show correcting two errors he made recently. Listen in to hear what he got wrong. Tom then shares the results of an X poll he conducted on Ferrari colors. Turns out white is NOT a popular choice for the Italian sports cars. The hosts also acknowledge the end of production for the Subaru Legacy midsize sedan. Jill notes that the car never had much impact on a segment ruled by the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Jill and Tom also share news regarding the Nissan Ariya el...

1 month ago

57 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

Honda Civic Hybrid, Ram Kills EV, 1969 Camaro

The show opens with a brief, and completely off-topic, conversation about whether or not Tom smells spicy. Listen in for the verdict. Tom shared brief impressions of the 2025 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance AWD, noting that the premium midsize crossover was over-named by a few syllables. That said, Tom is very impressed with the vehicles. The hosts went on the talk about Ram’s decision to kill—before introduction—the Ram REV electric pickup truck. The story gets a little complic...

1 month ago

56 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

Chinese Door Handles, Volkswagen Tiguan Review, Toyota Learns from Motorsports

Jill and Tom open the show by sharing information about a Chicago event, Electrify Chicago, coming to the area September 12-13. Next, Tom shares some news about Chinese new-car door handles, and how some of them will soon be illegal. The hosts also discussed the relationship between the Toyota Highlander and Grand Highlander. With the “Grand” gaining popularity, the Japanese maker is tweaking the standard Highlander’s trim-level lineup—making it more expensive for 2026. Listen in for mo...

1 month ago

55 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

New Jeep Cherokee, Bronco Stroppe, Tariff Turmoil Explained

Jill and Tom open the show talking about “launch colors,” basically the color which new vehicles are initially presented in for media reveals, advertising, and promotion. Tom still remembers the copper color the redesigned Mitsubishi Eclipse was unveiled in for 2000. Tom shared his early impressions of the electric Volvo EX30 subcompact crossover. So far, Tom is delighted by the Volvo, and surprised by its price. The hosts turn the discussion to the coming 2026 Jeep Compass; a veh...

2 months ago

54 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

Audi Price Hikes, Driving the New Solterra, Restoring Classic Cars as EVs

The hosts open the show briefly discussing Tom’s experiences car shopping with his 25-year-old daughter. After test driving five cars, and much careful consideration, a car has been purchased. Listen in for details. In the news, Jill and Tom talk about Audi tariff-related price increases, Chrysler’s crazy Grizzly Peak minivan concept vehicle, and the Dodge Durango going V8 only for 2026. Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the updated 2026 Subaru Solterra, which now enjoys mo...

2 months ago

56 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

EV Startups Struggle, Acura ADX Review, Shrinking Big Cities and the Future of Mobility

Jill and Tom open the show discussing the poor first-half financial returns of EV startups Lucid and Rivian, and the surprising impact recent emissions deregulation will have on their bottom lines. The hosts also touch on the slow sales start of Lucid’s new Gravity EV crossover. Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the subcompact Acura ADX crossover. Jill likes the vehicle, but questions if it's refined and powerful enough to be an Acura. Listen in for her complete review. In ...

2 months ago

55 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

Ford's "Model T Moment," 2026 Palisade Review, Features Most Important to Value Shoppers

Jill and Tom open the show discussing today’s big Ford news, an announcement the company refers to as its “Model T Moment.” The news, delivered by Ford CEO Jim Farley includes plans for a new electric pickup truck, new manufacturing processes, and a surprising target price point. Listen in for details. Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the redesigned 2026 Hyundai Palisade midsize crossover. The new vehicle is updated inside and out, and is also slightly larger. In the secon...

2 months ago

57 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

Surprising Costco Car, Driving the Electric Escalade, All About the Subaru Forester Hybrid

Jill and Tom open the show covering a few news items, including: · Tesla has stopped exporting a couple of models to Europe · Engine stop/start may be dropped from future vehicles · The Ineos Grenadier SUV is now available via the Costo car-buying service Tom also discussed his surprise at how likable the 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale—not the plug-in hybrid—is. Still in the first segment, Jill reviewed th...

2 months ago

56 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

Acura Drops Model, Dodge EV Impresses, Big Ram Changes for 2026

Brendan Appel of The Sons of Speed sits in for Jill this week. Brendan and Tom opened the show by complaining about the extreme heat lingering over the Chicago area. Tom then noted that Jill was correct last week when she suggested that Toyota had a 20-percent stake in Subaru. Tom had suggested a lower figure. Still in the first segment, Brendan and Tom acknowledged the passing of the TLX, Acura’s excellent midsize sedan which has struggled in the marketplace for several year. The sport...

3 months ago

54 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

New Forester Hybrid, A Conversation with Chrysler CEO Chris Feuell

Jill and Tom open the show by discussing a rumored new Tesla product for the Chinese market, and the impact of tariffs on Tesla prices in Canada. The hosts also chat briefly about how Chinese EV builder NIO is dealing with battery-swapping “cheaters” in its home market. Still in the first segment, Jill and Tom review the Subaru Forester in new-for-2025 hybrid trim. The hosts find themselves in complete agreement on this small crossover. In the second segment Jill and Tom welcome C...

3 months ago

57 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

Massive Ford Recalls, Subaru WRX, Best Cars for Teen Drivers

Jill and Tom opened the show with a brief acknowledgment of the podcast’s apparent popularity in Sweden. Amusingly, the show is described on Poddtroppen—a Swedish podcast download site—as a “Komedie.” Moving on, the hosts discussed yet another—massive—Ford recall. Tom suggests a reason why Ford might be in the trouble its in. Still in the first segment, the hosts dig into Volvo’s recently announced decision to layoff 15-percent of its U.S. workforce. Next, Jill reviews the 2025 Su...

3 months ago

57 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

General Motors EV Sales, Driving the BMW iX, Nissan Armada Deep Dive

Jill and Tom opened the show discussing the demise of the federal electric-vehicle tax credit. The new and used credits expire on September 30. As a result of the credit situation, Nissan has officially announced the delay of two EV crossovers, one each for Nissan and Nissan luxury-division Infiniti. The hosts also discussed Q2 EV sales results. Tom noted a significant increase in electric-vehicle sales at General Motors, while Tesla sales continue to decline. Jill and Tom discussed the...

3 months ago

56 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

Future for Fuel Cells, New Honda CR-V Trailsport, Remembering American Motors

Tom and Jill opened the show welcoming new listeners to the program. June proved to be the Car Stuff Podcast’s best download month yet. Tom went on to share news of hydrogen pockets located underground. Tom noted that were these pocket large enough, and easily accessed, it’s possible that fuel-cell vehicles may play a significant role in future mobility. Still in the first segment, Jill reviewed the 2026 Honda CR-V in new Trailsport trim. The compact CR-V becomes the fourth vehicle in t...

4 months ago

56 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

Ram Sweetens Pot, Cadillac Optiq Review, Ranking the Most American Made Vehicles

Jill and Tom opened up the show by clarifying a point made last week. Indeed, the only Mercedes-Benz wagon offered for sale in the U.S. is the “All-Terrain” variant of the midsize E-class. Tom noted similar wagon offering limitations in the Volvo, Audi, and BMW lineups. The hosts also chatted briefly about Ram’s extended powertrain warranty which takes effect for the 2026 model year. Listen in to hear how the new protection plan, combined with the newly available Hemi engine, might spar...

4 months ago

56 minutes

Car Stuff Podcast

Blazer EV Tweaks, Nissan Murano Review, China's Massive EV Machine

Jill opened the show briefly recapping here recent travels. Jill’s been on the road training for the next edition of the Rebelle Rally, this time with a new driver/partner and new vehicle. Listen in for details. Tom shared details of a major industry merger, though most consumers won’t be affected. Still, it does involve Mercedes-Benz and Toyota. Tom shared news regarding the 2026 Chevrolet Blazer EV. One version goes away; one seriously high-performance variant is added to the li...

4 months ago

56 minutes