Michigan's AutoTalk Podcast
Michigan's AutoTalk Podcast is Michigan's only podcast for car and truck lovers, backyard mechanics, and automotive enthusiasts. Each episode is hosted by Al Schwinkendorf, and John Puhek. Our executive producer and occasional pontificator on autos is Phil Tower.
Episodes
Episode 99: “A deep dive on Driving and Owning EVs with Dr. Karl Bloss from Consumers Energy ”
In this episode, producer Phil Tower plus hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek welcome Dr. Karl Bloss, Consumers Energy’s Electric Vehicle Education and Outreach Coordinator.
As just about anyone who drives knows by now, electric vehicles have gone from being a rarity to almost commonplace road sight. In fact, Cox Automotive reports th...
In this episode, producer Phil Tower plus hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek welcome Dr. Karl Bloss, Consumers Energy’s Electric Vehicle Education and Outreach Coordinator.
As just about anyone who drives knows by now, electric vehicles have gone from being a rarity to almost commonplace road sight. In fact, Cox Automotive reports th...
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Episode 98: "An inside look at 16th running of Car and Driver's Lightning Lap, with editor-in-chief Tony Quiroga"
In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes back Car And Driver editor-in-chief, Tony Quiroga. Tony is an 18-year-veteran Car and Driver editor, writer, car reviewer, and the 19th editor-in-chief for the magazine since its founding in 1955.
In this episode, Tony gives us an insider's look at Car and Driver's 16th runni...
In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes back Car And Driver editor-in-chief, Tony Quiroga. Tony is an 18-year-veteran Car and Driver editor, writer, car reviewer, and the 19th editor-in-chief for the magazine since its founding in 1955.
In this episode, Tony gives us an insider's look at Car and Driver's 16th runni...
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Sticker price+$5,000 ?: The five new vehicles buyers pay big $$ for with Karl Brauer from iSeeCars(Episode 97)
Bought a new car lately? Today, new cars have priced an average of 8.8 percent above MSRP nationally, even after improving supply chain issues and paying higher interest rates on vehicle loans.
In this episode, producer Phil Tower chats with Karl Brauer, executive analyst for ISeeCars.com.
Locally, a recent iSeeCars study al...
Bought a new car lately? Today, new cars have priced an average of 8.8 percent above MSRP nationally, even after improving supply chain issues and paying higher interest rates on vehicle loans.
In this episode, producer Phil Tower chats with Karl Brauer, executive analyst for ISeeCars.com.
Locally, a recent iSeeCars study al...
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Episode 96: “The Station Wagon Show: Country Squires, Roadmasters, Vista Cruisers, and whatever Clark Griswold drove”
In this episode, producer Phil Tower plus hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek talk about the much-maligned but now making a comeback station wagon.
We spend the first part of the episode talking about a very rare 1996 Buick Roadmaster that is up for auction on the Hagerty marketplace website.
The 1996 Buick Roadmaste...
In this episode, producer Phil Tower plus hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek talk about the much-maligned but now making a comeback station wagon.
We spend the first part of the episode talking about a very rare 1996 Buick Roadmaster that is up for auction on the Hagerty marketplace website.
The 1996 Buick Roadmaste...
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February 23, 2023 • 9 mins
Episode 95: “Tricked out Ford Broncos and the women who love and drive them”
In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes back one of our favorite guests, automotive writer and reporter, Phoebe Wall-Howard from the Detroit Free Press. (Freep.com )
Phoebe recently wrote a very cool story in the Detroit Free Press about how women love their new Ford Broncos so much that they're “pouring thousands of dollars into their brand-new SUV t...
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February 17, 2023 • 21 mins
Part 2 of 2: Recorded live at the Michigan International Auto Show on Thursday, February 2nd, 2023 at DeVos Place. In the second part of this episode, recorded live from DeVos Place, we were joined by Craig Piersma, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications, with Gentex. Craig shared with us the contributions that Jen tax has made regarding automotive technology and beyond. Zeeland, MI-based Gentex is most notably kn...
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February 3, 2023 • 28 mins
Episode 93: “Live from The 2023 Michigan International Auto Show Part 1”
In this episode, producer Phil Tower plus hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek recorded this episode live from the 2023 Michigan International Auto Show at Devos Place in downtown Grand Rapids.
On this episode, we learned from show manager Dawn Baker that this is year #25 for the Michigan International Auto Show where auto manufacturers from around the world ...
In this episode, producer Phil Tower plus hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek recorded this episode live from the 2023 Michigan International Auto Show at Devos Place in downtown Grand Rapids.
On this episode, we learned from show manager Dawn Baker that this is year #25 for the Michigan International Auto Show where auto manufacturers from around the world ...
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Episode 92: “An insider’s look at the contenders for Road and Track magazine’s 2023 Performance Car of the Year awards.”
In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes Mike Guy editor-in-chief of Road & Track . He was the founder and former editor-in-chief of The Drive. Prior to starting The Drive, Guy was the digital director of Maxim and an articles editor at Details. Mike also served as an editor and feature writer for Rolling...
In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes Mike Guy editor-in-chief of Road & Track . He was the founder and former editor-in-chief of The Drive. Prior to starting The Drive, Guy was the digital director of Maxim and an articles editor at Details. Mike also served as an editor and feature writer for Rolling...
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Episode 91: “And the winners are: a close-up look at the 2023 North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year Award winners "
In this episode, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, welcome back guest, Jeff Gilbert, an automotive reporter for CBS Newsradio and WWJ NewsRadio in Detroit.
Notably, for years, Jeff has served as a juror for the North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle Of T...
In this episode, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, welcome back guest, Jeff Gilbert, an automotive reporter for CBS Newsradio and WWJ NewsRadio in Detroit.
Notably, for years, Jeff has served as a juror for the North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle Of T...
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Episode 90: “The latest and greatest high-tech automotive innovation from inside The Consumer Electronics Show"
In this episode, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, welcome special guest, Jeff Gilbert. Jeff is a well-respected automotive reporter for CBS Newsradio and WWJ NewsRadio in Detroit. Jeff is also a juror for the North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle Of The Year Awards. Jeff joine...
In this episode, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, welcome special guest, Jeff Gilbert. Jeff is a well-respected automotive reporter for CBS Newsradio and WWJ NewsRadio in Detroit. Jeff is also a juror for the North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle Of The Year Awards. Jeff joine...
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Episode 89: "Nine no-brainers and one sleeper: Car and Driver's 10 best cars of 2023 with editor in chief Tony Quiroga"
In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes car and driver editor in chief, Tony Quiroga. Tony is an 18-year-veteran Car and Driver editor, writer, and car reviewer and the 19th editor-in-chief for the magazine since its founding in 1955. Over the years, Tony has held nearly every editorial position at the magazi...
In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes car and driver editor in chief, Tony Quiroga. Tony is an 18-year-veteran Car and Driver editor, writer, and car reviewer and the 19th editor-in-chief for the magazine since its founding in 1955. Over the years, Tony has held nearly every editorial position at the magazi...
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On our latest episode, number 88 of Michigan's AutoTalk, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, hear Al share the remarkable story of his grandfather, Adolf. Adolf came to America from Germany in 1909 and spent 40 years working for Studebaker in South Bend, Indiana. Grandpa Adolf and his wife saved diligently until they could purchase what would become his pride and joy... A brand new 1947 Studebaker...
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A Man and his love for Checkers: Jim Garrison, President of Checker Car Club of America (Episode 87)
December 22, 2022 • 21 mins
On our latest episode, number 87 of Michigan's AutoTalk, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, what Jim Garrison president of the Checker car club of America. Jim worked at Checker Motors for 32 years and had a treasure trove of information about everything related to the legendary Checker vehicle. Checkers were built to last and several of them are still operating today, including the models that J...
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December 8, 2022 • 16 mins
Episode 86: "Ford's secret new money machine comes disguised as a pickup truck"
In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes back Phoebe Wall-Howard, automotive, writer, and reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Phoebe joined us to talk about the runaway success of the highly anticipated 2023 Ford Super Duty.
In this episode, Phoebe tells us that Ford set an all-new sales record for the month of November after reaching a record nu...
In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes back Phoebe Wall-Howard, automotive, writer, and reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Phoebe joined us to talk about the runaway success of the highly anticipated 2023 Ford Super Duty.
In this episode, Phoebe tells us that Ford set an all-new sales record for the month of November after reaching a record nu...
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December 1, 2022 • 16 mins
Episode 85: "The great snow tire debate and other winter driving myths."
In this episode, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, discuss the pros and cons of snow tires and the best tips for safe winter driving overall. The decades-old wisdom that snow tires were essential in West Michigan is really not true and in this episode, Al and John talk about why snow tires are not as necessary as they used t...
In this episode, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, discuss the pros and cons of snow tires and the best tips for safe winter driving overall. The decades-old wisdom that snow tires were essential in West Michigan is really not true and in this episode, Al and John talk about why snow tires are not as necessary as they used t...
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November 23, 2022 • 32 mins
Episode 84: "Auto Analyst Karl Brauer on Cars that Depreciate the Least and Most Over 3 Years."
In this episode, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, welcome Karl Brauer, executive analyst for ISeeCars.com.
Karl joins us to discuss which specific vehicles have the best and worst overall depreciation levels over a three-year period for the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo markets.
Given the substantial rise...
In this episode, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, welcome Karl Brauer, executive analyst for ISeeCars.com.
Karl joins us to discuss which specific vehicles have the best and worst overall depreciation levels over a three-year period for the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo markets.
Given the substantial rise...
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November 17, 2022 • 22 mins
Episode 83: “Christmas is for car lovers at the winter wonderland at Gilmore Car Museum"
In this episode, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, welcome back our friend Josh Russell, executive director of The Gilmore Car Museum.
Josh talks about the amazing holiday experience at the Gilmore known as Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland at The Gilmore Car Museum features a holiday lights spectacular, un...
In this episode, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, welcome back our friend Josh Russell, executive director of The Gilmore Car Museum.
Josh talks about the amazing holiday experience at the Gilmore known as Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland at The Gilmore Car Museum features a holiday lights spectacular, un...
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November 10, 2022 • 16 mins
Episode 82: “A special look at Ford’s dedication to those who served our country and wear the blue oval”
In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes special guest Scott Rumfield, a product line manager with Ford and a Vet who leads Ford’s Employee Resource Group and Veterans Network Group.
The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) recently recognized Ford as a Gold-level Veteran Friendly Employer. Ford’s ERG, the Veteran Networ...
In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes special guest Scott Rumfield, a product line manager with Ford and a Vet who leads Ford’s Employee Resource Group and Veterans Network Group.
The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) recently recognized Ford as a Gold-level Veteran Friendly Employer. Ford’s ERG, the Veteran Networ...
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November 3, 2022 • 12 mins
Episode 81: #Vanlife Reimagined: The All-New 2023 Ford Transit Trail
In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes special guest Jennifer Mitchell. Jennifer is the Ford Pro, Commercial Van Brand Manager. She joined us to discuss the all-new, highly-anticipated 2023 Ford Transit Trail Van. A recent teaser video showed the Transit Trail van's side profile, a sidestep, and the front grille, highlighted by three amber-colored clear...
In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes special guest Jennifer Mitchell. Jennifer is the Ford Pro, Commercial Van Brand Manager. She joined us to discuss the all-new, highly-anticipated 2023 Ford Transit Trail Van. A recent teaser video showed the Transit Trail van's side profile, a sidestep, and the front grille, highlighted by three amber-colored clear...
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October 27, 2022 • 22 mins
Episode 80: “The Inside Story of the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant"
In this episode, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, welcome special guest Barry Cogan, a member of the Piquette Avenue Plant’s Board of Trustees, and volunteer for the facility for more than ten years. We learned that Barry also served on the Board of Directors for the Dodge Brothers Club, the Eastside A’s Model A Club, and Piquette ...
In this episode, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, welcome special guest Barry Cogan, a member of the Piquette Avenue Plant’s Board of Trustees, and volunteer for the facility for more than ten years. We learned that Barry also served on the Board of Directors for the Dodge Brothers Club, the Eastside A’s Model A Club, and Piquette ...
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