In Wheel Time Podcast: Your Go-To Automotive Talk Show

We continue our 2025 End Of Year look...

Looking for clarity on your next daily driver? We put two very different paths under the microscope: Volvo’s 2025 EX40 Twin Motor Ultra with its tight, tech-forward approach to electrification, and Chevrolet’s 2026 Tahoe Premier 4WD with big V8 torque, real towing, and road-trip comfort. The contrast reveals what you truly trade—time at chargers for quiet torque, touchscreen taps for min...

We wrap up the year with two radically different drives, one honest verdict. We put the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata through its paces to see if a featherweight roadster with a manual top and a “butter” shifter still delivers peak driving joy in a world of screens and mega-SUVs. Then we jump into the 2025 GMC Acadia Denali to test whether a quiet, tech-rich, seven-passenger family hauler can feel premium without feeling ponderous, and how...

Ready for a real-world look at two very different small SUVs? We put the 2025 Subaru Forester Premium Hybrid AWD and the Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD through their paces and compare what matters when you’re not reading a brochure. From highway range and cabin comfort to pricing ladders and charging access, we cut through the noise and share where each vehicle genuinely excels.

We start with the Forester Hybrid’s practical package: ...

Big power, big space, and even bigger holiday plans. We put the all-new 2025 Ford Expedition Max under the microscope, from its streamlined grille and clever two-piece tailgate to a fully revamped interior with twin screens and a sliding center console that actually changes daily usability. With 400 horsepower, 480 lb-ft of torque, and up to 9,000 pounds of towing, the Max Platinum proves it can haul, cruise, and carry with confide...

Prices keep climbing, patience keeps thinning, and the smartest car on the lot might be the one that’s two or three years old. We sit down to explore why a crowd-pleaser like the VW ID. Buzz is slipping from the U.S. launch calendar, how an $80,000 price tag changes the conversation, and where EVs still struggle to deliver everyday convenience for people without home charging. From the Detroit Auto Show preview to the North America...

A twelve-year-old car can be a trusty friend or a looming money pit—and most of us don’t know which until a big repair lands in our lap. We sat down with RepairSurge CEO Jon Vorisek to unpack a clear, data-driven way to decide whether to fix an aging vehicle or sell it with confidence. Drawing on usage patterns across manuals for 10,000+ models, John breaks down which repairs usually pay for themselves and where to draw the line us...

Want to know what actually moves the needle in modern Top Fuel? We bring Antron Brown into the shop and pull the tarp back on the Performance Racing Industry show, the small edges that decide Sunday, and the strategy behind building a champion when the big power gains are gone. This is a story about tools, people, and timing.

We start where the real work happens: aisles of new coatings, valves, intakes, CNC upgrades, and w...

Engines draw a crowd, but design keeps people talking. From a lively morning at Tailpipes and Tacos, we sit down with architect and hot rodder Marshall Reed to explore how a thoughtfully built ’32 Ford roadster can bridge craftsmanship, culture, and the pure joy of driving. His satin black, brushed finish and hand pinstriping show how restraint and texture can be more striking than a mirror glaze, while a ZZ4 350 and Tremec five-sp...

Step into a Texas cruise-in where the smell of fajitas meets fresh tire shine and a toy drive turns a casual meet into a community mission. We’re live from Tailpipes & Tacos, swapping stories with Sheila about drag racing memories, family traditions, and a simple idea with big impact: a kids’ car show that teaches respect for classics from day one. From pedal cars with grandkids’ names to the unwritten “look, don’t touch” rule,...

Two very different roads, one clear question: what actually works for everyday drivers? We put miles on the 2025 Subaru Forester Premium Hybrid and the refreshed Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD to find out, comparing real-world efficiency, tech usability, comfort, and cost. Along the way, we pull apart the numbers you care about—mpg versus range, tow ratings, cargo usability—and the little things that make or break ownership, like whether your...

The cables were messy, the mics were hot, and the parking lot was already full when we sat down with Dano—Navy and Marine veteran, Region 5 Toys for Tots coordinator, and proud VW bus owner. What followed was a lively ride through car culture, community, and the nuts-and-bolts work that turns one toy into a holiday morning breakthrough.

Dano rolls up in a 1974 Brazilian VW bus, a perfect entry point into a world where affo...

Sizzling fajitas, a packed lot, and a sea of chrome set the stage at Tailpipes and Tacos in Katy, Texas, where we dive into the heartbeat of car culture. We welcome Chase Murray to swap NHRA road stories and shine a light on sportsman drag racing—the data-driven, family-powered backbone that rarely gets the headlines but delivers the grit. From pit strategy and shared setups to the Emmons team’s relentless note-taking, we get into ...

Live from Gulf Coast Auto Shield in Houston, we step into a shop where protection, performance, and community collide. John Gray walks us through the craft and the business: why modern paint protection film is the flagship service, how ceramic coatings and nano tint complete the package, and what it takes to keep high-dollar paint and sensors safe in a world of gravel, UV, and crowded freeways. We even go below the waterline to cov...

Chrome tanks gleaming in the bed, four hydraulic pumps ready to dance, and a pearl-white El Camino built from love and discipline—Rudy joins us to share how lowrider craft, family tradition, and clean engineering come together in a car that means more than metal. He walks us through paint choices, a four-pump setup, 13-inch whitewalls, and the geometry behind extended control arms that make three-wheeling possible, plus the real-wo...

Ever wonder what a dashboard really says about a car? We take you on a fast, design-first journey from the brute clarity of American muscle gauges to the handcrafted elegance of vintage European cockpits, the sculpted glamour of Art Deco luxury, and the software-rich arenas of today’s supercars. Along the way, custom hot rod clusters remind us that the best instrument panel can be a mirror of the builder’s personality.

Wit...

The smell of fresh wax, the rumble of arrivals, and a table full of hot takes—our live remote at Gulf Coast Auto Shield pulls you straight into car culture. We kick off with a clear-eyed look at November’s sales story: Hyundai dips, Kia climbs, inventory loosens to a 64‑day supply, and hybrids keep humming while EV demand wobbles with changing incentives. That sets the stage for what drivers actually feel on the ground: access, rel...

Sun on the shop floor, cutters snapping, and a Ford GT gleaming under fresh film—this one is for people who love cars and want them to last. We set up at Gulf Coast Auto Shield with owner John Gray to explore how a protection-first mindset turned a corner-bay detailing gig into three thriving Houston locations. The throughline is simple and powerful: do clean work, protect value, and treat every client like the next referral.
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Cars bring people together, but the best events make room for the next generation. We’re rolling out a fresh twist on a beloved Houston-area cruise-in: a safe, dedicated kids’ car corral as part of the Tailpipes and Tacos Christmas edition at Loopy Tortilla in Katy. From pedal cars to parent-controlled ride-ons, we outline how families can show off kid-sized builds while staying clear of traffic and pristine paint. Add goodie bags,...

A high school shop can change a life, and today you’ll hear how three Klein Kane students turned four years of training into a first-place finish and a ticket to Texas Motor Speedway. We sit down with instructor Henry Silva and his team to unpack what it really takes to win a professional-grade student technical competition: mentorship from a master tech, interview practice with industry pros, and a three-hour, bugged-vehicle chall...