Car Stuff Podcast

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 ser...

Paul Herrold of the Sons of Speed sits in for Jill this week. Tom opened the show noting Ram’s decision to return the Hemi-brand V8 to the 1500 powertrain lineup. Ram had replaced the engine with a more powerful and efficient turbocharged six, but customers have rejected the new motor. 

Still in the first segment, Paul recaps his time in the 2025 Rolls-Royce Ghost II. Paul and Sons of Speed partner Brendan Appel share a video of the...

Jill and Tom are joined in-studio this week by colleague Ed Piotrowski. Ed recently wrote a piece for Consumer Guide regarding premium small crossovers he spent time with at this year’s Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally. Ed shared his impressions of the new Acura ADX, sporty Alfa-Romeo Tonale, and speedy BMW X3. Jill also attended the Rally, and shared her impressions of the electric Cadillac Escalade IQ and BMW iX....

 Tom is flying solo this week. He opened the show noting that Tesla is now accepting the Cybertruck in trade, though owners aren’t happy about the trade-in values, which are running around 60 percent of original prices. 

Tom noted that EV sales have been strong in the first quarter of 2025, though may finally be slowing down. Tom shared a list of the best-selling EV makers of 2025 so far, the number-2 company may come as a surprise....

Jill and Tom opened the show by talking about Toyota’s new-for-2026 electric-vehicle lineup. The changes include revised model names, and smaller and larger companions for the maker’s existing—and also updated—bZ compact EV. 

Tom talked about a recently published article which claims that the Tesla Cybertruck is wearing through tires in as little as 7000 miles. Per the article, replacement tires cost around $400 each. 

Tom also noted...

Tom opened the show with an apology for two mistakes he’s made in the past couple of weeks. Listen in for the corrections. Jill and Tom went on to share a tariff update, as well news regarding one of the strangest recalls…ever. So, what’s wrong with the Volkswagen ID. Buzz’s back seat? Listen in for details. 

Still in the first segment, Jill shares her take on the updated-for-2026 Genesis GV70 small crossover. Updated styling and a ...

Jill and Tom opened the show noting that of all the car brands affected by the trade tariffs, Buick and Volvo are in a particularly tough spot. Listen in to hear why. Tom made note of all the EV fast charging news of late, and suggests that listeners not get too excited by the hype. Per Tom, the nation's current electric grid will not be easily tapped for additional power, regardless of how quickly a vehicle is capable of bein...

Join Tom and guest host Brendan Appel of the Sons of Speed for this year’s Consumer Guide Best Buy episode of the Car Stuff Podcast. 

Tom and Brendan run down the list of 37 vehicles in 16 classes, each of which deserves a place on your new-car shopping list. If you are currently shopping for a new car, you need to listen to this episode. 

Following the Best Buy discussion, Brendan shared big news: The Sons of Speed and the folks fro...

Jill and Tom opened the show talking about Jill’s recent move. Good news, she’s now closer to the studio. Tom went on to discuss British sports-car maker/engineering firm Lotus, which has been owned by a number of carmakers over the years. It appears that Lotus is again up for sale. 

The hosts also discussed a new round of Tesla Cybertruck price cuts, and the brand’s sales share in California, one of its most-important markets. 

Stil...

Jill opened the show talking about her new Rebelle Rally team. Listen in for details. Tom shared some information about a not-for-profit organization that packages sundry products for patients undergoing Chemotherapy. The packages include items to help recipients deal with chemo side effects, including loss of taste, dry skin, and dehydration. You can check out Lemons of Love at lemonsoflove.org. 

The hosts went to discuss the Cyber...

Jill and Tom opened the show addressing the industry confusion brought on by the recent implementation of federal import tariffs. Tom ran down a list of known carmaker reactions to the regulations. 

Tom followed up the tariff talk with a brief review of the 2025 BMW M35i Grand Coupe, which he described as “delightful,” but noted several tech glitches which cut into the fun.  

Still in the second segment, Jill share her impressio...

The hosts opened the show by discussion Rivian’s “micromobility” operation, which was recently spun off from the parent company. "ALSO," as the new concern is called, is headquartered in California, and will focus on designing and building e-bikes, scooters, and other small electric vehicles. 

Tom also briefly addressed the tariff situation, which is likely to become much bigger news in the next day or so. The hosts also l...

This week the show opened with Tom quickly covering numerous news stories, including the likely demise of Cadillac’s last sedans, General Motors buying electric vans from Hyundai, and Cummins building a high-torque gasoline alternative to its medium-duty B6.7 diesel engines. 

Jill and Tom also briefly discussed the rumored production by Foxconn of electric vehicles in the U.S., most likely for Mitsubishi and Nissan. 

Still in the fir...

Tom opened up the show by admitting he has—again—forgotten his notes. Not to worry, as the conversation quickly turned to Tesla’s marketplace woes, including declining U.S. sales, and reports of a Cybertruck “stop sale,” ordered by the company, coming as a result of body parts falling off of the truck at speed. 

Jill reviewed the 2025 Toyota Sienna minivan, which has been freshened for the model year, and is offered in a new “woodsy...

Jill and Tom open the show covering a few news stories. First, Toyota is claiming it will have a solid-state EV battery in a production vehicle around 2030. Could be big news in regard to EV price and range. Listen in for details. The hosts went on to discuss Mercedes-Benz’s new turquoise marker- and tail lights. Why are they doing this? Listen in. 

Still in the first segment, Jill shared details of a story she wrote about how ...

The show opened with Tom running down a list of news items, including new information about the coming Kia K4 small/affordable EV, Moody’s downgrade of Nissan’s credit worthiness, and an update on slowing Tesla sales. Jill and Tom also corrected themselves on a pair of issues: Tom forgot that the current-generation Explorer is based on rear-wheel-drive architecture (episode 262), and Jill suggesting that the 2025 Nissan Altima is n...

Jill and Tom opened the show discussing Renault technology which promises to significantly reduce the time it takes to extinguish an EV fire. The hosts also discussed the Lexus decision to drop the sporty RC coupe from the luxury brand’s lineup. Tom followed this discussion up with one of his “X” polls, this time he asked users of the platform to pick the cooler marque: Bentley or Rolls-Royce. Listen in for the answer. 

Still i...

Jill and Tom opened the show covering a number of news items. First, Mini is dropping the “Cooper” tag from its model names moving forwarding—this is good news for editors everywhere. Plus, one industry supplier is developing “heel” airbags. Listen in to learn what that’s all about. And, Hyundai luxury brand Genesis is close to introducing a line-topping large crossover dubbed GV90. The big Genesis should start around $100,000. 

Jill and Tom opened the show discussing an “insertion” into the podcast schedule. A 5-minute “bonus episode” was posted between the last full episode (259) and today’s show (261). That bonus episode includes Tom’s test drive with Robert Colangelo (Green Sense Show) of the 2025 Toyota Camry, which is now hybrid only. 

Still in the first segment, the hosts discussed the discontinuation of a popular Chevrolet Model, the status of Mexic...