Car Talk: Road Trips

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Car Talk: Road Trips

What you need to know for the long rides

  1. 16/12/2017 • CAR TALK+ ONLY

    #1750: Tires of Love

    This week on The Best of Car Talk, does anything say "I love you" more than a set of snow tires? Well, Patty thinks lots of things do, and is dismayed by her boyfriend's plan to gift her a set of tires for Christmas. Will Tom and Ray take Patty's side or thank her boyfriend for the idea? Also, we hear from Suzy, who was planning to drive from Carlsbad, California all the way across Mexico in a VW Vanagon. We say "was," because Suzy's only gotten to Texas, and the Vanagon is already making noises. Is this road trip doomed? And Laura's 20-year old-son put gravel in her truck's wheels and stuck coins down the vents. Should she be more worried about the truck or her son's habits? All this, and lots more, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

    54 min

  2. 02/12/2017 • CAR TALK+ ONLY

    #1748: The Vanagon of the Sierra Madre

    This week on the Best of Car Talk, Suzy is planning to driver her parents across Mexico in a rebuilt VW Vanagon. We know Suzy won't need any stinkin' badges, but are there any tools she can bring along to increase her chances of completing the trip to 15%? Elsewhere, Kathy's Mercedes' wipers are so bad her kids have to lean out the window and play spotter whenever it rains; Biju can't stop falling asleep at 10:00 PM--at home or behind the wheel; and Ed learned he shouldn't try to change his car's fluids before his morning coffee. Also, Joann's Jeep has a leak, and so does Joann's professional ego because she runs a repair shop, and can't figure out where the water's coming in. All this and more, this week on The Best of Car Ta

    54 min

  3. 10/06/2017 • CAR TALK+ ONLY

    #1723: Mama Get a Hammer, There's a Fly on Papa's Head

    This week, The Best of Car Talk kicks off with some of our favorite Country song titles. Can anything top, "I'd Rather Pass a Kidney Stone Than Another Night With You"? Then it's off to Maui, where Jeff would be advised to stop bragging about the weather if he wants to find out why his brake pedal is sinking to the floor. Elsewhere, Inga is wondering which of her several mistakes caused her parked car to lurch down hill; Matt's brother talked him into a DIY timing belt change on his Acura, and a month later, the car still isn't running right; Bryan would like his vintage pickup truck to handle like a Dodge Viper; and can Stephanie's Corolla survive a cross-country trip? All this and more, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

    55 min

  4. 18/03/2017 • CAR TALK+ ONLY

    #1711: Love and an Automotive Weenie

    This week on The Best of Car Talk, Darlene loves her husband but his ignorance about cars has left her at the mercy of a mechanic she doesn't know if she can trust. Meanwhile, Susan may need to to dump her boyfriend before his "lazy shifting" croaks her Miata. Also, Richard is planning a road trip in a '64 Dodge Dart and wants to know what spare parts he should bring along--although he might do better with a spare car; Dick's van needs a new alternator every time the seasons change; and, will Tom and Ray actually give helpful advice to a used car salesman? Find out, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

    54 min

  5. 14/01/2017 • CAR TALK+ ONLY

    #1702: Acute Tire Phobia

    This week on The Best of Car Talk, Peterson is afraid to put air in his tires. Is he doomed to depending on the kindness of strangers with pumps, or can Tom and Ray help cure him—or at least outfit him properly in case there is an explosion? Elsewhere, towing may be Dave's best option for transporting his beloved LeMans cross-country, because the car could fall off somewhere in Nebraska; Hanz can't decide if his wife's behavior at stoplights is utterly brilliant or utterly wacko; and Elizabeth may be asking too much from her Volvo. Is shutting down when she turns on the wipers really such a big deal? All this, plus a world record for parking in a small space and lots more, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

    54 min

  6. 22/10/2016 • CAR TALK+ ONLY

    #1643: Dave From Bemidji

    This week on The Best of Car Talk, gather round for the greatest road trip story ever told. Dave and his girlfriend drove from Alaska to Minnesota in an overheating Chevy Cavalier with an old campfire grill jammed into the catalytic converter, a crescent wrench with no sockets, and one big zit on Dave's forehead. In more mundane matters, Patrice's VW bus won't start, John Mark's backseat passengers are getting their feet soaked when he makes a turn, and Alana's gas tank is spitting fuel back out after she fills it. Also, how should Rich wake up a Buick that's been napping for four years, and is the threat of fire enough to convince Jim that replacing his tailpipe might count as a "necessary repair"? All this and more, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

    54 min

  7. 13/08/2016 • CAR TALK+ ONLY

    #1633: A Big, Beautiful Piece of. Junk

    This week on The Best of Car Talk, should Jason dump his beloved Camaro? It needs a new engine and completed its mission to help him find a girlfriend. Elsewhere, Shelly has the happiest dog in the world as her Explorer is spewing dog food from the vents; Oscar needs to decide whether to fix his wife's brakes or buy more life insurance for her; and should Barbara attempt her 6-month road trip in a VW Camper Van if she expects it to last more than 6 days? Also, from the land of Wacko theories, Teresa's husband thinks he has a better to chance to survive a collision if he's not wearing a seat belt; and our on-call chemist Jim Davis weighs in on Ray's hungry water theory. All this and more, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

    54 min

  8. 02/07/2016 • CAR TALK+ ONLY

    #1627: The Laying on of Hands

    This week on The Best of Car Talk, John can only keep his car from stalling by opening the hood and touching the engine. Does this fix have anytinng to do with the fact that John's a Catholic priest? Elsewhere, Tom is looking for a "girlfriend car," but can't decide if his wife should be able to drive it; Rick's friends are telling him his family road trip from Kansas to Disneyland may end in Wichita if he doesn't get a valve job; and way up north in Alaska, Linda needs to retro-fit her ATV so her sled dogs will get their off-season workouts. All this and more, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

    54 min
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What you need to know for the long rides

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