Car Talk: Family Matters

Car Talk

4.7 (15)
COMEDY

The brothers tackle auto issues involving your relatives

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12/30/2017 • CAR TALK+ ONLY

#1752: Division of Labor

This week on The Best of Car Talk, a simple timing-belt question triggers an existential crisis as Kimberly's disagreement with her mom leads Ray to wonder why he has a co-host. Elsewhere, Veronica's husband wants to buy a vintage Land Rover to navigate the wilds of downtown Boston; Reed fears towing his wife's horse trailer will destroy his beloved Bronco; and Joe's about to get some very bad news about his Saab's transmission. Also, meet our friends Eddie and Edie Electron and find out why they're responsible for Michele's starting problem. All this and more, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

54 min
12/09/2017 • CAR TALK+ ONLY

#1749: An Honest Idiot or a Competent Crook

This week on The Best of Car Talk, Tom and Ray grapple with a philosophical conundrum for the ages: if you have to choose between honesty and competence, who wins? Elsewhere, Judy's Mom got a book of New England home remedies that suggests leaving a blanket and light bulb under the hood; Dennis is looking for a universal sign he can use to let other driver's know he made a bonehead move; and Fran's daughter might be a little too enthusiastic about inheriting Grandpa's old Town Car, which she's dubbed The Party Barge. Also, what's a pastor to do when his car's emitting an embarrassing odor? All this and more, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

54 min
10/28/2017 • CAR TALK+ ONLY

#1743: Sherman LeTank

This week on the Best of Car Talk, Tom and Ray wrestle with a textbook case of Extreme Frugality. Susan's husband loves his old Volvo so much he refuses to use the windshield wipers so he won't wear out the motor. What's next? Preserving the brakes by not using them? Elsewhere, Jackie needs help deciding whether she should buy a beater car for the winter but her Dad has recused himself after a run of recommending lemons. Also, something may be wrong with the air conditioning in Bill's Explorer (the smoke billowing from under the hood tipped him off); and on Stump the Chumps, we find out if Carla's truck is still only able to climb the hills of Homer, Alaska in Reverse. All this and more, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

54 min
10/07/2017 • CAR TALK+ ONLY

#1740: The Most Complex Relationship

This week on The Best of Car Talk, Tom and Ray ponder the idiosyncrasies of the mother-daughter relationship. Since they fit into neither category, fortunately their Mom, Elizabeth, and sister, Lucille, are by their phones, to share the tale of how Lucille's clothes wound up on the front lawn. Elsewhere, Herbert loves his VW van, except for its tendency to catch on fire; Ronnie Sue fixed a leaky hose with her underwear and is ready for her next auto repair challenge; and Michael wants to know if you can push start an automatic transmission with somethnig smaller than a two-ton truck. Also, can all of Tom and Ray's behavior be explained by the brain condition, "Witzelsucht"? Find out, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

54 min
09/23/2017 • CAR TALK+ ONLY

#1738: 30 Years of Listener Retaliation

This week, Car Talk's month long 30th Anniversary Celebration/Apology continues, with an all-listener request show. We've got the Bosnian Vowel Drop, Arup Gupta, the original Melissa Peterson letter, Death Valley Dinesh, and the circumferentially challenged Daniel Pinkwater reading highlights from the BMW owner's manual. Also, Dana needs help removing a chunk of the Berlin Wall from a friend's trunk, and Christy decides it's time to 'fess up to her Dad about destroying his car 15 years ago. All this and more, on The Best of Car Talk.

53 min
09/09/2017 • CAR TALK+ ONLY

#1736: 30 Years of Lousy Marital Advice

Believe it or not, Car Talk is celebrating its 30th Anniversary on NPR. We know we should mark the occasion with a sincere apology for wasting all those hours, but instead, we're celebrating with a series of special shows featuring some of our all-time favorite calls. This week's theme: Relationships! Can lonely guy Chris use his car to meet a woman? Did Ellen really wreck her husband's Explorer by accidentally filling it with diesel? Should Doug buy a manual shift car so his messy wife can't drive it? Did Kim or her husband make the more foolish car purchase? And what happens to a radio show host who implies his wife looks like a truck? All this, and more great moments, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

54 min
09/02/2017 • CAR TALK+ ONLY

#1735: Brotherly Love

Who better than Tom and Ray to solve a dispute between two brothers over a vintage Camaro? Well, lots of people, actually. But Cynthia wasn't able to reach any of them, so this week on The Best of Car Talk, she'll hope our heroes can bring peace to Thanksgiving this year. Elsewhere, Virginia's Honda keeps getting stolen and returned. She's resorted to drastic measures to protect it, but would she be better off just leaving the car unlocked and engine running? Also, John's Corvette's engine is misfiring, but John's hesitant to go to the dealer since the miss only occurs above 140 mph; and why did Bill's attempt to replace a broken belt with his daughter's tights fail? All this, plus a few unpublished titles from William Shakespeare, and lots more, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

53 min
08/12/2017 • CAR TALK+ ONLY

#1732: He's Nothing to Me

This week on The Best of Car Talk, Vern's sister-in-law's husband accused him of wrecking the engine in his Windstar by adding too much oil. On a scale of 1 to 10, how guilty should Vern feel? And does their tenuous connection on the family tree drive the guilt meter into negative numbers? Also, tales of VW Bugs: Maureen's caught on fire, and she's hoping for some encouragement that it won't happen again, while Wendy is wondering if the one she's been gifted by her parents can make it from Kansas to Washington. Also, a close call at Car Talk Plaza—how our Producer Dougie's laziness may have saved his life. All this and more, this week on The Best Car Talk.

53 min

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America's funniest auto mechanics take calls from weary car owners all over the country, and crack wise while they diagnose Dodges and dismiss Diahatsus. You don't have to know anything about cars to love this one hour weekly laugh fest.

4.7 (16214)

COMEDY