The Avants Podcast

Avants

Join hosts Dan Putnam and Nick Bergeron as they get to know industry leading guests beyond just what they drive. The Avants Podcast is never scripted and never predictable, but it’s always a good time and full of surprises. You won’t find any boring reviews that sound like reading off a pre-planned info sheet, ”history of” shows that are reworded Wikipedia articles, or advertisements for the next new foam mattress here! The Avants Podcast focuses on making sure guests are always authentic, just like your hosts.

  1. 2d ago

    461: Cars Are Tools to Facilitate Adventures

    This week started with a simple question: what happens when the next generation doesn't obsess over cars the way we did?   That turned into a surprisingly deep conversation about Ferrari's latest decisions, the exploding collector car market, influencer culture, why Gen Z seems less interested in hypercars, and what that means for the future of automotive enthusiasm. Then Michael stopped by the shop and accidentally gave us the answer.   Cars aren't the point.   They're tools to facilitate adventures.   Whether it's driving a GT3 RS across the state, camping out of a Gen 1 Raptor, mountain biking with friends, teaching your kids to love the outdoors, exploring national parks, building custom projects with a 3D printer, or just finding another excuse to call your buddies and ask, "Want to go do something stupid this weekend?" the vehicle is only part of the story.   We also get into McLarens, monkey bikes multiplying across the Pacific Northwest, e-bike temptations, overlanding gear, collector cars that never get driven, and why some of us still believe the best thing you can do with a special car is put a lot of miles on it.   Because at the end of the day, the memories aren't in the garage. They're out on the road, on the trail, and somewhere between where you started and where you thought you were going.   So grab a drink, pull up a chair, and join us for a conversation about cars, adventures, and why the journey still matters more than the destination.   Don't just get there. Enjoy the drive. The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans  Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873! We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

  2. Aug 31

    460: Too Many Projects, Not Enough Garage: Nathan Muntz is Back!

    This week we're joined by returning guest Nathan Muntz, and things get gloriously out of control almost immediately. We start with garage therapy, project bikes, robot vacuums, and Dan's ongoing struggle to get rid of stuff faster than he acquires it. Along the way we stumble into a surprisingly interesting German parking light law, talk about Avants' new SwissTrax partnership, and answer a question about where Dan's Drives disappeared to (hint: https://avants.com/dansdrives). Then Nathan drops by with whiskey, stories, and enough automotive projects to make us feel better about our own. We dive into his collection, including a Land Rover Defender with a fresh Chevy straight-six swap, a growing fleet of rare Muntz Jets, and one of the most unusual support vehicles we've ever discussed: a Volvo military ambulance imported from Sweden that's now hauling race gear and serving as part camper, part toolbox, and part historical artifact. We also talk vintage racing, the challenges of importing parts from overseas, why every project somehow needs an engine swap, and the eternal question every enthusiast faces: Do you need a bigger garage, or fewer cars? Plus: Project bike updates Corks & Cars Off-Road Edition Muntz Jet history and registry stories Volvo race support vehicles Ferrari project car temptations Garage organization failures The growing bird welfare state at Dan's house Car-themed whiskey recommendations As always, it's less about the destination and more about the stories you pick up along the way. Don't just get there. Enjoy the drive. The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans  Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873! We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

  3. Aug 24

    Gordon Murray for President

    This week starts the same way most of our conversations do: standing around a motorcycle asking questions nobody should probably act on. Like, if you're stranded in the woods, can you run fork oil in your engine?     From there we dive into the latest Grom upgrades, small bike obsession, and why Honda Monkeys keep attracting the same kind of people that love Volkswagen buses.   Then it's time for Monterey Car Week. We break down the $40 million Ferrari Luce sale, the Gordon Murray S1, McLaren's return to a manual transmission, the newest Lamborghini Revuelto SV, Spyker's comeback, Aston Martin's latest V12 masterpiece, and all the cars that had everyone talking this year.   We also get into why modern supercars seem to be competing in an aerodynamic body-kit arms race, discuss the rumored Bronco pickup, complain about Ford recalls, and somehow end up talking about Canadian drivers, custom license plates, and why a motorcycle might be the ultimate Monterey transportation solution.   Basically: motorcycles, supercars, questionable automotive decisions, and a healthy amount of sarcasm. Business as usual.   The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans  Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873! We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

  4. Aug 17

    Nick Bought Another Grom. Again.

    This week starts with LASIK recovery updates, an AC/DC road trip to Canada, and a deep dive into why patience continues to be a completely overrated life skill.   Then we get into the important stuff.   Dan talks about the new Iceco fridge setup in the Bronco, why a good portable fridge might be one of the best upgrades for road trips, and a few lessons learned about keeping food cold without killing your battery. There's also some discussion about Wolfbox camera systems, windshield replacements, and the never-ending battle against rock chips.   But the real story of the episode is Nick's latest motorcycle adventure.   After months of trying to convince himself that a KTM 390 Enduro R was the right bike, he finally admits defeat and trades it for... another Honda Grom. We talk about why bigger isn't always better, why so many riders end up back on small bikes, motorcycle endorsement classes, suspension upgrades, aftermarket parts, and how sometimes the bike you should have bought in the first place is the one you end up buying anyway.   We also share a few thoughts on loud exhausts, keeping riding areas open, future Grom projects, and a possible small-bore group ride before the end of the year. Sometimes the smartest automotive decision is admitting your friends were right all along.   Don't just get there. Enjoy the drive.   The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans  Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873! We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

  5. Aug 10

    Saint Michael and Megan Return!

    This week we've got a full house in the shop. Megan is back from Portugal after pulling off a surprise visit for her brother's wedding, complete with stories about Portuguese car culture, tiny motorcycles, and government rules that somehow make modifying your brakes illegal. Michael joins us to talk search and rescue, everything from ankle injuries on Mount Si to "flashlight missions" when hikers discover their phone battery wasn't actually an emergency preparedness plan. We also dive into the custom search and rescue truck he helped build, because apparently normal vehicles aren't complicated enough. Along the way we discuss Facebook Marketplace tire kickers, reporting vehicle sales before someone uses your old car for questionable life choices, Monterey Car Week, the insane lineup coming to Northwest Exotics, seized brake calipers, Ford Explorer Frankenstein projects, teenage first cars, and why every conversation eventually becomes an excuse to buy another truck. Also: Florida lobster drama, clean-trash anti-theft technology, AC Delco stereos, and proof that Harbor Freight is never just one trip. The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans  Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873! We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

  6. Jul 27

    Homeownership Is Expensive. Buy a Van Instead?

    This episode is a little bit all over the map in the best possible way. We kick things off talking about surviving the heat, house projects that cost more than we'd like to admit, and a surprisingly perfect ride on our Honda Monkeys through Mount Rainier National Park. Sometimes the best automotive experiences aren't in a 700 horsepower sports car. They're on tiny bikes puttering through some of the most scenic roads in the Pacific Northwest. We also dive into the realities of fire season, road trip planning, and why having a backup route is always a good idea. From there, the conversation wanders into the growing trend of van life and overland rigs, and whether a camper van or expedition vehicle actually makes more sense than buying a house in today's market. We compare EarthRoamers, Sprinter builds, remote work, and the appeal of having your home on wheels when mortgages seem to have lost their minds. On the car side, we talk about a missing Koenigsegg One:1 that turned into an international mystery involving leasing schemes, Interpol, and a multi-million-dollar hypercar. We also get into one of our favorite topics: helping people choose the right off-road vehicle for what they actually want to do, instead of what the internet tells them they should buy. Broncos, Jeeps, 4Runners, INEOS Grenadiers, Raptors and more all get their moment in the spotlight. Of course, there's also breaking Monkey news, questionable ideas about starting a motorcycle cult, thoughts on brand loyalty, and why small motorcycles continue to be some of the most fun you can have on two wheels. As always, we wrap up with a couple questions for listeners: Would you ever trade a traditional house for van life or an expedition rig? And what's the best motorcycle experience you've ever had? The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans  Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873! We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

    Homeownership Is Expensive. Buy a Van Instead?
  7. Jul 20

    Monkeys, McLarens, and the Great Ferrari Ownership Debate

    This week we're all over the map in the best possible way. We kick things off talking about how AI is quietly changing everything from resumes to project work, and whether we're already at the point where talking to a chatbot feels a little too normal. From there it's back to the stuff we love: a quick tip on why new tires need a proper break-in period, Todd finally buying the monkey he's been threatening to buy for years, and a look at some of the biggest stories coming out of the Goodwood Festival of Speed. We discuss rumors surrounding Polestar's future in the U.S., McLaren's new 788 High Sport, and whether reliability will ever stop being part of the McLaren conversation. Megan joins us in the studio to talk square-body Chevys, classic truck nostalgia, and an unexpectedly deep debate about Ferrari, intellectual property, and whether automakers should have any say in what owners do with the cars they've already paid for. We wrap up with motorcycle ride plans, upcoming events around the Pacific Northwest, car show season, Goodwood highlights, and plenty of the random detours you've come to expect. The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle! Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans  Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!  Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873! We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

4.9
out of 5
48 Ratings

About

Join hosts Dan Putnam and Nick Bergeron as they get to know industry leading guests beyond just what they drive. The Avants Podcast is never scripted and never predictable, but it’s always a good time and full of surprises. You won’t find any boring reviews that sound like reading off a pre-planned info sheet, ”history of” shows that are reworded Wikipedia articles, or advertisements for the next new foam mattress here! The Avants Podcast focuses on making sure guests are always authentic, just like your hosts.

You Might Also Like