Welcome back to Auto Buyer’s Guide! In this jam-packed episode, Travis returns from travel and we’re joined by Jared from CarBuzz to break down the biggest car stories, hottest debates, and most questionable opinions in the auto world. Rumors around the next-generation Chevy Silverado The rising cost of new cars The controversial electric Dodge Charger Extended-range EVs and hybrids Changing regulations in the U.S. and Europe Kia’s expanding (and possibly confusing) lineup And a series of deliberately absurd debate games At a deeper level, however, the show revolves around one central tension: Most loud opinions about cars come from people who don’t buy new cars—while the industry is built almost entirely around people who do. That tension explains nearly every disagreement discussed in the episode. 2. Silverado Rumors: Bigger V8s, Familiar Philosophy The first substantive topic is the Chevy Silverado, specifically a new patent filing that hints at the next generation of GM’s full-size truck. The hosts note that it’s unusual for this information to surface via the patent office rather than the usual leak channels, which lends credibility to the rumors. Key points on the next Silverado: Expected to remain evolutionary, not revolutionary Likely to share much of its structure with the outgoing model Rumored new V8 engine family with larger displacements (5.7L and possibly 6.6L) Continued reliance on pushrod architecture, which GM engineers favor for cylinder deactivation There’s a recognition that while enthusiasts may crave radical redesigns, GM’s success with the Silverado comes from refinement, not reinvention. The 5.3-liter V8, while not universally beloved, is efficient, durable, and deeply embedded in GM’s manufacturing ecosystem. A recurring theme emerges here: Car companies don’t abandon proven hardware unless they’re forced to. 3. “What Have You Had It With?”: Bad Comparisons and Internet Brain Rot One of the most animated segments is the “What Have You Had It With?” discussion, where frustration spills over about how cars are compared online. The core complaint is simple: People constantly compare cars that are not meant to compete. Examples include: Comparing a Dodge Charger EV to a Tesla Model 3 Dismissing large sedans or SUVs because a smaller car is “better in every way” Ignoring fundamental differences in size, purpose, and use case The hosts argue that this kind of commentary is intellectually lazy. A Model 3 may be quicker, cheaper, and more efficient—but it does not: Seat adults comfortably in the back Offer the same interior volume Deliver the same highway presence or ride character This leads directly into the electric Dodge Charger, which becomes a lightning rod (pun intended) for this kind of flawed comparison. 4. The Electric Dodge Charger: Dumb, Brilliant, and Very Dodge The electric Dodge Charger is described as simultaneously ridiculous and perfectly on-brand. What the Charger EV is: Enormous (over 207 inches long) Extremely heavy (approaching three tons) Fitted with absurdly wide, expensive performance tires Shockingly capable on a skidpad and figure-eight test Able to drift, do donuts, and behave like a traditional muscle car What it is not: A Tesla Model 3 competitor A minimalist efficiency exercise An enthusiast “purist” vehicle The hosts emphasize that Dodge didn’t try to make a sensible EV. Instead, they asked: “What would Dodge do if it were electric?” The answer was: Make it huge Make it loud (via synthesized sound) Make it fast Make it impractical Make it unmistakably Dodge In that sense, the Charger EV is compared favorably to the original Hellcat—a car that was never logical, but deeply aligned with its brand identity. 5. The Bigger Problem: Who Actually Buys New Cars? This discussion leads naturally into one of the most important points of the episode: Car companies do not design cars for the used market. New car buyers tend to be: Over 50 years old Homeowners Higher income Less interested in manuals, convertibles, or “raw” driving experiences More interested in comfort, tech, AWD, and convenience This explains: Why interiors are dominated by giant screens Why manuals continue to disappear Why enthusiast complaints rarely influence product planning The hosts openly acknowledge their own aging preferences, noting that desires change over time—even when that realization is uncomfortable. 6. The Maverick Lesson: Small Trucks, Big Demand The Ford Maverick is used as an example of what happens when a manufacturer cautiously tests the market and is surprised by demand. Key takeaways: Ford and Hyundai (with the Santa Cruz) dipped their toes into the compact truck segment Ford’s hybrid Maverick, initially seen as niche, exploded in popularity Demand caught even Ford off guard Other manufacturers quickly realized they had misread the market The irony is that the Maverick succeeds precisely because it is not a “sports truck”. It’s practical, efficient, and affordable—qualities that resonate with real buyers, not just online commenters. 7. Extended-Range EVs: Solving the Wrong Problem (Or the Right One?) Extended-range EVs (EREVs) and plug-in hybrids generate mixed reactions. On paper: They offer electric driving with gasoline backup They reduce range anxiety They can make sense for towing or long-distance use In practice: Many owners don’t plug them in Fuel economy suffers if treated like regular hybrids Marketing terms blur the line between EVs and PHEVs A key concern is charging access. The hosts note that many newer EV buyers live in: Apartments Condos HOA-restricted housing Without home charging, the EV ownership experience deteriorates quickly. The fear is that EREVs will become gas cars in practice, undermining their intended purpose. 8. The $50,000 Reality: New Car Prices and What People Actually Finance One of the most sobering discussions centers on cost. Facts discussed: The average new car price in the U.S. exceeds $50,000 The average new car loan is closer to $42,000 The average used car loan sits around $27,000 This leads to a hypothetical exercise: What would each host buy new for $42,000? What would they buy used for $27,000? Answers range from: Plug-in hybrid compact SUVs (practical, family-friendly) To absurd, entertaining choices like a six-door Cadillac Fleetwood limo The point isn’t the specific vehicles—it’s the acknowledgment that price ceilings shape real decisions far more than internet arguments do. 9. Charger Sixpack vs. Charger EV: A Brand Identity Crisis The conversation returns to the Dodge Charger, this time focusing on the Sixpack version with a turbocharged inline-six engine. While objectively impressive: 550 horsepower Modern engineering BMW-like refinement It presents a branding problem. Dodge built its reputation on: V8 noise Excess Aggression Anti-European bravado Now, Dodge is selling: An EV muscle car An inline-six that echoes BMW engineering The hosts question whether Dodge’s traditional audience—already alienated by a three-year gap in Charger availability—will return at all. Brand loyalty, once broken, is hard to rebuild. 10. Arizona’s Speed Limit Proposal: Freedom vs. Reality A lighter but revealing topic is Arizona’s proposed daytime speed limit removal on certain highways. Key observations: Studies suggest average speeds don’t increase much when limits are removed Most drivers settle around 77–78 mph regardless Nighttime limits would remain for safety The hosts joke that this works in Germany largely because of driver discipline, not just road design—a quality they are skeptical exists universally in the U.S. 11. Kia’s Lineup: Too Much of a Good Thing? Kia’s expanding lineup sparks debate: K4 hatchback Seltos hybrid Niro Overlapping segments Questions arise: Is Kia spreading itself too thin? Why does Kia lack a true performance “N” equivalent? Why does brand positioning feel inconsistent? Despite this, hatchbacks are defended as viable in the U.S., citing: Civic Hatchback success Corolla Hatchback sales Subaru Impreza ditching the sedan entirely 12. Europe’s M1e Category: Incentivizing Smaller EVs One of the most forward-looking discussions involves Europe’s new M1e vehicle category. Highlights: EVs under certain size limits earn extra regulatory credits Designed to encourage smaller, lighter vehicles A response to concerns that cars are becoming too large The hosts speculate that: This could nudge manufacturers toward downsizing designs Pricing pressure might ease in this segment It may create genuinely affordable EVs over time This contrasts sharply with the U.S., where size and weight are often rewarded rather than penalized. 13. Canada vs. the U.S.: Who Gets the Good EVs? Canada emerges as a surprise winner: Access to smaller, cheaper Kia EVs Broader EV lineup overall Vehicles the U.S. won’t get due to tariffs, regulations, and market priorities The frustration is clear: The U.S. often misses out on sensible EVs in favor of larger, more expensive ones. 14. Trucks, Platforms, and the Cost of Commitment The discussion turns technical again with EV truck platforms. Key insight: GM’s dedicated EV truck platforms (Silverado EV, Sierra EV) are less flexible Ford and Ram can adapt gas platforms into hybrids or EREVs more easily Retrofitting engines into EV-only architectures is extremely difficult This has financial implications: Flexibility matters when regulations and demand shift Dedicated EV platforms are riskier bets 15. Extended-
