So I strapped in, cranked the volume, and prepared for an auditory road trip with Motor Rant, a podcast where hosts Tyler and CJ talk about cars, complain about cars, and occasionally forget what a car is. It’s a 3-star experience—like riding shotgun in a rusty van with mismatched tires, a GPS from 2004, and a talking parrot that only says “turbo.” It’s not bad… it’s just weirdly lopsided.
Let’s start with the good: Tyler and CJ have the chaotic energy of two dudes who accidentally won a podcast kit in a raffle and thought, “You know what this world needs? More unsolicited opinions about bumpers.” Their chemistry is undeniable—like nitrous oxide and bad decisions. They cover everything from exhaust pipe etiquette to whether trucks should come standard with cupholders big enough for a full rotisserie chicken. (Answer: yes.)
But oh boy, the potholes. The audio quality sometimes sounds like it was recorded inside a blender full of gravel. Interviews often devolve into arguments about which car best represents “raw emotional pain.” At one point, CJ accidentally refers to the North Korean leader as “the kind of guy who’d drive a beige PT Cruiser with anime decals and make you feel bad for not admiring it,” and then just... moves on. No clarification. No apology. Just a hard pivot to talking about wiper blade design. It’s like political diplomacy meets oil change tutorial.
Topics bounce around faster than a shopping cart with one bad wheel. One episode starts as a review of electric trucks and ends as a passionate defense of why pine-scented air fresheners are a scam. There's also an oddly emotional tribute to the Pontiac Aztek that somehow made me cry and crave Taco Bell. And just when you think you’ve found the thread—CJ veers off into a story about the time he tried to turn a golf cart into a boat.
And look, I was on board until I noticed something deeply unsettling—my goldfish Carl stopped blinking every time Motor Rant was on. Yes, fish don’t blink, but still. He just floats there. Staring. Like he knows too much. Like he heard the North Korea comment and now fears we’re all on a list. So for your sake, and Carl’s, maybe don’t blast this podcast too loud. But if you like your car talk with a side of mayhem and accidental geopolitical shade—Motor Rant is your jam. 3 stars, and one international warning flag.
