In Wheel Time Podcast

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Adventure Vehicles That Actually Earn It? Jun 11, 2026

Show notes

The car you buy says a lot about the life you think you’re going to live. Maybe that’s why “adventure vehicle” is one of the most loaded labels in the whole industry. We sit down with John Vincent from U.S. News & World Report to unpack the 2026 Best Adventure Vehicle Awards and figure out which winners make sense for real drivers who need a daily commute, weekend gear-hauling, and occasional dirt-road confidence.
We run through the off-road SUV winners by category, including the Ford Bronco Sport, Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, Nissan Armada Pro-4X, Toyota RAV4 Woodland, Land Rover Defender, and the Rivian R1S. Along the way, we talk about what these rankings actually measure, why size classes can feel inconsistent, and why most of us shop for “someday” adventures even if the vehicle spends 355 days a year on pavement. We also get into how recalls fit into car ratings, plus the practical side of modern tech like buggy infotainment systems and the upside of over-the-air updates.
Then it’s trucks and camping: Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, Ford F-150 off-road flavors, and why electric pickups like the Rivian R1T are more legit than many people expect.

After the awards, we pivot to the fun stuff that makes car culture matter: Jeff’s deep dive on white letter tires (raised vs painted, how they’re made, and how to keep them bright), and Mike’s driving destinations segment on hidden Houston speakeasies that turn an ordinary night into a little mystery tour.
If you like smart, opinionated car talk with useful details, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review. What’s your pick for the best adventure vehicle when you have to live with it every day?

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Brake Fluid On Tires And Other Bad Ideas; Auto History: Speakeasy's: Big Bad GMC EV! Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

White letters on a tire sidewall look like a small detail, but they carry decades of meaning. That bold ring of text became a calling card of 1960s and 1970s muscle cars, street racing, and the idea that performance should look like performance. We break down why the trend exploded, why it’s showing up again in today’s vintage and retro builds, and how branding and aesthetics can steer a tire choice just as much as the practical stuff.
We also get specific about how white letter tires are actually made. Raised white lettering is built into the tire during manufacturing, using white rubber that’s molded and cured with the rest of the sidewall for long-term durability. Painted white lettering is applied after the tire is cured, which opens the door for customization but usually demands more maintenance. From smart cleaning habits to avoiding harsh chemicals, we talk about what keeps letters bright, what makes them yellow, and the modern options like temporary decals or having a pro apply custom sidewall designs.
Then we take a fun left turn through automotive history, from the Going-to-the-Sun Road and early road-trip culture to landmark moments tied to Healey, Porsche, Le Mans, and Ford’s “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” era. We follow that with Houston driving destinations featuring hidden speakeasies, and wrap with Don’s drive of the 2026 GMC Sierra EV Denali Max Range, including range expectations, tech choices, weight, and what EV mileage testing really means on the road.
If you like practical car talk mixed with history and real-world opinions, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review with your take: raised white letters, painted letters, or no letters at all?

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People Say The Economy Is Bad, Then They Buy $50,000 Cars? Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

The car market is doing better than the mood of the country, and that contradiction is exactly where we start. We talk with Jack Nerad from America on the Road about what he’s seeing up close, from California fuel prices to the real-world demand that keeps new vehicles moving even when the media drumbeat says the economy is falling apart.
Jack shares highlights from a trip to Georgia to see Hyundai and Kia production firsthand, including how fast modern plants build vehicles and why early all-EV plans are getting rebalanced toward hybrids and other powertrains people will actually buy. We also unpack what those massive lots full of finished cars say about scale, logistics, and where the US auto industry is placing its bets.
From there, we get practical for shoppers: the frustration of browsing a mountain of used listings (hello, Jeep Grand Cherokee), why prices can feel random, and where genuine value still exists in 2020s car buying. The Chevy Trax gets a surprising nod as a legit under-$30K option that doesn’t feel cheap. And yes, we go straight at the engine debate, from turbo lag and downsized powertrains to Stellantis signaling a return to more horsepower and the enduring appeal of a normally aspirated American V8. We wrap with Jack’s take on the Volvo XC60, quick racing calendar notes, auto history, and a wild Audi Nuvolari supercar headline.
If you enjoyed the ride, subscribe, share the episode with a fellow car nerd, and leave a review so more listeners can find us.

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A Texas Muscle Car Cathedral Filled With Neon Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

A timber-frame “cathedral” filled with Mopar muscle cars and neon signs sounds like a myth until you hear it from the guy who built it. We sit down with John Hovis, creator of the Hemi Hideout near Brookshire, Texas, to talk about the passion that drove him to collect late-1960s and early-1970s Dodge and Plymouth legends, why an original Superbird still stops people in their tracks, and how the space has grown into a full-on automotive time capsule.
We also get into what makes the Hideout more than a private collection: weekday tours, a volunteer crew that loves telling the stories, and a simple model that turns visits into local charity donations. John shares why the building itself matters, how the memorabilia and vintage signs became a second obsession, and what it’s like to keep adding pieces when you’re “running out of wall.”
Then we jump from old-school horsepower to modern electrons with Jeff’s Motor Minute nostalgia and Don’s review of the 2026 GMC Sierra EV Denali Max Range. We cover claimed range vs real driving, towing and payload, the sheer weight of a big-battery electric pickup, and why missing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is a real talking point for buyers. If you love car culture, collector stories, and honest new car reviews, hit subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review. What would you rather tour first, the Hemi Hideout or an EV truck showroom?

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Your SUV Is Rolling Away And We’re Still Bidding Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

Recalls are supposed to be rare. Lately they feel like a weekly habit, and we’re not letting them slide by as background noise. We kick things off by walking through a stack of new automotive recalls and what they mean for real drivers, from incorrect front wheel hub bolts to rollaway risk, seatbelt warning system problems, rear camera failures, airbag inflator concerns, and even driver-assist systems that can hit the brakes when you least expect it. If you care about car safety, reliability, and what to do when the manufacturer says “bring it in,” you’ll leave with a clearer checklist for staying ahead of the risk.
Then we shift gears into pure car-nerd fun with a sold car roundup game using Hemmings results, because nothing tells the truth like an actual auction sale price. We guess what everything brought at the hammer and react in real time, from a giant 1959 Cadillac Series 75 to a bargain-level ’73 Cadillac Calais, an ’81 square body Chevy Blazer, a sharp ’72 Volvo 1800, and a surprisingly low-priced 2015 Porsche Cayman that makes us ask the only sensible question: what’s going on under the surface? We also hit a budget-friendly hot rod, a tiny Vespa 400 “clown car” contender, and a Chrysler Crossfire that proves styling alone doesn’t guarantee long-term value.
To round it out, we drop into auto history and racing, connecting today’s cars to the moments that shaped them: the first Indianapolis 500, early diesel passenger cars, the ahead-of-its-time Chrysler Airflow, and a quick racing calendar with weekend highlights. If you like car recalls, used car auction prices, classic cars, and motorsports all in one place, you’ll feel right at home. Subscribe, share this with a car friend, and leave a review, then tell us which car from the price game you’d actually buy and why.

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How Does A Barn-Built Miata Take On Million-Dollar Teams at Pike's Peak? Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

A Pikes Peak build is never just a build, it’s a deadline, a weather gamble, and a test of whether your team can stay calm when everything tries to break at once. We catch up with Richard Tomlin from Apex Auto Works in Alvin, Texas, with the clock ticking two weeks out from the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. He walks us through the Apexoset, a Miata-based monster that keeps key Miata geometry and components but drops weight hard and runs a custom LS7-based setup making over 600 horsepower at the wheels. After taking a year off, the car returns with serious aero work, underbody tunnels, plus ABS and traction control, all aimed at cracking the top ten in a class where the rules reward power-to-weight and smart execution.
Then there’s Big Bird: a 1968 Plymouth Road Runner already in Colorado with a 2015 NASCAR engine that’s loud, rowdy, and still sorting teething issues like a “puked” transmission and carb problems. We dig into what a dog box transmission is, why downshifts at Pikes Peak are a different kind of risk, and how a small Texas shop competes when other teams show up with one-car budgets in the millions. If you’ve ever wondered what grassroots motorsports looks like when it’s pointed at a mountain, this is the candid version.
We also hit quick racing news with a Motor Minute on the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix groundhog collision and what it says about wildlife safety on track. Finally, Don brings an honest 2025 Land Rover Range Rover review, covering design, interior quality, third-row reality, start-stop frustration, real-world mpg, and the six-figure price tag against competitors like the Lexus LX and Escalade. Subscribe for more real car talk, share this with a racing friend, and leave a review, what would you take up Pikes Peak if you had one shot?

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All-Wheel Steering Explained; Auto History: Some Karting ideas and First Look At The Land Rover Range Rover! Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

Four-wheel steering sounds like magic the first time you feel it. One moment you’re guiding a big SUV through a tight parking lot, the next it feels weirdly nimble, like the vehicle shrank around you. We dig into what all-wheel steering (AWS) actually does, when the rear wheels turn opposite the fronts, when they turn in parallel for stability, and why modern drive-by-wire control brings both benefits and new worries. We also get honest about the parts nobody puts in the brochure: added weight, extra complexity, and the kind of repair bills that can make you regret checking that option box.
Then we switch gears to something that’s pure fun per mile: go-karting around the Houston area. We share spots that go beyond the big indoor chains, from old-school outdoor tracks with personality to tighter neighborhood layouts that keep races close. If you want to level up, we talk about places that lean into motorsports culture with league racing, coaching, and a path to getting genuinely faster, not just louder.
We also hit “This Week in Auto History,” connecting today’s tech to the roots of the hobby: the first Indianapolis 500, the Marmon Wasp, the debut of early diesel passenger cars, and designs like the Chrysler Airflow that were bold enough to be misunderstood. Finally, we close with a real-world 2025 Land Rover Range Rover review, including what we love about the fit and finish and what we still can’t stand, especially start-stop. If you enjoy practical car talk with a side of local driving destinations, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave us a review.

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How Racing And Recalls Shape The Cars We Trust Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

A recall can be as small as a bolt and as serious as a roll-away, so we kick things off by sorting real risk from background noise. We talk through a stack of fresh automotive recalls, including incorrect front wheel hub bolts on full-size GM SUVs, a roll-away risk on the 2026 Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair, Ford Bronco hardtops that may crack and detach, camera and seatbelt warning glitches, and tech that can trigger unexpected braking. We also share what these problems feel like on the road and what questions to ask before you leave the dealer lot.
Then it’s time for our favorite kind of argument: the Hemmings sold car roundup price-guessing game. We put numbers on everything from a huge 1959 Cadillac Series 75 ($19,950) and a 1973 Cadillac Calais that sells for a shocking $1,700, to an updated 1981 Chevy Blazer ($23,625) and a clean 1972 Volvo 1800 ($21,000). The curveballs keep coming with a 2015 Porsche Cayman that lands at $16,800, a budget-friendly 1932 Chevrolet custom at $5,320, a tiny 1960 Vespa 400 “clown car” at $18,821, and a 2005 Chrysler Crossfire at $9,500. If you love classic cars, collector car values, and auction results, you’ll want to play along.
We close out with This Week in Auto History and a quick racing calendar: the first Indy 500 in 1911, the Marmon Wasp and its early rearview mirror, the Mercedes-Benz 260D that brought diesel to passenger cars, and the Chrysler Airflow as an aerodynamic swing that was way ahead of its time. Jeff also runs through what to watch next, including IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix, NHRA, NASCAR Nashville, and upcoming Formula One, before we hit one last headline about Chevy using a 1,250 horsepower Corvette ZR1X to blow out giant birthday candles at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
If you enjoyed the laughs and the practical car talk, subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share the show with a fellow gearhead, and leave us a review so more drivers can find us.

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How Indy Went From 150 To Nearly 200 MPH! Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

Indy didn’t just get faster in the 1960s, it transformed. We’re joined by racing author and veteran journalist Rick Saffer to unpack the Indianapolis 500 era from 1962 to 1972, when track records fell at a shocking pace and the Speedway became a live laboratory for IndyCar engineering. We talk about the people who shaped it, the cars that redefined it, and why that decade still explains so much about modern American open-wheel racing.
Rick takes us through the biggest technology shifts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway: the move from front-engine roadsters to rear-engine machines, the turbocharged horsepower surge, the growing influence of aerodynamics, and the arrival of slick tires. We also dig into the human side of racing history, from unforgettable team identities like STP to what it’s really like interviewing icons such as A J Foyt, and why a well-timed approach matters when drivers are under pressure.
Then we pivot to today’s road cars with a clear, practical breakdown of four-wheel steering (all-wheel steering): how rear wheels can steer opposite the fronts for tight maneuvers, then steer in parallel for high-speed stability, plus the real-world downsides like complexity and repair cost. To round it out, we share go-karting driving destinations around Houston, from old-school outdoor tracks to more advanced facilities with league racing, coaching, and serious lap-time focus.
If you love Indy 500 history, IndyCar technology, car culture, and hands-on driving fun, hit subscribe, share this with a racing friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

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Is The Synthetic Oil Shortage Here? May 29, 2026

Show notes

Synthetic motor oil is turning into the kind of “you’ll miss it when it’s gone” product nobody expects to worry about, and the early warning signs are already here. We react to reports that automakers and dealerships are rationing synthetic oil as Group III base oil supply tightens, and we talk through what that means for real owners who just want a normal oil change without breaking the bank. If your vehicle calls for specific viscosities like 5W-30 or 0W-20 or brand specs like Dexos, this is where planning and good records start to matter.
From there, we hit fast-moving safety news, including a serious do-not-drive recall where front and rear wheels may lock up on a long list of GM trucks and SUVs, plus other recall notes that drivers should not ignore. Then we jump into our favorite kind of argument: auction results. We play “guess what it sold for” across everything from a mid-year Corvette and a Boss 302 to a Studebaker Land Cruiser and a Mercedes SL, capped by a 2019 Volkswagen Beetle that brings an eye-watering price.
We wrap with the cruise-in and events calendar, Stellantis and Ram’s pickup truck future, and two modern curveballs: a Tesla Cybertruck driven into Lake Grapevine using “Wade Mode,” and a real-world example of AI car buying tools like ChatGPT and Claude colliding with dealership pricing. Subscribe for weekly car talk, share this with a friend who loves automotive news, and leave a review with your take on the oil shortage and those auction prices.

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