Wheel Bearings

Latest Episodes:

Driving a whole bunch of stuff Nov 21, 2021

Show notes

The whole team has bugged out of southern California after several days of checking out what is new. Sam returned to chilly Michigan to drive the BMW M3 Competition xDrive on summer tires. Nicole landed back in New Hampshire to pick up the Lexus UX250h which has now been reclassified as an SUV-over. Robbie was in between rides at home, but sampled a whole bunch of stuff during the annual World Car of the Year drive off including the new BMW 2 series coupe. Both Robbie and Nicole have sampled Hyundai's new sport models, the Elantra N and Kona N

While in SoCal, the whole team went to the truncated LA auto show which was all about EVs this year including the debut of the production intent Fisker Ocean (make sure to listen to ep 221 for an interview with Henrik Fisker) and the latest collaboration between Subaru and Toyota, the Solterra and bZ4X electric SUV-over twins. We also discuss the Tesla server outage that left some owners locked out of their cars and answer a bunch of listener questions.

Links

Tesla server outage

Why cars need a local mechanism for access

Fisker Ocean debut

Toyota bZ4X debut

Subaru Solterra

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Phoenix From The Ashes Nov 20, 2021

Show notes

This week, the whole gang has been in Southern California for the LA Auto Show and related events. In the garage, Nicole drove the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee in Moab and Sam had the 2022 Nissan Frontier Pro-X at home in Michigan.

We discuss the new Acura Integra Prototype and answer a question about how we review cars. Finally, we have some of the interviews that Sam did with various people while in California with more to come over the next couple of weeks. This time we have Mike Tripp and Cooper Erickson from Toyota about the bZ4X and Henrik Fisker on the new Ocean EV.

Links

Fisker Ocean first look

2023 Toyota bZ4X reveal

2023 Acura Integra Prototype

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You'll Make Your Money Back in a Week Nov 12, 2021

Show notes

In the garage this week we have first extended take of the Ford Maverick XLT hybrid from Sam. Roberto samples the Rivian R1T and spends more time with the Mercedes-Benz EQS. Nicole gives a first impression of the new Nissan Pathfinder that just arrived as she got home from a trip.

In the news Ford Performance launched the Eluminator crate motor SEMA and almost immediately sold out. Rivian raked in $11.9B from its IPO, the rest of the auto industry has committed $515B to EV development and production and 1/3 of Cadillac stores are calling it quits before they have to spend money to support EVs. In listener Q&A we mostly decline to give investment advice.

Links

Ford Eluminator crate motor

Rivian IPO

Auto industry invests $515B in EVs

1/3 of Cadillac stores to close before EVs arrive

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Don't Get A Bad Car Loan Oct 31, 2021

Show notes

This week, Sam is still driving a white three-row Jeep SUV, but it's a more manageable size in the form of the new Grand Cherokee L. Nicole has been getting around in a very Halloween colored Ford F-150 Raptor and Robbie shares some thoughts on a couple of new BMWs, the Alpina B8 and M5.

In the news, Subaru responded to the Massachusetts right to repair rules by disabling the telematics on new vehicles sold in the state and we have some mixed feelings. Staying with connectivity, Ford is still working out some details with its over-the-air update process so it has delayed the OTA update to enable BlueCruise on the F-150 and Mach-E. Mercedes-Benz has launched a new SL roadster and GMC is giving the Sierra a major update after just two years. We wrap up with some discussion of car loans and Q&A

Links

Subaru turns off Starlink

2023 Mercedes-Benz SL

Ford delays BlueCruise OTA

2022 GMC Sierra

Bad car loans

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Indy Goes Driverless Oct 25, 2021

Show notes

This week Robbie gets his hands on the not-a-minivan minivan from Kia, the 2022 Carnival. Sam heads to Indy in the big, comfy and oh so thirsty Jeep Wagoneer and Nicole goes off-road in the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness.

This past week jurors for the North American Car and Truck of the Year, which include Nicole gathered in Ann Arbor to drive a bunch of stuff and Sam managed to also squeeze in a drive in the Rivian R1T. The reason Sam went to Indianappolis was for the Indy Autonomous Challenge where self-driving Indy Lights cars took the big oval and Tesla announced it would use lithium iron phosphate batteries for its standard range cars globally.

Links

Indy Autonomous Challenge

Hellcat powered Plymouth Prowler

Tesla adds iron batteries

240 mpg VW XL1

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It Grows On You Oct 20, 2021

Show notes

This week in the garage, Sam takes a road trip in the Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid, Nicole drives the Ford Explorer XLT and Roberto samples Volvo's first electric-only model the C40.

The embargo has finally lifted on the drive impressions of the BMW i4 M50 and Robbie shares his thoughts on this new German electric autobahn machine. We also discuss the augmented reality heads up display in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class and AAA testing of driver assist systems in bad weather conditions. As usual, we wrap with some listener questions.

Links

AAA ADAS testing

Robbie's BMW i4 first drive

Mercedes-Benz Augmented reality HUD

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Munster Challenger Oct 12, 2021

Show notes

This week we have lots of cruising. Roberto has been riding on BMW's big bruiser bike, the R18, Nicole has been Grand Touring in the Lincoln Aviator plug-in hybrid and Sam has had the unicorn-like Ford Escape plug-in hybrid.

Robbie and Sam each got to drive Ford's quickest EV yet, the Mach-E GT while Nicole got a first drive in Toyota's new 2022 Tundra including the hybrid variant. GM announced its next-gen hands-free driving assist called Ultra Cruise. We answer some listener questions and Sam interviews Ford's Darren Palmer and Dave Pericak.

Links

Sam's Take on the Mach-E GT

Robbie's Impressions of the Mach-E GT

GM Ultra Cruise

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When Enough Is Enough Oct 03, 2021

Show notes

This week in the garage, Nicole is getting a kick out of the Hyundai Sonata N-Line with its 290-hp turbocharged engine. Sam has been tossing around the Mazda Miata RF while Robbie has been too busy with work to drive.

Nicole got a first drive in the Ford Maverick compact pickup and and Sam and Nicole each got to drive Mazda's first EV, the MX-30. In Britain, drivers facing gas shortages are taking a closer look at EVs. We answer some listener questions and Sam interviews Jay Chen and Dave Coleman from Mazda.

Links

British drivers look to EVs during gas shortages

2022 Mazda MX-30 first drive review

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It's Not So Ugly Oct 01, 2021

Show notes

Nicole's travel was disrupted which meant she didn't get home in time to record this episode so it's just Sam and Roberto. Robbie can finally spill the beans on his first drive of the BMW iX electric crossover and his ridealong in the new Mercedes-Benz SL. Sam spent time with a pair of opposites, the Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

In the news, Sam offers a correction on the pricing of the Tesla charging cable, GM announces its Ultifi platform for in-vehicle apps and launches low volume production of the Brightdrop EV600. Lucid has also launched production of the Air electric luxury sedan and Ford and SK Innovation are spending a combined $11.4 billion on three battery plants and a new assembly plant for electric trucks. As usual we wrap with questions.

Links

Tesla charging cables

GM launches Ultifi in-car app development platform

Brightdrop starts EV600 production

Lucid starts turning out the Air

Ford and SK invest $11.4B in EV and battery production

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Now With Maximum Grille Sep 21, 2021

Show notes

Robbie was a bit late in joining the show today due to some connectivity issues so Nicole and Sam started without him. Nicole has been driving the new 2022 Nissan Frontier which replaced a very long in the tooth model with one that looks totally different. Sam drove a new model that wasn't that old but the new version of the Lexus IS300 is almost indistinguishable.

In the news, Toyota has an all-new Tundra that takes large grilles to a whole new level while Ford does a more subtle job refreshing the big Expedition. Jeep announces some pricey half doors for the Gladiator and gang wishes GM would revive the old GMC Motorhome on the Ultium electric platform.

Links

Jeep Half-doors

Petition for GM to build Ultium powered electric GMC Motorhome

2022 Toyota Tundra

2022 Ford Expedition

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