In Wheel Time Podcast: Your Go-To Automotive Talk Show

A used car can be “clean” on the outside and still be expensive on the inside. We sit down with Patrick Olsen, editor-in-chief at Carfax, to talk about what a Carfax report really does for buyers and sellers, how “show me the Carfax” became part of the culture, and why VIN-based history changed the way people negotiate, price, and trust a deal.

We get practical about the stuff shoppers worry about: what counts as a real service record, why some maintenance never shows up, and how independent repair shops and owners can add documentation. Patrick also breaks down Car...

A Dakar-designed Ford Raptor T1 showing up on American dirt isn’t just a cool headline, it’s a real test of two racing worlds colliding. We talk with Matt Martelli, CEO of Unlimited Off-Road Racing, about why Ford chose the Reno to Vegas run for the Raptor T1’s American debut and what makes this 550-mile, mostly graded-road course different from punishing US staples like Baja or the Mint 400. If you’ve ever wondered what “rally raid” actually means, this breakdown makes the differences crystal clear.

We also get into the wild engineering gap between restricted race formats...

Electric cars finishing first and second in America’s first auto race sounds like a headline from 2026, not 1896. We kick things off with a fast run through automotive history that’s packed with proof points: Peugeot showing early gasoline reliability with a 1,271-mile endurance run, a Rhode Island horse track hosting the first US auto race in front of a huge crowd, and Volkswagen returning to German control after WWII. We even hit a sobering milestone from 1897: the first recorded DUI arrest after a cab crashed into a building. 

From there, we take a detour into real-world nosta...

Adventure vehicles are one of the most misunderstood corners of the car market, because most of us buy them for the trips we imagine, not the ones we actually take. We sit down with John Vincent from U.S. News and World Report to unpack the 2026 Best Adventure Vehicle Awards and the real criteria behind the picks, from approach and departure angles to the stuff that makes a vehicle easy to live with on a random Tuesday. 

We move through the off-road SUV winners across multiple size classes, including the Ford Bronco Sport, Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, a...

A timber-frame “cathedral” packed with Mopar muscle cars and vintage neon sounds like a dream, but it’s real and it’s sitting just outside Brookshire, Texas. We sit down with John Hovis, the creator of the Hemi Hideout, to hear how a lifelong love of late-60s and early-70s Dodge and Plymouth performance turned into a 21,700 square foot car culture landmark that stops visitors in their tracks. 

We talk details that true gearheads care about: why he chased the 1968 to 1971 sweet spot, what it means to build a themed collection heavy on 440 Six Pack and Hemi lege...

A $700,000 Audi supercar with three electric motors should sound like a clean break from the past. Instead, the headline is the part Audi refuses to delete: a big, loud V8 sitting at the center of the Nuvolari’s nearly 1,000-horsepower hybrid setup. We talk through what that says about the luxury performance market, why “all-electric” still isn’t the default at the very top, and how hybrids are increasingly being used to add torque and smoothness without sacrificing the thrill that enthusiasts pay for.

From there we shift to the practical side of hybrid cars, because the tech isn...

6,300 miles in about 11 days sounds unrealistic until you meet Andy and Mercedes Lillienthal, the kind of rally couple who treats the map like a promise. They’re heading back to the Alcan 5000, one of the most iconic endurance road rallies in North America, and the goal is not raw speed. It’s precision: a time-speed-distance rally where you chase a master schedule, hit invisible checkpoints on time, and adapt when real life shows up in the lane next to you. 

We talk through what makes this year’s Alcan 5000 so intense, including long stretches of dirt and gravel...

A castle with a drawbridge and moat sits just outside the Houston area, and that is only the start of our Saturday lineup. We share a set of easy driving destinations that make a full day feel bigger than the miles, including Belleville’s Newman’s Castle, the living-history feel of San Felipe de Austin, and the water-and-wildlife mix you get near the Trinity River at Fort Anahuac. If you have been searching for near-Houston day trips, Texas history sites, or simple weekend road trips that do not burn the whole day in traffic, these stops are built for real...

A steering spindle installed wrong. Shock reservoirs that can detach. A rear spoiler that can fall off at speed. We start with the kind of recall roundup that makes you double-check your own VIN, then we swing hard into pure car-nerd fun: guessing what vehicles actually sold for on Hemmings online auctions and arguing about whether the prices make any sense in today’s market. 

The auction game takes us from a 1969 Chevy Camaro pace car replica to a clean 1965 Mustang convertible, then into a surprising low-mile 1999 Mustang GT 35th Anniversary convertible that sells for way less tha...

An 80s and 90s “dream garage” hits different when it’s built for the era you actually grew up in. We sit down with Denny Moody, owner and curator of the Ultimate 80s Garage in Fulshear, Texas, to talk about what it takes to create a space that feels like a time capsule: the cars, the memorabilia, and the little details that instantly spark stories. His point is simple but powerful: nostalgia is fun, but community is the real payoff when you open the garage doors and invite people in. 

We also get into Retrofest West, Denny’s annual...

A movie trailer is one thing, but a movie promotion inside your car’s dashboard hits differently. We react to BMW’s Spider-Man screen takeover and the owner backlash, then zoom out to the real question every driver is about to face: as connected cars become software platforms, who controls the cabin, and how much marketing will we be asked to tolerate after we’ve already paid for the vehicle?

From there, we dig into the next wave of automotive technology, including AI assistants in cars. GM is rolling out Google Gemini, Volkswagen is bringing ChatGPT into voice...

One minute you’re laughing at our auction guesses, and the next you’re doing a double-take because a V12 Aston Martin sold for less than you’d expect from a “dream car” badge. 

We kick things off with fast, useful recall talk that hits the stuff drivers care about most: visibility, signals, and safety systems. If you own a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y, a Rivian R1S or R1T, or you pay attention to Toyota reliability headlines, you’ll want to hear what’s on the list and why it matters.

Then we jump into ou...

A car can fail in the market and still become unforgettable, and a “weird” idea can quietly invent the future. We start with a fast tour through automotive history that connects more dots than you’d expect: the 1979 AMC Eagle as an early crossover and all-wheel drive concept, Yellow Cab’s origins in Chicago and how that taxi story eventually links to Hertz, the 1959 Mini’s small-car genius, the Ford Edsel’s infamous launch, and the founding of Toyota Motor Company, complete with the naming decision that leaned on luck and branding. 

Then we switch from past to present wi...

Your insurance bill can jump overnight, and it’s not always because you did anything different. We sit down with Chip Lupo from WalletHub to unpack what’s behind today’s rising car insurance and homeowners insurance rates and what you can actually do to lower your premium without cutting the wrong corners.

We get specific about the moves that matter: when bundling home and auto insurance really saves money, why you still need to compare coverage line by line, and how shopping at least three quotes keeps you from overpaying out of habit. We also dig into t...

Rodney Rodriguez isn’t just talking about racing today, he’s about to go do it. We catch up with the Dirty Air host and longtime circle track voice as he heads to Edna, Texas to climb into a steel-bodied Nova for a special night at Texana Raceway Park. Between the heat, the pressure of driving a proven winner, and the challenge of running on dirt with limited seat time, it’s a perfect snapshot of what grassroots motorsports really feels like.

From there, we get into the details that only racers and track folks obsess over: why di...

A cracked wheel, a questionable seat belt anchor, and a high voltage battery risk are not the kind of surprises any driver wants, so we open with the latest vehicle recalls and talk through what they mean in plain language for real owners. If you track EV trucks like the Silverado EV and Sierra EV or you just want to stay ahead of safety issues, this recall roundup is a quick way to know what to watch for and what questions to ask your dealer or service department. 

Then we shift gears into one of our favorite p...

Chevrolet in China went from unstoppable to almost invisible, and that single data point opens a much bigger question: how quickly can a global market rewrite the rules for an American brand? We dig into the stunning sales drop that has Chevy reportedly ending sales there after two decades, what GM’s next move signals, and why EV demand and local competition can turn “iconic” into “irrelevant” in a hurry.

Before the headlines, we get real about the stuff that actually happens on the road and in the studio. There’s the modern curse of updates and glitches, bu...

Summer can disappear overnight when school starts, but we’re not letting that happen without a fight. We kick things off with “Marrs Driving Destinations” and lay out practical, family-friendly day trips around the Houston metro that still feel like a real getaway. Think Armand Bayou Nature Center in Pasadena for trails and wildlife, Space Center Houston in Clear Lake for interactive exhibits and tram tours, the Baytown wetlands for a geo-tour style adventure, plus Lake Conroe for boating even if you don’t own a boat, and Columbus, Texas for a small-town day that doesn’t turn into an all-day...

The fastest way to spark a car argument is to ask one simple question: which feature would you delete forever. We start with the everyday stuff that actually changes ownership costs and stress, like fuel economy habits, using cruise control as a “steady throttle,” and how adaptive cruise can quietly help you avoid the constant speed swings that burn gas. From there, we get into the modern tech that drivers love to hate, including hard to read steering wheel controls, lane keeping assist that feels intrusive, and start stop systems that make you hit the same button every single time...

A car ad says $299 a month, the salesperson says “trust me,” and somehow you’re staring at a payment that makes no sense. We bring in Dom Genova, a former Chrysler factory rep who built his own dealership by refusing to play the usual sales games, to explain what really happens between the headline number and the contract you sign.

Dom lays out a simple idea that feels almost radical in the modern showroom: “real price and real payment.” We talk through why so many buyers hate buying cars, how fine print can quietly change the meaning of an offe...

Recalls, real prices, and a brutally honest look at what a modern pickup costs when you spec it like a luxury car. We start by sorting through this week’s automotive recalls, including Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator updates, a Mustang Mach E trim concern, F-150 and Super Duty camera issues, a Genesis G80 fix, and a Mercedes-Benz recall situation big enough to make you want to open SaferCar.gov right now and check your VIN.

Then we pivot to the fun part: auction results. We play “guess the sale price” using Hemmings listings and talk through what t...

Richard Tomlin shows up with the kind of racing story that makes you laugh first and then take notes: he ran Pikes Peak against teams with mind-blowing budgets, qualified into the “Hella Fast 15,” and still had his day complicated by a throwout bearing that was supposed to be the safe, new upgrade. We talk through what failed, how much time it cost, and why finishing still matters when the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is basically a stress test for every part you bolt to the car. If you love grassroots motorsports, hill climbs, and real-world problem solving, this one...

A four-door Camaro sounds like a joke until you look at the space it could fill. We kick things off by unpacking the latest reports and AI-style renderings that imagine Chevrolet bringing the Camaro name back as a performance fastback sedan. We talk through why it would be a massive break from Camaro tradition, and why GM might still do it if they want a true halo car that sits beneath the Corvette and doesn’t step entirely on Cadillac’s toes. Then we get into the details that matter to car people: possible rear-drive underpinnings, the engine menu that...

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 cross-country rally doesn’t have to cost a supercar budget, and Doug Demore is proof. We sit down with the Long Haul Rally founder to talk about building a Corvette-focused coast-to-coast road trip from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to Monterey, California, with a cap of 100 cars and a plan that prioritizes safety and fun over racing.

Doug breaks down what drivers actually want to know before committing: who’s eligible (C1 through C8), how the route uses optional app-based checkpoints, and why those stops can act as both a “go see something cool” nudge and a real sa...

Your next car might not be chosen by you or even by the dealer, and that’s just one of the wild threads we pull this week. We kick things off with a fast, practical run through key automotive recalls, including a massive RAM pickup recall tied to a seat belt anchor issue, plus Jeep wheel concerns, Land Rover rearview camera trouble, and a Ford Bronco fire-risk note. If you like staying ahead of safety issues, this is the kind of recap that can save real headaches.

Then we have some fun with our sold car roundup gu...

Someone can steal a modern truck without “hotwiring” anything, and that reality changes what security needs to look like. We sit down with Ford Motor Company’s Ian Grotenhuis to unpack Ford Secure, formally the Ford Security Package, and why Ford is betting on proactive protection instead of alerts that leave you powerless. If you’ve worried about F-150 theft in Texas or anywhere else, this conversation gets specific fast.

We walk through what the package includes for eligible vehicles: theft alerts, access to a 24/7 365 call center, and the headline feature, vehicle start inhibit. Ian explains how it works...

The fastest way to ruin a DIY weekend is getting careless under a car, so we start with something unglamorous but essential: car jacks. We break down what makes a dependable floor jack, why lift points and pinch weld support matter, and how different designs fit different real garages. If you’ve ever fought low ground clearance or wondered whether a combo bottle jack and jack stand is worth it, we give you a clear way to think about safety features, lift range, lever effort, and portability.

Then we jump into new-car territory with a close look at...

Hybrids just pulled ahead of EVs in California, and the reasons are a lot more practical than political. We talk through the real-world mix of fuel prices, model availability, and day-to-day convenience that’s pushing drivers toward gasoline-electric hybrids, even in the biggest EV market in the country. If you’ve been trying to decide between an EV, a plug-in hybrid, and a regular hybrid, we lay out the factors that actually change the experience: road trip frequency, charging access, safety and comfort when traveling at night, and what “range anxiety” looks like when you’re on a tight schedule. ...

A road rally sounds like racing until you learn the best teams win by thinking, not speeding. We sit down with John Poulos from the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Texas Region to break down what road rally really means: precision driving on public roads, sharp navigation, and a driver-navigator team solving a moving puzzle while trying not to miss a turn.

We dig into the different “flavors” of SCCA road rallies, from time speed distance formats to scavenger-hunt style gimmick rallies, then zoom in on a DFW shortest-distance map rally where you do not get a pr...

Missing gear indicators, brake assist concerns, camera failures, and the kind of recall notice nobody wants to hear: “park it outside.” We move fast through this week’s car recalls across brands, then slow down just enough to talk about what they mean in real life, like how a simple display issue can become a safety problem, and why battery and motor overheating warnings deserve immediate attention.

Next, we turn Hemmings auction results into a listener game and let the market humble us. We guess sold prices on a low-mile 1994 Corvette convertible, a 1969 Camaro Z28 tribute, a modifi...

You can learn a lot about a used car dealership by one question: do they care how you feel after you drive away? We sit down with Jerry Emmons of Emmons Autoplex in Webster, Texas to unpack what “doing good business” looks like in real life, from treating customers with respect to pricing vehicles aggressively enough to move them in a competitive market.

We talk used car buying tips you can actually apply, including why they run a Carfax report before purchasing any inventory, what their average “car to market” time says about online pricing, and how they bal...

Houston heat doesn’t wait for the calendar, so Marrs brings a list you can actually use when summer hits hard. We talk through easy, high payoff getaways that keep you cool without turning the day into a complicated production: a Blue Bell Creameries run to Brenham for peak summer ice cream, the Bryan Museum in Galveston when the beach feels like a skillet, and the Lone Star Flight Museum for air conditioned aviation history that still feels hands on. If you want a little nature with a plan, we hit Brazos Bend State Park with the timing and sa...

A pedestrian crash is not just “bad luck” anymore, it is the predictable result of bigger vehicles, faster streets, and nonstop distraction. We sit down with Caroline Cash from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) to unpack what state highway safety offices are seeing right now and what changes can actually reduce traffic deaths in the United States.

We get into the uncomfortable design reality behind modern SUVs and light trucks: higher hoods and blunt front ends change where a pedestrian is struck and can make survivability worse than with a lower car profile. From there, we zoom...

Solar cars are not a gimmick, they’re a moving test lab that has to survive real traffic, real rules, and real weather. We sit down with Gail Lueck, event director for the American Solar Challenge, to unpack how collegiate teams build and campaign solar-powered cars under a 90-plus page regulations book, then prove themselves in scrutineering before they ever hit the road. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to make sunlight turn into dependable transportation, this conversation makes it concrete fast. 

Gail walks us through the two-part structure: the Formula Sun Grand Prix endurance track...

A recall notice can feel like background noise until it’s your driveway, your garage, and your family on the line. We dig into the latest car recalls and translate the fine print into plain language, including a third-row power folding seatback issue, a roll-away risk affecting multiple Ford and Lincoln models, and a Kia Telluride power seat motor problem that can overheat and potentially cause a fire. We also talk through the kind of practical advice that actually helps, like when “park outside and away from structures” is worth taking literally.

Then we lighten it up with o...

A used car can look perfect under the lights and still come with a past you did not sign up for. We bring in Patrick Olsen, editor-in-chief at Carfax, to break down what a Carfax vehicle history report actually reveals, why “Show me the Carfax” became shorthand for transparency, and how shoppers can use VIN-based data to negotiate with confidence.

We talk about the real-world mechanics behind vehicle history reporting: what service shops and dealerships share, why DIY maintenance and small repairs can create gaps, and how the free Carfax Car Care app lets owners track maintenance and...

Some cars disappear so quietly you don’t realize they mattered until they’re gone. We kick things off by digging into forgotten 1960s cars that used to be everywhere, including the Plymouth Valiant Signet, Rambler American, Mercury Meteor, Chevrolet Biscayne, Mercury Comet Cyclone, and the Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire. These aren’t just trivia picks, they’re a reminder that “popular” and “memorable” aren’t the same thing, and that practicality can be the fastest path to being overlooked in car culture.

Then we take a hard left turn into Houston Hidden Underground, because the most surprising stories aren’t alw...

A Dakar-designed Ford Raptor T1 is about to find out what American desert racing feels like, and we’re here for every gritty detail. We sit down with Matt Martelli, CEO of Unlimited Off-Road Racing, to talk about why Ford chose the Casey Folks Vegas to Reno run for the Raptor T1’s American debut and what makes this run so different from the rough-and-tumble world of Baja-style courses. Think long distance, high speed, and a 550-mile day that stresses cooling, electrical systems, and durability in a way most racing formats never touch.

We also get into the...

Your car doesn’t just get you places, it reveals what you’re willing to put up with. We’re back on the In Wheel Time car talk show and we jump straight into a question every owner of an older performance car eventually faces: do you modernize it, or do you move on? Don’s 2001 C5 Corvette still has that old-school factory setup, so we talk through the real-world appeal of a modern aftermarket display with Bluetooth and Android Auto, and whether a $500 upgrade makes sense if the car only comes out once in a while. 

From ther...