Everyone Has a "Car" Story, Tales From the Garage and Beyond

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Alan is joined by BJ Killeen, an automotive journalist and voice of reason. The TESLA Cyber truck is still a popular topic of discussion. TESLA filed a recall for over 2 million vehicles due to the auto-pilot feature not doing enough to prevent misuse. This recall includes all Model S, X, 3, and Y vehicles from 2012 to 2023. In other news, Ford announced that they are going to cut their Lightning truck in half. Alan asks about the Chevrolet Silverado EV, which has a range of 450 miles on a full charge and up to 750 horsepower, and BJ thinks it’s nice. The Silverado EV also has a gas-powered drive train. BJ is excited about the 2024 Ram EV Pick-Up, which comes with a backup engine. Alan wonders if that’s a hybrid, and BJ confirms it is. BJ also gives us a “Bull List” of future collectible cars, which includes the Chevrolet Impala SS from 1965-1970, the 1997-2002 Plymouth Prowler, the 1989 Lamborghini Countach, the BMW M3, the Jaguar XKR, the Jeep CJ8 Scrambler from 1981-1986, and the 1964-1966 T-Birds. BJ test-drove a 2024 Mazda 3 with six different trims and drove the top-of-the-line 2.5 T premium plus hatchback. BJ found it to be a fun car to drive, with good fuel economy, a great interior, and smooth, crisp shifts. It looks good, goes well, and is also affordable.

Next up, we have contributor George Kennedy III. He is a co-founder of Cartender.com, and also serves as the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association. George regularly contributes to U.S. News & World Report, CarGurus, Forbes Wheels, and here on The Drive. In this segment, George shares his thoughts on the Honda Moto Compacto – an electric city scooter that folds up and can be carried like a suitcase. This scooter can reach speeds of up to 15mph, produces no emissions, and costs less than $1000. George also test drove a Limited 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe – a gas-powered mid-size SUV with two rows of seating. This versatile and comfortable family vehicle comes with all-wheel drive, a 281 Turbocharged engine, a 360-degree parking camera, and many other features. While there were a few minor dislikes such as engine noise upon start-up and shifter design, overall, George gives the Santa Fe a thumbs up.

Alan is hosting a special guest, Rodney Kemerer, who is the author of Tales From the Garage. According to Alan, it is not a coffee table book, but instead, Rodney’s first book which he designed like a car owner’s manual. He talks about his journey of putting the book together, from choosing the font and color palette to make it look attractive and familiar. It is not like any other “Car” guy book, but instead, a compilation of Rodney’s writings over the years of being a journalist. The book is part memoir and part the memories of others. Rodney believes that time is fluid, and material objects stop the flow of time and make you remember specific things that you would not recall if that physical object wasn’t present. He collected emotional memories attached to a car, both unusual and interesting, which he has included in the book.

Brian Moody, the Executive Editor of Auto Trader.com and KBB.com, announced the Best Buy Award winners for 2024. The winners are as follows: the 2024 Toyota Prius for Best New Model, the Honda Civic for Best Compact, 2024 Hyundai Accord for Best Mid-Size, Kia Kona for Best Sub-Compact SUV, Honda CRV for Best Compact SUV, Kia Telluride for Best Mid-Size SUV, 2024 Ford Expedition for Best Full-Size SUV, Ford Maverick for Best Compact Pick-Up, Toyota Tacoma for Best Mid-Size Truck, Toyota Sienna for Best Mini Van, Hyundai Ioniq 5 for Best Electric Car, Ford F150 Lightning for Best Electric Pick-Up, and Kia EV9 for Best Electric SUV. You can find a detailed list of all the winners on kbb.com. In addition to the awards, Brian Moody also shared 10 things renters should know when dealing with an electric vehicle. The Right to Charge Law makes it easier for renters to access charging stations and regulates the time of day when vehicles can be charged. Landlords or property owners can limit charging as well. Overnight charging, charging compatibility, and portable charging options are among the topics covered. You can find the full list on autotrader.com. Brian shared some important tips to avoid mistakes that can harm your business. Firstly, make sure to set realistic expectations and price your products or services accordingly. Always provide a detailed and complete description of what you are offering. Use high-quality images or enough images to showcase your product or service. Respond promptly to potential customers’ inquiries. Be honest about the price and condition of the product. Ensure that all paperwork is complete. Clean your product thoroughly and make it look neutral so that potential customers can easily envision themselves using it.

[00:00:00] – Contributor BJ Killeen
[00:06:47] – “Bull List”
[00:13:00] – 2024 Mazda 3
[00:20:51] – Contributor George Kennedy III
[00:30:28] – Honda Scooter
[00:37:21] – 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe
[00:43:41] – Special Guest Rodney Kemerer
[00:50:50] – Tales From The Garage
[00:56:42] – Unusual and Interesting
[01:04:32] – Contributor Brian Moody
[01:12:49] – Top 10 Things Renters with EV’s Should Know
[01:21:02] – Mistakes When Selling Your Vehicle.

CREDITS

Host: Alan Taylor
Producer: Dave Milligan
Copy Editor: Colleen Mahi

Contributor: BJ Killeen
Contributor: George Kennedy III
Special Guest: Rodney Kemerer Contributor: Brian Moody

EXPLORE MORE WITH HELPFUL LINKS:

Contributor: BJ Killeen | Automotive Journalist and Voice of Reason
Contributor: Brian Moody | Executive Editor of Auto Trader.com and KBB.com..
Contributor: George Kennedy III | is a co-founder of Cartender.com, and the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association. He contributes to U.S. News & World Report, CarGurus, Forbes Wheels, and here on The Drive.
Special Guest: Rodney Kemerer | Author of Tales From the Garage.

Vehicles Discussed:

Chevrolet Impala SS 65-70, 1997-2002 Plymouth Prowler, Lamborghini Countach 1989, BMW M3, Jaguar XKR, Jeep CJ8 Scrambler 81-86, 64-66 T-Birds, 2024 Ram EV Pick-Up, 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV, TESLA Cyber Truck, 2024 Mazda 3, 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2024 Toyota Prius, 2024 Honda Accord, Honda Civic, 2024 Ford Expedition, Kia Kona, Honda CRV, Ford Maverick, Toyota Tacoma, Ford F150, Toyota Sienna, Hyundai Ioniq 5

OUR SPONSORS & SUPPORTED CHARITIES:

• Austin Hatcher Foundation
• AutoTempest.com
• Brembo
• Dodge
• Foundation of Human Understanding
• Shell
• Subaru

About THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor

THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor puts you in the driver’s seat for a unique, fast paced look at today’s automotive industry. This is your pedal-to-the-metal, two-hour thrill ride devoted to the latest car news and test-drive results, how-to tips, car maintenance tips, auto show coverage, expert insights and behind-the-scenes race day action. Don’t miss exclusive interviews with top auto executives, athletes, celebrities and prominent newsmakers from around the world.