Episodes

  • TW 107 – A Very Wrenches Christmas 2025

    TW 107 – A Very Wrenches Christmas 2025
    Dec 20 2025
    https://traffic.libsyn.com/thebeerreport/TW_107_christmas_2025.mp3 A Very Wrenches Christmas On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches… Its Christmas… You know we have something up our red velvet jacket and puffy white sleeves… Cars? Christmas? Its like peanut butter and chocolate! What will be our top 3 christmas movie cars in our annual festive lists? Thanks for listening. Thanks for being a fan. Spotify Wrapped… For podcasters Spotify Comments: Projects Eric: Toilet! Went to Italy. Drove a Renault Clio with more buzzers and alarms than any car I have ever driven in my life! Ubigi for Cellular… Love that. No texts or calls… but I had data Daryl: Highlander got fixed after my parking lot ding. Body shop didn’t clean the dust and there were footprints on the seat. Zero pride? Moment of Musk: Elon’s head was exploding Favorite Christmas Movie Cars Eric: Taxi Cab from Scrooged… The taxi cab in the movie Scrooged belongs to the fictional Belle Cab Co.. The vehicle itself is an iconic 1978 Checker A11 Taxicab (though some sources mention a 1970 or 1974 model year, the A-series ran largely unchanged from 1959-1982). This car zooms all over the skyline and slides through time in a decently fun twist on the ghost of Christmas Past. RIP Buster Poindexter aka David Johanssen of the New York Dolls. A role of a lifetime to be sure. I rode in one of these back in the early 80’s… Took the plane from O’Hare to LaGuardia and had a taxi driver who I am pretty sure was Bob Hoskins. My brother and I talked big stuff and declared that we would be running this town before our easter week was over. Sat behind Dan Rather at Sunday Mass BTW… I love these cars because of the jump seats. They are so damn big, but at first glance, you think nothing of them. Get in, and you will be shocked at the space. 2 Chrysler Town and Country K CAr from Planes, Trains and Automobiles. The car driven by Neal Page (Steve Martin) and Del Griffith (John Candy) in the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a 1986 Chrysler LeBaron Town & Country convertible, not a Dodge Aries K. While the LeBaron is built on the same Chrysler K-car platform as the Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant, the specific model in the film is a LeBaron. This car is dead on what people were driving when I was a kid. My great uncle worked for Chrysler from the 60’s tothe 90’s… His Mom, my Grandma Giancarli, drove a 1985 Airies K Car after she drove my 1978 Volare. I got the Volare, my brother got the Aries. HE took it all the way to LA to go to MIT… Eventually driving it back from LA to Fort Meyers. That car was pretty decent. I recall the back suspension collapsing from him hauling drums all the time. 3 Debate this It was going to be the Camaro from Better Off Dead, but Angela did not agree that its a Christmas movie… she obviously had not listened to our older Christmas shows! OK… How about this… George Bailey’s car from It’s a Wonderful Life? “The main car in It’s a Wonderful Life is George Bailey’s 1919 Dodge Brothers touring car, a black, open-top vehicle used for everything from family moves (with a goat!) to the iconic scene where he crashes it into a tree before contemplating suicide. The same car, with a specific studio tag (789), also featured as Ernie the taxi driver’s vehicle and remains a famous movie prop, now owned by collectors and occasionally shown at events. “ Classic, iconic, and I would totally pull this out for a chug around the block during parade season. The images I see online are morose and depressing from the black and white view… but this car is what scoots the story around Bedford Falls The main car in It’s a Wonderful Life is George Bailey’s 1919 Dodge Brothers touring car, a black, open-top vehicle used for everything from family moves (with a goat!) to the iconic scene where he crashes it into a tree before contemplating suicide. The same car, with a specific studio tag (789), also featured as Ernie the taxi driver’s vehicle and remains a famous movie prop, now owned by collectors and occasionally shown at events. Daryl: Scott Calvin’s Ford Taurus SHO – The Santa Clause (1994) The first-generation Ford Taurus SHO was the real deal. Manual trans. Yamaha-built V6 with a crazy intake design and beautiful exhaust note. Tim Allen being a car guy helped make sure Santa had a cool ride in addition to his sleigh. I saw this film in High School gym class one day before Christmas Break because Mr. Petty was phoning it in. This car is the only thing I remember from that movie. Billy Peltzer’s 1967 VW Beetle – Gremlins (1984) In the beginning of the film Gremlins, our hero Billy Peltzer is portrayed as a mild-mannered young bank teller who drives a responsible car, a classic 60’s VW Beetle. Only it doesn’t want to start on the cold, snowy morning in Kingston Falls. This leads to a ...
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    1 hr and 48 mins
  • Episode 107 Preshow – Christmas 2025

    Episode 107 Preshow – Christmas 2025
    Dec 13 2025

    Eric and Daryl sit down a few weeks before Santa comes to visit to chat it up. We share some nice chunky beers and talk about the normal gambit of Preshow material.

    The opening of a Raising Cane’s restaurant in the Peoria area stirs some ire in both of your hosts. Eric tries to decide whether leaving Spotify is worth it for world peace. Daryl cannot find a decent floor jack, and Eric wonders if those old cars are just too big for Harbor Freight tools.

    We set the Patreon/ITunes Premium to “free” for a month since Eric is still a slacker, and we will be sharing this episode with everyone in the spirit of Christmas Cheer.

    Thanks again for all the support in 2025 and into 2026. Car culture and car news are our favorite things to talk about… Glad to have you along for the ride!

    Eric and Daryl

    https://traffic.libsyn.com/thebeerreport/107_Christmas_25_preshow.mp3

    The post Episode 107 Preshow – Christmas 2025 appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.
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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • Episode 106 – 5th Gen 4Runner Mods and SCC 2025 with Jacob

    Episode 106 – 5th Gen 4Runner Mods and SCC 2025 with Jacob
    Nov 22 2025
    https://traffic.libsyn.com/thebeerreport/TW_106.mp3 Episode 106 Welcome to the automotive podcast that is talking 5th gen mods and SCC 2025 On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches… A Chinese Range Rover Knock-off… Knocks On “Heaven’s Gate”AI Wrote our introsThe USA makes a better robot than Russia… so, we have that going for us. All of that and more on this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches. Thanks for listening. To join in on the fun of the show, just email us at info@throwinwrenches.com or post a review on itunes to be heard worldwide! SPOTIFY COMMENTS and polls – New got some! Check us out on YouTube, before we are banned for copyright! Sponsors Fort’s Toyota of Pekin, find them at http://www.toyota-pekin.com PATREON – Thanks to our Patreon supporters. Welcome new members! I need to do the rundown with the magic mirror-like romper room! Itunes Premium – people love it! Full integration into your Apple Podcast app. On this show we will spend a bunch of time talking to Jacob and learning about his 2024 5th Gen 4Runner build along with the annual Southern Cruiser Crawl trip he and Eric took this past October. NEWS: Chinese Car Attempts To Drive Up ‘Heaven’s Gate,’ Crashes Through Guardrail Source: Newsweek Chinese Range Rover’ SUV Dragon Challenge Failed – Chery Icar 03 (Chery Fulwin X3L ) A Chinese automaker has issued an apology after a publicity stunt staged on China’s Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park went badly wrong. Chery Automobile, one of the largest automakers in the Far East, was filming a video for its new Fengyun X3L SUV on November 12 when disaster struck. The plan was for the company’s new SUV to be filmed ascending Tianmen Mountain’s famous 999 steps up to the natural arch known as Heaven’s Gate, located in Zhangjiajie, Central China’s Hunan Province. Known to many as the “Stairway to Heaven,” in 2018 the steps had served as the setting for a similar stunt staged by fellow car manufacturer Range Rover to promote its Range Rover Sport range. Whereas the Range Rover Sport successfully surmounted the steps, thought to be just 30 centimeters [12 inches] wide and on a gradient in excess of 60 degrees, the Fengyun X3L struggled with the ascent, ultimately losing momentum and rolling back down the hill. A video, posted to X by @CollinRugg, captures what happened next, with a yellow version of Chery Automobile’s new SUV shown crashing into a protective guardrail, causing damage to the iconic tourist spot and shocking bystanders in the process. National: New Fear Unlocked: Windshield Washer Fluid & Legionella Bacteria https://respiratory-therapy.com/disorders-diseases/infectious-diseases/other-infections/windshield-washer-fluid-may-be-source-of-legionnaires-disease/ Windshield washer fluid may contain bacteria that cause the deadly form of pneumonia known as Legionnaires’ disease, according to researchers who say the study is the first to detect high levels of Legionella in automobiles or aerosolized by washer fluid spray. Legionella bacteria, which are naturally occurring and typically found in water, are transmitted to people through mist or vapor from water containing the bacteria. For example, air conditioners and hot tubs can be sources of infection. The bacteria do not spread from person to person. Most people exposed to Legionella bacteria don’t become ill, but some develop Legionnaires’ disease. The bacteria can also cause a milder illness similar to the flu. Researchers found Legionella bacteria in the windshield washer fluid of 75% of school buses they tested in one central Arizona school district. The investigators also discovered that Legionella bacteria can grow in windshield washer fluid and maintain stable populations in the fluid for up to 14 months. “Washer fluid spray can release potentially dangerous numbers of these bacteria into the air. These results suggest that automobiles may serve as a source of transmission for Legionella infections,” study author Otto Schwake, a doctoral student at Arizona State University, said in a society news release. Moment of Musk: Are we past the 3rd rail phase with this guy? Elon Musk says Tesla’s Optimus will have superhuman surgical skills Technologie By Jessica Hagen During a talk with Ron Baron, founder of asset management firm Baron Capital, Elon Musk said Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, will one day perform surgeries with better precision than a human. “Imagine a world where everyone has access to the best surgeons, literally everyone,” Musk said. “Optimus will have the level of precision that is frankly superhuman and will be able to do medical procedures, very sophisticated medical procedures, any medical procedure, perhaps things that really humans can’t even do because they’re too difficult, and that will be available to anyone.” Musk stated that people often talk about eliminating poverty and providing great medical care but ...
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    1 hr and 56 mins
  • Episode 105 – High Car Prices, Low Equity and we have sound effects

    Episode 105 – High Car Prices, Low Equity and we have sound effects
    Oct 28 2025
    https://traffic.libsyn.com/thebeerreport/TW_105_Final.mp3 Welcome to the automotive podcast that does not pay the average price for their cars… On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches… Everyone wants record high returns… But how about record high car prices?How about record amounts of upside-down cars?Canada’s loss is our gain. More jobs at Stellantis in Illinois All of that and more on this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches. Thanks for listening. To join in on the fun of the show, just email us at info@throwinwrenches.com or post a review on itunes to be heard worldwide! SPOTIFY COMMENTS and polls – We have some comments! Check us out on YouTube, before we are banned for copyright! Sponsors Fort’s Toyota of Pekin PATREON – Thanks to our Patreon supporters. Itunes Premium – people love it! Full integration into your Apple Podcast app. Projects Eric: SCC Roundup – Jake’s show coming up. Jake got a scratch. Celica redo… leaking since service. Distrubugtor Daryl: Tundra brakes Cadillac compression test Garage cleaning and paring down. Aanco stuff added. NEWS: EDMUNDS: Underwater and Sinking Deeper: The Average Amount Owed on Upside-Down Auto Loans Climbed to an All-Time High of $6,905, According to Edmunds Analysts say a record nearly 1 in 4 vehicle trade-ins toward new-car purchases with negative equity carried more than $10,000 in debt SANTA MONICA, CA — October 15, 2025 — More Americans are finding themselves upside down on their car loans, according to the car shopping experts at Edmunds. Q3 2025 data from Edmunds1 shows that a growing share of owners are trading in vehicles worth less than what they owe — and the debt they are rolling forward is only growing: More than one in four new vehicle trade-ins are underwater, a four-year high. 28.1% of trade-ins toward new-car purchases had negative equity, up from 26.6% in Q2 2025 and 24.2% in Q1 2025. This is the highest share Edmunds has on record since Q1 2021, when 31.9% of new-car trade-ins were upside down.Americans with upside-down car loans owe more than ever. The average amount owed on upside-down loans hit a record $6,905 in Q3, edging past the previous high of $6,880 set in Q1 2025.Nearly one in three underwater car owners owe between $5,000 and $10,000 in debt — a new record high. 32.9% of negative-equity trade-ins fell into this range in Q3, up from 32.6% in Q2 and continuing a steady climb since last year.A record share of underwater car loans are carrying five-figure debt. Nearly one in four (24.7%) trade-ins with negative equity carried more than $10,000 in debt in Q3, surpassing the previous high of 24.6% set in Q4 2024. Another 8.3% of trade-ins with negative equity carried more than $15,000 in debt, up from 7.7% in Q2 2025. New Research Confirms: Major North American Auto Shows Drive Consumer Behavior and New Vehicle Sales New York International Auto Show, Los Angeles Auto Show, Canadian International AutoShow NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In an era dominated by digital and social media marketing, new research released today by Clarify Group shows that the in-person, immersive experience of attending an Auto Show in the United States and Canada continues to play a critical role in the new-vehicle purchase journey for consumers — and has a measurable impact on consumer buying decisions. Clarify Group Inc., a leading automotive research and insights firm, conducts research on behalf of the three largest Auto Shows in North America: the Los Angeles Auto Show, the Canadian International AutoShow (Toronto) and the New York International Auto Show. As the new Auto Show season approaches — with Los Angeles opening Nov. 21, Toronto on Feb. 13, 2026, and New York on April 3, 2026 — Clarify is releasing highlights from the most recent studies conducted across the three shows, representing the voices of nearly 9,000 visitors. These findings offer important insights for vehicle manufacturers, marketers and retailers about consumer intent and behavior. The research underscores the importance of Auto Show participation for OEMs and the risks created for any brands that choose not to participate. Key Findings (across all three shows unless otherwise stated) 40% of Auto Show visitors intend to buy or lease a new vehicle within the next 12 months Auto Show visitors are 2.9 times more likely than the average consumer to purchase or lease a new vehicle within the next year 68% of Auto Show visitors are in the market to buy within 24 monthsGen Z visitors are the most enthusiastic promoters among all age groups—they are 1.5 times more likely than average to recommend the Auto Show to friends and family, challenging the perception that Gen Z consumers prefer only digital engagement with brands https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1TSkMc84EDB8LyRevvyt5D_OaN6o0ErOmwhNG4cTotAw/present?slide=id.g27081fa77aa_0_14 Average Price For A New Car Hits $50,000 For First Time Ever BY RYAN ERIK KING ...
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    1 hr and 33 mins
  • Episode 104 – More Power, Smart Cars and Popcorn

    Episode 104 – More Power, Smart Cars and Popcorn
    Sep 13 2025
    https://traffic.libsyn.com/thebeerreport/TW_104_Final.mp3 Welcome to the automotive podcast does not pay subscriptions for performance On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches… Toyota MAY come back with a Supra? Would you like that in V6 or V8?How Smart is it to bring back Smart to the USA?How much would you pay for more horsepower? Like… how much monthly… On your credit card? Sponsors Fort’s Toyota of Pekin PATREON – Thanks to our Patreon supporters. Welcome new members! I need to do the rundown with the magic mirror-like romper room! Itunes Premium – people love it! Full integration into your Apple Podcast app. NEW SEGMENT! Cruise or Choose? It’s like “Would You Rather”… But with cars. Tell us what you think. NEWS: The Toyota Supra May Come Back With a Lot More Power: Report A new Supra could get over 500 horsepower from a four-cylinder engine and an electric motor, according to a new report. ROBB REPORT The fifth-generation Toyota Supra is, in large part, a BMW, but that didn’t make its comeback any less special for its fans, who are legion. The fifth-generation Supra is also in the midst of an extended goodbye, though it might be coming back in a radically different form, with even more power, according to a new report. The report, from the Japanese publication Best Car Web, makes a number of startling claims, starting with the Supra, which will allegedly come back with over 500 horsepower. The new car won’t be supplied by a BMW-made six-cylinder, but instead will be a four-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor. That would be an increase of over 118 horsepower from the fifth-generation car’s current output. Best Car Web says the electric motor will be behind the driver’s and passenger’s seats. Smart Will Return To The Segment It Created In 2026 By Brett T. Evans Despite being synonymous for parking-friendly city cars with just two seats and a one-box shape, the current Smart lineup looks a lot less distinctive these days – a sea of compact crossovers with rounded styling and Mercedes-esque headlights. That may change in late 2026 when the company introduces the #2, which, as its name suggests, is a modern remake of the original CityCoupe (later remaned fortwo). The pocket-sized #2 will also be an EV, taking advantage of a new Smart platform designed for “ultra-compact vehicles.” VW introduces monthly subscription to increase car power Liv McMahon | BBC German car making giant Volkswagen (VW) has introduced a subscription for UK customers wanting to increase the power of some of its electric cars. Those who buy an eligible car in its ID.3 range can choose to pay extra if they want to unlock the full power of the engine inside the vehicle. VW says the “optional power upgrade” will cost £16.50 per month or £165 annually – or people can choose to pay £649 for a lifetime subscription. The firm said it was “offering customers choice” with the feature. Auto Express, who first reported the story, said a lifetime subscription would be for the car rather than the individual – meaning the upgrade would remain on the car if it was sold on. A VW spokesperson told the BBC they believed giving people the option to purchase more power for their car is “nothing new”. “Historically many petrol and diesel vehicles have been offered with engines of the same size, but with the possibility of choosing one with more potency,” they said. A Small Toyota Truck For $30K? Believe It. The Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz are about to get some competition. Miguel Cortina Writer Avarvarii Aug 19, 2025 What It Is: Toyota will launch a small pickup truck to compete directly with the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. The yet-to-be-named truck will slot under the Tacoma and serve as the company’s entry-level pickup. With the Maverick’s popularity, Toyota has watched the segment grow—and it’s a segment it doesn’t compete in but would like to. Cooper Ericksen, Toyota Motor North America’s head of planning and strategy, told MotorTrend the automaker is building the truck. “Decisions have been made,” he said. “The question is when we can slot it in. It’s not a matter of ‘if’ at this point.” Rivian to Resume Construction of $5B Georgia EV Plant in 2026 (Engineering News Record) Electric vehicle maker Rivian is preparing to resume work on its paused $5-billion manufacturing plant in Social Circle, Ga., according to the company. The manufacturer scheduled a ceremonial groundbreaking for September and is on track to begin construction next year, company representative Peebles Squire says. The startup will still use its originally selected contractor, Clayco, for the job. The plan calls for a 16-million-sq-ft manufacturing plant on an 1,800-acre campus. It will be built in two phases, each adding production capacity for 200,000 vehicles, Squire says. CARS OF THE WEAK Eric: 1999 Toyota camroad motorhome ...
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    1 hr and 52 mins
  • Episode 103 – Faraday Face

    Episode 103 – Faraday Face
    Aug 10 2025
    https://traffic.libsyn.com/thebeerreport/tw103.mp3 Welcome to the automotive podcast that wasn’t invited to the opening of the Tesla restaurant. On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches… What makes your supercar super?Have you picked out your Faraday Face?Rivian is bringing more jobs to Central Illinois. All of that and more on this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches. Thanks for listening. To join in on the fun of the show, just email us at info@throwinwrenches.com or post a review on itunes to be heard worldwide! Check us out on YouTube, before we are banned for copyright! Sponsor: Fort’s Toyota of Pekin PATREON – Thanks to our Patreon supporters. Itunes Premium – people love it! Full integration into your Apple Podcast app. Projects: Eric: Needed more RUSTBUSTERS.com parts for the chainsaw truck. Aiden lost AC in the 1997 CelicaSCCA in Mossville.Camping trip to UtahROAR Daryl: Solara starterSmoke machine funGot a new shop vac. Incredible 80’s Car Museum in Dwight NEWS: Report: Nissan Closing Two More Production Plants By 2027 The two plants produce vehicles for the U.S., but Nissan gave no indication on the future of those products. Justin BannerWriterMotorTrend StaffPhotographerManufacturerPhotographerJul 21, 2025 With Nissan in dire straits, the Japanese brand has been reaching for every avenue to save itself through the “Re:Nissan” initiative. Recently, word came down on July 15 that its Oppama plant in Kanagawa, Japan, would shut down and production there would move to Kyushu (in Fukuoka, Japan) by early 2027. Now, a new report suggests is that two of Nissan’s Mexico plants will shutter in the same timeframe with no word on where the vehicles built there will be assembled in the future. Faraday Future’s New FX Super One Luxury Van Has a Funky F.A.C.E. AI-enhanced interactive LED grille aside, can this jumbo luxury people mover make a dent in a market where full-size SUVs rule? Mike Floyd July 17, 2025 Motortrend We’re at Faraday Future’s Southern California headquarters getting our first look at its upcoming new vehicle, when we walk around to the front of the car. The LED grille is flashing and pulsing through images and video like a Times Square billboard. That’s the point: The F.A.C.E. of the FX Super One is designed to draw attention. It got ours. F.A.C.E. stands for Front AI Communication Ecosystem, and like everything else in this era, it has an artificial-intelligence component to it, because of course it does. Imagine you have your Super One parked outside at a sporting event, and you program your F.A.C.E. to promote a product you have. People could potentially interact with said product placement and get answers. Or you can just goof off and have it show photos of you in a Speedo, or your dog or cat in a cute outfit. Oh, the possibilities. (To be clear, it has to be parked to show anything interactive.) It’s a neat party trick, but chances are most of the folks who end up buying a Super One—which Faraday is rolling out as part of the company’s new Faraday X subbrand strategy (think Lexus versus Toyota)—when it goes on sale sometime early in 2026 as the vanguard model of a planned product blitz over the next 24 months won’t opt for the fancy digital mug. What will they get as a whole? A huge, luxurious minivan (Faraday prefers MPV, or multi-purpose vehicle) with a passel of unique options, a suite of AI-enhanced software and technologies that help power it and its systems, and two all-wheel-drive powertrains from which to choose, one all electric and one Faraday calls an AI Hybrid Extended Range (AIHER). Right now, it’s sort of an answer to a question that not a lot of Americans in the market for big people movers are asking. But Faraday hopes it will find a niche. Local: AutoCanada Inc. has firmed up agreements to sell 13 of its 17 new-vehicle franchises in the United States as it prepares to exit the American market and refocus on Canada. The deals with several unnamed buyers are worth Cdn $82.7 million (US $60.3 million), including real estate, the company said July 16. They include Chevrolet of Palatine, Crystal Lake Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram, Hyundai of Palatine, North City Honda, as well as two multi-franchise locations: Autohaus of Peoria, consisting of Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen stores; and Bloomington Automall with Audi, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru and Volkswagen locations. Source: Automotive News Canada New Rivian supplier ‘Adient’ set to bring dozens of jobs to Town of Normal By Imani McClay NEWS 25 Published: Jul. 21, 2025 at 3:50 PM CDT|Updated: Jul. 21, 2025 at 5:28 PM CDT NORMAL (25News Now) – Dozens of full-time jobs are headed to McLean County as a new supplier for Rivian gets ready to plant their roots in Normal. Gov. JB Pritzker, alongside the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Adient, the new supplier, made the announcement Monday. Adient, a ...
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    2 hrs and 11 mins
  • Episode 102 – Beach Party Iceland

    Episode 102 – Beach Party Iceland
    Jul 1 2025

    https://traffic.libsyn.com/thebeerreport/TW_102_Full.mp3

    Welcome to the automotive podcast that singing the blues in our Little Deuce Coupes. (R.I.P. Brian Wilson)

    On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches…

    • Suzuki Jimnys are sold out for the next 3 1/2 years, but not here in the US
    • Volvo has a museum. Who wants to go?
    • Lordstown Motors: You thought they were gone, but they still find a way onto this episode
    Our Sponsors

    As always, we’d like to give special thanks to Fort’s Toyota of Pekin

    In addition to the fine folks at Fort’s, our Patreon supporters help keeping the wrenches flying. Thank you!

    Episode Highlights Suzuki News

    Suzuki’s Jimny 5-door is so popular in Japan that they’ve suspended orders after just four days, creating a 3.5-year backlog with 50,000 orders and only 1,200 units per month production capacity.

    Volvo News

    We explore the newly opened World of Volvo Museum in Gothenburg, celebrating the Swedish automaker’s 100-year history, and discuss GM’s massive $4 billion investment to move production from Mexico back to US plants, including the shuttered Orion Assembly facility.

    Car Culture

    In tribute to the late Brian Wilson, we dive into how the Beach Boys shaped American car culture with classics like “Little Deuce Coupe” and “409,” plus Wilson’s surprising hit about a Honda scooter that introduced Americans to the Japanese brand.

    Projects
    • Eric recalls his recent Iceland trip with Angela that involved driving on lava rock in a stripped-down Suzuki Jimny SUV
      • He also prepares for some frame repairs on “Little Mule”, his 1996 Toyota Tacoma, using parts from Rustbuster.com
    • Daryl explains why he enjoys a Sunday drive in his trouble-free ’55 Plymouth
      • He also considers thinning his car collection
    Cars of the Weak Eric

    1995 right-hand-drive Suzuki Jimny – $15,995
    Source: AutoTrader

    You might say Eric was smitten by the Suzuki after he and Mrs. Stahl traveled across Iceland in one. Sure, it’s lacking a few creature comforts. Maybe the crash rating isn’t spectacular. And no, you can’t buy a new one here in the United States. That’s why he found a USED Japanese-market import to call his own.

    He also found something that may replace “Little Mule” one far-off day. It rhymes with Mahindra.

    Daryl

    2023 Lordstown Endurance EV Truck – $32,000
    Source: Facebook Marketplace

    What’s this? Why, it’s a barely-used 2023 Lordstown Endurance EV truck, of course. We’ve talked about Lordstown Motors quite a bit over the years but never actually seen one in the wild until now.

    It’s hard to believe these didn’t take off.

    Maybe that’s a good thing?

    Get in Touch

    Got something that really grinds your gears? Let us know at info@throwinwrenches.com and we’ll be in touch.

    The post Episode 102 – Beach Party Iceland appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.
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    1 hr and 59 mins
  • Episode 101 – A New Slate

    Episode 101 – A New Slate
    May 18 2025
    https://traffic.libsyn.com/thebeerreport/TW101_FINAL.mp3 Welcome to the automotive podcast that is starting with a new SLATE… Get it? On this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches… SLATE is the rage. Do you know about this cheap EV truck?GM recalls half a million vehicles, and says it’s not related to the other possible recall. They think. 100 episodes? What about 100 kids? Its time for a new Moment of Musk. All of that and more on this episode of Throwin’ Wrenches. Sponsors Fort’s Toyota of Pekin Papermapsandcoffee on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/papermaps.and.coffee/ PATREON – Thanks to our Patreon supporters. patreon.com/throwinwrenches Welcome new members! I need to do the rundown with the magic mirror-like romper room! iTunes Premium – people love it! Full integration into your Apple Podcast app. Thanks for listening. Thanks for sharing. Thanks for commenting. THANKS FOR REVIEWING!!!! Projects Eric: MOORE EXPONew 4Runner was pimped Daryl: Took the ‘55 Plymouth out for a great tour to Pontiac, IL and she didn’t miss a beat. Fury dash lights – Or – How to cut your hands and arms on thin sheet metal NEWS: World: Tariffs Tariffs Tariffs. We are not going to get into it. Mostly because this show could be 2 weeks old by the time you hear it, and he could change his mind again. The Foxconn story intrigues me… As Deals and Tariffs Loom, Foxconn Sees U.S. Production Power in Former GM Factory Front and center at the Foxconn booth here sits a midsize crossover with supersize ambitions. If all goes to plan, the Model C all-electric utility could help catapult the Taiwanese electronics giant into the U.S. market as one of its newest automotive players. Foxconn, best known as the world’s largest contract manufacturer of iPhones, plans to start shipping the Model C to a customer across the Pacific by the end of the year. And if the Trump administration’s tariffs prove too thorny for long-term exports from Foxconn’s factory in Taiwan, Foxconn has a formidable Plan B.The company is rapidly refurbishing a former General Motors plant in Lordstown, Ohio, as a U.S. production hub. The plant, which has capacity for hundreds of thousands of vehicles when fully tooled, could be pumping out vehicles as early as next year. Source: Automotive News Excessive Tech on display at the shanghai auto show Imagine vehicles with holographic instrument panels floating in thin air; cars with see-through doors that allow drivers to see nearby pedestrians and cyclists more easily; biometric health monitoring using facial recognition and various health metrics; and less-costly massaging car seats. This is a small sample of the diverse technologies French auto supplier Forvia is showcasing at the Shanghai auto show beginning April 24. Source: WardsAuto National: GM 6.2L V8 L87 Engine Recall Unrelated To Valve Lifter Issues Source: GM Authority General Motors recently announced a wide-ranging safety recall involving the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine, affecting nearly 600,000 vehicles in the United States. While the recall addresses two potentially serious mechanical defects that can lead to engine failure and a loss of propulsion, GM has confirmed that the recall is not related to the well-documented valve lifter problems experienced by some owners. The recall identifies two specific manufacturing defects at the supplier level, namely potential contamination leading to rod bearing damage, and crankshafts that were either improperly finished or otherwise out-of-spec. As covered previously, the new L87 engine recall impacts a wide array of full-size GM vehicles, including GM trucks and SUVs built between the 2021 and 2024 model years. In total, 597,630 units are impacted in the U.S.,with global recall figures approaching 721,000 units. Used Vehicle Prices & Availability Used-vehicle prices are on the rise as U.S. trade tariffs disrupt the overall automotive market. Prices increased in April at almost double the normal spring rate, according to vehicle data provider Carfax, which said used-vehicle sales more than doubled year-over-year. Used prices rose nationally and in all segments, Carfax found. Pickup trucks and luxury SUVs saw the biggest price increases in April, surging $660 and $600 on Carfax’s website, respectively, according to its data. Source: Auto Dealer Today Dealers should prepare for a shortage of affordable vehicles and manage inventory carefully as the impact of tariffs begins to hit new-car supply, David Greene, principal, industry and marketplace analytics at Cars.com, tells WardsAuto. Two learnings emerge from the Cars Commerce Q1 2025 Auto Market Review: “The most affordable vehicles come from our neighbors to the north and the south, and those are going to be under the most (price) pressure,” Greene says. Source: WardsAuto Volkswagen Keeps 2025 GTI for the U.S. After Deleting Standard Golf The 2025 ...
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    2 hrs and 5 mins