Skip to content

Dan Roth

Episode #087 – Carlos In The Clink, Driving In Winter and Charging Follies

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #087 - Carlos In The Clink, Driving In Winter and Charging Follies
Loading
/

This week Sam drives the new Volkswagen Jetta and Dan spends time with the Acura RDX and VW Golf Sportwagen. Out in the real world, Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault and Chairman of Nissan is arrested for alleged financial malfeasance and the future of the Alliance is in doubt. With snow and ice now on the road, it’s time again to think about winter tires. Land Rover unveils the second-generation Evoque with electrified powertrains and Tesla owners are experiencing Supercharger issues. Sam also interviews Pete Rander and Brett Browning of Argo AI. Links Carlos Ghosn Arrested Winter Tires 2020 Land Rover Evoque Supercharging issues Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing and hosting it you can join at https://www.patreon.com/wheelbearingsmedia

Episode #086 – Complete with sirens from Magic City

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #086 - Complete with sirens from Magic City
Loading
/

This time out, Sam is recording from a hotel room in Miami as we discuss the Volvo XC40 T5 and its goofy shifter design, the Audi Q5 and its surprisingly fast handwriting recognition and the marvelous Kia Stinger. Subscriptions may or may not be the future of car buying, assuming car buying even has a future in an age of automated vehicles. Faraday almost certainly has no Future and Walmart joins Ford’s automated delivery test program. Links 2019 Volvo XC50 T5 Momentum Cadillac closes the Book on subscriptions for now Probably no future for Faraday Walmart and Ford team up on automated deliveries Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing and hosting it you can join at https://www.patreon.com/wheelbearingsmedia

Episode #085 – What is a Utility Vehicle Anyway?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #085 - What is a Utility Vehicle Anyway?
Loading
/

After a week off, we have an extended length show to make up for it. Dan drives a very expensive Ford F-150 and a sportier Acura MDX A-Spec. Sam goes from the not really a crossover Toyota C-HR to the ginormous Genesis G90. Then we dive into some discussion of sales and earnings, GM’s call for a national EV mandate in response to Trump administration moves to freeze fuel economy standards and cost cutting moves while profits are still reasonably healthy.  We also discuss Consumer Reports reliability data and answer listener questions including the Hyundai pickup truck. Links Toyota C-HR  GM Calls for a national EV mandate GM offers buyouts and cuts spending Consumer Reports reliability survey Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing and hosting it you can join… Read More »Episode #085 – What is a Utility Vehicle Anyway?

Episode #084 -All-in on In-Car Recording

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #084 -All-in on In-Car Recording
Loading
/

This week, Sam and Dan are both commuting, Dan from his office near Boston and Sam heading back to SFO from the Verge Transport Conference in Oakland. Sam is on his second consecutive battery electric car, driving the 2018 BMW i3S after leaving the Hyundai Ioniq Electric behind in Detroit. Meanwhile Dan joins the party from the 2019 Lexus LS500 after transitioning from the 2019 Subaru Forester. In the news, the guys discuss the latest assessment from Munro and Associates about how Tesla is building the Model 3 and Dan opines on advertising changes at Ford. At the end of the show we add the keynote that Sam delivered recently to the Ann Arbor Ypsilanti Regional Chamber Impact event. Links The Tesla Model 3 is too complicated for its own good Another Tesla manufacturing chief leaves Sam’s keynote at the Ann Arbor Ypsilanti Regional Chamber… Read More »Episode #084 -All-in on In-Car Recording

Episode #082 – Coupes, Convertibles, Chargers and Separate Development

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #082 - Coupes, Convertibles, Chargers and Separate Development
Loading
/

This week, Brianna Wu returns to the show to talk about her Porsche Cayman, Sam drives 2019 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Ultimate and Dan shares his feelings on the Ford Mustang Convertible. Lucid follows up on their big Saudi funding round with a deal with Electrify America to provide charging for the upcoming Air electric sedan. The crew also discusses the lack of togetherness between BMW and Toyota in developing the new Z4 and Supra. Links Lucid teams up with Electrify America BMW and Toyota mostly stop talking   Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing and hosting it you can join at https://www.patreon.com/wheelbearingsmedia

Episode #081 – New Premium SUVs Including an Electric Audi

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #081 - New Premium SUVs Including an Electric Audi
Loading
/

After a hectic week of travel for Sam while Dan was making an emergency commercial, the guys are back with a bunch of vehicles they’ve driven. Sam spent time with the BMW 230i and Kia Rio EX while Dan was in the BMW X2 and the VW Beetle convertible for a last hurrah before it rolls off into the sunset. Sam also drove the Cadillac XT4 and Lincoln Nautilus and attended the global reveal of the Audi E-Tron Quattro. Also J Mays emerges from retirement to design something new. Links 2019 Lincoln Nautilus First Drive 2019 Cadillac XT4 First Drive Audi e-Tron Quattro J Mays is Back   Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing and hosting it you can join at https://www.patreon.com/wheelbearingsmedia

Episode #080 – SUV Extremes, Hybrid Hauling, Mercedes Goes Electric and We Lose Focus

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #080 - SUV Extremes, Hybrid Hauling, Mercedes Goes Electric and We Lose Focus
Loading
/

Since the last regular episode, Sam has been in the new Jeep Wrangler with a 48V mild hybrid and a Nissan Kicks. Meanwhile Dan has been hauling stuff in the Hyundai Ioniq and picks up the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Mercedes-Benz revealed the new EQC this week and the Ford Focus Active isn’t coming to America. Links Navigant Research webinar on the Data Driving Automated Vehicles The Data Driving Automated Vehicles white paper 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2.0T  2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC Trade Ware Kills Focus Active for America   Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing and hosting it you can join at https://www.patreon.com/wheelbearingsmedia

Episode #078 – Refreshed Jeep, Affordable Car and Some Unaffordable EVs

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #078 - Refreshed Jeep, Affordable Car and Some Unaffordable EVs
Loading
/

            This week Dan records his end of the show from the new Kia Rio which proves an affordable new car doesn’t have to be cheap junk. Sam is at home after having driven the 2019 Jeep Cherokee and the 48V mild hybrid Ram 1500. The guys discuss the wisdom of Jaguar building electric restomod E-types, Audi’s new Pebble Beach electric supercar concept and whether Elon Musk has outlived his usefulness to Tesla Links First Drive of the 2019 Ram 1500 eTorque Jaguar commits to building electric E-Types Audi PB18 e-Tron concept   Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing and hosting it you can join at https://www.patreon.com/wheelbearingsmedia

Episode #077 – Hybrids, Some Affordable, Others Not Plus Casey

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #077 - Hybrids, Some Affordable, Others Not Plus Casey
Loading
/

Lots of electrified vehicles this week as Sam discusses the Lexus LC500h and Honda Clarity Fuel Cell while Dan gets his hands on the new Honda Insight and the Ford Expedition Max Platinum. Casey Liss is also back to talk about the VW Golf R. Everyone’s favorite 80s and 90s near vaporware is trying to make a comeback as Vector offers up a couple of old prototypes to kickstart a revival. Links Casey On Cars – 2018 VW Golf R 2018 Lexus LC500h – Is the Hybrid Tour Still Grand? Accidental Tech Podcast   Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of producing and hosting it you can join at https://www.patreon.com/wheelbearingsmedia

Episode #074 – The Last Ford Car, Big Van Road Trip and Climbing Lord March’s Driveway

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #074 - The Last Ford Car, Big Van Road Trip and Climbing Lord March's Driveway
Loading
/

This week Sam drives what may end up being the last Ford car to Pittsburgh to learn about how Argo AI is helping Ford build the future of transportation. Dan takes a road trip in the biggest of Ford’s passenger carrying vehicles. A lot of very cool vehicles climb Lord March’s driveway at the Goodwood festival of Speed. VW will build some of its new generation of EVs in America. Small Hyundai’s are really good. The guys discuss the meaning of crossover in an attempt to answer a listener question, too. Links Behind the curtain at Argo AI Self-Driving Mustang fails at Goodwood The Best of Goodwood 2018 VW ID Crozz and Buzz to be built in America Bonus photo: Recaro Expert Houndstooth seat Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the cost of… Read More »Episode #074 – The Last Ford Car, Big Van Road Trip and Climbing Lord March’s Driveway