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Ep. 110 – Luxury Hybrid Utilities, Tariffs and Mergers

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Ep. 110 - Luxury Hybrid Utilities, Tariffs and Mergers
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This week the crew drives a bunch of different flavors utility vehicles and a convertible. Rebecca and Dan both sampled the new Kia Telluride. Dan also tried a blend of old and new school with the Mercedes-Benz G550. Sam’s utilities were both electrified with the Lexus UX250h F-Sport giving way to the new Range Rover P400e plug-in hybrid. In the news our intrepid trio talks about the prospects for a merger of FCA and Renault, the impact of new potential tariffs on the auto industry and new “sport” sedans from Cadillac. Rebecca also discusses her time at the Heels and Wheels event in California. Finally, Sam made a video answering questions about autonomous vehicle technology. Links Lexus UX250h Review FCA-Renault Merger 2020 Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V Sam’s autonomous vehicles explainer Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to… Read More »Ep. 110 – Luxury Hybrid Utilities, Tariffs and Mergers

Episode #109 – Screaming Fords and Electric Audis

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #109 – Screaming Fords and Electric Audis
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The crew is back with the Chevy Blazer, Ford Ranger and Mazda Miata RF. Sam has been driving the Audi E-Tron Quattro in northern California. Amy Marentic talks Ford Icons, Mazda is bringing back inline sixes and GM Cruise gets more cash. Links Driving the 2019 Ford Shelby GT350 Mazda Inline Six-Cylinders GM Cruise Investment 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 #108 – Who’s To Blame?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #108 - Who's To Blame?
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On this week’s edition we learn that Dan doesn’t like convertibles after driving the BMW M850i. Rebecca has a noisy seat in the Nissan Maxima and thinks the Hyundai Tucson is a great value. Sam finds that the Ford Ranger rides a lot better with 600 lbs of dirt in the back and the interior materials don’t feel up to snuff for the price of the Lariat. In the news, with Ford finally connecting its vehicles, it’s starting to roll out new services that leverage the connectivity. We also discuss who’s to blame when a driver that knows Tesla Autopilot misbehaves, continues to use it and ends up dead. Links Ford adds new services enabled by connectivity The Problem With Blaming Tesla For Walter Huang’s Death Wheel Bearings has launched a Patreon. If you like the show and would like to chip in toward the… Read More »Episode #108 – Who’s To Blame?

Episode #107 – Ford throws money at Rivian, we’ve driven lots of cars, Tesla mobility day

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #107 - Ford throws money at Rivian, we've driven lots of cars, Tesla mobility day
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The gang are all back in their respective homes this week as we catch up on a couple of weeks of driving. Sam has had the 2019 Cadillac XT4 and Ford Edge Titanium. Rebecca had the BMW i3 Rex and Lexus NX300 while Dan had the latest Lincoln Navigator and Lexus ES350. Links Ford invests in Rivian Tesla’s bad week Gluing cars together 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 #106 – Live From New York!

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #106 - Live From New York!
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This week, Dan has been locked in a closet in Boston working on proposals so Rebecca and Sam locked themselves in a 2019 Lincoln Navigator on the floor of the New York Auto Show at Javits Center. In the sanctuary of the Navigator, they discussed some of the show highlights including the new Lincoln Corsair, Genesis Mint concept, Volkswagen Torak pickup truck, Hyundai Venue, and the new Porsche 911 Speedster. Links 2020 Lincoln Corsair 2020 Hyundai Venue Genesis Mint concept 2019 Mazda CX-5 Diesel 2020 Cadillac CT5 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 #105 – Sometimes Tilting At Windmills Pays Off

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #105 - Sometimes Tilting At Windmills Pays Off
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This week Sam and Rebecca both discuss their experience with the Nissan Murano. Rebecca has also been in the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV while Dan drives the Honda Pilot. In the news, four decades of tilting at mid-engine wind mills finally pays off for Don Sherman as GM confirms the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette will debut on July 18, 2019. Tesla really doesn’t want to sell any $35,000 Model 3s and the gang discuss the challenges of updating a 50 year old airplane for the 21st century. Links The mid-engine Corvette is almost here and here Please, please don’t buy a cheap Tesla Model 3 Updating the 50 year old Boeing 737 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 #104 – Who Says Millennials Don’t Like Cars?

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #104 - Who Says Millennials Don't Like Cars?
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This week Rebecca describes a road trip she took in the Buick Regal with her millennial nephew to watch some sportsball. She also samples the new generation Mazda3 sedan and we ponder the potential of Mazda to reposition itself as a more premium brand. Sam drives the BMW X4 and isn’t repulsed while Dan is less enamored with the latest Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. In the news, Ford’s fourth-generation Escape is revealed and it’s becoming more of a city slicker. It also brings back the hybrid and adds a plug-in hybrid. The Audi e-tron Quattro has a range number and it’s disappointing and Rebecca tries out the Jeep Gladiator. If you like the show, help us out by giving us a rating or review on iTunes or your platform of choice and tell your friends. Links Welcome to Escapeville with the 2020 Ford Escape Audi… Read More »Episode #104 – Who Says Millennials Don’t Like Cars?

The Tech Guy #1579

Sam says that even with driverless cars, he’s not sure if Lyft can still make any money. There’s no networking effect. There’s no loyalty or switching costs. So the only way to make it work is to have a lot of drivers and lower fares. Also, companies like Lyft and Uber have no real hard costs or assets. They don’t own the cars, or have to maintain them, or pay for the gas. When you go driverless, suddenly you have to pay for cars and maintain them. Those hard investments and will be in the billions at first. 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 #103 – Mandatory Smarts and Saving Smart

Wheel Bearings
Wheel Bearings
Episode #103 - Mandatory Smarts and Saving Smart
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This week, Rebecca finishes up with the Volvo V60 and tries out the new Ram 2500 in Manhattan. Sam has also been in a big truck with the 2019 Nissan Titan Pro4X while Dan goes small with the Hyundai Kona Ultimate. In the news, Lincoln releases the first teaser image for the Corsair compact crossover while Geely ponders stepping in to save the Smart brand from oblivion. Speaking of smarts, the European Commission is moving to make a whole suite of driver assistance features mandatory including automatic speed limiting. Links Lincoln Corsair Teaser Geely to save Smart Mandatory driver aids in Europe 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

The Tech Guy #1577

Sam joins Leo to talk about the etiquette of charging an electric vehicle.  Sam says that some EV users believe it’s OK to park next to a charger, thereby making that charger unusable for hours. Tesla has addressed this issue by charging people after their car has been filled up. Users now get a 5 minute grace period. Leo says while that’s true, if you’re traveling and are parking at the airport, you don’t really have a choice. While that’s a special case, most EV owners are just using charging spots at the mall and other locations as parking spots. Thereby preventing other EV drivers from charging.  Meanwhile, Mercedes Benz has included What3words navigation to their 2019 vehicles. All you need to do is input the three words of your destination, and it’ll take you there. What3words is a system that assigns three words to every ten… Read More »The Tech Guy #1577