The Best of Car Talk-logo

The Best of Car Talk

NPR

America's funniest auto mechanics take calls from weary car owners all over the country, and crack wise while they diagnose Dodges and dismiss Diahatsus. You don't have to know anything about cars to love this one hour weekly laugh fest.

Location:

Cambridge, MA

Networks:

NPR

WBUR

Description:

America's funniest auto mechanics take calls from weary car owners all over the country, and crack wise while they diagnose Dodges and dismiss Diahatsus. You don't have to know anything about cars to love this one hour weekly laugh fest.

Twitter:

@cartalk

Language:

English

Contact:

Car Talk Plaza, Box 3500 Harvard Square Cambridge, MA, 02238 888-227-8255


Episodes

#2383: Unholy Water

9/30/2023
Katherine called Click and Clack looking for deliverance from the unholy waters sloshing around in the front of her minister-husband's Mitsubishi. Can our 'men-of-the-cloth-rags' help, or will this require a higher power? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:32:10

#2382: Definitely a Dealership Rat!

9/26/2023
Our boys didn't actually call a local dealership a bunch of dirty rats: quite the contrary. Click and Clack compliment and alienate throughout this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:33:42

#2381: Paul Murky's Revenge

9/23/2023
Car Talk's Chief Researcher, Paul Murky occasionally helps Ray by checking out potential Puzzler questions. However, on this particular show Murky must have been in a bad mood because he sandbagged Ray something fierce. Enjoy the carnage on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:35:31

#2380: Nostra-Thomas

9/19/2023
Click and Clack give up on mechanical diagnosis in favor of predictions. We predict a few laughs, some strange results and another installment of 'Stump the Chumps' on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:36:16

#2379: Let the Chump Stumping Begin!

9/16/2023
As bad decisions go, letting two car mechanics have their own show on NPR was 'questionable'. 'Crazy' was letting the folks calling-in with car problems back on to the show to tell everyone how good that advice was(or wasn't). The debut of 'Stump the Chumps' on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:33:15

#2378: Sid from San Fran

9/12/2023
Sid from San Francisco has a problem with his Ford SUV: he misplaced a live rat inside it that eventually died deep in the dash and the smell is pretty nasty. Did we mention that Sid is a python? His friend and owner Jacquie fills us in on Sid's tale of rodent woe and intrigue on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:36:15

#2377: Kristy vs. Krusty

9/9/2023
Kristy from Wyoming wants to learn how to work on cars so she enrolled in her high school's auto shop class. Her male classmates aren't taking her interest seriously, though. Should Kristy try to become one of them by smearing grease on her clothes and dragging her knuckles on the ground(hey, it worked for us!), or is there a better way? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:34:35

#2376: What's Cookin' at the Roadkill Cafe?

9/5/2023
'Locally-sourced' and 'tarmac-to-table' are hallmarks of the Roadkill Cafe. Tommy reads from their revolting menu and we promise that if you've never actually considered a vegan diet, you will after this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:34:31

#2375: The Ingrate Sold Your Car!

9/2/2023
Ann from Boulder, CO has a wonderful mother who gave Ann her car. How did Ann express her thanks to dear old Mom? She sold it and bought a different car! Will Ann do the right thing and fess up to Mother before she visits next week or do Click and Clack the tattletales have to place the call to Mom themselves? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:39:33

#2374: Alison's Stinkin' Volvo

8/29/2023
Alison was living it up out in latte land(Portland, OR) until she spilled her mocha cappucino all over the inside of her Volvo. Now the rainy season has arrived, and with it, an awful stench of sour milk everywhere she goes. Find out what to do when it's too late to switch to decaf on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:35:16

#2373: Yooper Problems

8/26/2023
What's a poor 'Yooper'(a Michigander from the upper peninsula) to do when his wife insists that he's wrecking her car by slamming it from reverse into drive every time he backs out of the driveway? Click and Clack try to let him down easy on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:33:25

#2372: Melissa Takes Over the Show

8/22/2023
What do you do when a precocious 13-year-old girl writes you a snotty little letter to say that your radio show stinks? You could invite her to host the show with you -shat should shut her up, right? Boy were we wrong! Melissa Peterson's revenge on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:36:38

#2371: Locating the Chee on Jody's Honda

8/19/2023
Jody's mechanics can't seem to fix her car and since she's a practitioner of Eastern Medicine she's considering plying her acupuncture talents in the hopes of helping her Honda. Tom and Ray try to help her locate the Chee on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:35:04

#2370: Ellen is 0 for 2

8/15/2023
Ellen's hubby's pride and joy is his new Ford Explorer. The first time he let her drive it another driver crashed into her. Months later, hubby figured it was time to let her have another chance and this time she filled the gas tank with diesel fuel by mistake. Has she ruined hubby's ride for good this time or will Ellen get a chance to go '0 for 3' with hubby's Explorer? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:36:10

#2369: To the Moon in a Ford Escort

8/12/2023
Jeanne called Car Talk to bemoan the fact that her husband Joe was forcing them to drive around in two old heaps. Joe then called to defend himself and offer that he is only trying to get his Ford Escort to rack up enough miles to make it to the moon. Houston we have a problem -and another call from Melissa Peterson- on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:34:03

#2368: Fun with the Bubonic Plague

8/8/2023
For a bit of mid-show fun, Ray comes up with a 'Puzzler' for listeners to solve that Tommy grades on a scale of 'historic', 'folkloric', 'challenging', 'interesting' and 'fun'. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:35:02

#2367: The Barefoot Confessor

8/5/2023
Amy just moved back east from Bezerkely, California and she brought her west coast driving habits with her. Dad caught her driving without her shoes on, and he is certain that barefoot driving is dangerous. Is it? Or is dear old dad making this up? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+ Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:34:30

#2366: Autorhinotillexomania

8/1/2023
We've all seen it. You're stopped at a light and the driver across the intersection has their hand to their face with half of one finger disappearing... up their nose. Yuck! Well, Jill from Montana has seen enough and wants to let all the offenders know that just because they are alone in their car they aren't invisible! Click and Clack try to explain 'autorhinotillexomania' on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

Duration:00:35:16

#2365: The Mind of Melissa

7/29/2023
For a show hosted by two knuckleheads, Car Talk has a pretty thoughtful and literate audience. Listener Jay Powell muses on the meaning of a world that contains both Car Talk and it's theoretical opposite: Melissa Peterson. It's Prose and Pistons on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+! Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:37:55

#2364: Press On!

7/25/2023
Hippies remember their Volkswagen vans fondly as a low-cost, tiny home on wheels. What they've forgotten is what a mechanical nightmare they were. On this episode we start the show with Sandra's 'flamethrower edition' of the Vanagon and end with Frank's 'brake failure' Eurovan. What a long strange trip it's gonna be on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. And if you want to listen to more Car Talk, sign up for Car Talk+! Car Talk+ is the easiest way for fans to access more than 800 Car Talk episodes, wherever you listen to podcasts. Find out more at plus.npr.org/cartalk or find the Car Talk channel in Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:36:46