Episode 22 : Tuned and Tanned

Welcome to episode 22 of the Throwin’ Wrenches Podcast, the auto podcast that has no time limit!

We love to yammer on about the latest automotive industry news, projects we’re working on, and chatting with our guests. Speaking of guests, we’re just a dynamic duo this week as we get caught up after some time off, family road trips, and long drive through the countryside. It’s great to be back!

Projects

Eric

Eric shares his latest autocross experience with aftermarket tuning on the Fort’s Toyota FRS race car, and how the fine folks at West Peoria Performance were able to lend a helpful hand in a pinch. We discuss the art of tuning and the steps involved in getting your toy to run after adding forced induction and few other mods.

Eric also took the family on quick weekend trip to southern Indiana in the Prius. With the money he saved on fuel, he paid for their hotel room. Not too shabby, Eric.

Daryl

With fall approaching in a few days, Daryl is working to prepare one of his antique cars for the Illinois Valley Antique Automobile Club’s fall tour later this month. The club heads to Starved Rock and the LaSalle-Peru area for an early fall tour, with an estimated round trip somewhere around 250 miles. Which car will make it with the least amount of headache? That’s a really good question! Most likely his ’55 Plymouth because it has more room for spare parts and tools in the trunk.

Headlines

International

Electric Cars Dominate Frankfurt Auto Show

European automakers and suppliers have plowed tens of billions of dollars into developing electric cars and hybrids to meet the continent’s stricter restrictions on tailpipe emissions. Now, many of those models have made their public debuts at the show and will be heading to dealerships soon.

Volkswagen AG, the world’s largest automaker, rolled out a new all-electric compact car Tuesday called the ID.3, while sports car maker Porsche showed off the Taycan, a powerful, four-door sedan that runs on battery power only. Mercedes-Benz, the luxury car brand owned by Daimler AG, unveiled a concept for a full-electric version of its flagship S-class sedan at this week’s motor show, which is among the world’s largest. Honda launched a battery-electric hatchback designed for city driving, and even Lamborghini, a maker of Italian supercars, revealed its first hybrid model.
Source: The Wall Street Journal

Nissan’s Abrupt CEO Exit Complicates Turnaround Efforts as Corruption Scandal Spreads

The abrupt resignation Monday of Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa, after an internal investigation uncovered falsified documents that boosted his compensation, marks a dramatic shift in an ongoing scandal that broke open last November with the arrest of then-Chairman Carlos Ghosn. Suddenly, Saikawa — who ordered the investigation into his former mentor — finds himself in the spotlight and standing accused of pocketing excess pay, too.

It also compounds the woes facing a company that appears to have done little in the past to monitor or rein in its top executives. And the lack of oversight comes to light at a time when Nissan’s sales and earnings have taken a sharp tumble, forcing substantial cuts in production capacity and the elimination of thousands of jobs worldwide.
Source: CNBC

National

In a recent program, Eric and Todd Fortier recalled riding the back of pickup trucks in their youth. Kids don’t seem to do that anymore. Here are two reasons why they shouldn’t:

FCA adds 693,000 Rams to tailgate recall

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has recalled 693,000 Ram pickups to fix tailgates that can open while the trucks are operating. It is the latest in a series of recalls totaling more than 1.1 million vehicles.

Source: Automotive News

GM Recalls 3.5 million SUV’s and trucks over brake issues
General Motors is recalling some of its most popular 2014-2018 truck models such as the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks, as well as the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Suburban, and Cadillac Escalade SUVs after a 10-month investigation spawned by a series of crashes where the brake system lost pressure and suddenly got harder to use.

Other sources say the electronic brake controller and pumps are to blame, and GM will recalibrate the units under the recall. Some 113 crashes have been linked to this problem, no deaths were reported. That’s a good thing, a fully loaded Escalade weighs 5,800 lbs!

Source: Consumer Reports

Rivian Update

Rivian Automotive, an electric pickup-truck startup backed by automotive and technology giants including Amazon.com Inc., has landed $350 million from privately held Cox Enterprises as it prepares to launch its first vehicle next year. Cox and Rivian will look to partner in areas such as vehicle maintenance and digital sales, Rivian Chief Executive R.J. Scaringe said in an interview.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Local

Average American spends $397 a year on car repairs.
According to a recent Harris poll, it seems most Americans only shell out $397 per year for car repairs on average. The results were compiled based on a 5-year average over a broad demographic. It also found older motorists were the least likely to spend as much over a 5-year period.

Results were as follows:

18-34 year-olds spent $2,334
35-44 year-olds spent $1,978
45-54 year-olds spent $2,135
55 and older spent $1,654

That seems really cheap to us. Are people running their stuff into the ground these days?

The article also touted the maintenance savings with hybrid & electric vehicles, including the RAV-4 Hybrid and Nissan Leaf vs. traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles. So, that’s pretty cool.

Source: PJ Star

Moment of Musk

There’s a lot of chatter about Rivian Automotive’s soon-to-debut entry into the EV truck market, but Elon has a plan up his sleeve for truck buyers. Calling it “the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen”, Musk is hyping things up before the truck’s debut in November.

Or will it be December?

Or next year?

And frankly… from the spy photos we saw… Rivian still has a sexier truck. Sorry Elon!

Riff Zone

What do Rutledge Wood and Charize Theron have in common?

Hyperdrive: Now streaming on Netflix

Charlize Theron has a need for speed. “I mean, I love the speed,” the Oscar winner tells Entertainment Weekly about her new Netflix show Hyperdrive. “Something about driving fast just gives you an adrenaline rush you can’t get anywhere else.”

Eric describes the new series, which some are calling “American Ninja Warrior for cars.”

Source: EW Weekly

Need a little cheddar to make your life better? Try HyreCar. Or don’t.

Do you have an under-utilized car that’s just sitting in your driveway collecting dust and depreciating in value? Why not rent it out to ridesharing drivers? That’s what car-sharing service HyreCar wants folks to do. According to the company’s marketing materials, car owners who list their vehicles with HyreCar make up to $12,000/year for each car listed!

Is Hyrecar side hustling the side hustlers?

Would you do this with your car?

Who thinks this is a good idea in the ‘gig economy’ these days?

Does their name sound British?

We have so many questions.

Source: Hyrecar

Pro Tip: Company cars aren’t ‘your cars’.
Next up, Daryl whines about driving behind a work truck the other day where someone had hung a dreamcatcher on the mirror, smoking something stronger than tobacco, and had some Bob Marley music blasting at the stoplight. The Chevy Colorado work truck was pretty scuffed up, too with a big company logo plastered on the side. Do they condone smoking herbs while behind the wheel? It definitely made him question the business’ reputation. If your employer’s name is on the door, you’re never really ‘off the clock’. Act accordingly.

Then, Eric chimes in about similar issues with plumbers & HVAC guys driving corporate trucks with vape smoke blowing all over like a blown heater core. As a business owner or manager, what do you do about this kind of thing?

Cars of the “Weak”

Eric

1967 Mercedes Benz 250 SL

Eric is sick of showing off amazing JDM Celicas to his wife… So this week he threw her a curveball on social media and found this gem. The Mrs. has always had a soft spot for old Benz models and this one connected with her as he had hoped… She said “sure, lets get it”… Then the bid got over 5000… LOL… Ultimately getting to its well earned price of 46,000 on Bring a Trailer.

This was all so confusing on Facebook that members of Eric’s family were asking when he was picking up his Benz. Not to worry dear listener… I am still just a “Cyber-Stroke” on any cars over 1K!

Sold on Bring a Trailer: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1967-mercedes-benz-250sl-18/

Daryl

1962 Olds F-85 Jetfire Coupe
Current eBay Bid: $9,000

In 1962 General Motors released their first turbochargers on two of their existing models. One was the Chevrolet Corvair, the second was the Oldsmobile F-85. This is the grandfather of the Grand National. The 180 horsepower Corvair Monza got most of the love since it was fun and sporty and unique with it’s rear-engine and spirited handling (ahem). The Oldsmobile F-85, meanwhile, was not as well-received. Only 3,765 were made in ‘62 and 5,842 in 1963 before the model was discontinued. With a methanol injection system to help detonation, an aluminum 215 cubic-inch v8, and 38,000 original miles, this one-family-owned example is a prime example of a milestone car.

Source: Barnfinds

Thanks for listening and don’t forget to visit our sponsors!

They help make this program possible, and we can’t thank them enough. That’s where you come in. Please consider them if you’re in the market for either service. Thank you.

Casey Law Office Peoria

Fort’s Toyota of Pekin

Catch you next time, and keep in touch with us on Facebook, via email, and give us a review on Apple Podcasts if you’re feeling awesome.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

Episode 22 : Tanned and Tuned

Sponsors

Projects