Episode 34 – Copycats, Competition and Ceramic Coatings

We’re glad you’re back for another installment of the auto podcast that values its prep time… or perhaps we’re the auto podcast that needs some Red Bull before the show.  At any rate, we’re still working on the catchphrase. Thanks for catching up with us.

For those who said Episode 32 was a high watermark, we appreciate that. We’ll try to top it with this episode. And the next. And the one after that. In all seriousness we have some exciting guests in the hopper for the next few shows, so be sure to subscribe and follow along. You won’t want to miss what’s coming up.

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Episode Highlights

Projects

Eric recaps his latest timed road rally in America’s Dairyland while Daryl talks about routine maintenance and putting off a major wiring harness replacement.

Race | Daily | Kill

Play along as we road test a new segment that’s s a play on a popular (and juvenile) locker room game where we pick three vehicles and decide which one we’d like to race on the weekends, drive every day, and send to the crusher.

TWISM: This Week in Social Media

While fireworks were canceled and many venues remained closed for the Fourth of July thanks to COVID-19, some 2,700 interested car folks and approximately 600 cars gathered East Peoria for the season opener of Central Illinois Cars & Coffee. We count our blessings and run down just how big of a draw the local monthly events are for gearheads across Illinois.

Headlines

International

BMW toying with a subscription-based service model for vehicle options (Hat tip to friend-of-the-show Ben for sharing this article.)

The fine folks at BMW are proud of their new Tesla-like concept of subscription-based option model. The upside? The vehicle manufacturing and service process is streamlined since there’s only one version of each model, one wiring harness, one computer system, etc. The downside? Consumers get the shaft and the manufacturer controls everything you thought you owned… but don’t actually own.

National

In news of the tone-deaf…

Ford Motor isn’t worried about new features on its redesigned F-150 pricing people out of the increasingly expensive full-size pickup market, according to the company’s chief operating officer, Jim Farley. “This is content people want and are more than willing to pay for,” he said Friday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “People are happy to pay if the product is more productive.” On Thursday evening, Ford unveiled traditional and hybrid versions of the 2021 F-150 pickup. The truck is scheduled to begin arriving in dealerships this fall. An all-electric F-150 is expected sometime in the next two years.

In news of the not-so-tone deaf

We see a glimpse of the new Ford Bronco lineup, and we think it will be incredibly cool! Eric offers a preview into each of the three models and explains the allure of the open-air 4×4. Will other manufacturers step up to the plate and offer their own versions, or will the Jeep Wrangler continue to capture the lion’s share of the market?

Local

Thank God, it is now legal to a drive golf cart on city streets in Pekin, Illinois

The Pekin City Council passed an ordinance to allow golf carts on public streets with certain restrictions. Per the new city ordinance, the owner of a golf cart that wishes to drive it on a public street must register the golf cart with the police department, and then they’re free to roam around town. We’ll recap the other motorized vehicles that can run around town, and explain why this is a good idea… and what the limitations are. 

Moment of Musk

We’ve been talking about driverless cars for years now, and yet it appears many start-ups such as Rivian are having trouble getting out of first gear. Enter Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, a pile of cash and a company named Zoox.

As reported on the Hustle this week….Amazon’s latest acquisition could shake up the future of driverless cars and trucks. Amazon is snapping up the driverless car maker Zoox for a deal estimated at a cool $1.2B. Zoox has spent the last couple of years working on a robo-taxi. 

Oh, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk isn’t happy and is now calling Bezos a “copycat.”

So, there’s that.

Speaking of Tesla…

The Rabbit Hole

Eric finishes his quest to learn about the last of the remaining descendants of Nikola Tesla, and finds him.

William Terbo (Trbojevich) was the last living relative of Nikola Tesla and the last living person who actually met the visionary inventor. Did he get a free Model S that bears his family’s name? How about a free t-shirt from Elon? 

 

Riff Zone

Daryl ponders the latest social media recommendations for ceramic coatings for your car. Also, Google is your friend. Most of your Facebook friends aren’t.

Eric grosses everyone out with a tale of a Tesla driver on autopilot using his freed-up hands to do a little manicure job at 75 miles-per-hour along Interstate 74.

Cars of the WEAK

Eric

1976 450 SEL Benz with the giant 6.9L V8.

Source: Bring A Trailer auction

Current Bid: $15,000 

Robert Loggia and Ewy Rosqvist are to blame for this one. Eric has always been drawn to the big Benz’s, and this one is no exception. With a cream exterior with tobacco leather and that monster engine, this car would eat anything on the open road. Also, everyone needs to re-watch David Lynch’s Lost Highway.

 

Daryl: 1991 Chevrolet Blazer K5 

$25,900 Buy it Now on eBay

4×4, 350 TBI with a 700R4 and all the options and only 77k miles. These were the Blazers I remember as a kid and into high school. I’d buy this, rustproof and touch up some small things and run it until it dies. 

Until next time, take care and let us know what you think of this show at info@throwinwrenches.com

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