Episode 49 – Feedback, Family Fun & Federales
Welcome back to the auto podcast that takes care of its Patreon subscribers! (and even the non-paying ones! Check out the freebies on the Patreon site!)
If you’ve been following along, Eric and the family survived their Mexican road trip, and Daryl and his wife (and their little dog, too) survived South Florida traffic. If you want to learn more about our travels, including Eric’s plantation tour in a vintage Series II Land Rover, small rental car stories, and why you shouldn’t get off thehighway… check out the special free episode of our Patreon Preshow.
Thanks to our Patreon supporters for helping to make this podcast possible.
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Projects
Eric sold Katy, the faithful 1981 Kubota tractor he had for 12 years. Somehow, the market craziness allowed him to sell it for more money than he paid for it.
He also picked up some new coil-overs and radio for his 1990 MK3 Toyota Supra. Can a local body shop fix the roof after the Flying Targa Circus? Time will tell. He also talks about his lovely Chevy Aveo rental car and asks why all cheap rentals seem to have an issue with the steering and suspension.
D
aryl finally broke down and sold his beloved Super Tahoe! After a lot of deep thoughts and gentle prodding (kicking) from family and friends, he decided it was time to pass it along to someone who will give it a good home and install the new 4L60e transmission it had sitting in the back of it for a year or so. It was a good truck but he says he’d rather work on the older stuff he already has… which also needs work.
Vaya con dios, Super Tahoe.
Headlines
International News
VW Sees ‘Triple-Digit-Millions’ in Sales as It Rolls Out Over-the-Air Upgrades
Source: Automotive News
Buyers of Volkswagen brand’s ID full-electric cars will soon be able to upgrade their vehicles with over-the-air updates and transfer their personal settings between different cars, paving the way for lucrative add-on services. The use of modular software systems in new cars is one aspect of the automaker’s Accelerate digitalization strategy, outlined by executives in an online “Innovation Talk” on Tuesday.
Detroit Becomes ‘Jeep City’ with First New Auto Plant in 30 Years
Source: Reuters
Inside the first new auto assembly plant built in the Motor City since 1991, the smell of hot metal hangs in the air as new Jeep Grand Cherokee L SUVs head down the welding line. For Stellantis NV, that is the smell of money. For the City of Detroit, it means nearly 5,000 jobs. Stellantis opened the doors of its new $1.6 billion Mack Avenue assembly complex on Thursday, showing off parts of a 3 million square foot complex completed and launched into production largely during the pandemic.
National News
Demand Soars for Ford’s Electric F-150 Lightning: 100,000 Pre-Orders Placed
Source: Detroit Free Press
Ford Motor Co. hit another milestone with its all-electric 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning. The company has confirmed reaching 100,000 reservations since the Lightning’s global debut three weeks ago at the world headquarters in Dearborn.
Consumers Hit the Road to Find New & Used Cars
Source: Auto Remarketing
Need a car, will travel. That’s been the mindset for many recent and prospective car buyers, who have gone or are willing to go the extra mile (or dozens of miles) to find that vehicle, amid shortages in both new and used cars. According to survey data from Cars.com, 9.8% of recent car buyers went to another state to make their vehicle purchase, with 56.9% of that crowd going used and 43.1% going new.
Local News
Peoria Man’s Truck Stolen in Broad Daylight
Source: WMBD
William Van Dusen just wanted to go fishing with his friends on Sunday. Van Dusen, 24, said he left his truck running outside his house on E. Wilcox St. in Peoria when he ran in to grab his fishing poles. Seconds later he came out of the house, but his truck was nowhere to be found.
“At first I couldn’t believe it, because it’s 1:30 in the afternoon in the middle of the day and there are people outside everywhere,” he said. “I felt kinda violated because it’s not the first time that I’ve had my truck broken into. This is definitely one of the more risky ones they pulled off.”
Police officers later found the stolen white GMC truck around 5:30 p.m. behind Big Lots on Sterling Avenue. It was technically in one piece, but very damaged.
“They went for a pretty good joy ride and they also took all the thread off my tires and balded them,” Van Dusen said.
Van Dusen said the estimated damage is between $5-6,000. He said insurance won’t cover anything because the truck wasn’t in the driveway and had keys in it when stolen. For those interested in helping out, Van Dusen’s friend set up a Go-Fund-Me account.
Suspension of officer not enough for woman at center of traffic stop controversy
Source: HOI News
A Eureka woman is calling for the firing of two officers caught on tape making lewd remarks about her bodily appearance following a speeding traffic stop in March. In dashcam video obtained by Heart of Illinois ABC via a Freedom of Information Act request, Eureka Police Officer Andrew Burgess and a Woodford County Sheriff’s Deputy can be heard making lewd comments about Hannah “May” Reliford. A source with the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office says that conversation happened on a private cell phone call after Reliford’s traffic stop ended.
The traffic stop occurred after Reliford was clocked at nearly 40 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour zone in the early morning hours of March 19. As for Woodford County, the Reliford’s say they were told the situation was dealt with internally regarding the Woodford Deputy. However, no details on the discipline have been released publicly. A source says the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office does not condone the comments made by their Deputy and emphasized the comments were not representative of their office.
Moment of Musk:
Source: Fox News
Bitcoin tops $40,000 after Musk says Tesla could use it again
Bitcoin has gyrated to Musk’s views for months since Tesla announced a $1.5 billion bitcoin purchase in February
“When there’s confirmation of reasonable (~50%) clean energy usage by miners with the positive future trend, Tesla will resume allowing Bitcoin transactions,” Musk said on Twitter on Sunday.
And that…is your moment of cryptocurrency!
Cars of the Weak
Eric
2001 Chevy Montana – $35,000 (pesos)
The first… And probably the last Chevrolet you will see Eric buy on Cars of the Weak! This 2001 Montana is a mini-truck or “Ute” vehicle popular in Mexico. According to the internet, the Montana used a 1.4 L “Ecoflex” or 1.8 L 8V flex-fuel I4 engines. In some markets like South Africa where it was sold as the Opel Corsa Utility until June 2010, the vehicle was offered with more engine options. These are cheap, plentiful, and would make for a perfect daily beater for those times you don’t need a $50,000 truck to get stuff done around the house.
Check out that rack in the back!
Daryl
1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible – $24,500
Source: Gary Miller’s Classic Auto
There’s nothing quite like a classic Cadillac, and this 1976 Eldorado does not disappoint. In an era when bigger was better, this big boy fit right in with it’s long body and wheel base and a 500ci big block motor to push it down the road. One of the last years for the big blocks, this beast has a 500cid V-8 sitting under the hood pushed by an automatic transmission. With a beautiful white paint job, accented by sleek, red pinstripes, it is sure to catch attention.
The white and red interior is in good condition. With a power convertible top, power seats and windows for both driver and passenger, A/C, Self Closing Trunk Mechanism, Power Steering, Tilt-Wheel, and AM/FM radio, this Caddy is fully loaded. Many new parts, including: New brakes all around All new brake lines New brake master cylinder Reconditioned/Re-cored Radiator New water pump Replaced pressure hose from power steering pump to hydro-vac booster New power steering pump and lines Freshly painted valve covers New valve cover gaskets New CV boot
As always, thanks for listening.
Hit us up at info@throwinwrenches.com for any idle chit-chat and we’ll catch you next time!
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