I not only like this forum, I LOVE thos forum. Great, smart and experienced people all brought here presumably by our common live for a great NPR show, Cartalk.
A good debate is not only energizing, its very healthy!
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Actually in the Minneapolis area we had a much better auto talk program. No slap stick with people naming their cars and giving the color. Had vendors as guests such as Kennedy transmission, a repair shop, ignition shop, etc. the names escape me. Just good solid information, kinda like those guys down south but less commercial and no accent. Even Sioux Falls had a pretty good Saturday car program. The boys got a little tiring after a while unless on a long drive.
I donāt know about the debate aspect.
I find it āinterestingā that youāre a regular on the Cartalk.com website, mentioning there was a āmuch better auto talk programā in the Minneapolis area
As for myself, I loved the CarTalk radio show and am very grateful for the CarTalk website
I donāt think Cartalk was the best car show for information or troubleshooting and I dont believe it was ever intended to be. IMHO It was the best show EVER for a mixture of slapstick comedy, information, opinion and feeling of community.
In my opinion the Brothers and Staff caught lightning in a bottle with Cartalk. The show was magical for me at times.
The show also was a gateway for me to start listening to many other NPR shows.
As a young mulletheaded punk kid I probably never would have listened to an NPR show at all if it wasnāt for Cartalk at least as young as I started listening to other npr favorites
Man I miss Tom and Ray and even that little brat Melissa!
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I have never listened to any npr radio or whatever it is, much less Car Talkā¦ 
The only thing I know about Car Talk is this forumā¦
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Thereās a lot of GREAT shows on NPR.
I had been listening to Cartalk and reading their syndicated column years before there was this forum. I worked with a guy who went to school with one of the brothers at MIT. With all the Nobel Laureates (97) from MIT and all their other awards - Tom and Ray are still more popular than most of them.
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I started listening to Cartalk in 91 or 92. I first read the newspaper column. I seem to feel the show got sillier as time went on and by 2000 or so it was a regular ol laugh a minute.
I always tried to make sure to make myself available to listen every week. What a time it was, i know it may upset some people but it was part pf what made the 90s absolutely glorious for me! Oh what I wouldnāt do to go back just one more day.
Oh this interview is gold. It truly was a magical duo. The whole formula was just perfect.
The brothers talk about how the show has evolved. They complimented each others humor so well.
Well I said there āwasā not is. Going back some years ago. They also had a gardening, builders, and even a lawyers show on saturdays. Even the wife used to listen. Even had a good aviation show at night, and th star Bruce Williams. In bad weather all the AAA guys would call in with road reports from around the state. With station takeovers and so on, it all junk now with political crap. The advertisers must still be willing to pay.
As far as npr, the program included the brothers, then I think it was Chris farrow with economic discussions. Then they got into what seemed like piano concert discussions and the splendid table. If I happen to tune in, about five minutes is all I can take now.
The only thing I ever listen too is music (normally heavy and loudish) and most of the time it is only while driving cause hearing someone just talking puts me to sleepā¦
Sometimes I use it for white noise (yes I know that may not be used correctly)ā¦
Iām strictly a hands on personā¦
Yeah, Iām not good in meetings etc, I have to keep moving to stay awakeā¦
I listen to a lot of music also. And NPR in my area (Boston) had a great Classical station (which I love). To each their own.
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Boston is ādown southā? Ha Ha, I live in North Carolina! Be careful about the accent comments, Minnesota has a hint of an accent!
I will be listening to Car Talk reruns as long as they publish them!
One of the public radio stations in Baltimore is a great alternative station, one of the two best Iāve heard. One is no longer on air. The program manager at the active one I listen to was a DJ at the other before they stopped airing alternative music.
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On the list of reasons Minnesotans donāt like the movie Fargo is that people in MN donāt talk like that. I grew up in MN, left just after turning 19, planned to return after four years. Never did return. After twenty years away, yes I could hear that MN accent.
As far as NPR shows that are no longer with us āPrairie Home Companionā, yes, we are above average.
I do enjoy āWait, Wait, Donāt Tell Meā.
That was a fun show and while Iām not from Lake Woebegone, my children are all above average. 
Yes!
That show is one of my favorites, not to be missed.
You missed a cultural icon.
My favotite Car Talk episode was a caller who had vought a new car and was worrying himself sick about it. He had bought an elaborate bra to protect the paint on the front of the car. He then found out that it vibrated at speeds over 40 and he was afraid hat the vibration would damage the paint. He decided that he would keep the bra on the car around town but take it off for road trips but the problem was that it was very fussy to get it in right and it took him 45 minutes to get it back on right.
The brothers advised him to go to K-Mart.
He asked if he could get what he needed at K-Mart.
The brothers replied "Absolutely "!
They then instructed him to find a parking spot between two large 2 door American cars anf go in the store.
He asked what he was going to buy. they tolf him Lunch, the longer the better, spend at least an hour and a half.
He asked, How will thid help fix my problem?
They said, You can then go out to your car, see door dings on both sides of your car, throw away the stupid bra and get on with your life!
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There is a Top Mechanic on Tik Tok talking about a customer with a million mile 1984 GM pickup truck. It did have a new engine at 480k only because the thermostat hung up on a trip.
Original transmission and rear end. This is indicative of what kind of mileage these old vehicles were capable of when the odometers were not tampered with!
The Top Mechanic is āRoyalty Auto Serviceā
I will not share link because I want to keep my videos private what with me damching jugs and whatnot to new hip music as well as old bangers.
So what? One truck proves nothing. Why do modern cars last twice as long, on average?
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If itās on Tik-Tok itās almost assured itās Bullshit.
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