Between Two Pumps

On Episode 28 of Between Two Pumps, Mike Musto, Terry McGean, and Terry Shea talk about the cars that completely changed their minds once they got behind the wheel. From a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am with the Pontiac 400 and a four-speed to a first-gen Toyota Tacoma that unexpectedly became a family favorite, the guys dig into the cars that proved their assumptions wrong. The conversation covers an unlikely love affair with a high-mileage Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ, eye-opening experiences with Japanese performance cars, the BMW E36 that made a believer out of a muscle-car guy, and a Ferrari 308 that was far better than its reputation suggested. Mike also recalls driving the outrageous Dodge Viper ACR Extreme at VIR—and discovering just how capable the most intimidating version of the Viper really is. Plus, the guys get into the Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ, classic Alfa Romeos, and why sometimes the best automotive experiences come from cars you never expected to love. What car completely changed your opinion after you finally drove one?

On Episode 27 of Between Two Pumps, Mike Musto, Terry Shea, and Terry McGean take on Monterey Car Week—from the crowds and social-media-fueled car spotting to the changing culture surrounding one of the biggest weeks in the collector-car world. The guys debate whether a new generation of enthusiasts is disrupting the experience or simply experiencing the hobby in a different way. They also dig into a massive year for the Monterey auctions, the changing mix of cars commanding serious money, and how Pebble Beach continues to evolve beyond the traditional classics. From historic hot rods and Japanese race cars to what could eventually earn a place on the concours lawn, the conversation turns to what Monterey—and the collector-car hobby itself—might look like for the next generation. Is Car Week losing what made it special, or is this simply the next chapter?

On Episode 26 of Between Two Pumps, Mike Musto, Terry Shea and Terry McGean are joined by Hemmings Motor News Managing Editor, Mike McNessor to talk about their first cool cars, the questionable decisions they made to get them on the road, and the lessons they had to learn the hard way. From a rusty 1969 Camaro and a $300 junkyard Dodge Dart GT to a battered Chevelle SS and a Datsun/Nissan 300ZX, the guys look back at the cars that helped turn them into lifelong enthusiasts. There are rusty quarter panels, borrowed license plates, questionable teenage driving decisions, missed proms, blown budgets and plenty of stories about learning to wrench with whatever tools and money were available. They also tackle the question every enthusiast eventually asks: If you could have your first cool car back, would you want it? Plus, the conversation turns to the cars they've managed to hold onto for decades, why certain vehicles become permanent members of the family, and the projects that somehow never quite get finished. What was your first cool car and would you buy it back today?

In Episode 25 of Between Two Pumps, Mike Musto, Terry Shea, and Terry McGean set out to prove that getting into the collector-car hobby doesn't have to require a six-figure budget. Each of the guys goes shopping through the Hemmings Marketplace with three price caps: $5,000, $10,000, and $20,000. The results are all over the automotive map. A customized 1969 Dodge A100, a project 1940 Ford, a V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a Volkswagen Beetle convertible, a V12 Jaguar, a funky 1962 Dodge Dart wagon, and plenty more make the list before the $20K category opens the door to everything from vintage off-roaders to '90s Japanese performance cars. Along the way, the guys make the case for buying cars you can actually use, finding value in overlooked models, and remembering that you don't have to marry every car you buy. With plenty of genuinely interesting cars still available at attainable prices, the hardest part might be talking yourself out of bringing one home. If you had $5K, $10K, or $20K to spend on a fun car today, what are you buying?

In Episode 24 of Between Two Pumps, Mike Musto, Terry Shea, and Terry McGean take on the technology and features reshaping modern cars. Touchscreens controlling basic functions, questionable electronic shifters, gesture controls, turbocharged everything—some innovations have the guys wondering whether automakers have forgotten that cars still need to be intuitive to drive. But they're not against progress. Backup and 360-degree cameras, better climate control, heated and ventilated seats, Bluetooth, modern sports seats, and integrated towing technology all earn their praise. Then comes the wish list: full-size spare tires, analog gauges, traditional PRNDL shifters, mechanical parking brakes, simple fresh-air vents, and other features that disappeared somewhere along the way. What modern car feature could you live without—and what old-school feature deserves a comeback?