Digest

The episode begins with an announcement about the NPR+ bundle, which offers ad-free podcasts, bonus episodes, and other perks. Click and Clack then discuss Cadillac's efforts to appeal to women, including using paper clips to simulate long fingernails and training salespeople to demonstrate concern for women's needs. Marvin calls in to discuss maintenance schedules, and Click and Clack explain that time-based maintenance is important for cars that don't get driven much. Cara calls in about her Ford Escort's exploding window, and Click and Clack advise her to demand a new regulator. The episode features a Car Talk Puzzler about the largest company emblem, which is revealed to be the Volkswagen emblem on the microbus. Christine calls in about an ant colony in her husband's Honda Accord, and Click and Clack suggest spraying the exterior of the car with ant killer. A listener suggests politically correct abbreviations for Car Talk, such as NASDAQ for "neely as smooth and definitely as quiet." Bud-Onstead writes in about a Toyota Tressau that won't start, and Click and Clack ask listeners to guess the problem. Click and Clack call Ellen, who previously called in about her fiance's obsession with performance upgrades for their Chevy Blazer. They find out she married him and he's still obsessed. The episode concludes with a discussion about their steam producer's fugitive status after being caught eating a bagel and drinking coffee on the Washington D.C. subway.

Outlines

00:00:00

NPR+, Cadillac, and Car Maintenance

This chapter covers the announcement of the NPR+ bundle, Cadillac's efforts to understand women, and a discussion about car maintenance schedules.

00:04:18

Exploding Windows and Ant Colonies

This chapter features listener calls about a Ford Escort's exploding window and an ant colony in a Honda Accord.

00:12:23

Car Talk Puzzlers and Listener Letters

This chapter features a Car Talk Puzzler about the largest company emblem, a listener letter about a Toyota Tressau that won't start, and a discussion about politically correct abbreviations for Car Talk.

00:24:35

Stump the Chumps: Ellen and the Blazer

This chapter features a call from Ellen, who previously called in about her fiance's obsession with performance upgrades for their Chevy Blazer.

00:35:07

The Subway Fugitive

This chapter concludes with a discussion about their steam producer's fugitive status after being caught eating a bagel and drinking coffee on the Washington D.C. subway.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are the benefits of the NPR+ bundle?

  The NPR+ bundle includes ad-free podcasts, bonus episodes, early access to some shows, archive access, exclusive shows, and discounts on NPR merchandise and the NPR wine club.

• What steps is Cadillac taking to appeal to women?

  Cadillac is using paper clips to simulate long fingernails on its engineers, training salespeople to demonstrate concern for women's needs, and redefining its products and marketing approach.

• Why is it important to change your car's oil based on time, even if you don't drive many miles?

  Time-based maintenance is important because certain parts of a car can deteriorate over time, even if the car isn't driven much. This ensures that dealerships have a steady stream of customers.

• What should Cara do when she takes her Ford Escort back to the dealer?

  Cara should demand that the dealer replace the window regulator, as adjusting it has not solved the problem.

• What is the largest company emblem to have been regularly displayed on a production passenger vehicle?

  The Volkswagen emblem on the microbus.

• How can Christine get rid of the ant colony in her husband's Honda Accord?

  Christine should spray the exterior of the car with ant killer, as the ants will walk through it and be killed.

• What is the meaning of the abbreviation NASDAQ in the context of Car Talk?

  NASDAQ stands for "neely as smooth and definitely as quiet," and is used to describe a car that is very smooth and quiet.

• What is the problem with the Toyota Tressau in Bud-Onstead's letter?

  The problem is that the car won't start sometimes, and the dealership determined that it was caused by something Bud-Onstead bought for the car.

• What advice did Click and Clack give Ellen about her fiance's obsession with performance upgrades?

  Click and Clack initially advised Ellen to embrace her fiance's hobby, but now they realize that was bad advice and suggest she find a time-consuming hobby of her own.

• What is the story behind the steam producer's fugitive status?

  The steam producer was caught eating a bagel and drinking coffee on the Washington D.C. subway and escaped while the authorities were distracted by another incident.

Show Notes