What optional equipment should you get or avoid? Navigation, sunroofs, parking assistance, premium stereos, and more. Follow-up on octane myths and the 3-series GT.
In this episode:
Octane ratings and myths.
What optional equipment should you get or avoid on a car?
Parking-distance sensors vs. backup cameras.
Mysteriously sized mechanics and car-wash drivers.
Satellite radio, HD Radio, and premium sound systems.
OEM navigation systems vs. aftermarket options.
More on the BMW 3-series GT.
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Voice-recognition interfaces, driving etiquette (turn signals, merging, tailgating), the hand-wave and the finger, backing into parking spots, driver prediction and accident avoidance, and our past traffic violations.
Project cars, annoyances of having multiple cars, Marco's next car, crossovers, American avoidance of minivans and wagons, hybrid battery lifetimes, John Siracusa's Tesla Model S review, fake engine noises, and test-driving the BMW M5 vs. 550i xDrive back-to-back.
In this episode:
Project cars.
The many problems with having multiple cars.
Marco's next-car decision.
Ogling a showroom's Audi R8 from behind its velvet rope.
Test-driving the BMW M5 back-to-back with a 550i xDrive.
Good and bad navigation controls, on-screen controls vs. buttons, trying to get a fun rental car, personal value judgments, white cars in hot climates, and Casey's fame.
In this episode:
Control interfaces for media and navigation systems, including BMW's iDrive knob (of course), touchscreens including the Tesla Model S's giant one, and Lexus' weird new "Remote Touch" control.
Balancing on-screen controls and dedicated buttons.
Our great (or horrible) future of dynamic, all-software dashboard dials.
Gambling with the "Premium Sedan" rental-car category.
Casey's newfound fame.
Personal value judgments.
FU on white cars in hot climates and DCT nitpicks.
Sponsored by Squarespace: Use code NEUTRAL2 at checkout for 10% off.
Car bras, best new- and used-car values today, buying used to get better options, lease specials, the boring NSX, AWD vs. RWD in the snow, and some unlicensed FU.
In this episode:
Car bras as screen protectors.
FU on Blowoff valves vs. wastegates, boxer engines, and the SSSC.
What car available today, new or used, is the best value for general ownership?
Getting a good deal on higher trim levels and optional luxury features.
Lease basics, and the potential value of lease specials.
The boring old Acura NSX.
All-wheel drive (AWD) and rear-wheel drive (RWD) in the snow.
Sponsored by Squarespace: Use code NEUTRAL1 at checkout for 10% off.
Once again, please rate us on iTunes if you like the show. If you don't like the show, please email Casey.
Driveways, affording expensive cars, Zipcar's BMWs, "Tiptronic" modes, DCTs, and the future of manual transmissions.
In this episode:
Confronting neighbors about driveway assaults
The Siracusa retirement plan
Affording expensive cars
Prioritizing or deprioritizing cars in your budget
How Zipcar got Marco addicted to BMWs
"Tiptronic" manual modes in automatic transmissions
Dual-clutch transmissions, rev-matching manuals, and the future of manual transmissions
Turbo buttons on cars and computers
Sponsored by Squarespace: Use code NEUTRAL1 at checkout for 10% off.
Thank you for the great response to episode 1! Please rate us on iTunes if you like the show so more people will find us and tell us how wrong we are about everything. Thanks!