Auto Uncovered

Got any questions? Ask away! [email protected]

John and Adam pull apart ABC Four Corners' BYD hacking exposé, arguing that every modern car collects your data and can be hacked through its CAN bus, no matter where it's built. They break down the TV tricks used to steer viewers, what the story should have covered instead, and answer a listener question on whether legacy brands can fight back against China, and why halo cars might be their best shot.

Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJC
Check out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven

Skip ahead:
00:00 - Intro01:04 - Four Corners' BYD exposé03:50 - Every car is spying09:50 - CAN bus hacking13:21 - China as a trading partner15:39 - On bullshit17:45 - Inside China20:09 - Current affairs tricks25:07 - What they should've covered27:02 - Can legacy brands compete?33:04 - Halo cars and heritage36:52 - Wrap up

Join auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

Got any questions? Ask away! [email protected] needs to trade in his beloved Fiesta ST for something more practical, and in the process uncovers a gold mine of enthusiast cars now sitting between $20,000 and $30,000 used, from hot hatches and rear-drive sedans to V8 SUVs and future classics. A listener asks what makes car brands keep their die-hard fans, and John and Adam finish with simple ways to cut your motoring costs, why buying an EV to save on fuel doesn't add up, and why petrol is still almost free when you look at what it does for you.Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJCCheck out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDrivenSkip ahead:00:00 - Intro00:47 - Replacing the Fiesta ST01:47 - The $20-30K gold mine03:11 - SUVs and hot hatches08:43 - Rear-drive sedans and coupes13:22 - Peak car17:11 - Adam's shortlist17:55 - What keeps enthusiasts loyal24:03 - Cutting motoring costs31:01 - EVs and depreciation33:20 - The real value of fuel39:12 - Wrap upJoin auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

Got any questions? Ask away! [email protected]

Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJCCheck out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven

Adam Morris (ReDriven) and John Cadogan (Auto Expert) kick off with a chat about Ford’s new Bronco Basecamp: will buyers care that it’s built in China but marketed as something else? What are the tools every driver should keep in their car? The guys discuss it and John shows off his oversized wrench.

From there, Adam shares some alarming insurance stories involving modified vehicles, denied claims and drivers discovering they weren’t covered when they thought they were. It’s a timely reminder to check exactly what your policy covers before you need to make a claim.

They also debate a proposal that could see all drivers pay a road user charge, while also keeping fuel excise in place as a separate "pollution tax". It would effectively mean many motorists are paying twice. Is it fair for people who can't easily switch to an EV? Are governments sending mixed messages by encouraging EV adoption while looking for new ways to tax drivers?

Finally, a listener asks the question: are any modern cars built to last, or are the days of keeping a car for 20 years coming to an end?

In this episode:

00:00 Intro & What’s Coming Up

03:01 Ford Bronco BaseCamp: Will Buyers Care It’s Made in China?

06:58 Essential Car Toolkit: What Should Every Driver Carry?

12:29 Insurance Horror Stories: Why Claims Are Being Rejected

25:31 Tesla FSD Insurance Discounts Explained

30:21 Are "Forever Cars" Dead? Which Cars Will Survive 20+ Years?

38:04 EV Road User Tax Debate: Should Everyone Pay?

42:34 Why Cheap Used Hybrids Make More Sense Than New EVs

47:44 The Case for Smaller Cars in Australia

52:52 Send Us Your Questions

Join auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

Got any questions? Ask away! [email protected]

Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJCCheck out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven

Adam and John tackle claims that Chinese EVs are spying on drivers. The real privacy concern isn't China, but the amount of data every modern car manufacturer collects, stores and monetises. If you're worried about someone collecting your data you should probably delete Facebook.

A Mozilla report found that all major car brands failed basic privacy standards. Find the report here: https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/blog/privacy-nightmare-on-wheels-every-car-brand-reviewed-by-mozilla-including-ford-volkswagen-and-toyota-flunks-privacy-test/

Should consumers be more worried about big tech and car companies than foreign governments? Zuckerberg or Xi - who would you rather gets your data?

The conversation then shifts to automotive regulations, as ADAS frustrations, outdated road laws and safety rules that haven't kept pace with modern vehicle technology boil over.

Finally Adam and John review several major new vehicle announcements, including Ford's Bronco Base Camp, the new Nissan Patrol and Mitsubishi Pajero, debating whether these products can revive struggling brands and why enthusiast criticism often misses what mainstream buyers actually want.

Join auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

In this episode:

00:00 Chinese EV Spyware? Separating Fact From Conspiracy

01:15 "Your Car Is Spying On You" Claims Explained

02:22 The CCP, Data Harvesting & Internet Myths

04:05 Why Social Media Knows More Than Your Car

05:17 The Privacy Nightmare Inside Modern Cars

06:35 Can Car Companies Sell Your Data?

08:22 Why Journalists Should Care About Vehicle Data Collection

10:55 Is Technology Ruining Modern Cars?

12:04 The Real Threat: Carmakers Monetising Drivers

15:13 The Car Laws & Regulations That Need An Overhaul

17:28 Is ANCAP Finally Fixing ADAS?

18:03 Why Modern Cars Are Harder To Escape In Emergencies

19:54 Tesla Door Handles & Safety Risks

21:29 Ford Bronco Base Camp: Brilliant Idea Or Fake Bronco?

23:38 Why Most Buyers Don't Need A "Real" Off-Roader

24:05 Keyboard Warriors vs Real Car Buyers

26:22 What Will The Bronco Base Camp Cost?

27:50 Why Ford Might Have Got This One Right

29:03 New Mitsubishi Pajero Pricing Revealed

29:46 Can The Pajero Save Mitsubishi?

31:58 New Nissan Patrol Pricing & First Impressions

32:32 The V6 Patrol's Secret GT-R Connection

35:15 Why Nissan & Mitsubishi Are Fighting For Survival

Got any questions? Ask away! [email protected]

Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJCCheck out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven

John Cadogan and Adam Morris analyse why some manual gearboxes feel magical while others feel terrible, with a detour into the wonderful world of Japanese tool engineering.

From there it gets serious with a look at the oil filter recall affecting popular utes and SUVs; saving a few dollars on servicing components can become a very expensive mistake.

Then it's a listener question: Ven asks about bull bars and pedestrian safety regulations.

Finally Adam and John have one of their most lively debates about whether Tesla has been quietly building brand loyalty with younger generations through tech, games, and EV culture, and whether today's kids might one day treat early Teslas the same way previous generations idolised classic Japanese performance cars. For Boomers it was the Mustang, for Gen X Impreza's and Skyline's: for Gen Z will it be the Model S?

Join auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

In this ep:

00:00 – Intro

01:30 – Why some manual transmissions feel incredible and others don't

04:50 – Japanese tools, engineering finesse, and surprisingly satisfying screwdrivers

11:15 – Major oil filter recall: what owners of D-Max, MU-X and BT-50s need to know

16:45 – Why cheap servicing can become very expensive

23:30 – Listener question: How are bull bars still legal if pedestrian safety rules are so strict?

28:00 – Bull bars, roadside safety, and the regulatory contradictions

32:20 – Has Tesla been quietly indoctrinating the next generation of car buyers?

37:00 – Will today's Teslas become tomorrow's collectibles?

45:45 – Final thoughts and listener call-out

Got any questions? Ask away! [email protected]

Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJCCheck out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven

John Cadogan and Adam Morris dive headfirst into the debate surrounding the incoming Chery Stockman diesel plug-in hybrid ute, tackling claims about DPF issues, diesel hybrid technology, and why internet "experts" might be underestimating modern engineering.

Also, are today's tech-heavy cars really less reliable than older vehicles? They analyse turbochargers and hybrid systems to plastic engine components and manufacturer cost-cutting.

Plus, what are the ultimate "forever cars": the vehicles they'd happily drive for the next 30 to 40 years? Ford Falcons and Lexus V8s to Audi TTs, Toyota Crowns and classic Volvos, what cars stand the test of time?

Join auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

In this ep:

00:00 – Intro and the Volkswagen EA888 water pump joke

00:40 – Chery's new diesel PHEV ute and DPF concerns

04:00 – Why diesel hybrids may be better at DPF regeneration than traditional diesels

11:00 – The growing divide between internet opinion and engineering reality

16:00 – Listener question from 'Rugby' (real name TBC): Do turbos, hybrids and modern drivetrains reduce longevity?

19:00 – Reliability, bean counters and why some parts fail prematurely

23:00 – What makes a true "forever car"?

24:00 – Ford Mustang GT and Bullitt editions

26:00 – Lexus LC500 and Lexus F models

28:00 – Audi TT RS and the last great manual five-cylinder Audi

29:00 – Toyota Crown: the overlooked luxury bargain

31:00 – Toyota Hilux, Surf and 4Runner future classics

32:00 – Volvo 240: the indestructible Swede

33:00 – John's unexpected dream garage picks

Got any questions? Ask away! [email protected]

Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJC

Check out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven

John Cadogan and Adam Morris debate whether technology is making cars worse. From giant touchscreens and subscription-locked features to in-car advertising and increasingly complex electronics, the pair debatewhether we've already passed "peak car."

Listener Tim asks a question about the risks of buying first-generation vehicles, and John and Adam discuss reliability, development cycles, and why some new models are safer bets than others.

Should buyers treat all Chinese brands the same? Adam and John discuss why established players like GWM deserve to be judged differently to newer arrivals, and how global engineering teams are blurring traditional notions of where cars really come from.

Plus, there's a growing trend of questionable automotive surveys and media reports, creating headlines that say a lot but don't tell the whole story.

In this episode:

00:00 – Intro

00:57 – Have Cars Become Too Techy?

02:18 – Paying Extra for What You Already Own

10:40 – Why Modern Cars Break So Easily

15:00 – Never Buy the First Model?

18:20 – The Truth About Chinese Cars

22:30 – How Survey Statistics Mislead You

34:10 – Are We Being Sold a Lie?

Join auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) andAdam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars,dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't wantyou to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

Got any questions? Ask away! [email protected]

Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJCCheck out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven

There's a common transmission mistake costing drivers thousands. This week Adam and John go deep on it, as well as exploring why small EVs struggle to gain traction despite making more practical sense. Why are EVs all so big, expensive and heavy?

Plus, why a full dealer service history isn't always the gold standard it's made out to be. There's discussion about warranty myths, dealership upselling, servicing horror stories, and how consumer law protects motorists regardless of where they have their vehicle serviced. You don't need to get your car serviced at the dealer - a local mechanic will save you thousands.

Join auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

In this episode:

00:00 Intro

01:06 The transmission mistake costing drivers thousands

02:27 Why sitting on the clutch wears out your engine

03:31 The world's worst gearbox?

05:13 The dual-clutch transmission epidemic

07:29 Why drivers are unknowingly destroying DCTs

08:35 "Filled for life" transmission myths

10:52 Have dual-clutch gearboxes become pointless?

12:42 Manual mode vs automatic mode

14:45 Why are EVs so big and heavy?

16:19 The obsession with EV range

17:39 Why carmakers prefer big EVs

19:04 What's the smallest EV you can buy?

21:32 Dealer servicing vs independent mechanics

22:10 The Mitsubishi Alice Springs warranty problem

24:24 Servicing horror stories from dealerships

27:09 The oil-change scam

28:09 The spark plug shortcut

29:15 Dealership upselling tactics

31:20 John's battery warranty battle

34:08 The "Cirque du Soleil" of ripping offcustomers

35:39 Genuine parts markups exposed

38:19 Why independent mechanics can save you money

40:19 Do you need dealer servicing to keep your warranty?

Got any questions? Ask away! [email protected]

Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJCCheck out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven

John and Adam take aim at the latest ANCAP rule changes and ask a simple question: are safety ratings becoming more confusing than helpful? There's a growing gap between real-world driving safety and bureaucratic targets, so what can be done?

This week's listener question wonders what the future might have held for Holden and Ford had local manufacturing survived; Adam would have liked to see Holden HSV as a premium brand in the vein of Lexus.

Plus, do dealer cars still need pre-purchase inspections? And John reveals his latest purchase: a manual Ford Falcon ute that sparks a passionate discussion about why older cars might be making a comeback. Is it better (and more fun) to buy an old car with a lot of ks, and just upgrade it to the latest tech? Is that a trend we're seeing more of now?

Join auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

In this ep:

00:00 – Intro and ANCAP's latest "escape hammer" requirement

02:20 – Why ANCAP's changing safety ratings are causing confusion

08:20 – ADAS systems: safety feature or daily annoyance?

15:45 – Are we focusing on technology instead of better driver training?

20:23 – What would Holden and Ford look like today if local manufacturing survived?

24:36 – Do dealer cars still need a pre-purchase inspection?

29:26 – John's new project car: a manual BF Falcon ute

32:30 – Why younger drivers are embracing older, analogue cars

38:00 – Are modern cars losing the connection drivers really want?

40:40 – How much does it cost to modernise an older vehicle?

Got any questions? Ask away! [email protected]

Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJCCheck out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven

Is Stellantis quietly pulling out of Australia? With Fiat officially exiting the local market, Adam and John examine what it means for owners, whether Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Peugeot and Maserati could be next, and why Maserati's latest AI-generated advertising campaign has them genuinely worried about the future of the brand.

They also debate which Stellantis vehicles are actually worth owning, from the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio to the iconic Jeep Wrangler.

Plus, Ferrari are back with their first "manual" V12 in over ten years - how excited should we be? And John is fooled by an AI-generated band.

Finally, listener Alan asks how driver licensing should be reimagined from the ground up, prompting a passionate discussion on driver training, road safety and courtesy behind the wheel. To wrap things up, John delivers an unexpectedly entertaining deep dive into one of the handiest tools you can keep in your garage or roadside kit.

Join auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

Skip ahead:00:00 Intro

01:10 Fiat Exits Australia

03:25 Stellantis Brands Under Pressure

06:25 Maserati’s AI Ad Disaster

09:00 AI Music Is Getting Too Good

12:00 Would We Buy Any Stellantis Car?

16:30 The Jeep Debate Gets Heated

21:20 Ferrari’s New “Manual” Transmission

23:05 Why EVs Need More Engagement

25:35 How We’d Fix Driver Training

34:25 Adam Fondles John's Nuts

36:10 BMW Brake Job Nightmare

37:30 The Pliers Wrench Explained

43:00 Why This Tool Is Brilliant

48:10 Road Trip Tools You Actually Need