Between Two Pumps

In Episode 21 of Between Two Pumps, Mike Musto, Terry McGean, and Terry Shea dig into the evolution of the 4x4, from old-school, truck-based rigs to modern SUVs and crossovers. The conversation starts with a simple question: What are you actually going to use it for? Because there's a big difference between needing legitimate off-road capability and needing all-wheel drive to get through the snow.

The guys revisit everything from early Ford Explorers, Chevy Blazers, Broncos, and Jeep Cherokees to Grand Wagoneers, Wranglers, 4Runners, Land Cruisers, Range Rovers, and today's Bronco. Along the way, they debate the tradeoffs between off-road ability, highway comfort, towing capacity, reliability, size, power, and practicality—and why the best 4x4 might be the one that can do almost everything well.

Plus: overlanding excess, questionable used Range Rovers, bulletproof Toyotas, and the Land Cruiser 70 Series—the "Erector Set of the 4x4 world."

If you could have one 4x4 that had to handle the trail, the highway, the family, and the occasional tow, what would you choose?

In Episode 20 of Between Two Pumps, Mike Musto, Terry Shea, and Terry McGean go hunting for the sweet spots hiding within enthusiast-car lineups; the models, trims, and option combinations that deliver most (and sometimes all) of the experience without the flagship price tag.

From the Porsche 996 and early Cayman to the C6 Corvette Grand Sport, Mustang GT Track Pack, Mini Cooper, and Camaro SS 1LE, the guys dig into cars where choosing the right spec may matter more than choosing the most expensive badge. Sometimes less power, fewer options, or the supposedly "lesser" model actually makes for the better car to own and drive.

The takeaway? Figure out the driving experience you actually want, learn the option sheet, and buy the car that fits you—not the one everyone tells you you're supposed to want.

Because sometimes the best version of a great car is hiding in plain sight.

In Episode 19 of Between Two Pumps, Mike Musto, Terry Shea, and Terry McGean tackle one of the most entertaining hypothetical debates yet: What is the ultimate getaway car?

Starting with a tongue-in-cheek movie scenario involving corrupt zombie cops, the guys put a wide range of vehicles to the test, weighing everything from agility and durability to all-wheel drive, ground clearance, top speed, fuel range, and real-world survivability. Along the way, they debate the merits of the Porsche 911 Dakar, Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, BMW M5, Ford Lightning, and several other unexpected contenders, ultimately narrowing the field to two finalists.

It's a hilarious conversation filled with movie references, spirited arguments, and surprisingly thoughtful automotive analysis that proves choosing the perfect escape vehicle isn't nearly as simple as picking the fastest car.

Which would you choose—the Porsche 911 Dakar, the Jeep Trackhawk, or something else entirely? Let us know in the comments.

In Episode 18 of Between Two Pumps, Mike Musto, Terry Shea, and Terry McGean dive deep into the wonderfully weird side of the collector car hobby, each bringing five of the most unusual, obscure, and unexpected vehicles they could find on Hemmings.

From Nissan Figaros, Tatra Type 77s, and Euro-spec BMWs to military Jeep trucks, French grand tourers, Model T snowmobile conversions, and even Italian vineyard utility vehicles, the guys celebrate the incredible variety that makes the collector car hobby so fascinating.

Along the way, they debate forgotten automotive engineering, gray-market gems, military oddities, French styling, rare imports, and why discovering cars you've never even heard of is one of the greatest joys of being a car enthusiast.

If you could own one truly unusual collector car, what would it be? Let us know in the comments.

In Episode 17 of Between Two Pumps, Mike Musto, Terry McGean, and Terry Shea swap stories about the forever cars in their garages and why, despite decades of new models, more horsepower, and better technology, nothing has been able to replace them. From Terry's long-loved Focus RS and BMW M Coupe to Terry's Fox-body Mustang and Mike's beloved '68 Charger, the guys explore what transforms a car from a possession into part of your identity.

Along the way, they debate modern performance cars versus analog icons, the thrill of configuring your dream car, whether today's vehicles still create lifelong emotional connections, and why sometimes the smartest automotive decision is simply keeping the keys to the one that still makes you look back every time you park it.

In Episode 16 of Between Two Pumps, Mike Musto, Terry Shea, and Terry McGean resurrect the cars and nameplates they think deserve another shot.

Terry Shea makes the case for a modern Ford Crown Victoria: big, rear-wheel drive, V8-powered, and finally given the enthusiast treatment Ford never quite delivered. Mike dreams up a reborn second-generation Trans Am with the elegance of an Aston Martin, the attitude of American muscle, and, yes, a screaming chicken. And Terry McGean argues for the return of the great American rear-wheel-drive performance sedan, looking back at cars like the Chevrolet SS, Pontiac G8, and the Impala SS.

Along the way, the guys debate what makes retro design work, why some modern interpretations completely miss the mark, whether four-door muscle cars have finally earned their place, and the bigger question: If automakers actually built the cars enthusiasts say they want, would anyone buy them?

It's part dream garage, part automotive product-planning meeting, and probably a good reminder of why none of these guys work for an OEM.

In Episode 15 of Between Two Pumps, Mike Musto, Terry Shea, and Terry McGean get personal as they confess the cars they never should have sold, the purchases they probably should regret (but don't), and the smartest automotive decisions they've ever made.

From a fuselage-era Chrysler Newport and a rare GMC Sprint SP to an E30 M3, Porsche 968, Volkswagen GTIs, and a 928 that exceeded every expectation, the guys revisit the cars that shaped their lives—along with the stories, missed opportunities, and hard-earned lessons that came with them.

Whether you've sold your dream car, bought a questionable project, or still think about the one that got away, this episode is a reminder that the best car stories are often about the decisions we wish we could undo.

In Episode 14 of Between Two Pumps, the guys put a budget on their imagination and build their ultimate dream-spec project cars using one simple rule: the car has to be available right now on the Hemmings Marketplace.

Mike dreams up the ultimate Fox-platform sleeper—a Coyote-swapped 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe with modern suspension, big brakes, and just enough subtle modifications to surprise everyone at a stoplight. Terry McGean goes lightweight and high-revving with a rally-inspired second-generation Toyota Celica powered by a Toyota 2ZZ engine, blending vintage style with modern performance. And Terry Shea leans into classic American practicality with a 1957 Chevrolet wagon body-swapped onto a 9C1 Caprice chassis for the ultimate road-trip machine.

Along the way, the conversation dives into engine swaps, junkyard builds, body swaps, factory parts-bin engineering, Fox-body Fords, Toyota performance engines, and the eternal question every car enthusiast asks: If you had $50,000 and one dream build, what would you create?

Because sometimes the best project car isn't the one in your garage—it's the one you've been building in your head for years.

In Episode 13 of Between Two Pumps, the guys tackle a question that has shaped the collector car market for decades: What actually makes a car rare?

From BMW M5s and M3 Lightweights to Buick GNXs, Bullitt Mustangs, Dodge Demons, Porsche special editions, and the infamous 1978 Corvette Pace Car, the conversation explores how manufacturers create exclusivity—and whether collectors should believe the hype.

Along the way, Mike Musto, Terry Shea, and Terry McGean debate limited-production runs, homologation specials, canceled promotions, performance badges, and the difference between genuinely rare cars and vehicles that were simply marketed as such. They also dive into modern performance brands like BMW M, AMG, Audi RS, and Porsche GT models, asking whether today's endless stream of special editions has diluted what once made these cars truly special.

Because when every car is a special edition, it's fair to ask if any of them still are.

In Episode 12 of Between Two Pumps, the guys tackle a question that's becoming harder to answer every year: Do performance badges still mean what they used to?

From BMW M and M Sport to Mercedes-AMG, Audi S and RS models, Volvo R-Designs, and Volkswagen R-Lines, the conversation explores how automakers have expanded their performance brands beyond the hardcore enthusiast cars that built their reputations. Along the way, Mike Musto, Terry Shea, and Terry McGean debate whether these modern "sport" packages offer genuine performance improvements or simply deliver the look and image of the real thing.

The episode also dives into the evolution of BMW's M division, the rise of AMG sub-models, classic muscle car parallels, halo-car marketing, and whether enthusiasts should embrace these watered-down performance variants or reject them altogether.

Because sometimes the biggest question isn't how fast a car is—it's whether the badge on the trunk still means what you think it does.