This week on The Best of Car Talk, Lee's mild-mannered wife's temper and vocabulary both take a dive, but only when she listens to our show. Are Tom and Ray carriers of a new form of ABS—Aberrant Behavior Syndrome? Meanwhile, tempers are also flaring out in California, where Jim's truck is polluting his entire town; and down in Hendersonville, Kentucky, where Brian's merging strategy is incredibly efficient, and also incredibly rude. Also, on Stump the Chumps we find out if Sarah's kids really held a peeing contest in her car while she was away; and, can Bill in Alaska get his forklift running in time to get us our halibut? All this and more, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

"Monsieur, your car! It ees burnt to a creesp!" This week on The Best of Car Talk, one of our all-time favorite Magliozzi pranks. The cast includes Ray, a concierge named Henri, and a Ford LTD that has been, shall we say, carboniser. Elsewhere, Unitarian minister Carol finds herself tempted by the earthly pleasures of a Jetta; eternal grad student Erica hopes her Toyota's noise is serious enough to convince Dad to buy her a new car; Jodi's Cavalier may be too far down the path to Heapdom, New Jersey, to save; and if you keep taking a car apart and putting it back together, will you eventually wind up with two? All this and more, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

This week on The Best of Car Talk, Tom and Ray have failed at radio, TV, and books, so why not add video game characters to the list? Also, Karl made a bad first impression on his new neighbors when the horn on his Civic wouldn't quit; Cass and her reunited husband can't agree on which of their four heaps to get rid of; Lee was advised to give his Mazda a kerosene bath; and, what does a Quickie-Lube oil change have in common with an enema? All this and more, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

This week on The Best of Car Talk, Tom and Ray learn first-hand that women do indeed play practical jokes, courtesy of the 21st Century version of the whoopee cushion. The guys are also chastised for not recognizing the value of Art History majors, and neglecting the most important feature in a babe-magnet car. In matters automotive, Matt needs to find a car that can handle his 100,000-mile annual commute, and that will be kind to his tuchus; Marc is wondering if late-night TV could improve his Envoy's gas mileage; and what does Sirah's leaking clutch have in common with Ray's bleeding gums? Find out this week on The Best of Car Talk.

This week on The Best of Car Talk, one of our all-time favorite wackos. Gail is on the run from the law in three states, after evading a bridge toll because she didn't have exact change. Can Tom and Ray help bring her in from the cold? Elsewhere, Rebecca was living the dream with her Dart until it ran out of foil, and now she's living the nightmare; Kat's Volvo problems could disappear with a new transmission, or if she takes up a career in flower arranging; and newly single Justin needs a new babe magnet car, but doesn't trust his Corvette-driving brother's recommendations. All this and more, this week on the Best of Car Talk.

This week on The Best of Car Talk, Dana's wife's brakes squeak only when he drives her car. Could it be holding a grudge, or is Dana driving too much like a geek? Elsewhere, Sylvia thinks her VW's problems may be a result of spending two years near a uranium mine; Jim is almost finished restoring a Land Cruiser, but is still searching for the perfect sound; and, on Stump the Chumps we find out if Ralph's Suburban really was playing "Beat the Clock." All this, plus some of Wiliam Shakespeare's best un-published plays, and lots more, this week on The Best of Car Talk.

This week on The Best of Car Talk, Tommy's 16-year old son Alex explains why it's in the entire family's best interests for him to own his own car. We may need your help deciding whether Alex is full of wisdom, or something we can't say on a family show. Elsewhere, Nancy and her boyfriend are about to buy their first car together. He wants a vintage MG, but she's the one who'll have to keep it running, unless they find one with a sidecar for a mechanic. Also, Marc learns two valuable lessons. First, never buy an old Peugeot. Second, never pay your mechanic before he finishes the job; and is Heather's plan to play a practical joke on her brother's car too realistic? All this and more this week on The Best of Car Talk.

This week on The Best of Car Talk, are Tom and Ray's seemingly moronic questions actually a form of deep philosophical inquiry, worthy of Kierkegaard or Camus? Probably not, but one listener's theory is at least worth a few laughs! Elsewhere, Debra is taking push-starting to a new level—she has to do it just to get her key to turn. Also, should Anne accept a free Range Rover or Mazda for her 16-year old son to drive? Fortunately, we have a 16 year-old Magliozzi on hand to counter Tom and Ray's advice to just let the kid walk. And, on Stump the Chumps, did Heidi manage to keep her husband from changing the timing belt on her Volvo himself? All this and more this week on The Best of Car Talk.

It is an affliction that has touched millions of lives, perhaps none more so than Tom and Ray— the need for guys to speak in great detail on things about which they know absolutely.... nothing. Nada. Squat. This week on The Best of Car Talk, we probe the signs, the symptoms and the causes of Male Answer Syndrome. Our case studies? Tom and Ray's attempts to figure out why Kristin's Sentra is stalling on turns after a near-fender bender; and whether Bruce's son can paint his Town Car and have the job last longer than three weeks. Thankfully, an MAS respite is in store, as we learn that Gina's husband is taking the fun out of his mid-life crisis convertible by being a little too careful—he's cleaning bugs off the windshield, while he's driving. Is Gina being too much of a nag trying to get him to stop, or are those dope slaps she's administering well earned? All this and more this week on The Best of Car Talk.

This week on The Best of Car Talk, Mike's Lincoln turns into a low-rider every time his 350-pound nephew rides in the back seat. Will it be cheaper for Mike to fix his suspension, or get his nephew to join Weight Watchers? Elsewhere, Marsha is worried her husband is too sane to drive her BMW without killing the clutch; Ralph's Suburban seems to be channeling the vintage TV game show "Beat the Clock"; and Lee's air conditioner started a thunderstorm in his Civic. All this and more, this week on The Best of Car Talk.