iDriveSoCal

2018 Volkswagen Passat GT

The 2018 Volkswagen Passat GT packs a whole-lotta sports sedan into a ridiculously reasonably-priced package.

The Passat GT’s exterior and interior Euro-styling beckons its luxury sister-brand Audi with every detailed element of fit and finish.

Randy Halcomb from Ontario Volkswagen recently invited me for an afternoon test drive of the 2018 Volkswagen Passat GT. In this iDSC Podcast he joins me for a detailed and exciting review.

And, as a special bonus for iDSC Podcast listeners, Randy shares his personal cell phone.

If you’re interested in the Volkswagen Passat GT, or curious about another model in the German carmaker’s line-up, you can reach Randy directly @ 909-772-1728 or email him @ RHalcomb [at] OntarioVW.com.

***Transcript***

Recorded July 17, 2018 at in Ontario, CA

Tom: I got to drive the 2018 Volkswagen Passat GT. And that’s a top-of-the-line sport version of the Passat, and V6 engine with 3.6 liter, 280 horsepower, putting out 258 pound feet of torque.

Randy: It definitely had enough giddy up and go. It’s very responsive. As soon as you touch the gas.

Tom: Welcome to iDriveSoCal, the podcast all about mobility from the automotive capital of the United States, Southern California. Tom Smith here with my good buddy, Randy Halcomb from Ontario Volkswagen. Randy, thanks for joining me again.

Randy: Hi, Tom. Thank you for having me again.

Tom: We are out at Ontario Volkswagen in the Los Angeles suburb of Ontario, California. And this little ditty that we’re about to head down the path of — It’s cute, isn’t it? This little ditty we’re about to head down the path of. Vehicle review, the 2018 Volkswagen Passat GT. I just drove that thing, and fun, F-U-N.

If I can take a page out of the Professor’s little playbook here. Well, I got to drive the 2018 Volkswagen Passat GT. And that’s a top-of-the-line sport version of the Passat, and V6 engine with 3.6-liter, 280 horsepower, putting out 258 pound-feet of torque. And as Randy can attest as he drove with me in this test drive, I had a hard time not chirping the tires every time we came from a dead stop to accelerating. It was fun.

Randy: Yeah. It definitely had enough giddy up and go. It’s very responsive. As soon as you touch the gas, almost a little too responsive, it kind of felt. So, take a little while to get used to.

Tom: Yeah. The tires just chirped a little. I didn’t stay on it in a sense that they were sliding too much, but that’s a very, very fun car. The price point on the 2018 Passat is kind of ridiculous. I mentioned to Randy, every time I hit the accelerator, I realize the sticker, just MSRP, doesn’t make sense. I mean, the MSRP on the vehicle is how much?

Randy: It was like $30,000, somewhere in that range of low 30s. To think of getting a vehicle with 280 horsepower for $30,000, a German-engineered is unthinkable.

Tom: Yeah, yeah. Beautiful car too. It has that that Volkswagen red line on the grill that is oh so distinctive, as well as oh so sharp. The one that we drove was silver or gray. I’m not exactly sure what Volkswagen is calling that color.

Randy: Yeah, it was the silver.

Tom: But the outside of the vehicle is just absolutely gorgeous. The sport wheels, very cool. Nice accent with the red brake calipers that can be seen through the sport wheels, also very cool.

That red line with the bold black grill, I think, they call it a honeycomb, if I’m not mistaken, it just really, really is a sharp look to the exterior of the vehicle.

And in going inside the vehicle, the carbon fiber accents, very cool as well. And the seating and overall comfort, very sporty, but, yet, still very, very comfortable, and surprisingly spacious.

Randy: One thing is seating. Probably more so in the passenger seat that I noticed was the amount of shoulder space. And the room that I had sitting in the passenger, it almost kind of felt like it was a sedan.

Tom: Yeah.

Randy: The engine makes me feel like it’s a sports car, but sitting in the seat-

Tom: Right.

Randy: … makes me feel like I’m in a full-sized sedan.

Tom: Right, right. And Randy and I are pretty similar sized guys. We’re not small by any stretch, we’re not huge by any stretch, but very, very comfortable for us to be sitting in it. Now, I hopped in the back seat actually when the car was still sitting in the showroom before we went for a drive, and plenty of leg room back there too. So, the vehicle exterior, interior, fantastic.

The tech, the one thing that I absolutely love is the option for Apple CarPlay or, in my world, Android Auto. I love being able to put Waze up there right on the dash, as well as play my podcasts because, you know, I can’t go anywhere without listening to my iDriveSoCal Podcasts.

Randy: Absolutely. I got that when I jumped in my truck, and it just starts playing, and it goes through all the different podcasts.

Tom: Right, right. You never listen to my podcast, Randy.

Randy: Okay. I have to make sure that it should actually sound all right, you know.

Tom: Yeah. So as I say so often in our podcast, we do it a little bit different. And in this one, Randy and I went for a test drive together. But we don’t usually do that. I usually send Bernadette or Clinton, Professor Quan, out for a drive. And then, I do the interview with them. But in this case, I said, “Hey, Randy, let’s mix it up a little bit.”

And the cool thing about Ontario Volkswagen, one of the many cool things I like so much is working with Randy Halcomb. And what we’re going to do on the iDriveSoCal website is actually post Randy’s direct information. So, whether you’re interested in a Volkswagen Passat GTI like we drove today, the Atlas, which is there a new SUV, Volkswagen’s new SUV-

Randy: Correct.

Tom: …the all-new Tiguan, or the Arteon that’s going to be coming out, anything from the family of Golfs, et cetera, you’re going to be able to reach right out to Randy directly.

Randy: In fact, I’ll actually give you my personal cellphone, so that you can actually post it on that page.

Tom: Yeah, yeah. And, you know, that’s the thing. Everybody loves getting a new car, everybody, even if it’s used, right?

Randy: Yeah, absolutely.

Tom: Everybody loves-

Randy: At least, something new to them.

Tom: But it’s the process, the old car dealer kind of car buying process, it’s not the same everywhere. And you guys definitely make it different.

That’s why we’re partnered up. And Randy’s here to really be, you know, hey, you’re interested in a Volkswagen, you’re interested in maybe something that Ontario Volkswagen has on their lot, or you want them to track something down for you, hey, here’s Randy’s direct contact info.

You know that I know him, that we work together directly. And, you know, boom, there you have it. No shim sham, flim-flam. Straight to the-

Randy: I’m glad you kind of touched on that a little bit. One of our philosophies here is always trying to make the customers’ experience better.

And one of the things that we realized is the amount of time that people spend in a dealership to buy a vehicle. So we’ve got a few things that we do online, and via e-mail, and stuff like that that can shorten up the time that a customer spends here in the dealership, almost down to having them in and out within an hour.

And that’s really what is about. I’ve talked to so many different customers buying cars over the last 20 years. The biggest thing was how long it takes to buy a car and how awful the process is. And we strive to change all that make the car buying process something fun, exciting because everybody loves a new car. They just hate the whole buying process.

Tom: There’s all this tech, right. And as you listen to this podcast, you’re listening through tech, but you have various apps and various websites that want to do it for you. And they’re going to drop the car off in your front yard or whatever else. I don’t know about all that. I don’t know about the future. And the thing… There’s a couple of things to it. One, the car, my vehicle, is the second most expensive thing I’m ever going to purchase next to my home.

Randy: Correct.

Tom: So, with that in mind, I think, I want to be able to shake somebody’s hand, ask them some questions, look them in the eye, and have a little talk about it, you know. I don’t think I’m alone there. And that’s just the personal element. I don’t know that — I don’t buy that that personal element ever will be removed. I’m all for shortening it. To be honest, the last couple of times that I bought cars, what took the longest at the dealer was me and my wife deciding on color.

Randy: That’s typically what happens is getting them to decide which trim level or which exact model they want. And then, color always seems to be there. And flipping way back when I first had gotten into the car business I don’t know that color was such a big thing to a lot of our consumers. But as we’ve grown through the-

Tom Smith: Choices.

Randy: Yeah, choices, and have grown through the different, all the way up to the millennials now that they want a specific color. And that’s the color that they want. And so they put a little bit of time and effort. I think the average person spends 12 or 13 hours researching the vehicles-

Tom: Yeah.

Randy: …and things of that nature. But it’s hard to really see the color of a vehicle unless you’re in person and see it in the light.

Tom: The other element of the car buying process that I don’t think you can ever fully automate, and that is just that, hey, this is an expensive purchase, this is a purchase that involves a lot of documentation.

It involves DMV records, licensing and financing. It involves titling. I mean, there’s a lot of things that I don’t know that even if I could do it through an app that I would want to entirely.

Randy: There is a lot of moving — I call it a lot of moving parts. And it’s only gotten more documentation that we’ve had to with the regulations and things that nature of having to make sure we’re doing anything for the DMV taxes in the State of California, and so forth.

But I think it’s been good because they’ve all been really for the consumer and making sure that they get what they’re bargained for, they get what they’re asking for, and that they don’t get bamboozled, I guess, you could say.

Tom: You have the bad apples, you have the bad cops, but, by and large, apples are great. By and large, cops and police forces are great. And, you know, you have that across the board in all industries and businesses.

Randy: I agree.

Tom: So, we slid effectively way off topic-

Randy: Yes.

Tom: …from the Passat GT, 2018 Passat GT. But, again, fantastic car. absolutely beautiful styling, love the outside, love the inside. The other thing that I really like about the outside is the side mirrors have that black accent on the side mirrors, which matches nicely the black-accented roof.

Randy: It’s almost like the shadow trim. So, you know, it all kind of blends in-

Tom: Yeah.

Randy: …a little bit the tint on the window. And it just kind of, you know, looks very, very aesthetically clean.

Tom: Yeah, very sporty, large car for a fantastic price, even at sticker price. And, of course, come in and see Randy, or give me a call on a cellphone, which we’ll have posted on the website. But shoot, Randy, you want to drop it right now?

Randy: Yeah. If anybody wants to get in touch with me, you can reach out to me on my personal cellphone, which is 909-772-1728, or even by email, which is RHalcomb [at] OntarioVW.com.

Tom: There you go, Randy Halcomb at your service for all your VW needs right out here at Ontario Volkswagen in the Los Angeles suburb of Ontario, California. They’re in the Ontario Auto Mall, which is literally right off the…

Randy: We’re located off the 15 Freeway, in between the 10 Freeway and the 60 Freeway.

Tom: Yup. And it’s always the 10 that I wind up making my way here. So, at any rate, Randy, thank you so much as always. Love you guys out here at Ontario Volkswagen, and always appreciate the hospitality. Very nice little drive and afternoon that we had.

Randy: That was a lot of fun.

Tom: And look forward to the next time that we have the opportunity to do it, unless you have anything you’d like to add.

Randy: Nope. I appreciate everything that you do for us, Tom, and love listening to the podcast. Believe it or not, I do listen to them, and not just the ones about Volkswagen either. So, yeah-

Tom: Thanks, man.

Randy: …definitely get some information there.

Tom: Appreciate it. For iDriveSoCal, I am Tom Smith. Thank you ever so much for listening.

The Latest Volkswagen News HERE.

Every 45-seconds a car is stolen in the United States! That’s a staggering statistic! And here, in Southern California, there’s definitely no exception.

Just think of how many Brainiacs we watch “Live” on the local news who somehow think they’re actually going to escape the police; their cars, helicopters, dogs, and spike-strips. (Which actually begs a few questions about us as a society – but that’s an entirely different topic. Why are we so fascinated by that spectacle?)

This week’s iDSC Podcast focuses on useful tips to protect your vehicle from theft and keep you safe out there, on those crazy streets of America. Click Play below to find out how to prevent auto-theft, how thieves think and what they’re looking for.

***Transcript***

Recorded July 11, 2018, Los Angeles, CA

Doug Shupe: A vehicle is stolen every 45 seconds. You know, thieves are actually looking through parking lots. They’re looking for you to make a mistake, leave something valuable in your vehicle. Always lock your vehicle and close the windows. Don’t leave them half open. Never leave belongings out in plain view

Tom Smith: Welcome to iDriveSoCal, the podcast all about mobility from the automotive capital of the United States, Southern California. Tom Smith here with Doug Shupe, the Senior Public Affairs Specialist of the Auto Club of Southern California. Most of us know them by AAA. Doug, thanks for joining me again.

Doug Shupe: Thanks, Tom, for having me.

Tom Smith: The topic that we’re covering today is, as it gets hotter out, and we’re out on the roads, for some reason, more carjackings, more issues on the road. Is that a typical stat? Is there a seasonality to it, or is that just something that maybe is perceived?

Doug Shupe: Well, when it comes to vehicle theft, we typically see those on the rise, you know, when a lot of people are out on the move. They’re parking in different places that they wouldn’t normally park. But a vehicle is stolen every 45 seconds here in the United States. I mean, that’s incredible.

Tom Smith: Every 45 seconds?

Doug Shupe: Every 45 seconds, there’s a vehicle stolen in the United States. And although the auto theft rates have declined in recent years, car theft is still a very common crime. And it’s a crime of opportunity. If you give a criminal the opportunity to steal your car, they’re going to take.

Tom Smith: Now, we have … Let’s categorize it. There’s stealing my car, but then, there’s also breaking into my car.

Doug Shupe: Yes, they’re very different.

Tom Smith: Those are the two, right?

Doug Shupe: Auto theft. There’s auto theft that we see.

Tom Smith: Right.

Doug Shupe: There is auto burglary, and you know. And auto burglaries happen when people leave stuff inside of their vehicle-.

Tom Smith: Right.

Doug Shupe: … in plain sight. And it’s very, you know … It’s appealing to a thief.

Tom Smith: Yup.

Doug Shupe: This happens a lot of times during the holiday season when people were out there shopping, and they’ve got shopping bags.

Tom Smith: So then, it’s not necessarily … So, I have … And that’s what I was trying to get in the beginning. I have a perception that, “Okay, summertime, it seems to happen more.” But that’s just my perception. It’s not necessarily a summertime thing. There’s not a seasonality to it. Yeah?

Doug Shupe: It happens every day.

Tom Smith: All the time.

Doug Shupe: Unfortunately. And auto theft, really, is what we were talking about. Every 45 seconds, a car is stolen.

Tom Smith: Car is gone.

Doug Shupe: Right. And vehicle burglaries happen all year long, but they tend to peak during those times when you have a lot of people that are in the holiday season-

Tom Smith: Sure.

Doug Shupe: … for example. And they’re just not being mindful that, you know, thieves are actually looking through parking lots around the holidays. Believe it or not, they’re looking for you to make a mistake, leave something valuable in your vehicle, and they’re just going to pop that window real quickly, and get whatever it is they want. You know, something as simple as change, you know, that could be enticing, believe it or not, cost you a lot of money, you know, to-

Tom Smith: $3.50 worth of change-

Doug Shupe: Right, right.

Tom Smith: … $350 window broken.

Doug Shupe: Your car charger. Remove the car charger. Hide that.

Tom Smith: Yeah.

Doug Shupe: Shopping bags. You know, the laptop case. Anything in your vehicle that’s in plain sight, it could be tempting for someone out there.

Tom Smith: You know, we have a park around where my wife and I live, and it’s a decent area. And there’s a farmer’s market there twice a week. And then, there’s always some kind of activity because it’s a large park, right. So, my wife goes for exercise classes with our son. And it’s moms and toddlers or infants at the exercise classes and the farmer’s market. And there’s been recent rash of break-ins in the parking lot in a relatively nice area.

Tom Smith: And, I guess, that’s where my perception comes from. It’s like, “What? Really? I mean, for what? You’re going to take advantage of moms that are taking care of their children, and working out, or, you know, people that … I mean, this is like Monday through Friday of farmer’s market and, you know, events at the park. It’s like,”Come on,” but-

Doug Shupe: It’s unfortunate, you know.

Tom Smith: Yeah, retirees at the farmers market-

Doug Shupe: Yeah.

Tom Smith: … and moms. I mean-

Doug Shupe: It’s unfortunate, but that’s where they know, the thieves know that they can get something out of the vehicles because they know that people are going to … There’s going to be a lot of people there, parked there. You mentioned gym parking lots. They know a lot of people are coming straight from work. They may have a laptop-

Tom Smith: Sure.

Doug Shupe: … in the back of the vehicle.

Tom Smith: Yeah.

Doug Shupe: That’s where they target, gyms, shopping malls, grocery stores, you know. And there could be a lot of traffic nearby, a lot of vehicles in those parking lots. But these thieves are professional at being very … going under the radar, and being able to look through these vehicles to see what it is that they want to get, and quickly smashing out those windows. Really though, a lot of this happens because people leave their vehicle doors unlocked. They leave them unlocked in the driveway.

Tom Smith: In Southern California?

Doug Shupe: Yes, it happens all the time. People leave their car doors unlocked.

Tom Smith: It’s got to be an accident.

Doug Shupe: Yeah. Well, it could be an accident.

Tom Smith: But I suppose, if you’re a thief, you’re going through the parking lot, and just suddenly, you know, check in what’s open.

Doug Shupe: Quickly check, yeah. You just check those doors real quickly. And many times, they’ll find a door that’s open.

Tom Smith: I had a good one once. And this is a personal situation where my car charger, I left my phone in the car charging, but the charger was plugged into the ashtray, and the phone was under the seat. So, all you could see was the wire, right. And this was back in the day when it was just a wire charger. It wasn’t the curlicue thing. So, it was very subtle.

Sure enough, I get back from where I was, and windows broken, phone’s gone. I was so mad. I called my phone. Like I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m going to call the phone, and what? I’m going to yell at the person that stole my phone? They answered the phone. I can’t remember what they said, but it sounded like a young girl. And she answered the phone, whatever it was, the name and the company, but it was like, “X, Y, Z Window Company. Can I help you?” I was just like, “Oh, that’s good. You just broke my window, stole my phone. I’m calling my phone-

Doug Shupe: Wow.

Tom Smith: … and you’re the window company. That’s fantastic.” She laughed at me and hung up.

Doug Shupe: Yeah, I mean, it happens. You see, that was a perfect example of how it didn’t take much. Just that small phone cord.

Tom Smith: Yeah. And that’s what it was. It’s barely-

Doug Shupe: That’s all it was.

Tom Smith: But that was back in the day. I mean, that’s all 10 years ago. It was not obvious that it was a phone cord. But like you say, I’ve also had another situation where I left — This is also back in the day — case of CDs, big case of CDs. They broke and stole the CDs. I had $300 worth of sunglasses in the center console that they didn’t touch. They didn’t think to go through because the CDS were out in plain sight. So, that’s the moral, right?

Doug Shupe: It doesn’t take much.

Tom Smith: Hide everything.

Doug Shupe: Yeah. Before I started at AAA, when I was a TV reporter, I left my car in San Antonio, Texas with just maybe a $1.50 of change in the side of the door.

Tom Smith: And somebody came in after that?

Doug Shupe: And my window was smashed over $1.50. So, yeah, it doesn’t take much. And that’s why we really encourage people to get everything, hide it, put it in the trunk, or don’t store it in your car. You know, talk with your insurance agent about the type of coverage that would cover auto theft, and make sure that you’re covered.

Auto theft is covered under the comprehensive section of an auto insurance policy, and the theft coverage applies to the loss of the vehicle, as well as the parts of the vehicle, including the airbags. Always lock your vehicle and close the windows. Don’t leave them half open. Never leave belongings out in plain view. Never leave keys in your vehicle. You know, a lot of people will try to leave a spare key in a magnetic box underneath the vehicle. Not recommended at all because, unfortunately, thieves know to look for those clues.

And so, you also want to … Where you park is important. Always park in very well-lit areas. Make sure when possible, you’re in a parked garage, if you can. Consider installing motion activated floodlights that will illuminate the place where you park at home. Use an anti-theft for automatic tracking device if your vehicle is not equipped with an alarm or a hidden tracking device.

Tom Smith: Is that the LoJack that you’re saying?

Doug Shupe: Yes, exactly. Yeah. Consider that.

Tom Smith: I’m sure there’s a competitor out there, but that’s one that we all know.

Doug Shupe: There are a lot of them out there. You might want to consider that.

Tom Smith: But what about the theory, you know, “Hey, someone steals my car.” And I’ve never had LoJack personally for this reason.

Someone steals my car. I don’t want it back because it’s going to be trashed. They’re not going to drive it well, right. Or maintain it. They’re not going to take care of it. I guess, from an insurance perspective, I haven’t been in that situation. Maybe the way that it all shakes out, you really do want your car back because it winds up costing you a lot of money if you don’t get it back. But my thinking has been, “But I don’t want it back.”.

Doug Shupe: It depends on how long it’s gone, what’s done to it in that amount of time. Obviously, you know, that’s the best thing is to prevent it from happening. If law enforcement can recover it quickly, you know, you may not have that much damage to it. The Auto Club actually offers free VIN etching events.

Tom Smith: VIN etching events.

Doug Shupe: Vehicle identification number etching, right. And what that is, is car window VIN etchings are very small but visible to deter thieves. It’s your vehicle identification number etched into the windows, every single window of your vehicle. It helps law enforcement recover. It also helps deter thieves because what they want to do is they want to sell parts of the vehicle. When they see that VIN etching on there, they know they can’t sell those parts, so they may go on to the next vehicle.

Tom Smith: But wait a minute. So, you take the VIN number.

Doug Shupe: We take the VIN number.

Tom Smith: Vehicle identification number. I think, everybody knows what it is. It’s a number that identifies your specific vehicle. Cars rolling off the assembly lines will have a VIN number. And what you guys do is etch that VIN number.

Doug Shupe: Into the windows.

Tom Smith: Into the window. So, all the windows?

Doug Shupe: All the windows.

Tom Smith: So then, your car gets stolen. The thieves just can’t sell those windows.

Doug Shupe: They can’t sell those windows. But a lot of times, what it does is because they want to sell all parts of the vehicle-

Tom Smith: Right.

Doug Shupe: … it deters them from stealing that vehicle because they already see that. Now, a lot of vehicles come with those windows VIN etched already from the manufacturer. But if you don’t have it, it’s a good idea to get the vehicle’s windows VIN etched. It’s about, you know, if you pay for it, about $200-$250. But, again, the Auto Club does offer free window VIN etchings at various locations throughout the year.

Tom Smith: Is that right?

Doug Shupe: Yeah. We do that for free. We do that for the entire community, whether you’re a member or not. And we team up with local law enforcement because it’s great to work with them. They help us actually etch the windows, and we do this-

Tom Smith: You guys do that in Southern California?

Doug Shupe: In Southern California, yeah.

Tom Smith: Okay.

Doug Shupe: We do it about four or five events every year.

Tom Smith: Okay.

Doug Shupe: And we try to, you know, sporadically put them all around various locations of Southern California.

Tom Smith: So, we’ve covered keeping your car safe at home, keeping it well-lit, parking in well-lit areas. What about driving and a carjacking, which is, for me, being a new dad, and being a protective husband, and a protective father, this is a very scary thing. When I was a single guy, I was invincible. I didn’t care. Not an issue. Now, it’s like I try to avoid certain neighborhoods just because I’m a paranoid dad.

Doug Shupe: Yeah. The reality is it could happen anywhere.

Tom Smith: Right.

Doug Shupe: But it’s frightening, you know. I mean, when you hear about it on the news, stealing a car or a truck by force, it does capture headlines in local news. But, statistically, your chances of being a carjacking victim are very slim. When they happen though, they do make big headlines.

And so, you know, really taking the actions to prevent it really is best. No one really knows for sure why someone would lead to do that. A lot of times, it’s a crime of opportunity, a thief-

Tom Smith: Sure.

Doug Shupe: … searching for a vehicle then to go commit another crime using that vehicle. Unfortunately, for some young people, it’s like a rite of passage or a status symbol. Believe it or not, cars, especially luxurious ones, can provide quick cash for drug users, unfortunately, and other criminals.

Tom Smith: How do you prevent it?

Doug Shupe: The best thing to do is make sure that, you know … The best thing to do to prevent carjacking is make sure that you’re walking with purpose, and you’re staying alert when you’re walking to and from shopping centers-

Tom Smith: Sure.

Doug Shupe: … or grocery stores. Always approach your vehicle with your key and hand, look around, and inside the car before getting in. Be wary of anybody who’s asking you for directions, or they’re trying to hand out flyers next to your car. And trust your instincts. If something makes you feel uneasy, get into the car quickly, lock the doors, and drive away.

Now, when it comes to when you’re on the road, always keep your doors locked, and your windows rolled up, at least, part way, you know, if it’s hot out, and you don’t have any air conditioning. When you’re coming to a stop, leave enough room to maneuver around other cars, especially if you sense trouble, and you feel like you need to get away. And then drive in the center lane to make it harder for would-be carjackers to approach the car. And, you know, if you can avoid driving alone especially at night.

Tom Smith: Gotcha, okay. Well, Doug Shupe, always a pleasure. Thank you so much. Senior Public Affairs Specialist at the Auto Club of Southern California. Again, most of us know you guys as AAA, those helpful folks that come running with an extra gallon of gas when I absentmindedly run out in the middle of wherever I am. But thank you again, Doug.

Doug Shupe: You’re welcome.

Tom Smith: Always a pleasure. And we will talk again soon. For iDriveSoCal, I am Tom Smith. Thank you for listening.

There’s a ton of hype around the future of mobility; the possibilities appear endless!

Some conversation about the future of mobility and transportation is very real. And some of it is just car lover fantasy and transportation buff daydreams… but for the iDSC Podcast, I truly do love covering it all!

In iDSC100 I touch on primary areas of the mobile future with the greatest potential for impact on our society as a whole – but especially right here in Southern California.

***Show Notes***

Recorded July 18, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA

Welcome…

And because there’s just way too many pics to cover everything we shared in this podcast… but mostly because I’m completely in love with my son – the pics in the gallery for this podcast are mobility pictures of my baby boy.

For iDriveSoCal I’m Tom Smith – thanks for listening!

All the latest mobility and automotive news HERE.