Michigan's AutoTalk

Episode 89: "Nine no-brainers and one sleeper: Car and Driver's 10 best cars of 2023 with editor in chief Tony Quiroga"

In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes car and driver editor in chief, Tony Quiroga. Tony is an 18-year-veteran Car and Driver editor, writer, and car reviewer and the 19th editor-in-chief for the magazine since its founding in 1955. Over the years, Tony has held nearly every editorial position at the magazine and website.

In this episode, Tony gives us an insider's look at Car and Driver's annual "Ten Best Cars" awards as he explained the process of how they found the 10 cars that live up to their purpose while delivering incredible value and a great driving experience.
Car and Driver's "10 Best" list just turned 40, and like many 40-year-olds, it’s going through a time of reflection and reassessment. As Tony shared with us during this episode, there are no bad picks of this year's crop of the 10 best automobiles on the road.

More Online:
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42187877/10best-cars-2023/


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Al, John, and Phil

On our latest episode, number 88 of Michigan's AutoTalk, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, hear Al share the remarkable story of his grandfather, Adolf. Adolf came to America from Germany in 1909 and spent 40 years working for Studebaker in South Bend, Indiana. Grandpa Adolf and his wife saved diligently until they could purchase what would become his pride and joy... A brand new 1947 Studebaker Commander. According to Studebaker factory records, the total Sedan Coupe production, including a very short run of 1942 models, stands at around 2,350 units, which makes it highly unusual to spot one today.

Later in the episode, we talk about winter driving again, and cohost. John Puhek couldn't help but go off again on snow tire users. You don't want to miss this rant… Unless you are a diehard snow tire fan

More on Studebaker:
https://www.motorcities.org/story-of-the-week/2021/a-brief-history-of-studebaker

And:
The History Of Studebaker
https://www.classicsbeyond.com/history-of-studebaker

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On our latest episode, number 87 of Michigan's AutoTalk, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, what Jim Garrison president of the Checker car club of America. Jim worked at Checker Motors for 32 years and had a treasure trove of information about everything related to the legendary Checker vehicle. Checkers were built to last and several of them are still operating today, including the models that Jim owns. He shares with us his love for the checker automobile, and a bit of history about the car itself plus the Checker cars that he owns.


More on Checker Cars:
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/04/an-illustrated-history-of-checker-motors/

And:
A Beautiful 1982 Checker Marathon:
https://journal.classiccars.com/2021/07/17/pick-of-the-day-1982-checker-marathon-brawny-consumer-version-of-famed-taxi/


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Episode 86: "Ford's secret new money machine comes disguised as a pickup truck"

In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes back Phoebe Wall-Howard, automotive, writer, and reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Phoebe joined us to talk about the runaway success of the highly anticipated 2023 Ford Super Duty.
In this episode, Phoebe tells us that Ford set an all-new sales record for the month of November after reaching a record number of new orders for the new Super Duty...52,518 new orders in fact... And that was just in the last five days of October!
And is Phoebe wrote in the Detroit Free Press last week, "the November sales report nearly triples that figure. (As of December 3) Ford now has orders for 151,870 Super Duty trucks since the order bank opened on Oct. 27."
Phoebe explained that Ford has never seen sales like this in its history and the truck is likely to set all-time records at a sticker price that starts at $45,000 and goes all the way up to $90,000 for loaded models… Ford is likely to make billions of dollars just on this truck alone.

We also highlighted a couple of wonderful stories about two Michigan-based engineers who worked on the brand-new Ford Super Duty truck design and actually had dreams of doing that as young kids.

More Online:
https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2022/12/03/latest-ford-super-duty-orders-set-insane-pace/69695780007/

Ford truck fan, 7, grows up to drive Super Duty in Thanksgiving Parade
https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2022/11/24/detroit-thanksgiving-parade-ford-truck/69675587007/

2023 Ford Super Duty engineer made dream come true after teacher laughed at it
https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2022/09/28/2023-ford-f-series-super-duty-engineer-aaron-bresky/69522651007/

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Al, John, and Phil

Episode 85: "The great snow tire debate and other winter driving myths."

In this episode, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, discuss the pros and cons of snow tires and the best tips for safe winter driving overall. The decades-old wisdom that snow tires were essential in West Michigan is really not true and in this episode, Al and John talk about why snow tires are not as necessary as they used to be commonly used years ago and why snow tire owners should make one significant investment before they purchase any set of snow tires.
And while we're at it let's get rid of the term "snow tires." Any tire dealer today will tell you the correct term for these types of tires is "winter tires." Those who insist on them and there are quite a few, argue they work better in Michigan winters when our roads are blanketed with typically oft and slushy snow. Still, according to to Al and John, most drivers don't need them.

More on winter tires:
https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2022/06/03/should-you-be-changing-your-tires-we-put-seasonal-tires-through-the-local-4-trust-index/

And, what are the best values in winter/snow tires:
https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/g35005560/top-cheap-snow-tires/

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Episode 84: "Auto Analyst Karl Brauer on Cars that Depreciate the Least and Most Over 3 Years."

In this episode, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, welcome Karl Brauer, executive analyst for ISeeCars.com.
Karl joins us to discuss which specific vehicles have the best and worst overall depreciation levels over a three-year period for the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo markets.
Given the substantial rise in car prices due to the microchip shortage, finding a vehicle
that retains its value can provide significant savings for consumers. The average new
car in Grand Rapids loses 17.9% of its value after three years, and 35.5% of its value
after five years according to the latest iSeeCars study. However, in the Grand Rapids
market, some cars retain their value and depreciate far less than average, with a few
used models actually worth more than MSRP after three years.
Which cars are the best and worst for holding their value for Grand Rapids drivers? To
find out, the latest iSeeCars.com study analyzed more than three million used car
sales to identify models with the lowest and highest loss in value after five years.
Karl Brauer is with iSeeCars.com where he serves as their Executive Analyst.
Karl has been working in the automotive industry for over 25 years, starting as the editorial assistant for Hot Rod magazine before launching Super Street magazine as one of its original staff writers in 1996. For 18 years he served as editor-in-chief at Edmunds.com, plus CEO at his own consumer automotive website, and Executive Publisher at Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book.
Karl’s website Karl On Cars: https://www.karlbrauer.com

You can see the full study on depreciation at:
https://www.iseecars.com/cars-that-hold-their-value-study

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Episode 83: “Christmas is for car lovers at the winter wonderland at Gilmore Car Museum"

In this episode, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, welcome back our friend Josh Russell, executive director of The Gilmore Car Museum.
Josh talks about the amazing holiday experience at the Gilmore known as Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland at The Gilmore Car Museum features a holiday lights spectacular, unlike any other holiday lights show attraction. Visitors can enjoy a driving tour through the lighted grounds, surrounded by festive music and decorations, then journey inside the museum to meet Santa Claus and explore the Gilmore’s Festival of Trees as you walk through our galleries filled with hundreds of classic cars.

Josh said that Gilmore's Winter Wonderland has several memorable experiences for guests to enjoy including visits and photos with Santa; a giant, one-of-a-kind maze of holiday inflatables; a nostalgic 1960s fresh Christmas tree and wreath lot, complete with a vintage Shasta camper trailer plus family rides through the lights in Ford Model T’s, a Checker Taxi Cab, a ‘63 Cadillac convertible, and several other vintage cars from our collection

Winter Wonderland at The Gilmore Car Museum online:
https://gilmorecarmuseum.org/events/winter-wonderland


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Episode 82: “A special look at Ford’s dedication to those who served our country and wear the blue oval”

In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes special guest Scott Rumfield, a product line manager with Ford and a Vet who leads Ford’s Employee Resource Group and Veterans Network Group.
The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) recently recognized Ford as a Gold-level Veteran Friendly Employer. Ford’s ERG, the Veteran Network Group (VET NG), has played a critical role in elevating the company’s commitment to the Veteran community to a gold-level standard.

Scott shares his experience with us and why he works so hard to create a supportive environment for Veterans as they come back from service and try to re-enter civilian life.

After living through the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic presented for veterans already struggling with isolation, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other issues stemming from their service experience, Ford’s Veteran Network Group leadership took it upon themselves to provide holistic support programs that understand the realities and challenges of Veterans and their families and meet them where they are, as they return to civilian life or continue to build their careers post service.

Last year, as U.S. troops pulled out of Afghanistan, the Scott and the stepped up to help Ford veterans deal with an especially emotional and traumatic time. Scott and his Veteran Network Group team hosted the first of many listening sessions they would have for Ford Veterans, current service members, and the larger Ford Family.

These sessions functioned as a safe space for fellow former and current service members to share their experiences with the entire Ford community. Veterans at Ford shared heart-wrenching stories about their service, the people they still had behind in Afghanistan, how the abrupt exit made them feel frustrated and angry and that their entire effort had been futile.

More Online:
https://corporate.ford.com/careers/programs/veterans.html

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Al, John, and Phil

Episode 81: #Vanlife Reimagined: The All-New 2023 Ford Transit Trail

In this episode, producer Phil Tower welcomes special guest Jennifer Mitchell. Jennifer is the Ford Pro, Commercial Van Brand Manager. She joined us to discuss the all-new, highly-anticipated 2023 Ford Transit Trail Van. A recent teaser video showed the Transit Trail van's side profile, a sidestep, and the front grille, highlighted by three amber-colored clearance lights. Ford tells us that Ford Pro's introduction of the "off-road" oriented van will be unveiled on November 3, 2022.
Ford Pro says the all-new 2023 Transit Trail features “ new adventure-seeking capability alongside interior and exterior enhancements [that will] provide do-it-yourselfers and motorhome distributors a turnkey canvas direct from the factory."
Ford recently introduced Ford Pro – a global vehicle services and distribution business that will increase uptime and reduce ownership costs, leading to higher productivity and performance.
Ford Pro is a new business – separate within Ford and the first of its kind among U.S. automakers. Ford says the strength of its Ford Pro division is “the industry’s most comprehensive and flexible range of F-Series and Ranger trucks, as well as Transit, the world’s best-selling cargo van.”
Judging by the buzz created by the release of the 2023 Ford Transit Trail van, Ford Pro looks like a no-brainer to us here at Michigan’s AutoTalk.

More Online:
https://www.ford.com/commercial-trucks/transit-cargo-van/

And this from Motor Trend:
https://www.motortrend.com/news/2023-ford-transit-trail-coming-united-states/


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Thank you for listening. If you like our podcast please share it with a friend!

Al, John, and Phil

Episode 80: “The Inside Story of the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant"

In this episode, producer Phil Tower, along with hosts Al Schwinkendorf and John Puhek, welcome special guest Barry Cogan, a member of the Piquette Avenue Plant’s Board of Trustees, and volunteer for the facility for more than ten years. We learned that Barry also served on the Board of Directors for the Dodge Brothers Club, the Eastside A’s Model A Club, and Piquette T’s Model T Club.
Barry told us that The Model-T Automotive Heritage Complex, Inc., better known as the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, was organized in 2000 as a nonprofit organization for the purpose of preserving the Plant and keeping it from being demolished. The facility is now open year-round as a Museum and education center and attracts visitors from around the world.
We also learned that the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant (FPAP) is managed by a Board of Trustees and volunteer committees and the treasured historic site is financially self-supported.
The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant was dedicated as a MotorCities National Heritage Area site in 1996 and was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2002 and listed as a Michigan State Historic Site in 2003. Barry also shares with us the amazing story of how the plat was nearly torn down and eventually saved from the wrecking ball!

Learn more online: https://www.fordpiquetteplant.org/


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Thank you for listening. If you like our podcast please share it with a friend!