The Avants Podcast

By AvantsComedy Society & Culture Leisure Comedy Interviews Automotive

The Avants Podcast episodes

November 09 470: Just Give Us the Plug and Get Out of the Way
SEMA is underway, which means the automotive world is once again full of builds that range from genuinely incredible to maybe just don’t look too closely.
We talk about some of the early standouts, including a Tacoma wearing a Lexus GX front end, kei cars pretending to be GT-Rs, and the completely reasonable decision to turn a McLaren 750 into a CLK GTR replica. We also get into Jeep’s Scrambler concept and why independent front suspension might actually make the Wrangler better for the way most people use them.
That leads us down a much bigger rabbit hole: manufacturers want a piece of the aftermarket, but do we really need them choosing our lights, wheels, racks, and accessories for us? Or should they just give us standardized plugs, wiring, mounting points, and upfitter connections so we can easily install whatever we want?
Plus, Dan walks through some trail-side fixes for a torn CV boot, Nick tries to survive the podcast while sick, we talk Broncos, questionable amounts of horsepower, and somehow determine that Dan probably just needs a helicopter.
Our question this week: Would you rather buy factory-backed aftermarket accessories directly with your vehicle, or just have manufacturers make their cars easier to modify yourself?

As always, don't just get there. Enjoy the drive.
The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle!
Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873!
We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!
34 min
November 02 469: Nobody Spends My Money Like My Friends
Nick says he wants to do a few small, sensible projects on his kei truck. Dan and Brian hear “engine swap.” Before long, we’re debating what could fit, what would be hilarious, and how much of Nick’s money we can spend without actually touching the truck.
We also catch up on the car news that’s been living in our heads: a gorgeous NSX restomod with a million-dollar price tag, Porsche’s latest concept, and the Tesla Roadster stunt. We’re not convinced a flying Roadster is coming, but we’ll admit it was fun to watch.
Then we get into the little things that make a car better—or worse. Do we really need touchscreen controls for air vents? What useful features have people unlocked with software? And with fall in full swing, how long can wet leaves sit on your paint before you regret ignoring them?
Plus, some snow-wheeling talk and an update on Brian’s truck heading to the Seattle Auto Show. It’s a lot of cars, a lot of opinions, and an impressively expensive list of ideas for a kei truck.
As always, don't just get there. Enjoy the drive.
The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle!
Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873!
We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!
49 min
October 26 468: Monster Garage #2: Build Weird Stuff and Do It Right with Donavan Neely
For our second Monster Garage episode, we sit down with Donavan Neely from Level Ten Industries, a guy who seems to specialize in projects that make normal people ask, “Why would you do that?”

His latest build starts with a 1953 Dodge military ambulance and a 1996 Cummins donor truck. From there, he shortened the wheelbase 16 inches, moved the engine and transmission back a foot, rebuilt the rear frame, and turned the whole thing into a diesel-powered backcountry travel rig that somehow still looks like it could have rolled out of the ’50s.

We also get into Donovan’s history building everything from custom wiring harnesses and FJ40s to limousines for Paul Allen, plus the lessons he’s learned about project cars: pick the right builder, have a reason for the build, understand that you’re probably never getting your money back, and sometimes the smartest thing a shop can tell you is “no.”

Oh, and somewhere along the way we start talking about Cummins-swapping a ’63 Cadillac. Because of course we do.

As always, don't just get there. Enjoy the drive.
The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle!
Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873!
We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!
56 min
October 19 467: Monster Garage #1: The 20-Year CJ-7 Build
For our first Monster Garage episode, Avants member Bill Ritchie brings us a project that proves these builds almost never go according to plan. His wife’s 1985 CJ-7 went from a "simple" blown engine to a decades-long project involving engine swaps, axle swaps, bad shops, good shops, questionable friends, good friends, multi-state travel, abandoned parts, an LS, and a lot more money than anyone wants to spend.
We also get into his other builds and his wonderfully all-over-the-place car history, including an incredible Defender rock crawler, Honda S2000, Porsche GT3, Porsche Turbo S, Lotus Emira, Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, and an Audi R8 that only made it half way across the Atlantic.
If you’ve ever looked at a project car and thought, “I can do that,” this episode is for you.
As always, don't just get there. Enjoy the drive.
The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle!
Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873!
We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!

54 min
October 12 466: Small Truck, Big Man: Nick Bought a Kei Truck
Nick bought a kei truck, and somehow we're all pretending this is going to remain a simple project.
This week we're joined by Brian and Megan as Nick introduces the newest addition to the garage: a 1998 Subaru Sambar. It's right-hand drive, four-wheel drive, has a five-speed with a crawl gear, a surprisingly huge bed, and just enough practicality to justify something that absolutely did not need to be justified.
Naturally, we're already talking about wheels, bedliner, tint, hauling motorcycles, kei vans, engine swaps, and whether we can put the Sambar in the back of another truck with the Grom in the back of the Sambar. Truckception.
We also get an unfortunate update on Brian's Corvette E-Ray. After a transmission replacement and a long stretch in the shop, Chevy is discussing buying the car back. That's a tough outcome for a car he genuinely loves, but when you spend more time troubleshooting a car than driving it, sometimes you have to know when to move on.
Dan also shares a very close call caught on his dash cam that turned into a good reminder of why everybody should probably have one. And with winter coming, we revisit another recurring piece of advice: four-wheel drive is great, but there's still no substitute for actual winter tires. You can watch a Honda Fit almost slam into Dan's bumper here: https://youtu.be/P-Sy0sas5VE
Plus: weighting the back of your truck, driving a kei truck through a drive-thru, elk in North Bend, sovereign citizens, questionable engine swaps, why unfinished projects tend to become permanent projects, and a preview of some seriously strange builds coming to the show.
Small trucks. Big projects. Our usual bad ideas.
As always, don't just get there. Enjoy the drive.
The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle!
Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873!
We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!
54 min
October 05 465: Mono Updates and Raptor Wraps
Some people dream about owning a BAC Mono. Dan is busy figuring out how to road-trip one.
This week we get an update on a conversation that's been years in the making. After talking directly with BAC founder Ian Briggs, the possibility of a Mono is starting to feel a lot more real. The discussion quickly turns into exactly the kind of questions you'd expect: fuel range, luggage space, ride height, maintenance, and whether it's possible to put 20,000 to 30,000 miles a year on a car most people only drive a few times a season.
We also talk truck recalls, Bronco fender clips, RV industry customer service headaches, Storyteller van repairs, and why sometimes a six-hundred-dollar fix can turn into six weeks of frustration.
On the product side, there's a surprising number of interesting launches heading into SEMA season, including new winches from Warn, compressors from Wolfbox, switch panels from Morrflate, and some thoughts on why certain companies keep expanding into every corner of the off-road market.
Brian Dallas joins us to talk about wrapping his Raptor, why custom camo is harder than it looks, the evolution of modern vinyl products, and how a handful of shapes can completely change the personality of a vehicle.
Plus: overlanding plans, Washington trail conditions, Seattle Auto Show updates, battery tech, printer conspiracies, BAC Mono ownership realities, and the automotive dreams we're still trying to convince ourselves are reasonable financial decisions.
As always, don't just get there. Enjoy the drive.
The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle!
Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873!
We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!
55 min
September 28 464: Everything Needs an Analog Tach
The weather is changing, the dust is finally settling down on the trails, and we're trying to squeeze every last adventure out of the season before winter shows up.

This week we talk about running the BDR, off-roading in the Bronco, Ferrari's strange new supercharger setup, GM's giant diesel, Audi's obsession with adding more screens, and why some of the best automotive design decisions were probably made twenty years ago.
*At the time of recording we had not seen a detailed view of the Ferrari Supercharger/Turbocharger setup and the patent drawing was of poor quality. We now know it is a dual electric supercharger with turbo setup, which makes much more sense.

We also spend some time discussing a Bring a Trailer sale that made everyone's insurance company suddenly nervous, McLaren's new logo, luxury EVs, bird migration season, protecting your paint from bird strikes of a different kind, and whether Ford should build a Super Duty Raptor despite the fact that it makes absolutely no sense.

It's a little bit cars, a little bit adventure, a little bit wildlife, and a lot of opinions from people standing around talking about things they probably shouldn't spend money on.

As always, don't just get there. Enjoy the drive.
The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle!
Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873!
We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!
42 min
September 21 463: The Minivan Renaissance
Minivans are back! Or at least, that's what the numbers say.
This week we talk about the surprising resurgence of the humble minivan and what it would take to turn one from a family hauler into something enthusiasts might actually want. Bigger brakes, towing capability, better interiors, road trip comfort, and enough room for motorcycles, camping gear, and questionable life decisions. We may have accidentally talked ourselves into buying one.
We also dive into Porsche selling its stake in Bugatti, the continued rise of hypercar values, and why more enthusiasts seem to be gravitating back toward analog driving experiences. As collector car prices climb and modern vehicles pile on more technology, we're starting to see a growing appreciation for cars that simply do one thing well.
On the practical side, GM has officially reversed course and is bringing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto back after learning exactly how much buyers care about them. We also share some tips on aftermarket CarPlay solutions for older vehicles and talk about why a dash cam may be one of the best investments you can make for your car.
On this episode we also touch on a couple of tougher topics, including street racing, accountability, and recent tragedies in the enthusiast community. We talk about the importance of remembering that while we all love fast cars and spirited driving, actions have consequences, and sometimes the hardest conversations are the most important ones to have.
Plus: Jay Leno's impact on California car culture, new collector car legislation, Lincoln production moving back to the U.S., rising exotic car prices, British manufacturing, Bugatti rabbit holes, and our challenge to listeners: What would make you choose a minivan over an SUV?
As always, don't just get there. Enjoy the drive.
The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle!
Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873!
We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!
45 min
September 14 462: The $0.10 Part on a $250 Problem
Sometimes the smallest parts create the biggest headaches.
This week we start with a simple problem: a tiny plastic clip on Nick's Ranger Raptor that's attached to a part Ford only wants to sell as a complete assembly. That turns into a conversation about junkyard hunting, cross-referencing parts between different vehicles, and how a little creativity can save you hundreds of dollars.
From there we dive into roll racing, Corvette E-Rays, and why modern hybrids are starting to surprise even hardcore car enthusiasts. We also spend some time talking about one of the biggest issues facing enthusiasts today: right to repair. From Matt Armstrong's Bugatti projects to Harley LiveWires, EV chargers, farm equipment, and even household appliances, we're seeing more examples of manufacturers making repairs harder than they need to be.
We also talk road trips as Brian gets ready to head for Yellowstone, the Tetons, and Jackson Hole, why shoulder season might be the best time of year to travel, where we'd go for the ultimate winter road trip, and a few upcoming Avants events around the Pacific Northwest.
Plus: iPhone camera problems on motorcycles, moose spotting strategies, snow in the mountains, and the debut of the unofficial Saint Michael rescue stickers. If you’ve been rescued by Michael (like we have many times) and want a sticker, shoot us a message! We’re happy to meet up and hand a few off.
As always, don't just get there. Enjoy the drive.
The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle!
Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873!
We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!
42 min
September 07 461: Cars Are Tools to Facilitate Adventures
This week started with a simple question: what happens when the next generation doesn't obsess over cars the way we did?

That turned into a surprisingly deep conversation about Ferrari's latest decisions, the exploding collector car market, influencer culture, why Gen Z seems less interested in hypercars, and what that means for the future of automotive enthusiasm.
Then Michael stopped by the shop and accidentally gave us the answer.

Cars aren't the point.

They're tools to facilitate adventures.

Whether it's driving a GT3 RS across the state, camping out of a Gen 1 Raptor, mountain biking with friends, teaching your kids to love the outdoors, exploring national parks, building custom projects with a 3D printer, or just finding another excuse to call your buddies and ask, "Want to go do something stupid this weekend?" the vehicle is only part of the story.

We also get into McLarens, monkey bikes multiplying across the Pacific Northwest, e-bike temptations, overlanding gear, collector cars that never get driven, and why some of us still believe the best thing you can do with a special car is put a lot of miles on it.

Because at the end of the day, the memories aren't in the garage. They're out on the road, on the trail, and somewhere between where you started and where you thought you were going.

So grab a drink, pull up a chair, and join us for a conversation about cars, adventures, and why the journey still matters more than the destination.

Don't just get there. Enjoy the drive.
The Avants Podcast is brought to you by our friends at STEK USA and Carter Seattle!
Not an Avants member? https://www.avants.com/member-plans
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!
Leave us a voicemail or send us a text any time at 425-298-7873!
We're doing give aways! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and we'll pick a random name every 25th review!
51 min

About The Avants Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Join hosts Dan Putnam and Nick Bergeron as they get to know industry leading guests beyond just what they drive. The Avants Podcast is never scripted and never predictable, but it’s always a good time…