Auto Buyers Guide Podcast

In this episode of the Auto Buyer's Guide, the team goes deep on today's most talked-about vehicles and market trends. First up, they put three compact EVs head-to-head — the Rivian R2, BMW iX3, and the new Volvo XC60 long-range — breaking down real-world range, charging strategy, software ecosystems, and which one actually wins for everyday drivers. They also take a close look at the Silverado EV before diving into the Infiniti QX65, Infiniti's would-be Lexus RX fighter, and debating whether its troubled VC turbo engine and missing hybrid option are too little, too late. Then, the conversation shifts to the booming Chinese auto market — from Geely's Guinness-certified hybrid engine to BYD's ultra-efficient systems — exploring why Chinese cars deliver jaw-dropping specs at a fraction of Western prices, and what that means for the global industry.

In this episode: 🚛 Pickup Trucks: How Did We Get Here? — Why trucks went from work vehicles to $80,000 lifestyle statements, how the F-150 grew by nearly 3 feet since 1964, and why CAFE regulations accidentally made trucks bigger.

🔋 EV Lease Buyout Strategy — AJ from San Diego is staring down a $5,000 gap between his lease payoff and market value. We break down his real options, what dealers can (and can't) do, and why the leasing company may send the car to auction anyway.

🚘 Should Mark Ditch His 2016 Tesla Model S? — With 82K miles, $5K already spent on repairs, and the free Supercharging perk on the line, is it time to move on? We crunch the numbers and recommend some underrated alternatives — including Cadillac's surprisingly strong EV lineup.

📋 The Montana LLC Loophole — Explained — How wealthy buyers have been using Montana shell companies to dodge state sales tax and registration fees, why California alone estimates $2 billion in lost revenue since 2022, and why states like Utah, Tennessee, and Texas are now cracking down.

⚡ Why Did Horsepower Plummet in the '70s and '80s? — The real story behind the muscle car era's sudden power collapse: SAE net vs. gross ratings, catalytic converters, early emissions regulations, and why a 426 Hemi went from 425hp to basically dead in a few short years.

This week on Auto Buyer's Guide, we're digging into why nobody's making high horsepower hybrids anymore (blame Toyota's pragmatism and the ghost of the Lexus LS 600h), answering viewer questions on 12-volt battery woes and whether you actually need to flush your brakes, and debating why ventilated leather seats are really just a solution to a problem leather created in the first place. We've also got a look at the incoming tidal wave of 800,000-plus used EVs about to flood the market from lease returns, the dismal IIHS rear-seat safety scores that somehow managed to make every minivan in America look bad, GM's surprise resurrection of the Camaro and a Buick sedan on a platform that was already too small the first time around, Geely's absurd 1,100-kilowatt charging demo that puts everything stateside to shame, the $4,000-5,000 dealer markup you're paying whether you realize it or not, and a Chinese plug-in hybrid three-row with 858 horsepower that costs less than a loaded Camry — which really makes you wonder what exactly we're doing over here.

This week, we’re recording from the back seat of Volvo’s smallest EV while diving into your latest car-buying questions. We break down the reality of buying a budget manual car in today’s market, unpack the growing frustration around subscription-based features in EVs like the Silverado, and take a hard look at whether reliability ratings (especially from sources like Consumer Reports) actually tell the full story. Along the way, we discuss the future of manuals, hybrids vs. turbos, and what’s really going on behind the scenes with automakers navigating EV strategy.

In today's episode, Alex, Travis and Mack Hogan from InsideEVs attempt to diagnose what exactly is wrong with Honda lately. From canceled EVs to joint ventures without a future, sagging Acura sales, and some products going stale, Honda is betting a great deal on their new large car platform, which is still a decent time away.