Car Talk

05/28/2026

Can't you beat them, join them?

05/27/2026

Dear Car Talk:
My 2015 Nissan Versa was due for its first transmission maintenance at 85,000 miles. There were no problems with it. But when I changed the fluid, I found little pieces of metal and a partial piece of what looks like a plastic clamp in there.

I finished the job, closed up everything, and drove the car for a couple of hours. I didn't notice anything wrong. But then I decided not to drive it anymore until I find out if I should plan to replace the transmission. Any advice? -- Erik

Read Ray's response: https://www.cartalk.com/cars-content/dear-cartalk/common-and-uncommon-findings-in-your-transmission-fluid

05/25/2026

The Best of Car Talk, show #2641: How Cheap is Too Cheap?

Michelle and her hubby need a second car, but funds are ‘limited,’ and she wants to know if it’s possible to get a decent one for $170? Listen now: https://www.cartalk.com/radio/our-show

05/23/2026

Folks, do we need to revisit where to drive and where not to drive?

WisDOT urges drivers to never remove or ignore road barriers after a motorist drove into freshly poured concrete.

05/21/2026

This 1993 BMW 5 series was donated through the Car Talk Vehicle Donation Program. We love donor stories like this one: "This was my late father’s beloved car. My whole family are lifelong and avid supporters of NPR, and I have always been a raging Car Talk fan!"

Learn how you too can : https://www.cartalk.com/car-donation/donate/

05/20/2026

ummmm..

Police said the driver wanted to test the Cybertruck’s “Wade Mode” feature before the vehicle became disabled in the lake.

05/19/2026

Close, but not quite there.

05/18/2026

Dear Car Talk:
A snowbird question! We don't want to drive back up to Michigan from Florida later this spring, so we're thinking of leaving our 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid in the garage for six months.

Should we arrange for someone to drive it periodically or can we just leave it? In either case, how full should the gas tank be, and at what level should the electric battery be charged while not actively used? -- Scott

Read Ray's response: https://www.cartalk.com/cars-content/dear-cartalk/snowbird-storage-tips-for-plug-in-hybrids-cats-optional

05/16/2026

Our show #2638: Melissa Strikes Back
Superman has kryptonite. Sherlock Holmes has Professor Moriarty. And Car Talk is cursed with… a little girl from Seattle who says mean stuff to us. Listen now: Our Show https://www.cartalk.com/radio/our-show

05/13/2026

Sold!