Latest / In Wheel Time Podcast / Blame It On The Oil And Other Engine Excuses | Subaru Trailseeker | Wet and not so Wild | Auto History

Transcript

Blame It On The Oil And Other Engine Excuses | Subaru Trailseeker | Wet and not so Wild | Auto History · In Wheel Time Podcast

• 0:04
  Don Armstrong: Um why don't you just go ahead and do it?
• 0:07
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, I'll just go ahead and do it.
• 0:08
  Don Armstrong: Thank you.
• 0:08
  Jeff Dziekan: All right.
• 0:08
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, uh engines on this list were chosen because of ongoing recalls, owner complaints, class action lawsuits, and government investigations over the past 12 months.
• 0:17
  Jeff Dziekan: To narrow it down, these specific choices, uh, popular vehicles from major brands have been subject to large ongoing recalls over the last year.
• 0:26
  Jeff Dziekan: So very, very current.
• 0:27
  Jeff Dziekan: First one on the list is a Honda.
• 0:29
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh it's a 1.5 turbo.
• 0:31
  Jeff Dziekan: Honda generally enjoys a strong reputation for reliability, but there's some Hondas their engine buyers, uh their engine of the engines and the buyers might want to steer clear of.
• 0:41
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh one of these engines is the 1.5 liter turbo.
• 0:44
  Jeff Dziekan: It's a four-cylinder engine.
• 0:46
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh and it's been around for a while and now powers some of Honda's best-selling models, including this uh Civic Accord, the CRV.
• 0:53
  Jeff Dziekan: Unfortunately, the engine's issues have also been known for a while, namely oil dilution and head gasket failures.
• 0:59
  Jeff Dziekan: A blown head gasket is not cheap for a quick repair, while Honda hasn't issued the factory recall for these problems.
• 1:05
  Jeff Dziekan: Ongoing 1.5 liter turbo issues have continued to plague the company, including class action lawsuits.
• 1:13
  Jeff Dziekan: The next one on the books is a Nissan.
• 1:15
  Jeff Dziekan: It's a 1.5-liter uh turbo.
• 1:17
  Jeff Dziekan: It's a VC turbo.
• 1:19
  Jeff Dziekan: Things overall have not been great for Nissan recently, as the Japanese automakers worked to dig its way out of financial turmoil and the at the corporate level.
• 1:28
  Jeff Dziekan: The company's innovative yet often troublesome variable compression engines have been a major culprit behind recalls and owner complaints.
• 1:37
  Jeff Dziekan: The 2026 Nissan 1.5 is a three-cylinder turbo VC motor, has proven especially problematic, with the company recalling over 600,000 rogue SUVs for potentially catastrophic engine problems.
• 1:50
  Jeff Dziekan: If uh fortunate uh the fortunate sums affected by the engine will only need a throttle body replacement, so it's either one or the other.
• 1:57
  Jeff Dziekan: Very, very difficult to do.
• 2:00
  Jeff Dziekan: Here's one that we all know.
• 2:01
  Jeff Dziekan: It's a General Motor 6.2 liter V8.
• 2:04
  Jeff Dziekan: Turns out through the simpler, naturally aspirated American V8 is not without its own problems.
• 2:10
  Jeff Dziekan: Specifically, we're talking about problems with the GM 6.2, which powers popular models like the best-selling Chevroy Silverado, GMC Sierra pickups, as well as the Chevy Tahoe, GMC UConn, and the Cadillac Escalade.
• 2:25
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh well, the SUV's problem in the game Cadillac as well.
• 2:29
  Jeff Dziekan: Problems caused by defective internal components on the 6.2 has thus far led to recall over 700,000 trucks and issues, not to mention ongoing class action.
• 2:38
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, there's a theme there with class action.
• 2:41
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh, GM says a possible solution is to change the recommended oil viscosity.
• 2:45
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, let's just start there.
• 2:47
  Jeff Dziekan: Blame it on the oil.
• 2:48
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, however, questions remain about the effectiveness, and it hasn't really provided the L87 owners with any real peace of mind.
• 2:56
  Jeff Dziekan: And then we got one that we all know and love.
• 2:58
  Jeff Dziekan: It's been around forever, the Jeep two-liter turbo hybrid.
• 3:02
  Jeff Dziekan: This is an X4XE, is what they call it.
• 3:05
  Jeff Dziekan: Oh, four by E.
• 3:06
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, four by E.
• 3:07
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh, now the fastest things can change in the auto industry back in 2021.
• 3:10
  Jeff Dziekan: The new Jeep Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee 4XE models, which use a two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine combined with a plug-in hybrid electric power, were portrayed were portrayed as the future of the Jeep brand, and the 4XE powertrain has also been plagued by mechanical and electrical issues.
• 3:28
  Jeff Dziekan: Surely haven't seen help in this case for sticking around, uh, among other things.
• 3:32
  Jeff Dziekan: The 4XE had already been recalled for potentially battery fired issues, and then there was some uh another recall for possible casting sand uh left inside of the 4XE's two-liter turbo, which over 100,000 vehicles were recalled because of that.
• 3:48
  Jeff Dziekan: If the sand is inside the engine, it could lead not just to total engine failure, but also to a fire risk.
• 3:54
  Jeff Dziekan: And lastly, on the hit parade is a Toyota, who would have thunk it?
• 3:57
  Jeff Dziekan: 3.4 liter twin turbo V6, traditionally one of the uh one bought new Toyota pickup, a reputation for reliability in the big selling components.
• 4:06
  Jeff Dziekan: The 3.4 liter twin turbo v6 engine powers Toyota Tundra pickups, Sequoia uh SUVs, and has suffered significant problems since the debut in 2022.
• 4:17
  Jeff Dziekan: And they continue to put a dent in Toyota's generally excellent reputation.
• 4:21
  Jeff Dziekan: As the 2026 ongoing uh catastrophes of the engine, it's an engine-bearing problems have been promoted.
• 4:28
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh Toyota's recalled over 250,000 trucks, and there's probably no remedy in sight for the near future, but uh they're still not completely immune from the that's their V8.
• 4:39
  Jeff Dziekan: Yep, yep, yep.
• 4:40
  Don Armstrong: Gee whiz.
• 4:41
  Jeff Dziekan: That's it.
• 4:41
  Don Armstrong: Wait a minute, that's the same.
• 4:43
  Don Armstrong: Well, basically the same engine that they race in NASCAR.
• 4:46
  Jeff Dziekan: Um well, yeah, the the 3.4.
• 4:49
  Jeff Dziekan: No, I think it's bigger than that.
• 4:50
  Jeff Dziekan: Is it twin?
• 4:51
  Jeff Dziekan: I don't know.
• 4:52
  Jeff Dziekan: They might.
• 4:53
  Jeff Dziekan: I don't know.
• 4:53
  Jeff Dziekan: I'll have to look into that.
• 4:54
  Jeff Dziekan: But yeah, but the 3.4, that's the V6.
• 4:57
  Don Armstrong: 3.4, yeah, V6.
• 4:58
  Don Armstrong: Oh, that's why I said V8.
• 5:00
  Don Armstrong: You said V okay.
• 5:01
  Don Armstrong: V6.
• 5:02
  Don Armstrong: Never mind.
• 5:03
  Jeff Dziekan: All right.
• 5:03
  Jeff Dziekan: There we go.
• 5:04
  Don Armstrong: Okay, we got that.
• 5:05
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, we got it.
• 5:06
  Don Armstrong: All right, very good.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_01: All right.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_01: Very good.
• 5:14
  Don Armstrong: All right.
• 5:14
  Don Armstrong: Uh, time now for um our water parks driving destinations, Mr.
• 5:19
  Don Armstrong: Mars.
• 5:20
  Mike Marrs: Yeah, we went looking for something for the 4th of July for the family, thought about water parks.
• 5:25
  Mike Marrs: It's hot here.
• 5:26
  Mike Marrs: And of course, you think about Schlitterbaum we mentioned earlier, or even Typhoon, Texas, up in uh Katy.
• 5:32
  Mike Marrs: Really large, a lot of people go there, big, large corporate parks.
• 5:36
  Mike Marrs: However, there's a few others around, like Hurricane Harbor Splashtown.
• 5:40
  Mike Marrs: Now, this is the old splash town.
• 5:42
  Mike Marrs: It is the oldest major water park in the Houston area.
• 5:45
  Mike Marrs: Uh, it's it's known for the variety of the slides, like the multi-lane racing slide.
• 5:51
  Mike Marrs: It's got a giant funnel ride, and there's a lot of wave pools on it, and it's very easy to get to.
• 5:56
  Mike Marrs: It's in the spring up off 45, so it's very popular with families.
• 6:01
  Mike Marrs: The second one that we wanted to look at was Big Rivers Water Park and Adventures.
• 6:06
  Mike Marrs: Now, this is up in New Caney, a little bit further up, but it's more than a water park.
• 6:11
  Mike Marrs: You can do zip lines, you got aerial adventure courses, you got climbing attractions, there's some animal.
• 6:17
  Mike Marrs: They even got some amusement park rides along with the regular traditional water slides and the pools.
• 6:23
  Mike Marrs: It's kind of a hybrid water park and adventure park.
• 6:26
  Mike Marrs: It's a great place to take the family, and you can do a little bit of everything at this one location.
• 6:30
  Mike Marrs: The third one we want to look at is Splashway Water Park.
• 6:34
  Mike Marrs: Now, it's one of the got a reputation as being one of the cleanest and most family-friendly water parks in Texas.
• 6:41
  Mike Marrs: It's located southwest of Houston, and it's kind of a relaxed atmosphere, and it makes it more appealing for the family because it's a little more family comfortable as far as the other.
• 6:50
  Don Armstrong: What you're trying to say, it's a little bit more laid back for old people.
• 6:55
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 6:55
  Don Armstrong: Well, or if you've got young children, it's well that's why I say grandpa, grandma and grandpa could take the young kids there.
• 7:02
  Mike Marrs: There you go.
• 7:02
  Mike Marrs: There you go.
• 7:03
  Mike Marrs: That'll do it.
• 7:04
  Mike Marrs: The uh the fourth one we want to talk about is, and I've never heard of it, Nestler Park Family Aquatic Center.
• 7:11
  Mike Marrs: Now, this is down in Texas City, and it's actually part of the Texas City Parking uh Parks Department.
• 7:17
  Mike Marrs: And uh it's very community-centered atmosphere because it is part of the city parks department.
• 7:22
  Mike Marrs: It's great for parents looking for a day to get out on the water without a lot of expanse and a lot of crowds that you're gonna find at the bigger commercial attractions.
• 7:31
  Mike Marrs: The fifth one, and I like the name of it, and and I've seen signs for it, but it's the Pirates Bay Water Park down in Baytown.
• 7:39
  Mike Marrs: Now it's obviously got a nautical theme, and it's got a lot of uh different things from a water park, including uh a large lazy river.
• 7:48
  Mike Marrs: It's got a wave pool, you've got lots of things you can climb on if you're a climber, and uh water slides of different sizes, and it's all part of a pirate-inspired design to give it a very different uh atmosphere, and it is another city-owned uh park, so it kind of gives it a different atmosphere.
• 8:06
  Mike Marrs: It's not quite so corporate level because it is the city park and it's for many of the Houston families that are close around.
• 8:13
  Mike Marrs: The other one I found interesting was the Strawberry Water Park.
• 8:17
  Mike Marrs: Now, this is in Pasadena.
• 8:20
  Mike Marrs: Uh it's smaller and it's much more of a neighborhood feel, so families can see the children.
• 8:25
  Mike Marrs: It's not really so big.
• 8:26
  Mike Marrs: They can get lost uh, you know, 100 yards away in some river that's going someplace.
• 8:31
  Mike Marrs: And so for a lot of the Southeast Houston residents, it's a quick, easy way to get to a water park without going all the way across town.
• 8:38
  Mike Marrs: The last one I found was Noah's Ark Park down in it's in Houston on West Center Drive.
• 8:46
  Mike Marrs: Now it's kind of it's really unique because it combines a neighborhood water park atmosphere with a biblical arc theme.
• 8:53
  Mike Marrs: So instead of being focused on extreme thrills, it's really emphasizes family fun with the swimming and lazy rivers, that kind of thing.
• 9:01
  Mike Marrs: And and it's not every water attraction needs to have all the big towers.
• 9:06
  Mike Marrs: There's plenty of those.
• 9:07
  Don Armstrong: Will you be able to walk on water when you get done there?
• 9:10
  Mike Marrs: Sorry?
• 9:11
  Mike Marrs: Will you be able to walk on water when you get done there?
• 9:13
  Mike Marrs: Well, I'm not sure, but it might be part of one of the attractions they might want to add.
• 9:18
  Mike Marrs: Sorry, I just had to go there.
• 9:20
  Mike Marrs: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 9:21
  Mike Marrs: No, it's that's uh, but that's some of the things you could do if you don't want to go to a water park that's got all the big uh commercial corporate water parks.
• 9:30
  Mike Marrs: It's got massive crowds to them.
• 9:31
  Mike Marrs: These will get you into a little bit different atmosphere.
• 9:34
  Don Armstrong: All right, time now for time now for this hour's car review.
• 9:43
  Don Armstrong: I had the opportunity to drive the all-new 2026 Subaru Trail Seeker.
• 9:49
  Don Armstrong: You're going, what?
• 9:51
  Don Armstrong: It's all brand new.
• 9:53
  Don Armstrong: It's built in Japan, and it comes in these three trim levels premium, limited, and touring.
• 10:02
  Don Armstrong: I had the premium entry level, all-wheel drive.
• 10:06
  Don Armstrong: This is a mid-size electric vehicle.
• 10:11
  Don Armstrong: Two rows of seating for five passengers, including the driver.
• 10:14
  Don Armstrong: Exterior changes, obviously, it's all new for 2026.
• 10:18
  Don Armstrong: Body shape is great.
• 10:20
  Don Armstrong: Bulging fenders give it an off-road look.
• 10:23
  Don Armstrong: Black plastic wheel openings edge into the add to the boldness, but they also edge into the front bumper.
• 10:33
  Don Armstrong: I'm not really too keen on that, but it's one of those things that some people just, oh, that makes no difference to me.
• 10:40
  Don Armstrong: Or other people will say, oh, it's not too bad.
• 10:43
  Don Armstrong: It doesn't appeal to me, but whatever.
• 10:46
  Don Armstrong: Uh, rear lighting runs across the complete hatch into the rear fenders, which is kind of cool.
• 10:52
  Don Armstrong: Uh, it does have a taller stance than a regular Subaru, and it is noticeable.
• 10:56
  Don Armstrong: What I liked about it, the overall design is spot on.
• 11:00
  Don Armstrong: Again, what could use improvement?
• 11:02
  Don Armstrong: Front wheel opening, black plastic incorporated now into part of the front fascia.
• 11:08
  Don Armstrong: It to me overwhelms the side view of it, if I'm going to be picky.
• 11:13
  Don Armstrong: And I am.
• 11:15
  Don Armstrong: Interior highlights, two screens.
• 11:18
  Don Armstrong: One for instruments is too far from the driver, in my opinion, and too small.
• 11:23
  Don Armstrong: Needs to be bigger.
• 11:24
  Don Armstrong: Infotainment screen is big and um it works well with the tech borrowed from Toyota, of all things.
• 11:33
  Don Armstrong: Uh, dual phone chargers next to each other, up underneath the dash in the center console.
• 11:39
  Don Armstrong: Now, let me just say this about that.
• 11:41
  Don Armstrong: If you have to have two of them charging at the same time, couldn't you put one on a plug and save the space for something else?
• 11:50
  Don Armstrong: One lay down phone charger is one, whatever the case may be.
• 11:56
  Don Armstrong: Seating is comfortable.
• 11:58
  Don Armstrong: Uh, the second row leg room can be a little tight, but it's not that big of a deal because what it does, it leads to a huge cargo area, up to 74 cubic feet back there when you put the second seat down.
• 12:11
  Don Armstrong: What I liked about it, it has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
• 12:15
  Don Armstrong: It is integrated into the system, unlike some other car makers that said, nah, we're not going to put that in there anymore.
• 12:22
  Don Armstrong: Or another car maker that says, who needs AM radio?
• 12:26
  Don Armstrong: Uh-oh.
• 12:27
  Don Armstrong: Boo.
• 12:28
  Don Armstrong: What could use improvement?
• 12:30
  Don Armstrong: Few knobs and or switches instead of screen controls would be nice for the master, the major components in it.
• 12:39
  Don Armstrong: HBAC, radio, those sorts of things.
• 12:43
  Don Armstrong: Now, this is a two-motor, 375 horsepower, all electric, with a range of 281 miles.
• 12:52
  Don Armstrong: That doesn't seem like a lot, and it really isn't in comparison to some of the other vehicles out there.
• 12:58
  Don Armstrong: But, you know, when you buy one of these, you're going to buy it for its purpose.
• 13:03
  Don Armstrong: You like the way it looks, you like the all-wheel drive, you like the electric part of it, and you'll deal with the 281 miles of range that it gives you.
• 13:13
  Don Armstrong: Toes up to 3,500 pounds.
• 13:16
  Don Armstrong: Uh miles per gallon.
• 13:18
  Don Armstrong: Well, there's none of that, but my 40-mile commute to work used 12% of its full charge, if that gives you an idea.
• 13:26
  Jeff Dziekan: I mean, is that good?
• 13:27
  Don Armstrong: Um average?
• 13:29
  Don Armstrong: 12%.
• 13:29
  Don Armstrong: Well, the batteries aren't that big.
• 13:31
  Don Armstrong: So um it is what it is.
• 13:33
  Don Armstrong: But I think your purpose-driven is good too.
• 13:36
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 13:36
  Don Armstrong: And the fact that, you know, if you do it the right way, you get to work, you plug it in, it's full at the end of the day when you're ready to come home.
• 13:44
  Don Armstrong: Same thing when you get home, you plug it in.
• 13:46
  Don Armstrong: There's a lot of plugging.
• 13:48
  Don Armstrong: And um, if you're into that sort of thing and it doesn't bother you, good for you.
• 13:52
  Don Armstrong: What I liked about it, the power, plenty of it.
• 13:55
  Don Armstrong: Um, what could use improvement?
• 13:57
  Don Armstrong: How about a hybrid option?
• 14:00
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, just a plug in, yeah.
• 14:02
  Don Armstrong: Is there such a thing?
• 14:03
  Don Armstrong: I don't know.
• 14:03
  Don Armstrong: Can you take an all-electric vehicle and make it a gasoline hybrid?
• 14:08
  Don Armstrong: I don't know.
• 14:10
  Don Armstrong: But I like the body style, I like the way it looks, I like it overall.
• 14:13
  Don Armstrong: Riding handling, ride is excellent.
• 14:15
  Don Armstrong: What could use improvement?
• 14:17
  Don Armstrong: Uh, didn't take it off-road, but expect uh there are some limitations to it, but who's to say?
• 14:24
  Don Armstrong: I mean, I'm not an off-road expert, so don't ask me.
• 14:27
  unknown: Okay.
• 14:28
  Don Armstrong: Uh, base trim price on this,$41,445.
• 14:31
  Don Armstrong: Price is tested$41,840.
• 14:33
  Don Armstrong: Base model price,$39,995.
• 14:36
  Don Armstrong: Competitors, the Hyundai Ionic 5 um is$35,000.
• 14:42
  unknown: Okay.
• 14:42
  Don Armstrong: Tesla Model Y,$39,900.
• 14:46
  Don Armstrong: And Mustang Mach E.
• 14:48
  Don Armstrong: I was kind of surprised at this.
• 14:50
  Don Armstrong: $37,795 is the entry level.
• 14:52
  Jeff Dziekan: It's right in the middle there.
• 14:53
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 14:53
  Jeff Dziekan: But you know what you get with the Tesla.
• 14:55
  Jeff Dziekan: You don't really know you know future with this one.
• 14:57
  Don Armstrong: You know, I don't know anybody that owns a Mustang Mach-E.
• 15:00
  Jeff Dziekan: I think that they had these.
• 15:02
  Jeff Dziekan: Do you?
• 15:02
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah.
• 15:02
  Jeff Dziekan: Buddy Todd Sheldon up in Colorado.
• 15:04
  Jeff Dziekan: He's at least got one.
• 15:05
  Jeff Dziekan: Does he like it?
• 15:05
  Jeff Dziekan: I believe so, sure.
• 15:07
  Jeff Dziekan: I'm sure he does.
• 15:08
  Jeff Dziekan: He's a Ford guy.
• 15:08
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, he has to.
• 15:10
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, he doesn't have to, but yeah, I know I hear what you're you know what I like about that car, that review in those pictures.
• 15:15
  Jeff Dziekan: I love that steering wheel.
• 15:17
  Jeff Dziekan: That steering wheel in a car is cool.
• 15:19
  Jeff Dziekan: That kind of squared off.
• 15:20
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, flat top, flat bottom.
• 15:22
  Jeff Dziekan: That seems to be the the trend these days.
• 15:24
  Jeff Dziekan: I was just thinking, what you're doing, how do I get one of those?
• 15:27
  Don Armstrong: Hey, we could retrofit it in your Bureck.
• 15:30
  Don Armstrong: I can do it.
• 15:30
  Don Armstrong: I know you can.
• 15:32
  Don Armstrong: I can do it.
• 15:32
  Don Armstrong: Let's see, a crowbar and a hammer.
• 15:34
  Don Armstrong: It's all we need.
• 15:35
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, you just need a couple of pipes and maybe a wrench, something like that.
• 15:38
  Don Armstrong: Uh coming up.
• 15:44
  Mike Marrs: All right.
• 15:44
  Don Armstrong: Uh time now for this week in auto history, Mr.
• 15:47
  Don Armstrong: Mars.
• 15:47
  Don Armstrong: Let her rip.
• 15:48
  Don Armstrong: Uh-oh.
• 15:49
  Don Armstrong: Yes, sir.
• 15:49
  Mike Marrs: We've got a few things that we're going to run through right quick here on uh related to this holiday week that's coming up.
• 15:56
  Mike Marrs: And on in 1894, inventor Elwood Haynes successfully tested his gasoline-powered vehicle up in Indiana.
• 16:04
  Don Armstrong: Elwood, part of the Blues brothers.
• 16:06
  Mike Marrs: Yeah.
• 16:07
  Mike Marrs: This is the problem.
• 16:08
  Mike Marrs: This is why he went to jail.
• 16:10
  Mike Marrs: So the uh Haynes Appleson, who was a guy that helped you with it, became one of the earliest successful American-built gasoline cars.
• 16:17
  Mike Marrs: In fact, because of history back the way records were kept back in the late 1800s, there's a lot of people think this may actually be the first uh true automobile in America.
• 16:29
  Mike Marrs: But there was a lot of them coming out, so they're still up to debate.
• 16:31
  Mike Marrs: But he was one of the earliest for sure.
• 16:33
  Jeff Dziekan: See, it's the earliest donk, that's for sure.
• 16:36
  Mike Marrs: Yes, it is.
• 16:38
  Mike Marrs: Then um in 1908, the great New York to Paris race.
• 16:42
  Mike Marrs: Now, I thought this was interesting because it literally goes from New York to Paris.
• 16:47
  Mike Marrs: I mean, you had to go across the country, you had to go across the oceans.
• 16:50
  Don Armstrong: There we go, walking on water again.
• 16:52
  Mike Marrs: Yeah, yeah.
• 16:53
  Mike Marrs: So it's 22,000 miles across three continents.
• 16:57
  Mike Marrs: Uh and this again was back in 1908.
• 16:59
  Mike Marrs: And the Thomas Flyer was declared the winner after uh going over some of the harshest roads uh imaginable.
• 17:06
  Mike Marrs: And of course, this was a worldwide got the worldwide attention from this because it did go halfway around the world.
• 17:11
  Don Armstrong: How did they ford the ocean?
• 17:14
  Mike Marrs: Put them on boats.
• 17:15
  Mike Marrs: Put them on ships.
• 17:16
  Mike Marrs: Literally.
• 17:17
  Mike Marrs: They had big balloon tires on them, and they kind of paddled paddle tires across there.
• 17:21
  Mike Marrs: But anyway, so also in 1914, Mercedes dominated the French Grand Prix.
• 17:28
  Mike Marrs: Now, it was a clean sweep by it because and they really wanted Mercedes went into it to show their advanced engineering, including four-wheel brakes, not just two wheels, but four-wheel brakes.
• 17:39
  Mike Marrs: Had some aerodynamic design that you can see in these pictures here, and uh their the reliability that they were building into it.
• 17:46
  Mike Marrs: So it demonstrated how racing could accelerate technology because a lot of other companies took the technology they found at this race and incorporated it into other uh aspects of their vehicles.
• 17:57
  Mike Marrs: Then in 1966, Irv Gordon purchased his legendary Volvo.
• 18:04
  Mike Marrs: Now, you may not know about old Irv, but he bought a brand new Volvo P1800 in 1966.
• 18:12
  Mike Marrs: Now, it was just a plane car, obviously, uh, but he put three million miles on that car, got a Guinness World Book of Record on it, and uh that's now in uh the museum, a Volvo Museum, and that is the vehicle with three million miles on it by one person driving one car.
• 18:34
  Mike Marrs: He got his use out of that one.
• 18:36
  Don Armstrong: I saw the story on that.
• 18:37
  Don Armstrong: That was good.
• 18:38
  Mike Marrs: Then in 1979, let's see if you know this one.
• 18:41
  Mike Marrs: The first Auto Shack store opened in Forest City, Arkansas.
• 18:46
  Mike Marrs: Very modest at the time, but that that was the beginning of auto zones.
• 18:50
  Mike Marrs: And I had no idea.
• 18:51
  Mike Marrs: I just thought auto zone was always auto zone.
• 18:53
  Mike Marrs: I did too.
• 18:54
  Mike Marrs: But uh it was truly an auto shack, I guess, comparable to uh Radio Shack or whatever it was at the time.
• 18:59
  Mike Marrs: Yeah, and of course it became a big national chain of vehicles.
• 19:03
  Mike Marrs: That was just a few of the things we found interesting in auto history this week.
• 19:08
  Don Armstrong: Perfect, very interesting.