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Is The Synthetic Oil Shortage Here? · In Wheel Time Podcast

• 0:07
  Don Armstrong: From the Dual City Studios in Texas, USA, it's the award-winning in-wheel time car talk show.
• 0:14
  Don Armstrong: Just ahead.
• 0:15
  Don Armstrong: It's the popular what the auction car went for.
• 0:19
  Don Armstrong: You guessed the actual price.
• 0:21
  Don Armstrong: Jeff will have the cruise in and events calendars.
• 0:23
  Don Armstrong: I'll bring you more stories making automotive news headlines.
• 0:26
  Don Armstrong: Howdy, along with Mike out of this world, Mars.
• 0:29
  Don Armstrong: We always need more Jeff Zeken.
• 0:32
  Don Armstrong: David Ainsley, our chief engineer and bottle washer.
• 0:36
  Don Armstrong: He's on the line with us today.
• 0:37
  Don Armstrong: Don't forget Larry.
• 0:38
  Don Armstrong: And Larry the Cat.
• 0:39
  Don Armstrong: Larry the Cat.
• 0:40
  Don Armstrong: I'm Don Armstrong.
• 0:41
  Don Armstrong: Glad you could join us today.
• 0:43
  Don Armstrong: And I wanted to start off with our story of the week.
• 0:46
  Don Armstrong: Try not to do that, but I think it's important and I want to get it in.
• 0:50
  Don Armstrong: Get this.
• 0:50
  Don Armstrong: This is uh from automotive news right out of the box this morning.
• 0:54
  Don Armstrong: Right out of the box.
• 0:54
  Don Armstrong: Automakers are rationing synthetic motor oil, and dealerships and distributors are stockpiling as the Iran war diminishes supply of the specialized lubricant that most vehicles need to meet strict manufacturer specifications and protect against engine wear.
• 1:12
  Don Armstrong: The ongoing war with Iran has choked off reserves from the Middle East, which accounts for nearly half of the country's imported group three base oils.
• 1:23
  Don Armstrong: That's important to remember.
• 1:24
  Don Armstrong: The main ingredient used to make synthetic oil and other lubricants, such as transmission fluid.
• 1:30
  Don Armstrong: The Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association expects the U.S.
• 1:34
  Don Armstrong: to run out of group three base oils from the Gulf region by June.
• 1:40
  Don Armstrong: That's week after next.
• 1:43
  Don Armstrong: Okay?
• 1:44
  Don Armstrong: Motor oil shortage will likely last until at least mid-2027, which could imperil new vehicle production, the association said.
• 1:55
  Don Armstrong: Without synthetic motor oil and transmission fluid, automakers wouldn't be able to drive new vehicles off assembly lines, according to Arnold Garcita Gasita, CEO of Petra Automotive Products in Cypress Tech.
• 2:10
  Don Armstrong: It's his fault.
• 2:11
  Don Armstrong: Which supplies dealerships with oils and lubricants, among other products.
• 2:15
  Don Armstrong: He says it's almost like the chip shortage back during COVID.
• 2:19
  Don Armstrong: So you can make the car, but we're going to sit it there because we've got no transmission fluid to put in it.
• 2:27
  Don Armstrong: Think about this for a minute.
• 2:28
  Don Armstrong: The American Petroleum Institute has asked all automakers to provide enforcement flexibility on proprietary oil specs such as GM Dexos Motor Oil Certification.
• 2:40
  Don Armstrong: The Institute activated an emergency provisional licensing agreement March 25th to allow engine oil marketers to substitute base oils for unavailable components while continuing to use its engine oil quality mark.
• 2:56
  Don Armstrong: Nissan and Toyota also sent bulletins to dealers with details on allocating oil supply and instructions for using alternatives.
• 3:04
  Don Armstrong: Nissan, rationing supplies of two popular synthetic motor oils to dealerships because of the supply disruptions while keeping prices unchanged.
• 3:13
  Don Armstrong: The shortages affect 530, which my Corvette is, and zero W20 synthetic engine oils, which are formulated to Nissan specifications.
• 3:24
  Don Armstrong: Under a new allocation system beginning May 21st, which was two days ago, stores will receive 70% of their previous year's volume for 530 and 55% for 020, Nissan said.
• 3:37
  Don Armstrong: So you know what that means?
• 3:39
  Don Armstrong: You know what I'm doing this week?
• 3:40
  Don Armstrong: Changing your oil.
• 3:42
  Don Armstrong: Going right down there to Walmart and buying me some Mobile One 530 synthetic and putting it in the garage.
• 3:49
  Don Armstrong: So when it comes time to change the oil, I've got it.
• 3:52
  Jeff Dziekan: Now generally when I was with uh supply company, the Mobile One synthetic was about five, six dollars a gallon.
• 3:58
  Jeff Dziekan: So don't be surprised if it's like ten or eleven.
• 4:00
  Jeff Dziekan: Oh, it's more than that.
• 4:01
  Jeff Dziekan: Is it now?
• 4:02
  Jeff Dziekan: Oh yeah.
• 4:02
  Jeff Dziekan: Okay, because I haven't bought synthetic oil in a while.
• 4:03
  Don Armstrong: And the car takes six quarts.
• 4:05
  Jeff Dziekan: Yep.
• 4:06
  Jeff Dziekan: Yep.
• 4:06
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, which is bizarre to me.
• 4:08
  Jeff Dziekan: So you're in a basically you're in a under a hundred bucks, you're gonna get just just the oil itself.
• 4:13
  Don Armstrong: And I bring you know, I bring my oil.
• 4:15
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, I used to do that too.
• 4:17
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 4:17
  Don Armstrong: Because they don't they don't have it, huh?
• 4:19
  Don Armstrong: Do you bring it by the gallon or you I buy it by the gallon jug and then I add a couple of quarts.
• 4:25
  Mike Marrs: Okay.
• 4:26
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, because you probably buy it by the gallon as a and get less of a price, a little bit of a little discount, yeah.
• 4:32
  Jeff Dziekan: Exactly.
• 4:33
  Don Armstrong: I got some recalls to tell you about.
• 4:36
  Don Armstrong: It's a do-not drive, it's a do-not drive notification.
• 4:40
  Jeff Dziekan: I think I heard this.
• 4:41
  Jeff Dziekan: Go ahead.
• 4:41
  Don Armstrong: Uh front and rear wheels may lock up on all of the Cadillacs.
• 4:46
  Don Armstrong: What?
• 4:46
  Don Armstrong: Yes, Escalade, the Escalade ESV, uh Chevy Silverado, Suburban, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Sierra 1500, UCorn, and UCorn XL.
• 5:00
  Don Armstrong: Don't drive it.
• 5:01
  Don Armstrong: Wow.
• 5:02
  Don Armstrong: That's big.
• 5:03
  Jeff Dziekan: The UConn, UCorn UConn.
• 5:05
  Don Armstrong: Uh, power transfer unit may fail and cause a loss of drive power in the Jeep Cherokee 2019 to 2023.
• 5:12
  Don Armstrong: And wheelchair restraint retractor may not lock in the Chrysler Pacifica 2023 to 2026.
• 5:19
  Don Armstrong: Grandpa! Oh, he's out in front of the car now.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_03: He passed us.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_03: He passed us in the wheelchair.
• 5:26
  Don Armstrong: That's not funny.
• 5:27
  Don Armstrong: It's not, and it is.
• 5:29
  Don Armstrong: That's a cartoon waiting to happen.
• 5:31
  Don Armstrong: It's gotta be.
• 5:32
  Don Armstrong: Okay, so you're ready?
• 5:34
  Don Armstrong: Grandpa's got goggles and a helmet on.
• 5:37
  Don Armstrong: Pow, right out the front window.
• 5:39
  Don Armstrong: Okay, so here we go.
• 5:42
  Don Armstrong: It's time now for Hemings Sold Car Roundup.
• 5:46
  Don Armstrong: So I'll give you the car, I'll give you the year model.
• 5:50
  Don Armstrong: There you go.
• 5:50
  Don Armstrong: And you guess what it's sold for.
• 5:53
  Don Armstrong: The first one up is this one, right?
• 5:57
  Don Armstrong: Here.
• 6:00
  Don Armstrong: Yep.
• 6:01
  Don Armstrong: Getting right to it.
• 6:02
  Don Armstrong: It's coming.
• 6:04
  Jeff Dziekan: Back it up.
• 6:05
  Don Armstrong: I think that's it.
• 6:06
  Don Armstrong: Yep.
• 6:07
  Don Armstrong: A 1965 Chevrolet Corvette.
• 6:12
  Don Armstrong: Now, I don't think that those are C2?
• 6:18
  Don Armstrong: Yes, it's a C2.
• 6:19
  Don Armstrong: But I don't think guys.
• 6:26
  Mike Marrs: The presentation.
• 6:27
  Mike Marrs: We're seeing it, but nobody on the other end is seeing it.
• 6:31
  Don Armstrong: Okay, well, I'm just telling you about it.
• 6:32
  Don Armstrong: If you can see it good, if you can't.
• 6:35
  Don Armstrong: So it's a 65, it's black, and it's got uh it looks like wheel covers on it with white wall tires.
• 6:41
  Don Armstrong: It's got side pipes on it, but I don't think those are factory side pipes.
• 6:45
  Don Armstrong: Anyway, it's a 65 Corvette, black, beautiful.
• 6:49
  Don Armstrong: It looks like a resto mod.
• 6:50
  Don Armstrong: We're gonna call it that anyway.
• 6:52
  Don Armstrong: How much do you think that that car sold?
• 6:53
  Jeff Dziekan: I'm gonna go 125.
• 6:56
  Don Armstrong: 125.
• 6:58
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 6:58
  Don Armstrong: Okay.
• 6:59
  Don Armstrong: Do we have anybody else?
• 7:00
  Don Armstrong: Of course, if you can't see it, apologize.
• 7:02
  Mike Marrs: Yeah, they can't see it.
• 7:04
  Mike Marrs: I'm sorry.
• 7:04
  Don Armstrong: What is the problem, Mike?
• 7:06
  Mike Marrs: I'm I'm trying to find out why uh they can't see it, but we can.
• 7:10
  Mike Marrs: So all right.
• 7:11
  Don Armstrong: Well, anyway, so we're gonna guess what it is.
• 7:13
  Don Armstrong: Uh Jeff, would you let you said 125?
• 7:16
  Don Armstrong: Well, okay, nobody else is joining in because they can't see the dang thing.
• 7:19
  Don Armstrong: Uh so it's uh sold for$68,250.
• 7:24
  Don Armstrong: Okay.
• 7:24
  Don Armstrong: Would I pay that kind of money for that card?
• 7:26
  Don Armstrong: Absolutely not.
• 7:27
  Don Armstrong: I wouldn't pay the$65 for it either.
• 7:29
  Don Armstrong: Um next up was the 2012 Ford Mustang.
• 7:34
  Don Armstrong: Now this is yellow, and it looks like it's a boss.
• 7:37
  Don Armstrong: Doesn't it look like it's a boss?
• 7:39
  Don Armstrong: It's a boss 302.
• 7:40
  Don Armstrong: Um it's uh yellow with black markings on the hood and the side, and it's also got black wheels, which were not stock.
• 7:48
  Don Armstrong: So this also is a resto mod.
• 7:50
  Don Armstrong: 2012 Ford Mustang, Boss 302.
• 7:53
  Jeff Dziekan: How much do you think that that's I'm gonna go I'm gonna go 70.
• 7:57
  Jeff Dziekan: 70?
• 7:58
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, it's uh it's I feel 70.
• 8:01
  Jeff Dziekan: I feel 72, but 70 is good.
• 8:03
  Don Armstrong: Huh.
• 8:03
  Don Armstrong: Well, it sold for 38,850, which is still a little bit too much for me.
• 8:09
  Don Armstrong: I mean, I've got a I've got a almost brand new looking 2001 Corvette with a six-speed manual, black on black, sitting out in the garage.
• 8:18
  Don Armstrong: You didn't sell for that or wouldn't sell for that.
• 8:20
  Don Armstrong: I didn't pay that kind of money for it.
• 8:23
  Don Armstrong: Just saying.
• 8:24
  Don Armstrong: Forgive me.
• 8:25
  Jeff Dziekan: And I wouldn't give you 72 for it either.
• 8:27
  Don Armstrong: Good.
• 8:28
  Don Armstrong: Next up, the 1971 Ford Torino.
• 8:33
  Don Armstrong: Now, this is very similar.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_03: I like that.
• 8:35
  Don Armstrong: This is very similar to the Torino that was in the movie Torino, if you remember correctly.
• 8:40
  Don Armstrong: This is convertible.
• 8:41
  Don Armstrong: Uh, this is a 71 Ford Torino.
• 8:44
  Don Armstrong: Um great body style, but you know what?
• 8:47
  Don Armstrong: You you turn it into a convertible and now you've lost the body style.
• 8:50
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, you've got a mint green car and it's looks like saddle interior.
• 8:54
  Jeff Dziekan: Um, I like it.
• 8:55
  Jeff Dziekan: I'm I'm gonna say 25.
• 8:58
  Don Armstrong: Really?
• 8:58
  Jeff Dziekan: 25 to 27.
• 9:00
  Don Armstrong: Holy Toledo.
• 9:01
  Don Armstrong: Well, it sold for$7,900.
• 9:04
  Jeff Dziekan: $7,900.
• 9:05
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, shame on me.
• 9:08
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, exactly.
• 9:09
  Jeff Dziekan: All right.
• 9:10
  Jeff Dziekan: I would have bought it for$7,900.
• 9:12
  Jeff Dziekan: You ready?
• 9:12
  Jeff Dziekan: Ready for this?
• 9:13
  Don Armstrong: Next up is the$63 Ford Thunderbird.
• 9:17
  Jeff Dziekan: Okay.
• 9:19
  Don Armstrong: Um, this is a convertible and a red car with a beige convertible top, it just doesn't cut it for me.
• 9:25
  Don Armstrong: I gotta back it up, Mike.
• 9:27
  Mike Marrs: Sorry.
• 9:28
  Don Armstrong: Well, nobody can see it, but except you.
• 9:31
  Don Armstrong: Uh, this is a 63 Ford Thunderbird.
• 9:35
  Don Armstrong: And uh this is the the two-door, this is the fancy one.
• 9:39
  Don Armstrong: This is kind of the end of the Thunderbird era, in my in my opinion.
• 9:44
  Jeff Dziekan: Based on all my outrageous pricing before and that Torino, I'm gonna go.
• 9:49
  Jeff Dziekan: This this went for 11 grand.
• 9:52
  Mike Marrs: Well, just just to help you out there, Jeff, this is a 390 with three deuces on it.
• 9:59
  Jeff Dziekan: Okay.
• 10:00
  Mike Marrs: It's one, it's number three or number four out of 37 that were built.
• 10:05
  Jeff Dziekan: All right, so let's go 25.
• 10:09
  Jeff Dziekan: He doesn't like Fords, apparently.
• 10:11
  Jeff Dziekan: No, I like the Ford.
• 10:12
  Jeff Dziekan: I just would I just think it it looks kind of tattered to me.
• 10:15
  Don Armstrong: Well, you can't put a beige top on a red car.
• 10:20
  Don Armstrong: That does not work.
• 10:21
  Jeff Dziekan: It's white.
• 10:21
  Jeff Dziekan: That looks like white.
• 10:22
  Don Armstrong: I think it is white.
• 10:24
  Don Armstrong: I I don't know, but it doesn't make any difference.
• 10:26
  Don Armstrong: That car needs a black top on it or a red one.
• 10:30
  Don Armstrong: But not a beige or white.
• 10:32
  Don Armstrong: No.
• 10:33
  Don Armstrong: Anyway, 70,455.
• 10:36
  Jeff Dziekan: Okay.
• 10:36
  Don Armstrong: 70,455.
• 10:38
  Don Armstrong: Okay.
• 10:39
  Don Armstrong: Now, here's another one that kind of surprised me.
• 10:42
  Don Armstrong: This is a 1996 Ford F-150.
• 10:48
  Don Armstrong: Um, and it's white.
• 10:50
  Don Armstrong: It's white with a sing single cab.
• 10:52
  Don Armstrong: That's all the I guess that's all they made back then, but whatever.
• 10:56
  Don Armstrong: 96 Ford F-150.
• 10:58
  Don Armstrong: It's all white.
• 11:00
  Don Armstrong: It's uh it's if you want to call it a resto mod, it's got custom wheels on it or aftermarket wheels on it.
• 11:05
  Don Armstrong: 10 grand.
• 11:07
  Don Armstrong: 10 grand.
• 11:08
  Don Armstrong: Really?
• 11:10
  Don Armstrong: As hot as pickup trucks are these days.
• 11:13
  Jeff Dziekan: 96.
• 11:13
  Jeff Dziekan: It's I'm thinking that year wasn't the best year for them, but I'll I'll I'll keep my price.
• 11:19
  Don Armstrong: Okay.
• 11:20
  Don Armstrong: It sold for 27.
• 11:22
  Don Armstrong: 825.
• 11:26
  Don Armstrong: There's that.
• 11:27
  Don Armstrong: All right.
• 11:28
  Don Armstrong: Next up, a 1950 Studebaker land cruiser.
• 11:36
  Don Armstrong: Oh man.
• 11:37
  Don Armstrong: I had no clue that they called this thing a land cruiser.
• 11:39
  Don Armstrong: It's got the suicide door in the back.
• 11:41
  Don Armstrong: And and it's also got that ugly bullet thing in the middle.
• 11:45
  Don Armstrong: I kind of like that.
• 11:47
  Don Armstrong: You do?
• 11:47
  Don Armstrong: I do.
• 11:47
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, I could see you.
• 11:48
  Jeff Dziekan: And the door, the reason the door opened like that is for the ladies getting in the back with their dresses.
• 11:53
  Jeff Dziekan: That's one of the design features of that.
• 11:55
  Jeff Dziekan: Really?
• 11:56
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah.
• 11:58
  Jeff Dziekan: Without ruffling your your dress.
• 12:01
  Jeff Dziekan: I'm gonna go I'm gonna go 25.
• 12:03
  Jeff Dziekan: I I have no idea on this one.
• 12:05
  Don Armstrong: Well, it went for 21.
• 12:06
  Don Armstrong: Okay.
• 12:07
  Don Armstrong: So you're pretty close.
• 12:08
  unknown: Yeah.
• 12:08
  unknown: Yeah.
• 12:09
  Don Armstrong: It looks beautiful.
• 12:10
  Don Armstrong: Looks like it's all original, except I'm sure it's been repainted.
• 12:13
  Jeff Dziekan: I'm sure.
• 12:14
  Jeff Dziekan: Looks like it's been well kept.
• 12:15
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 12:16
  Don Armstrong: Would you let the dog in, please?
• 12:18
  Don Armstrong: Because she's driving me insane.
• 12:19
  Don Armstrong: Gotcha.
• 12:19
  Don Armstrong: Thank you.
• 12:20
  Don Armstrong: Sorry.
• 12:21
  Don Armstrong: Okay, next up.
• 12:22
  Don Armstrong: Uh Mr.
• 12:23
  Don Armstrong: Mars, you're gonna have to make the change there.
• 12:25
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 12:25
  Don Armstrong: If you don't mind.
• 12:27
  Don Armstrong: This is the 1999 Mercedes-Benz 500 SL.
• 12:31
  Don Armstrong: Now, you know, I I don't know about you, but Jeff says he'd give us a dollar for it.
• 12:41
  Don Armstrong: And he's close.
• 12:42
  Don Armstrong: You know, I I I understand back in the day when this was a thing, I really was not a huge fan.
• 12:49
  Don Armstrong: I don't know why.
• 12:50
  Don Armstrong: I mean, it's a good looking car, it's a convertible, it's a two-door, it's sporty looking, and this is 1999 now.
• 12:57
  Don Armstrong: 500 SL.
• 12:59
  Don Armstrong: So it had a V8 engine in it, all that.
• 13:01
  Don Armstrong: What do you think it went for?
• 13:05
  Don Armstrong: Would you like to guess what that went for?
• 13:07
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah, I'm gonna say that went for 21.
• 13:10
  Don Armstrong: 21?
• 13:12
  Don Armstrong: Well, it didn't.
• 13:14
  Don Armstrong: It went for$13,650, along with all of the car repair notes that you're gonna have with that thing.
• 13:23
  Don Armstrong: Finally, in our roundup today, is the 2019 Volkswagen Beetle.
• 13:31
  Don Armstrong: Do we have we have that up there?
• 13:33
  Jeff Dziekan: I don't I don't have the uh I got a mic.
• 13:36
  Jeff Dziekan: I'll put it there.
• 13:37
  Jeff Dziekan: You go.
• 13:37
  Don Armstrong: There it is.
• 13:39
  Don Armstrong: So 2019 VW Beetle.
• 13:41
  Don Armstrong: That was a good looking bug.
• 13:42
  Don Armstrong: I'll tell you what, we when this thing first came out, you know, this is the the last of the Beetle bodies.
• 13:51
  Don Armstrong: Um, I got a chance to drive it.
• 13:52
  Don Armstrong: And of course, this is a front engine, it's not a rear engine.
• 13:57
  Don Armstrong: Um, it still had a lack of horsepower, but it was it was way too dignified from the original Beetle shape.
• 14:07
  Jeff Dziekan: You said this is a 19?
• 14:08
  Don Armstrong: A 19.
• 14:09
  Jeff Dziekan: And that's the year they brought it back.
• 14:11
  Don Armstrong: No, they brought it back back in I don't know, 2,000 or something.
• 14:14
  Mike Marrs: Yeah, this is the front engine version.
• 14:16
  Mike Marrs: Okay.
• 14:16
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, yeah, and it's just I'm gonna go 15,000.
• 14:21
  Don Armstrong: Really?
• 14:22
  Don Armstrong: Well, apparently it doesn't have any miles on it because it sold for 40,000$425.
• 14:29
  Don Armstrong: Uh no.
• 14:32
  Don Armstrong: No.
• 14:33
  Don Armstrong: $40,000.
• 14:35
  Don Armstrong: Somebody wanted it.
• 14:37
  Don Armstrong: Real bad.
• 14:38
  Don Armstrong: Either that or somebody with a lot of money and said, oh, you know what?
• 14:40
  Don Armstrong: My daughter would look really good in there.
• 14:43
  Jeff Dziekan: $40,000, yeah.
• 14:44
  Don Armstrong: $40 grand.
• 14:45
  Don Armstrong: I mean, that car that car might have it didn't even go for$40,000 when it was brand new.
• 14:51
  Don Armstrong: No.
• 14:53
  Don Armstrong: Incredible.
• 14:54
  Don Armstrong: It was overpriced, though.
• 14:56
  Don Armstrong: And I I was not a fan of that.
• 14:58
  Jeff Dziekan: But can't you bring back the old original Beatle?
• 15:01
  Jeff Dziekan: Just bring it back.
• 15:02
  Jeff Dziekan: Hey, there's a uh person in my neighborhood that's got like a 69, 68 bug, real skinny car.
• 15:09
  Jeff Dziekan: It's got the big bumper, it's cool to look at.
• 15:11
  Jeff Dziekan: It goes zipping down the street.
• 15:13
  Don Armstrong: I saw for the first time this past week somebody driving an ID buzz.
• 15:18
  Don Armstrong: Really?
• 15:19
  Don Armstrong: And I was impressed.
• 15:21
  Don Armstrong: That is one good-looking van.
• 15:23
  Don Armstrong: And of course, they're not selling them anymore in the United States because they weren't selling them, period.
• 15:28
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, there's because they're way overpriced.
• 15:31
  Jeff Dziekan: It's an all-electric Beetle Volkswagen bus.
• 15:34
  Jeff Dziekan: It's a bus.
• 15:35
  Jeff Dziekan: There's a couple people that down my street that have uh electric cars, and they because they're they're silent, they make that god-awful noise as they're going down like it's a uh a blender, like it's a blender going down a street.
• 15:47
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, they do that anyway.
• 15:49
  Don Armstrong: It's really good looking, but I'm going, you paid that much money for that?
• 15:53
  Don Armstrong: I don't think so.
• 15:55
  Don Armstrong: Have you seen one?
• 15:56
  Don Armstrong: Have you driven one, Mars?
• 15:57
  Mike Marrs: No, I haven't driven one.
• 15:59
  Don Armstrong: I haven't driven one either, but boy, it sure doesn't.
• 16:02
  Don Armstrong: It's strikingly good looking on the outside, I will say that.
• 16:05
  Don Armstrong: Different.
• 16:06
  Don Armstrong: Just different.
• 16:08
  Don Armstrong: All right.
• 16:08
  Don Armstrong: Coming up, Jeff has the cruise in and events calendars, and I'll have some of the stories making automotive news headlines this week.
• 16:15
  Don Armstrong: Stay with us here on the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show.
• 16:17
  Don Armstrong: We continue after this quick break.
• 16:20
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  Don Armstrong: Loopy Tortilla is pretty good.
• 17:20
  Don Armstrong: Join the Inwheel Time Car Talk Show as we hit the road for a live broadcast from the 51st annual Lone Star Street Rod Association State Run at Hewlett Park in Granbury.
• 17:30
  Don Armstrong: This once-a-year rolling car collection takes place June 12th through the 14th.
• 17:34
  Don Armstrong: Check out hundreds of classic street rods, vendors, giveaways, awards, and family fun.
• 17:39
  Don Armstrong: Best of all, spectator admission is absolutely free.
• 17:42
  Don Armstrong: In real time will be live from Granbury Saturday, June 13th, 9 to noon.
• 17:46
  Don Armstrong: Get all the deets at LSSRA.com.
• 17:53
  Don Armstrong: Talk Show.
• 17:53
  Don Armstrong: What are you wowing?
• 17:54
  Don Armstrong: That Etzel wagon I just saw.
• 17:56
  Don Armstrong: Oh, I missed it.
• 17:57
  Don Armstrong: Hey, be sure and join us for a live show every week.
• 17:59
  Don Armstrong: In Wheel Time Air Saturdays, 10 to noon Central Time on Facebook, YouTube, and InWheeltime.com.
• 18:05
  Don Armstrong: And of course, if you miss us, you can always catch a 30-minute podcast from your favorite podcast store.
• 18:11
  Don Armstrong: It's free, and thank you for joining us today.
• 18:14
  Don Armstrong: Time now for the cruise in and events calendars.
• 18:16
  Jeff Dziekan: Here it is right here.
• 18:17
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, it's the uh 2026 Memorial Weekend Bash.
• 18:21
  Jeff Dziekan: This is in Victoria, Texas.
• 18:22
  Jeff Dziekan: Seems to be a hot spot for a lot of car shows and cruisings.
• 18:25
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, you know why.
• 18:25
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh Mr.
• 18:26
  Jeff Dziekan: Spark Spotman.
• 18:27
  Jeff Dziekan: He should be the uh mayor, chancellor, and guru of Victoria.
• 18:31
  Don Armstrong: You know, I think we should make him run for mayor or something.
• 18:37
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh it's in Victoria, it's at 407 Memorial Drive.
• 18:40
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh it goes from 12 noon to 5:30.
• 18:42
  Jeff Dziekan: Participants can participate in a hydraulics competition featuring multiple categories.
• 18:48
  Jeff Dziekan: And there's 5,000 bucks in payouts for the first hundred awards to, and there's gonna be a hundred awards to be distributed as well.
• 18:54
  Jeff Dziekan: Cars and coffee at Current.
• 18:56
  Jeff Dziekan: Now, this is at the Current Christian Church.
• 18:57
  Jeff Dziekan: It's in Cady, Texas.
• 18:59
  Jeff Dziekan: They have a lot of stuff going on out there.
• 19:01
  Jeff Dziekan: Current current, yeah.
• 19:02
  Jeff Dziekan: 26,600 West Timer Parkway.
• 19:05
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh it goes from 8 to 11, and it's the last Saturday of every month.
• 19:08
  Jeff Dziekan: So get out there.
• 19:09
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh, they've got a lot of stuff for the community.
• 19:11
  Jeff Dziekan: So kudos to you, Current Christian Church.
• 19:13
  Jeff Dziekan: And then you got Lowe's Car Show, uh, May 30th.
• 19:17
  Jeff Dziekan: This is uh in Granbury, Texas.
• 19:19
  Jeff Dziekan: It's uh starting at 900.
• 19:21
  Jeff Dziekan: At the Lowe's.
• 19:22
  Jeff Dziekan: At the Lowe's in Granbury, Texas.
• 19:23
  Don Armstrong: And it's called the Lowe's Car Show.
• 19:25
  Jeff Dziekan: That's it.
• 19:25
  Jeff Dziekan: It's 1021 East Highway 377, which is like I think the main drag there in Granbury.
• 19:29
  Jeff Dziekan: The event is free, does not require registration.
• 19:32
  Jeff Dziekan: There's giveaways, all kinds of stuff planned.
• 19:34
  Jeff Dziekan: Details are to be determined there.
• 19:36
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh and then of course the 31st, which is the Sunday, you've got the Br Briya County Cars and Coffee.
• 19:42
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh, this is at 221 Parking Way Street in Lake Jackson.
• 19:46
  Jeff Dziekan: We talk about Parking.
• 19:47
  Jeff Dziekan: Parking way.
• 19:48
  Jeff Dziekan: Parkingway Lake Jackson.
• 19:49
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh nice little community down there.
• 19:51
  Jeff Dziekan: It goes uh from 9 to 11.
• 19:54
  Jeff Dziekan: The organizers emphasize to be nice to the public area, no burnouts, no you just gotta be respectful among the attendees.
• 20:01
  Jeff Dziekan: And then the last one we have for May 31st is the Java Man Coffee presents Cars and Coffee.
• 20:06
  Jeff Dziekan: That's in Tascasita, not far from here, a little north.
• 20:09
  Jeff Dziekan: It's at 704-2 FM 1960 East.
• 20:13
  Jeff Dziekan: And this goes from 9 a.m.
• 20:14
  Jeff Dziekan: to noon.
• 20:15
  Jeff Dziekan: Attendees can enjoy New Orleans style baguettes, bag beignets, I'm sorry, beignets, and coffee.
• 20:20
  Jeff Dziekan: Like baguettes.
• 20:21
  Jeff Dziekan: Baguettes and beignets.
• 20:23
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh, you can probably get a hot dog there too.
• 20:25
  Jeff Dziekan: And it's it's at the uh Java Man Coffee in Atascacito.
• 20:30
  Don Armstrong: Hayes Telantas plans three new pickup trucks in the coming years as it aims to make Ram, its top-selling brand by the end of the decade.
• 20:38
  Don Armstrong: Oh.
• 20:38
  Don Armstrong: Automaker adding a Ram compact pickup to challenge the Ford Maverick production of the truck, which will be based on the Ram Ram page sold in South America, is expected to start in 2028.
• 20:51
  Don Armstrong: It'll become Ram's third major pickup line sold in the U.S.
• 20:54
  Don Armstrong: after the full-size RAM and a planned mid-size truck.
• 20:57
  Don Armstrong: Mid-size Ram will be built in Toledo, Ohio.
• 21:00
  Don Armstrong: Right.
• 21:01
  Don Armstrong: Also expected to begin production in 2028.
• 21:03
  Don Armstrong: Stellantis also gave investors a preview of the Jeep Wrangler-based pickup called the Scrambler.
• 21:09
  Don Armstrong: Remember that?
• 21:10
  Don Armstrong: Mm-hmm.
• 21:10
  Don Armstrong: Reviving a nameplate, the brand used on a compact model back in the 80s.
• 21:14
  Don Armstrong: In November, Stellantis previewed two versions of the Ram Ram page planned for Europe that'll be designed and built in Brazil.
• 21:23
  Don Armstrong: Speaking of Stellantis, Ram is planning on building a lineage of blistering street trucks, such as the Dodge Lil Red Express and Ram SRT 10 with the 777 horsepower 1500 Rumble B SRT, the fastest V eight powered production pickup to date.
• 21:44
  Don Armstrong: They're back, and you just wait.
• 21:48
  Don Armstrong: This new guy, Anthony Falosa.
• 21:49
  Jeff Dziekan: You think so?
• 21:50
  Don Armstrong: Oh, absolutely.
• 21:51
  Jeff Dziekan: It sounds like they're pulling stuff out to be new that failed in the past.
• 21:55
  Don Armstrong: Oh no, these didn't fail.
• 21:56
  Don Armstrong: Well they didn't build them for very long.
• 21:58
  Mike Marrs: Yeah, they they quit building.
• 22:00
  Mike Marrs: them for some silly reason.
• 22:02
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, so at any rate, so they got all of that coming.
• 22:05
  Don Armstrong: As a matter of fact, I have a story.
• 22:07
  Don Armstrong: I can dig down here.
• 22:09
  Don Armstrong: Let me see if I can find it.
• 22:10
  Jeff Dziekan: So while you're digging that, uh what's the unibody?
• 22:12
  Jeff Dziekan: Doesn't Honda make the pot the the Honda pickup is a pot uh unibody.
• 22:17
  Jeff Dziekan: Ridge line, okay.
• 22:18
  Jeff Dziekan: That's what I'm thinking of.
• 22:19
  Jeff Dziekan: So is that going to be like that?
• 22:21
  Jeff Dziekan: Because the Maverick's not the unibody is it?
• 22:24
  Jeff Dziekan: Is it?
• 22:25
  Jeff Dziekan: Yeah the yeah.
• 22:26
  Jeff Dziekan: So is the Stellantis vehicle going to be the unibody not the hot rods.
• 22:30
  Don Armstrong: Not the hot rods.
• 22:31
  Don Armstrong: But I would imagine that the small and the mid size will probably be yeah they've got to be competitive price wise so they'll have to make a medibody car like and it's going to be a it's going to be a race to the top on the recalls.
• 22:45
  Don Armstrong: No this is Stilantis.
• 22:46
  Don Armstrong: I know but they're just saying it's going to be hard to catch for Stilantis plans to launch nine vehicles priced at less than forty thousand dollars by twenty thirty in North America including two under thirty thousand dollars.
• 23:02
  Don Armstrong: CEO Antonio Falosa on May 21st unveiled a$70 billion five year plan with 70% of that global investment going to Jeep RAM, Peugeot, Fiat, and Pro 1 Commercial Vision.
• 23:16
  Don Armstrong: The amount includes$25 billion toward products and brands in North America.
• 23:20
  Don Armstrong: Okay so they're building it here in the States the plan includes two additional RAM pickups, a gasoline version of the upcoming battery powered Jeep Recon, three new Chrysler crossovers, and two new Dodge performance models.
• 23:34
  Don Armstrong: The automaker is targeting adjusting operating income margins in North America of eight to ten percent with revenue growth of 25% that aims to grow volume in the region by 35% and expand market coverage by launching eleven all new vehicles.
• 23:50
  Don Armstrong: Stellatis expects increased U.S.
• 23:52
  Don Armstrong: production to improve capacity utilization to 80% by 2030, which is a big deal for a company like that.
• 23:58
  Don Armstrong: In Europe, the automaker expects factory utilization to rise from 60% to 80% by 2030 as it cuts annual capacity by 800,000 units because they're not selling them over there.
• 24:10
  Don Armstrong: This is a great story you're going to love this driving a cyber truck a Tesla normally doesn't require having life jackets on board or a boat registration, but those oversights were among the reasons police took a Texas man to jail May the 18th after he drove his electric pickup into Lake Grapevine near Dallas.
• 24:29
  Don Armstrong: The driver 70 year old Jim McDaniel told TV station WFAA that it was his third time using the truck's Wade mode in the sprawling reservoir and that he had driven into the Atlantic Ocean successfully as well.
• 24:45
  Don Armstrong: Good for you McDaniel said he made a miscalculation by venturing too deep while demonstrating the truck for a German father and son who were visiting his neighbor.
• 24:56
  Don Armstrong: He theorized the water reached the charging port and shut down the steering system.
• 25:01
  Don Armstrong: Video taken by a passerby showed all three occupants escaping the stainless steel pickup truck through a window.
• 25:06
  Don Armstrong: Grapevine Fire Department water rescue team later towed the 6600 pound truck back to land.
• 25:12
  Don Armstrong: McDaniel was charged with operating a vehicle in a closed section of a park not having a valid boat registration and not having life jackets or a fire extinguisher on board.
• 25:22
  Jeff Dziekan: They dry docked them you know how that started I know how it started.
• 25:25
  Jeff Dziekan: Does that thing float?
• 25:26
  Mike Marrs: Yeah hold my beer let me show you I got I know some Volkswagens that don't float the same how would you know that Mike come on we sunk it that's how we took the body off and made it pipe doom buggy out of it.
• 25:41
  SPEAKER_03: Okay.
• 25:42
  Mike Marrs: So there was a method here madness and where did you sink this was it in a bayou no it was in the street flooding that we thought we could we thought we could traverse the street in the flood and uh not so much.
• 25:55
  Jeff Dziekan: That's not too bad.
• 25:56
  Jeff Dziekan: It's not like you went out like to Bolivar and did it or something.
• 25:58
  Don Armstrong: No man use a canoe for that wow things some people do I know some people's children yeah um dealerships have long competed on price and with rivals down the street now they're facing a new challenge vehicle shoppers armed with advice from artificial intelligence tools even with AI in the mix human conversation is necessary experts say dealerships can beat AI recommendations and gain trust by reminding customers about the services they offer that GPT searches don't find customer Beaver Toyota of Cumming agreed in April to pay$19750 for a new Toyota Grand Highlander including trade in she called the store back the next day insisted on paying$18 based on advice from AI Tools, ChatGPT and Claude.
• 26:52
  Don Armstrong: She nearly walked away and the dealership wanted to stick with the higher price but the dealership said hey look what you're going to get with the$185 oil changes you're going to get warranty extended all of this stuff that the dealership offers and by golly you know what she paid the higher price.
• 27:09
  Jeff Dziekan: It is called features and benefits.
• 27:12
  Don Armstrong: The N-wheel time car talk show we're going to wrap things up right after this quick break.
• 27:16
  Don Armstrong: Stay with us what's going on there have we hit a little hiccup do you want me to try my please it's which on number three or number four four your car is a direct reflection of you so don't be satisfied with color fade or a dingy dull appearance get rid of those terrible automated car wash scratches.
• 27:44
  Don Armstrong: Gulf Coast Auto Shield is your save the paint company John Gray and his team of detailing experts can help your cars finish without a full repaint.
• 27:52
  Don Armstrong: Searching for real experts in window tent or windshield protection, Gulf Coast Auto Shield.
• 27:56
  Don Armstrong: Dash cams, radar detectors, Gulf Coast Auto Shield.
• 28:00
  Don Armstrong: Got a new car?
• 28:01
  Don Armstrong: Get it protected as soon as you take delivery if you don't know which of the multitude of protection products to go with John Gray will give you an honest opinion and won't sell you something you don't need.
• 28:10
  Don Armstrong: John will help you understand the many options and pricing right on the spot.
• 28:14
  Don Armstrong: He's your guy to have your ride looking its best and protected too.
• 28:18
  Don Armstrong: See the state of the art shop yourself free tours anytime.
• 28:21
  Don Armstrong: Gulf Coast Auto Shield is easy to get to located just south of the Southwest Freeway on the Sam Houston Parkway.
• 28:26
  Don Armstrong: Gulf Coast Auto Shield full service luxury car care today and online at gcautoshield.com gift giving should be meaningful and we have an idea a hand painted custom illustration of your car from one of the nation's leading artists.
• 28:41
  Don Armstrong: Now you can get one or a car show poster customized for you, a friend or a loved one.
• 28:46
  Don Armstrong: Bill Sites will be happy to guide you through the process.
• 28:49
  Don Armstrong: No matter what the day, birthday, anniversary or any day, an autographics custom illustration adds an extra touch of class to any home.
• 28:56
  Don Armstrong: Call Bill today, 832-922-0963.
• 29:00
  Don Armstrong: That's 832-922-0963's In Wheel Time Car Talk Show, and be sure and check us out online at nwheeltime.com.
• 29:11
  Don Armstrong: We're always looking for new informative and great automotive things to bring our global audience.
• 29:16
  Don Armstrong: If you have an idea event road trip or tall tale you'd like us to feature let us know.
• 29:20
  Don Armstrong: Our email address is info at inwheeltime.com You can find the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show 247 on the NW Time app and website.
• 29:30
  Don Armstrong: Grab a podcast from your favorite podcast store.
• 29:32
  Don Armstrong: We video stream our live show every Saturday 10 to noon on Facebook YouTube and inwheeltime.com the In Wheel Time video coordinator is we always need more Jeff Zekins.
• 29:41
  Don Armstrong: The booking agent video editor Mike out of this world Mars and Chief Engineer David Ainsley and Don Armstrong.
• 29:49
  Don Armstrong: Thanks for the show contributors Jeff Heitzman and George Skelton.
• 29:53
  Don Armstrong: Be sure and join us for the 51st annual Lone Star Street Rod Association State Running Show, June 13th from Hewlett Park in Grand Berry, Texas.
• 30:03
  Don Armstrong: In real time we'll have a bonus hour show so you can grab us 9 to noon live.
• 30:08
  Don Armstrong: We hope you'll join us again next week for another live edition of the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show from our dual city studios 10 to noon Central Time.
• 30:15
  Don Armstrong: Have a great safe Memorial Day weekend stay dry and so long for now that's it for this podcast episode of the In Wheel Time Car Show.
• 30:37
  Don Armstrong: I'm Don Armstrong inviting you to join us for our live show every Saturday morning on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and our inwheeltime dot com website.
• 30:47
  Don Armstrong: Podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartPodcast, Podcast Addict, Tune in Pandora and Amazon Music.
• 30:55
  Don Armstrong: Keep listening and we'll see you soon