Rephonic
Artwork for The Best of Car Talk

The Best of Car Talk

NPR
Car Talk
Car Repair
NPR
Car Maintenance
Toyota
Subaru
Automotive Repair
Volvo
Honda Accord
Volkswagen
Automotive
Saab
Car Repairs
California
Car Troubles
BMW
General Motors
Toyota Camry
Honda Civic
Ford

America's funniest auto mechanics take calls from weary car owners all over the country, and crack wise while they diagnose Dodges and dismiss Diahatsus. You don't have to know anything about cars to love this one hour weekly laugh fest.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes713Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureAutomotiveComedy

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Best of Car Talk

Latest Episodes

Raegan was doing a nice thing and brought her boyfriend’s Jeep to a local mechanic for a tune up. The mechanic not only tuned-up the vehicle but he also had it detailed and he refused to accept payment for any of the work, saying that he was simply g... more

Brian’s kid is a typical, curious 8-year-old who brought his new buddy, a snake that he had just caught, into their car where it promptly escaped. The little guy pokes his head out from under the dash from time-to-time and Brian wonders if they shoul... more

Ashley called us to say that when she takes long trips in her ’74 Volkswagen Bug she feels nauseous and has trouble staying awake. Sounds like a drive with Click and Clack after a chili dinner, but could this be more serious? Find out on this episode... more

Julianne called Click and Clack hoping to get a clue in hunting down a nasty smell somewhere in her car. Instead she ended up on the wrong end of a sweeping generalization regarding whether men or women are the bigger automotive slobs. Judgement rend... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Under The Hood show
Under The Hood showNordstroms Automotive Inc.
Radiolab
RadiolabWNYC Studios
Science Friday
Science FridayScience Friday and WNYC Studios

Recent Guests

Deborah Garcia
Winner of Stump the Chumps puzzle, from Tucson, Arizona
Listener / Car Talk audience
Episode: #2642: Overtightening Our Belts
Cherie Laft
Caller introducing herself during the Wagoneer问题 discussion
Eugene, Oregon
Episode: #2641: How Cheap is Too Cheap?
Melissa Peterson
Caller from Seattle who previously appeared on the show; discussed driving a motor scooter and parental concerns
Seattle, WA
Episode: #2638: Melissa Strikes Back
Rob Romans
Caller from Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Army captain with a fuel/hesitation issue on a 1989 Suburban
Fort Sill, Oklahoma (Army)
Episode: #2636: In Praise of Cleveland
Vincent Gumbatz
Chief Mechanic in the Car Talk studio
Car Talk Plaza (in-studio guest)
Episode: #2634: Bug Bomb
Dave Knight
Contest winner announced during the Stump the Chumps puzzle
Listener
Episode: #2629: The Babysitter Tells All
Vinny Gumbaz
Car Talk Plaza's chief mechanic in-studio
Car Talk Plaza
Episode: #2626: Rats!
Vincent Cuban-Botz
In-studio chief mechanic
Car Talk Plaza
Episode: #2622: Starting from Stupid
Vinnie Gumbatz
Car Talk Plaza Chief Mechanic
Car Talk Plaza
Episode: #2620: Hubby's Fuelishness

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 19.9k ratings
  • A refuge

    In a world that I hardly recognize most days, at least these recordings are here to take me back to simpler times, riding in pickup trucks bench seat between my parents, shifting for dad as he drove through the orchards. I never thought the 90’s would be so far away. Thanks guys.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Arjunayogi
    United States2 months ago
  • Will there be an AI generated continuation?

    This is a classic!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    barinov2000
    Australia3 months ago
  • Brilliant

    Still brilliant

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dave Santos 2.0
    United States3 months ago
  • GOAT

    Cannot get enough of this show.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    فهد ٤١١٠
    Saudi Arabia3 months ago
  • The best - aged well!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    DrTaylor
    3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans appreciate the balance of troubleshooting and entertaining anecdotes.
Some express frustration with modern monetization but still enjoy the classic format.
Many value the nostalgia and family-friendly banter.
Listeners praise the show for timeless humor and practical car wisdom.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#42
United States/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#201
Canada/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#219
Italy/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#246
Germany/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#70
India/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#73
Saudi Arabia/Comedy

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#2642: Overtightening Our Belts
Q: What was causing the engine to burn and smoke after the belt replacement?
The discussion concluded that the belt was initially installed too tightly and that possibly the belt-related friction or heat could contribute to problems; later, other possibilities such as the actuator or vent doors were considered in the Stump the Chumps segment.
#2617: Definitely Not OK
Q: What causes a chirping sound after replacing a clutch?
It could be caused by a need for grease on the pivot ball where the fork attaches, or it could indicate a problem with the thrust bearing.
#2617: Definitely Not OK
Q: What should I do if my car was left idling for several hours?
It may not be a big problem since modern fuel-injected cars can run for extended periods without issues.
#2613: Plague-proofing Your Car
Q: What do I do about the mold in my car?
Use sodium hypochlorite (bleach) to kill the mold but it will turn everything white. Air out the car in the sun afterwards.
#2607: House Call
Q: What do I need to consider about my Honda Accord that's running rough?
You might need a valve job, as it sounds like one of the cylinders is not firing due to possible oil issues. It's best to have it looked at by a trusted shop.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Best of Car Talk

What is The Best of Car Talk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two veteran auto-mechanics host a weekly, lighthearted call-in show that blends practical car troubleshooting with comedy and audience engagement. Listeners hear real-time diagnoses of brake, fuel, electrical, and maintenance issues, punctuated by puzzles, running gags, and playful staff banter. A recurring draw is the casual, folksy vibe: helpful repairs paired with relatable stories, crowd-sourced tips, and in-studio guests contributing hands-on expertise. The format remains distinct for its long-running puzzle segments and a culture of approachable mechanical wisdom, making it accessible to both DIY enthusiasts and casual listeners seeking entertainment with automotive insight.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Best of Car Talk?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Best of Car Talk. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Best of Car Talk and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Best of Car Talk get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Best of Car Talk, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Best of Car Talk?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Best of Car Talk, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Best of Car Talk have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Best of Car Talk has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Best of Car Talk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Best of Car Talk:

1. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
2. How To Do Everything
3. Under The Hood show
4. Radiolab
5. Science Friday

How many episodes of The Best of Car Talk are there?

The Best of Car Talk launched 19 years ago and published 713 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Best of Car Talk?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Best of Car Talk?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Best of Car Talk from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Best of Car Talk?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Best of Car Talk. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Best of Car Talk?

Recent guests on The Best of Car Talk include:

1. Deborah Garcia
2. Cherie Laft
3. Melissa Peterson
4. Rob Romans
5. Vincent Gumbatz
6. Dave Knight
7. Vinny Gumbaz
8. Vincent Cuban-Botz

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days