The Best of Car Talk

Harvey from New Mexico was puzzled by a freeway sign he drove past that said something about a 'jake brake'. Who is this 'Jake' and why does he get a break? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

A koan is a paradoxical statement that tries to make sense of ambiguity. Sort of like, "The Best of Car Talk". Hear one of our favorite mechanics' koan all the way from Alabama on this episode. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

When you've been married as many times as Tommy has, spousal strife becomes a kind of 'lingua franca' in some helpful and some not so helpful ways. Evidence for the latter case on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Alexander's dad loved convertibles and dove them with style. Since dad was Leonard Bernstein does it really matter that he had it all wrong? Click and Clack take on a great American composer(and lose!) on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Linzee was watching in disbelief as the last hailstones bounced off her now-dimpled new car when a second plague of low-cost, mobile Dent Doctors swarmed into town promising a quick fix. Should she or shouldn't she? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Christy melted the engine in her Dad's car years ago when she was a new driver. It's been gnawing at her all these years that she never came clean about it. Click and Clack mediate on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

When Pam went to pick up her car at the dealership the guys at the service counter seemed to leap to her husband's defense when she suggested that he had wrecked her car. Is there a secret society of men and cars? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Therese wants to know if her kids ruined their car by sticking sidewalk chalk up into the tailpipe. Click and Clack chide the kids for not knowing how to properly plug up a car's exhaust to make it inoperable. We're nurturing the next generation of juvenile dlinquents on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Is there anything more depressing than the customer waiting room at your local repair shop? Well, Sarah has found a repair place that will fix her Nissan while she waits -in her car! The view from the top of the auto lift on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

It's a family affair on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. It all starts when Click and Clack's mother, Lizzie, bends their ears about smoking too many cigars, and it doesn't end until their sister, Luba, gives each of them a well-earned dope slap, too. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Theresa's husband is from jolly old England and he's insisting that they buy an expensive Land Rover for their move from Dallas to Ohio. Click and Clack suss it out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

We've noticed that Consumer Reports doesn't have a category for choosing the best vehicle for the upcoming zombie apocalypse. Find out what all the best zombies will be driving on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Hannah is about to graduate from college and move in with her boyfriend. They will be sharing everything with the possible exception of his car. Should Hannah immediately assert herself and claim some right to use of his car, or should she play the long game here? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Nat was absolutely beaming as he proudly showed off his new Saab to his soon-to-be inlaws. Beaming that is right up to the moment that it started to roll downhill without a driver. Could Nat possibly have made a worse first impression? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Calls about smells, burping and an incident at a topless bar on this all-too-typical edition of the Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

A true 'Master' mechanic is intimately familiar with the intricate workings of innumerable makes and models of cars, right? Yeah, but can they help Emma from Montana figure out which 'thingie' to put the blue liquid into? Let's all find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

A while back, Leah wrote to Click and Clack despairing that while she was succeeding academically in college she had somehow lost her sense of joyful purpose. And, in a parent's worst nightmare, two mechanics who graduated college by the skin of their teeth commenced with the life advice. On this episode of the Best of Car Talk Leah checks in to tell us how she's doing. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Ann spent a winter day snowboarding in Oregon, but as she and her Saab tried to negotiate the mountain road home she smelled smoke and realized her tire was on fire. Being a risk taker, Ann kept driving. Apres ski with Click and Clack on this episode of The Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Deb, Donna, Phil and Russell are waiting on hold for car advice, but Click and Clack just have to share a piece of further proof that Men and Women are truly creatures of different planets. All that and a new Puzzler on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

In a curious case of car vs driver, Esther is convinced that her Mercury Sable is to blame for several recent speeding tickets she's received. Traffic court with the dis-honorable Click and Clack presiding on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Get access to hundreds of episodes in the Car Talk archive when you sign up for Car Talk+ at plus.npr.org/cartalk Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy