Gas at $6.50 a gallon changes the mood of any car conversation fast, and it kicks off a wide ranging hang with auto journalist Jack Nerad as we compare California’s pump prices with the rest of the country and unpack the idea of a coastal “weather tax.” We talk about why the Golden State stays irresistible to visit even when the politics, taxes, and cost of living feel like a constant headwind, and what those pressures mean for everyday drivers.

From there, we get into the good stuff: what’s actually fun to drive right now. Jack’s pick, the Volvo V60 Cross Country, is a reminder that a great station wagon still has a place in 2026, especially when it’s practical and genuinely enjoyable on real roads. We also dig into electric vehicles with fresh impressions of the all electric Toyota C-HR and Subaru’s newest small EV, including the punchy acceleration that can surprise you even if you think you’re “over” EV hype. If you care about modern car reviews, EV performance, and how these new platforms change cabin space and driving feel, this conversation is for you.

Then we zoom out to car culture and automotive media. Why did car TV channels vanish while cooking and remodeling shows took over, and what replaces them now? We trade thoughts on low cost, high honesty content like Vice Grip Garage, and we debate NASCAR’s sliding ratings, confusing race formats, and how “stock cars” became hard to tell apart.

Jeff also brings a wild throwback with Goodyear’s glowing illuminated tires, a real experiment that sounded futuristic until road grime and physics showed up.

Subscribe, share this with a car friend, and leave a review if you want more smart, funny, real world car talk. What’s the most overpriced thing about driving where you live right now?

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