In this episode, after some quick car news, the boys discuss the final episode of Top Gear/the Grand Tour and the absolutely monumental impact that Top Gear/The Grand Tour has had on us as podcasters, us as "car people", and the overall landscape of car culture and journalism. Prepare for us to get a little sentimental... --- Support this podcast: …

After returning from gallivanting around Europe, Tristan returns chock-full of seafaring lingo and burning question. This question he immediately decided to spring upon our other hosts as a kind of lightning round, off the cuff round table session. From there, we carry on to check in on Carlo Ghosen, slingshot around the sad history of Nissan, and …

In this episode, the boys discuss Andrew's "Great Car Dilemma of 2024", some surprise Bugattis, and a spirited discussion around our Christmas in July, "We Were Right: Sun's out, Guns Out Edition". --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkenginepodcast/support

In this week's episode, the boys manage a bit of a racing roundup before leaping into our first "themed" episode of the season. Originally called "Rent to Own" (until Andrew's little soundbite), with an imaginary wad of cash and an equally imaginary 3 car garage, we discover the world of pure imagination that is the local Enterprise Car Sales lot. …

After a LOOONG hiatus for Nick to metamorphose into a father, the boys free themselves from their cocoon, shake off the dust and become... something. We're not butterflies, but we're back! In a classic "round table" episode, we discuss the glut of features in modern cars, our slightly updated stance on electric vehicles, and how BADLY we want the E…

After a bit of a baby-related hiatus, the boys return with some fun car new, some annoying car news, and some musical fun! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkenginepodcast/support

After the shocking realization last episode that we were woefully out of touch with the current slate of new cars available in 2024, we have decided to rectify that. We discuss the newest metal coming out of the US, Asia, and Europe. Spoiler, we might have found out WHY we're so out of touch... --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.c…

After far too long being parted from you all, dear listeners, we're BACK! We get ourselves up to speed some timely car news, autosport news, and couldn't pass up a good opportunity to rag on Tesla (It's been too long, c'mon!). Join us today and give a listen! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkenginepodcast/suppo…

After the interest you all had in our karting round table last year, we thought we'd bring some fresh faces (and a couple of old friends) back to the table to talk a little bit more about the world of karting. From local track events to chasing national titles, these guys have done it all! Listen in today for some behind the scenes laughs, on track…

In this episode, the boys put Andrew's hypothesis to the test! Is his generation Elantra N-Line the best looking car in its class of all time? Join us for a king of the hill style knockout session to see if his hopes and dreams hold water! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkenginepodcast/support…

After a dazzling guest in our last episode, we're left with trying to this on our own again! Tristan wants to hear about your regional, lifestyle brands/gas stations/tourist attractions. Andrew and Nick... do not. We also cover some neat car news, now new car news, and even a little bit of racing. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotif…

In this very special episode, we get to sit down and chat with new friend of the podcast, Kyle Downs! Kyle brings us some of the inside stories of the life of a sports car racing crew member. From tire guy to impromptu race engineer, Kyle has seen and done nearly anything you can think of! Listen in today for some fun facts and cool stories! --- Su…

This week, we bring you an open episode. Tristan has a rental car review, we make good on our newest CEPSwagShop.com shirt by not being a conspiracy theory podcast (or are we?), and cover some recent car news! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkenginepodcast/support…

To start this episode off, Tristan and Andrew recount Tristan’s visit to the great state of Nebraska during the Great Battle of July 4th. “Nebraska?!”, you say. Yes! Nebraska! After recounting the genuine pleasures of the Cornhusker state, the boys discuss an idea that was actually spawned from that very trip: What if you could buy four people a gi…

After spending some time catching up by discussing Andrew’s time in Nebraska, some racing results, and various other Neat Car News, the boys debut a new game time segment by playing a nice round of “Would You Rather?”. There will be ducks. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkenginepodcast/support…

Returning for a week to our "open episode" format, the boys wax poetical about what tends to be the most wonderful time of the year for racing! The Indy 500 has just finished, Le Mans is on the horizon and we're about to get to see IndyCar at our local track! Things are looking up! We also discuss some shady doings from Tesla, the question of who d…

Well, not ACTUAL grades... we're not that way around here. However, we've taken a couple of weeks to think about some of the choices made in the heat of the draft, evaluate some options left on the table, and further flesh out why we made the choices we made. As a bonus, we even tried to come up with car company names better than STELLANTIS! --- Su…

That's right everyone, it's draft season! So, CEP has decided to get in on the fun. To build our own car companies, we'll choose from the best the automotive "universities" (read: existing car companies) have to offer, both domestic and international. Give us a listen today and give us a draft grade! Did we waste any picks? Score any late-draft wun…

In this episode, we got an UPGRADE! Armed with their newly unlocked soundboard, they boys discuss Ford's trend of "Raptor everything", X-Cars that were either the one that got away or the one that might still be, and the inevitable outcome of last episode's poll. Listen in today and let us know if you have any memorable X-Cars! --- Support this pod…

In this episode, we return to an old favorite format: the news roundup! Ripping our topics from the headlines, we cover EVs, vehicle design, and many other timely topics. Nick and Andrew even ARGUE! Listen today and let us know which one of them is right. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkenginepodcast/support…

In this episode, we realize that we have made it to FIVE YEARS of podcasting! Thank you to our loyal listeners who have stuck with us this far, through thick and thin, consistent and inconsistent release schedules, and everything else!! After we reminisce for a little while, this episode then jumps into the deep and of the automotive industry consp…

In this episode, Nick has been given to daunting challenges: Put a Nissan Rogue in reverse and to convince Andrew and Tristan (and maybe even our listeners) to watch more than IMSA this year! Being the marketing wizard he is, Nick has been tasked with assembling the perfect sales pitches that will hook Andrew and Tristan on the 2023 NASCAR, IndyCar…

This very first episode of Season SIX marks the triumphant return of your full set of Spirit of the Race award winning hosts! With some big life changes behind us, we're finally able to reunite around the virtual table to discuss some recent automotive news, the futures of self driving and updating cars, Super Bowl commercials, Tristan's travelogue…

We're BACK everyone! And ready for Season 6! With Andrew still out on assignment in Nebraska, Nick and Tristan get to host a discussion on grassroots karting (and karting at the NOT so grassroots level). Join us for a virtual round table with several of the drivers in Nick's karting group, the TaG Master's Championship (and one driver who might joi…

On this week's episode, we welcome Mike Skeen! Mike is a multi-talented driver who has driven everything from Baja to NASCAR to Trans Am cars to the fabled Pike's Peak hill climb! If it has wheels, he can (and probably will) race it! Providing some great inside stories that only a driver like Mike can, he brought us one heck of an episode! Listen i…

It's that time again folks! Time for our yearly roundup of our pilgrimage to the promised land, Heaven on Earth, America's National Park of Speed: Road America in beautiful Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. From our observations on the quality of racing, to Andrew's first experience out on the track, to some of Nick's post-race exploits in the friendly conf…

In this open episode, we discuss some issues with driving we've noticed lately, baffling car to human interface choices, this new subscription model the car companies are trying, what to do about the weird Buick/Cadillac dichotomy, and some cool motorsports news from Nick! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkengin…

In this open episode, we celebrate the return of Andrew's Elantra from repair purgatory! We also celebrate the return of Tristan from the perils of the Bermuda Triangle! We discuss some motorsport, some car news and NEAT (or not so neat...) car news, and various other topics of the day. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/s…

In this open episode, we discuss the Check Engine Podcast's first Long Term Test Drive, our Indycar Weekend at Road America, our limits on how far we'd go for different car buying experiences, and Diet Dr. Pepper. This episode, we'd like you not to donate to us, if you feel inclined, but please visit Racing With Autism's website to donate to Austin…

We're finally back in the studio! Armed with backlit, big screen TV, accent lighting, a real mixing board, and microphone stands, the boys are BACK! Being the season of "Dads and Grads" we follow a listener suggestion and fill out the pages of our automotive yearbook with everyone's favorite part: the awards! We bring our nominees for most likely t…

In preparation for Pride Month in June, we decided to delve deep into the wonderful, rainbow wonderful world of color! Everyone remember your memory tricks for the colors of the rainbow? We do! We explore the full spectrum of Roy G Biv as it applies to the automotive world. We each discuss and show and tell our favorite Reds, Oranges, Yellows, Gree…

With, hopefully, one last remote recording session, we bring you an open episode! This episode, we discuss some neat car news, we finally get Nick's opinion on the Lucid Air, and FINALLY give you our take on the masterpiece that is Grand Prix Racing On Line. Listen in today to find out what we think! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spo…

In this episode, we celebrate the birthday of one of our hosts and allow him to choose the tune! So, at Andrew's request, we discuss what (if we had the funds and the go ahead from our significant others) would be our track day toys of choice. From a fully stripped out, customized nearly-racecar to a double threat GT car, to a tuner classic, we dis…

In this open episode, we discuss our most recent embarrassing car stories, desirable cars as suggested by the Interwebs, buying the car for the job you have, not the job you want (... or the job you used to have), the never-ending search for Andrew's next car, and why electric cars look so dang weird... --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.…

This week, our episode topic came to us (well, Nick) in a DREAM! Dreaming of Goldendoodles, Cockapoos, and Taco Terriers, Nick was stuck with the inspiration to have us talk about cross-breeding cars. So, we jumped right in to discuss some of our ideas on what would make the perfect "Designer Car Breed".Could we make something fun or useful by cros…

In this episode, we ask our listeners what how they'd feel about some video games for a future episode! We also dive head first into what the heck happened to Mini, the Mustang Mach E and Bronco situation with Ford, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, and, most importantly (or, unimportantly, depending on who you are), the Toyota GR Corolla! Listen in today to te…

This episode, we discuss various race news from this week, including our boy, Josh Bilicki's new-found fire, the history of penalties in NASCAR, and whether "race driver" is a lucrative addition to our resume. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkenginepodcast/support…

This week, Tristan opens our episode by sharing stories of his wild last couple weeks in automotive ownership. Then Andrew and Nick go down the rabbit hole of some super cool collabs between guitar makers and automakers. Let us know if you know of any we missed or if you have any crazier roadtrip stories than Tristan! --- Support this podcast: http…

Like Cadillac and NASCAR before it, Mazda is now in the sights of the Check Engine Podcast Brand Enhancement Team (the guys...). We examine the best possible strategies for Mazda to find its way back into favor with both us and the rest of the car-buying world. We don't know exactly what Mazda IS doing, but we know what they SHOULD be doing! --- Su…

In this episode, we open things back up for some discussions on motorsports, the Autonomous Vehicle Industry (DON'T CALL THEM SELF-DRIVING), a dip into car video games, and other bits of automotive news. Listen --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkenginepodcast/support…

It's that time of year again! It's time for our review of the commercials from this year's Big Game! From short films that don't really advertise anything to masterclasses in Swedish minimalist design, we review them all. 1-10. What makes a 10/10 commercial for you? Cute animals? Catchy songs and dance? Social commentary? Listen in today and let us…

After a bit of a break, we shake off the rust and make our triumphant return! We discuss what kept us busy over the winter break and then dive into some car news, motorsports news, and even are take a swipe at trying to fix NASCAR AGAIN! Join us, and welcome back! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkenginepodcast/…

This week, the boys seek to bring a little dose cheer just before Christmas! We'll get Andrew used to the idea of a Christmas list and do a little bit of a news roundup in a short episode. Hope you all enjoy, have a Happy Holidays, and we'll see you in 2022! If you're feeling extra merry and want to pass on a little holiday joy to us, please consid…

This week, we interview dealer service guru from Green Bay, Nick's cousin, and all-around good guy, Brad Williquette. We tap into Brad's industry expertise earned by years in the automotive dealership service field. He helps us answer some of our burning questions about why things are the way they are at dealerships, passes on a little bit of perso…

In this episode, we discuss a simply WILD F1 race in Saudi Arabia before delving into much more nerdy matters. Ready your character sheets, adventurers and prepare to figure out where YOUR car falls on our Dungeons and Dragons alignment grid. Are you chaotic evil? Lawful good? The rare, true neutral? We go over where some of our favorite cars fit i…

In this week's episode, we throw the idea that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and take a deep dive into Car and Driver's top 15 most beautiful cars of 2021 and tell them how they did. Right? Wrong? Close? Split decision? This one generated some deep discussions for us! We also covered the microchip shortage's impact on car features and Trista…

In our second episode back, we go over some recent auto racing news, poke our noses in to see what SEMA is up to and, as always, bring the judgement! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/checkenginepodcast/support

That's right! We're back everyone! After a little hiatus, we have a new episode for you, and this one's special. This week, we look at some of the best (and a lot of the worst) car "costumes" around, just in time for Halloween. From full build kits to glue on parts, we take a look at cars dressed up as other cars for Halloween. These come to us cou…

With Andrew standing by, waiting to greet the newest member of the CEP family, Nick and Tristan run a two man show! This week, along with some car news roundups, we recap our we weekend at Road America for the IMSA races. The weekend was full of racing, stories, and a CEP-standard two scoops of bad weather, and we can't wait to tell you about it! -…

We’re back! After finally ripping Andrew away from his Minecraft obsession and back to his microphone, we’re finally back to discuss some car news within the CEP family, as well as some very exciting motorsports news from the last week. We also preview what you can expect from us during our trip to Road America!--- Support this podcast: https://pod…