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Hot Rods and Heartland: How Granbury Became the Celebration Capital of Texas

• In Wheel Time | Hosted by Don Armstrong, Michael Marrs, and Jeff Dziekan • Season 2025 • Episode 218

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Tucked away just over an hour from Dallas-Fort Worth lies Granbury, Texas – a lakeside town that's become something of a well-kept secret among travelers seeking authentic Texas charm without the crowds. Our broadcast from the Lone Star Street Rod Association's 50th anniversary state run reveals why this hidden gem has earned the official designation as the "Celebration Capital of Texas."

Kristen Gibson from the Granbury Convention and Visitors Bureau joins us to share what makes this town special, from its historic downtown square and restored Nuthouse Hotel to the free weekend trolley service that connects major attractions. With over 40 events annually, Granbury has mastered the art of celebration while maintaining its small-town hospitality. Car enthusiasts particularly appreciate how the entire town embraces automotive events, with hotels and restaurants fully prepared for their arrival.

Beyond cars, Granbury offers unexpected delights like an intimate 200-seat concert venue housed in a former car dealership, acclaimed restaurants requiring reservations months in advance, and the serene beauty of Lake Granbury. What began as a weekend destination for many has evolved into a permanent home as people discover the town's perfect balance of amenities and charm.

The show shifts gears as Don Armstrong shares his experience driving the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV, highlighting its comfortable ride, 319-mile range, and surprisingly affordable starting price of $33,600 – significantly lower than competitors like Tesla and Hyundai. This accessible entry point into EV ownership could be a game-changer for those considering the electric transition.

Whether you're a hot rod enthusiast, a weekend traveler, or someone looking for an affordable EV option, this episode packs insights that might change your perspective on both small-town Texas and the evolving world of electric vehicles. Listen now and discover why some of the best automotive experiences happen beyond the beaten path.

Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!

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Speaker 1:

Welcome to another In Wheel Time podcast. Welcome to the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show today Coming to you from the Lone Star Street. Rod Association's 50th anniversary state run in Granbury, texas, and it's Father's Day weekend.

Speaker 2:

It is indeed.

Speaker 1:

Just ahead, another guest from this 50th anniversary celebration. Also, I'll give you my thoughts on driving the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV, and Jeff has the Motor Minute in this segment of the In Real Time Car Talk Show. Howdy, along with Mike out of this world, mars, we always need more. Jeff Zekin, chief Engineer David Ainsley, got out of bed this morning and joined us here in Granbury. It's a miracle. I'm Don Armstrong. Thanks so much for joining us. We appreciate you. Mr Mars, why don't you introduce our next guest?

Speaker 3:

So this is Kristen Gibson. I'm sitting there putting an R where there's not one. Kristen Gibson from the Granberry CVB and she's one of the big sponsors out here at the event has been since they started coming up here in Granberry.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely so glad you're here to join us. Absolutely so glad you're here to join us.

Speaker 3:

Thanks for having us here today. We love having you all in town and seeing all the shade.

Speaker 1:

You don't know that yet, because we haven't left town yet. So there's history to be made. Yeah, we might make it after the show today.

Speaker 3:

That's perfect. Is it the city motto you?

Speaker 1:

know I haven't seen any Granbury police. Do you have those here? We do, we do. So watch out.

Speaker 2:

We didn't see any last night either they're the ones that told us we had to be out of town.

Speaker 3:

Sure gotcha. Our city motto is where Texas history lives, so if you make some while you're here, we would love that there's a tank out here.

Speaker 2:

There's a water tank out here with that. It's got bricks on it. But yeah, we were told to be out by 4. Oh wow.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, they're just running you out of town. They will escort us right out to the city limits. I think we'll take good care of you while you're here. Thank you, well, you always do. You have already, you know the hospitality here is absolutely stupendous.

Speaker 1:

It really is, and you guys do such a great job at all of the hotels. They're all in tune with what's going on with these guys, the Lone Star Street Rod Association. It's remarkable because we have been to events where who are you again? And they don't really do that here. They know why you're in town.

Speaker 3:

Well, that's an effort on everyone's behalf. So we love our visitors here and so we try to do our best to get to know you and get to know what you like and how we can best be of service to you while you're here.

Speaker 1:

And you know, and that's one of, I think, the draws of coming to Granbury, because I'll be honest with you, no offense, but I will tell you that I didn't know about Granbury until we got invited up here by the Lone Star Street Rock Association. We came up here and we go dang.

Speaker 2:

Where has this been in our?

Speaker 1:

lives Because it's off the beaten path, let's face it. I mean, if you're from Fort Worth, you probably know where Granbury is being from the Houston area. It's out of the way. We have to come up Highway 6 through Bryan College.

Speaker 3:

Station. Well, that's the scenic route. Sure, that's how I go to Houston. So that's the scenic route. Sure, that's how I go to Houston. So that's perfect. There you go.

Speaker 1:

But you've got to admit I mean, it's kind of a back way to get up here.

Speaker 3:

Sure.

Speaker 1:

Because the first time I came up here I went I-45, mistake through. Ennis and then traveled, you know, out to LA and back to get here.

Speaker 3:

Well, were you in beautiful cars like these? You're in beautiful cars like these. You like to take those scenic back roads.

Speaker 1:

I wasn't driving a beautiful car, that would have been a whole different story. But yeah, and you know it's funny because you've got vehicles here from pretty much all over the state of Texas and I think even beyond. We've been kind of focused in on the Texas guys that are here only because they're available and they've got some really nice rides.

Speaker 3:

Sure.

Speaker 1:

And that kind of goes hand in hand with this event and the fact that it's a wonderful mix of hot rods and resto mods and cars that somebody goes what do you call that? Again, yeah, it's a truck or a station wagon or whatever the case may be. So it's a truck or a station wagon or whatever the case may be. So it's a very unique event and I will say that I thought man, is everybody going to wind up showing up tomorrow Because we didn't get the vibe when we were here yesterday afternoon and I've never seen the park more full.

Speaker 3:

It's really full this year. It looks like we've got a great turnout.

Speaker 2:

Like he said, exact opposite of what we were last night. We were thinking there's a lot of spaces open. Not today, no, not today.

Speaker 1:

And we had no trouble getting into the restaurant we went over to Vito's.

Speaker 3:

They have a really good menu over there and it's reasonably priced.

Speaker 2:

It's not out of the world. Family coming, a family of four with their kids, whatever it's not out of the world on you know, family coming, a family of four with their kids, whatever it's affordable.

Speaker 3:

And their portions are giant.

Speaker 2:

Oh yeah, so you end up with lunch for the next day.

Speaker 3:

Very possible.

Speaker 1:

The other thing I wanted to remind everybody of. We're not going to go there today, but we understand that there is a great eatery in the downtown area that you've got to get reservations like a month or two in advance.

Speaker 3:

Yes, what's the name of that? It is Christina's.

Speaker 1:

American.

Speaker 3:

Table, and it is in the bottom floor of the newly restored historic Nuthouse Hotel. The Nuthouse yes, Fantastic food.

Speaker 2:

So, yes, you definitely need a reservation so hop on in there if you get a chance. Tammy described that for us the last time she was on the air, when we were in the studio.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and it's at the bottom of the hotel. You know how many rooms the hotel has in it.

Speaker 3:

They have, I believe it's seven rooms.

Speaker 1:

Seven rooms.

Speaker 3:

And it is beautifully restored.

Speaker 1:

What does that take about a year to get a reservation there?

Speaker 3:

No, you can on certain occasions hop in. So it's a really beautiful freshly restored property. We recommend about three months out, if you have the opportunity to make your reservation there, but it is fantastic.

Speaker 2:

Which you know, it reminds me. You've got a beautiful park, you've got the lake Wedding events.

Speaker 1:

You can stay at the hotel.

Speaker 2:

You know it's a private area.

Speaker 1:

It's seven rooms and downtown is not that far from here. How many miles?

Speaker 3:

It's less than a mile. You can walk up and I walk up and down this all the time. So it's a really. The way our city is situated is so fun because we've got the conference center here, the Hilton Garden Inn next door. We've got the trolley that runs for free on the weekends, so really, if it's not within a walkable space for you, you can just hop on the trolley for free on the weekends.

Speaker 2:

Is that every weekend? Every weekend, not just for the tour, but it's every weekend.

Speaker 3:

Every weekend. How about that?

Speaker 2:

That's pretty cool.

Speaker 1:

We also understand that you guys have a fantastic Christmas holiday season. We do With all the lights and all that good stuff.

Speaker 3:

Absolutely. It kicks off the day after Thanksgiving with our parade and then when Santa's house is open all season long, and then we also have a country Christmas petting farm that families can come and see all kinds of great little animals. Even a little wallaby is out there, and so you get to do the little petting farm, do your Christmas shopping, and it's just a magical experience.

Speaker 1:

When did Granbury get the reputation as a place, a destination place?

Speaker 3:

Man, I moved here 20 years ago. I've seen a lot of really great changes and updates. It's been really thoughtful and well done. So even back, my husband remembers coming here as a kid, so I'm I mean probably kind of like a well-kept secret for us down in Houston, mm-hmm yeah yeah, it is and it's.

Speaker 1:

I would guess you probably pull from mainly the Fort Worth Dallas areas.

Speaker 3:

Yes, that's our biggest draw, because it's so close and once you hit a certain point it's just kind of all the stress melts away and you're in this beautiful what is it?

Speaker 1:

a couple of hours from DFW Airport.

Speaker 3:

It's about an hour and ten minutes or so.

Speaker 1:

It seemed like a lot longer after I got off that airplane flight from Denver and landed there, picked up the car and came down here. I'm thinking, my God, I've been in an airplane or in a car for the past year.

Speaker 3:

But if you're coming from Houston it's about a four-hour four-and-a-half-hour drive.

Speaker 2:

Three hours and 58 minutes.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, Jeff timed it down, man, you hit it good. Yeah, and we had a couple of stops. Yeah, we did One. Yeah, we did One at Sefco and the other one at Buc-ee's.

Speaker 3:

Oh, at Buc-ee's. Of course you have to stop there, but there's lots of great ways. You know, it's just such a cool place to come to and it's not too far from just about anywhere in this area in Texas and so it is a little sleepy-ish vacation town but it has so many amenities, lots of live music, lots of great places to eat, so it's really it's a fun place to hang out.

Speaker 1:

Well, the other thing is that I don't think that we focused enough on and that would be the lake. And the fact that I would imagine that there are a lot of weekenders that come up here for lake, even you know, Verbo, or whatever it is that they're doing that, but I would imagine that at this point they're quite a real place to call home now for a lot of people that this used to be the weekend house and now it's a real yeah.

Speaker 3:

Absolutely.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, they live here year-round.

Speaker 3:

Yep, and you can actually any time of year you can hop on visitgranberrycom. We have a webcam that points at the lake, so it's the lake cam, yep, and if you just need a moment of zen or you want to check out how the lake conditions look like, you can hop on that anytime and check it out so you can see people water skiing or having fun on their boats, um, all day long. So we we like to check it out everyone do you live on the? Lake.

Speaker 3:

I don't live on the lake I live just off the lake, but um, it's a really easy trip too so, so are you going to go on the big cruise tonight? The big cruise tonight. I am not going on the big cruise tonight Because you weren't invited.

Speaker 1:

Well, maybe we're not in charge of anything but we're inviting you to have you ever been on an old car cruise like this? I have not.

Speaker 3:

You need to go, I do need to go.

Speaker 1:

You really do and hitch a ride Somebody will give you a ride and go on the 23-mile cruise.

Speaker 2:

I don't remember. That sounds about right. I think it's around the lake, something like that.

Speaker 3:

Well, that's quite a ways around, so that would be fun.

Speaker 1:

But yeah, with all these hot rods all lined up and going through intersections. I know when we did the hot rod tour of Texas, there were certain towns that we had police escorts and they'd block off the streets and all the kids would come out and be a big parade. Yeah, but it was a moving parade. So once we were out of town, we're done.

Speaker 3:

That's fun.

Speaker 1:

That is fun, so I would encourage you to check that out if you've never done that.

Speaker 3:

Absolutely Well. I know these guys are planning to hit the road in a little while and head out to some of our assisted living facilities and greet some people, so that always puts a smile on everyone's face for sure, and so we love that part of this group because that is such a cool.

Speaker 1:

You're too young to know, but do you have the Munster coach here?

Speaker 3:

I haven't seen it.

Speaker 1:

You haven't seen it. You know what I'm talking about.

Speaker 3:

I do know what I'm talking about. Why would you bring that up and Grandpa's casket. Is it in there? No, we should go check it out.

Speaker 1:

It's actually an actual vehicle, but it's a casket and Grandpa sits at the back of the casket and drives it.

Speaker 3:

I have seen that. I actually have seen the Munsters, I promise Okay.

Speaker 2:

We'll check it, don't ask, it's great.

Speaker 1:

So you're going to take some of these cars and go around to the nursing homes around here, and uh, so what is planned? Do we have a band coming in later today here?

Speaker 3:

no, the group is heading down to the new granbury live and they're going to see a heart tribute band this evening. So that's really exciting, so we're we're really happy for them to be doing that. That's a great concert, so a lot of people are hopping on over there.

Speaker 2:

How many people does that see? I was going to ask about that, yeah it's a small venue, so it's just.

Speaker 3:

I believe it's just around 200. It's a small venue, so I believe it's just around 200.

Speaker 1:

It's a pretty tiny place.

Speaker 3:

It used to be a movie theater, didn't it? That one did not. It used to be a car dealership. I believe you don't know how appropriate.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, exactly, come on into the service department, we'll check your tires and you can hear a concert while you're here and you can have a show.

Speaker 3:

So it's a really cool venue. It's toted as one of the most intimate venues in Texas, and so it's a really cool place. You're really up and close with your talent, so it's fun.

Speaker 2:

I played in a gig at a textile mill one time.

Speaker 3:

Really yeah.

Speaker 1:

Were there sewing machines in there?

Speaker 2:

No, no, it's a venue now, but it used to be a textile warehouse or whatever. They had silos and things for all the stuff.

Speaker 1:

Cotton and stuff Yep Nylon Dacron Rayon.

Speaker 2:

Rayon. Rayon was big. Yeah, I remember him. He wore glasses. Yeah, that was Ray-Rayon.

Speaker 3:

Oh.

Speaker 2:

Listen, don't get me started with that.

Speaker 3:

It's hot out here. He's about to take his shirt off.

Speaker 2:

Well, I've already done that once, twice actually, if you haven't noticed he changed into white because we just put so much pressure on him.

Speaker 1:

So if you've got a group and you want to come to Granbury, who do you call?

Speaker 3:

Actually you call me.

Speaker 1:

There you go.

Speaker 3:

So Kristen Gibson at the Convention and Visitors Bureau at Visit Granbury and I help groups get all the way from their planning stages to getting their hotels, their hotels, their venues and how much is that service fee?

Speaker 1:

it is? Free we are a city service an event planner, free pretty much. Yeah, so do you, so you could plan weddings and stuff like that too.

Speaker 3:

We assist the family in planning but we'll, we'll do welcome bags like we do for everybody here we make connections with different places that they might need to know about, like some transportation services, different different restaurants Dinner Vito's Vito's. Vito's. Isn't that a great place for groups to go Try the veal?

Speaker 1:

And how about La Familia?

Speaker 3:

Oh, excellent.

Speaker 1:

Is it La Familia or Mi Familia? Mi Familia.

Speaker 3:

And it's fantastic. So we've got a lot of really great independently owned restaurants here in town. We've got some staples that people know from all over the country.

Speaker 1:

You got a Popeye's up here.

Speaker 3:

We don't have a Popeye's yet, but we do have a lot of chicken restaurants on 377.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, you do, we went to one.

Speaker 3:

Was it Babe's Chicken? Babe's is right here.

Speaker 1:

That was the pig barbecue Babe's. The staff sings every now and then Every 10 minutes.

Speaker 2:

Your server gets in a group with all the other servers and they sing a song.

Speaker 3:

And if it's your birthday, they get you to do the chicken dance.

Speaker 2:

It's very fun.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, and they give you a big chicken hat. It's great.

Speaker 1:

So always something fun to do. So I guess Popeyes is out of business right now. They have too much competition, exactly?

Speaker 3:

Not much fun. Got lots of great places to eat.

Speaker 1:

Well, I think that the interesting thing about it. This is a car-centric venue and city and you welcome hot rodders to come up here behave themselves. But clearly you know this group, I think, pretty much behaves themselves. They sowed all them wild seeds a ways back.

Speaker 2:

You understand what I'm saying, but this isn't your. This isn't a. Obviously the Lone Star Street Ride Association come here every year.

Speaker 3:

Yes.

Speaker 2:

But next week it might be something else, yes, and the week after something else.

Speaker 3:

So we have over 40 events a year that happen here in Granbury. So two years ago the legislature assigned us the title of the Celebration Capital of Texas, because we do have so many great celebrations and we love to embrace other people's celebrations and help them make them bigger. So, as we mentioned earlier the services we provide for events, we love to help people celebrate so any way we can do that we love to.

Speaker 1:

You know. All I could think of is what would be a great destination for something like the street rod not street ride with the hot rod tour of texas is line up her here and then coordinate all of this with another destination down the road. I don't know.

Speaker 2:

Sealy Belleville. Yeah, come up, the north side Come up that.

Speaker 1:

Whatever, coordinate them all so you can have overnight stops in each of these places, just as a pass-through Come up from Big.

Speaker 2:

Story have your little car show Right Exactly.

Speaker 1:

Stop by the drive-in movie theater et cetera, et cetera, great stuff.

Speaker 3:

Lots of good times. You're welcome and I won't charge you for that.

Speaker 2:

It'll be a trade, because it is his free service that he allows you connect us to other people who will connect him back to you. I love that.

Speaker 1:

We do too.

Speaker 3:

We fantastic. Here We've got some.

Speaker 1:

Who does the Corvette show?

Speaker 3:

So, the Brazos River Corvette Club. They have a Corvette show in October, so they'll be with us again. This year we have We've had some really awesome shows here.

Speaker 2:

He owns a Corvette. Oh cool, Does the?

Speaker 3:

Corvette Club come to Hewlett Park, they actually go to the Square and they set up around the Square.

Speaker 2:

It is jam packed full of Corvettes. It's a really fun day we need information so we can get him up there.

Speaker 3:

Oh, we'll get you up there, no problem.

Speaker 2:

Get him up there Good.

Speaker 3:

Now you know somebody who knows something so we'll get you connected in. I love it.

Speaker 1:

Love it too. We'll take care of it, Kristen. Thank you so much.

Speaker 3:

Absolutely.

Speaker 2:

We appreciate you, thank you.

Speaker 3:

We'll give her a big hello, hey.

Speaker 1:

Tammy, Just ahead a review of the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV and Jeff's Motor Minute. After a quick break here on the In-Wheel Time Car Talk Show. The Tex-Mex dining experience is defined by Loopy Tortilla your destination for Texas' best beef fajitas and frozen margaritas. Since 1983, loopy Tortilla has served authentic and time-tested recipes made with the freshest ingredients. Atmosphere is part of the award-winning experience at Loopy Tortilla, all developed in a little house near Highway 6 and I-10 in West Houston. Visit any of the Loopy Tortillas and you'll see the same attention to detail in each and every location. Start your Loopy experience with queso flammeado and guacamole, along with a classic frozen margarita. Dine on famous Loopy beef and chicken fajitas or pepper shrimp brochette, or a fish or vegetarian entree, and finish with a scrumptious flan for dessert. Find Loopy Tortilla in Houston, college Station, beaumont, austin, san Antonio and Dallas-Fort Worth. There's a Texas location near you. The recipes are authentic and time-tested, the ingredients always fresh. Loopy Tortilla it's pretty good.

Speaker 1:

The Unwell Time Car Talk Show thanks you for 14 wonderful years. Yep, our first show aired May 7, 2011 on a local radio station. Then it was a move to the digital world and social media and you followed Thank you station. Then it was a move to the digital world and social media and you followed, thank you. We continue to build and grow our fan base and it's all because of you and your auto enthusiast friends. We appreciate your support. It's always great to see you at our remote broadcasts and we hope you'll continue to stop by and say hello. It's been a great ride and we hope to bring you more fun and adventure right here on the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show. Hi and thank you. I want to remind you that next week we'll be back inside the Sugar Shack Studios with more automotive insider guests and our regular features, including guests, the sold car price, our story of the week recalls, etc, etc, etc. Or, as somebody once said, etc, etc, etc. Are you yelling?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's me sorry, I apologize. I was trying to get his attention um.

Speaker 1:

So all that's coming up on our regular live show next saturday, 10 to noon, central time at in real time youtube and facebook time. Now for jeff's motor minute you betcha.

Speaker 2:

Now, we often do this when we get them. We don't get them that often. We like them more to happen. But we've got some new subscribers. They subscribe to In Wheel Time Car Talk Show and if you want to send us a note or whatever, communicate with us who's a subscriber we're getting there.

Speaker 2:

So it's just information that we can share with you. You've got Eunice McGlynn. She sent us I believe it's a she might be a he new subscriber to In Wheel Time. And then we've got Rube Winther, who is also a subscriber I'm not pronouncing that right, so I apologize to you, but thank you for being a subscriber. So we're going to get that done. Now, if we get so many of them, mike will come to your house and make you breakfast or cut your lawn or something. So we'll do that in a drawing later on in the year.

Speaker 1:

I don't know if you want him to make your breakfast?

Speaker 2:

Well, that could be.

Speaker 1:

Not after what he ate this morning.

Speaker 2:

The other thing that we're going to talk about a little bit in this minute is the truth about NASCAR and their Prime Video Venture venture amazon prime streaming streams the nascar cup series.

Speaker 2:

Uh average of 2.27 million viewers through these last three races. That's all. It's down 21 from last year's three equivalent races on regular tv, which is a 2.88 million uh view. So the viewership took a hit. Prime video lit up where it matters most and posting 32 spike among the 18 to 34 year olds, which was 11 gain. 18 to 49 year bracket was a 21, which is a bump, but in the uh 25 to 54 year olds kind of went down. So that's the give and take of it. However, audiences 55 plus dropped 40 percent, resulting in an over overall viewership decline of 21 percent. Because they're on the prime video service, they're not on regular Fox or CW or NBC. They're going to these subscriptions and it's starting to hurt them. Don't know if it was a good idea, but I'm sure they'll work it out. I don't know if it was a good idea, but I'm sure they'll work it out. So, as the TV streaming debate rages on, one of the most fans of this is Dale Earnhardt because he's on the program.

Speaker 1:

And actually he does a very good job.

Speaker 2:

He does. He does a very, very good job. So it's not like the TNTs or the TSBs or TSNs and all that stuff, but it's less than football. A lot of the ratings are less than football.

Speaker 1:

Well, they've got some work to do.

Speaker 2:

They do.

Speaker 1:

It's really out of control.

Speaker 2:

Same thing with NHRA. They go and well, NHRA is a little different. It's kind of the same but different because they'll say a live broadcast of the finals, and it was like six hours ago on some obscure channel.

Speaker 1:

Their channel. Yeah yeah, I don't buy into that and I'm not subscribing to the NHRAcom thing. No, not doing that either, so that's not going to happen, because they're going to charge me, you know, $150 to watch the races. And guess what? No.

Speaker 2:

We love it. I mean, I love watching it.

Speaker 1:

We've got. You know, erica.

Speaker 2:

Enders is a friend of the show. We're a fan of hers. We know the family We've got. Antron Brown is a frequent guest, but it's not them that's doing it, it's the NHRA organization. So that's.

Speaker 1:

Have you seen all the brouhaha with?

Speaker 2:

her team. Yeah, and the Gosh. What was it? I just forgot what it was. It was about a valve stem. They put double valve stems on the no, it was a no it was a double valve stem and they said you can't do that. Well, it's only because it's got a liner in it. Yeah, and they said you can't run a liner, but they did it. They asked permission. They said, well, yeah, I guess so. And then, when it came to the bottom line.

Speaker 1:

They said they disqualified.

Speaker 2:

the run Cheaters is a big cheating thing I think the officials. One official's got all the power and the other one thinks they've got all the power and another one thinks they've got all the power and none of them have the power.

Speaker 1:

I say power to the people, power to the people. I think we should do it All right Time now for this hour's car review. I drove recently in the 19. 19. The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox.

Speaker 1:

EV the final assembly location is Ramos, arispe, mexico. It's available in the LT and the RS models. I had the LT. This is a small SUV. You may consider it a station wagon. Seats five people, all new in 2024.

Speaker 1:

Swoopy aero look with an attractive overall EV look and not that I'm a huge, huge EV fan, but I do like this. One Extra large C-pillar could hamper the rear visibility at first until you get used to it. So you use your cameras. Hopefully they work. Closed front fascia design is integrated into the overall look and not an afterthought like so many of them. Are Two-tone paint available to customize the look? I had a black top and a blue paint job on the majority of the vehicle. Wheels are integrated into the overall look.

Speaker 1:

What could use improvement? Nothing, we like it. Interior highlights include cloth or faux leather, or both. It's customized to you depending on the trim level and options that you have. Attractive and functional dash put you in charge. Hvac controls are below the center vent. That keeps the dash keeps the dash neat looking. I wrote that Seating is comfortable, cargo, small but useful size with the second row up. What I liked about it self-driving is available if you want to do that. Why, I don't know. What could use improvement. Well, there's no Apple CarPlay. Why? Why? I don't understand. I know that they want you to use their stuff but, you know, not popular with the majority of folks. It's going to cost you some sales, so why do anything that's going to cost you sales? Engine is an 85 kilowatt per hour battery. You know about that, don't you? Jeff kilowatt batteries, what does that?

Speaker 2:

translate to kwh. No, what does it?

Speaker 1:

translate to horsepower uh, 213 horsepower. Okay, uh, 236 pound feet. It's not bad. It is fast charge capable. I thought they all were apparently not transmission front wheel drive, it's direct drive. Tow rating fifteen hundred dollars. So if you want to go get you a little dirt trailer and tow it behind there, you can do that. Uh, miles per gallon well, it's not gallon kilowatt hours. City is 117, highway for 100, combined for 109. We use 3.2 kilowatt hours over 235.1 miles. Does that mean anything to you?

Speaker 2:

Mars.

Speaker 1:

Please explain it to us, because I don't get it either. What I liked about it, the 319-mile range, and how did I do with that? Here's what I did. I went back and forth to work, went to work. I had an 85% charge left. I plugged it in at work, stayed there for eight hours, unplugged it 100% charge, wow. Took it home 85% left, plugged it in. Next morning I get to go to work.

Speaker 2:

Great, 100%. So at work, it's a 110?.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, 110. Right, no fast charge, no level two. So I could work with that, so it wasn't a bad deal. It's not rocket acceleration that so many of them brag about, from what you would expect from an ev, but acceleration is good. It's not that you don't need a rocket acceleration with that vehicle. You don't with any of them, really.

Speaker 1:

Yeah right it has big car ride, but it doesn't have that heavy feeling to it that you get with most EVs. I don't know what they did. I don't know how they combated it. Maybe the batteries are smaller, I don't know. It doesn't have that. What could use improvement? Using the Equinox name and also over on the gas model, even though it's the same name, those are two completely different models. Did you know that?

Speaker 1:

They're completely different. It's kind of like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Ford Mustang no, why didn't you come up with another name? I know that the Equinox sells for you, but could you not come up with an name? I know that the equinox sells for you, but could you not come up with a equinox why? I don't know why they do that. Unequal, unequal, no knocks. Here's the. Uh, here's the actual selling thing for me. You know, evs are pretty expensive overall. Right base trim price 33.6. Prices tested 50. Oh, base model price 33.6. This is the entry level for the ev.

Speaker 2:

For the eevee yes, for the ev.

Speaker 1:

All right, now let's go to the competitors. The kia ev9 starts at 54.9. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 starts at $4,26. Wow. The Tesla Model Y starts at $44,900. In my estimation, a $33,000 start price for an electric vehicle. I'm in.

Speaker 3:

Well, for an SUV of that caliber, with the capacity and stuff it has, that's not top of the line like you mentioned.

Speaker 1:

No, but you know what? Who needs it? If you're going to travel between work and home for the majority of the time, well, this is a perfect vehicle.

Speaker 3:

maybe pick up the kids in the grocery store and stuff, you know some little side trips, but that's it that's it, and it's got plenty of juice.

Speaker 1:

It works good. I like it. I vote for it. Okay, very good, when you get one. I don't know what you'll say. I know that you've had some issues with some EVs that you've gotten, not this one. It's fine, just saying.

Speaker 3:

There, you go.

Speaker 1:

Hey, if you'd like to get in touch with us, shoot us an email. The address here is info at inwheeltimecom. We are back right here in Granbury, texas. After this quick break. You own a car you love. Why not let Gulf Coast Auto Shield protect it? Houstonian John Gray invites you to his state-of-the-art facility to introduce you to his specialist team of auto enthusiasts. We promise you'll be impressed. Whether you're looking to massage your original paint to a like-new appearance, apply a ceramic coating, install a paint protection film, nano-ceramic window tint or new windshield protection called ExoShield, gulf Coast Auto Shield is where Houston's car people go. Curbed your wheels. Instead of buying new, why not have them repaired? How about a professionally installed radar detector? Gulf Coast Auto Shield does that too. Get a peek inside the shop and look at the services offered by getting online and heading to gcautoshieldcom. Better yet, stop by their facility at 11275 South Sam Houston Tollway, just south of the Southwest Freeway, and get a personal tour. Gulf Coast Auto Shield is your place to go for all things exterior. Call them today, 832-930-5655, or gcautoshieldcom. Gcautoshieldcom.

Speaker 1:

The award-winning In Wheel Time Car Talk Show now reaches 5.3 million folks each year. Check us out on inwheeltimecom, the Odyssey Radio app, youtube, facebook and just about every other entertainment source out there, including our live broadcast every Saturday 10 to noon Central Time. The In Wheel Time Car Talk Show has informative automotive guest interviews, new car reviews, along with popular features, including Jeff's Car Culture, the latest new cars, cruise ins and racing dates. It's InWheelTimecom. Join us. That's it for this podcast episode of the In Wheel Time Car Show. I'm Don Armstrong, inviting you to join us for our live show every Saturday morning on Facebook, youtube, twitch and our InWheelTimecom website. Podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, spotify, stitcher, iheart Podcast, podcast Addict, tunein, pandora and Amazon Music. Keep listening and we'll see you soon.

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Don Armstrong

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Jeff Dziekan

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Michael Marrs

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