Tailpipes, Tacos, And Horsepower

Sizzling fajitas, a packed lot, and a sea of chrome set the stage at Tailpipes and Tacos in Katy, Texas, where we dive into the heartbeat of car culture. We welcome Chase Murray to swap NHRA road stories and shine a light on sportsman drag racing—the data-driven, family-powered backbone that rarely gets the headlines but delivers the grit. From pit strategy and shared setups to the Emmons team’s relentless note-taking, we get into how grassroots racers turn budgets and weather notes into round wins.

We switch gears into a practical guide for building a car collection that’s thoughtful and attainable. Theme before impulse, storage before car number two, and a real budget that includes maintenance, insurance, and tires you’ll replace by age rather than wear. You’ll hear why originality and paperwork matter for value, when reversible mods make sense, and how networking at shows unearths the best leads. Whether you’re eyeing underloved driver-quality cars under ten grand or saving up for a single halo piece, a clear wish list beats adrenaline every time.

Rounding it out, we put miles on the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid. Think all-wheel-drive confidence, a calmer ride, wide door openings, and a tablet-style interface that keeps the tech tidy. The hybrid’s extra power, real-world low-30s mpg, and generous range make it a pragmatic daily that plays well with weekend car life. From kids in remote-controlled Power Wheels to a custom Bronco and a row of originals, the lot proves a simple truth: great car culture includes everyone, and the stories are as important as the specs.

If you enjoy this kind of car talk—honest, hands-on, and community-driven—follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your feedback helps more enthusiasts find us and keeps the engines warm for next time.

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Transcript

Live From Tailpipes & Tacos

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Welcome to another In Wheel Time podcast. Five seconds. So the Tale Pipes and Tacos Christmas brings in at the Living Tortilla Tex Mets in Cady, Texas. Welcome to the Inbill Time Car Talk Show. Coming up in the next three hours, you'll hear from some of the attendees at today's event. Later in Jeff's Car Culture, how to start a car collection. Yep. Stan is sick today and he won't be here, but I know that his son-in-law is going to tell us all about how to start car collection. Oh, definitely. Because I know that he's schooled you well.

SPEAKER_01 0:49

As he does everybody. Yeah, lots of uh things on that.

SPEAKER_03 0:53

Well, see, we've I've done things where we've we've talked about car collections, the big ones around the world, but never how to start one. So here we go.

SPEAKER_02 0:59

We're gonna do that today. Uh Mars has a review of the 2025 Subaru Forrester. How to get along with Mike out of this world bars. We always need more Jeb Zekin Chief Engineer David Ainsley, who's sick. In many different ways, he's here and he is engineering the show today. Came back with an asking. My name is Nod Nortra, and I'm glad that you are here with us today. So I've given you a preview. We've already teased the fact that we have a guest sitting in the hot seat. Can they see him? Can you see him?

SPEAKER_03 1:34

I can see him.

SPEAKER_02 1:35

Okay. So you need to scoot your chair in just a little bit. I'll scoot up close. That's good. Mars likes that. Yeah. With all the noise. Anyway, Chase Murray is here, and um Chase is Stan's son-in-law. Stepson.

SPEAKER_00 1:49

Stepson.

SPEAKER_02 1:50

Stepson, sorry.

SPEAKER_01 1:51

Yeah. We're all good. Good morning, guys. How y'all doing?

Guest Intro And NHRA Memories

SPEAKER_02 1:54

Well, uh, yeah, we we are good. Yes. I'm glad to be here. And uh he is the he is the child of Sheila May Murray. That's it. One and only. Yeah. And so I met Stanton on the NHRA tour. And I uh I think was it was it Pomona? Sheila, did I meet you in Pomona? In Pomona. And oh my god, what a memorable event that was. It was so much fun. You weren't there, you missed it. Right. Yeah, I missed a good time. Yeah, like always. Yeah, he was building a spine. And uh yes, no, it he already had a spine. Um so that was in 2006. 2006. So how old would you have been then?

SPEAKER_01 2:45

Yeah, I was right at 18.

SPEAKER_02 2:46

Yeah, you were right at 18. So in other words, you were hiding from everybody. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:50

You and your dad were all buddied up and racing. I was on the road, but you were well you you didn't go to Pomona that year. No, so I didn't meet you then. No, no, it it it was a few years, so I made it to Pomona.

SPEAKER_02 3:00

Yeah, well, uh anyway, I have stories to tell about Pomona. Listen, uh it was it was good. Uh, most of them I can't repeat here on this uh public broadcasting show. Of course. We'll save that for the after hour show.

SPEAKER_01 3:13

There you go.

SPEAKER_02 3:14

What a great idea.

SPEAKER_01 3:16

Ray Ray after dark, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:18

Oh in wheel times Ray Ray after dark. Oh boy, we're gonna have to draw some listeners, or just yeah, or just Ray Ray in the dark. It was a dark, cloudy evening. Ray Ray was about to oh my god, yes. This is going down the hill quick, and there was also a place called the Pomona Mining Company, which actually sits on a little mountain thing, little bitty mountain there. You know where it is. Yeah, I'm sure you've been up there. Yes. Well, uh, I have stories to tell up there, and in the parking lot because you know you got to get on a short bus to go up there. We're not familiar with the short business, yes, stick with the script, as we all are. Anyway, uh great show here today. Uh, and you know what? Look at the people that have shown. Coming in.

SPEAKER_03 4:02

I'm gonna put the camera out there. Uh please do, yeah. And there's all kinds of things.

SPEAKER_02 4:06

And look, the in-wheel time machine is sitting in the in the handicapped spot, which is perfect.

SPEAKER_03 4:11

Now, if you look at that shot fitting coming up in that shot, you've got the uh the kids' uh car show coming up on that side, on the left side, on the left side, on the left side of your screen. Yes, you bet.

SPEAKER_02 4:22

So there's that. Uh Biff is here, he's gonna take care of the uh trophies today. Yep, and uh the the bug man is here. The bug man rolled in early. Yep, he he did come in early. Killing bugs. I actually brought a car today. Did you see it out there? I haven't seen it yet. Well, I don't know how you could miss it because it's right up there in the front, and it is a 2026 okay Ford Bronco Tutor. I did see it and didn't know you brought it up.

SPEAKER_01 4:45

Can't miss it, man. Yeah, of course, you can't miss it. And it's the Stropey edition.

SPEAKER_02 4:49

Oh, and you're familiar with him. He's a car customizer, yes, sir. Well, apparently, Ford has married up with him, and he's got lots of his own little tricks and trades that he has done to the thing. Interesting. It is$77,000. Oh, a lot of tricks, it's a lot of tricks, but um, it is definitely an off-road vehicle, it's definitely decked out, yeah. It is, and it's got a lot of suspension travel, it's got the great big beadlock tires on it. I mean, it looks good. I'm not too sure. I'm not too sure about the paint, but hey, it is what it is.

SPEAKER_03 5:19

Yeah, so when you turn definitely unique, when you turn on the radio, does it go dun dun dun dun dun dun dun da da da da?

SPEAKER_02 5:26

They have to pay extra for that for you. Let me tell you something. People from Ford Motor Company are listening. I know, and are to radio. Pardon me? Yeah, uh, and anyway, um, so we've got that out there to entice people to come in and look at it. Definitely, yeah, yeah, it's a great decent yeah, yeah. And thank you, Ford Motor Company, for supplying us with that. There's some friends of ours here, uh, lots of friends. Um, this is a great car show, and you know, I was trying to tell somebody the other day about this car show, and uh it's all different kinds of cars. Yeah, that's a great collection. Uh a guy that um I've known for a very short period of time has a beautiful Corvette. It's if you want to call it a resto mod for uh C C7, um, it is that he's done some little custom touches to it. Matter of fact, this is before I knew this guy, it was his car. And I I told Leslie, I said, Man, I sure do like that. And it's uh kind of a maroon color, okay, which is not something that I typically am attracted to, but it's done so nicely. It's like, wow, this is really nice. Yes, yeah, and that you know, you know those kind of guys, yeah, like me, like me. Yeah, yeah, just some little subtle touches to the car that make it your own. Not out of not out of not out of crazy, crazy just a little personal touch. That's it. You're familiar with that, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:46

Are you driving a C8? I'm not. I am in the the tried and trusted 61 Cadillac, yeah, baby. There you go. Well, you have to. I mean, that that's me. That's uh it's if it's red, I'm driving it. It is you, yes, it definitely is you. I've never wavered since the very beginning, dude. If it's red, I'm driving it.

SPEAKER_02 7:05

I guarantee you that's the case. Oh, the ticket stays in it. Yeah, I guarantee you that that car gets more looks than a C8 any day. Definitely. Oh, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 7:12

Yeah, people haunt the horn as they pass by all the time, man. All the time. I mean, they're video and even the peace sign, everything. You wear your scarf so they can flap off behind you. You can flap all the way in the back, the long scarf, you know.

SPEAKER_02 7:24

How's the wife and the baby since the last we talked talked to you last time? Uh the baby was still an infant.

SPEAKER_01 7:29

Yes. Uh, baby boy uh just turned one in November. Um, he and wifey will be up here shortly. Good. And uh he has a brand new power wheels to debut.

SPEAKER_02 7:41

My god, you know, I saw that post, then I'm thinking, have you been jacking with that car? Just a little bit. You know, I can't have anything stock. Yeah, you know, so this is a remote control, but it's a it's a it's a big electric car that normally would be suited for somebody that's like four or five.

SPEAKER_01 8:01

Of course, yeah, it's definitely not for a fresh one-year-old now.

SPEAKER_00 8:06

Yeah, I was surprised that it was remote control.

SPEAKER_01 8:08

I've never seen a remote control in that that was courtesy of me. They didn't uh that is a 2014 model power wheels, you know. So I had to do some research and find the used piece and restations. They make, yeah, several companies sell these uh radio control modified kits, and uh it took a lot of researching and poking and prying with the wires and making it work.

SPEAKER_02 8:38

But yeah, I'll be darn. You know, that is cool. It's funny you should say that because my oldest daughter, Amy, who you know, who has my three-year-old grandson, yes, he's kind of in that boat where he's not old enough yet. Yeah, right. I found out this week when I told her that there was going to be a kitty show here as well. She told me that she still has that old Porsche that we gave her, but she was like five. Her grandmother actually gave it to her, she's deceased now, but it has basically a button for the go, right? And you take your foot off and it stops. That's it. That would be absolutely perfect to modify that to give to her son, who's three, of course. Not me, don't be pointing your finger. That's what I was thinking, Mike. Look at look at look, speaking of Porsche.

SPEAKER_01 9:31

Oh, that's a that's a Volkswagen coming here. Oh, check that out. Let's Santa in the front, too.

SPEAKER_03 9:35

Yeah, he's all strapped down. Yep, you want Santa, bro. Oh, Santa, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:40

Probably not the first time for Santa to be strapped down. You might guess. All the houses he hits, I'm sure it happens. Yeah, um, it's a great show. Whose uh Volkswagen bus is this?

SPEAKER_01 9:54

This is Daniel from uh Toys for Tots.

SPEAKER_02 9:57

Actually, that's is that a 13 window? It's this gentleman right here, right in front.

SPEAKER_01 10:01

Well, I'll tell you what, man, that that's cool. Is it his? No, Daniel, I don't know where he is.

SPEAKER_02 10:06

Well, it's okay.

SPEAKER_01 10:07

Uh Daniel actually, when we went to uh Autorama over the Thanksgiving weekend, I didn't see Daniel, but I noticed he has several Volkswagen buses, and uh he had them over there at display. Very cool guy.

SPEAKER_02 10:21

So Dave Kendick is his hero, yeah, for sure. Because Dave Kendick, that's what he's all about. Yeah, you've seen those customized old man.

Car Show Walkaround And Bronco Talk

SPEAKER_03 10:28

Who's the comedian they call Fluffy? Fluffy Fluffy's got up. I think he's got like 20 signs or something, yeah. Yeah, yeah, all buses.

SPEAKER_02 10:36

Um, so we're gonna have you on several times today, okay. And I I the reason being, well, because I want to.

SPEAKER_03 10:46

It's his show.

SPEAKER_02 10:48

But I I want to talk to you about drag racing, yes, okay. So we'll have a segment on that with you, yes, sir. Okay, because this is Mr. Sportsman Racer. You know, we're good friends with the Emmons boys, of course, and we have them on uh a couple times a year. Yeah, great group of guys, yes. Uh they're part of our little circle of family in France, definitely, yeah, and um love them, and they actually gave us um the trophy that they won. Was it Las Vegas? Yeah, no, it was Dallas, Dallas, the 50th, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, and so we we got a wally from them that they gave us, yeah, and um great guys, and and we love talking to them. And when we talk to them, we talked to them obviously about the car business, used car business and their lot. And we also talk about sportsman racing, which they've been after it longer than you have, just a little bit, yeah. But and so very well schooled in that whole uh segment of drag racing, yes, because it is, and it's actually bigger than the pros. Yeah, it really is.

SPEAKER_01 11:49

They um they're a tremendous team. I mean when we go to uh Dallas, especially, um, we're able to usually pit real close to them, but their whole strategy going into race day is just tremendous, you know. They they are up there supporting every person on the team, they're taking notes on every qualifying lap, they share their advice and well, and the way they got the cars set up.

SPEAKER_00 12:12

I mean, they're in stock and super stock, but the there's so many similarities between the cars that they they can take, you know, okay, we learned this on your car, let's go put it over here on this car.

SPEAKER_01 12:22

Yeah, they have uh you know huge benefit of of sharing that data across the classes, and they have a guy that they that that handles all of their stuff and the dirt I would assume they do, but those guys don't stop working, you know. They are they are out there all the time, you know. Yeah, and uh it's it's truly impressive team.

SPEAKER_00 12:42

Well, I think they take didn't he say they take six cars now?

SPEAKER_01 12:46

Yeah, yeah, yeah. They have a you've got a full 18-wheeler. I mean, yeah, yeah. But I mean, just all the brothers together and and the others, it's it's a great thing.

SPEAKER_03 12:54

And they have their kids too growing up in the business.

SPEAKER_01 12:57

Yeah, we actually got to hang out a lot in Dallas. You know, I had all the little push cars and stuff.

SPEAKER_02 13:02

We had them for the kids out there in Dallas, so you know, we've been kind of looking for a sponsor up there at the Dallas race, right? And you know, unfortunately, it works out that we don't really have a connection to the sportsmen because you guys race when we're on the air, right? But I think that next year we need to kind of add on to our regular show and do a show that is with the sportsman guys, and I'm thinking maybe Lupi Tortilla and Ed Emmons.com right that we can all get together and do a special broadcast. That would be very good.

SPEAKER_00 13:42

We can definitely discuss everybody wants to talk to the pros, and I understand that we do, but nobody really talks that much to the sportsman guys, and there'll be like what 10-20 times as many sportsmen in the race as there are more than that, definitely, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:56

And the and the other thing about it is is that that way I can get uh Dale Hulquist, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:02

And uh is um there's a whole group of just great sportsman guys, especially in in the Houston area, um, that are just a wealth of knowledge for cars, for racing, everything. It's just good to have the bunch of car people.

SPEAKER_03 14:19

So, what makes the sportsman the sportsman class?

SPEAKER_01 14:21

Um, really, it's just uh money, yeah. That's the main factor. But you know what?

SPEAKER_02 14:27

Well, that is the main factor, but it's not to say that you don't put tons of money in that sportsman class.

SPEAKER_01 14:33

We put blood, sweat, and tears, everything we have into sportsman racing, you know. Um and and you know what?

SPEAKER_02 14:38

You learn the best way, and that's from your dad, of course, ground up and you know, budgets and time because he was working a full-time job. Yes, sir. Then you go out on the it, it's it's a lot.

SPEAKER_01 14:52

Yeah, I re I remember uh growing up and um trying to figure out my racing schedule, you know, when I was young and and I knew what we could afford, and uh basically had to sit down and I was planning out these 15-20 races for the year and deciding who can I what business can I go talk to and provide them some return on investment, you know, and just help us out. But we took trips to Indianapolis, Indiana for the Nationals when I was young. Again, that's how me and my wife met junior drag racing. We we both grew up in that. Following her mama's footsteps. That's it.

SPEAKER_03 15:31

I was gonna say your your your mom ran that that side of it the program, the division.

SPEAKER_01 15:35

Yeah, yeah. So it's uh it's ingrained in every aspect of our life is the drag racing thing. You know, there's a guy there in a red shirt by the name of Jackie Hansen, fireman Jack.

SPEAKER_02 15:45

And hey man, it's sure. Good good to see you. Good to see you up and around. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_01 15:51

Yeah, he's coming back around. Yeah, but wow, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:00

Okay, we'll we'll we're gonna have you, we'll have you on here in a little bit. We'll talk about we'll talk about heart attacks and all that stuff. Wow, we don't want to do that.

SPEAKER_03 16:08

Yeah, fuel system overall.

SPEAKER_02 16:10

There you go. That would be the stomach. Oh my god. Yeah, he needs to be arrested, sir. We've got the police here already, so yeah, yeah. That's good. Um, wonderful, yeah. Um, it's interesting that this this show is definitely unique, and you know, we all all all of us here, we've been to lots of shows, right? This there's something special about this one, and I don't just say that because you know we've got a connection with Lupi Tortilla, but I think that that's part of it.

SPEAKER_01 16:44

I uh honestly, I think it all goes back to Stan. I just everything goes back to Stan.

SPEAKER_02 16:50

And by the way, and in Stan's not feeling well, and he's not here today, and so I I'm sure that he's listening, hopefully, and um that uh he is proud of what what he's put together, not only in the restaurant business, which is huge, but uh with the amount of people that love him.

SPEAKER_01 17:05

Yeah, yeah, I see it every day. I know you do. Yeah, uh, it's it's truly a great thing that I'm a part of that.

SPEAKER_02 17:12

Yeah, it it truly is, and you know it's funny, you you can't you can't buy that. No, um, it's truly and genuine from the heart. Yeah, and uh, I think that's that's what makes this very special. So we're gonna be here till 11 o'clock today. And it's filling up. It's filling up here. Now, our broadcast is gonna go until noon, right? We're not gonna be sitting here at noon. We're gonna this is this is the hour that's gonna be the extra hour from 11 to noon. Okay, it's complicated, but we're doing it that way so we can do a three-hour show, right? And uh, so the next two hours, 10, 9 to 10, 10 to 11, yeah, uh is actually gonna be live. Well, this one's being recorded, but it doesn't make any difference. No, who cares? Yeah, it's all good. It is, it does all good.

SPEAKER_00 17:56

We're not gonna tell anybody.

Family, Kids’ Rides, And Modding Power Wheels

SPEAKER_02 17:57

No, we won't. But anyway, we need to take a break. All right, okay, and we got some things we've got to do, but let's have you back when you want to come back. Yeah, tell me and I'll be here. Okay. Well, we'll we'll talk about that. So let's take a break. Sounds good. Thank you, guys. Just ahead. Jeff's Car Culture and How to Start a Car Collection. Plus, Mars reviews the 25 Subaru Forester. It's coming up right after this. Quick break on the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show. The Tex-Mex dining experience is defined by Lupi Tortilla, your destination for Texas's best beef fajitas and frozen margaritas. Since 1983, Lupi Tortilla has served authentic and time-tested recipes made with the freshest ingredients. Atmosphere is part of the award-winning experience of Lupi Tortilla, all developed in a little house near Highway 6 and I 10 in West Houston. Visit any of the Lupi Tortillas and you'll see the same attention to detail at each and every location. Start your loopy experience with queso flammiato and guacamole, along with a classic frozen margarita. Dine up famous loopy beef and chicken fajitas, or pepper shrimp push-up, or a fish or vegetarian entree, and finish with a scrumptious flog for dessert. Find Luppy 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. He's pretty good. Apple or Android NWL Time Podcast can be found everywhere, on the stream and through downloads. Whether you're on the road or at home and Jones in for a different kind of car talk show, give In Wheel Time a try. Honest new car reviews, fun, informative interviews with real car people, weekly automotive news, features like Jeff's car culture and Mike's driving destinations, all on In Wheel Time. Check us out on Sirius XM Podcasts, iHeartRadio, or while you're shopping on Amazon through Amazon Music. Mm-hmm. InWheeltime.com has a list, and we know you love lists. Think that the commercial is on the air, then no.

unknown 19:57

I mean, I can barely hear it on YouTube. I've a lot of

SPEAKER_03 20:09

Good morning.

SPEAKER_02 20:13

Tell me when we're back on the air again. And in the meantime, when we're not on the air, and you and David need to fix this. I know. Clearly there's something going on over there. All right. Hey, the N-wheel time car caught card talk show invites you to join us 10 to noon central. You think it's bad now? Oh boy. Wait until noon. Okay. We invite you to join us 10 to noon Central Time every Saturday for our live show, if you can hear it. About all things automotive. Next week we'll be back in our dual studios, maybe just one, not sure. And we hope you'll join us. Thanks for being with us today here on the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show coming to you today from Tailpipes and Tacos Christmas Edition. Toys for Tots, Car Show, Kitty Car Show. Yeah. It's all happening right here. Where? This is at the Lupi Tortilla in Katy, Texas. Okay. This is at 99, the Grand Parkway, and I-10, the Katy Freeway. We're out west. So come join us. Uh, we will be here until 11 a.m. this morning. There's that. Yep. Okay, time now for Jeff's Car Culture: how to start a car collection.

SPEAKER_03 21:28

Yeah, we talked earlier that we've talked about a lot of the car car collections around the world. Catching, isn't it? Yeah. Prior to purchasing cars, it's important to ask yourself questions like what type of collectibles can I afford? Jay Leno recommends listening to your heart when beginning a car collection, but you don't have his money. So determine your storage solution. Before you start making any purchases, you want to range storage locations, especially if you plan to build a collection of more than four vehicles. Square footage location, security, that's all the factors that you really need to consider. Despite popular misconceptions, classic car collecting isn't a hobby reserved for the rich and famous. You can actually start a collection with hot rods and cars for under 10 grand. So there's a market out there. Establish your collection theme. One of the tips for collecting is what do you want to do? It's got to be cohesive. What sets your collection apart from the random assortment of vehicles? If you're unsure where to begin, start with a muffler. Start with a muffler. Prior to purchasing cars, it's important to ask yourself like, what am I more interested in? Vintage, sports cars, hot rods, what type of collectibles can you afford? So that's the main thing before you even get started. Network with fellow collectors. Be here at the Lupe Tortilla. Uh the car shows here. Get guidance, get technical advice, get some things from the network people. Uh you know, you're networking with other cars as well. It's invaluable. Don't forget to set a budget. Get caught up with the excitement of the first car, soon to be a collector. Could be a reckless purchase with no decision. Before buying a collector car, build out your collection wish list. Account for maintenance costs. Is that car gonna be maintained in that spot? So you got to consider that as well. And lastly, just ask questions. Ask the questions that we uh all want to know about our hot rods. So get involved in that, network, find out what you're gonna do, make a list, check it twice, start a collection. Sure. Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_02 23:33

All different kinds. I don't know how many he's got. Lots fill up the entire barn. I don't know another guy that his car collection is originals, untouched, originals, all original, gotta have the paperwork, yep, numbers matching, the whole line. It's all originals. That's all he's got. He's probably got 75. All originals. One of them is a 4GT, a four GT that still has the original wrap on the seats. Oh, yeah. Oh wow. You open the door, everything's all still in plastic. How much is that worth? Wow. Yeah, of course. I don't know how much it costs, probably a lot, but those are the kind of things. I got a Chevy collection. Yeah, I got a Chevy collection from the 80s, I got a Buick collection from the 90s. Yeah, whatever. That's the whole collection.

SPEAKER_03 24:25

And that's the point of it. You know, you if if you're you're I like the Novas, the Cougars, you know, the Torinos, things like that. That would be something that you would collect. Other guys do the Ferraris, you know, you got Corvettes. How much money you got? Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 24:38

All right, time now for this hour's car review. Mr. Mars uh drove the 2025 Subaru Forester and hear his feelings about it.

SPEAKER_00 24:47

Yeah, so you did the wilderness last week, so this is a little bit different one. It is part of the six gem, but this is new for 2025, and it's the Forester Premium Hybrid All-Wheel Drive. It is kind of more of a streetcar versus the wilderness that we had last week. So the final assembly locations in Japan. There's actually nine different Foresters, but there's only four hybrid premium sport limited in touring. And I had the hybrid for the for the week that I drove it. Now, this is a small hybrid sport utilities, the way it's classified, fits in between the cross-trek and the outback, fits in between those two different sizes if you're out looking at these. Comes with LED headlights with the automatic height adjustance, which I thought was rather different. And it also has the automatic on-off for the headlights if the windowship wipers come on. If you turn them on, you're automatically getting headlights, which is kind of neat.

SPEAKER_03 25:36

Yeah, it's a lot.

Sportsman Drag Racing Deep Dive

SPEAKER_00 25:37

Heated exterior mirrors with a de-icer. You might need that a little up north, not too much down here in Houston. Had a panoramic moon roof to get you more of that outside feeling, power rear lift gate with a hands-free foot activated clothes on it, and we were rolling on the 18-inch alloy wheels that come with that premium package. Now, the interior, we had the premium cloth seats, which we know I liked it a lot better than the leather for this kind of vehicle. They are heated in the front seats. The second row seat is a 6040. It does recline and it does fold. And up front, we had a 12.3 inch LED digital gauge package all the way across there. Nice and big. You can see anything and everything. And it has 11.6 inch tablet style multimedia touchscreen. And that's where you're going to find your navigation and all your infotainment systems. It's got plenty of USB-C ports, got a wireless charger on it. I will say though, the wireless charger, if you're driving, there's nothing really to hold your phone in place. And it will slide on you a little bit. So just be aware of that. It's got a rear cargo cover on it so that you keep things out of sight, out of mind, whenever you've got cargo back there. And up under the hood is a four-cylinder, 2.5 liter flat four-boxer type motor with two electric motor generators. Now, this is where the hybrid system that comes in. Now combined, it puts out 194 horsepower up from 180 on the regular gasoline only engine. It is still backed by a CVT, but it does have a six-speed manual mode on it that I kind of didn't mess with much. I didn't think is why. Yeah. It has a tow rating of 1500 pounds. Uh MPG in the city, the EPA says you should look for about 35 highway 34, combined 35. Now it has a 16.6 gallon tank, so that means you're going to get about a 580-mile range out of this vehicle with it, even in the hybrid. Now, I drove it 391.6 miles and got 32.3 miles to the gallon. A little bit lower than the rating on it, but I was well pleased with that by all means. Now, the great things about it is it's got a wide opening doors to make it easy to get in and out. You don't have to climb down in it, you don't have to climb up in it like you do some vehicles. Uh, it's also got an insulated front windshield that reduces the road noise. All the controls are easy to climb down into it. Well, you know, some cars you got to kind of fall down into, yeah, and then you got to climb down.

SPEAKER_02 28:00

I just want to make sure that we're correct here. You said climb down into it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:05

Well, I've got to climb, it's either climb or fall, and usually it hurts when I fall at this age.

SPEAKER_03 28:10

Depends on where you're going, too.

SPEAKER_00 28:11

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh and uh it does have a little bit of a firm ride, but that's an all-wheel drive, and and the suspicion that's suspension that's set up for this vehicle, but it's not quite, I don't think as firm as the wilderness ride, but uh you know, you have to be the judge of that. Now the base trim price on this vehicle is$38,015. Um the base model price you can get into a superinforcer for$31,415. Now, I did know that the premium, the MSRP based on the premium is$34,850. But you go to the hybrid, the one that we're driving, and you're back up to that$38015, which means you're paying$32,400 to get into that hybrid to fall into it. Just something you've got to count on whenever you're you're calculating, deciding if you want to go that route. Competitors, you're gonna find you can go look at the Mazda CX50 hybrid to$35,499 to start. Uh the Kia is 40 as a hybrid, but it's$30,185. I got a friend that's got a 40 just now and he's looking to buy a new one that he's seriously considering this hybrid. I'd like to get my hands on one just so we can kind of test it out a little bit more. Uh Toyota's even got a RAM 4 hybrid. So there's lots of things to look at, particularly in that small SUV. Uh, if you're looking for a hybrid, there are plenty to look at there, plenty to choose from there. And if you get a chance, drive the Subaru Forester to the hybrid.

SPEAKER_03 29:42

There you go. Hey, you know what? In real time car talk show continues right after a quick break.

SPEAKER_00 29:53

There it is.

SPEAKER_02 29:55

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