Check Engine Podcast

After literally dusting off the microphones, we return to catch you up on all of the exciting car related escapades we've been up to since our karting round table. From flying profanity to exciting vacations to run-ins with local law enforcement, it's been EVENTFUL. Welcome back! We're glad you're here!

WE'RE BACK! AGAIN! After some time away to regroup, the boys make their triumphant return to the podcast world! With us, we have Frank and Frank Giuffre, father and son kart racers with decades of family experience in motorsports of all kinds. We pick their brains on everything from Badger Kart Club to the Milwaukee Mile to the Indy 500. Listen in today!

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...

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 then land in a potential preview of next week'...

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".

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 Evo back... Speaking of back, WE&...

After a bit of a baby-related hiatus, the boys return with some fun car new, some annoying car news, and some musical fun!

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...

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!

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 tension, and, of course, discussion about the...

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!

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.

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!

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!

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 gift car, but it was for both of you? TWINS! Listen...

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.

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 dropped something on Priuses, and var...

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!

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 wunderkinds? Or did we miss som...

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!

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.

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 conspiracy theory pool! Are we fools for wasting money...

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, and F1 seasons. Listen in today to see if they t...

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, and even a couple rental car reviews! Join us as...