Check Engine Podcast

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 join them one day). With drivers of various backgroun...

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 in today!

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 confines of Siebkens bar, we'll make you feel like you...

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!

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.

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 and the wonderful work he's doing!

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 to succeed, teacher's pet, and class clown to the 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, Greens, Blues, Indigos, and Violets (with some bonus n...

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!

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 discuss what would bring us joy on the streets and th...

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...

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 crossing an F350 with a Smart Car? What about a VW Cab...

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 tell us what YOU think!

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.

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!

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!

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 

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 know!

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!

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 consider supporting us at https://anchor.fm/checkenginep...

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 personal wisdom (especially regarding pizza!), and shar...

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 in this trusty, tabletop gaming tool and choose whi...

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 Tristan makes a bold proclamation! Listen in today! If y...

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!

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 courtesy of the interesting products generated by the...