Cool Cars with Chris: Car Talk, Driving Tips & Auto Life

If you're searching for the best cars to buy in 2026, how to avoid luxury car depreciation, or whether leasing a car is worth it, this episode of  Cool Cars with Chris  delivers expert insight. We break down why $100K luxury cars lose 30% of their value in the first year, explore the smartest used cars that hold their resale value, and compare lease vs finance strategies for Uber, Lyft, and Do...

Hey everyone, it's Chris 👋 and in this episode of  Cool Cars with Chris , I'm back with my buddy Courage for a wild ride of wrenching, driving, and exploring the car culture we all love. First up, Courage walks us through his recent  DIY brake job  on his Hyundai Elantra N. Spoiler alert: things didn’t go exactly to plan. From weird brake squeals to last-minute tool runs, this is the real...

Ready to hit your first Cars & Coffee but not sure what to expect?  Whether you're rolling in a modded turbo, a lifted truck, or just showing up to vibe with the car community — this episode breaks it all down. Chris is joined by returning guest  Courage  for a deep dive into the  unwritten rules ,  etiquette , and  awesome stories behind one of car culture’s most beloved meetups:  Cars an...

This week on  Cool Cars with Chris , we’re going full throttle into the  LA Auto Show 2025  — and you won’t believe what Courage saw. From drifting  electric Hyundais indoors  to spotting  movie cars  from  Fast & Furious  and  JDM legends , this episode is packed with everything you’d want from one of the biggest auto shows in the U.S. We also compare it to the San Diego Auto Show , talk abou...

Looking for the  perfect Christmas gift  for the car enthusiast in your life? 🎄 In  Part 2  of this festive two-part series, Chris shares  7 amazing gift ideas  that every  car guy  (or girl!) would actually love to unwrap this holiday season. From  high-tech gadgets  like dash cams and OBD2 scanners to  detailing essentials  and unforgettable  driving experiences , this episode is your go-to  20...

🎄 Happy Holidays and welcome to Part 1 of our Cool Cars Christmas Special! 🎁 Before you head out to buy a gift for the car lover in your life,  STOP and listen to this episode  — because not all car gifts are created equal. In fact, some are just...  downright awful. In this festive and fun-filled episode, Chris breaks down the  7 worst Christmas gifts you could give a car enthusiast . From chea...

In this episode of  Cool Cars with Chris , we're diving deep into the  real-life drama of dealership repairs . Chris shares the shocking story of how his  Ford F-150  nearly died in a  Starbucks drive-thru , leading to a full  engine replacement , a  clown car rental , and a dealership that literally  vanished . With special guest  Courage , the duo also breaks down the ongoing debate of  DIY...

Ed Hanson’s Muffler Service  – Custom exhaust solutions in San Diego since forever. Looking to upgrade your ride with power, performance, and sound? 📍 3916 North Barcelona St, Spring Valley, CA 📞 (619) 698-7030 🌐  edhansonsmuffler.com "Where your pipe dreams come true." What do  driving blindfolded ,  gorillas in the backseat , and  camels on highways  all have in common? They’re  rea...

This week on  Cool Cars with Chris ,  Courage is back from a business trip with something much more exciting than work updates — a test drive of the  750-horsepower Silverado EV RST . From its  whisper-quiet electric torque  to the not-so-quiet  charging bill , we dig into what it’s really like to live with a six-figure electric truck. Spoiler alert:  $65 doesn’t get you a full charge , and  range...

Confused about what gas to put in your car? Wondering if premium is worth it—or what E85 even is? This episode has all the answers. In this power-packed episode of  Cool Cars with Chris , I break down  everything you’ve ever wanted to know about fuel —from how it’s made to which type your car actually needs. And yes, I know what I’m talking about... because I literally  drive the fuel to your gas...

In this episode of  Cool Cars with Chris , we’re diving deep into the world of  Hyundai N performance ,  YouTube car content , and what it’s really like to mod your daily driver. Our guest this week is  Courage , better known as  The Driven Dad   — a car YouTuber who’s built a passionate following by sharing his experiences with his  2022 Hyundai Elantra N , family life, and the growing  N communi...

Let’s be real… we all  think  we’re great drivers. But the stats? Yeah, they say otherwise. In this episode of  Cool Cars with Chris , I’m diving deep into the psychology behind why nearly everyone thinks they’re “better than average” behind the wheel — and what’s  really  going on out there on the road. I’m calling out the  bad driving habits  we all pretend don’t count (yep, even you), the  sile...

What actually makes a  car brand "cool" ? Is it the  racing heritage , the  design , the  movie appearances , or just the vibe and culture it carries? In this episode of  Cool Cars with Chris , I’m joined once again by Courage, and we’re diving deep into what defines a  cool car brand  — and why some automakers have built a cult following while others are still trying to find their ident...

Hey, let’s face it — nobody ever said “Cool minivan,” right? But you  don’t  need Lamborghini money to roll up in something that turns heads. In this solo episode of  Cool Cars with Chris , I’m giving you  7 of the coolest used cars you can buy in 2025 for under $20,000  — and I’m not talking about boring commuter boxes. These are the kinds of cars that make strangers say, “Now  that’s  a cool rid...

Are EVs actually cool… or just overhyped appliances with torque? In this episode of  Cool Cars with Chris , I sit down with my good friend  Courage  (yes, that’s his real name — we get into it) to talk all things EV in 2025. From Tesla drag strip dominance to battery drama, we unpack the truth behind electric vehicles today. We cover the  real pros and cons of EV ownership , including: 🔋 Battery...

Buckle up — because this one’s equal parts hilarious and horsepower. Chris and Courage share the real stories behind their  failed driving tests  (yes, more than once!) before building their  ultimate 3-car garages  — with one big twist: they can only pick from a  single car brand . Chris goes all-in on  Ford , dreaming up a Shelby-powered garage full of trucks and muscle cars, while Courage flexe...

In this episode of Cool Cars with Chris, we meet Barbie and her jaw-dropping hot pink 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe! 💖She takes us inside the mod journey — from her very first Genesis 2.0T to this bold 3.8L build that’s turning heads all over San Diego’s car scene. From custom wraps, spoilers, emblems, and Barbie-themed mods to the dream of an LS swap — this isn’t just a car, it’s a statement. Wheth...

Hey cool car lovers, it's Chris here and on today's episode of  Cool Cars with Chris , we are diving into one of the most jaw-dropping builds cruising the streets of San Diego. I'm talking about a  hot pink, fully modded 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe , driven by none other than  Barbie herself . We talk about her inspiration, the car's journey from bone-stock to Barbie bombshell, what...

Could this be the cleanest Honda CRX still alive? We take a deep dive into one of the most pristine 1991 Honda CRXs in existence — from flawless paint to a bone-stock engine bay, this is a build you don’t see every day. If you’re into beautifully preserved classics, detailed car culture, or just love a clean Honda, this episode is for you. Join us for a full walk around, under-the-hood breakdown,...

On today’s episode of  Cool Cars with Chris , we’re stepping back in time with Mike and his incredibly clean, all-original  1991 Honda CRX Si  — no mods, no swaps, no neon, just pure 90s Honda greatness. Mike takes us through what makes this CRX special, how rare it is to find one unmodified, and why he chose this car over newer, flashier models — including a GTR he once owned (!). We also dig int...

Welcome back to Cool Cars with Chris! 🚗🔥In this episode, Chris meets up with Courage, a passionate car enthusiast and dad of two, to check out his Hyundai Elantra N — a practical yet performance-packed daily driver. From the mods he's added (including a sneaky JB4 piggyback tune) to how this car handles daily duties and weekend backroad blasts, you'll get a full tour, honest impressions, and an...

Hey friends – it's Chris, and welcome to the very first episode of  Cool Cars with Chris ! I’ve been dreaming about doing a car podcast for over 20 years, and now it’s finally here. In this premiere episode, I sit down with Courage, a fellow car enthusiast and dad who’s turned his  Hyundai Elantra N  into a legit performance machine – while still handling school runs and road trips. We talk ab...

Buckle up, buttercup — the ride starts here! 🚗💨 In this short trailer, I’ll give you a taste of what  Cool Cars with Chris  is all about: real people, real cars, and the stories that make them special. This is the car show for the rest of us — where you’ll hear everything from daily drivers and beat-up projects to dream builds and one-of-a-kind rides. Hit  Follow  now so you don’t miss the first...