We touch on a number of topics this week, including if a used Subaru Ascent is a good replacement for an Audi A4, why your infotainment system might not play nice with your Apple iPhone or Android phone, the right way to tie down an object to your roof, and how Consumer Reports headlight testing differs from that of IIHS. We also discuss routine maintenance that is unique to EVs, why an automatic emergency braking system might give a driver false positives, how car designs might be affected with a move to "skateboard" or modular architectures, using a child seat with an inflatable seat belt, and why you might not be able to tow a hybrid vehicle behind your RV.
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SHOW NOTES
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00:00 – Introduction
01:45 – Question #1: Is a Subaru Ascent a good replacement for an Audi A4?
06:02 – Question #2: Which automatic emergency braking system works best: camera-based or radar?
9:34 – Question #3: Why are there connectivity issues between phones and car infotainment systems?
11:46 – Question #4: What is the proper way to secure cargo to a car’s roof?
14:22 – Question #5: What is the difference between CR’s and IIHS’ headlight test?
17:23 – Question #6: What are the required maintenance items from the latest EVs?
20:08 – Question #7: Why does the forward-collision warning activate when there is nothing on the road?
22:50 – Question #8: What common parts are shared between “modular architectures” or “shared platform” on vehicles?
25:14 – Question #9: Is it potentially dangerous to install a forward facing child seat using an inflatable seat belt?
27:14 – Question #10: What small car is best suited for flat towing with a RV?
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Coronavirus Resource Hub
2017 Audi A4 Quick Drive
2019 Subaru Ascent Quick Drive
Self-Driving System Ranking
The Myth of the “Self-Driving” Car
How to Transport a Christmas Tree Safely
Headlight Testing
Headlight Cleaning Tips
Electric Cars 101: The Answers to All Your EV Questions
Consumer Reports’ Car Reliability FAQ
How to Avoid Common Car-Seat Installation Mistakes
Autos Tips: Child-Seat Installation
Is Now the Right Time to Buy a Car?
How to Buy Your First New or Used Car
Tips for Buying a New Car
Tips for Buying a Used Car
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I’m Alone 😍😥
Very informative show..
I think Mike is right about not giving up a car that gives you joy for a heavy numb lump that gets you from A-B.
I want to see the talking cars 🚘 🗣
If there are issues with forward collision warning and or braking when these cars are new imagine when they are 10 years old? As a poor guy who has never had a car <10yrs. I can tell you that these safety systems are more often worse then nothing when they get old.
Consumer reports, needs to have a dedicated show for questions.
9:37 Isn’t this why Toyota avoided CarPlay for so long? Potentially hurting their reputation for their reliability for something they can’t necessarily control?
Used car are ridiculously high right now. Especially pick up trucks!
Your show is information packed. You present your information in a sane and fun manner. Your show is much more listenable, than those other CR Reports that have clownish characters, asking clownish questions and wasting tons of the listener’s time. Thanks you.
Mike failed to mention the issue of towing capacity of the RV.
One night I was coming home from work late after sunset & noticed a pickup in front of me, with something bobbing around in the bed. My gut told me to move over & pass this vehicle & I did. As soon as I got beside the pickup, a mattress came flying out & landed in the roadway behind us. Unfortunately, some people are idiots. I’m glad I listened to my gut feeling!
Why doesn’t CR publish both the IIHS and CU headlight ratings?
If you’re a skilled, attentive driver, you don’t need all this automatic ‘safety’ BS.
10:30 – Really? I have my doubts. Bluetooth is a standard and I don’t see how the software change on the cell phone with change Bluetooth. If we were talking Apple CarPlay or android auto, then sure that’s probably pretty fluid and as you know cell phones are getting new operating systems and patches all the time. If someone knows more about this, I’d love to have them post.
My 2020 Freightliner cascadia. Stopped dead from cardboard on the highway. 70 to 0 scared the crap out of me and my student.terrible situation
False positives from bugs hitting or temporality covering sensors?