The Best of Car Talk
by NPR
Is this your podcast?On the show
From 19 epsHosts
Recent guests
Recent episodes
#2683: Real Thing or Real Bad Idea?
Oct 17, 2026
36m 04s
#2682: Lars the Cranky Mechanic
Oct 14, 2026
36m 11s
#2681: Roasting Marshmallows Over an Open Car Fire
Oct 10, 2026
36m 54s
#2680: Men in Minivans
Oct 6, 2026
35m 28s
#2679: Hot and Cold
Oct 3, 2026
34m 37s
Insights from recent episode analysis
Audience Interest
- automotive humor
- car maintenance tips
Podcast Focus
- car diagnostics
- mechanical advice
Publishing Consistency
- weekly episodes
- active for one year
Platform Reach
- NPR distribution
- available on major platforms
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Most discussed topics
Brands & references
Total monthly reach
Based on 1 signal.
Built from
By chart position
- 🇺🇸United States · ComedyHOME#32113K to 599K
- 🇮🇳India · Comedy#364.8K to 25K
- 🇹🇷TR · Comedy#54527 to 2.8K
- 🇨🇦Canada · Comedy#126454 to 2.4K
- 🇸🇦SA · Comedy#65279 to 1.5K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
120K to 633K🎙 Daily cadence·4 episodes·Last published 2d ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
399K to 2.1M🇺🇸95%🇮🇳4% - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
219K to 1.2M
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
—
Total Reviews
—
* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
Social Links & Contact
Official channels & resources
Official Website
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/17/26 | #2683: Real Thing or Real Bad Idea? | Kay noticed some corrosion on her Ford’s battery terminals one day when it wouldn’t start. Her daddy told her to pour a Coke on it. She isn’t sure if that was for good luck or some other reason, but she tried Dr. Pepper and it didn’t work. Do they make energy drinks for Fords? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. Car Talk's perks include full archive access, new call-in bonus episodes with Ray, and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy | 36m 04s | ||||||
| 10/14/26 | #2682: Lars the Cranky Mechanic | Kat has a prickly relationship with her Volvo mechanic, Lars. It’s to the point where she’s afraid to tell him things about her car and, not surprisingly, it isn’t getting fixed. Lars insists that only he, a certified Volvo mechanic should work on Kat’s car, but Kat is beginning to feel like she’s being bullied. Click and Clack come to Kat’s rescue on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. Car Talk's perks include full archive access, new call-in bonus episodes with Ray, and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy | 36m 11s | ||||||
| 10/10/26 | #2681: Roasting Marshmallows Over an Open Car Fire | Jeannie and her family were toodling along in their new minivan when the marvelous scenery became obscured by the smoke and flames coming from under their hood. Should they have attempted to save their van or were they right to pull over and run like hell? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. Car Talk's perks include full archive access, new call-in bonus episodes with Ray, and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy | 36m 54s | ||||||
| 10/6/26 | #2680: Men in Minivans | Craig needs a minivan for his work but realizes that guys driving minivans have a reputation as, well, eunuchs. Can Click and Clack -both recovered minivan drivers- help Craig ‘man up’ here? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. Car Talk's perks include full archive access, new call-in bonus episodes with Ray, and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy | 35m 28s | ||||||
| 10/3/26 | #2679: Hot and Cold | Dinesh calls in to let us know how his stroll through the length of Death Valley went last summer, and Linda from Alaska needs help with her sled dogs. Unusual extremes in temperature are met with our usually mediocre advice on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. Car Talk's perks include full archive access, new call-in bonus episodes with Ray, and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy | 34m 37s | ||||||
| 9/29/26 | #2678: They're Coming to Steal Your Fish | A tornado picks up a car and deposits it in the trees and now they’re coming to steal your fish. Must be the latest episode of the Best of Car Talk.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. Car Talk's perks include full archive access, new call-in bonus episodes with Ray, and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy | 34m 21s | ||||||
| 9/26/26 | #2677: Stumps and Chumps | Jane and Andy are ‘the stumpers’ and we all know who the chumps are on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. Car Talk's perks include full archive access, new call-in bonus episodes with Ray, and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy | 36m 30s | ||||||
| 9/22/26 | #2676: The End of the Previa | Marsha mixed up. She opened all of her Toyota minivan’s fluid reservoirs and mostly poured the right stuff into the right holes, but not quite. Click and Clack ponder her polluted Previa on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. Car Talk's perks include full archive access, new call-in bonus episodes with Ray, and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy | 37m 32s | ||||||
| 9/19/26 | #2675: Gas and Go | Leo’s a busy guy. He pulls to a screech in front of the gas pumps, jumps out, slides across the hood of the car and starts pumping gas before his feet hit the ground -all while the engine is still running. His wife is used to Leo’s ‘Dukes of Hazard’ routine but draws the line at gasing up with a running engine. Click and Clack are ‘Boss Hogg’ and ‘Roscoe P. Coltrane’ laying down the law on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. Car Talk's perks include full archive access, new call-in bonus episodes with Ray, and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy | 35m 35s | ||||||
| 9/15/26 | #2674: Empathic Whatever | Jeff, a relationship counselor from Maui, and Click and Clack, relationship klutzes of great renown, engage in an exchange of professional services on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. Car Talk's perks include full archive access, new call-in bonus episodes with Ray, and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy | 34m 32s | ||||||
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| 9/12/26 | #2673: Thelma and Louise II | Lydia is about to finish her graduate program and to celebrate she wants to grab a girlfriend, hop into a classic muscle car and drive across the US, just like Thelma and Louise. We think maybe Lydia kind of forgot how that movie ends, but hey… Find out which model Click and Clack think has the best aerodynamic potential on this episode of the Best of Car Talk. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. Car Talk's perks include full archive access, new call-in bonus episodes with Ray, and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy | 36m 38s | ||||||
| 9/8/26 | automotive issuescar maintenance+3 | — | — | — | Hondaflatulence issue+3 | NPR+ | 38m 21s | ||
| 9/5/26 | automotive issuesmuffler problems+3 | Sandy | Hondamuffler+1 | — | Hondamuffler+3 | NPR+CODE | 32m 11s | ||
| 9/3/26 | car questionsautomotive advice+3 | — | NPRPublic Radio | — | car questionsRay+3 | — | 10m 31s | ||
| 9/1/26 | car problemsautomotive advice+3 | — | Chevy Impala | — | Chevy Impalacar advice+3 | NPR+ | 36m 36s | ||
| 7/21/26 | automotive dealskarma+3 | — | Lexus | airport | Lexusabandoned car+3 | — | 36m 20s | ||
| 7/18/26 | automotive issuesproblem solving+3 | Jane | NPRpcm.adswizz.com | — | Hondanoise+3 | — | 34m 40s | ||
| 7/14/26 | remote starterautomotive advice+3 | — | NPR | upstate New York | remote startercold weather+3 | — | 37m 35s | ||
| 7/11/26 | roles in duoshistory of partnerships+3 | — | NPR | — | duosroles+4 | — | 38m 21s | ||
| 6/9/26 | familypets+3 | — | NPR | — | snakecar+4 | — | 36m 00s | ||
| 6/6/26 | nauseaautomotive issues+3 | Ashley | Volkswagen BugNPR | — | nauseaVolkswagen Bug+3 | — | 34m 44s | ||
| 6/2/26 | automotive issuescar maintenance+3 | Julianne | NPR | — | car smellautomotive slobs+3 | — | 35m 30s | ||
| 5/30/26 | brake maintenanceautomotive advice+3 | — | NPRpcm.adswizz.com+1 | — | brakesmechanic+3 | — | 34m 03s | ||
| 5/26/26 | #2642: Overtightening Our Belts | Stacy had her car’s belts tightened recently and more recently the car went up in flames. Coincidence or Causal? Find out on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy | 34m 25s | ||||||
| 5/9/26 | Car Talk staffHR department+3 | Pat McCann | Car TalkNPR | — | Car TalkHR+5 | — | 38m 08s | ||
| 5/5/26 | automotive issuesCleveland+3 | — | Ford pickupNPR | Cleveland | Ford pickupCleveland+3 | — | 35m 11s | ||
| 5/2/26 | knocking noiseautomotive issues+3 | Debra | NPR | — | knocking noiseautomotive+3 | — | 33m 00s | ||
| 4/28/26 | automotive adviceinsect control+3 | Bob | NPR | — | bug bombhorseflies+4 | — | 37m 09s | ||
| 4/25/26 | father-son bondingcar rebuilding+3 | — | — | — | car rebuildingfather-son relationship+3 | — | 36m 07s | ||
| 4/21/26 | automotive issuesproblem solving+3 | — | — | — | Hondareverse+3 | — | 35m 22s | ||
| 4/18/26 | paranormal activitiesautomotive humor+3 | — | NPRSpeed of Darkness | Pentagon parking lot | paranormalautomotive+3 | — | 34m 13s | ||
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Similar Audience Demographics
Podcasts that attract a similar listener profile
Distribution & Reach
About the show, platforms, and key insights.
Distribution & Reach
About the show, platforms, and key insights.
Key insights
What the show covers
- car diagnostics
- mechanical advice
- comedic storytelling
- listener interactions
Audience interests
- automotive humor
- car maintenance tips
- listener call-ins
- lighthearted banter
Platform reach
- NPR distribution
- available on major platforms
- potential for broad audience
- specific platforms not detected
Publishing consistency
- weekly episodes
- active for one year
- consistent release schedule
- reliable content delivery
Chart history for The Best of Car Talk
Peaked at #32 in United States, currently #32 in United States.
| Market | Genre | Peak | Current | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | — | #32 | #32 | — |
| India | — | #36 | #36 | — |
| TR | — | #54 | #54 | — |
| SA | — | #65 | #65 | — |
| RO | — | #67 | #67 | — |
| KE | — | #88 | #88 | — |
| Finland | — | #97 | #97 | — |
| Canada | — | #126 | #126 | — |
| CH | — | #152 | #152 | — |
| HK | — | #176 | #176 | — |
| TH | — | #181 | #181 | — |
| SG | — | #183 | #183 | — |
| ID | — | #185 | #185 | — |
| IL | — | #198 | #198 | — |
Chart Positions
14 placements across 14 markets.
Chart Positions
14 placements across 14 markets.