1. Home
  2. Our Show
  3. #1252: Il Fiat Miracolo

#1252: Il Fiat Miracolo

Dec 29, 2012
This week on Car Talk, what could make a Fiat's gas mileage increase exponentially over a few days? A holiday miracle, or might it be the same earthly reason said Fiat's mileage then decreases by the same amount? And, does it have anything to do with those guys laughing their butts off in the corner? Meanwhile, Rachel may need a miracle to keep her Camry's engine from jumping into the passenger seat, though opening her wallet might work just as well. Also, Delena's decided that six years is long enough to live with her Civic's oil leak; Darren is convinced his wife is subconsciously trying to kill his Land Rover; and, Rich wants to know if he can convert his Cavalier into a convertible. Sure, as long as he doesn't want to ever drive it again! And, Ray finally asks Tom the question that's been on everyone's minds for 25 years: What are you doing here? All this, and lots more, this week on Car Talk.

Show Open Topic

Tom and Ray share the story of the Fiat Holiday Mileage Miracle.

This Week's Puzzler

Are the red and black cards in each stack equal?

Last Week's Puzzler

What’s the word for “bottle” derived from mistakes made by Italian glass blowers?

As Read on Car Talk

Listen to another episode

Show archives

4 Comments

Why don't you know something?

I feel privileged, in that sense of seeing the transit of Venus, to have been listening when 25 years of resentment finally poured out: "Who starts the show? Who ends the show? ..." It is a testament to fraternal bonds that the outburst was both so visceral and so long in coming. Good times. Good times...
Favorite Moment: 
Rating: 

Dougie, why doesn't he know anything???

Between the practical joke story with the Fiat and the badgering about who does what, great entertainment. I'd be saying the exact same thing to my brother(s).
Favorite Moment: 
Why don't you know something???
Rating: 

I love wasting an hour

listening to you guys. Today, though, you seemed off your game, so to speak. Clack even seemed to sense it when he said about the one female caller "Thanks for nothing... you can hear it in her voice". And Click, no need to be so hard on your brother listing all the things that you do...
Favorite Moment: 
I always love the interaction tween you two. Although today seemed a bit tense.
Rating: 

Unencumbered by the Edgar Cayce process

It was so nice to hear Tom's attempt at using the old Edgar Cayce method of finding out what's wrong with a car on this show... referencing, of course, the nearly-forgotten but fully-vetted American psychic of the 30s + 40s who could both astrally-travel any distance and diagnose what ailed ya without seeing a person. Knowing that you guys and your listeners/readers are mechanically inclined, I thought you'd like to know that the very type of mental diagnosis mentioned today in jest can very likely be done, courtesy of a Rube Goldberg-like mechanical setup that's discussed at length at www.mergenthalerlinotype.wordpress.com . Both the Deep Philosopher and Frustrated Engineer in you will be titillated by the mechanical/medical/spiritual genius of the the concepts there that await only the loving attentions of either our government's Spook Department or some brave venture capitalists. And thanks again for keeping Edgar's name in the public eye. (he's mentioned on the page of that site titled "20 year old document; about 1/5 way down)
Favorite Moment: 
The mention of Edgar Cayce, of course!
Rating: 

Get the Car Talk Newsletter

Recent Articles

Pros and Cons of Diesel Engines Have Changed over Time
Blogs

Pros and Cons of Diesel Engines Have Changed over Time

Is High Octane Gas Really Needed?
Blogs

Is High Octane Gas Really Needed?

Mind the Gap When Changing Out Spark Plugs
Blogs

Mind the Gap When Changing Out Spark Plugs