Car-Chum - podcast cover

Car-Chum

Two chums; one podcast. An automotive journalist and a radio presenter with a shared mono-maniacal interest; surely this should be good. Surely.

Episodes

Spray That Again

Send Car-Chum a Text Car-Chum ushers in another year in the best way it knows how: talking about paint, obvs. What else? Join Tony and Mike as they lift the lid on colour changing tech, silly names and bodged repairs. Support the show

Jan 05, 202344 minEp. 45

Six Cars; One Podcast

Send Car-Chum a Text It’s gameshow time at Car-Chum. Three cars each, a few factual and anecdotal clues, some searching questions and iffy answers are the essential ingredients in this edition. How many would you have got? Join me and my car-journalist Car-Chum Mike Renaut as we sit poised with our fingers on buzzers. Support the show...

Nov 17, 202244 minEp. 44

Mats and Flaps

Send Car-Chum a Text If you’re not familiar with the title, it was a term used to refer to the options dealers could upsell you when buying a new car. A more accurate title for this edition of Car-Chum might have been “When Did You Last See…?”, but Mats and Flaps made us smile. Anyway, here it is, the latest Car-Chum Podcast. Support the show...

Nov 03, 202236 minEp. 43

A View to a Car

Send Car-Chum a Text Sorry about the title: couldn’t resist – it just seemed to flow so well. And it does desscribe the contents quite well. A chance viewing of James Bond in A View to a Kill – with Roger Moore, of course – led to a whole Car-Chum dedicated to it. More specifically, the cars in the film. Even if I do say so myself, it was a bit of a laugh. Just a bit. Support the show...

Oct 20, 202251 minEp. 42

Dream Drives

Send Car-Chum a Text Ever heard a motoring journalist hum Abba? Ever wondered what a Dodge Charger Hellcat is really like? Ever needed to pass an hour with no effort at all? If the answer is yes to any of those, try the latest Car-Chum podcasts. Tony and Mike crank out a few of the cars they’ve yet to drive. Horsepower and horsing around: it's the usual Car-Chum Podcast fayre. Support the show...

Oct 06, 202248 minEp. 41

Don't Leave Home Without...

Send Car-Chum a Text ...…a Car-Chum Podcast downloaded was the obvious line there. And I missed it. Never mind, the content is all the better for it. Loads of cars, loads of accessories, loads of stories – it’s all here for your pleasure. It’s the latest edition of The Car-Chum Podcast. Support the show

Sep 22, 202243 minEp. 39

The Queen's Cars (with Andrew Roberts)

Send Car-Chum a Text With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday 8th September 2022, Car-Chum looks back at a selection of state and personal cars associated with and owned by the former Queen. Classic car journalist Mike Renaut and author and columnist Dr Andrew Roberts are guests on this special episode of Car-Chum. Support the show...

Sep 09, 202243 minEp. 40

Connect 4...Cars

Send Car-Chum a Text A straightforward concept: take a fun game and then add Car-Chum. What do you get? A sort of game of Tag or It with cars. And there is a lot of car in the latest Car-Chum Podcast. So sit back, relax and learn – my Car-Chum Mike is in a knowledgeable mood. Support the show

Sep 01, 202252 minEp. 38

The Car's the Tsar

Send Car-Chum a Text World Leaders as cars; that’s the premise of this edition of The Car-Chum Podcast. Important questions will be answered: what car would Joe Biden be…if he were a car, what comes after A6 and is there such a thing as a Mini Clubvan? The Car-Chum podcast is back with a bang after it’s summer holidays. Support the show...

Aug 18, 202238 minSeason 2Ep. 26

Not the Worst Bits!

Send Car-Chum a Text Happy holidays! Car-Chum’s on a quick summer break, but we made sure to leave you with a few memories before I left. I was tempted to cut out all the good bits and leave the rest, but it was too difficult to find them – so instead, here are a few other prime cuts. Back soon! Support the show...

Aug 04, 202227 minSeason 2Ep. 25

Three Men in a Car 2: Eastleigh to Norwich (with noted author and columnist Andrew Roberts)

Send Car-Chum a Text Time for the second leg of Car-Chum’s lap of the UK. This time Tony, Mike (aka the Chums) and Dr Andrew Roberts (aka someone who actually knows something useful) head west, then north then south again. There’s a heady mix of cars, Littlechef, The Prisoner, George Fornby and Get Carter to look forward to here. Buckle and up and join us! Support the show...

Jul 21, 202228 minSeason 2Ep. 24

Three Men in a Car 1: Norwich to Eastleigh (with noted author and columnist Andrew Roberts)

Send Car-Chum a Text It’s roadtrip time for The Car-Chum Podcast! Author and automotive historian Dr Andrew Roberts hitches a ride around the UK with Tony and his journalist Car-Chum, Mike. It’s a two-parter; there’s so much to see. Cars, sites of significant interest, sites of absolutely no interest, Benny Hill, a Hovercraft and melon are the highlights of the first leg: Norwich to Eastleigh. Support the show...

Jul 07, 202236 minSeason 2Ep. 23

Princess and the Pea

Send Car-Chum a Text In this episode of The Car-Chum podcast Tony and his automotive journalist chum, Mike, truffle out the annoying quirks that afflict some cars; unbelievably, sometimes by design. Gear and radio select buttons that look and feel the same, sunroofs that tickle hair and mysterious faults that are never fixed. It’s all her on this edition – welcome to Car-Chum’s Princess and the Pea. Support the show...

Jun 24, 202251 minSeason 2Ep. 22

Breakdown

Send Car-Chum a Text Car-Chum pulls over to the hard shoulder of the motorway – if there is one, that is - and savours the joys of a good breakdown. Tony talks of missing gearsticks, holey pistons and head gaskets, while Mike splits discs and cracks screens. All the bills and all the hassle – that’s this episode of Car-Chum in a recovery truck. Support the show...

Jun 09, 202246 minSeason 2Ep. 21

Off the Shelf

Send Car-Chum a Text Reading. Not the place in the Berkshire; the activity. Reading about cars in particular: that’s the subject of this edition of The Car-Chum Podcast. Books, magazines and brochures. Tony and his Car-Chum (and automotive author, Mike Renaut) barely scratch the surface of this massive industry, but they do reveal a few facts along the way…like who invented the 0-60 metric. Support the show...

May 26, 202251 minSeason 2Ep. 20

Furious Importing

Send Car-Chum a Text Tony and his Car-Chum / journalist Mike are joined by someone who actually knows what he’s talking about. This week, Furious Driving’s Matt Richardson drops by to tell tales of driving, photographing, reviewing, Youtubing and importing. Cars that is. Support the show

May 12, 20221 hrSeason 2Ep. 19

The Know-Nothing Guest (with James Hodges, micro personality with no interest in cars)

Send Car-Chum a Text As crazy as it might sound, I thought it was a good idea to have a guest on Car-Chum this week who knows absolutely nothing about our subject. Luckily, he has a good way with words and has a tale or two to tell. So here it is: the episode of Car-Chum with a knowledge-free guest. (You * should get a laugh though.) Support the show...

Apr 28, 202235 minSeason 2Ep. 18

Fun in the Sun: Car-Chum Classic in Portugal

Send Car-Chum a Text Car-Chum heads to Portugal for a classic car rally featuring everything from a 911 to a Micra. Tony is joined by auto-author Mike – accidentally showing a byte or two of knowledge, the chums give a bit of context and history on each entrant. It’s all sun and fun in this week’s Car-Chum podcast. Support the show...

Apr 14, 202237 minSeason 2Ep. 17

Let's have a go at making that

Send Car-Chum a Text Car-Chum Aims and Objectives: Make sense, make fun, make money…maybe, maybe not. We’re not the only ones making – or trying to make – things: seems that car manufacturers are at it, too. Try artificial hearts, watch movements and bras. Widen your retail horizon with this week’s Car-Chum. Support the show...

Mar 31, 202235 minSeason 2Ep. 16

Vans

Send Car-Chum a Text Be honest: everyone loves a van. Well, loves driving one – a hired one – anyway. Today Tony asks Mike to join him in a commercial free, commercial episode of Car-Chum. Everything from the humble Transit to the Espace F1 is here – not forgetting the Supervan, something promiscuous from Alfa and those strange conversions from normal cars. Join us, arm out of window, on this episode of Car-Chum. Vans. Support the show...

Mar 17, 202244 minSeason 2Ep. 15

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Send Car-Chum a Text What are the last two cars you drove? Not your everyday conveyance, obvs. That was the plan for this edition. And I stuck to it. My auto-journalist, Car-Chum Mike kind of did his own thing to do with Bugattis. That was no bad thing though and it all made it through the edit on the grounds of being jolly interesting. A Bentley, a Tesla and a terrible joke all feature alongside in this edition of Car-Chum. Support the show...

Mar 03, 202246 minSeason 2Ep. 14

Nope. Never Heard of That

Send Car-Chum a Text The forgotten and the obscure. Brands and models you might never have heard of. But, worry not, Tony and his Car-Chum Mike have heard of them and accidentally demonstrate a little knowledge here and there. So, listen and learn along with this episode of Car-Chum! Support the show

Feb 04, 202250 minSeason 2Ep. 13

Ahoy!

Send Car-Chum a Text Ever dreamt of taking to the water? All that freedom, tranquillity and relaxation. What if you could drive to the sea, river or pond and just…well, carry on driving straight in? That’s freedom for sure, but maybe not so tranquil or relaxing. This week Tony and his Car-Chum Mike explore the niche world of the amphibious car. Ahoy! Support the show...

Feb 02, 202226 minSeason 2Ep. 12

Choices Choices: the Art of the Option

Send Car-Chum a Text Before you tick the box, ask yourself do you really need a subwoofer in a Smart Car? Or a built-in vacuum cleaner in your Honda? Options: they’re a great online pastime and a real manufacturer money maker. But which should you choose, and which should you lose? Tony and Mike are your guides on this week’s Car-Chum. Support the show...

Jan 18, 202248 minSeason 2Ep. 11

Licence to Listen

Send Car-Chum a Text Licences of all sorts – and yes, that’s spelled correctly – I checked! From birds to trucks and booze to tests, this episode covers everything you (don’t) need to know about vehicular licences. Not just licenses, mind: training and testing, too. It’s all here on this week’s edition of Car-Chum. Support the show...

Jan 14, 202259 minSeason 2Ep. 10

New Year New Car

Send Car-Chum a Text This week’s big announcement is Car-Chum confirming its 2022 availability to officiate at closing ceremonies. Also, Tony is proven right on Romanian pronunciation, he gets all thoughtful about the future and promises to spend more time on his motorbike. Meanwhile Mike surprises everyone by reviewing some big new car releases for panned for the year ahead. The Car-Chums do find some common ground though, by agreeing that they both like the Rover 800 and Porsche Cayman. Suppor...

Jan 06, 202237 minSeason 2Ep. 9

Calendar Cars

Send Car-Chum a Text From CarPlay to coaches, this week’s Car-Chum podcast has it all. How about robotised manual gearboxes from Saab (the Sensonic, remember them?), a daily driving Model T and a Golf GTI chase with a 1950s Bristol? Yep. All of that, too. Ferraris, fat Lexuses and Dacias all duke it out for a coveted page on this year’s Car-Chum Calendar. Support the show...

Dec 29, 202148 min

Christmas Cars

Send Car-Chum a Text Ever wondered what the Coke Truck is in real life – a Freightliner, Scania or Kenworth? Or how about which car Chris Rea was in when he wrote ‘Driving Home For Christmas’. And what type of Dodge was it that the Beach Boys said Santa used to deliver gifts? Somehow, a Volvo 340, Chrysler Alipne, Skoda Estelle, Lotus Sunbeam, Reliant Robin and a Renault Alliance 11 also make appearances for a reason that becomes apparent later in this week’s Car-Chum. Support the show...

Dec 23, 202127 minSeason 2Ep. 7

Engine Size Quiz 2

Send Car-Chum a Text I mean, it is as amazing as it sounds. Much like the mildly unpopular Engine Size Quiz 1; just more American as the capacities get bigger. This week, Tony challenges Mike to join him in naming a make and model for every size of engine – picking up from where we left off in Episode 8 – 3 litres. Bonus points for interesting anecdotes and facts…who wins this round? Support the show...

Dec 09, 202148 minSeason 2Ep. 6

That is not what I expected

Send Car-Chum a Text Ever felt as is a car has over-promised and under-delivered, or under-promised and over-delivered? If so, you’ve picked the right episode of Car-Chum.This week Tony and Mike pick out some of their favourite hits and misses. Mercs and Audis vie for attention with Porsche 912s and NSUs. From the USA to Germany and from Japan to the Isle of Man, there’s delight and disappointment to be found everywhere in this week’s Car-Chum. Support the show...

Dec 07, 202144 minSeason 2Ep. 5