Cartype : Car Chat

CarChat with Don Dethlefsen of The WerkShop

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 12:26:00 CST

Don Dethlefsen of The WerkShop in Libertyville, Illinois talks about the his shop, his past and his favorite BMWs.

soundtrack: Happy Elf by Slowshowinoslo

Video Transcript

(to come)

CarChat with Carlos Segura about wagons

Sat, 31 Aug 2013 14:39:00 CST

Carlos Segura (founder of cartype.com) discusses station wagons, which are his favorites and what european classic cars he's fond of, plus a few car maintenance tips.

Video Transcript

(to come)

CarChat with Mike Marijanovic of The WerkShop

Thu, 22 Aug 2013 21:02:00 CST

Mike Marijanovic of The WerkShop in Libertyville, Illinois talks about the restoration of a very rare 1958 BMW 503 Cabriolet.

Video Transcript

(to come)

CarChat with Don Dethlefsen of The WerkShop about the 1970 BMW 3.0si Estate Wagon

Thu, 15 Aug 2013 15:02:00 CST

CarChat with Don Dethlefsen of The WerkShop about the 1970 BMW 3.0si Estate Wagon, of which only about 10 are thought to exist in the world.

Intro track by Fulano DeTal. Main soundtrack by NYCO

Video Transcript

(to come)

CarChat with Yaril's Customs

Tue, 02 Jul 2013 12:49:00 CST

Yaril's customs of Miami, Florida talks about his first build ten years ago of a 1967 Volkswagen Type 3 and what he's moved on to now.

Video Transcript

To Come.

CarChat with Michael Hofler

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:59:00 CST

CarChat with Michael Hofler, Art Director from Portland Oregon.

Video Transcript

(Tocome)

CarChat with Jesse Proudman

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:37:00 CST

CarChat with Jesse Proudman, president and CEO of The BlueBox Group in Seattle, Washington.

Music:
Bubaran Udan Mas by Gamelan Nyai_Saraswati

Slowshowinoslo by Happy Elf

A Gentle Shimmer by Rumbus Merrylegs

Video Transcript

(to come)

CarChat with Summer & Sky

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:20:00 CST

Two girls enjoy a day with dad at the Advanced Auto Parts' Monster Jam and had the time of their lives.

Video Transcript

(to come)

CarChat with Jason Fried (v2)

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:33:00 CST

CarChat with Jason Fried, co-founder of 37signal in Chicago. Music track is Secret Vocab by Department of Transportation.

Video Transcript

To come.

CarChat with Rebeca Whitney Proudman

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:40:00 CST

CarChat with Rebeca Whitney Proudman, affordable housing real estate developer for the Seattle Housing Authority. Rebeca reveals what she is currently driving, what her dream car is, which classic cars she likes and what she thinks is the ugliest car, among other things.

The music contained in this video is Caravansari by Muslimgauze, World Outside by Department of Transportation from Inner Current and Fathi Shrari by Muslimgauze.

Video Transcript

To come.

CarChat with Miles Laidlaw

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:47:00 CST

CarChat with Miles Laidlaw of Keene High School in Keene, New Hampshire shares his views on the pitfalls and dangers of driving distractions, and his love of his 3-series BMW.

Video Transcript

(to come)

CarChat with Joel Morejon

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:30:00 CST

CarChat with Joel Morejon of Hit Exposure in New York city.

Video Transcript

Question. Does a favorite car ad come to mind?

Answer. The Mercedes car ad, where the Mercedes drives into the museum breaking the window and placing itself in history. That was a brilliant ad.

Question. Do you think cars are important?

Answer. I think cars are very important. Cars have been part of our lives for many many years. Currently, alot of us spend most of our time in our cars and if we don't, there is always that car to take you away to where ever it is that you want to go to. When I'm in my car, I feel the most free. I can go where ever I like, however I like... cars are very important.

Question. What's the favorite car you've ever owned?

Answer. The favorite car I've ever owned was a Porsche 911, 1989 25th Anniversary Cabrio. Even thou I'm not a huge fan of the Cabrio, that car just looked perfect in a convertible. I've been a Porsche enthusiast since as old as I can remember and to this day, Porsche is my favorite car brand.

Question. What was your first car?

Answer. My first car was a Porsche 924, 1979, burgundy red. It used to live in the back yard of my aunt's house and I was about nine years old, I discovered it and I spent most of my time in that car just imagining driving away with it and sure enough, when I turned 15 it was given to me and it became my project car and was on the road within six months.

Question. What do you think makes a car good?

Answer. I think what makes a good car is a good balance of aesthetics and performance. You not only want a car that looks really good but you also want a car that performs really good. When it comes to performance, I'm looking at speed, suspension, steering, braking... anyone of those elements are missing and you no longer have a good car.

Question. What's your favorite 911 generation?

Answer. My favorite 911 generation has to be the Carrera, especially from 87 to 89 when they introduced the G50 transmission. It's considered to be the last true 911s, and they sure are.

Question. Money aside, what's your dream car?

Answer. My dream car would be a 993 Turbo. I have been putting money aside for that car for quite a while and it will come. I will have that 993 Turbo. The first and only time I've driven my favorite car, the 993 Turbo, was when we were doing a service job on one and, of course, once the service job is done someone needs to test drive it to make sure everything is the way its supposed to be. At first I was very very hesitant, for multiple reasons, and I figured it would be my only chance I would have in quite a while and it being my favorite car, I had to do it. The experience was more than I would ever think. The car is just a power machine with extreme braking and the best handling I've ever experienced. Just a total, total awesome ride.

Porsche 911 Turbo Type 993. (source: René Staud)

Question. Do you think the Audi R8 and Aston Martin Vantage are encroaching of the 911s market?

Answer. I do believe so. I think that both of those cars are very good cars and they appeal to the same market that someone who would buy a 997 Turbo would go after. Now these cars are producing with the same amount of quality and emphasis in esthetics and performance the way that Porsche has, so yes. I think the competition is there.

Question. I know you love Porsche, but what other car intrigues you?

Answer. The Audi R8 V10 really intrigues me. It's a very esthetically pleasing car, very manly looking to me and seems like the performance from all of the things that I've seen and heard... unfortunately I haven't been able to drive it yet, but that car really intrigues me. I think thats a car that I could buy and I can have and be very happy with.

CarChat with Kevin Tully & Chad Hill

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:26:00 CST

CarChat with Kevin Tully & Chad Hill of Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle in Addison, Illinois about their Pontiac GTO-R build for Raybestos' giveaway in September of 2011.

Video Transcript

To come.

CarChat with Sydny Smith

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:47:00 CST

13 year old Sydny Smith reveals a child's perspective of the auto industry. What cars she likes, why and who makes the best ones.

Video Transcript

Question. What kind of cars do you like?

Answer. I like Range Rovers. Like those big ones.

Question. Why do you like Range Rovers?

Answer. Well, I don't like them because they're gas guzzlers, but I like them because they're cool.

Question. Do you know somebody who owns one?

Answer. Yeah, Justin Bieber. He owns a Range Rover. It's black.

Question. Who do you think makes the best car today?

Answer. Is Henry Ford dead? OK, well, if Henry Ford was alive, I think Henry Ford would make good cars, but I don't know who makes Range Rovers.

Question. What's the favorite car that you guys have owned?

Answer. I like the Ford Flex that my mom has, but a couple of years ago my dad had this Element, it was green, and it was really cool and you could plug your iPod into it and I like that because I could listen to my music, and it also drove pretty well. But, I don't know why my dad got rid of it. It was good.

CarChat with Sid Gonzales

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:40:00 CST

CarChat with Sid Gonzales of VetexAuto in Miami Florida. They specialize in Porsche and he walks us thru the history, generations and unique attributes of all of the 911 models.

Video Transcript

To come.

Carlos Segura discusses the US car industry

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:40:00 CST

The founder of cartype.com, Carlos Segura reveals his thoughts on the state of the current US car industry, which vehicles he finds outstanding and which are in a delicate situation.

Video Transcript

To come.

CarChat with Mel Kreilein

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:36:00 CST

CarChat with creative director Mel Kreilein of Miami Beach, Florida.

Video Transcript

Coming soon.

CarChat with Jose Bartute

Thu, 26 May 2011 12:45:00 CST

CarChat with Jose Bartute of Miami, Florida.

Video Transcript

To come.

CarChat with Elan Villamor

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:45:00 CST

CarChat with Elan Villamor, freelance producer from Chicago.

Video Transcript

To come.

CarChat with Brian Dietmeyer

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:10:00 CST

CarChat with Brian Dietmeyer of Think! Inc in Chicago.

Video Transcript

Coming soon.

(Thanks to Cysion for the music)

CarChat with Ian Merritt

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 10:39:00 CST

CarChat with Ian Merritt as he tells us about his new online effort Shiny Side Photo in Chicago. We also discuss the basics, like his first car, what car he likes and doesn't like, which of them might be next in his garage and a bit of his road story.

Video Transcript

Coming soon.

(Thanks to Cysion for the music)

CarChat with Jennifer Kedinger

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 12:24:00 CST

CarChat with Jennifer Kedinger, Social Media Marketing Manager of Hyatt Regency, Chicago. We cover her strong feeling on the green movement, public transportation and talk about the bailouts, the state of Detroit and her unusual car dealer experience.

Video Transcript

Question. What was your first car?

Answer. My first car was a 1993 Ford Bronco. Yes. That is the car that O.J. had and I was in high school and I'd get a little harassed about that but I just think that they were really jealous of the car.

Question. If you had a car that you could have without any limitations, what would it be?

Answer. You mean complete full-service, everything? It would be a Mini Cooper hands down. Probably because the Italian Job, although I can't really drive like that. I'm just driving on the Kennedy, to and from work.

Question. Do you think we should have bailed out the car companies?

Answer. Oh jeez... you're gonna ask me tough questions? I mean, look at the state of Detroit. You kind of have to help them out a bit. That city is being overrun by so many people that are struggling. I mean, that a yes and no kind of question. Yes, I do think so, but then, no, 'cause I don't want to pay for it.

Question. What's your favorite car color?

Answer. You know, I've always had green. I don't know why that is. Maybe it's because it was the cheapest car on the lot? I'm not sure. Maybe it's the color of money. You tell me.

Question. Have you had a bad car experience?

Answer. Many. I could start with the most recent. I was driving up to my best friends' bachelorette party and I was maybe 15-minutes out of the city, the radio turns off, the speedometer is not working, the wheel starts to lock up, I can't really brake or accelerate so thank god I was in the outside lane and I just cruised over to the emergency lane to sit on the side of the road for 45-minutes and wait for AAA in 90-degree weather. With no air-conditioning

Question. Have you had a bad car dealership experience?

Answer. Umm... this is really embarrassing. I was dropping a friend off at the Saturn dealership in Schaumburg and the sun was in my eyes in the rear-view mirror and I had just dropped him off and was backing out and I hear a crunch and it was a brand new car. I ended up exchanging information with the dealership so that I could give them my insurance and then, just after I pulled out, I was going really fast. I just had to get the heck out of Schaumburg and I got pulled over by the police for speeding. So within ten minutes, I hit a parked car in the Saturn dealership and got pulled over by the police. But, the police let me off because I was laughing at the stupidity that had just happened. But I did get a warning. So I guess I didn't get completely off scott-free. So...

Question. What are your three favorite cars on the road today?

Answer. The Mini Cooper. I really like the CRV. My mom has one and I like the way it drives, And then I just have to say the Bronco. I know that they're not making them anymore but I really wish that they would.

Question. What do you thin of the green movement in the automotive industry?

Answer. I think it's really important. Cause clearly, not as many people are taking public transportation as they should be. I just think that we all expected it be a little further along by now. I remember in elementary school them talking about how cars were gonna be run off solar power in the year 2000 and it was gonna be a whole new age. Were not there yet.

Question. Do you think cars are important?

Answer. I mean... it's nice to... They're convenient. I don't know how important they are if you have a good public transportation system. They're important for people who live in the suburbs and in the country maybe but, if you're in the city, I feel like the CTA does its job. Its your own personal chauffeur. Every time I ever think about winning the Lotto the first thing I'd is buy a chauffeur.

I wouldn't buy a chauffeur. I'd hire a chauffeur. Don't think you can buy someone. Unless you can. Can you buy someone?

(Thanks to Todd Sines for the music)

CarChat with Jamie Tibbetts

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:24:00 CST

CarChat with Jamie Tibbetts of Epigroove in Chicago about everything from his views on the automotive bailouts, to his first car, his opinion on supercars, what kind of car style he likes, what country he feels makes the best cars, his three favorite cars, his last dealership experience, and his latest road trip story. It's even got a great set of bloopers at the end.

Video Transcript

Question. What do you think about the bailouts?

Answer. I'm pro bailout. As far as I know, and I don't know specific details, but I'm for people not loosing their job, I'm for car brands that have long history not going under, and as far as I can tell, the government got most or all of the money back so I don't see how you could be against that.

Question. What was your first car?

Answer. I could answer that three different ways. The first car that was sort of mine... I didn't own it, but my dad bought it off a neighbor was a 1986 used Isuzu Pup four-speed and he got that originally from a neighbor who originally got it to tow his boat in and out of the water but soon realized that truck was wool-fully unprepared for that task. So I got it to go to college and it was good for towing stuff back and forth but it couldn't even get out of my parking spot if there was just a tiny bit of ice. I had to put a huge bag of sand in the back, so I got about a year's worth out of that before my dad took it back and got me a '91 Honda Civic DX, which is like the lowest of the low. Manual everything. In fact, it only came with two speakers. I had to go and have speakers drilled in the back to have rear speakers. That was sort of my first car because that was the first car I actually had to do oil changes and put all money into maintenance but after a while it started breaking down and I was sick of putting money into it.

So the first car I bought and owned outright now, and it's actually the same car I still use is a 2002 Honda Civic Si.

Question. Are you into supercars?

Answer. Nooo. No. You know, you grow up, and you're in junior high... and everybody... I grew up in the eighties so growing up we talked about everybody wanted the Countach, which the doors that (you know), but, at a certain point it wore off. I didn't carry that into adult hood. So, I mean, if you asked me, would I take a Tesla? Sure. But I don't pine over supercars. No.

Question. What kind of car style do you prefer? A hatchback, a wagon, a coupe or a sedan?

Answer. I probably don't have a strong opinion one way or the other. I have a hatchback. My wife has a hatchback. We're hatchback people. If I had to buy a new car, would I buy a hatchback? No. It's just whatever strikes my fancy at that time, whatever's out i'll buy if it looks cool.

Question. What country do you think makes the best cars?

Answer. Don't care. I don't think i'll ever care. I'm more about features I guess. I don't really care where it comes from. My next car, when my Civic eventually dies (and I will run that thing into the ground), by then, I will probably and hopefully have a choice of a ton of kick-ass electric cars and I probably won't give a shit where they come from just as long as they are good.

Question. What are your three favorite cars on the road today?

Answer. I don't follow cars, so I don't really have an answer but I think anytime you ask me that from now on I'll probably say whatever electronic cars are. Electric cars are where it's at. You got Tesla, The Leaf and the Volt.

Question. Tell us about a good car dealership experience you had?

Answer. The only experience I've had with a dealership buying a car is when I bought my 2002 Civic and I went on the internet cause I don't want to deal with people, I'm not a bargaining person. I went on, contacted three dealerships in the area, asked them to give me their lowest price and took that price and went and asked the dealership down the street... I didn't even go in. I just called them. Can you match this price? The sales manager said yes. I will be there in two minutes. Went in. Bought the car and left a couple of hours later.

Question. How often do you drive, and do you enjoy driving when you do?

Answer. I don't drive very often because I work out of the house. Do I enjoy driving? No. Only because usually driving where I live involves stop lights, traffic, everything you can possibly think of that annoying about driving. I'm very rarely on the open road going as fast as I want to go with no traffic so I generally don't like driving.

Question. Tell me a road trip story.

Answer. I'm not a big drive long distances kind of guy, or wasn't, until last year. After four of five hours I gotta get of of the car. I can't stand it. But we did drive last year to Asheville, North Carolina from Chicago so it was 12-hours each way and I made the entire trip back, with dogs and I survived so maybe I will become a road trip guy in later life.

Question. Car color?

Answer. Black.

Question. Chevy or Ford?

Answer. Ford.

Question. Manual or Auto?

Answer. Automatic. Who cares.

Question. BMW or Audi?

Answer. Who cares.

Question. Coupe or convertible?

Answer. Coupe.

Question. Drive or be driven?

Answer. Drive.

Question. EV, Hybrid, gasoline or diesel?

Answer. EV. It's the future. What are you going to do?

The bloopers reel ends the interview.

Jamie Tibbetts is a Chicago-based web designer/developer from Epigroove

(Thanks to Cysion for the music)

CarChat with Junu Phillips

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 21:50:00 CST

Music journalist Junu Phillips of Bop City Beats in Chicago talks about everything from the kind of car he likes, if he'd buy an American car, what his next car might be and his views on the auto industry bailouts, to the demise of Pontiac, the generational shift of car ownership and whether cars are important.

Video Transcript

Coming soon.

(Thanks to Cysion for the music)

CarChat with Jason Fried

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 19:14:00 CST

CarChat with Jason Fried, Co-founder of 37signals in Chicago about his favorite car, his most memorable car experience, along with his thoughts on what makes a car good, the car bailouts, the auto industry green movement and his dealership experiences.

Video Transcript

Question. What's been your favorite car you've ever owned, as a brand or specific model?

Answer. I think, for me, I bought an Aston Martin Vantage, V8 Vantage a few years ago and that's probably been my favorite car. It's not the best car I've ever had technically, or anything like that but there's something about that car. It's hand made, I think it's the most beautiful car, still. The most beautiful car and that's probably my favorite car.

Question. What been your most favorable car experience that you've had, ever.

Answer. I remember... There's alot, but the one that sticks out in my head is when I bought my Audi S4. The first one, 2001. It was such a big upgrade for me. I had an Acura Integra Type R, or something like that. It was green, it was four-doors and I went to the Acura dealer to get it appraised, cause I was gonna sell it and I really wanted to get a BMW 3-series. That is what I really wanted. But when I went to the Acura dealer, it turned out to be an Acura/Audi dealer, McGrath in Glenview here in Illinois and I went there and as I was getting it appraised the guy goes hey, you should check out this S4. I'm like, Audi sucks. I don't want to buy an Audi. Audi is just crap, I mean my friend had an Audi. The Audi 5000. His parents had it. It liked killed someone, or whatever, so like I don't want Audi. I'm not gonna use an Audi. Audi's shit.

And then, he's like, just drive it. And so I drove this S4 2001 which was a 250hp turbo, or bi-turbo engine and it completely blew me away. It was all-wheel drive. It was fast as hell. The interior was great and it totally opened my eyes to the Audi brand. And I've become an huge Audi fan since. I've had like three or four Audis since then, and so that moment was the moment it turned me from... first of all, it was a big upgrade. And also turned me on to the Audi brand which I think over the past 10 years has been sort of the best brand in cars, and so that was the moment it all happened for me.

Question. What do you think makes a car good?

Answer. That's a tough one to answer cause there's so many things but, actually, I'll answer it the other way. What makes a car bad? I guess that may be a good way to start.

Most of the bad cars experiences I've had have come from rental cars. And I'm wondering what is it about rental cars that makes it bad. And typically, it's not so much the exterior, it's mostly for me, it's the interiors in cars. That's where you are most the time, and, you get into car, and you turn the key, and you start looking around, and you start touching things, and alot of cars I think fall flat because the materials that you are touching and the buttons aren't tight, and the shape isn't right and it doesn't do what you think it does and right there, that kind of destroys the experience for me. I don't care what it looks like on the outside. I don't care how much horsepower it has. If it doesn't have right feel when I'm touching it, when I'm using it, it's just bad.

Though I guess maybe what makes a car good for me is, careful, thoughtful details on the things that I am actually using all the time. It might be a dial. It might be a switch. It might be a button. The appropriate use of those materials at the appropriate time and the appropriate feel and weight and friction, and all those little things. Those are the things that I think make cars great. Now, of course, I want a car that looks great. That performs great as well, but I've been in some very high performance cars that fall flat on the inside and when they do that they just disappoint me. It's not about 0-60 for me, it's about the little details.

Question. Based on what has recently happened with the mid-term elections... everyone upset with a variety of thing... one of which is the bailouts and all that kind of stuff. What do you think about the help that we gave to the car manufacturers?

Answer. You know, my opinion is sort of all over the board on this. I don't like the idea of government getting involved in things like private enterprise in that level but I think in some ways it might be hard to deny the fact that it seems like it's been a good thing. GM seems to sort of be back in some way. Ford didn't take any money. It seems like it did sort of maybe help, I don't know. I don't really know how bad things were and I think that's part of it. I don't think everyone really knew maybe how bad things really were. It seem like it was bad and these companies were loosing a ton of money but I don't know the details of how it all worked out. All I know is that regardless of the temporary measures to bail a company out, the US auto manufacturers have to get better quality. Their interiors have to be better. Their exteriors have to be better. All the stuff has to be significantly better in order for it to be a sustainable recovery. Cause they might be able to... giving cars away, and so they're selling alot of cars but once they can't give those discounts anymore then what are they going to do? The competition from Japan is strong, Germany is strong. The Koreans, Kia and Hyundai. Incredibly good cars now. Super low price and good. The US manufacturers have to better than all of those if they wan to continue to make a great name for themselves.

Question. Everybody is looking into hybrid and electric vehicles and plug-ins and all this kind of stuff. What your take on the green movement in the automobile industry?

Answer. I'm pretty conflicted there. I think that the move towards hybrids is a good sort of step but I feel like alot of it is just marketing. And this is totally uninformed opinion. More gas mileage is good. Higher miles per gallon is definitely a good thing but I really wonder about the true impact of this stuff. Long term disposal of these batteries and all the electricity that's required to charge all this stuff all the time. What's the real cost here? And also, what are people doing? Are they selling cars that get decent gas mileage and then buying a new car that gets slightly better gas mileage? Is that really a good thing? Someone has to produce this new car. These cars aren't produced in super clean factories. They can't be. It's still cars. It's still alot of stuff going on, alot of materials and energy required to move the car, to build the cars and it's just like...

I think if you're going from a Ford pick-up truck that got like 10 miles a gallon or 15 miles a gallon to something that gets 50 miles per gallon makes sense. But to upgrade from something that's decent today to slightly better, I think that move itself is not really that responsible because it means that there is more demand required to build something else that was pretty good in the first place.

It's similar, in a way, to how people are converting buildings. We're currently in our office here, and our office is an old factory. Old brick and cement factory building. Some people are tearing buildings down to rebuild green buildings and that doesn't make sense when you already have a building that's been here for a hundred years, instead of retro-fitting it. I think it's sort of a similar thing where you have to really think of what's the true cost of all this stuff and if it really makes sense or not. I don't really know yet.

Question. What's your view on Dealership experience?

Answer. Oh man. Some of the worst purchasing experiences I've ever had have been in a car dealer. And, it's also been some of the most expensive purchases I've ever made so the separation between price, expectation and actual final delivery is so different. It's such a terrible thing. I don't understand why it's so bad.

I can walk into a store and buy a microwave and feel better about that than spending 50 grand on a car that I'm gonna have for five years. It's just wrong. I don't know where it comes from. Maybe its... I don't actually know.

I mean, I have had some good experiences. When I bought the Aston Martin I found that experience to be really good. Let me tell you why it was actually good.

No pressure. A very spacious dealership. Test driving the car without the sales person being in the car with me. Just complete trust. We know you're here to buy a nice car and we're gonna trust you. Which is not what I feel when I go drive other cars. I have to go with the dealer. Its always a weird experience. I feel like I'm not trusted. I feel like I need to be careful. All these thing that don't make me feel comfortable.

It's a very similar feeling when you go to Home Depot and you buy something, and then you have to check your receipt on your way out. You feel like a criminal. I feel that way sometimes when I go to a car dealer. Not like a criminal, but as someone who shouldn't be trusted.

And so the best experience I've had at car dealerships have been experiences where the dealer trusts me. The salesperson trusts me. That makes such a huge difference for me when I actually buy a car.

(Thanks to Todd Sines for the music)