Car Talk Classics

June 25, 2007
Each week, over four million National Public Radio listeners turn to Massachusetts mechanics Tom and Ray Magliozzi—aka “Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers”—for an eclectic mixture of practical car repair advice, automotive consumer empowerment, razor-sharp puzzlers and self-deprecating wit. As both erudite MIT grads and gritty garage enthusiasts, Click and Clack would fit naturally into the Boston bar stools of the classic sitcom Cheers
. At the close of each program, the siblings announce that their devotees have “squandered another perfectly good hour.” Their new audio collection consists of four complete 60-minute programs that the hosts deem their all-time favorites, including a visit from domestic diva Martha Stewart and a Mother’s Day memorial tribute to their mom. The recordings selected do happen to showcase some especially entertaining telephone queries, including a discussion of what to do when the friendly neighborhood fix-it shop finds out that you have “cheated” and visited your dealer for service. Fans who savor the familiar Car Talk
rituals and quirks will appreciate the continuity, a rarity in the choppy waters of the “best-of” multimedia marketplace.

This isn't really an audiobook--it's four episodes of the long-running NPR show "Car Talk," selected by the hosts. Fans may argue with the Magliozzi brothers' choices, but these shows stand on their own as excellent talk radio and, for non-listeners to the show, can also serve as an introduction. Even a car buff will learn a thing or two. My favorite episode features Martha Stewart offering tips on such topics as car interior hygiene; she has a dry sense of humor and a quick wit perfect for the show. The bottom line: you could just tune into your local NPR station to hear this week's show, but this collection is what the Magliozzi brothers consider putting their best foot forward. T.F. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine