Talking Cars 330: EV Resale Value, All Weather Tires, and Do-It-All SUVs

Main theme: We get a lot of questions about finding a “Goldilocks car.” That’s a vehicle that isn’t too big, isn’t too small, isn’t too expensive, isn’t too bare-bones but is “just right” overall. So we decided to tackle a few such questions in this episode. We also help a would-be Alfa Romeo owner decide if it’s a good idea to throw car-buying caution to the wind and buy one. And we explain why tests from the U.S. don’t translate for other countries, make some predictions about electric-vehicle depreciation, and discuss tires and transmissions.

If you have a question, don’t be shy! Send it to TalkingCars@icloud.com!

Audience Questions

• When calculating owner satisfaction scores, how does CR take into account drivers who like their car but still buy a different type of car?
• Will my 200-mile-range EV still be worth anything in a few years?
• We need an SUV that fits two child car seats and an adult in the second row.
• Are all-weather tires as good as swapping out for winter tires?
• Would CR’s reliability ratings still apply in other countries?
• Are four-speed transmissions more reliable than transmissions with twice as many gears?
• I need a car for camping and commuting, and I don’t want to spend more than $35,000. What should I get?