Cool Cars with Chris: Car Talk, Driving Tips & Auto Life
Chris Smith
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Ed Hanson’s Muffler Service – Custom exhaust solutions in San Diego since forever.
Looking to upgrade your ride with power, performance, and sound?
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"Where your pipe dreams come true."
What do driving blindfolded, gorillas in the backseat, and camels on highways all have in common? They’re real traffic laws in the U.S.—and yes, someone actually did these things.
In this hilarious and head-shaking episode of Cool Cars with Chris, we break down the strangest, funniest, and most unexpected driving laws from across America. Whether you're a car lover, a road tripper, or just want to laugh at humanity's weirdest moments behind the wheel, this episode delivers.
🎧 You’ll learn:
Why you can’t reverse drive in Arizona
Where birds and peacocks have the right of way
Which states will ticket you for snow on your roof
Why rolling coal and burnouts are more than just obnoxious
- The state where frowning at a cop is illegal (yes, really)
00:00 – 🎙️ Intro: The Weirdest Traffic Laws in the U.S.
00:27 – 🚗 Ed Hanson’s Muffler Shoutout
02:01 – 📘 Driving Laws 101: How They Vary Across States
03:35 – 🤔 “Why Is This Even a Law?” Edition (Blindfolds, Reverse Driving & More)
06:42 – 🐫 Animal Laws on the Road (Camels, Birds, Elephants & Gorillas!)
10:27 – 🧠 “Somebody Definitely Did This” Laws (Comics, Frowning at Cops, Age Limits)
14:12 – ❄️ Seasonal Snow Laws (Winter Driving Rules by State)
20:11 – 🚜 Yield to Snowplows, No Sled Towing in Alaska
22:50 – 🔧 Illegal Car Mods (Lights, Coal Rolling, Burnouts & Takeovers)
28:12 – 🎁 Bonus Round: Strange & Random State Traffic Laws
31:27 – 💭 Final Thoughts: Don’t Be the Reason a Law Exists
31:49 – 🌐 Outro: Connect at coolcarswithchris.com
This episode of Cool Cars with Chris dives into the weirdest driving laws in America, covering strange traffic laws by state, illegal car mods, and funny vehicle regulations. Whether you’re searching for weirdest traffic laws in the USA, illegal exhaust mods in California, rolling coal laws, or winter driving ticket rules, we’ve got you covered. We also talk about exhibition of speed laws, car customization regulations, banned vehicle modifications, and surprising seasonal driving laws. Learn about bizarre state laws involving animals on the road, frowning at police officers, and even peacocks having the right of way. If you’re into automotive podcasts, car culture, and road trip trivia, this episode is packed with hilarious and head-scratching info for car enthusiasts everywhere.
#WeirdDrivingLaws #CarMods #CoolCarsWithChris #TrafficLawTrivia #RollingCoal #IllegalCarMods #CarPodcast #CaliforniaCarLaws #USDrivingLaws
This week on Cool Cars with Chris, Courage is back from a business trip with something much more exciting than work updates — a test drive of the 750-horsepower Silverado EV RST.
From its whisper-quiet electric torque to the not-so-quiet charging bill, we dig into what it’s really like to live with a six-figure electric truck. Spoiler alert: $65 doesn’t get you a full charge, and range anxiety is still very real.
Plus, we go behind the scenes of YouTube content creation, why platform-specific content matters, and how captionsmight be the unsung hero of video growth.
🚗 What We Cover in This Episode:
Renting the Silverado EV RST on Turo
Real talk: charging costs, public stations, and range expectations
Comparing Super Cruise vs Tesla Autopilot
Why the fake engine noise might actually be genius
Courage’s take on YouTube vs Instagram content
Best practices for short-form video, captions & cross-posting
A closer look at EV vs gas cost comparisons
Ride quality, interior space, and what makes this truck unique
The question we all asked: Why didn’t they call it the Avalanche?
- Is the Silverado EV worth over $100k?
🔧 Perfect For:
Truck lovers curious about EVs
Anyone shopping for or renting an electric vehicle
Content creators figuring out cross-platform strategies
- Fans of behind-the-scenes YouTube workflow tips
- Listeners who like their auto talk real, raw, and road-tested
00:00 – 🎙️ Intro & Courage’s Return
00:24 – 🚗 Renting the Silverado EV RST on Turo
01:00 – 📹 YouTube Content Strategy & Posting Cadence
03:00 – 📱 Instagram vs YouTube Shorts & TikTok Trends
06:00 – 💬 Importance of Captions in Short-Form Video
07:30 – 🛠️ Podcast Production Checklist & AI Help
08:00 – ✈️ Sacramento Trip & Airport Talk
11:20 – ❌ Charger EV Not Available – Here's Why
12:30 – 🛻 First Impressions of the Silverado EV
13:45 – 🔊 The Fake Engine Noise Debate
15:20 – ⚡ Power, Features & EV Truck Experience
18:20 – 🛣️ Long Drive Test: Sacramento to Oakland
21:30 – 🧠 Super Cruise vs Tesla Autopilot
22:00 – 🔋 Charging Experience with EVGo
24:00 – 💸 The Real Cost to Charge a Silverado EV
26:00 – ⛽ Gas vs EV: Cost Comparison Breakdown
29:00 – 😬 Range Anxiety is Real (Again)
32:00 – 📦 Storage, Frunk, and Backseat Setup
33:30 – 🧊 Why Didn’t Chevy Call it the Avalanche?
35:00 – 🤔 Final Verdict: Worth the Price?
36:00 – 🏕️ Towing, Ride Quality & Everyday Use
40:00 – 👁️ Super Cruise Eye Tracking & Safety
42:00 – 🏁 Final Thoughts on EV Trucks Today
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#SilveradoEV #ElectricTruck #EVReview #CarPodcast #YouTubeCreator #EVCharging #SuperCruise #RangeAnxiety #TuroRental #CoolCarsWithChris
Confused about what gas to put in your car? Wondering if premium is worth it—or what E85 even is? This episode has all the answers.
In this power-packed episode of Cool Cars with Chris, I break down everything you’ve ever wanted to know about fuel—from how it’s made to which type your car actually needs. And yes, I know what I’m talking about... because I literally drive the fuel to your gas station. 😎
We’ll explore:
⛽️ What really makes premium, mid-grade, and regular different
🚗 Should you run E85 in your car? (It depends!)
🛢️ Where gasoline comes from and how it gets to your local pump
⚠️ What “Top Tier” fuel means—and why it might save your engine
💸 Are you wasting money by using the wrong gas?
🏁 What racing fuel is—and who actually needs it
🧼 Additives, ethanol, octane ratings, and myths—all decoded
Whether you're a car enthusiast, weekend tuner, or just tired of guessing at the pump, this episode will help you fuel smarter and protect your engine (and your wallet).
🙌 Support the Show:
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00:00 – ⛽️ Ever Wonder What Fuel You *Should* Be Using?
00:31 – 🎧 Welcome to Cool Cars with Chris
01:08 – 🧪 What *Is* Gasoline? Petro vs. Fuel vs. Gas
02:00 – 🦕 From Dinosaurs to Your Tank: Where Gas Comes From
04:09 – 🔥 How Crude Oil Becomes the Fuel You Use
05:11 – 📊 Fuel Grades Explained: Regular, Mid, Premium
06:02 – 🚛 My Life as a Gasoline Tanker Driver
07:17 – 🛢️ How Gas Gets Delivered: Pipelines, Transmix & Storage
08:13 – 🏁 Inside the Delivery Process: What Really Happens at the Station
10:18 – 🧪 What Makes Each Brand’s Gas Different? Additives Explained
12:09 – 🎯 Octane Demystified: What Those Numbers Really Mean
14:14 – 🧪 Mid-Grade Magic? How It’s *Really* Made at the Pump
16:12 – 👑 Premium Fuel: Who Needs It (and Who Doesn’t)
18:00 – 😱 What Happens If You Use the Wrong Gas?
19:23 – 🏎️ Race Fuel 101: Who Should Use 100+ Octane?
21:06 – 🌽 E85 Ethanol: High Power, Low Cost, But Worth It?
24:52 – 📉 Real Talk: MPG Loss with E85 (Chris’s Data)
26:44 – 📘 How to Know What Fuel *Your* Car Needs
27:18 – ✅ What Is “Top Tier” Gas and Why It Matters
29:03 – 🧼 Fuel Additives & Engine Cleanliness
31:22 – 🚫 The Risk of Shady Gas Stations (and Filter Horror Stories)
33:32 – 🧃 Salvaged Fuel? Wild Stories from Small Stations
35:43 – ✔️ How to Choose a Reliable Gas Station
36:10 – 📖 Don’t Guess—Check Your Manual or Gas Cap
37:18 – 💸 Will Premium Improve a Car That Only Needs Regular?
38:24 – 💛 Can *Your* Car Run on E85? Here’s How to Tell
40:13 – 🚀 Tuning for Power: Why Performance Cars Run E85
41:53 – 🙌 Outro + Leave a Review (Thanks for Listening!)
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#AutomotivePodcast #FuelTips #E85 #PremiumGas #CoolCarsWithChris #OctaneExplained #Gasoline101 #TopTierGas #CarCareTips
In this episode of Cool Cars with Chris, we’re diving deep into the world of Hyundai N performance, YouTube car content, and what it’s really like to mod your daily driver.
Our guest this week is Courage, better known as The Driven Dad — a car YouTuber who’s built a passionate following by sharing his experiences with his 2022 Hyundai Elantra N, family life, and the growing N community.
Courage breaks down everything from his first cosmetic mods to advanced JB4 tuning, dyno results, drone videography, and the realities of balancing YouTube growth with car culture.
If you’re a car enthusiast, Hyundai N owner, or aspiring automotive creator, this is a must-listen.
🔧 What We Cover
🚗 How The Driven Dad started his YouTube channel with a Hyundai Elantra N
🧰 His first mods: window tint, DRL overlays, intake, body kit & Enkei wheels
⚙️ JB4 Piggyback Tune explained — how it adds power safely
🧪 Dyno results: 320WHP from a tuned 2.0L turbo
🎥 YouTube strategy: balancing long-form, shorts & storytelling
🚁 Drone footage and the best gear for cinematic car content
📈 What creators can learn from YouTube’s algorithm
🎧 Why podcast discovery is so different from YouTube
🏁 Drag strip racing, traction issues & real-world performance
- ⚠️ The truth about warranties, tuning risks, and smart modding
🧠 Key Takeaways
The Hyundai Elantra N is one of the most tunable and fun daily drivers on the market.
JB4 tuning offers performance gains while staying reversible for smog and warranty reasons.
YouTube content thrives on consistency, creativity, and early video clarity.
Drone videography can elevate your car content — and you don’t always need a big setup.
- Modding comes with risks — but also huge rewards when done right.
00:00 🎬 Introduction – Courage returns to talk Elantra N & YouTube
00:46 🚗 Meet The Driven Dad – How Courage built a channel around his Elantra N
02:26 💡 Starting a Car YouTube Channel – Why Courage began filming his N car
05:00 🤯 Daily Driving the N – Comfort, noise, suspension & why it’s not for everyone
08:46 📹 YouTube Content Strategy – Vlogs vs tutorials & balancing personality
13:00 🚁 Drone Footage & Gear Talk – Rules, drone tips, and cinematic shots
20:00 🎯 The Importance of Hooking Viewers – Structure, intros, and strategy
30:00 🧰 Performance Mods – Intake, body kit, side skirts & wheel upgrade
38:00 🧪 JB4 Tuning Explained – Boost, safety, sensors & piggyback setup
47:00 📈 Dyno Results – 320whp from a tuned 2.0L Elantra N
50:00 🏎️ Drag Strip Runs – FWD traction issues, tire talk & manual shifting
54:30 🧾 Final Thoughts – Mileage, warranty, and service visits
Hyundai Elantra N, Elantra N tuning, JB4 piggyback tune, Hyundai JB4, Elantra N JB4 setup, car tuning podcast, car mod podcast, Hyundai performance mods, Enkei wheels Elantra N, best Elantra N upgrades, YouTube car creator, automotive content strategy, drone car footage, car YouTube channel tips, Cool Cars with Chris, The Driven Dad, automotive YouTuber, Elantra N dyno results, daily driver build, street legal racing, podcast for car lovers, car enthusiast podcast, front-wheel-drive tuning, Elantra N exhaust mod, JB4 tuning explained, DIY car mods, car content creation, racing podcast, car mod risks
#HyundaiElantraN #JB4Tune #ElantraNMods #CarContentCreator #TheDrivenDad #CoolCarsWithChris #AutomotivePodcast
Let’s be real… we all think we’re great drivers. But the stats? Yeah, they say otherwise.
In this episode of Cool Cars with Chris, I’m diving deep into the psychology behind why nearly everyone thinks they’re “better than average” behind the wheel — and what’s really going on out there on the road.
I’m calling out the bad driving habits we all pretend don’t count (yep, even you), the silent rules we break, and why road rage is more personal than you think. Plus, I’ll hit you with some wild stats and a few of my own stories from years of being on the road every day.
🚗 What You’ll Get Out of This Episode:
Why 80–90% of drivers think they’re better than you (and math says they’re wrong)
What illusory superiority is (and why it’s wrecking traffic)
Sneaky bad driving habits we all have (California roll, anyone?)
Why road rage is way more psychological than we think
The danger of being lazy but confident behind the wheel
Easy, real-life defensive driving tips (especially in bad weather)
📈 Driving Stats That Might Surprise You:
💭 80%+ of drivers say they’re “good” or “great”
😡 96% of us admit to aggressive driving in the last year
🚨 Human error causes about 90% of all crashes
Kind of wild, right?
🔗 Links & Resources:
🌐 Visit the show at: CoolCarsWithChris.com
🙌 Support the Show:
If you enjoyed this episode, tap Follow or Subscribe so you never miss a new one. Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating to help other car lovers and drivers find the show!
00:00 – 🚦 Think You're a Good Driver? Think Again
00:31 – 🎙️ Welcome to Cool Cars with Chris
01:10 – 🤔 Everyone Blames “Other Drivers”
02:10 – 🧠 Illusory Superiority: Why We Think We’re Great
03:58 – 🧐 Who’s Lying About Driving Skills?
05:14 – 🚫 Rolling Stops & Double Standards
06:28 – 😡 Road Rage: What Sets Us Off?
07:34 – ⚠️ When Driving Gets Dangerous
08:31 – 👀 Why Driving Feels So Personal
10:03 – 😬 The Mistakes We Don’t Even Know We Make
11:30 – 💤 Lazy Confidence: The Hidden Driving Risk
12:16 – 🚗 Fast Lane Fails: Chris's Story
13:53 – 🔁 Turn Signals & Lane Changing Drama
15:04 – 📱 Phone Use at Red Lights (Yep, You Too)
16:03 – 💥 90% of Crashes Are Human Error
16:40 – 🪞No Shame, Just Awareness
17:30 – 🛡️ Defensive Driving Tips That Actually Work
18:42 – 🌧️ Driving in Rain? Do *This* to Stay Safe
19:12 – 🙏 Thanks for Listening + Subscribing
19:49 – 👋 Final Thoughts and Sign-Off
good driving habits, bad drivers, road rage psychology, aggressive driving, driving mistakes, distracted driving, driving tips, defensive driving, car crash statistics, why drivers get angry, traffic accidents, overconfident drivers, driving psychology, driver behavior, safe driving tips, common driving errors
#DrivingTips #RoadRage #DefensiveDriving #CarCrashStats #BadDrivers