Brendan and Ian welcome three guests to the Life Plus Cars Podcast for this special episode! Ian's three high school friends, Alex, Martin, and Colby, joined the conversation to look back, laugh, and regale about the shenanigans connected to their high school cars.

In this special episode, tune as the hosts and their guests discuss:

-the glory of Subarus from the 90s and how fun to drive they were

-why 1998 might be considered a peak year for hand-me-down high school cars

-pancakes, tailgating, and other mischief at a college hockey game

-testing the limits of a certain Suburban with loud exhaust headers

-camping trip tomfoolery and one very smelly Outback

Plus, will the guys figure out the mystery of the Honda Civic they call Silver Strider? Wait, who is Silver Strider? Listen to this week's episode to find out!

What do you think, listener? Which car did you drive in high school? What memories do you have with your high school friends? Email us with your stories at lifepluscars@gmail.com

Life Plus Cars: Curating Car Conversations!

Instagram: @lifepluscars

For more of our car content, visit https://www.lifepluscars.com/

Update: New episodes will now be published on Thursdays instead of Tuesdays.

Happy New Year from the hosts of the Life Plus Cars Podcast!

To kick off 2026, hosts Brendan and Ian run through the list of every new car that you can buy with manual transmission. That's right, folks- you can still buy a car with a stick shift in 2026! Which cars, do you ask? It may be more than you think!

Plus, is Brendan getting any closer to convincing Ian to buy a new Jeep Wrangler?

Listen in to find out...

What do you think, listener? Which of these brand new stick shift cars are your favorite? Do you think you will buy one of these cars in 2026? Email us with your car stories at lifepluscars@gmail.com

Life Plus Cars: Curating Car Conversations!

Instagram: @lifepluscars

For more of our car content, visit https://www.lifepluscars.com/

Update: New episodes will now be published on Thursdays instead of Tuesdays.

It's the holiday season, and Brendan and Ian are back for a special episode celebrating the holidays...plus cars!

On this holiday episode airing on Christmas Eve, the two hosts:

-remininsce on their favorite Christmas morning memories

-fondly remember the toys and playsets they received as a kid (spoiler: they all have to do with cars)

-discuss the best kinds of gifts for the car people in your life

-share which brand new car is at the top of their wish list

PLUS: Which car do you think Santa would drive? Brendan and Ian have a few ideas. Tune in to find out their picks!

Life Plus Cars: Curating Car Conversations!

Instagram: @lifepluscars

For more of our car content, visit https://www.lifepluscars.com/

What do you think, listener? What are your favorite car-related Christmas or holiday memories? Email us with your stories at lifepluscars@gmail.com

After a brief break following Thanksgiving here in the US, we're back!

It's the holiday season, and for many, that involves holiday shopping. On this episode, join Ian and Brendan as the partake in one their preferred form of shopping...browsing for cars on Craigslist!

Tune in as they discover:

-a rare Eagle Talon (and no, we're not talking about the raptor)

-a well worn Honda Del Sol, which Brendan equates to an old shoe

-a myriad of Volvos, because, well, it's Life Plus Cars and we love Volvo

-some signature V12 BMWs and Mercedes from the '90s and '00s

-a car that harkens back to Ian's past and a car that he hopes to be his future

PLUS: Did Brendan stumble upon the ultimate (and most unlikely) track car?

Life Plus Cars: Curating Car Conversations!

Instagram: @lifepluscars

For more of our car content, visit https://www.lifepluscars.com/

What do you think, listener? How much time do you spend scrolling through Craiglist car ads? Have you found an amazing car on Craigslist? Email us with your stories at lifepluscars@gmail.com

Brendan and Ian are back with another Deep Dive episode, this week starring...BMW! Already well into a conversation about their favorites, the two hosts decided to hit record and make a full episode about Life Plus BMW.

Tune in this episode to find out more about:

-Brendan and Ian's favorite vintage and modern BMWs

-the quirkiest of BMWs from their history

-BMW's SAV (the X5) and how it changed the SUV scene

-which M car would be their respective go-to pick

-BMW's motorcycle history

-BMW of today and what the hosts are hoping to see in the future (hint: more manuals!)

PLUS: Ian and Brendan talk about fish bowls and clown shoes.

Life Plus Cars: Curating Car Conversations!

Instagram: @lifepluscars

For more of our car content, visit https://www.lifepluscars.com/

What do you think, listener? Which of your favorite cars from BMW did we miss? Email us with your BMW stories at lifepluscars@gmail.com

We love to invite new guests to join the podcast, and this week we welcome Ian's good friend and fellow VW enthusiast Aidan Yoder! The two friends sat down to record this episode in Aidan's 1981 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia. [Please note: due to the unique (and very cool!) recording setup, the audio is a little fuzzy. Thankfully the story is all there!]

Aidan tells us the story of how the Vanagon came into his life, how he and his grandfather have a shared bond through the van, and the adventures he's taken with it. Through it all, Aidan returns to a common theme of the van: slowing down (literally and otherwise) and appreciating the moment you're in.

PLUS: Aidan's Vanagon has one of the raddest interior names, and from the factory no less! Tune in to find out about this and so many other fun elements of the van that just make you smile.

Life Plus Cars: Curating Car Conversations!

Instagram: @lifepluscars

For more of our car content, visit https://www.lifepluscars.com/

What do you think, listener? Do you have a Vanagon like Aidan? Email us with with your stories at lifepluscars@gmail.com

On this episode, Brendan and Ian take another automaker deep dive. Next up: Volkswagen!

Tune in as they talk about:

• What comes to mind as their favorite vintage Volkswagens

• The Beetle and the icon it remains today

• VW's comedic and memorable ad campaigns throughout the years

• The R performance models from VW and the unusual engines that made these cars unique

• Volkswagen of today and what they would like to see from the brand in the future

• Bucket-list Volkswagens that Ian and Brendan would each like to own

PLUS: Has Life Plus Cars actually turned into a show about pirates? Listen to this week's episode to find out!

Life Plus Cars: Curating Car Conversations!

Instagram: @lifepluscars

For more of our car content, visit https://www.lifepluscars.com/

What do you think, listener? Which of your favorite cars from VW did we miss? Email us with your Volkswagen stories at lifepluscars@gmail.com

Brendan and Ian are excited to welcome another special guest to the Life Plus Cars Podcast! Joining us for this episode is Niel Stender, a seacoast New Hampshire-based automotive journalist.

Tune in as the hosts interview Niel and learn about:

-Niel's introduction to the car hobby and later the automotive industry

-The winding road that led to Niel writing full-time as an automotive journalist

-Niel's lineup of current cars as well as past vehicles (including several wagons!)

-Niel's blog and his aspirations for future content and featured cars

-A recent press event that involved many enthusiast cars, driving rain, and New England seafood

PLUS: Niel shares the story behind his blog title, The Knocking Rod. Yes, he is aware that the name generally is a bad thing when it comes to cars. Tune in to find out his what inspired the name and the car content he likes to create.

While you're at it, check out Niel's articles, reviews, and recent podcast episodes:

https://theknockingrod.substack.com/

Life Plus Cars: Curating Car Conversations

Instagram: @lifepluscars

For more of our car content, visit https://www.lifepluscars.com/

What do you think, listener? What car would you want to review if it were delivered to your driveway? Let us know and drop us a line at lifepluscars@gmail.com