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The Best of Car Talk

#25100: Parts and Labor

The Best of Car Talk

NPR

Comedy, Leisure, Automotive

4.716.5K Ratings

🗓️ 16 December 2025

⏱️ 41 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Eric has a modest proposal: Shouldn’t the cost of the $4 part that his mechanic is replacing on his car also bear some resemblance to the cost of the labor to do the job? Afraid not, piston puss! How would mechanics ever pay for their boats if that were the case? Click and Clack expound upon various schemes- uh, theories!.. on this episode of the Best of Car Talk.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

This message comes from Bayer. Science is a rigorous process that requires questions, testing, transparency, and results that can be proven. This approach is integral to every breakthrough Bayer brings forward. Innovations that save lives and feed the world. Science Delivers.com.

0:18.4

Hey, it's Ray Maliasi. You know, before we start the show today, I want to talk for a minute about public media.

0:24.2

The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 says that local public media stations should be responsive

0:30.6

to their communities.

0:32.5

And to this day, that's what NPR member stations are doing in so many towns and regions

0:37.3

where newspapers

0:38.3

have stopped publishing.

0:39.3

They're providing news and information to everyone.

0:43.3

Even as digital paywalls rise elsewhere, we offer these resources for free, regardless of anyone's

0:49.3

ability to pay.

0:50.3

We still believe in this core commitment in NPR.

0:53.3

We always will. But as of this fall, federal funding for public core commitment in NPR, we always will.

1:02.0

But as of this fall, federal funding for public media, including NPR and local NPR stations, has been eliminated.

1:10.2

As we move into this uncharted future together, we know that you will not let the service that has been here for you all these years falter.

1:11.9

We rely on your support to bring you the best of Carthalk now more than ever. Now, this year we shared a lot of laughs

1:16.9

with you from the Car Talk archives, and we're looking forward to continuing with your help

1:21.7

in 2026. Thank you if you already go the extra mile as an NPR Plus supporter.

1:42.0

If not, you can still join the Plus community, get perks like bonus episodes, and more from a bunch of NPR's podcasts, and support public media by signing up for NPR Plus today at plus.NPR.org.

1:59.0

And thanks. Hello and welcome to Car Talk from National Public Radio with us Click and Clack the Tappert Brothers,

2:03.5

and we're broadcasting this week from the Investment Center here at Car Talk Plaza.

2:08.3

This just in from the Wall Street Journal.

2:10.3

Bebe, beep, beep, beep, beep.

...

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