Cars, claims, and consequences.
AutoExpert treats cars as systems, not lifestyle props. Recent episodes move from Hyundai seat-folding recalls and EV business trouble to fuel panic, servicing disputes, and hands-on metal finishing, always asking what the facts actually support.
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AutoExpert is automotive commentary for people who want the machinery, the paperwork, and the market incentives examined in the same sitting. It is not gentle. Recent episodes move quickly from fatal safety failures to fuel supply panic, EV business trouble, consumer-law disputes, and garage-level metal finishing. The show’s central habit is to separate what is actually happening from what social media, headlines, or showroom optimism make people think is happening. That gives it a combative edge. In the Hyundai Palisade recall episode, powered seat-folding technology becomes a larger argument about complexity, reliability, safeguards, and the burden placed on parents around modern vehicle systems. The Xpeng and True EV episode treats new-brand ownership as more than a purchase. It frames a car as an ecosystem that depends on long-term parts, service, software support, and business survival. Fuel episodes do similar boundary work. They distinguish oil shocks from consumer fuel crises, petrol sulfur limits from diesel flashpoint changes, and real supply risk from online diesel panic. The show is especially interested in Australia’s automotive conditions. Government standards, importer stability, aftermarket supply chains, long vehicle ownership periods, and the fragility of some established brands all become part of the same buyer-risk map. It also keeps returning to personal responsibility. The Mercedes-Benz E53 AMG case involving Eugene Besch is presented as a warning about servicing obligations, warranty expectations, and the limits of consumer-law rescue when owners ignore conditions. Not everything is industry analysis. A hot-bluing segment turns mild steel, oil, heat, corrosion protection, and workshop caution into a practical engineering lesson. The tone is abrasive, fast, and openly contemptuous of bad framing. Still, the show is not just outrage. Its better moments come from explaining units, timelines, mechanisms, incentives, and legal traps before drawing the conclusion. The result is a car show that feels closer to a forensic argument than a review program. It suits listeners who can handle sharp edges and want vehicle decisions grounded in mechanics, regulation, and risk rather than hype.
Made for: For Australian motorists, car buyers, EV skeptics, workshop-minded viewers, and anyone who wants automotive news pressure-tested against engineering, regulation, and ownership reality.
What sets it apart: AutoExpert stands out by treating car stories as technical and economic systems, not product gossip. It links recalls, fuel standards, business failures, consumer law, and maintenance behavior back to what buyers may actually face after purchase.
AutoExpert is all about cars from Australian automotive expert, journalist and engineer John Cadogan
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
John Cadogan connects automotive engineering, regulation and consumer risk with enough technical detail to challenge both marketing claims and public panic.
AutoExpert turns Australian car questions into engineering arguments with consumer consequences. John Cadogan moves from EV and hybrid tradeoffs to vehicle theft, fuel policy and safety recalls, using a sharp solo commentary style that treats marketing and official claims as…
Auto marketing meets the calculator, then discovers you are not grading on charm.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A blunt reality check that separates actual fuel shortages from headline panic.
The episode treats current fuel headlines as overblown rather than catastrophic, and it does so by drawing a clear line between oil prices and the finished fuel people actually pay for at the bowser.
A direct reminder that convenience and reliability can pull in opposite directions when safety is on the line.
This review treats the Hyundai Palisade recall as a serious safety issue, and it does not try to soften the blow. It lays out the death of a two-year-old child in Ohio, the seat-folding failure, and the recall scope for Palisade and Palisade Hybrid models in limited and…
A blunt, technically literate teardown that keeps petrol rules, diesel flashpoint changes, and social media panic separate.
The episode is at its best when it stays with the federal government wording, the 10 parts per million sulfur limit for petrol sold in Australia, and the diesel flashpoint shift from 61.5 degrees C to 60.5 degrees C.
A blunt Australian EV take that treats infrastructure and deployment as the real test.
The piece pushes EV talk in Australia away from branding and toward the harder work of deployment. It keeps the focus on practical limits: transport is roughly 20% of overall CO2 equivalent emissions, cars are only about half of that, and Australia has about 16 million light…
A blunt look at Toyota theft risk and the ECU and CAN-bus logic behind it.
This episode treats Toyota theft as a CAN-bus security problem rather than a mystery, and that framing gives the discussion a firm footing. Its strongest stretch is the technical walkthrough: yaw sensors, steering-wheel angle data, speed, throttle, transmission, and brake…
Host Jack Rhysider narrates true hacking, breach, and privacy stories from the people involved.
David Pierce and Verge staffers cover AI industry news, gadgets, and tech policy weekly.
Long-form interviews on AI coding agents, infrastructure, and security, plus a recurring SED News roundup.
Founders and engineers on AI coding agents like Claude Code, and supply chain security.
David Sparks and Stephen Robles dig into Keyboard Maestro, Shortcuts, and Mac automation weekly.
AutoExpert host dismantles Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's April 1st claim that Australia is experiencing 'the biggest spike in petrol and diesel prices in history,' using ACCC data showing current rises of 47.5% (petrol) and 71.8% (diesel) against the 1979-1981 oil shock's 83.6% and 107.2%.
The show takes on the Hyundai Palisade recall after the tragic death of a two-year-old child in Ohio.
This episode discusses the insolvency of True EV, the Australian importer of Chinese electric vehicle brand Xpeng, and the resulting nightmare scenario for owners who depend on specialized support ecosystems.
AutoExpert host debunks the Australian social media panic over 'dirty diesel,' explaining that the temporary fuel quality relaxation announced in March 2026 by Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen affects only petrol sulfur content, not diesel.
This episode discusses a consumer law case where a Mercedes-Benz owner lost a warranty claim due to not following the car's service requirements, highlighting the hidden traps in owner's manuals.
This episode explains the differences between propane, butane, MAP-Pro, and oxy-fuel blowtorches, emphasizing the importance of flame temperature over heat output for various applications like brazing and metalworking.
AutoExpert examines Cherry’s KP31, a proposed ute combining a 2.5-litre diesel engine with a plug-in hybrid system and claimed 47% thermal efficiency.
This episode explains how to hot blue mild steel using a blowtorch and oil as a cheap, durable rust prevention method, with tips on tools, materials, and safety precautions.
John Cadogan reports on the collapse of Boss Cap and its subsidiary Oz EV, discussing job losses and the state of automotive engineering in Australia.
John Cadogan explores Hyundai's full R&D and manufacturing operations in China, highlighting the launch of the first Chinese-built Hyundai in Australia.
John Cadogan reviews the new Hiandei Elexio electric vehicle, discussing its features, quirks, and comparing it to the Toyota RAV4.
John Cadogan criticizes a government-funded project installing power points in a Melbourne apartment complex parking lot, calling it wasteful taxpayer spending.
An automotive expert teaches home fabricators how to properly weld and calculate loads for metal projects like a benchtop.
John Cadogan critiques the irony of charging an electric bus with a diesel generator on a mine site, questioning the true environmental benefits.
This episode humorously discusses the different types of blowtorches available for home workshops, including butane, propane, MAP-Pro, and oxy options, while exploring the cultural fascination with fire.
John Cadogan critiques the hypocrisy of an electric bus being charged by a diesel generator at a mining site.
An automotive expert explains how to calculate real-world towing capacity, debunking manufacturer claims.
An Australian automotive analyst argues, using NSW grid emissions data and real retail prices, that a $75,000 budget achieves three times the annual CO2 reduction if spent on a RAV4 Hybrid plus rooftop solar rather than a Tesla Model Y: the hybrid produces 1.7 tonnes of CO2 per year versus the Model Y's 1.5 tonnes on overnight grid charging, but the leftover $20,000 in solar panels displaces six tonnes of grid electricity emissions, producing a net advantage of more than four tonnes per year.
The host discusses why EV batteries have safety recalls while power tool batteries do not, exploring engineering complexity and failure modes.
John Cadogan discusses a hilarious yet dangerous recall of Volvo EX30 electric cars that can spontaneously catch fire when charged to 100%.
John Cadogan criticizes Australian government subsidies for electric vehicles, arguing they burden low-income earners to benefit the wealthy.
This episode guides listeners through making a durable, non-sparking brass hammer using simple tools for under $100, emphasizing its practical benefits in renovation and mechanical work.
John Cadogan critiques the Kia Tasman's poor sales, high price, and mediocre engine, advising buyers to negotiate discounts.
John Cadogan discusses a common design flaw in Toyota off-roaders' front differential drain plug and offers repair advice.
John Cadogan reviews a variable speed magnetic drill and discusses over-engineered solutions for workshop problems.
The episode discusses Uber's safety issues and legal accountability, framed within an automotive expert show.
The host shares Kia's official response to the Tasman ute's bump stop engagement issue during heavy towing, detailing measurements and observations from a previous test.
He starts by saying a brand-new Toyota can disappear in under two minutes.
John Cadogan critiques Hertz's failed Tesla rental strategy and its shift to AI-driven scams.
An automotive expert discusses the challenges of adapting a Korean ute (pickup truck) for the Australian market, focusing on design and engineering differences.
Automotive expert John Cadogan advises on how to properly store a car for an extended period, using a listener's two classic Holdens as examples.
John Cadogan and a guest review a new ute, discussing its size, refinement, and missing head-up display.