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No bones about it, Scott loves cars. And let's not forget about motorcycles, boats, trains and airplanes. When he’s not answering questions from his ever-inquisitive podcast co-host Ben Bowlin, he’s writing and editing auto articles for HowStuffWorks.com. Scott came to HowStuffWorks.com straight from the epicenter of the U.S. auto industry -- the Motor City -- Detroit, Mich. He lived there for nearly 25 years and at one point found himself working for each of the big three automakers. Whether it's through an article or a “High Speed Stuff” podcast (or both), Scott’s goal is to demystify these fascinating and amazing machines. You can find Scott on Twitter at @CarStuffHSW and on Facebook at the official CarStuff page.
Most Recent: Scott C. Benjamin Postings
Was it even intended to be political at all? Maybe that’s a better question to ask. By now, you know the one I’m talking about, right? The Clint Eastwood “It’s Halftime in America” commercial for Chrysler. I won’t say too much about this, mainly because I want to hear what you think in the comment section below. However, I will tell you this…
I’m sure by now you’ve heard the latest Toyota news: A little less than a week ago, it was announced that “NASA found no evidence that a malfunction in electronics caused large unintended accelerations.” That’s according to Michael Kirsch, the principal engineer and team lead of the study from the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.
And if you recall, reports of unintended acceleration were being blamed on three possible factors: sticking accelerator pedals, a design flaw that enabled accelerator pedals to become trapped by floor mats and electromagnetic interference and/or software…
A couple of years ago, I received an aftermarket in-car navigation system as a gift. It’s a portable device — one that I can easily move from vehicle to vehicle, keep hidden away when it’s not in use or even take it along with me when I fly someplace new and need to rent a car. I’ve used it on local road trips, long cross-country road trips and everything in between. I think it proved itself most-valuable, however, when I…
OK. So I’m guessing that by now most of you know at least a little something about Bluetooth technology, correct? Well then, at least you’ve heard about Bluetooth technology, right? Well, just in case you answered no to either one of those questions, here’s a super-fast way to get up-to-speed on what it’s all about. And if you took the time to follow that link, then you’ll understand why Bluetooth technology has been a very popular feature in cars and trucks ever since…
Believe it or not, there once was a time when everyone riding in a vehicle had to agree on a single temperature setting. And, of course, this inevitably led to some friction between travelers: Some preferred it cooler while the others rubbed their hands together and claimed to be freezing. Or maybe there was someone in the car who wanted it warmer while others were left sweating and sticking to the vinyl seats. Some compromise might be had by opening a window — but that often led to other issues with wind and road noise. So what’s the solution?
How does a vehicle get chosen as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS?
by Scott C. Benjamin | October 29, 2010
Let’s say that you’re shopping for a new car. What are some of the key characteristics that you’re likely to be looking for? Well, aside from appearance, comfort and performance features, there’s a good chance that you’re also looking for a car that’s safe. In fact, for some car shoppers, that’s the number one selling point.
While I’m sure that we’ve talked about cruise control in the past, I thought we’d take just a few moments today to talk about a recent (but not necessarily new) variation of that original system — Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC). And since it’s not all-new technology, I’ll just give you a quick description of how the system works…
CarStuff Wrap-up: Driving on the Right (or Left) and Toll Roads
by Scott C. Benjamin | September 17, 2010
Well, it’s Friday once again, and you know what that means: I get to pen another quick wrap-up of what Ben and I have been talking about on our CarStuff podcast over the past several days. So let’s get started.
I’m sure you’re aware that in some countries, you’re supposed to drive on the right side of the road, while in others, you’re expected to stay to the left. Did you ever wonder why that is? Well, in Tuesday’s episode, Ben and I take a look at the history of right- and left-side driving. Yet we don’t necessarily limit ourselves to discussing the side of the road we’re meant to keep to, either. We talk a little bit about right-hand and left-hand drive cars, too. In particular, some of the difficulties you may have when shifting from one side to the other. (Pun intended.) I think it’s good stuff. Give it a listen and see what you think.
Paying for the privilege to…
CarStuff Wrap-up: Volvo’s Vision 2020 Program and Tractor Pulls
by Scott C. Benjamin | September 10, 2010
Even though it was a short week (due to the Labor Day holiday on Monday), Ben and I were still able to get into the studio to record a couple of CarStuff podcasts that we think you’ll really enjoy listening to. What did we have to say? Well, here’s what you’ll find on our CarStuff podcast this week…
CarStuff Wrap-up: Unusual Car Stories and The Knowledge
by Scott C. Benjamin | July 16, 2010
In the interest of time, let’s just dispense with the small talk today, m’kay? Here’s what’s happening on our CarStuff podcast this week.
On Tuesday, Ben and I talked about some unusual car stories. Now, you probably already know that I’m not going to give any secrets away here, but I will tell you this: You should listen to this episode if you really want to be stunned by some of the history that surrounds a few of the automobiles that we talk about. This is some crazy stuff — really crazy.
And on Thursday’s show, Ben really took the lead on a topic…
Recent Postings by Category
BrainStuff
- Thank You and Best Wishes to Marshall Brain
- Contest – Design a $300 house and win $25,000
- How the Philtrum works – the place under your nose where your face comes together
The Coolest Stuff on the Planet
- Traveling on the Orient Express
- Deep-fried Goodness at Carnival
- The Colors of the Running of the Bulls
Keep Asking
- Why can a 5 foot 8 inch man dunk a basketball on a 10 foot rim while some people of taller stature can’t?
- What happens to our sun once it runs out of fuel?
- How do we know the age of the universe?
Stuff Mom Never Told You
- Who invented the Christmas card?
- How the Kinsey Report Fueled Whiskey Sales
- How to Get Your Wedding Announcement into The New York Times
Stuff to Blow Your Mind
- Blow Your Mind: In the Lair of the Rat King
- Mandala: Memory Palace, Inception and Simulated Worlds
- Virgin Galactic: $200,000 Ticket to Ride
Stuff You Should Know
- The Southern Death Cult, the Maya and Georgia
- Deformed Baby Spider Brains
- Amazing Medical Conditions: Maple Syrup Urine Disorder
The Stuff of Genius
CarStuff
- Was Chrysler’s “It’s Halftime in America” Super Bowl commercial a little too political?
- Why is NASA studying car safety?
- Tips for in-car Navigation Systems
How-to Stuff
- How to Make the Most of a Gallery Crawl (When You’re on a Shoestring Budget)
- How to Swim with Dolphins (When Deep Water Terrifies You)
- How to Cure a Homemade Cookie Craving Without Turning on the Oven
PopStuff
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 40: Did movies ruin love?
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 39: Urban Legends
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 38: Defending Disney Princesses?
Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
Stuff to Change the World
- Who will own the Arctic?
- Obesity: The New Global Crisis
- Bill Gates Makes For A Pretty Decent Cartoon
Stuff You Missed in History Class
- Butch Cassidy: Should we read between the lines?
- Are we rooting for D.B. Cooper?
- Party Time: A Look at Unconventional Politics
