Auto Uncovered

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John and Adam pull apart ABC Four Corners' BYD hacking exposé, arguing that every modern car collects your data and can be hacked through its CAN bus, no matter where it's built. They break down the TV tricks used to steer viewers, what the story should have covered instead, and answer a listener question on whether legacy brands can fight back against China, and why halo cars might be their best shot.
Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJC
Check out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven
Skip ahead:
00:00 - Intro01:04 - Four Corners' BYD exposé03:50 - Every car is spying09:50 - CAN bus hacking13:21 - China as a trading partner15:39 - On bullshit17:45 - Inside China20:09 - Current affairs tricks25:07 - What they should've covered27:02 - Can legacy brands compete?33:04 - Halo cars and heritage36:52 - Wrap up
Join auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

Got any questions? Ask away! questions@autouncovered.com.auAdam needs to trade in his beloved Fiesta ST for something more practical, and in the process uncovers a gold mine of enthusiast cars now sitting between $20,000 and $30,000 used, from hot hatches and rear-drive sedans to V8 SUVs and future classics. A listener asks what makes car brands keep their die-hard fans, and John and Adam finish with simple ways to cut your motoring costs, why buying an EV to save on fuel doesn't add up, and why petrol is still almost free when you look at what it does for you.Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJCCheck out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDrivenSkip ahead:00:00 - Intro00:47 - Replacing the Fiesta ST01:47 - The $20-30K gold mine03:11 - SUVs and hot hatches08:43 - Rear-drive sedans and coupes13:22 - Peak car17:11 - Adam's shortlist17:55 - What keeps enthusiasts loyal24:03 - Cutting motoring costs31:01 - EVs and depreciation33:20 - The real value of fuel39:12 - Wrap upJoin auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

Got any questions? Ask away! questions@autouncovered.com.au

Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJCCheck out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven

Adam Morris (ReDriven) and John Cadogan (Auto Expert) kick off with a chat about Ford’s new Bronco Basecamp: will buyers care that it’s built in China but marketed as something else? What are the tools every driver should keep in their car? The guys discuss it and John shows off his oversized wrench.

From there, Adam shares some alarming insurance stories involving modified vehicles, denied claims and drivers discovering they weren’t covered when they thought they were. It’s a timely reminder to check exactly what your policy covers before you need to make a claim.

They also debate a proposal that could see all drivers pay a road user charge, while also keeping fuel excise in place as a separate "pollution tax". It would effectively mean many motorists are paying twice. Is it fair for people who can't easily switch to an EV? Are governments sending mixed messages by encouraging EV adoption while looking for new ways to tax drivers?

Finally, a listener asks the question: are any modern cars built to last, or are the days of keeping a car for 20 years coming to an end?

In this episode:

00:00 Intro & What’s Coming Up

03:01 Ford Bronco BaseCamp: Will Buyers Care It’s Made in China?

06:58 Essential Car Toolkit: What Should Every Driver Carry?

12:29 Insurance Horror Stories: Why Claims Are Being Rejected

25:31 Tesla FSD Insurance Discounts Explained

30:21 Are "Forever Cars" Dead? Which Cars Will Survive 20+ Years?

38:04 EV Road User Tax Debate: Should Everyone Pay?

42:34 Why Cheap Used Hybrids Make More Sense Than New EVs

47:44 The Case for Smaller Cars in Australia

52:52 Send Us Your Questions

Join auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

Got any questions? Ask away! questions@autouncovered.com.au

Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJCCheck out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven

Adam and John tackle claims that Chinese EVs are spying on drivers. The real privacy concern isn't China, but the amount of data every modern car manufacturer collects, stores and monetises. If you're worried about someone collecting your data you should probably delete Facebook.

A Mozilla report found that all major car brands failed basic privacy standards. Find the report here: https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/blog/privacy-nightmare-on-wheels-every-car-brand-reviewed-by-mozilla-including-ford-volkswagen-and-toyota-flunks-privacy-test/

Should consumers be more worried about big tech and car companies than foreign governments? Zuckerberg or Xi - who would you rather gets your data?

The conversation then shifts to automotive regulations, as ADAS frustrations, outdated road laws and safety rules that haven't kept pace with modern vehicle technology boil over.

Finally Adam and John review several major new vehicle announcements, including Ford's Bronco Base Camp, the new Nissan Patrol and Mitsubishi Pajero, debating whether these products can revive struggling brands and why enthusiast criticism often misses what mainstream buyers actually want.

Join auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

In this episode:

00:00 Chinese EV Spyware? Separating Fact From Conspiracy
01:15 "Your Car Is Spying On You" Claims Explained
02:22 The CCP, Data Harvesting & Internet Myths
04:05 Why Social Media Knows More Than Your Car
05:17 The Privacy Nightmare Inside Modern Cars
06:35 Can Car Companies Sell Your Data?
08:22 Why Journalists Should Care About Vehicle Data Collection
10:55 Is Technology Ruining Modern Cars?
12:04 The Real Threat: Carmakers Monetising Drivers
15:13 The Car Laws & Regulations That Need An Overhaul
17:28 Is ANCAP Finally Fixing ADAS?
18:03 Why Modern Cars Are Harder To Escape In Emergencies
19:54 Tesla Door Handles & Safety Risks
21:29 Ford Bronco Base Camp: Brilliant Idea Or Fake Bronco?
23:38 Why Most Buyers Don't Need A "Real" Off-Roader
24:05 Keyboard Warriors vs Real Car Buyers
26:22 What Will The Bronco Base Camp Cost?
27:50 Why Ford Might Have Got This One Right
29:03 New Mitsubishi Pajero Pricing Revealed
29:46 Can The Pajero Save Mitsubishi?
31:58 New Nissan Patrol Pricing & First Impressions
32:32 The V6 Patrol's Secret GT-R Connection
35:15 Why Nissan & Mitsubishi Are Fighting For Survival

Got any questions? Ask away! questions@autouncovered.com.au

Check out John's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@AutoExpertJCCheck out Adam's channel - https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven

John Cadogan and Adam Morris analyse why some manual gearboxes feel magical while others feel terrible, with a detour into the wonderful world of Japanese tool engineering.

From there it gets serious with a look at the oil filter recall affecting popular utes and SUVs; saving a few dollars on servicing components can become a very expensive mistake.

Then it's a listener question: Ven asks about bull bars and pedestrian safety regulations.

Finally Adam and John have one of their most lively debates about whether Tesla has been quietly building brand loyalty with younger generations through tech, games, and EV culture, and whether today's kids might one day treat early Teslas the same way previous generations idolised classic Japanese performance cars. For Boomers it was the Mustang, for Gen X Impreza's and Skyline's: for Gen Z will it be the Model S?

Join auto industry insiders John Cadogan (Auto Expert) and Adam Morris (ReDriven) as they cut through the BS on new cars, used cars, dealer tactics, EV trends, and everything the motoring industry doesn't want you to know. New episodes weekly — subscribe now.

In this ep:

00:00 – Intro

01:30 – Why some manual transmissions feel incredible and others don't

04:50 – Japanese tools, engineering finesse, and surprisingly satisfying screwdrivers

11:15 – Major oil filter recall: what owners of D-Max, MU-X and BT-50s need to know

16:45 – Why cheap servicing can become very expensive

23:30 – Listener question: How are bull bars still legal if pedestrian safety rules are so strict?

28:00 – Bull bars, roadside safety, and the regulatory contradictions

32:20 – Has Tesla been quietly indoctrinating the next generation of car buyers?

37:00 – Will today's Teslas become tomorrow's collectibles?

45:45 – Final thoughts and listener call-out