Hey everyone, it's Chris 👋 and in this episode of Cool Cars with Chris, I'm back with my buddy Courage for a wild ride of wrenching, driving, and exploring the car culture we all love.

First up, Courage walks us through his recent DIY brake job on his Hyundai Elantra N. Spoiler alert: things didn’t go exactly to plan. From weird brake squeals to last-minute tool runs, this is the real deal on working on your own car. We also dig into aftermarket brake pads, track vs street compounds, and what makes these cars so sensitive to the little stuff.

Then, Courage breaks down an invite-only event with the Hyundai N Club of Southern California, where he joined a scenic LA drive through Mulholland Drive, hit Griffith Observatory, and finished at a private reveal event hosted by Race Service. We talk about the latest in the Hyundai N lineup, including the Elantra N TCR edition and upcoming Ioniq 6 N electric performance sedan.

This episode dives into topics like Hyundai Elantra N tuning, DIY brake jobs, and how to fix brake squeal with aftermarket pads. We explore the Hyundai N Club of Southern California, including a scenic drive through Mulholland Drive and a visit to Griffith Observatory. You’ll also hear about the Elantra N TCR edition, the Ioniq 6 N electric performance sedan, and what it’s like to attend an exclusive Hyundai enthusiast event in Los Angeles. We break down full synthetic oil vs conventional oil, oil change intervals, and how wrong oil weight can impact your car’s warranty. Plus, we talk about the best navigation apps for car enthusiasts—Google Maps vs Apple Maps vs Waze—and why San Diego car culture hits different. If you're into SoCal car scenes, JB4 tunes, the Peterson Automotive Museum, or just love performance cars and real driver stories, this episode is for you.

00:00 – 🎙️ Intro – DIY Brake Job & N Club Tease

01:00 – 👋 Welcome Back Courage! Brake Job Drama Begins

02:15 – 🛠️ Jack Stands, Oil Changes & The Weekend Wrench Life

03:30 – 🚨 Brake Squeals Begin – Diagnosis & Frustrations

04:45 – 🧪 Track Pads vs OEM – What's the Real Difference?

06:00 – 🧰 Napa, Parts Stores & Brake Pad Tiers

07:15 – 🔧 High Mileage Life – Oil Changes and Tune Talk

08:30 – ⛽ Full Synthetic, Oil Temps & Limp Mode

10:00 – 🧊 0W-30 vs 5W-30 – Does It Matter?

11:15 – 📜 Warranty Risks from Wrong Oil Choices

13:00 – 🛣️ Frequent Trips to LA – Freeway Talk

14:30 – 🗺️ Google Maps vs Apple Maps vs Waze Debate

16:30 – 🚓 Police Traps, Alerts & CarPlay Stories

20:00 – 🤔 Pickup Truck vs Courage: Who Got Pulled Over?

22:30 – 🏙️ Visiting the Peterson Automotive Museum

25:00 – 🏡 San Diego vs NorCal – Home Pride Talk

28:15 – ❄️ Why Cold Climates are Tough on Car Enthusiasts

29:00 – 🏍️ Bikes, Movie Cars & Aston Martins at the Museum

31:30 – 💰 Priceless Cars: Drive or Garage Queen?

33:00 – 🚗 Cars as Art vs Cars as Machines

35:00 – 🧾 Insurance for Million Dollar Cars? Explained

37:00 – 🚘 Hyundai N Club LA Drive – Behind the Scenes

40:00 – 📦 N-Lineup Breakdown: Veloster, Elantra, Ioniq 5N

43:00 – ⚡ EV Power vs Weight – Is It Really Better?

45:15 – 🚀 Instant Torque: Why EVs Dominate Off the Line

46:00 – 🏁 LA N Drive Route – Mulholland to Griffith

47:30 – 📸 Drones, Photo Stops & N Parade

48:30 – 🔄 Back to Base: TCR Reveal & Ionic 6N Tease

50:00 – 🔁 Nissan/Infiniti Platform Sharing Throwback

52:00 – 🧠 Why Chris Picked the 370Z Over the 350Z

54:00 – 💬 Final Thoughts on Finding Joy in the Drive

#HyundaiElantraN #CarEnthusiastLife #DIYBrakeJob #SoCalCarCulture #CoolCarsWithChris #PetersonMuseum #HyundaiNClub

Ready to hit your first Cars & Coffee but not sure what to expect? Whether you're rolling in a modded turbo, a lifted truck, or just showing up to vibe with the car community — this episode breaks it all down.

Chris is joined by returning guest Courage for a deep dive into the unwritten rules, etiquette, and awesome stories behind one of car culture’s most beloved meetups: Cars and Coffee.

From SoCal meets like South OC and Rancho Santa Fe to whether you need a cool car to attend (you don’t), this is your go-to guide for car meets in 2026 and beyond.

🎧 In This Episode:

• What actually is Cars & Coffee? ☕🚗

• Cars & Coffee vs. car shows — what's the difference?

• What to bring, where to park, and how to not be that guy

• Do you need permission to host a car meet?

• Is it OK to take photos or film other people’s cars? (Yes!)

• Stories from real meets: Ford Escorts, Roush trucks, and that “one-of-one” Corvette guy

• Tips for first-timers: even if you're not driving anything fancy

• Should you make content at Cars & Coffee? 🎥

• What it means to “win” Cars & Coffee — and why it's about more than your car

00:00 🎉 Welcome to 2026 + What This Episode Is About

00:41 🛠️ Courage Returns: Mods, Mishaps & Car Updates

03:08 🎧 Exhaust Talk: Chris’s Z & the Right Sound

05:10 🌅 Cars & Coffee in SoCal: The Local Scene

06:34 🤔 What *Is* Cars & Coffee? (vs. Car Shows)

08:02 🛍️ Vendors, Hot Wheels, & Saturday Mornings

09:29 🅿️ Do You Need Permission to Host a Car Meet?

11:05 👖 Corvette Memes, One-of-Ones & Badge Culture

14:10 🚗 Do You *Need* a Cool Car to Attend?

15:16 💎 Hidden Gems: The Ford Escort GT Story

16:53 🛻 Trucks, Roush Builds & OEM+ Love

18:09 📏 Parking Etiquette + Don’t Be *That Guy*

20:25 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Breaking the Ice: How to Talk to Strangers at Meets

24:11 🎥 Content Creation at Cars & Coffee: Should You?

40:17 🏆 “Winning” Cars & Coffee & Why Community Matters

📲 Stay Connected:

🎙️ Follow Chris →

🎥 Follow Courage →

💬 Got a Cars & Coffee story? DM us or leave a review!

If you're curious about how to attend Cars and Coffee or wondering what happens at a car meet, this episode is your ultimate beginner’s guide to car culture events. We cover everything from Cars and Coffee etiquette and how to park at a car meet to whether you need a cool car to attend. Learn the differences between car shows vs. Cars and Coffee, and get real-world tips on meeting other car enthusiasts, filming at car meets, and how to make car content. This episode dives into modded cars, OEM plus builds, Corvette memes, and the culture of one-of-one badge flexing. Whether you're driving a Roush F-150, a Ford Escort GT, or showing up with no build at all, you'll find insights on where to go for Cars and Coffee in SoCal, including South OC and Rancho Santa Fe. Plus, we talk about taking photos at car meets, filming with respect, and how to win Cars and Coffee by showing up and being part of the car community. This episode is for anyone interested in car meet tips, car event do’s and don’ts, or how to get into car culture in 2026.

#CarsAndCoffee #CarMeet #CarCulture #CarCommunity #CoolCarsWithChris

#SoCalCars #CarPodcast #CarEnthusiast #ModifiedCars #CarLife

#CarTalkPodcast #CarShowVsCarMeet #FirstTimeAtCarsAndCoffee

#CarsOfInstagram #AutomotivePodcast #CarEventTips #JDMToMuscle