Parents' Guide to

Motor City Motors

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Reality show features custom cars, economic woes, and hope.

TV Discovery Channel Reality TV 2009
Motor City Motors Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 1 parent review

manoogs
manoogs Parent of 2-year-old
April 7, 2018
age 12+
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In MOTOR CITY MOTORS, siblings Dave and James Kaye -- aka the Detroit Brothers -- head up a team of skilled mechanics who have five days to design and build one-of-a-kind automobiles. The show follows along as they bicker over the plans and then try to turn their artistic vision into a working vehicle, whether the assignment is to convert an old Model T into a hot rod or to turn a huge GMC Suburban into a pothole filler. Set in Detroit, the show features a rotating cast of veteran autoworkers and often delves into their personal lives to show how the flagging U.S. car industry and the city's slumping economy have affected their lives.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

The mechanics' personal stories are what make Motor City Motors better than the average automotive reality series. Sure, it's plenty interesting to see the skilled workers in their element, debating the merits of cut-outs and chopped cabs and air scoops and then turning a totally ordinary vehicle into a high-performance ride.

But there are many shows that let viewers see all that. This series turns the city of Detroit into an unofficial cast member -- and not an especially upbeat one. The slumping auto industry has taken a toll on both the city's economy and on the show's participants. Though all of them are very good at what they do, several are struggling. Some are unemployed, and all of them seem worried about their future prospects. Even the Kayes' highly regarded custom shop is on the verge of failure. Watching these talented people at work is a treat, but it's a sad testament to the global economy that their valuable skills might not be enough to earn a living.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the appeal of reality shows like this one. Many other series have been made about groups of people who work on cars, motorcycles, etc. -- what's the draw of these shows? How does this one compare to the others?

  • Teens and tweens: Are you interested in working on cars? Does watching this show inspire you to tinker on a car? Or does the sometimes-bleak economic situation seen here make you want to consider a different career path?

  • What do you think about the way the show presents the U.S.
    auto industry? How have the fortunes of the major car companies
    affected the people on the show?

TV Details

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