Best In Class

Friend of the pod Diego wants to get a different car. It's apparently time to get rid of the Ford Maverick he currently daily drives and get himself a sporty car. But he has - of course - a few rules. More than a few actually. So he gives Steve and Adam the requirements and the arguments commence!

The Italian stallion is no more, the Magnum P.I.-mobile has gone to the Hawaii in the sky, Enzo's finest is fertilizer. It's true - Steve's precious Fancy Fiat suffered a small case of major fire damage and now she's gone. Apparently that's what it takes for us to resurrect this podcast. We've got the full story of "the incident" today, along with exciting news of Adam's new DIY garage space opening in West LA: https://www.wanderwellsociety.com/

In what may or may not be Best in Class's final episode, Steve and Adam are swapping keys to their cherished rides to finally see who has the better car. For more than three years they have been insulting Ferrari and Porsche on just about even episode, and now it's time to see if either can stand their co-hosts' car.  It's been a fun and educational ride for all of us here at Best in Class, and we want to thank everyone who came along for the ride. We might be back with an episode here or there if inspiration strikes, so stay subscribed on your favorite app for that day when we pop back into your ear holes.

So many car brands have come and gone over the ages, with some dying during our lifetimes. Edsel, DeLorean, Scion, and more have all shuffled off this mortal coil. But which one was the best? How would we bring back them back today? And which one of these defunct brands did Steve have a direct hand in killing? That's this week on Best in Class. 

Most people have a car. Some have two. But not you, because you're a dreamer and doer and shaper of destiny. You have multiple cars, and you always want more. You might even have a dream garage full of cars you have fantasized about. Well, Best in Class is here to upgrade those dreams with our definitive list(s) of the best five-car garage possible. Buckle up, we're dishing painful truths this week.

Japanese kei-jidōsha, or "kei" cars are micro cars sold only in Japan, and just about the cutest branch of the automotive industry. These diminutive rides feature all the tech and safety of a normal passenger car, but in a bite-sized wrapper. With these forbidden fruits increasingly being imported onto our shores under the 25-year rule, it is the duty of Best in Class to inform you our listening audience which kei car is the very best.

While the 70's produced icons, and the 80's had some hits, the 90's were perhaps the golden era of concept cars. Designers had figured out the perfect ratio of fantastic to realistic, plastic molding technology meant new shapes were possible, and OEMs were flush with cash. But which of these works of art was the best?

Liv is a recent convert to the automotive lifestyle, having only fallen into it a year ago. It's been a whirlwind year so far with offroading, mechanical adventures, Cars&Coffee events, and a cross-country trek. This week Steve and Adam catch up with her to see how her first year as an enthusiast has gone, what she has learned, and what she wants to do next.

Toyota is revealing the new 4Runner today, so on this episode Best in Class we look back at the SUV's past and decide when generation was its very best example. Somewhere in there Steve also brings up his 308, but that's typical.  

The Steve of a decade ago was a different person. He took fancy trips. He drove interesting cars. And he wore shoes. This is the story of Steve's epic European road trip when 10 years ago he watched F1 in person, drove his dream cars, and lived the continental lifestyle.

We all have to die sometime, so why not go out with some style? But do you shove off this mortal coil in your dream car? Or your first car? Or maybe your enemy's car to take it with you? All valid options. Buckle up, because this is going to be a dark episode!

The Broadmoor International Pikes Peak Hill Climb, presented by Gran Turismo - or as we call it Pikes Peak - is an utterly fascinating, utterly terrifying, and utterly American race that takes place every year up a Colorado mountain. If you've never experienced The Race to the Clouds, we're here to tell you just how special it is.

Kit cars inhabit an interesting place in the automotive lifestyle - often ridiculed, sometimes longed for, but never ever respected. Are there any good kit cars out there? Is it worth building your own car? And what do you do with all those leftover bolts? To help us answer these questions, we've enlisted kit car owner Diego to tell us what's what.

We're back with another one of our window shopping episodes where we trawl the local (and not so local) car ads to find the best car you can buy this week for a paltry $15k. We even brought Warren on so we could hear his rediculous idea, and boy was it a doozy!

You got yourself a BMW 5-Series. Congratulations. Shame you didn't work just a little bit harder so you could afford the big boy 7-Series. Oh well, someone has to file all that paperwork and fill out the PowerPoint slides. But at least you bought the right 5-Series by following Best in Class's recommendations, right?

The Land Rover Discovery - or Disco to the fans - was an attempt to move downmarket and get more people into the British car brand. Many people bought them, but then they too learned just how unreliable Land Rovers are. So the plan worked, I guess? This week Steve and Adam explore the history of the car Adam just acquired for $2000, and find out just how big of a mistake he made.

One of our loyal listeners is turning 50, and as such she asked us to help her pick out a fun car to buy for her birthday. The catch? It also has to be 50 years old. So Steve and Adam went on the hunt for the best car from 1974! The results, as you would expect, were mixed.

It's been too long since Adam has been to the DMV, so to correct that he went out and bought a car today! The only way to find out just what a heap of rust it is (or isn't) is to listen to this week's Best in Class!

Henrik Fisker is responsible for some of the most beautiful cars of the last 30 years. He's an entrepreneur and electric car enthusiast, but also a serial failure who has seen the inside of many courtrooms. So is he an automotive huckster, or a misunderstood genius? We'll find out this week on Best in Class.

The Lamborghini Jalpa was completely overshadowed by its big brother the Countach, but this hard-charging bull deserved better than that. At the very least, it was faster, better, and prettier than its direct rival - Steve's Ferrari 308. So if this car is so good, why haven't you heard of it? And is there a best version?

It's the beginning of a new year, so it's time for us to come back from our month vacation, debut a new recording system, and tell you gentle listeners what fun cars are coming this year!

The Honda Prelude looked like a million bucks, but unfortunately only went like thirty bucks. This parts-bin special sports car debuted several new technologies and even humbled supercars in some tests. So it must be kinda good, but which is the best? And will Adam trade his motorcycle for one? That's this week on Best in Class.

We've all been in taxis. If sitcom TV is to be believed, half of us were born in the backseat of one during a storm/traffic jam/zany adventure. And every city, country, and culture has it's own version of the for-hire car. But which one is the absolute best? And do they all smell like a wet junkyard cat?

Koenigsegg is the only Swedish car company that doesn't make safe cars. It also makes cars that go 250+ mph. And their wares cost more than $1 million each. It's the best Swedish supercar maker there is! And the only one! Today in Part 2 we explore the cars of Koenigsegg and which one is Best in Class for your lifestyle needs.

Koenigsegg is the only Swedish car company that doesn't make safe cars. It also makes cars that go 250+ mph. And their wares cost more than $1 million each. It's the best Swedish supercar maker there is! And the only one! But before we find out if they are any good or not, first we have lots of history and inventions to cover! Welcome to our very first two-part episode.

Vinfast is the best-selling car maker in Vietnam, and they've been pushing heavily to enter the US market. However, every western journalist who has tested one says they are horrible. Can Vinfast make a go of it in America? Or will the fizzle out like so many other new EV brands?

You're a rosy-cheeked 16yr old shopping for your first car, but which one do you buy? A cool sports car? A tough 4x4? Or a reliable commuter? Well don't worry, Best in Class is here to solve this problem for you! We've got all the first car advice you'll ever need.

The Dodge Charger has some of the cheapest horsepower available for the modern car buyer, and the classic Charger is an icon of the pony wars. They also have a modern reputation for being magnets for hooligans and new army enlistees. But are they any good? And do think Warren is going to show us photos of his skiing trips? You'll find out this week on Best in Class.

The Ferrari F355 from 1995 is known as the last hand-built Ferrari, which is great but it also means it comes with all the big bills that hand-built cars come with. Want to replace your drive belt? Engine out. Want to change change the oil? Engine out. Want to fill up your washer fluid? You better believe that's engine out...

Since the 1960's, Ford has been a dominating force in the world of offroad racing - The Baja 1000 in particular. So it was only natural that they would introduce the world's first purpose-built offroad racing truck and create a brand new market segment. But is the Raptor any good? And can Steve get his dog in one? That's this week on Best in Class.

Today we are debuting a new show format called "my new car" where we meet the new owner of some classic or notable car. Our good friend Rashod just purchased a 1969 BMW 1600, and we get the full who, what, where, and most importantly why he is diving into the world of classic cars for the first time.

We've talked BMW and Mercedes, so it's only fair we eventually got to the third German carmaker - Audi. The A4 is their bread and butter seller, and represents one out of every five cars they sell. But is it any good? And which one do you want to buy? Well we're here to answer those questions and more.

Bristol was a car company for 75 years but sold fewer cars than the number of shirts you probably own. They were also universally lauded as excellent vehicles. But also terribly ugly. Were they actually any good, are they worth anything now, and is Steve's Land Rover already broken?

The Porsche 928 was supposed to launch a new era for Porsche, instead it merely launched in-car phones and psychedelic interiors. Planned to replace the 911, this large rear end of a car merely faded away instead. Are there any good ones to be had, and can we get Warren out of his Ferrari for one? All this more and on this week's Best in Class.

Are convertibles the best car idea ever, or a deathtrap meant only for balding single men? Why not both?!?! Today we look at the best new convertibles available this year, while also arguing about the very nature of the convertible (do targa's count?) whether you can pick up a date in one, and we reveal Steve's sordid Porsche past.

Steve has just come back from Monterey Car Week and is going to give us the report on what was on the Pebble Beach lawn, all the big hats and pocket squares, and the auctions. We also pick the best, worst, and strangest auction results from the week.

The Saturn brand was meant to reinvent car buying and manufacturing, but instead it lasted only 25 years and it's parent company GM went bankrupt. How did Saturn start? Were they any good? And what convinced Adam's family to buy one in 1996? All that and more on this week's Best in Class.

We're casting our shopping net around the interwebs to find the best used car available right now for $15,000. Steve picked a car, Adam picked a car, and our guest host Erika picked a car. Now they will battle to the death to see who is the Best in Class car shopping champion!

The 7-series is BMW's flagship that previews the design, features, and technology that will not only trickle down to the rest of the brand, but to the entire car world as well. These cars are packed with the latest bells and whistles, and as such are sold only to the titans of industry. But are they any good? And will Steve ever be able to afford one?

First of all, sorry about that title. It had to be done. But seriously, what Canadian car companies do you know about? Did you know they used to be the second-largest manufacturer of cars in the world? Did you know there were 11 different Canadian car companies at one time? And did you know that Steve just got back from Canada? Hence why we're talking about it this week...

Mansory is a (in)famous car tuner out of Germany that likes to take some the best and most luxurious cars in the world, and slap on garish bumpers, absurd wings, and downright ugly leather. Bought exclusively by people with more money than taste, there is not such thing as a Best in Class Mansory. But is there a worst?

Mercedes is known for producing luxurious and comfortable cars, and strangely also the AMG GT - a no-nonsense sports car that can turn any driver into a hero. Mercedes rarely makes sports cars, so we of course had to cover this ride AND bring in some expert advice. Friend of the show Warren had the opportunity to drive all the versions of the car recently, so he helps us figure out which one was the best.

Steve got mad at Adam's Subaru joke on our last episode so as punishment Adam now has to host a whole episode on the Outback. So you have to suffer too...

To celebrate Father's Day, instead of calling our dads or giving them a gift, Steve and Adam are going to argue what the coolest dad car is, talk about the cars their dads owned, and how they taught them to drive. Makes sense to me.

We've got a new format for today's show: we're casting our shopping net around the interwebs to find the best used car available right now for $10,000. Steve picked a car, Adam picked a car, and now they will battle to the death to see who is the Best in Class car shopping champion!

Did you know that the Plymouth Laser was the last sports car the brand ever made? Did you know that Tina Turner was the spokeswoman for the launch? And did you know that we (kina) already covered this when we talked about the Eclipse? We'll we're taking another swing at it in honor of the passing of the Queen of Rock & Roll.

Friend of the show Diego recently bought a very nice Datsun Roadster for his commutes up the coastal roads of Southern California. As an advertising man, he has a lot in common with Steve, but as a compassionate human being he has a lot more in common with Adam. But what's the deal with his car? Are tiny Datsun convertibles any good? And did Diego buy the right one? We'll find out today on Best in Class.

In honor of Mother's Day (well a day late, like all good sons), we're talking about the best mom car in the world. Is it an SUV, a mini-van, or a sports car? And what does Steve wish his mom drove when he was going up?

What's better than an (almost) free truck? Our guest host Warren had that experience with his truck and he's here to tell us all about it. Along the way, we'll argue over which generation was best, pulling the space shuttle, and how to reach 1 million miles. Also, Steve bought a new car...

Steve still hasn't chosen his next car, despite so many great suggestions from Adam to just get a Honda Odyssey and be done with life. No, despite the logical choice before him, he continues to search for a new ride for his Great Dane. And he might be buying this car in the next 24 hours! So naturally, Adam is going to try to talk him out of it.

Beyond the MINI Clubman, Steve is also looking into buying a Land Rover LR4 for his dog to destroy. A very different car for sure, but somehow more Steve in it's British-ness, luxury, and excessive weight. And of course Adam is here to tell him all the ways he is choosing wrong.