The Carmudgeon Show

We review the new Audi RS6 Avant Performance, G99 BMW M5 Touring, Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance and Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. One looks spectacular, one has the most impressive suspension of all time, and one is unbuyable. === This episode is sponsored by Vyper Industrial — America's #1 rated shop chair, tool carts, and creepers, proudly made here in the US. Visit vyperindustrial.com and use code CARMUDGEON for $50 off. === Welcome to the performance wagon episode! We've got Jason's blue E30 325i Touring in the garage as we discuss a pair of long-roof autobahn bruisers: the G99 BMW M5 Touring and C8 Audi RS6 Avant Performance. With the cancellation of Porsche's Panamera Sport Turismo, we turn to Porsche's top-spec suppository in its stead: the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. And, similarly, with the E63 wagon gone, we'll review the Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance to tide us over until the new E53 wagon arrives. Starting with the brand new BMW M5 Touring: a letdown as serious as its curb weight. A twin-turbo hot-vee V-8 alongside some EV juice dolls out 717 hp, but long before you're able to stretch its legs the suspension will have you nauseous. It heaves and lunges over road imperfections, and the rear-wheel steering makes it feel like you're perpetually entering the D dimension. Even with new, chunky-sidewalled Pirelli P Zero R tires, the ride is harsh, and the suspension is blatantly unfinished. Do a hard launch and prepare for simultaneous – and yet somehow also out-of-phase – wheelspin and violent pogoing. Things aren't much better styling-wise – the front-end treatment is positively hideous, and there's comparatively little backseat and cargo room next to the Audi. Overall, a huge let down, and a far cry from the delightful G80 M3 (buck teeth aside). Sadly, it will be a long, long while before we can import the G80 M3 Touring. However, it's worth noting that early M products have had teething issues before (including the beloved E90 M3). Jason suggests waiting for the arrival of the Competition Pack, but you'll still be stuck with a gaudy interior and byzantine infotainment system. The Audi RS6 Performance on the other hand is an absolute delight and unexpectedly fabulous. Without the bulk of hybrid batteries, the Audi weighs in at 400 lbs lighter than the Bimmer. It's all-around gorgeous – inside and out – and has loads of room for both passengers and cargo. Its steering is genuinely superior to the BMW's and Jason dubs it the “best wagon in the world.” As for the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid – it's Bose's 1990s dream realized. Jason heralds it as the most impressive suspension he's ever felt – ever. Like if a Rolls-Royce could turn. It comes equipped with the same potent powertrain found in the Bentley Continental GT Speed and Flying Spur, which is so powerful it earned the Porsche the label of quickest 4-door ICE car ever (the 4-door electric monsters still have it beat – the Lucid Air Sapphire and Tesla Model S Plaid both run in the 9s). And lastly, we have Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance – a charmer. The interior is slightly gaudy but otherwise splendid. Our particular car's cabin was a huge improvement over the Macanese bordellos of previous W223s and W222s. The convoluted and clunky drivetrain was an occasional annoyance (and has origins as far back as the first C43 and E63 wagon), but the Benz was mostly a delight to operate despite weighing more than a fully laden minivan – and 3000 lbs more than Jason's E30. The boys wonder why Mercedes has refused to implement the types of suspensions Porsche and Ferrari figured out for their sports cars years ago that allow for ultra-smooth cruising without sacrificing handling. In any case, the S63's ¼-mile time leaves Derek's jaw on the floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Derek does the California Mille – California's take on the 1000-mile Italian road rally, the Mille Miglia. Behind the wheel of a 1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce, Derek (and OTS & Co. cofounder, Tazio Ottis), experienced some of central California's best driving roads between Half Moon Bay and Calistoga alongside over 80 of the finest automobiles to exist by the mid-20th century. === This episode is sponsored by Vyper Industrial — America's #1 rated shop chair, tool carts, and creepers, proudly made here in the US. Visit vyperindustrial.com and use code CARMUDGEON for $50 off. === Initially dreamt up by local driving legend and passionate car enthusiast, Martin Swig, the California Mille hopes to recreate some of the legendary driving experiences of Italy's Mille Miglia. After Martin's passing, his wife and two sons (specialists at Broad Arrow and Bring-a-Trailer ) carried on the tradition until the event was purchased by Hagerty in late 2020. It's a swanky affair with spas, fancy lunches, drive-thru oyster bars, and open regular bars, with specialist mechanics and flatbed tow trucks at your beck and call. Naturally with 70-year-old (or older) cars, many breakdowns ensued. A Mercedes 300SL needed a tow, and a Ferrari 250 TdF required assistance from Patrick Ottis Company after several transmission components welded themselves together. A bolt came dislodged on the shift linkage of a Citroën ID promptly stranding it, but Derek's stash of spare bolts saved the day. Differentials were grenaded, and problematic torpedo fuses were replaced while still in motion. A woman in a Honda Accord even PIT-maneuvered a pre-war Bentley on the Golden Gate Bridge. The Carmudgeons discuss past rally experiences in a W201 190E in Europe, Jason's 5000-mile trek to Ohio in his Scirocco, the Orange Blossom Rally in a Mazda Cosmo, and the BABE Rally in a $400 Cadillac stretch limo. Derek touches on the Colorado Grand Rally and Copper State Rally, and the boys discuss possibly starting the Curmudgeon Mille e Uno Rally. Derek points out that Miles Collier, cofounder of the precursor to the SCCA, posited that there are 2 types of enthusiasts: contemplative and experiential. Rallies are definitely for the latter. Plus Jason wears an un-tailored button-down, we dive headfirst into porta potties, and we wonder if the 1988 Honda Accord is too reliable to rally. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason takes a trip to the new Tire Rack/Discount Tire/America's Tire testing facility in Texas: Treadwell Research Park. In addition to testing grip levels on BMWs and Jeeps on a monstrous wet skid pad, off-road course, rock crawling trail and more, he discovers the many lessons to be learned by carefully studying tire wear data – including how where you live can have a huge impact on how quickly you burn through your tires! === This episode is sponsored by Vyper Industrial — America's #1 rated shop chair, tool carts, and creepers, proudly made here in the US. Visit vyperindustrial.com and use code CARMUDGEON for $50 off. === In this episode, we learn that Tire Rack, America's Tire and Discount Tire are all the same thing! But, more importantly, they now have a giant tire testing facility in Texas: Treadwell Research Park – an expansive property with dirt and mud trails, rock crawling, water crossings, serious grades, an absolutely enormous skid pad (that can be completely submerged in 2 mm of water in no time thanks to a pair of huge reservoirs and some seriously powerful pumps) and even a wet slalom course. Jason experienced all Treadwell had to offer behind the wheel of a 4-door Jeep Wrangler and BMW 330i and reports back. We'll learn that at America's Discount Rack you can get free tire rotations (with tire purchase) and free flat repair (no purchase necessary!). But they don't hand out these services out of the kindness of their tire-loving hearts. It's all part of Treadwell's plan to collect and analyze all kinds of tire wear data to help customers make informed decisions when buying new tires and make better tires. They'll collect information about a tire's make, model, mileage, geographic location and more to find what compounds and tread patterns are best for specific use cases and guide customers to the best choice for their vehicle, driving style, climate, and location. For instance, they have discovered that folks living in twisty, hilly western Pennsylvania go through tires 20% faster than folks living in Nebraska. Derek suggests Treadwell implement a tire wear score so enthusiasts can compare notes and compete for total tire destruction domination. Similar to Treadwell Research Park (and Tire Rack's other testing facility in South Bend, Indiana), Derek had the chance to experience a flooded skid “pan” at the CHP's emergency vehicle operations course (EVOC) training grounds driving in Ford Crown Victorias and Dodge Chargers. Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained has been on a mission to teach the world about the importance of tires, and recently pitted a F80 BMW M3 Competition on mid-grade tires against a diesel Chysler PT Cruiser wearing fresh Continentals. Science ensued. Tires are indeed very important – and while some *coughpirellicough* will grip like no other, they tend to disintegrate in short order (and dramatically so). But they're not all bad – the guys have kind things to say about the Cinturato CN36 and CN12. But the Carmudgeon tire of choice remains Michelins and Vredsteins, which are mounted on everything from Jason's e-Golf, the Van, Jynah, the Ferrari 308, Derek's R129, and even Jake's wife's Crosstrek. The guys will also discuss the Avon CR6ZZ, Trofeos and Cup 2s. Plus the Michelin AS3+ on Jason's Mom's Golf that wore down unusually quickly – this right after he had just replaced some 2-year-old cracking Hankooks with them. Perhaps his mom's regular and sustained driving at 100 mph is to blame… We'll also cover cheap lighting from oh, oh, oh, O'Reilly's, Wagner halogens, and automotive lighting gemstones from Carello and Marchal. It's all in the details! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did Jeep accidentally build one of the best hot hatches of the last 40 years? It's is smaller than a Mk8 GTI and could be had with a bulletproof 4.0L inline-six and 5-speed transmission. Can it possibly give the quintessential VW hot-hatch a run for its money? We'll talk Jeep XJ Cherokee, its origins, and all 8 generations of GTI – from the 16v 2.0L, to the 8v 2-point-slow, the soulless 1.8T, the venerable VR6, and the electric e-Golf! === This episode is sponsored by Vyper Industrial — America's #1 rated shop chair, tool carts, and creepers, proudly made here in the US. Visit vyperindustrial.com and use code CARMUDGEON for $50 off. === Welcome to the hot hatch episode! We'll touch on some real oddballs in this one – like the Dodge Omni GLHS, Suzuki Swift, Chevrolet Sprint, and Mitsubishi Mirage. Plus some allegedly fabulous but forbidden fruit: the Peugeot 205 GTi Rally and Renault Clio Williams. Then we'll dive into the Jeep XJ Cherokee which Jason just did a Revelations episode on. It began as the unibody successor to the giant and inefficient Jeep Wagoneer – a honking SUV with CJ Wrangler guts inside – which, incidentally, was a recipe being emulating across the globe as Toyota and Land Rover (to name a few) were also building more comfortable and luxurious SUVs using drivetrain bits from their more serious off-roaders like the BJ/FJ and Series II/III. The Cherokee followed the Range Rover away from the body-on-frame chassis and adopted unitary construction methods resulting in genuine handling prowess – even out-gripping a W201 Mercedes-Benz 190E. In fact, the chassis bones are so good you can find XJs competing amongst much sportier cars in 24 Hours of Lemons races across the country. Jason even deems the XJ one of his best back road drives ever. Sadly, early cars were excruciatingly slow thanks to an anemic Renault-built AMC engine. But that didn't stop Jason from getting one of his very first speeding tickets in one. The little XJ made a lasting impression on nearly everyone who had the pleasure of experiencing one – including Derek, whose experiences in his mom's are literally his earliest datable memories. The little Jeep was so popular that when the Grand Cherokee came along to replace it, so many people were still clamoring for the original Cherokee that Jeep decided they would just build both. After the Jeep, we jump into VW's perennial hatchback hit: the GTI. All 8 generations have their pros and cons: Jason proclaims the VR6 to be one of the best sounding engines ever produced, and the 1.8T the worst VW ever made. The MQB platform underpinning the latest cars is declared spectacular. The Mk4 is a chubby baby Audi/Mercedes. The Mk6 fixes a lot of the hamster-styling of the Mk5, but the Mk5 has the better steering, just beware understeer. The Mk7 is a delight, especially if you can find yourself a Rabbit or Sport edition in Great Falls Green or Cornflower Blue. But even with a fancy color scheme, the humble e-Golf makes the better city car. Of note: Derek finally goes large-barging with a crew made up of a 560SEC, F-Type SVR, F-Pace SVR, a pair of R129s (one dogleg), and A4 2.8 Avant 5-speed, with his Mk5 GTI track car as a palette cleanser. Lastly, Jim Carrey, Mike Myers and Leslie Nielsen are national treasures, and their comedy blockbusters from the 80s, 90s and 2000s are exquisite. But do they hold up as well today as a Jeep XJ? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to not get ripped off when buying a used classic car! How to spot fakes, frauds and phonies! The importance of documentation and pre-purchase inspections, and other lessons learned over 50 collective years of car shopping! === This episode is sponsored by Vyper Industrial — America's #1 rated shop chair, tool carts, and creepers, proudly made here in the US. Visit vyperindustrial.com and use code CARMUDGEON for $50 off. === We start off with a reminder to put fuel stabilizer in your car when it's going to sit for a while – especially if you're using garbage California gas. We debate what the acronym “smh” stands for, and discover there seems to be a cat-flatulence epidemic in France. Then we'll dive right into the importance of the pre-purchase inspection (PPI) – something Jason thought he was more than qualified to perform himself on a Le Mans-blue Alfa Romeo GTV at Monterey Car Week several years ago. However, at the urging of concours car-prep extraordinaire, Tim McNair, Jason acquiesced and let expert automotive consultant, Chuck Wray, take a look at the car, and almost immediately discovered that Jason was moments away from buying two GTVs that had been stealthily welded into one. Derek will fill us in on how there can possibly be multiple “numbers matching” cars with the same serial numbers. And we'll cover several of the factory-based archival certification programs like VW's Birth Certificate, Porsche's Kardex and Certificate of Authenticity, Lotus' Certificate of Vehicle Provenance, and the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust. We'll cover Ferrari Classiche (pronounced “classi-kay”), and the handful of exhaustive and painstakingly researched books detailing the specs of iconic models: Carrera RS, The Dino Compendium, and Simon Kidson's The Lamborghini Miura. Plus automotive engineering and restoration atelier, Pur Sang. We take a trip to Esoteria once again to discuss the subtlest model changes on cars like the Scirocco, Rover SD1 3500, Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS, Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 and what each change signifies (or doesn't in the case of VW's haphazard product planning). Jason even uncovers a handful of U.S.-spec C43s accidentally left the factory wearing a Europe-only paint color, Black Opal. Which is actually blue. Jason's approach to not getting screwed while buying a 996 cabriolet on eBay involves arriving at the seller's in a blacked out E39 BMW 5-series wagon with Argentina plates and wielding a baseball bat – classic haggling. Meanwhile, Derek does everything by the book and pays for a $500 PPI on a Porsche 911 he found online, only for it to arrive smoking and in need of a head rebuild. Both Carmudgeons revel in learning the histories of their cars (and others' cars): Jason getting the original paperwork for the Ferrari 308 GT4 from distributor Chinetti-Garthwaite to dealer Schwing Motor Company in 1975, and Derek tracking down his friend's 356's Kardex and subsequently locating photos of the car with its original owner when the car was brand new. There's loads of automotive history, forensics, anthropology and archaeology in this one! The question is, would you give up your original California plate if it meant no more SMOG checks? Leno's Law hopes to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back by popular demand, it's another Random Number Generator Car Reviews episode, where Jason and Derek pull reviews of cars from their extensive spreadsheet. This, after Jason succeeds in getting his van, Jynah, stuck in the snow. And succeeds, despite there being no snow. === This episode is sponsored by Vyper Industrial — America's #1 rated shop chair, tool carts, and creepers, proudly made here in the US. Visit vyperindustrial.com and use code CARMUDGEON for $50 off. === Jason takes the van to Tahoe to finally test the Vredestein Wintrac Pros in the snow. He experiences the joys of installing tire chains on the side of a cold, wet freeway while chain-control enforcers allow countless all-season- or even summer tire-equipped SUVs to pass by. The Carmudgeons discuss the importance of tires and the dramatic grip disparity between various tire types in the snow. Then they open up their driving history spreadsheets once again for more random number generator car reviews! Jason heads to Lake Tahoe just after a 4-foot snow storm that somehow never materialized. After trekking another 2,000+ feet up in elevation to Mt Rose, he found some, and a simultaneously serene and serendipitous photoshoot ensued. Caravaning up the mountain alongside the van were Jason's pals in a VinFast VF8 (which easily beats the van in a roll race) and a Range Rover. Someone has to call AAA – guess who! Jason is incensed by the farcical chain-control restrictions which forced him – driving the FWD van on brand new dedicated winter tires – to pull over and install chains on the slushy roadside, while countless boobs driving AWD SUVs wearing all-seasons or even summer tires were allowed to pass right through (one of which winds up totalled in a Jersey Barrier). The Carmudgeons can't stress enough the importance of tires. Especially in the wet and snow. We'll cover stopping distances of various tire types, and recommend excellent videos from both Engineering Explained and Tyre Reviews on YouTube – especially this one measuring stopping distances and acceleration times on snow using a variety of tire types and grip enhancement measures like chains, ladders, snow socks and more: https://youtu.be/W-k_1gz87vM?si=gR3iIm_77Go1vzmZ Following the tire discussion, we dive into yet another Random Number Generator Car Reviews session. The Carmudgeons will recount their drives in the following cars: Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG 4Matic Wagon W210 First-gen Porsche Panamera (alongside a 760Li and S63) B8 Audi S4 3.0 “Tupercharged” Acura TL SH-AWD 6-speed (and ZDX) 1957 Porsche Speedster with 4-cam Carrera engine 1958 Porsche 356 Speedster Intermeccanica 2006 Mk5 VW GTI 2.0T 1960 Alfa Giulietta Spider Veloce 2012 E90 BMW M3 Competition Package 2007 Chevy HHR Panel van 2006 Jaguar XJR 2023 Acura Integra Type-S 2009 Ford Escape 4-cyl 1949 Hudson Super 6 Convertible 2010 Jaguar XFR 5.0 Supercharged 1971 Mercedes 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet 2019 Mazda3 AWD Sedan 2003 Aston Martin Vanquish 2019 Genesis G70 AWD 1974 Lancia Stratos HF 2008 Ford Expedition 2000 BMW Z3 2.3i 2015 Ford F-350 Super Duty Diesel 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet Tiptronic Jason once got to play policeman while driving around a 2012 CLS63 AMG Fashion Force “police” car that Mercedes created for New York Fashion Week, where he tickets egregiously modified cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Ford Sierra RS Cosworth is best described as... Porsche-great. This week we're doing a deep dive into Ford's funky sedan of the 1980s: the Sierra, together with its American identical cousin, the Merkur XR4Ti. In the early 1980s, Ford of Europe (and chairman Bob Lutz) was on a mission to get a piece of the export pie that was dominated by Mercedes, BMW, and Audi. The car they conjured up to do so, the Sierra, was a massive success in Europe. When it eventually made it to the U.S., badged as a Merkur XR4Ti, Lutz's plan to sell the cars to yuppies via independent niche dealers was foiled, and the car was placed on Lincoln-Mercury dealer lots alongside big American barges and clueless salesmen, only to die a slow death. Meanwhile, on the other side of the pond, the extra-spicy Ford Sierra RS Cosworth was born. In fact, the car was so sought-after (i.e. stolen) by British hooligans that insurance companies refused to cover them. And it was so fast it was repeatedly banned from racing, eventually effectively spelling the end for Group A racing. Ford of Europe (headed up by Bob Lutz) was seeing the likes of BMW and Audi making a killing with their U.S. exports and Ford wanted in. The plan was to try something different, and rather than a Ford-branded import program where Sierras would be sold alongside LTDs, Cougars and other giant American sedans, Bob wanted to do a Ford of Europe export scheme where their new car could be sold alongside other European curios like Saabs and Volvos at independent dealers under a new brand name. They settled on Merkur (the German word for mercury – pronounced “maercoor”), but they also needed a new model name as Sierra was trademarked by Oldsmobile (think: Cutlass Ciera.) Ford used the “XR” prefix to denote a variety of upgraded model trims followed by a number which corresponded to the vehicle size – which is where XR4 comes from. Add abbreviations for “turbo” and “injection” and you're off to the races! Both the Merkur and Sierra RS Cosworth were powered by versions of Ford's Pinto 4-cylinder motor. The Merkur engine could also be found in the USDM Mercury Cougar XR7, Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, and Mustang SVO. Across the pond however, the Sierra engine went to Cosworth to get an aluminum head with an extra cam. The results were clear: the XR4Ti's motor needed 13 lbs of boost to pump out 175 hp, while the Cosworth version only needed 8 psi to make 200 hp. But the Cosworth got a whole host of additional modifications beyond the engine, and the resulting package was so exceptional it wound up getting banned from racing repeatedly, until eventually the regs shut down the entire series. The chassis is so exceptional that Jason proclaims it the best sedan chassis he's ever experienced – on the same level as a Porsche Cayman GT4. Transcendent. A 9.9/10. Where "Beatrice," his extensively modified E30, only managed a mid-8 (for the same reasons that caused Sreten at M539 Restoration to drive his into a tree). The likes of the Lotus Carlton didn't even garner a 5 from either Carmudgeon. Honorable mentions go to the Maserati Quattroporte, C126 560SEC, and a handful of M products. We'll even dive into every generation of M5 – E28 through G90. Lastly, we'll learn about 80s and 90s Lexus dealership brutalism, that “light” means window, our friend Mike's transient collection of eclectic cars has graced the show at least 3 times (thanks, Mike!), superbly compliant AWD cars like the Delta Integrale and Subaru WRX are good but rarely fun, and Bob Lutz had to fight tooth and nail to get a Chevrolet dealership in NorCal to sell him a Corvair Monza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A barrage of tariffs are foisted onto the automotive marketplace and throw a wrench into the car importing business (including Derek's OTS and Co.). Are used cars affected? Not even ChatGPT knows. Jason wants to file a class action suit against VW for sunsetting 3G functionality in Mk7 cars, and Jay Leno puts his name behind California SB 712 to reduce the smog check burden on California-based classic car owners. We'll start off with 1980s turbocharged lag-mobiles: the Saab 99 Turbo, BMW 2002 Turbo, and Porsche 930. At the time, Lotus deemed this power curve and response time unacceptable and managed to create a significantly better turbocharged experience in the Esprit Turbo. So good in fact that it may be on par with the W124 Mercedes-Benz 300E with a Mosselman twin-turbo setup that Jason recently drove. Next, Jason thinks a class action lawsuit is in order against VW of America. That's because after 3G cell networks were shut down in 2022, VW failed to maintain the functionality of its Car-Net app that allowed for remote lock/unlock, cabin pre-heating, break-in alerts, charging start/stop and automatic crash notifications. Now, 3 years later, VW has admitted defeat, and has told owners that no fix will be provided. This is quite different from Tesla's approach, who called in owners and upgraded their modems to run on the newer networks. Derek also notes the class action lawsuit against Mercedes when it was discovered that the clear coat on their Mars Red paint didn't last. Then we dive into the tariff chaos. Mainly the 25% tax on all imported automobiles, which may be permanent like the “chicken tax” on imported trucks, or it may last a few hours? Does it apply to used vehicles? No one is sure. But Derek wasn't waiting around to find out when OTS was facing a $700,000 duty on a car it was actively importing for a client. Ronald Reagan briefly weighs in on the effectiveness of tariffs, and EU-allergic Switzerland enters the chat. Plus Ford and Mercedes-Benz both have extensive experience evading tariffs from their time importing non-tariffed “passenger” vans into the States, only to have their technicians immediately convert them into cargo trucks by removing the seats and windows then shipping the pieces back to Europe for the next batch. We'll also cover various shipping methods (container vs "RoRo") as both Derek and Jason have experienced shipping cars overseas – both Derek's W116 and W124 wagon made the voyage across the Atlantic, as did Jason's E30 Touring and 190E 2.3-16. We'll talk Boeing 747 8F cargo planes, RoRo cargo ships, 20- and 40-foot containers, and all of their associated pros, cons and costs. We'll also dive into the used car market and recent auction results. Why are similar cars fetching wildly different prices at major auctions and on websites like Bring A Trailer? Derek and Jason both weigh in on the factors at play, including two recent BMW 850CSi sales. Lastly, we'll touch on California SB712, now nicknamed Leno's Law. A new law working its way through the California legislature that aims to reduce the smog check burden on classic car owners and collectors (as well as the repair shops burdened with maintaining dynamometers for a dwindling pool of cars requiring one for proper smog testing). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bank robbers prefer sport sedans: all the speed of a supercar with seating for all their accomplices — and trunk space for their loot. And the fast sedan was born with the Jaguar sedan powered by a Le Mans-winning-engine. In the 1950s, Jaguar was on a Le Mans winning streak with its MK120-C and D-Type race cars. But why let the sports cars have all the fun? In 1955 Jaguar introduced the 2.4 Saloon (aka the Mark 1), and a handful of months later plopped their Le Mans-winning 210 hp 3.4L straight-6 engine into the chassis to create the 3.4 Saloon. Equipped with race-spec 4-wheel discs and double-wishbone front suspension it outran everything (including the police), and is arguably the world's first sports sedan. In this episode we'll cover the elegantly menacing Jaguar 3.4 Saloon or “Mark 1”. Starting with how to properly pronounce Jagyoowuhr. Or is it Jagwire? Depends. We'll cover the marque's origins – from Sir William Lyons' Swallow Sidecar Company, to early sports cars like the XK120 and the Le Mans winning streak of the 1950s with the C-Type and D-Type. The 2.4L straight-6, followed by the monster 3.4, then 3.8, and even 4.2 which was used all the way up until the mid-1980s in the XJ6 and even early 90s in the Daimler DS420. The 3.4 Saloon employed 4-wheel disc brakes, double wishbone front suspension, a cantilevered rear leaf spring, and panhard rod. Early cars had centrally-mounted gauges, and the chassis was Jaguar's first to use unitary construction. Sadly, galvanization wouldn't take off for another two decades, starting at Porsche. And while the unibody proved stronger than anticipated, it wasn't strong enough to protect racer Mike Hawthorne when he fatally crashed his Mark 1 while passing a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing in England in 1959. The Mark 1 comes from a bygone era of race cars where Le Mans-winning engines (and entire vehicles) would find their way into dealer showrooms effectively unchanged. With few exceptions since (notably the McLaren F1 – which, incredibly, went the reverse direction from streetcar to dominant race car). The last of the breed may have been the Mark III Ford GT40, as things escalated dramatically with the arrival of the Porsche 917. Luckily for us poors, plenty of lower level racing exists, and we got a handful of other homologation specials to choose from in the form of the BMW E30 M3, Mercedes-Benz 190 2.3-16, Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, and Rover SD1, to name a few. Cars like the Alfa Giulietta Ti sedan give the Jag a challenge for the original sports sedan mantle, but the Italian wasn't first. In today's world, the Jag was a performance-per-dollar bargain akin to a Tesla Model 3. Or possibly a Dodge Charger Hellcat. In any case, today's quintessential sports sedan, the M3, has gotten far too pricey to be considered a bargain. As Derek points out, if you're a thrifty enthusiast, skip the G80 and E30 and get yourself a nice used E36 or E46. No matter what you buy, budget for fixing it (especially if it's a Land Rover). And always, always get a silly license plate. Just maybe one that doesn't tempt fate like Jason's friend's NEED AAA plate. Because, umm, he did. Immediately. [The words Hagerty Roadside didn't fit on the plate. Obviously.] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 6-speed swapped Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series is finally here, and Jason drove it! Derek's – or rather OTS's – OEM-grade 6-speed manual CLK63 Black Series by Kwiek Classics is done, and Jason and Derek get behind the wheel to review the car that AMG should've built all along.  Enthusiasts around the world have never had a chance to interact directly with AMG's only clean-sheet engine, the M156 – a monster 6.2L, 32-valve, DOHC, cross-plane V8 making 500 horsepower for the CLK63 Black Series. But now, thanks to Matt Kwiek at Kwiek Classics, we finally can! And it's why Derek and his business partners at OTS bought one for Matt to manual swap using OEM Mercedes-Benz parts. The swap is done, and the car is here in the Bay Area where the Carmudgeons got to row the gears in AMG's widebody beast of the noughties. By junking the recalcitrant automatic transmission, the car is transformed into the athlete its flared fenders promise it to be. Combine the manual trans with the factory triple-adjustable dampers (which feel like they're full of sand in its current track configuration, though according to Jason are magical with the settings Mercedes used at the launch event) and the CLK63 Black Series becomes a car that even the most curmudgeonly enthusiast will struggle to come up with an excuse not to buy. As familiar and confidence-inspiring as the best M cars like E36 and E46 M3, and with an engine more engaging and experiential than the likes of the E39 M5. Even better to drive than a V8 Vantage and a Lexus LFA. Unlike typical 3-pedal swaps that lend themselves to terrible throttle mapping (see: Pagani Zonda), this one is a 9 out of 10, and an easy “marry” over a plethora of Ferraris: Testarossa, 355, 550 – even a Porsche 997 GT3. After the AMG, we dive into Jason's recent dyno day at Chuckles Garage in NorCal, where Jason managed to take 3 spots on the dyno's leaderboard for least horsepower (not including Jason, who can put down 500 watts). Jason got power numbers on his E31 BMW 850CSi, the Rover SD1 3500 V8, and the Honda Beat. Plus a friend brings along a Euro-spec 850CSi for comparison. Using some Turner Motorsport chips for the dual-ECU S70 850CSi motor, in conjunction with some Ferrari 599 mufflers, Jason's CSi managed to beat the Euro car at 304 rear wheel horsepower. But even with Ferrari exhaust, the 850 still needs help in the sound department. Luckily, @czechmate_e30 is working with a fabricator to make a set of stepped headers for BMW V12s! Then, with fresh dyno numbers in hand, Jason combines the data with the power figures from the rest of his fleet, and indexes them by percentage of peak power versus percentage of peak RPM. The resulting graph provides an excellent visualization as to where and how each of his car's engines makes their power. Science! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cizeta-Moroder V16T was the world's first sixteen-cylinder supercar, beating Bugatti by more than a decade. From its Gandini-designed Lamborghini origins, to disco-backed financing via Giorgio Moroder, a star-studded launch party with MC Jay Leno, and a cavalcade of lawsuits that continued up until the death of company founder and creator Claudio Zampolli in 2021. Brian Wiklem's "16" book is available here: https://www.cizeta-v16t.com/ This is the true story of the Cizeta-Moroder V16T.  The Cizeta's mysterious engine has left many guessing when it comes to its origins. Turns out, it has 2 cross-plane crankshafts from a Lamborghini Urraco P300 V8, a block design taken right from Ferrari's 308 V8, and heads dissimilar to each — looking more like Cosworth's contemporary DOHC designs. We even learn – thanks to Iain Tyrrell's Classic Workshop – that there appears to have been a flat-plane crank version in the works too!  Lots of nerdy engineering talk in this one: the torsional forces acting on crankshafts that make V16s (and straight-8s) not work so well, and how Claudio solved for them with a central power takeoff unit in his transverse V16 with a longitudinal transaxle – as opposed to the McLaren F1 (which debuted not long after) which did the inverse with a longitudinal engine (albeit with 4 fewer cylinders) and transverse transaxle. There were only a handful of V16 engines in the early 1900s, early examples fitted to Cadillacs and Marmons, with the Cizeta and other esoteric oddballs filling the gaps until present day, but now we're getting a new one in the form of the Bugatti Tourbillon – whose predecessors used a much shorter “W” layout for their 16-cylinder powerplants. In any case, the cross-plane crank in the V16T elicits a raucous, lopey idle, and a Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R Chewbacca-grade WOT bellow accompanied by a cacophony of gear and induction noises. Build quality is exceptional throughout, and puts the Bugatti EB110 and Countach to shame.  Claudio would find himself in very public spats with Jay Leno, the author of the V16T book itself, Brian Wiklem, and countless others at car shows, on Ferrari forums, on Facebook – just about everywhere. He may have been paranoid and a little delusional, but he was an incredible engineer and mechanic, and we're grateful to have been able to experience the Cizeta-Moroder V16T! Huge shout-outs to owner Brendan Gallaher, Jay Leno, and Brian Wiklem. At the start of this episode, we'll also talk Golfs! Specifically MK7s, and the one Jason just bought for his niece. Believe it or not, despite decades of VW-dom, Jason has never owned a real GTI until this car. Now he's turning the youth into car people one relative at a time, starting with the purchase of a 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe 6-speed for his nephew a few years ago, and then sending him to driving school with it. His niece got to attend the same driving school in Jason's E30, Beatrice. And, if Jason leaves the surprise 034Motorsport tune on this new GTI, his niece will inherit a car much quicker than her older brother's (and Derek may have to buy one too). But should we trust 18-year-olds (or Dereks) with 300 hp cars? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We dish the VW/Audi dirt with tuning company 034Motorsport's Director of Sales and Marketing, Nick Mercadante. We'll discuss 40 years worth of VAG foibles, from mismatched rotors, calipers that can't handle the heat, 1980s ABS tech, wandering shifters and shattering engine mounts – but don't worry, 034 has you covered!  Nick brought out his Audi 90 for us on this episode, and we'll start by discussing its 6-level, buttock-melting heated seats (the relay for which is on its deathbed). Jason's dad had this same car back in Germany in the 90s – featuring cloth seats, crank windows, and no AC. It made for a significantly improved Autobahn experience compared to his previous car, an FJ60-Series Land Cruiser. However, in stock form, the little Audi inline-5 hotrod of the 80s is no match for Jason's modified 170 hp VW Scirocco. The Audi 90's 7A engine just doesn't have the oomph to make up for the drivetrain loss and general heft of the AWD drivetrain. If it had the turbocharged 3B motor from the S2, it may be a different story… Speaking of stories, Jason wrote one for Automobile Magazine some 15 years ago on this exact car that now sits in our background. Did you know it has a carbon fiber driveshaft and an anti anti-lock button? Yes, ANTI anti-lock.  We learn about the delightfully colorful California vehicle titles of the last century: both rainbow and pink (which is where the phrase “pink slip” comes from). And Derek is deeply distraught to learn Nick has removed the original California 2-number plate (and to learn just how easy it is to register cars outside of California). We'll cover Nick's various vehicles: his college runabout Audi 90, UrS6 wagon, his BMW M2 (F22), Porsche Cayenne GTS (958.2), Audi SQ5 (w/ nearly 700 hp), his Kei truck Subaru Sambar (w/ nearly 20 hp), his Porsche 944, Audi TT RS, and his first-gen Audi R8 V8 with a NASCAR-grade 034Motorsport exhaust.    Speaking of Nick's cars, we'll also cover another 034 Nick's collection – friend of the show, Nick Sgambelluri, who so generously provided (and abused) his monster-turbo Audi 200 sedan, as well as his pristine first-gen Ford Probe Turbo for the Dark Horse ICONS episode – where its axle unalived itself in the middle of a reverse donut (sorry, Nick!).   We talk 034Motorsport (which is singular and starts with a “zero”), including their 7 lbs aluminum flywheel for the Audi 90, their dogbone engine mounts, their origins making ECUs for 5-cylinder cars 20 years ago, and their new arm, 034Tradition, which will make classic parts to fill in the voids left behind when parts manufacturers discontinue them (they will even take requests!).  Other fun tidbits: Jason's secret new turbo car, the classic RV anal-prefix name game, washing titles in Alabama, Derek the felon, trash Kumhos, Derek advising against too much stroking, the Rover gets a makeover (suspension and tires), and possibly a full Vitesse-style engine build via Redline Rebuilds! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk with SCCA Hall of Fame race car driver Randy Pobst. From his racing origins in a Mk1 VW Rabbit, to his 2 wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona, and his personal car collection – including his Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am and Flyin' Moose Volvo 740.  To start, we'll dive into Randy's racing experience: factory contracts with Porsche, Mazda, Volvo, and Toyota. Winning the 24 Hours of Daytona not once, but twice, and his 2015 induction into the SCCA Hall of Fame. We'll cover his exploits at Thunderhill, VIR, Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca, Daytona, Pikes Peak, Sonoma, Lime Rock, Willow Springs, and more!  From humble origins in a Mk1 VW Golf (no, not a GTI), to a factory-backed FX16 Toyota Corolla, to setting a Laguna Seca lap record in a McLaren Senna. Randy even worked on the set of 2 Fast 2 Furious as a driving instructor for the film's stars: Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, and Devon Aoki – to name a few.  Randy eventually met Jason while filming an uncooperative Cayman GT4 for Motor Trend, and, despite a rocky start when Jason unexpectedly flung a Range Rover off track while racing Randy in an Alfa Romeo 4C, the two teamed up again to film multiple Ultimate Drag Race, Lap Battle and ICONS episodes for Hagerty. The whole gang laments some of the most irritating modern car tech: excessively bright headlights, lights that are somehow off at night, ABS systems that fully shut down when traveling backwards, AEB overreach, and EPAS systems that completely ruin a car's limit handling by curtailing the driver's ability to quickly catch a slide (like the Shelby GT350 Randy repeatedly spun and Jason crinkled at Willow Springs – not to mention the Unplugged Performance Tesla Model 3 Randy famously wrecked at Pikes Peak).  Speaking of handling, Randy divulges his dislike of twitchy cars like the Jaguar F-Type R and XJ, the KTM X-Bow, and Ariel Atom. Jason on the other hand loves an ass-y car like the V12 Vantage S, but says the Lotus Exige V6 Cup was so tail-happy it was uncontrollable. The Porsche Carrera GT is somewhere in the middle with mixed reviews and experience all around. While on the topic of handling dynamics, Randy tells us his secret plan to invent a fix for the C8 Corvette's trailing throttle oversteer. He also gives praise to Porsche's Lars Kern for his work on the latest crop of RS products – which may or may not be Randy's favorite track cars of all time out of the box, alongside the 2014 Porsche 911 50th Anniversary Edition. All of which receive top marks on Randy's understeer spectrum, and are polar opposites of the likes of a 1960s Cadillac.  We'll touch on Randy's personal car collection as well, which includes a Volvo 740 sedan and wagon, his 1977 Pontiac Trans Am “Randit” (and its oil starvation woes), Toyota Tundra tow vehicle, VW Karmann Ghia and early Tesla Model S.  Plus, Derek invents a new phrase for “road rage”, Randy bitch slaps cars out of his way, and also beautifully sings Primus' Wynona's Big Brown Beaver. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many enthusiasts don't realize that the Alfa Romeo 164 and Saab 9000 share their underpinnings — with the Lancia Thema and Fiat Croma. They all ride on the Fiat Tipo Quattro (Type 4) platform, and in this episode, we discuss the their history and drive the three most powerful, quickest, and fastest FWD sport sedans of their era. === WATCH THE FULL REVELATIONS EPISODE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G71uIVvnzvw == This is a history less about their initial development, to the plethora of engine options, posh and/or aerospace-inspired interiors, styling, power, handling dynamics, and the pros and cons of platform sharing.  We kick things off with the platform's predecessors: the Tipo Zero, Tipo Uno, Tipo Dua, and Tipo Tre – go figure – all of which underpinned a variety of Fiats. Meanwhile, Saab had effectively been building cars on the same platform since the 40s before finally making something new for the Saab 99 during the late 60s, and then the 900 in late 70s (which was really just a revised 99). But when it was time for a shift upmarket in the late 80s, Saab needed financial help to create the 9000 after a merger deal with Volvo fell through. At the time, Lancia was in need of a full-size family sedan and jumped into the mix as well via an existing relationship with Saab (see the Saab Lancia 600). There's a brief sidebar about weird cars of the time. Select picks include the Citroen DX and GS, as well as the AMC Eagle and Concord. Plus oddball platform sharing in the form of the Dodge Monaco, Renault 25, and Chrysler 300M. Merkur enters the chat, as does Cizeta and the equally prodigious V6 Chevy Cavalier Z24, 4-cylinder Cadillac Cimarron, and, of course, the forever elegant Lumina Euro.  What's that? You'd like to know how many V6s were on sale in Europe in the late 80s? One. Or two. Somewhere between 1 and 3-ish. We think. Pretty sure. In any case, the hottest of the hot Tipo Quattro cars are QUICK. The Saab 9000 Aero being the quickest FWD car of the time, but the Thema 8.32 and Alfa 164Q4 were close behind. As were the Dodge Omni GLHS and the Ford Taurus SHO – the original fast blob. In This Episode: The Alfa Romeo 164 Quadrifoglio Verde (230 hp) The Saab 9000 Aero (225 hp) The Lancia Thema 8.32 (215 hp) There's much talk of Busso V6s, Ferrari V8s (cross- and extra jiggly flat-plane) and their sound profiles. We'll also cover the delightful smell of rich Italian leather, and our most favorite Pininfarina pen strokes. Then we'll blitz through a bunch of badge-engineered bungles like the VW Routan, Acura SLX, Mazda2 and Honda's new Prologue. When done poorly, platform sharing can kill entire brands, but sometimes we're left with a small crop of lust-worthy enthusiast cars, and for that we are thankful! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time to be honest with each other and the world: Derek and Jason take turns roasting (or just honestly reviewing) the other's cars in their collections. Plus, they roast their own stuff. We'll cover the good and the bad of nearly all of the boys' various vehicles:  Derek's bikes – the Ducati Panigale V4S and Husqvarna 701 Supermoto.  Jason's E30s – the 325i wagon and beater sedan track car.  The mid-engine Italian exotics – Derek's Lamborghini Miura and Jason's 1975 Ferrari 308 GT4. Then, Jason's mid-engine micro machine 1991 Honda Beat. Naturally, a plethora of Mercedes products will be in the mix – the R129 500SL, W201 190E 2.3-16, W124 E320 wagon and W202 C43. The atypical oddballs: the Rover SD1 and Citroen CX.  Plus Jason's new-to-him V12 E31 BMW 850 CSi and Derek's favorite back-road weapon 964-chassis Porsche 911. And we'll round things out with Jason's babies – the VW Scirocco and Mk1 Cabriolet.  You'll learn about the Rover SD1's sketchy, outdated front suspension design, and the 190E's oversized steering wheel and underbolstered seats. The corpulent hamster styling of the e-Golf and terrible brake balancing on the Beat. The 964 sounds like flatulence, and the VW Cabriolet sounds like imminent disintegration. Recaro-equipped, art deco, cheap, and Zebra-print interiors. Sloppy shifters, burning odors, affordable V12 Ferraris and BMWs, and the Mk1 VWs' good vibrations versus the E30 M3's shit ones.  Join us for some Nikki Glaser-inspired antics, Carmudgeon-style! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Land Cruiser is one of Toyota's – and, arguably, the world's – most haloed marques. In this episode, Jason and Derek discuss its origins and history from its jeep origins, to its enormous family tree, all the way up to the brand new 250-series models, the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus GX550. Jason and the Hagerty crew traveled to the rugged, mountainous outskirts of Salt Lake City (and the nearby Land Cruiser Heritage Museum) to film an ICONS episode on the illustrious off-roading Toyota. And in this episode, the carmudgeons dive into the origins of the Japanese jeep and its Attila-grade family tree of subsequent series: the 20-series Land Cruiser and then the, 40, 55, 60, 70, 80, 100, 200, 250, and 300, just to name a few!  The FJs, BJs, the Iron Pig, heavy duties, station wagons, Prados, the Lexus-badged models like the LX600 and GX550 (Motor 1's SUV of the year!). We'll even cover the Land Cruiser's competition along the way: the Jeep Wrangler, Compass, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and Wagoneer; the Land Rover Defender, Range Rover, Velar, Discovery and Evoque; even the Ford Bronco and International Scout.  In addition to the WWII Willys Jeep 4x4, we'll cover the origin of the “J” in BJ and FJ – an abbreviation for jeep, which itself many believe is a pseudo-acronym for GP or “general purpose,” but a fact-check says otherwise. Even the Land Cruiser name itself was a tweaked version of the Land Rover moniker to make Rando-kurūzā in Japan.   Jason also reviews both of the new 250-series Prado trucks: the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser and 2024 Lexus GX550. We'll talk powertrain, styling, cargo and passenger capacity, comfort, handling, NVH, luxury, and more.  Now let's get to it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason and Derek drive and discuss the legendary Lancia Stratos – its origins, its parts-bin interior, and its unhinged handling. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === On today's episode, things start off by looking at commenters' nominations for elegant mid-engine cars. Most are promptly rejected, but a handful give the Carmudgeons pause: the De Tomaso P72, McLaren Speedtail, Jaguar XJ220, Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, and Ferrari 296. And two previously overlooked but notably elegant exceptions are: the Ferrari 246 Dino and the first-generation Toyota Previa.  Afterwards, it's all things Stratos – starting with Jason's and Derek's driving impressions. They discuss the handling characteristics of this mind-bendingly miniature, Ferrari-engined, rally missile. Thanks to its short, upward-swept overhangs and relatively massive suspension travel, it can traverse rough terrain with ease (including massive potholes and steep driveways), setting it apart from your average sports car experience. But, like a fighter jet, it sacrifices stability in favor of maximum maneuverability.  They also cover its diminutive size (the Stratos is 2 feet shorter than a Mk8 VW Golf!) and its parts-bin interior – including the trunk release it shares with the Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari 308 GT4, exterior door handle from the Fiat X1/9, and interior door pull from the Miura (among others). Not to mention its paper-thin fiberglass “firewall,” and very unique hinged side windows.  Later on, discussions move to the origins of the car. From the philandering nature of mid-century Italian design houses like Pininfarina and Bertone, which seemed to take turns designing Italy's newest models at the time. Things like the Fiat Dino Coupe and Spider, and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint and Sprint Speciale (not to mention the wild Stratos Zero concept by Marcello Gandini that became the wedge-shaped Stratos) – plus the dubious last-second rally homologation of the Stratos.  Lancia's little wedge would go on to race all across the world; from the Acropolis Rally in Greece, to the East African Safari Rally in Kenya, to the Press-on-Regardless Rally in Michigan. The Stratos, which replaced Lancia's too-fragile Fulvia, would prove itself plenty rugged and become a wildly successful rally car (but a total sales flop). Lancia's parent company, Fiat, wanted it out in favor of its new 131, but the Stratos' WRC wins continued thanks to privateers all the way up until the 1980s, when it was finally replaced by the 037. The Stratos Stradale, a car you could buy 50 years ago for the price of a mildly-luxurious contemporary GT like the Alfa Romeo Montreal – now goes for several hundreds of thousands of dollars. Probably one of the highest dollar-per-sq/ft ratios in the automotive world – start saving! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason and Derek discuss the origins of one of Lamborghini's most iconic models: the Diablo. And what makes this 1 of 83 GT edition so special.   === The Carmudgeon Show Sponsor, Vredestein Tires: https://www.vredestein.com/ Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Prior to recording this episode, Jason's Diablo-experience was limited to a blue VT he drove as part of a V12 Lamborghini story back in 2012 that included a 1972 Miura SV, 1988 Countach 5000 QV, Murciélago, Aventador, and LM002. Luckily for Jason (and all of us,) Derek – who also recently drove a Diablo Roadster – brought along this spectacular orange Diablo GT (one of just 83 ever built), which both he and Jason took for a spin. Their impressions followed after a brief history lesson courtesy of Derek.  The history lesson will include the origin of Lamborghini itself at the hands of multiple different owners: Ferruccio Lamborghini, Jean-Claude and Patrick Mimran, and Chrysler, which took over just as the Diablo concept was nearly production ready. Luckily for everyone, legendary designer at Bertone, Marcello Gandini, didn't throw his hands up and walk off the job, and we got the Diablo (and the non-Chrysler-tainted early designs went on to become the Cizeta-Moroder V16T). But it was the 90s, and we demanded more! So the motorsport-focused Diablo GT was born. Featuring widened front fenders, a carbon-fiber rear diffuser, carbon-fiber bucket seats, oil cooler w/ heat extractor hood vent, and a roof scoop to direct cold air into the massive carbon-fiber intake plenum feeding independent throttle bodies – and much, much more! Like all Diablos, the interior is a little kit-car spec. A flat bezel with holes carved into it for individual gauges comprises the main “cluster.” The suspension is ultra-stiff, but handles exceptionally well on smooth tarmac. And the car can effortlessly break traction at both near-idle RPMs and at near-triple-digit speeds. Rear visibility is non-existent (there is effectively no rear window), but boy are you visible to everyone else on the road.  Before we wrap things up, we talk crankshafts and who made the first modern flat-plane crank for a production V-8. Perhaps it's the Urraco and not the Ferrari 308? Ford's contemporary flat-plane crank Voodoo V-8 from the Shelby GT350 is known to shake itself to pieces. Is that par for the course? Chevy's C8 Z06 Corvette seems to be doing just fine. As are the AMG GT Blacks Series and Aston Martin Valhalla, but does anyone care?  Cars like the new Revuelto and Temerario are more common than ever these days. And the number of people who stand a chance of someday affording them seems to be dwindling. Do you care about these million-dollar super cars? Or would you rather see more $35,000 challenges with cars like the Mini Cooper S, Hyundai Elantra N, Ford Mustang Ecoboost, Mazda3 Turbo, VW GTI, Subaru WRX, and Toyota GR86 in 2025? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason and Derek review their top 10 best (and worst) experiences behind the wheel in 2024. Everything from ulta-rare Porsches, to open-air Lamborghinis, manual-swapped Mercedes (and Ferraris), supercars, hypercars, rally icons, and more! === The Carmudgeon Show Sponsor, Vredestein Tires: https://www.vredestein.com/ Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Christmas comes early for us this year (but not quite in time for this episode) in the form of 6 brand new sets of dutch rubber courtesy of our sponsor, Vredestein Tires!  The Curmudgeon's then continue with a discussion about each Carmudgeon's Grandmother's vehicular preferences, which included the likes of the Ford Pinto, AMC Pacer, ‘87 Chevy Cavalier, Saturn SL1, ‘99 Nissan Sentra, Dodge Aries K-car, Dodge Duster 340, and Buick Wildcat.  Then we briefly revel in some sweet, sweet vindication after Car and Driver named the Tesla Model 3 to their 10 Best list, but rejected the G20 BMW 3-Series (as it had the F30 before it) and specifically the G80 M3. The Cadillac CT4 and CT5 Blackwing both made this list, alongside a handful of perennial stalwarts like the Honda Civic, Honda Accord, and GR86/BRZ twins. Afterwards, we recount hanging with Jay Leno while filming 3 separate episodes of Jay Leno's Garage featuring Jason's Mk2 VW Scirocco 16V, E30 BMW 325i Touring, and E31 850 CSi.  And finally, it's time to talk best drives of the year! The boys loved three Ferraris: the 296 GTB, 360 Challenge Stradale (manual-swapped), and F50. Plus one car from Enzo's nemesis: the Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster.  Then, Jason and Derek include wwo Porsches: the 992.1-chassis 911 S/T and 964 Carrera RS 3.8. Both the Bugatti EB110 GT and Veyron made the list, as did another Piëch-era favorite: the VW XL1.  Speaking of VWs, the 1964 Beetle and new ID.Buzz both made the cut as well. What would a Carmudgeon episode be without a smattering of Mercedes products? The W209 CLK63 Black Series (manual-converted), W201 190E 2.5-16, C126 560SEC, and a W124 300E with a Mosselman twin-turbo kit and Zender body!  Two EVs even made the list: the incredible Lucid Air Sapphire and spunky Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Plus some exquisite lightweights: the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint 1300, Lotus Exige V6 Cup, and Lancia Stratos. The worst drives of the year? That honor goes to the disappointing Pagani Zonda and 4-cylinder W206 Mercedes-AMG C63. We end wondering how to rack up miles behind the wheel of our favorite vintage cars safely. One thing we can all agree we need? More time off!   Happy Holidays! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We quickly review the fastest cars you can buy for less than $35,000: the 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost High-Performance Pack, 2024 Subaru Impreza WRX tS 6MT, 2025 Mazda3 Turbo AWD, 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI 380 S manual, 2025 Hyundai Elantra N 6MT, 2025 Mini Cooper S and 2024 Toyota GR86 Trueno 6MT (and Subaru BRZ twin). Plus 3 of the quickest – and most expensive – new GT cars on sale today: the 2025 McLaren GTS, 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT63, and 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed. === The Carmudgeon Show Sponsor, Vredestein Tires: https://www.vredestein.com/ Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === On this episode of the Carmudgeon Show, Jason vows to go on an all-expenses-paid trip to Lake Tahoe on Hagerty's dime to properly evaluate the van, Jynah's, grip in the snow (now that it's wearing a set of Vredestein Wintrac Pro tires). Then the boys dive into Gran Turismo – no, not the classic Playstation racing simulators – but rather attaining and maintaining high speeds over extended durations. More specifically, the “Old Man GT” episode of Cammisa's Ultimate Drag Race Replay, which features some of the quickest, most expensive, and impractical 4-wheeled jewelry money can buy: the McLaren GTS, Mercedes-AMG GT63, and Bentley Continental GT Speed.  While discussing the new AMG GT63 (which no longer rides on underpinnings from the Dodge Viper lineage like its predecessors, the gullwing-door SLS AMG and the previous AMG GT, but now shares its platform and drivetrain with the SL line), Derek shares a nugget from his vintage Mercedes literature which shows SL buyers in the 1990s had significantly more money to spend than S-Class-buying plebes. And Jason theorizes that SEC owners likely had even more still.  Speaking of the Mercedes, Jason laments that the new SL63's posterior profile looks suspiciously Porsche 911-y, but the duplicative flattery appears to date all the way back to the Porsche 356 and the contemporary Mercedes-Benz W198 300 SL Gullwing.   In other news, Motor Trend Video is dead, and Jason is deeply empathetic.  After the mourning, we delve into the next drag race episode: cars under $35,000! This episode pits the latest crop of cheap speed against one another in bracketed races with nearly every drivetrain orientation: naturally aspirated, turbocharged, front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, manual, automatic, DCT, and so on. Unabashed boosted 4-cylinder noises assault the senses and appease the Abarth gods. Our first race pits the front-wheel drive cars against one another: the Hyundai Elantra N races the Mk8 Volkswagen GTI and the new F66 Mini Cooper S – which is completely overlooked by enthusiasts in 2024 (and is too cutesy for its own good), yet somehow manages to be effortlessly quick and best the OG hot hatch GTI.  Then, the second race includes the rear- and all-wheel drive cars: the rwd Ford Mustang EcoBoost races the rwd Toyota GR86, the awd Subaru WRX and the surprisingly quick Mazda 3 Turbo AWD.  And all Jason wants for Christmas is a GR86/FR-S/BRZ hatchback with a K24.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A double episode: First, our experts weigh in on Jaguar's new marketing stunt and concept. And second, Jason drives a prototype Lucid Gravity, the all-new SUV. === The Carmudgeon Show Sponsor, Vredestein Tires: https://www.vredestein.com/ Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === This was a big week for Jaguar, with a controversial ad that got lots of attention, and a wild concept that previews its new 4-door electric GT. Jason feels it's important to remember that the ad served one purpose: to get attention on an automaker we called Dead Brand Walking. And it very much worked. Jason's Van, Jynah, survived a 1500-mile round-trip to Salt Lake City, joining the mile-high club several times along the way. Thankfully, Vredestein Tires shipped a brand new set of Wintrac Pro winter tires just in time for alpine blizzards, because the Van, Jynah, had to make it across a mountain chain in the snow. Including climbing the famed Donner Pass — with chains. Afterwards, Jason gets behind the wheel of Lucid's latest creation – and second ever model – the new 2025 Lucid Gravity SUV. The boys discuss its unrelenting commitment to efficiency across the board: from its range, to interior and cargo space, and even mounting fuse blocks inside of chassis bracing on the Air sedan.  Jason admits to taking an engineering mule for a brief spin and recounts its handling dynamics. Later, while smooshing his face onto a pane of glass at Lucid HQ, Jason spoke with CEO, Peter Rawlinson. Peter personally engineered the ingenious rear hatch seal, and also showed off the new frunk seat with fold-out mud guard.  Then the boys lament the post-fact and internet-troll era which we, unfortunately, continue to live in. Derek defends his honor and encyclopedic knowledge from a viewer who claims the Mercedes CLK DTM had the first AMG engine – not the CLK63 Black Series. Too bad the viewer is incorrect (the CLK DTM used a derivative of the regular production M113; the Black Series used AMG's own M156. And Jason fights off M fans who argue they can “code out” the G80 M3's faults.  Afterwards, they discuss the state of automotive marketing. First by reminiscing about automotive ads from 20 years ago with staying power, and then by debating whether or not Jaguar's latest rebranding and ad campaign was a success. Does Jaguar's last-ditch effort to save the marque stand a chance at actually swaying consumers? Or is it still a Dead Brand Walking? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legendary, 500-hp Mercedes CLK63 AMG Black Series was never produced with a manual transmission. So, Derek had one built. === The Carmudgeon Show Sponsor, Vredestein Tires: https://www.vredestein.com/ Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Derek Tam-Scott's company, OTS & Co., purchased a C209-chassis 2008 Mercedes CLK63 AMG Black Series for science/tax reasons and immediately sent it to Matt Kwiek of @kwiekclassics for a new Mercedes-sourced manual transmission swap. How does the legendary AMG M156 6.3-liter V-8 (which is actually 6.2 liters) work with a 6-speed manual? For science, Derek hired SCCA Hall of Fame race car driver Randy Pobst to set a lap time in both a stock, automatic CLK63 BS and a 6-speed swapped one. The Black Series is one of Jason Cammisa's favorite cars of all time. He attended its launch at Willow Springs raceway, where he struggled to keep up with an 80-year-old Denise McLuggage as she executed flawless and effortless laps in the exact same car. It's a fun story. The ‘mudgeons then briefly cover all the Black Series models: the R171 SLK55, C209 CLK63, R230 SL65, W204 C63, and SLS AMG.  Is the CLK Black Series peak AMG? Derek compares the 6-speed swapped CLK to the fifth-gen Pontiac GTO and E39 BMW M5 Dinan S2. And the Carmudgeons discuss whether other collectible cars should also be manual-swapped, including the Lexus LFA, Alfa Romeo 4C and 8C, and the E60 M5.  The boys also ponder if tearing out the OE tranny on the Black Series is a crime akin to that of the Sacrilege Motors 964 911 EV conversion.  Which wasn't, actually, a crime. We end with a brief discussion of twin-engine cars: a half-Leaf half-motorcycle, a Twini (dual-engine Mini Cooper), DuRocco (twin-engine Scirocco), a pre-war Alfa, and a Citroen 2CV Safari.  Plus, the van, Jynah, prepares for potentially slippery, wet and white conditions with a brand new set of Vredestein Wintrac Pros! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can the new Tesla Model 3 Performance dethrone the G80 BMW M3 as the sports sedan king? === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev The Carmudgeon Show Sponsor, Vredestein Tires: https://www.vredestein.com/ === On this episode of the Carmudgeon Podcast, the boys discuss proper AIM sign-off acronyms, size queens, and Jason's 3/4” toe-in on his E31 BMW 850 CSI (and its broken shifter). Then, Jason shares tales from Radwood SoCal, including the winners of his “I'd Drive That Home” award — a Ford Escort Cosworth — and the Vredestein Tire award winner — a Z31 Nissan 300ZX with some mismatched and massively dry rotted 20-year-old tires.  Afterwards, we dive into Jason's recent Ultimate Comparison Test between the 2024 Tesla Model 3 “Highland” Performance and 2024 G80 LCI BMW M3 Competition xDrive. We'll cover everything from driving dynamics to powertrain, overheating brakes, interior ball rests, infotainment, price and more! TTFN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason and Derek open up their review archives once again and share stories about the cars they've driven over the years.  === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev The Carmudgeon Show Sponsor, Vredestein Tires: https://www.vredestein.com/ === In this episode, the boys ponder the meaning of a Jaguar “175 Edition”, give praise to the best rear wiper integration ever, debate if a Juke can be cute, and wonder how many cylinders power the illustrious Dodge Nitro. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is there such a thing as a car so perfect that it doesn't need any modifications? === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev The Carmudgeon Show Sponsor, Vredestein Tires: https://www.vredestein.com/ === Jason and Derek have modified many of the cars in their personal collections, which makes Jason wonder: is any of those cars so good that any modification would make it worse? The discussion begins with a look at both Jason's and Derek's personal fleets and the modifications (if any) they did to them: Jason's daily driver Mk7 Volkswagen e-Golf, his beloved but heavily modified Mk2 Scirocco 16V, the bat-shit bitch basket Mk1 Cabriolet, and even his OEM+ E30 wagon. Derek divulges his vast 964-chassis Porsche 911 mod list, and talks W124 wagon mods before they both look back at some of the cars they've sold: MKIII Golf, Elise, Isuzu Pup, E39 BMWs, and more!    But were the modifications they installed necessary fixes for factory deficiencies, or simply a matter of personal preference? Then they get down to business – what car(s) left the factory perfect? Candidates up for debate range from: Cadillac's CT4 and CT5 Blackwing Alpha-chassis Chevrolet Camaros Chevy SS sedan Aston Martin V12 Vantage S 7-speed Honda S2000 Nissan 240Z Ferrari 308 GT4 Mercedes W201 (190E) Mercedes W202 C43 Mercedes R129 500SL / SL500 E39-chassis BMW 5-series Various Porsche 911 models And more! What do you think? What car(s) were perfect from the moment they left the factory floor? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Derek and Jason own many cars and once in a while, many of them break. Or receive really cool upgrades. It's time for a car-nerd fleet update! === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev See: https://www.vredestein.com/ And: https://www.radwood.com/socal-2024 === The boys start with discussing "de-advanced" ignition timing on the Rover SD1 — and Jason did his first-ever brake master cylinder rebuild. But the big issue is that Jason wants to downsize his fleet (he still has 10 cars) but loves the different experience that each car offers. The Rover has a big (ish) lazy V8 and is unlike anything else Jason has. Derek wants to be done with his Citroën CX because it sprung a hydraulic leak, but then found the Citroën community — and, hopefully, someone to work on it. And so maybe it'll stay.  Thanks to Derek's guilt, 9 of Jason's cars have fresh brake fluid — which doesn't seem like a big deal, but doing 9 brake-fluid bleeds is time consuming. And worse, Jason discovered that his E30 Touring still had ATE Super Blue in his car. Which confirms that it was at least a decade old. Derek's Porsche 944 no longer has a 14-year-old timing belt, which means it can be driven to Radwood SoCal (hopefully on new Vredestein tires, no less!) Jason and Derek talk about today's ridiculous trend of people changing timing belts at 3, 4, or 5 years, with no mileage on them. This is an epidemic in the Ferrari community — when mechanics happily double the recommended replacement interval.  Jason has been suspecting that his VW Cabriolet is suffering from SMS: the dreaded transmission self-machining syndrome that kills many 020 transmissions. But after some exploratory surgery, it really now seems like a bad wheel bearing. That would figure, since Beatrice the E30 (the 1989 325i) also needs a wheel bearing after completing a track day (with Randy Pobst as an instructor on Sonoma Raceway.) These tend to come in pairs. Just not on different cars! Derek suspects his S124 E320 wagon (with the dogleg 5-speed and 3.6-liter swap) has bad wheel bearings, too. More urgently, Derek is having a Motronic Month: he's finally troubleshooted some strange running on his Porsche 964, which has gotten progressively worse over the last decade. He also found that one ignition module had failed, so it was running on half of its spark plugs. A new idle control valve didn't fix it, but swapping a DME (engine computer, or ECU in non-Porsche speak) from his dad's 964 fixed everything. Jason's buddy's 993 is doing the same thing — so Derek might have just inadvertently found that car's problem. Jason had never heard of rebuilding an ECU (except on Honda Beats) but thats' it. Jason's cars mostly don't have DMEs, and he's been fighting with ignition timing on both of his 16-valve Volkswagens (the Scirocco and Cabriolet) and wonders if he just should upgrade all the old cars to a Holley EFI or Megasquirt. Derek found a hard top for his R129 Mercedes SL, in Florida, but shipping was too expensive. So he found a local one in the wrong color . Jason has once done that, with the wrong color hardtop on his 996 for track use, and Derek also bought a very expensive new softtop for that SL. RIP by the way to Bruno Sacco, to Mike Valentine, and almost to Jeremy Clarkson.  The R129 SL500 / 500SL is the best deal in the collector-car world, period.  Jason did another (for a total of three) Power Acoustic CP-71W Single-DIN wireless Apple CarPlay head unit. He loves them. And that's before the $140 (+ tax) pricing. Except that he won't put one in the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 because the Becker is too iconic. Or the Beat, because of the Gathers (Honda) head unit in there. Or the e31 850CSi. Continental and Blaupunkt make retro-looking radios, but Becker's original units can be retrofitted with Bluetooth or Aux In. Porsche Classic PCM unit is amazing, but it's far too expensive for non-Porsches. Says Jason. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you put someone from 1985 in a modern car, what would they be most surprised by? Hint: Why is it so much easier to get a speeding ticket today? === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === The Carmudgeons chat briefly about Jake's Honda CR-Z — a manual, hybrid, very good-looking car — and why it doesn't have a K20 or K24 instead. The main point of discussion, though, was started by Jason's drive in his Scirocco looking at how high 1980s cars rev on the highway. And he explains why '80s cars are geared so short (it's to achieve their relatively low top speeds at their relatively high-rpm power peaks.) In discussing this, Jason explains how German car companies chose their top-gear ratio. (Hint: it's to maximize top speed.) But there are, of course, other major changes since the 1980s — and not just things like keyless-start and infotainment. Or just power.  NVH, mostly as a function of torsional rigidity, has changed dramatically. And with it, safety. Including things like ABS, ESC, AEB, FCW, and then of course all the other driver aids we take for granted today.  Including the ones like BAS — brake assist — which several times accidentally almost caused Jason to have a crash. (Or make someone else crash.) But... Jason does describe a few times he experienced modern automatic braking systems have actually avoided an accident that WOULD have happened. One in a VW and one in a Mercedes, that could have caused him to hit pedestrians. It was a triumph of modern safety technology. Also, cars have grown tremendously in size and weight. And the total area of the glass has shrunk considerably, so visibility has changed for the worse.  So has ride quality — today's cars have far stiffer suspension, coupled with large wheels and small sidewalls. 1980s cars often rode more smoothly than today's cars. And much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Behind the scenes filming of the comprehensive ICONS episode on the U.S.-spec 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz (including full review.) === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === This is a 100-minute discussion about the story of VW's ID.Buzz, the making of Jason Cammisa on the ICONS episode about it, and why this minivan is so important to Volkswagen's success in America. Full ID Buzz Review Here:  https://youtu.be/CEun1OLyq90 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Esprit Origin Story! === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === On this episode of the Carmudgeon Show, Derek fills us in on the origins and engineering behind Colin Chapman's last Lotus – the Esprit. DTS gives us the run-down on its connections to both past and contemporary Lotus', as well as its journey from lithe and naturally aspirated 4-cylinder sports car to twin-turbo V8 giant killer. Meanwhile, Jason comes up with a new t-shirt and covers proper water heater maintenance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason tows the wrong car, Derek goes to England, and the boys have a conversation about the new USPS Delivery Vehicle. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev Jason's Hoodie & Merch: https://closed-course-productions.printify.me/ === Jason's Honda Beat proves it speaks English by responding to Jason saying "my Honda doesn't leak oil" by leaking oil.  And Jason's only British car, the Rover SD1 3500 V8, leaked a cubic meter of brake fluid on the ground, which Jason thought was the VW Cabriolet. Turns out the VW's brakes are fine — but its transmission fluid's color and metal content was highly concerning. Then, Jason and Derek discuss the Grumman LLV, which is about to be replaced as your local mail delivery vehicle by the Oshkosh NGDV — which is aesthetically challenged (despite it being a huge functional upgrade.) More importantly, though, Derek flew to England to attend the Goodwood Revival, which he and Jason agree is possibly the best automotive event in the world. There are many factors. The cars, the total commitment to period dress, the gender balance, the spectators, the vendors, the amusement park fair rides, the picnics, and of course — no bad social media behavior.  Listen to Derek's rundown of an exceptional event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three cars have caused Jason a journalistic existential crisis: the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the Tesla Cybertruck, and the Tesla Model 3 Performance.  Two of them have nothing to do with the cars, and everything to do with the internet backlash from passionate enthusiasts. It's war out there. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev Jason's Hoodie & Merch: https://closed-course-productions.printify.me/ === The Carmudgeon Show has a new studio! (Or at least a new look.) But back to the cars: All of the innovation in the car industry these days is happening at the nontraditional OEMs. Which necessarily means that all of the interesting stories are about EVs.  And yet every time Jason does a review of an EV, it incites an online war between EV fans and ICE fans. And when Telsa's passionate fans and detractors become involved on X (formerly known as Twitter) it gets personal. Suddenly, Jason is vilified and "loses his credibility." This reality has caused Jason to take a serious look at the possibility of no longer reviewing new cars. He wonders if his personal interest in them is too small to put up with the backlash — and maybe he should concentrate on the older cars he loves more? On the other hand, is that letting the armchair warriors win? Perhaps. But the larger trend, as Jeremy Clarkson pointed out recently, is that new cars are shit.  And it was the Alfa Romeo Tonale that highlighted Jason's concerns. Not because it's a bad car — it's not — but Jason had a hard time getting excited about a 1.3-liter PHEV compact SUV with an Alfa Romeo badge on it. It has none of the qualities he likes in cars. And specifically none of the qualities (other than gorgeous green paint) that he feels are appropriate for a brand like Alfa Romeo. Hear all about the dissonance on this episode of the Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reviewing two V12, manual-transmission masterpieces — the Carmudgeons drove a Pagani Zonda Nero and a Ferrari F50, thanks to DK Engineering. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev Jason's Hoodie & Merch: https://closed-course-productions.printify.me/ === DK Engineering slid into Jason's DMs with an offer to drive an F50, a car he hadn't driven. Derek is already on record praising the F50 — but neither had driven a Zonda.  They drove the cars, but didn't talk about it with one another until now. So here's the unfiltered truth about these two cars. In reality, they couldn't be more different. Disappointing. Derek called the Pagani disappointing — the worst thing you could ever hear from your parents. Especially after Jason had just ridden in the Gordon Murray GMA T.50. Perhaps this Zonda, which had been federalized for U.S. emissions, was quieter than most, but it was an acoustic nonevent: it sounded like a Toyota Camry V6. Which isn't an insult (that's the best sounding V6 in production today) — but it was out of bounds with their expectations. Where the Zonda surprised, however, was that it's a nice GT. But one perhaps that's not what the boys expected. On the other hand, the Ferrari F50 was a complete experience. Its V12 sounds nothing like any of the other 3 Ferrari V12s (Colombo, Lampredi, or F116/F140.) It's not a particularly beautiful sound — more a yell than a scream — but it's fully enveloping and wonderful. The rest of the experience matches up, with linear controls, beautiful steering, and a chassis that feels natural and wonderful. With one of the best clutch/shifter/gas calibrations ever, despite the V12 having almost no flywheel weight. Also, we include a video of Jason shifting the F50 about 2.2 million times in a minute.  All this and more on this episode of the Carmudgeon Show, which is part of the Hagerty Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We drive the Sacrilege Motors 911 "Blackbird" — a fully electric-converted 964-chassis Porsche 911, and answer the question: can an EV be fun? === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === The name of the company says it all: it is sacrilege to rip out a flat-six from the back of a 911 and replace it with batteries and a motor. But calling it out as sacrilege takes the wind out of that argument, and so Derek (a 964 owner and 911-weenie) and Jason each spent some time with this $850,000 (ish) Porsche to answer the question on whether it makes sense. The answer might surprise you. It surprised both of the boys, who hadn't discussed their opinions until we hit record in the studio. Derek was, of course, violent at the idea of a Restomod 911. Called it an abomination, at least conceptually. Especially because it's a 964, the least numerous of the air-cooled variants — and the best-driving according to Derek. This is the same basic car that companies like Singer also modify, because you can backdate the styling — which isn't possible on a 993. Jason, meanwhile, loved the memory structure of the Tesla Roadster blowing his mind — the other electric convertible sports car with great steering.  But did the boys like it? Love it? Hate it? Want to burn it at the stake? Only one way to find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Car Week Update, including: the Vintage Ferrari market nosedives at Pebble Beach. Jason sells his Lotus Elise. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Neither of the Carmudgeons went to Sunday's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, but both boys were at Car Week for the rest of the week.  And then left to shoot an episode of "Jason Cammisa on the ICONS" and "Ultimate Drag Race Replay." Which was even hotter than it was in the studio, where it was over 100ºF recording the Lexus LFA episode.  Sreten from M539 destroyed Jason's house, warehouse, and life, but resurrected an E60 M5 (that OTS & Co will be selling!) They discuss some Behind-the-Scenes on what it's like to try to close a road — Jason means it when he says "professional idiot on a closed course." Hint: it doesn't always work. Derek's company, OTS & Company, sold Jason's 2009 Lotus Elise SC, which was a pleasant surprise for Jason, who's never sold through an agent before — and who is generally terrible at selling cars. Jason is now a convert — and wants OTS&Co to sell everything! OTS & Co also won an award at the Quail with the Ferrari 365 "Croisette" shooting break at the Quail!  That coach built Ferrari might be the Ultimate Car Week Car! But it could be M539's Ring Taxi homage E60 M5 manual! But the real surprise at Car Week was how poorly the Blue Chip Ferraris did at auction. There were some other cars that were soft (including two Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo II that sold below Derek's expectations) but the multiple-million-dollar 1950s and 1960s Ferrari market was the big shock. At the same time, a Ferrari F50 hit a new record at $5.5 million with fees — so there's probably not some major bubble bursting. Maybe it's just a generational shift? Lots of philosophical discussion ensues. You should listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason rides in the left seat of a T.50 and declares it the best sounding engine he's ever heard — dethroning the Lexus LFA. With which he and Derek have experience. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === First of all, Jason calculates his cars' brake fluid age and is mostly okay with it, but also slightly horrified at how old the brake fluid is in several of his cars — one of which is 13 years old. Whoops. Secondly, GMA allowed Jason a ride in the leftmost (passenger) seat of Gordon Murray's T.50, with Dario Franchitti in the center seat. There's video — and audio. And it's enough to have moved Jason to dethrone the LFA, which he had just pronounced the best sounding engine of all time. The LFA's V-10 sounds amazing — far better in the car than the Porsche Carrera GT, the other best-sounding V-10 of all time (with honorable mention given to the BMW S85 — and every other V10 short of the Viper's.) The boys also speak about the LFA Revelations Episode — and the history of the Lexus LFA. And of cars that ride poorly, like the LFA does. Like the Mercedes AMG GT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Jason and Derek interview Sreten, a friend and YouTuber who stars in his channel M539 Restorations. Sreten bought a salvaged, rare 6-speed manual-transmission E60 BMW M5 — and resurrected it to attend Monterey Car Week. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === M539 Restorations specializes in resurrecting abandoned and neglected BMWs from around the world. Based in Frankfurt, Germany, Serbian-born Sreten creates entertaining videos where he approaches huge repairs without ever skimping on anything. This time, on his honeymoon, Sreten bought a salvaged E60 M5 that was located in Fresno, California — and Jason had it shipped to his warehouse. Sreten sent boxes of parts, and showed up a week before Car Week and started the process of getting the E60 running again. If you've now seen Sreten's posts, you'll know he performed a miracle (or got incredibly lucky with a really nice E60) and the car runs again. But that all happened after we recorded this episode. Get to know the real Sreten. And why he loves the S85 V-10 and the E60 5-series in which it's installed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason just solved a nagging problem on his car that he paid to have fixed 26 years ago. Turns out, the mechanic charged him for a repair he didn't make. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Jason just solved a nagging problem on his car that he paid to have fixed 26 years ago. Turns out, the mechanic charged him for a repair he didn't make. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === It's well known that Jason Cammisa's Volkswagen Scirocco 16V is his favorite car. What's not so well-known is that he hit a curb while driving it back in the late 1990s, and bent a control arm. After saving for over a year, he finally had the money to replace the arm, and commissioned a local repair shop to perform the work. The Scirocco came back from the alignment shop with bad news: Installing the new control arm didn't put there wheel back where it belonged. The Scirocco's frame was bent.  After living with the guilt of having damaged his favorite toy for more than a quarter-century, Jason finally got up the gumption (and money) to have the car's frame straightened.  The frame shop had some interesting news: there was nothing wrong with the car — the control arm was merely bent. Turns out the shop that charged Young Jason to replace the arm... didn't. And last week, Jason finally replaced it himself, solving a decades-long alignment issue.  This made Jason think about his first three bad experiences as a young man with a VW shop (who tried to charge him near as much in diagnostics than he'd paid for the whole car for a simple bad ground wire) a VW dealer who disconnected his headlights and tried to extort him out of hundreds... and the aforementioned shop — all of whom are responsible for encouraging Jason to do all the work on his cars himself. Derek has a similar story about a local mechanic to tried to charge him $4500 for a simple ignition coil.  Fun times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

E31 Syndrome: The explanation of why the E31 8-series is widely regarded as a beautiful failure. This is the full history of the BMW 850i, 850Ci, 850CSi, and 840Ci. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === The BMW 850i had the first post-war German V12. It made 300 hp and was installed in a pillarless, Ferrari-esque coupe almost universally praised for its beauty. After its debut at the 1989 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, its first 3 years of production were sold out. But many of those orders were cancelled once the press got a hold of the 850i. Was it a bad car? In no way. The problem was that its Ferrari looks were married to an uninspired driving experience. The E31 had been conceived by BMW's R&D department (not its marketing department) as a rolling showpiece for its capabilities. And so BMW's priorities were perhaps not in line with market expectations. In other words: E31 Syndrome. A car that looks one way but drives differently. The discrepancy was solved when BMW's Motorsport Division made an M8 out of the 850i... but the marketing issue remained because BMW didn't badge it an M8. It was called 850CSi, which wasn't enough of a differentiator. And was made worse because the 850i was renamed 850Ci for no explicable reason. The 850CSi was a success — it landed to rave reviews, and sold out almost immediately. But its lack of M Badging has cost it enthusiast recognition. Even though it's a full M car with a WBS VIN prefix and the same treatment that the E36 got becoming an M3 out of a 325i. Learn all about this car on this episode of the Carmudgeon Show — a part of the Hagerty Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Single-brand car fans don't know what they're missing. Mark Twain once wrote that “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts." The sentiment holds true for cars, too. **SORRY FOR BEING A DAY LATE, FOLKS!** === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev Jason's T-Shirt: https://closed-course-productions.printify.me/ === In this episode, the Carmudgeons proceed to rip into one of their friends — light-heartedly. It all started when GG brought his R129 Mercedes 500SL to a shoot involving Jason's E31 850 CSI, and the two started a mock-argument about which car was better. Anthony Esposito, our favorite cinematographer, said GG's Mercedes-fanboyism reminded him of the Twain quote. In fact, GG's automotive tastes are actually quite well-rounded, but the experience served as the perfect impetus for a conversation about car fans who only experience one brand, or one marque, or one era, or one type of car. Turns out that nearly every car Jason and Derek have experienced has created fascination and interest in something they didn't previously know enough about to be interested.  Travel — i.e. experiencing new things — often creates unforeseeable interest in people and places you'd never have realized you were interested in. So, umm, Never Stop Driving... new-to-you cars! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The enthusiast car market has cooled — which likely benefits you. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === This episode is the Tales of a Used Car Salesman, Derek Tam-Scott Edition! Derek spends his professional (and personal) life selling enthusiast and collectible cars, and he's noticed some major changes in the market. The bottom hasn't fallen out, he says, but the market has become more rational — which means transaction prices seem to make sense. Even if that transaction price is $117,600 for a Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3. Because Derek has a rational explanation for the record-breaking six-figure E46 M3 he sold last month. All this insight and more, with a dose of comedy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do we love fast cars? Or is the experience more important than the speed? === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Jason's T-Shirt: https://closed-course-productions.printify.me/ Get some behind-the-scenes of Jason's Ultimate Drag Race Replay episode racing the two most powerful American cars of all time: the 1234-hp Lucid Air Sapphire and the 1025-hp Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170. Jason's episode raced the cars both on regular asphalt and then on a VHT-prepped race surface at the Famoso Drag Strip.  Are the Carmudgeons impressed? We'll find out — in a discussion about whether the faster engine option is the better choice.  Is it speed we love? Or are we looking for experience? In that latter case, electric sports cars like the Rimac Nevera might be in trouble. And it might explain why Bugatti-Rimac's latest car uses a combustion engine. This, and more, on this episode of the Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oh, truck it, let's say the word! Nobody likes the word "hybrid" but adding electric assist to combustion engines really can pave a way forward, especially for long-haul trucking. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev https://www.pickmebean.com  https://range.energy === This week, Derek and Jason have an experience at Sonoma Raceway with Range Energy, a company focusing on hybridizing long-haul trucking. It's an ingenious solution to the problem of reducing emissions and fuel consumption, without needing to throw away existing diesel tractors. And while they were there, they take Jason's e-Golf on the race track. Because, stupid. But the idea of electricity helping combustion engines is what propelled Porsche to install a hybrid system on the 992.2 911 GTS. Learn how that system works in our discussion — including a chart of engine response of the last 3.0-liter twin-turbo six that debuted 991.2 Carrera versus naturally aspirated engines. Also, Derek drives a Lucid Sapphire around Sonoma Raceway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's not just Bugatti — we're seeing a shift away from pedestrian turbocharged engines and toward hybrids with an amazing engine as the centerpiece. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === There's a bunch of amazing stuff coming — but sadly nothing for enthusiasts who don't have unlimited funds. Lamborghini has two new powertrains: a hybrid V-12 for the Revuelto and a 10,000-rpm V-8 for the Huracan replacement. Aston is developing a new V-12. The GMA T.50 and T.30 and Aston Valkyrie use a Cosworth V-12; the Bugatti Tourbillon uses a 9500-rpm Cosworth V-16. The Porsche 992.2 GTS uses an amazing hybrid turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six.  What's happening in the car market? First, there's a discussion of who buys new cars? How old are car buyers? And how old is the average car on the road? And why Hybrids all of a sudden? What's happening is that manufacturers are realizing that a high-revving, vocal combustion engine is what customers want. And a plug-in hybrid system allows this to happen while passing emissions legislation. All this and more in a very, very curmudgeonly episode of the Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's have some fun coming up with a list of things that other drivers do that piss you off! Make sure to comment below! === This episode is sponsored by Vyper Industrial — America's #1 rated shop chair, tool carts, and creepers, proudly made here in the US. Go to https://www.vyperindustrial.com/ and use code HAGERTY for $50 off on all your order! Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === In this episode, Jason prompts Derek to come up with a list of 5 Signs You Might Be a Bad Driver. Derek came up with one. Jason came up with a Biblical List of Driving Crimes, including: 1. If you're not angry, you're probably the problem. 2. If people are mad at you, you might be a bad driver. 3. If people are mad at you, and you don't know why, you're DEFINITELY a bad driver. 4. If you don't know the rules, you're a bad driver. 5. If you don't pull over to let people pass on a California road, you're a bad driver. 6. If you don't (always) use turn signals, you're a bad driver. 7. If your passengers can feel your lane changes, you're a bad driver. 8. If you don't use vehicular body language, you're a bad driver. 9. If your passengers' heads are bobbing around from your control inputs, you are a bad driver. 10. If you have worn out a clutch, you're probably a bad driver. (There are exceptions.) 11. If you hold a phone while driving, you're a bad driver. 12. If you don't rev-match, you're probably not a good driver. 13. If you don't double-clutch into 1st... you know the drill. 14. If you don't warm up your car, guess what? Bad driver. 15. If you don't hold the steering wheel at 9:00 or 3:00 (or anywhere not 180º apart) you're definitely a bad driver. 16. If you drink and drive, Jason has no respect for you and hopes you get arrested before you hurt someone else. If you hurt yourself, good. 17. You don't know why the ESP or Traction Control light is flashing, you are a bad driver. 18. If you haven't read your owner's manual, you might be a bad driver. 19. If you don't understand the Zipper Merge, you're not just a bad driver, you're a c-word. 20. If you break the law for the convenience of others, you're a bad driver. 21. If you don't care that you're inconveniencing someone else, you're a bad driver. 22. If you speed up when being passed, you're guilty of attempted murder. And finally, 23. If you are the host of the Carmudgeon Show, you're definitely a bad driver. :) Let us know what we forgot to include! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a new set of Rivian twins on the market, but most of updates on the R1T and R1S are under the skin. But they're very significant! === This episode is sponsored by Vyper Industrial — America's #1 rated shop chair, tool carts, and creepers, proudly made here in the US. Go to https://www.vyperindustrial.com/ and use code HAGERTY for $50 off on all your order! Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === The new R1T and R1S feature new batteries, new motors, a new electrical architecture, new lighting, and new substantive updates to the interior — Jason flew to Washington to drive them on and off-road. The new R1 includes infotainment updates that includes Apple Music — but still no Apple CarPlay, which Jason finds to be a wart on an otherwise near-perfect machine. The other wart is the ride quality — it's still fantastic off-road, and it's better, but it's not up to the level of greatness attained by the rest of the vehicle. The quad-motor variant rips off a face-melting 2.5-second 0-60 and 10.5 @ 130 mph in the quarter mile — which is impressive. But necessary? Of course, the Carmudgeons spend some time insulting Subaru drivers (admitting that their experience with slow Subarus might be a San Francisco Bay Area phenomenon) but looking at some national statistics that show that Subaru drivers are the worst of any passenger-car brand. And of course, they address people comparing their previous Waymo self-driving robotaxi episode experience to Tesla's Full Self Driving. They're not even remotely close. More of this and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss the future of motoring in the back seat of a Jaguar I-Pace while it's being self-driven by Waymo's computers around San Francisco. === This episode is sponsored by Vyper Industrial — America's #1 rated shop chair, tool carts, and creepers, proudly made here in the US. Go to https://www.vyperindustrial.com/ and use code HAGERTY for $50 off on all your order! Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === The End Must Be Nigh — because Jason Cammisa convinced the ultimate self-driving car-hating Carmudgeon, Derek Tam-Scott, to ride along in the back of a Waymo on an hour-long city adventure. And even Derek had to admit... We're getting ahead of ourselves. There's discussion about: Who Is Waymo? How is Waymo different than other autonomous brands like Cruise or Uber? How do you hail a Waymo cab? ...and important journalistic endeavors like: What happens if a minivan cuts you off and ABS'es to a stop in front of you? Jason's Van, Jynah, wanted to know. So we found out. The other question: to what standard should we hold self-driving taxis? Should they follow all rules? Should they prioritize safety and smoothness (like Jason suggests) or do whatever possible to minimize commute time, even at the risk of making passengers sick (like Derek wants?) It's an amusing, intelligent real-time discussion on the future of self-driving cars. And no, Waymo is nothing like Tesla Autopilot or any other current car's self-driving system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, the Carmudgeons recap their recent 600-mile back-road blast, which resulted in a surprise Best Car for the Mission. Unrelated, an update on their newly-acquired V-12 cars. === This episode is sponsored by Vyper Industrial — America's #1 rated shop chair, tool carts, and creepers, proudly made here in the US. Go to https://www.vyperindustrial.com/ and use code HAGERTY for $50 off on all your order! Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Jason and Derek now both own V-12-powered cars. Jason confesses his 850 CSI purchase, which happened while he was doing research for an upcoming Revelations episode. Derek lit his on fire while learning that it needs an engine rebuild. Turns out the BMW 850CSi has the shortest gear ratios of any V-12 car ever sold — and Jason is a self-described whore for short gearing.  Meanwhile, Derek bought a V12, manual Ferrari that has no compression in several cylinders. The main subject of the episode is one of Jason and Derek's many friend-group backroad trips in Northern California. As usual, it was a varied group of cars: Jason brought "Beatrice," his E30 BMW 325i sedan. Derek brought his race-prepped Mk5 Volkswagen GTI. Also present was a BMW Z3 2.8, an NA Miata, a GR Corolla, and one car that was very much not appropriate for tight mountain roads:  A C126 Mercedes 560SEC.  And the Mercedes was, by far, everyone's favorite. Wildly obese and far too large, with non-performance tires, the W126-chassis Mercedes should have been miserable. And what it instead demonstrated was perfect chassis balance, an indefatigable, 300-hp Euro/Japan-spec 5.5-liter engine, and a riotous time. Sometimes, it's the wrong car on the right road that's the most fun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's largely being reported in the media that Electric Vehicles are in trouble — sales are down, inventory is up, and customers just aren't interested. Is any of this true?  ...or is this just a blip in the now-unavoidable transition away from combustion vehicles? === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Special Tuesday Episode: Happy Memorial Day! Hyundai is making great EVs. BMW is making really good EVs. Tesla (despite the controversy) is still selling the dickens out of its cars — and the new "Highland" Model 3 is nearly perfect. But the rest of the industry? Perhaps no one is interested in their cars because the cars are crap. We don't know. But the Carmudgeons certainly have opinions on it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is an inclusive list of every V-12 passenger car engine ever produced — with information, opinion, and the possibility that the V-12 isn't actually the best engine layout. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Update: The data sharing programs from Honda, Hyundai (Verisk) and General Motors (Lexis Nexis) that we covered in Episode 143 have all been cancelled. Score one for Data Privacy and for Car Enthusiasts! This episode stems from the quote from former Car and Driver editor (and founder of Automobile Magazine) David E. Davis, who said: “I firmly believe that everyone who is worth anything at all should own a 12-cylinder car before they die,” We pose the question: why? And then answer it with technical information about the V-12 engine layout, and discuss all of them — including defining the chapters of the V-12: 1. Prehistoric Luxury V12s. 2. Carbureted Performance/Racing V12s 3. Fuel-injected V12s. 4. Modern V12s. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Y'all never thought it was going to happen, but here it is — whether you've seen the ICONS video or not, this is one to watch! HOODIE: https://tinyurl.com/CammisaHoodie === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === After years of teasing, the Carmudgeon Show is finally covering the life and achievements of Ferdinand Piëch. This is where the idea began, and the boys provide far more in-depth information than Jason could cover in the relatively short ICONS episode. Enjoy, and thanks for the patient wait! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a quick review of the updated (and even better) 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata, the boys delve into the long-awaited Piëchisode by talking about the cars it featured. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Included in this episode is a review and discussion of: 2024 Mazda Miata MX-5 (ND3) 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS 1980 Mercedes-Benz 300SD Turbodiesel (W116) 1985 Audi Coupe Quattro (Ur-Quattro) 2002 Volkswagen Golf TDI (Mk4) 2004 Volkswagen Golf R32 (Mk4) 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton W12 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 2014 Volkswagen XL1 2024 Bentley Continental GT Speed W12 and a small discussion of Ferdinand Piëch, Dieselgate, and corporate conscience (Boeing, The Ford Pinto) === Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices