Mr Cartoon is one of the most famous tattoo artists to ever put ink to skin. His artistic journey began in graffiti before moving to airbrushing clothes and low rider cars. He's got a line of Turtle Wax car care, designed wheels, and has an amazing garage of his own. We talk about the history of low riders; how hydraulics work; the legality of them; how he got into cars; wild builds over the years; the hardest form of art; whether a celebrity makes him nervous; the hardest body part to tattoo; a...
Apr 25, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 916
Matt's Countach has a triage plan (sort of); we review the new Aston Martin DB12 Volante (and compare it to the competition from Bentley, Italy, and Mercedes); Patreon questions include: Used Focus RS or new GR Corolla? Why Taycan brakes feel weird To jump from new Ioniq 5 to used Taycan Do EVs have a floor? Which state has the best Mexican food? A very interesting question about gamifying EV ownership. And more! Recorded April 22, 2024 Head to https://www.factormeals.com/tire50 and use code tir...
Apr 23, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 915
Matt has updated his fleet in a surprising way; took the NSX on a 600-mile road trip; and explains his position on the unfortunate situation with his recently-arrested former Ferrari mechanic, Donnie Callaway. Recorded April 17, 2024 American owned and with over 100,000 happy customers ditch harsh smoke forever by visiting The Freeze Pipe and use code TIRE for 10% off your order. That’s The Freeze Pipe and Code TIRE for 10% off. Shop today for free shipping. AutoTempest has all the cars. One sea...
Apr 18, 2024•1 hr 53 min•Ep. 914
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N blew Matt's mind for so many reasons you won't believe. Plus, what engines would we swap into which car if we had all the money and talent? That's what we're talking about today. Dream builds. Plus, Patreon questions about: Is it a good idea to finance an R34 GTR? When it is (and isn't) time to get out of a Ford and into a German car. WRX TR vs GR Corolla Our thoughts on the Mustang GTD's trunk. Why the 997 is the sweet spot for Porsche 911s. Do we care about celebrity car ...
Apr 16, 2024•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 913
Matt calls in from the Bernardus hotel with our friend and the founder and CEO of Range Energy, Ali Javidan. Ali is an engineer and high-caliber driver, who shares with us his take on why the GT3 RS is so stiff, why adjustable dampers matter as much as springs; his experience driving in Aspen at the FAT ICE Race; how to durability test a semi-truck trailer; why batteries need to be liquid-cooled; and when to ignore rock chips. Note: This show was recorded remotely with Matt and Ali calling into ...
Apr 11, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 912
We discuss Peter Attia's podcast interview with a former employee of NHTSA regarding road safety; Matt finds out just how expensive a Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe is (and how his wife feels about shopping for one); Matt and Zack try to decide which of their content to put up for a nomination; and Zack reveals why he's the best worst groomsman. Patreon questions include: Will I regret selling my C38 AMG? What's the next resto-mod platform? Why new cars compromise comfort Which obscure cars turn our ...
Apr 09, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 911
Matt reviews the Maybach GLS 600; Zack learns about travel law; and we name our top 10 cars with wings. Listener questions include: 2020 BRZ vs 2024 Is there a car culture we don't understand or agree with? How to treat cyclists Magma thoughts Are McLaren brakes weird? Is a base 911 lacking? Why some brands break Should I add an LSD? and more! Recorded April 2, 2024 https://www.givemethevin.com/smokingtire Want your question answered? To listen to the episode the day it's recorded? Want to watch...
Apr 04, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 910
Matt and Zack review the Rolls-Royce Spectre EV, and are surprised by the options list; turns out we have very different lists when it comes to the best luxury cars ever. Audience questions include: Car deals we regret missing The best high-performance baby carrier Why to put bad tires on a good car Do C6 Corvettes drive better than C5s? What we think of the giant truck charging station popping up in Sacramento, CA And more Recorded March 29, 2024 https://www.givemethevin.com/smokingtire Want yo...
Apr 02, 2024•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 909
Tyler Hoover tells us about how he got a "free" Lamborghini Countach; his huge new farmstead; the famous Bentley he owned (and the celebrity that bailed on it); how working on Car Trek differs from his TV show; his cars; and a lot more. Recorded March 25, 2024 https://www.youtube.com/@HooviesGarage https://www.instagram.com/the_real_hoovies_garage https://www.givemethevin.com/smokingtire Want your question answered? To listen to the episode the day it's recorded? Want to watch the live stream, g...
Mar 28, 2024•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 908
How do you get the job of test driver? What's it like perfecting the fastest EV and ICE car? Miro knows. Miro Zrncevic is the test driver for Rimac, builder of the record-setting EV hypercar, the Nevera. Miro has been involved in Rimac since the beginning, though not in the way you might think. In this episode we find out why Miro wanted to be a test driver; his education and work background; how he got the job; his thoughts on tuning steering; why a car has to lean a little bit; the dangers of ...
Mar 26, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 907
What are 10 types of tech that make cars worse? That's what we're discussing with today's guest, Ed Zitron. Ed Zitron is an author, journalist, and podcaster. He is CEO of EZPR, a national tech and business public relations agency. We love his newsletter “Where’s your Ed At?” , which often covers tech, AI, and how both will fail to deliver. On this show we talk about how car marketing is changing; the Fisker financial situation; why Apple's headset sucks while being amazing; why your phone isn't...
Mar 21, 2024•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 906
What are the best EVs yet? Is charging getting better? Can the grid handle it? Which electric pickup would win in a cross-country race? Are batteries recyclable? All that and more with Kyle Connor. Kyle Connor is a YouTuber in command of a whopping 17 different channels. He focused on EVs, covering the space comprehensively. He has road tripped, towed with, tested, charged, and driven more EVs than most people will in a lifetime. As such, he has excellent insights into why EVs have the problems ...
Mar 19, 2024•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 905
There are some cars out there that seemed like a good idea at the time but ended up failing. There are other cars that seem crazy on paper and were even worse in metal, but got built anyway. Today we're talking about 10 of history's automotive moon shots that failed to take hold. From odd propulsion choices to super cars that didn't deliver, overpriced economy badges to hypercars made obsolete by their maker, we cover it all. 10 Times Car Companies SENT it and Missed 16 year-old steals a dozen C...
Mar 14, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 904
What's the best bang for your buck right now, new or used? We've got ten cars you can buy that are a great value for the most fun and performance. 5 used cars, 5 new cars. Spoiler alert: the answer is not Miata. We'll explain why. Plus, Matt talks about the all new Porsche Panamera's crazy dancing suspension and what it means for speed; we also discuss that Cyber Truck's steering/brake failure; the least-green cars of the year (one is an EV!); the flaws of "self-driving" companies; and what's wr...
Mar 12, 2024•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 903
We're listing our top 5 Grand Touring cars ever with our favorite British transplant, music expert Christian James Hand. Also, he and Matt got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Sphere in Las Vegas AND saw the U2 show. A verbal description doesn't do the show justice but it will make you want to attend. Plus Q&A includes: How the 911 name is similar and different from AMG and M The closest experience to a $90K Boxster T Which F-Type is perfect for a new graduate Will there be barn finds in the ...
Feb 29, 2024•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 902
What's faster around a track: a NASCAR or an 800HP Gymkhana car? Tony Quiroga knows. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Car and Driver magazine. He's here to talk about the newest Lightning Lap, his favorite LL cars over the years, and more! Recorded February 21, 2024 Read it here: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a46575000/lightning-lap-2024/ Check out the Subaru Air Slayer: https://vtcar.com/cars/vt20g/ Garage 56: https://www.nascar.com/garage56 Use Off The Record! and ALWAYS fight your tickets...
Feb 27, 2024•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 901
Morgan is a legendary company and for good reason. Yes, the cars are made of wood but the company has continued along while so many small companies have gone to rest. Jon Wells has that job so many of us covet: car designer. With a very brief stop at TVR, Jon went right from university to the design department of Morgan, becoming part of the team that designed so of the best and fastest cars Morgan ever made. He also led the team that designed the new Super 3, the successor to the famous and uni...
Feb 22, 2024•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 900
What's a muscle car? What are the top 5 of all time? That's what we're discussing today. From the '60s to present day and every decade in between, Matt Farah and Zack Klapman have their own lists. Do any overlap? Do their cars fit the definition of muscle car? We'll see. Plus, Matt's used Bentley is back in the shop. Recorded February 12, 2024 Use Off The Record! and ALWAYS fight your tickets! Enter code TSTPOD for a 10% discount on your first case on the Off The Record app, or go to https://www...
Feb 20, 2024•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 899
Why are Nissan GT-Rs so coveted? Why was it illegal to import them? Why did Japan build them in the first place? All that and more is covered in the excellent book, "Cult of GT-R, A Story of Crime, Obsession, and the World's Most Coveted Car". It is a detailed history of the Nissan GT-R, Japanese manufacturing, Japanese car culture, the world of import laws, and why the GT-R means so much to so many of us. The author, Ryan ZumMallen, joins us. https://www.carrarabooks.com/store/cult-of-gtr-book ...
Feb 15, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 898
What's the collector market up to? Will GT-Rs ever take the place of pre-war Brass Era cars? Gord Duff is the man with answers. He is the Global Head of Auctions for RM Sotheby's. If anyone knows what's going on with car collecting trends, it's him. https://rmsothebys.com/en/home/specialists/gord-duff/509891 Recorded February 7, 2024 Head to factormeals.com/tire50 and use code tire50 to get 50% off. Use Off The Record! and ALWAYS fight your tickets! Enter code TSTPOD for a 10% discount on your f...
Feb 13, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 897
Jonny Lieberman is here to talk about his time street-driving the new Porsche GT3 RS, his drive in the crazy Guntherwerks Prototype, and our main topic: our five favorite European Tuner Cars. Plus questions about how much money you need to be a car enthusiast; why to keep your sports car when the snow comes; a good affordable bourbon; Audi S3 vs Golf R; and the great speed limits vs guns debate. Recorded February 5, 2024 “Get 20% off Groove Life products with my link: groovelife.com/TIRE20 Use O...
Feb 08, 2024•1 hr 53 min•Ep. 896
Matt Farah and Zack Klapman go through their respective Top 5 cars that were sold to the Japanese Domestic Market only. Then we answer LOTS of Patreon Q&A Other topics include: adventures with Turo; the Bentley paint correction; a Prius that somehow failed smog. Recorded February 1, 2024 “Get 20% off Groove Life products with my link: groovelife.com/TIRE20 Use Off The Record! and ALWAYS fight your tickets! Enter code TSTPOD for a 10% discount on your first case on the Off The Record app, or ...
Feb 06, 2024•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 895
After an unfortunate surprise in the Koenig Ferrari, we're recording a podcast! We have plenty to talk about!! The Koenig Ferrari is a wild, weird thing. Supercar tuner differences Electric Macan configurator Cyber Truck differential update Scott Wiener wants to set a 10MPH speed limiter in CA Q&A Recorded January 26, 2024 Use Off The Record! and ALWAYS fight your tickets! Enter code TSTPOD for a 10% discount on your first case on the Off The Record app, or go to https://www.offtherecord.com...
Feb 01, 2024•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 894
We tried to drive a modified Ferrari; a deep-dive review of the 2024 Subaru WRX TR; what's it cost to repair a Bentley?; Zack's flight in an electric aircraft; Q&A Recorded January 23, 2024 Use Off The Record! and ALWAYS fight your tickets! Enter code TSTPOD for a 10% discount on your first case on the Off The Record app, or go to https://www.offtherecord.com/TST Store your car with WCCS! https://wccs.com/ Click on the DILLON banner, buy a pair of sunglasses, receive a FREE Smoking Tire t-sh...
Jan 30, 2024•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 893
When is a car "safe enough"? Turns out it's not such a simple answer. From a lack of software oversight to self-certification issues to more recalls (from every company) than you could imagine, building cars is challenging, especially as ADAS systems get more common and complicated. Phil Koopman is an Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon University in the Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering. In the car realm, he is the writer of Safe Autonomy blog, covering self-driving technology. Hi...
Jan 25, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 892
Parker Nirenstein is the creator and host of Vehicle Virgins, a popular YouTube channel with over 2 million subscribers. He joins us to talk about YouTube, work/life balance, cars he's owned, and more Recorded January 15, 2024 Say goodbye to harsh smoke and coughing attacks by shopping the smoothest pipes, bubblers, bongs and more at https://www.thefreezepipe.com and use code TIRE for 10% off your entire order. Want your question answered? To listen to the episode the day it's recorded? Want to ...
Jan 23, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 891
Shima Hamidi is a transportation planner and a smart growth advocate. She is an expert in measuring urban form and its quality of life impacts. Shima has been published extensively on walkability, non-motorized transportation, public transit, housing and transportation affordability, public health, life expectancy, upward mobility, and traffic safety. https://www.shimahamidi.com/ https://narrowlanes.americanhealth.jhu.edu/ Recorded January 12, 2024 Head to factormeals.com/tire50 and use code tir...
Jan 18, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 890
Racing driver and car show creator, Patrick Long, joins us to talk about: - The literal pain of high-g race cars - Racing in Le Mans - Waiting nearly 2 decades to get his first watch - The Porsche 911 S/T - Driving a car with portal axles and no steering shaft - Why differentials can make a difference - Expanding his car shows Luftgekühlt and Air/Water. Recorded Friday, December 12, 2024 Follow Patrick: https://www.instagram.com/plmotorsport/?hl=en Tickets to Air/Water: https://air-water.com/ Ev...
Jan 16, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 889
Should we be able to go 100MPH? Should we have speed limiters, walkable cities, bike in the winter, or even be allowed to buy certain cars? All that and more on this podcast with David Zipper. David is a Visiting Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Taubman Center for State and Local Government, where he examines the interplay between transportation policy, technology, and society. https://www.davidzipper.com/ https://slate.com/business/2023/12/cars-trucks-suv-sales-electric-safety-risk.html h...
Jan 11, 2024•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 888
Magnus Walker drove a 911 powered by an F1 engine, a 917 in the snow, snuck down to the LA river with a West Coast art icon, braved the desert of Australia, explains his new Jaguar project with The Kyza, and shares the ups/downs of driving a luxurious relic. Let CrowdHealth help with your healthcare needs. You can get started today for just $99 per month for the first three months if you use code TIRE to get the healthcare you deserve. CrowdHealth is not insurance. Learn more at joincrowdhealth....
Jan 09, 2024•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 887
