The Smoking Tire

Zack Klapman's puncture; recent Mecum auction results are insane; the Mitsubishi Lancer's glow-up; Matt Farah's Taycan update; the great Czinger scheduling error; Paint to Sample parties; the best car for swinging (yes, that kind); and more! Patreon questions include: What car should we buy for swinging? Aging out of burble tunes Buy an R32 GT-R or an R34 GT-S? C5 pace car as a weekend toy? When will someone compete with the Miata? How to operate your watch No car can match what this dude has built What we want from a future Subaru STI Are EVs the solution to the noisy race track problem? F/M/K: $12000 project version GR Supra or Nissan Z Nismo manual? Anything as fun as a turbo Miata? And many more! Recorded May 19, 2026 onsoring this message   Factor Head to https://Factormeals.com/tire50off and use code tire50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box, with new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details).   Quince Refresh your everyd

Matt Farah reviews the much-anticipated manually-shifted 2027 Nissan Z Nismo; a preview of our thoughts on the new Aston Martin DB12S; a new Countach bill puts things in perspective; and we answer Patreon questions including: Nissan's recent comeback strategy Is my floor mat fetish strange? Does the Z Nismo replace the GT-R? Do you need to own a FWD car to truly experience it? Pre-flight checklist before getting into a new car How do we manage disappointment? Is a restomod Countach a good idea? A recent graduate wants advice First car: 2009 Civic Si or 2001 Prelude SH? Best non-automotive item in your car? Build a big engine out of small engines: go! 4-seat drop-top recommendation AMG E53 thoughts? Cars that are owned by nerds. Link the band to the car And more! Recorded May 18, 2026 Mac tools Go to https://mactools.org/tire to learn more and see if there’s an open route near you    Zoc Doc Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://Zocdoc.com/TIRE to find and instantly

Matt Farah witness road rage; the GMC Acadia has a very confusing feature; we're officially racing in the Cleetus McFarland New England 900; someone hacked the ZF 8-speed auto to give it a, uh, clutch pedal? Patreon questions include: Why don't SUVs have sliding doors? Should your turn signal flash to the beat of your music? Why the Terminator is better than the S197 GT500 Which watch maker should build a car? What new cars sound good? Last chance to buy a Mustang GT350R? Stop my used German sedan bad ideas! How do people feel about the Honda CR-Z? Wha should Chevy do with the next Camaro? Why do we get Vinfast but not BYD? Should luxury watch-makers have configurators like car companies? What current Ferrari is worth buying a Luce for? Shoes for road trips Jaguar XKR Is shorter gearing worth it? Recorded May 13, 2026 Road & Track Experiences https://experiences.roadandtrack.com/ Give your ZF 8-speed a third pedal? https://www.turbolamik.us/turbolamik-1/ The New England 900! https://staff

When will we run out of cars to re-imagine, restomod, or (dare we say), replicate? Is there a market for the 355 by Evoluto, or the Boreham Ford Escort Mk1? Some say yes. We get review both of these incredible cars and it brings us to larger questions: Are they better? Worth the money? What do you get? We drove both and get into it the good/bad and what they mean for "nostalgia builds" in general.   Patreon questions include:   Would BMW M buyers prefer an Alpina? Track days: what does "advanced" mean? Why does every hate my black ice air freshener? Cars we forgot still exist How to price a driving experience Should I Lemons race my old Alfa? The worst car we'd buy each other And more!   Recorded May 11, 2026   SHOW NOTES Fitbod Join Fitbod today to get your personalized workout plan. Get 25% off your subscription or try the app FREE for seven days at https://fitbod.me/TIRE   Bluechew Right now, when you buy two months of BlueChew Gold, you get the third for FREE with promo code TIRE.  Visit https://BlueChew.

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman went racing and lived to tell the tale! It's a race recap with our teammates, Tommy Kendall (multi-time Trans-Am champ and overall legend) and Mateo Siderman (Super Trofeo pro with many podiums. Watch this space). We recap the ups and downs of our weekend; talk about our speed vs the competition; the importance of seats; Mateo's hospital visit; what it's like joining a team of this caliber; our "oh sh*t" moments; learn WHAT caused our mysterious engine problem; and more. Patreon questions include: Proudest racing moment You can take ANY road legal car on the track... Which series would you want to race, of any time period? Favorite corner? Why did we go faster when our car broke? Race cars that caught your childhood eye Is the new Porsche 911 race car mid-engine? What's happening with F1 drivers and taxes Recorded May 7, 2026 Show Notes Aura Frames Exclusive $25-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/TIRE. Promo Code TIRE   HimsFor simple, online access to personalized and aff

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman drive the Revology 1967 GT500 and ponder the difference between "replica" and "recreation"; the gov. has mandated your car spies on you; Mercedes project update; and Patreon questions include: Will fun cars get cheaper as people die? Favorite "appropriate" story from a Road & Track trip. How to avoid ruining your canyon car Rich man / poor man: seat setup edition Does the Coyote engine "ruin" an old car? Why LHD cars are worth more than RHD More fun: Fresh summer tires or worn winter tires? Engines that would be improved with more or fewer cylinders VW's sale of Bugatti's effect on car values Rebuild my BMW inline-4 or swap it for a 6? Mustang Dark Horse auto: a buy at $50k? Do only journos care about the Nissan Z chassis Ford ditching the Shelby name Proudest work moment Forks up or down? And more! Recorded May 1, 2026   Show Notes Aura Frames Exclusive $25-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/TIRE. Promo Code TIRE   HimsFor simple, online access to per

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman took the new 2026 Durango Hellcat Jailbreak on a road course, where it did some things; they briefly touch on a weekend racing cars; a rare Lotus sedan is for sale; Mercedes project update; taxi vs Waymo; and tasteless t-shirts. Patreon questions include: Base cars parked with spoilers at attention What an LS7 C8 will do to values Time travel to one car event, go! Taycan RWD: fun enough? Risky to own this out of warranty? Travel destination with the best food Are Miata RFs worth the money? Yay/nay: McLaren golf clubs Cars no one likes that will be popular later? Design trends we don't like And more! Recorded April 29, 2026     DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/tire/and use promo code TIRE at checkout.    Drive Podcast Drive Season 4 Listen to Drive with Jim Farley Season 4 at https://lnk.to/drivewithjimfarleyPS!thesmokingtire  Use Off The Record! and ALWAYS fight your tickets! For a 10% discount on your first case go to h

Abbas Wahab is a standup comedian most known for his hilarious, accurate comedy reels that make fun of the car industry and various enthusiasts communities. Patreon questions include: What's the funniest car? Which car group has the worst sense of humor? Best road trip snack? The Subaru is no longer the most-ticketed car. Unreliable cars we want to own We went faster after getting stuck in 4th. How? How does Ferrari get away with it? The one race car we'd drive on the street. https://www.abbaswahab.com/live-shows https://www.instagram.com/abbaswahab_/ Recorded April 22, 2026 Show Notes Aura Frames Exclusive $25-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/TIRE. Promo Code TIRE   DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/tire/and use promo code TIRE at checkout.    Drive Podcast Drive Season 4 Listen to Drive with Jim Farley Season 4 at https://lnk.to/drivewithjimfarleyPS!thesmokingtire  Use Off The Record! and ALWAYS fight your tickets! For a 10% discount on

Love old Mercedes shapes but wish they had modern power? How bad was quality control in the 80s? What if you desire a one-off AMG that never existed? CMS Motorsports is who to call. Owner, Shant Meshefedjian, has been in love with wide-body Benzes since he was 8 years old. He grew up around fabricators and body-work experts. Now he builds and restores the coolest Mercedes cars from the '80s and '90s. Many of his cars have won awards all over the country. Odds are you've seen his work. His story is inspiring, his passion and knowledge run deep.   Patreon questions include:   What's harder: finding original bodykits or doing engine swaps? Best improvement for an E55 AMG The new C-class' giant screen Thoughts on MB-Tex When cars companies started to care about seating position Dream Mercedes project How to improve the complexity of an aging Mercedes Can I make this old diesel cool?   Recorded APril 21, 2026   Mac tools Go to https://mactools.org/tire to learn more and see if there’s an open route near

Matt Farah completed a Road & Track Experience of the Southwest and has things to say about the new Dodge Charger; Zack Klapman reviews Skip Barber's -day Advanced course AND now has a racing license; we look at classified ads from 1981; a Waymo was lane-hogging; and Patreon questions include: What happens when your hobby is your job? Will physical gauges return with the buttons? The 911 GT3 Cabrio Get a weird fun car and normal daily or vice versa? Favorite M2 generation/spec Ecoboost Mustang vs GR86 The Ford vs Porsche vs Chevy 'Ring battle Elantra N: '22 or stretch for the '26? The search for tactile feel How to deal with gatekeepers GTS 4.0 vs GT350 vs Emira vs....? Your watch is cool, don't worry Record 4/20/2026 mannnnn   Show Notes:   Mac tools Go to https://mactools.org/tire to learn more and see if there’s an open route near you   Factor Head to https://Factormeals.com/tire50off and use code tire50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box, with new subscription only, w

LIVE from the annual Heritage Invitational at the Ten Tenths Motor Club in Charlotte, NC, we cover: Motorsport crime; Ed Bolian's exotic journey; Matt vs Zack in a game of "$1M Charlotte Dream Garage", and Roast My Car w/ Captain Crankshaft's Jackson and Will! Recorded at 10/10ths Motor Club in Charlotte, NC on April 10, 2026   https://www.instagram.com/tententhsmotorclub/ https://www.instagram.com/heritageinvitational/   Mac tools Go to https://mactools.org/tire to learn more and see if there’s an open route near you    Butcherbox New listeners can get their choice between chicken breast or top sirloin for a year OR ground beef for life, PLUS $20 off when you go to https://ButcherBox.com/tire   DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/tire/and use promo code TIRE at checkout.    TrueWerk Upgrade to the T2 WerkPant and stay comfortable no matter what the day brings. Get 15% off your first order at https://TRUEWERK.com with code tire.    Drive Season 4 Listen to Drive wi

What was Vaughn Gittin Jr's first car? How about his favorite Mustang ever? His thoughts on EVs? The answers will surprise you as much as they did us.   Vaughn Gittin Jr has climbed the automotive ranks to impressive heights. From humble beginnings, drifting for fun led to sponsors, wins, championships, and eventually partnering with one of the biggest OEMs on Earth: Ford.  On this episode we learn about: his RTR Mustangs (available to order now); his first car (you aren't ready); his favorite Mustang; cars he loves outside those wearing the blue oval; the challenges of building cars at scale; what he said no to; his secret to winning; and so much more. Recorded April 8, 2026   His new book, "Ready to Rock" is available for pre-order now. https://www.carrarabooks.com/rtr-vehicles-book https://www.instagram.com/vaughngittinjr https://www.rtrvehicles.com/   Mac tools Go to https://mactools.org/tire to learn more and see if there’s an open route near you    Butcherbox New listeners can get their choice between c

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman review the 2026 BMW M2 CS; Matt has updates on both of his exotic projects; there's a wrinkle with on an E500 Cabriolet build; and Patreon questions include: What BAD car changed the world? Lotus vs Supra vs Boxster vs GT350 Will Jaguar survive? Is this 4,000 trip a crazy idea in a BRZ? Perfect environment for each of our cars Do people buy "appliance watches" like they do cars? Quietest compact commuter What will be the next Nissan Altima? Performance EV or naw? Why restoring performance cars doesn't fill the hole My tires squeal a LOT When will the Cybertruck be an ironic purchase? Freaky Friday garage edition Trading in: fix the small things?   Recorded April 6, 2026   Fitbod Join Fitbod today to get your personalized workout plan. Get 25% off your subscription or try the app FREE for seven days at https://fitbod.me/TIRE   BlueChew Right now, when you buy two months of BlueChew Gold, you get the third for FREE with promo code TIRE.  Visit https://BlueChew.com for

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman review the new Aston Martin Vantage S; would a rear collision avoidance system work; listing every hypercar Matt has driven; a special Ford GT just set a blistering Nurburgring record; why they're spending car week in Detroit this year; try to sort out the best car for the Woodward Dream Cruise; and answer Patreon questions including: Will a Golf R replace my Audi S4 sadness? What cars are better when they're worse? How to sell a project car Need a commuter for quarterly track days Is $40k "worth it" for a 996? Are hypercars serviced by mileage or time? The 2026 Lexus IS refresh Our thoughts on Rivian dating Uber Dream show at the Vegas Sphere? Where to test a car General advice for people in their 20s Do you need a car in Tuscany? And more! Recorded April 2, 2026   Fitbod Join Fitbod today to get your personalized workout plan. Get 25% off your subscription or try the app FREE for seven days at https://fitbod.me/TIRE   BlueChew Right now, when you buy two months of BlueChew Gol

Brett Berk might be the busiest freelance journalist we know. He has the incredible power to drive one car and extract 3 interesting, unique stories from the experience. That's why he's driven Jaguar's new EV, a very special Bentley, driven cars on boats (yes, that's a thing), and toured factories.   Patreon questions include: Best used AMG car for under $40k? Can we fix bad drivers? Will Aston make an entry-level mid-engine car? Cameras vs lidar Toddlers vs supercar owners Best bang-for-buck car EPA's move to 15% ethanol Do Alpina's last longer than BMWs? Are convertibles always worth more than coupes? Is car-themed luggage gauche? BRZ: best chassis you can buy under $100k? And more! Recorded March 31, 2026   Find links to all Brett's work here: https://muckrack.com/brett_berk http://brettberk.com/   DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/TIRE and use promo code TIRE at checkout.   Hello Fresh Go to https://HelloFresh.com/smokingtire10fm to Get 10 free m

  Matt Farah tells the tale of driving and drifting the incredible thing that is the Aston Martin Valhalla. 1,064HP of active aero-wearing carbon fiber; a big new step for the British company known for Grand Touring sports cars. Plus, why watching can be better than owning, and Patreon questions include: Am I garbage for this Amazon delivery situation? Was DUB magazine important? What's Top Gear for the younger generation? Best concept car at a recent show Valhalla vs Koenigsegg vs Pagani Is Safari-ing dead? Matt's plan for an air-cooled Porsche Zack's next car How to get rid of gas fumes in a garage Normal cars that get attention An overlanding van for $15k Manual swap a C63 AMG? Are used Lucid's a smart buy at $30k? Old stuff that we do Things we miss about YouTube's past And more!   Recorded March 30, 2026   DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/TIRE and use promo code TIRE at checkout.   Hello Fresh Go to https://HelloFresh.com/smokingtire10fm to Get 10 free meals

Matt Farah finds out if the Singer DLS is as perfect as they say; he and Zack Klapman trade opinions on the Volvo EX30 they drove; a "Demolition Man" prop slips through fingers; and Patreon questions include:   Why aren't there more Lotus engines? Maserati Gran Turismo vs Aston V8 Vantage Mansory's model lineup is INSANE Will high gas prices = higher EV sales? How to pick your enthusiast sports car What news cars should be more "raw"? Why the WRX lost its popularity How to drift a car for camera JSX vs airlines And more! Recorded March 25, 2026 Support the Right to Repair law   Enter to WIN our AMAZING 2025 Porsche 911 Turbo S!! https://www.dreamgiveaway.com/tickets/porsche?promo=SMOKINGTIRE Promo Code Offer: Get 4X bonus tickets with any donation of $25 or more. With every donation you are helping benefit some wonderful veterans' and children's charities. Podcast Promo Code: SMOKINGTIRE       *The Porsche 911 Restored and Reimagined by Singer as the DLS Want your question answered? Want to wa

There's a new Corvette Grand Sport; Cadillac finally cancels its terrible naming scheme; Ferrari admits the real reason for those terrible controls; gas prices are yuge; and Patreon question include: Is a manual-swapped Ferrari F430 the key to happiness? WHEN is the right time to manual-swap anything? Can you enjoy a track day without being competitive? Why are b-pillars boring black? How do you tell another car their brights are on? Cars we'd gift to Cuba Careers we bailed on Bad driving habits we'd banish Will BMW CS cars hold their value? Racing teams that built engines for OEMs 1 show car, 1 track car, 1 daily How to use a radar detector New cars bought by true car nerds Thoughts on the INDY America 250 race And more!   Recorded March 23, 2026   DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to www.joindeleteme.com slash TIRE and use promo code TIRE at checkout.    Enter to WIN our amazing 2025 Porsche 911 Turbo S!! https://www.dreamgiveaway.com/tickets/porsche?promo=SMOKINGTIRE  P

Journalists Matt Farah and Zack Klapman discuss a Rennlist posts accusing dealerships of colluding to pump the price of Porsche GT cars; a tariff bill for a cheap car part; weird cars seen in the BVI; which cities are using the Montana scam the most; and Patreon questions include: Integra Type S or Audi RS3? Have Radwood cars plateued in price forever? F/M/K: AMG, M, RS Are black watches cool? Why doesn't the Emira have a rear seat? Would modern us like our high-school modifications? Porsche merging Taycan with Panamera How to set your auction reserve price What will get people to buy EVs? Will Porsche join F1? The BMW Neue Klass 3 series Is the Nissan Z Performance the right daily? Do hybrid systems fix Audi's handling issue? Weirdest driveway we've ever seen When to PPF the whole car B7 Audi RS4 a good weekend car? And more! Recorded March 19, 2026   The Rennlist writeup: https://rennlist.com/forums/992-gt3-and-gt2rs-forum/1506502-bat-and-gt3-prices-a-study-in-manipulation-by-chicagomarke

We're on a boat! What's it like? What did we get wrong? Would we still car if we lived here? What's happening with Montana car registry vs California? Why is Honda abandoning EVs? And Patreon questions include: This vs that: A/C that doesn't work or a car that runs out of gas? Track toy: Mustang Mach 1 or Boss 302? What second podcast would we make? Will boring cars that have manual transmissions hold their value? Which cars would Matt's cats drive? Are cheap mid-engine cars still special compared to cheap front-engined cars? Does the mob miss sedans? Bronze watch recommendations And more!   Enter to WIN a 2025 Porsche  911Turbo S!! Podcast Promo Code: SMOKINGTIRE Podcast Link: https://www.dreamgiveaway.com/tickets/porsche?promo=SMOKINGTIRE   Recorded March 15, 2026   About Dream Giveaway https://www.dreamgiveaway.com/about SHOW NOTES Hello Fresh Go to https://HelloFresh.com/smokingtire10fm to Get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. Free