What really killed America’s optimism — and car culture along with it? In this explosive new episode, MotoMan sits down with Jack Baruth — automotive journalist, racer, and one of the most outspoken voices in the car world — for an unfiltered conversation about everything wrong (and right) in today’s auto industry.
From telling off David Spade at the Tower Bar to why the Lincoln Mark VIII represented the last great moment of American optimism, Jack opens up about how we lost the plot — and how car enthusiasm might still make a comeback.
They dive deep into:
🚗 The real reason young people can’t afford cars
⚡ Why the “inevitable” EV transition failed
🇨🇳 Whether China is dumping cheap EVs on the world
🏎️ How modern racing killed car culture
💥 Why Jack says Porsche has lost its soul
🇺🇸 And 3 positive signs that American car culture isn’t dead yet
If you love cars, hate buzzwords, and miss honesty in automotive media — this is the interview you’ve been waiting for.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro: Jack Baruth Unfiltered
2:17 The Most Controversial Guest Arrives
3:31 Jack's Resume: From Ford Credit to Philosophy
4:59 Why the Car Business is "Working in Dreams"
5:47 The Lincoln Mark VIII: A Symbol of Lost Optimism
8:10 Selling the Legendary Infiniti Q45 Active
10:00 Story: Telling Off David Spade at the Tower Bar
12:15 What Killed America's Optimism?
12:56 The Real Reason Young People Can't Afford Cars
14:54 "Interest in cars is a function of what's available."
15:52 Why Jack Baruth Hates the 1000hp Corvette
16:10 Jack Roasts Toyota's Entire GR Sports Car Lineup
18:12 The "Inevitable" EV Transition Was a Huge Failure
19:56 What is the First True Enthusiast EV?
20:46 The $75,000 EV: A Huge Missed Opportunity
23:27 The #1 Thing EVs Need to Succeed (It's Not Range)
26:13 Are Auto Journalists Just Shills for China?
26:58 Why the Chinese Auto Model Will NEVER Work in the US
31:39 Is China "Dumping" Cheap EVs on the World?
35:48 The Biggest Dumper: The US Government
36:15 GM Takes a $1.6 BILLION Loss on EVs
41:01 A Side of Jack You've Never Seen
45:09 3 Positive Signs for the Future of Car Culture
45:19 1: Stellantis $16B Bet on US Manufacturing
46:51 2: The Hemi is NOT Dead
47:52 The "Made in America" Comeback is Real
53:47 How EVs Secretly Killed the Affordable Small Car
58:05 "The root of car enthusiasm is young men."
59:06 Why is Car Culture "Good for America"?
59:23 The Auto Industry's Failed Duty to Young Men
1:02:46 The Chevy Trax Ad: A Dream for Women, Nothing for Men
1:06:12 Bold Claim: The Auto Industry's Job is to Give Men an Identity
1:08:20 Cletus McFarland is Right
1:11:35 Orwell's 1984: Have We Been Taught to See 5 Fingers?
1:14:05 What Changed Jack Baruth?
1:17:51 Jack's BRUTAL Takedown of Modern Porsche
1:18:25 "Porsche is a company without a soul."
1:21:26 "Porsche = Audi with a fancy nose"
1:23:13 Porsche is the Rolex of Cars (Artificial Scarcity)
1:24:54 The Problem with "Destination Cars" (GT3)
1:30:26 The Mythical Manual Pontiac 6000 STE
1:31:36 3 Positives & 3 Pitfalls for American Car Culture
1:35:46 Pitfall 1: Massive R&D Debt from the EV Pivot
1:38:44 Pitfall 2: Racing is Dying (It's Too Expensive)
1:41:42 "Car culture is downstream from racing."
1:42:51 Final Word: Car Enthusiasm is for Everyone
#MotoManTVPodcast #JackBaruth #CarCulture #EVs #Porsche #AutomotiveIndustry #MadeInAmerica #CarEnthusiast #ElectricCars #AutoIndustry #AmericanCars
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