So in this podcast, we talk with Chris from E3 Spark Plugs. Chris is a huge Toyota fan, so we discuss the current 'energy' in the Toyota lineup (GR & TRD models), plus their courage to speak-out against all the recent misinformation surrounding the EV push. We also discuss Chris's role in E3 Spark Plugs.... and spark plug 'myths & truths' in general.
We FINALLY get with James from Jzilla Track Days. Topics of discussion: 1) Breaking down those 'walls of intimidation' that come with signing-up for your first track day. Jzilla 'gets it'. And they've created a welcoming & affordable atmosphere where drivers can progress and have fun (at any level). 2) The car industry & car culture in general. Ya know? What's it gonna take for the modern auto industry to start prioritizing 'sensations & soul & engagement' in new cars again. Or - has the modern car industry applianced & priced itself to the point of no return? •Get the free S3 Magazine app• // s3mag.com
Jeepin' Bubba from Black Bear Off-Road (and also a contributor w/ S3) talks about their first SEMA build... and what it took to get a vehicle to The SEMA Show. You can also check out the feature & photos of this Jeep at S3 Mag.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the new VW-owned Scout Motors brand. The SUV is the Traveler, and the pickup is the Terra. VW is bringing Scout back as EV-only. The new Scout has no lineage-connection to its past other than name, design, & nostalgia. But off-roaders should appreciate VW’s effort of body-on-frame construction, mechanical front & rear lockers, and a solid rear axle. Additionally, the Traveler & Terra will support large 35” tires from the factory & come with 1-foot of ground clearance. And – they’re intended to be able to wade through 3-feet of water. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but there’s little argument that Scout & Volkswagen nailed the design. But alas…
(This is an excerpt from our article on S3mag.com. Please get the FREE S3 Magazine app for our voice on car culture.)
We talk about the greatness of motorsports, and why there's kinda become a disconnect between motorsports and the masses. Then again - when we consider how overall 'disconnected' most new cars have become... it kinda tracks.
It's kinda turned into an annual tradition, but Ben Battles (Battles Digital) and I talk about this year's Slammedenuff event in Sevierville (Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg) Tennessee. See I wrestle with a love/hate thing with stance... as in I love the people & energy, but hate the way they're willing to castrate their cars for an Instagram follower. And every year, Ben Battles makes me try to understand... because he just loves everything all the time lol. I envy that.
Certain vehicle names carry weight. Whether it was performance, prestige, and/or durability… they earned their stripes in automotive history. For example, you’d have to go to some pretty remote corners of the earth to find someone who’s unfamiliar with iconic names like the Corvette, Mustang, Camaro, Jeep, or 911. Today however, the automotive industry is in a thick trend, where they’re resurrecting nostalgic vehicle names of the past. But are they doing it authentically… with respect to the heritage & fanbase? In short – are the modern carmakers doing these names justice? Let’s look at a few examples.
Rumor has it: Toyota MR2 and CELICA are coming back. So what's that mean exactly? It means that IF the rumors are true, then Toyota is the most enthusiast-based & spirited car-maker... by a landslide. Rumors are, both the MR2 and the Celica will get 2-liter turbocharged engines - no hybrid, no electrification. And manual transmissions WILL be available. Both cars will allegedly be all-wheel-drive. The MR2 will be mid-engine, and the Celica will be front-engine.
From their 4x4s to the sports cars, the ENTHUSIAST ENERGY that Toyota has is unmatched. And in a disconnected modern world of generic 'mobility', Toyota is making cars you actually want to drive!!
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Just being real honest here: I have a history of fighting for dying causes. Print magazines, 2-door sports coupes, 2-stroke jet skis, 3-pedal sports cars, 80’s metal, etc. It’s because I put my heart into (and defend) what moves me. And that’s neat & all. But it can also leave me in frustration. So… I was on a boat all this past weekend, and boats have a way of giving you clarity. And the clarity I got was: Follow ‘the energy’.
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Restriction is dumb… just do better. You wouldn’t go to the North Pole without a jacket right? So why do some of y’all go out & drive with no skills I swear & barely a pulse? And then try to make laws that slow everybody else down?
Maybe you’ve heard the phrase ‘perfectly imperfect’… but that’s been swimming in my head a lot lately. Try this: Try pulling little moments out of your life, and take the time to realize how perfect ‘imperfect’ can actually be. And also… how boring, disconnected, sanitized, & short-sizzling ‘perfection’ can be honestly. Perfection isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be, so don’t always hold ‘perfection’ in such high regard. Is it INTERESTING… that’s the real question? Does it DRAW YOU IN? Is it MEMORABLE? From modern jet skis to modern cars & modern mountain bikes (and a thousand other things), our consumer-culture thrives on selling you the next bigger/better thing. But a lot of times it’s stealing really valuable moments (and intangibles) from our lives… and robbing us of connection, engagement, and fulfillment. Enjoy the cast! It might start off a little slow but we get there lol.
Ford CEO, Jim Farley, is saying that Americans need to adopt a more positive mindset for smaller cars. He's saying this with EVs in mind of course... as electric vehicles are more viable in smaller packages. But a lot of car enthusiasts find his statement super-ironic & slightly-irritating, since it was FORD who killed all their small fun cars (minus the Mustang) just a few short years ago...
If you DON'T like electric vehicles, you should drive the Genesis GV60. Because here’s the thing: I don’t like EVs either. At least I was pretty convinced I didn’t. But the driving experience of the Genesis GV60 is good enough to make me realize, it’s actually not 'the concept' of an electric vehicle that I don’t like. Rather, it’s 'what they’ve come to represent' over the last few years. And as astute & honest car enthusiasts, we have to be able to separate 'the car' from its stigma and/or its politics. Politics & preconceived notions aside… The Genesis GV60 is a great option, IF it fits your lifestyle requirements. Maybe it does; maybe it doesn’t; maybe it's best YOU get to decide & not the government. But also maybe you’re digging your heels in to make a point… and maybe cheating yourself out of something cool in the process. Maybe not lol. I can’t speak to the GV60’s value, resale value, or future obsolescence… you also gotta slide that scale on your own. But I can say, with the right approach, the Genesis GV60 could make a great addition to a lot of car lovers’ garages. Not as a replacement to their beloved sports cars and/or 4x4s of yesteryear… but as an addition to them. I’ll be honest, the Genesis GV60 has opened my eyes to some misapplied hate I had for electric vehicles. That doesn’t make all the valid EV criticisms all-the-sudden untrue. But it DOES make some of them perhaps unfair. If you’re in the market, not just for an EV, but for a new car (daily) in general. Check all your preconceived notions at the door of a Genesis dealership, and experience what the GV60 has to offer with no strings attached. Whether or not it ends up being your cup of tea, it’s something worth experiencing.