We recently lost Claudio Lombardi, one of the most brilliant and innovative engineers of all time. Today’s episode discusses the legacy of rally-winning engines in his wake, as well as the origins of those engines in their various forms going all the way back to the early 1950s. === This episode is sponsored by Battery Tender. Visit https://www.batterytender.com/ and use code HAGERTY20 for 20% off. === This week's episode covers many wins - not just motorsport-related ones! We begin with a recent trip to England, where Jason & his dream team walked away with several notable awards from the International Motor Film Awards, including Best Journalism Film for the fourth time in a row! While across the pond, Jason also makes an appearance at Gordon Murray Automotive to tour the factory and meet Gordon Murray himself, who gives a nut-and-bolt rundown of the latest and greatest, including the GMA T.50, T.50s, T.33, and T.33 Spider. Jason and crew then a detour over to Gordon’s personal car and motorcycle collection, including a Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR XP and, familiarly, a Ferrari 308 GT4. Interestingly, however, most of his favorites are manual transmission, twin-cam four cylinders - which segues into this episode’s main topic at hand. Derek leads us along a history of Italian twin-cam engines, in both Fiat Lampredi and Alfa Busso forms - beginning in the 1950s and continuing for nearly 50 years. The basic architecture of these engines powered everything from the Alfa Romeo Giulia to V12-powered Ferrari 275 GTB. The evolution of these engines brought both turbocharging and supercharging into the mix, and took Lancia to win many rally championships in cars like the Lancia 037 and Delta Integrale - while also ushering along many eras of notable passenger cars including but not limited to to the Alfa Romeo 164. All this and more, on this week's episode of The Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Which is more fun - running the Colorado Grand amongst million-dollar collectibles, or doing a $2000 budget car rally with friends? The answer is complicated and may not be what you expect. === This episode is sponsored by Battery Tender. Visit https://www.batterytender.com/ and use code HAGERTY20 for 20% off. === The Colorado Grand is an invitation-only vintage rally takes place on Colorado backroads each September. It’s not a race—just a scenic, 1,000-mile road trip for owners of highly collectable sports and racing cars, mostly built before 1960. Think Ferrari 250 GT SWBs, 250 Testarossas, Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwings, pre-war Bentleys, Aston Martin DB4 GTs, Jaguar D Types, and all kinds of other sporting classics touring the Rockies at their own pace. Joining on today’s episode is Tazio Ottis, Derek’s business partner who joined him on the rally, and joins us to discuss the event and his 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint that he and Derek drove below and above 10,000 feet of elevation. For contrast, Tazio and Derek also discuss their recent company 'Shitbox' Rally around Northern California - a very different departure from TCG comprised only of $2,000 cars. Derek brings his salvage title Mercedes-Benz C280, Tazio finds an MG Midget, and joining the old car crusade is a 1976 Datsun 280Z and Triumph Spitfire. All this and more, on today’s episode of The Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Malaise Era, a period of the US auto industry from the early 1970s to the mid 1980s, was certainly not one that garners much enthusiasm or celebration from your typical modern day car enthusiast. The rather abrupt introduction of stricter emissions and safety standards, plus the demand for better fuel economy, gave US automakers quite the fight to stay relevant and afloat while Japanese manufactures infiltrated US market share. Despite the struggle though, the Malaise Era was actually an important period of innovation that indirectly created a lot of important engineering and incredible cars. But why? === This episode is sponsored by Battery Tender. Visit https://www.batterytender.com/ and use code HAGERTY20 for 20% off. === This week's episode follows Hagerty's latest Revelations video highlighting the Mercedes-Benz R129 SL - and how despite being at the end of a generation of Bruno Sacco cars, its original design was conceived all the way towards the beginning of the Malaise Era. Much of why the R129 took so long to develop was because Mercedes diverted engineering resources to the W201 "Baby Benz," the W124 "E-Class" and the M102 new family of downsized, fuel-efficient engines to hit American CAFE fuel-economy and emissions requirements. But much of why the R129 took so long to develop, partly due to the Malaise Era, is what made it so great throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. Other cars, however - like the Ford Mustang II, Cadillac Cimarron, and Isuzu Pup - may not have enjoyed the same celebration (and likely never will...) Jason and Derek also discuss the struggles of the US auto industry during this time - and how they're eerily related to the current US administration's removal of penalties for CAFE standards. Could we be entering an era where we erase all the progress we gained after the Malaise Era? Or will the free market allow for innovation in ways we may not expect? All this and more, on this week's episode of The Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hagerty has a new show on the block - Driveway Finds! And it just so happens that its hosts/creators, Dustin Hallinan and John Brito, live a short drive away from The Carmudgeon Show studio. Chaos ensues. But maybe not in the way you’d think… === This episode is sponsored by Battery Tender. Visit https://www.batterytender.com/ and use code HAGERTY20 for 20% off. === Dustin and John are on a mission to rescue forgotten classics and bring them back to life - in various states of condition. In their debut episode for the channel, they take on John’s neighbor Ernie’s beloved 1968 Pontiac Firebird, a car he bought barely used and racked up over 200,000 miles with before parking it in a field back in 1984. Derek and Jason chat about project cars - particularly the subject vehicles of the next upcoming episodes in the series. Dustin and John most certainly have an affinity for American Muscle, driving to the studio in one of their latest finds - a 1963 Chevrolet Impala they recently acquired with just 72,000 original miles. But reading the room appropriately, they also bring in their 1961 Mercedes-Benz 220D with a LS swap and Muncie 4-speed transmission - used primarily for Australian style burnouts and other forms of tire shredding. Plenty of discussion also revolves around BMW E30s, E28s, air-cooled and water-cooled Volkswagens, “Skidrow” burnouts at Waterfest, Corvettes, wearing white New Balances in public, Ferrari 250s, and much, much more on this episode of The Carmudgeon Show. Tune in, it’s a great one! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Air-cooled Porsche 911s are wonderful to drive. With charming handling characteristics, bank vault build quality, and often cheerfully entertaining powertrains, it’s no surprise that they’re a hot commodity in the collector car marketplace with millions of fans around the world. There is one problem, however……by modern day standards, they’re SLOW! === This episode is sponsored by Battery Tender. Visit https://www.batterytender.com/ and use code HAGERTY20 for 20% off. === On this week’s episode, Jason and Derek discuss their recent seat time in the 1988 Vonnen Porsche 911 Hybrid — a radical twist on Stuttgart’s beloved icon. Vonnen has taken a standard 1988 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 G50 and added batteries and a sandwich motor between the engine and flywheel that adds nearly 150 HP and 130 TQ to the standard car. This isn’t Jason’s first rodeo with a Vonnen-modified 911, as his first experience began with a similarly-equipped 991 Carrera Coupe he tested nearly 10 years ago with Road & Track. Spoiler alert - adding power to an already-fast Porsche doesn’t yield quite the same joy as an air-cooled 911 does with a fraction of the power. How does adding electrons alongside the traditional flat-six change the 911 experience? Can a hybrid system of this nature change the way we interact with classic cars forever? Well one thing is for sure - with only 150 pounds of additional weight and clever integration, Vonnen’s system adds a lot less complexity and a lot more enhancement to the out-of-the-box, air-cooled 911 experience than you might imagine. All this and more, on this week's episode of The Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is never a such thing as owning too many Volkswagens... ...or so they say. Is that really true? === The Carmudgeon Show Sponsor, Vredestein Tires: https://www.vredestein.com/ === Bidding farewell to his Honda Beat to make room for another topless driver, Jason's newly acquired 1996 Volkswagen Cabrio finally makes it home after much anticipation - but not without the drama that comes with a 1000 mile roadtrip home in a 29 year old Volkswagen arising from a low-mileage slumber. Fear not - the Mk3 Cabrio doesn't replace the Mk1 Cabriolet, rather, it will supplement the Cabriolet and the Scirocco with a few extra creature comforts and soon-to-be VR6 power. Jason's journey begins in Washington, where he picked up the Cabrio just freshly serviced at Griot's Garage for some pre-roadtrip services. The first stop at Techtonics Tuning in Sheridan, Oregon reveals the opportunity to get the Cabrio on the dyno and see just how few horses remain in the original 2.0L ABA engine. A worth bonus - the entertainment value of watching various Volkswagen burnouts and engine explosions amongst a live audience. Jason & company are not without misadventures - including but not limited to several roadside tire repairs (thanks, Granada Tires) and a crank(y)shaft position sensor that threatens to leave them stranded on more than one occasion. But it's the friends you make along the way that make it worth it - most noteworthy, a random mid-route encounter with Tom Hale who drove his Maserati 4200 GT all the way from Connecticut. All that and more, on this episode of The Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is technically no overall winner of Monterey Car Week. But unofficially, it's safe to say - the GMSV S1 LM takes that title. === The Carmudgeon Show Sponsor, Vredestein Tires:https://www.vredestein.com/ === Monterey Car Week was more than three weeks ago now, yet we're still having withdrawals. This week, Jason and Derek dive deeper into their individual experiences at the world's most anticipated automotive event of the year, how the event has evolved with new audiences and activities, and how we might expect the event to change next year given these changes. From The Quail, to Concours D'Lemons, to Motorlux, to drifting at Monterey Motorsports Fest, Car Week always has something for everyone. Amongst those highlights, Jason and Derek discuss their exclusive peak around the new Gordon Murray Special Vehicles concept cars: the S1 LM and the Le Mans GTR. Both cars pay tribute to the McLaren F1 in very different ways, but match in their bespoke 4.3L NA V12 powerplants. Derek also discusses his time driving the new RUF Tribute with Alois Ruf himself in the passenger seat. Yet another restomod phenomenon, the new RUF shares very few parts with a Porsche 911 - Jason and Derek discuss this latest evolution and how it compares to the SCR that they've both driven at previous car weeks. All this and more, on this week's episode of The Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A French forbidden fruit enters the studio on this week's episode - none other than the Alpine A110. But hang on...how did this non-25-year-old import end up on US soil? And WHY is it here? === The Carmudgeon Show Sponsor, Vredestein Tires: https://www.vredestein.com/ === Manufactures keep telling us that lightweight sports cars for the masses aren't possible to produce anymore due to rising safety standards. And yet, here we have the Alpine A110 - an incredible mid-engined, sub-2500-pound sports car you can buy brand new that can do far more than just be cute and French. In Jason and Derek's rigorous testing, they find it's compact, athletic, fast, comfortable, and premium-feeling - disappointing, it certainly is not. Derived from the original A110 which dominated various stages of motorsport throughout the 1960s and 70s, it's no surprise that Renault-Alpine knew where to reference their framework when developing this car for the European market. Jason and Derek discuss throughout the episode how the little Alpine compares to the likes of the Porsche 718 Cayman range, the Lotus Emira & Lotus Evora, the Alfa Romeo 4C, and even the McLaren 570S. It's a shame Stellantis still hasn't found a way to bring this wonderful machine on sale stateside after announcing an estimated 2027 arrival via the Nissan USA dealer network - but given current complications with tariffs, we're not all that surprised. And before you ask - yes, it's the same one you saw buzzing around Monterey Car Week and featured on The Smoking Tire w/ Matt Farah and Zack Klapman. The man who brought it here is our hero for a variety of different reasons - more on that during this episode of The Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason and Derek escape the studio this week to record from Hagerty's Motorlux event, the kickoff to Monterey Car Week 2025. We join them at this year's highlighted Bruno Sacco display, featuring designs that defined Mercedes-Benz in the 80's, 90's, and 2000's. The legacy of Sacco certainly lives on - but maybe not quite in the ways you might have originally thought... === The Carmudgeon Show Sponsor, Vredestein Tires: https://www.vredestein.com/ === Rumor has it, Sacco never designed a single car himself. But how is that possible? In this episode, Jason and Derek discuss the ways in which Sacco's design philosophies defined Mercedes-Benz's image and technological growth over several key decades. We celebrate his achievements as a individual designer, but in reality, it took a village to build his legacy. Sacco was a "manager of minds" - one who is attributing for communicating and executing his vision across an entire team of designers, eventually building a department that had not previously existed but would eventually become a key in Mercedes-Benz's corporate function. The display includes Jason's W201 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth and Derek's Bornite Metallic S124 E320 Wagon. Also featured is a 40th Anniversary R129 Mercedes-Benz SL500, a C124 300CE Convertible, and two C126 560SEC Coupes. But of course at Motorlux, that's just the tip of the iceberg, with a slew of other incredible cars and airplanes on display. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In celebration of 200 episodes of The Carmudgeon Show, Jason Cammisa and Derek Tam Hyphen Scott debrief their recent weekend-long Pacific Coast Rally with friends. === The Carmudgeon Show Sponsor, Vredestein Tires: https://www.vredestein.com/ === Indecisive between his BMW 850CSi and his two BMW E30 325is, Jason chooses Beatrice the Bronzit 325i sedan as his rally companion. Derek, leading the pack, brings along his newly acquired Porsche 911SC stuffed with a Euro high-compression 3.2L. They are joined by friends in a Mazda FD RX-7, Mercedes-Benz R129 300SL, Volkswagen MK5 GTI, BMW Z3 2.8, and a Mazda NC Miata - all of whom compete for the worst fuel economy achieved over the weekend. The final answer may or may not surprise you… Jason and Derek also discuss expectations of Monterey Car Week 2025, which is happening this week! They cover parties such as Motorlux, upcoming auction hammer prices from Broad Arrow, RM Sothebys, and Bonhams, plus a comparison of what to expect vs. other international car events such as the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Derek also gives us a collector car market update, including some rather frustrating changes to import duties and other new tax implications being laid down by the federal government. All this and more, on this week’s episode of The Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've finally run out of questions to answer! As we come to an end of our AMA series, Jason and Derek continue to tackle the remaining questions from the last Q&A Some topics you asked about (and some you didn't), including but not limited to: - Opel Manta(?) - Nissan Altima Drivers / Big Altima Energy - Most fun new car on sale - Best "classic" BMW M chassis up to E39 M5 - Pros and cons of putting $7K into a MK1 Volkswagen Cabriolet - MK7 e-Golf vs GTI - NA vs ND2 Miata - Electric turbos and aftermarket hybrid systems in classic cars (cc: Vonnen 911) - Cars Jason and Derek regret selling - $200K vs. $30K Porsches (992 vs 996 vs 997 911) - Favorite trucks (Ford F100, F150 Raptor R, Ram Cummins Turbodiesel) - Jason's favorite video series to produce for Hagerty - MK1 VW Scirocco - still Jason's favorite car? - Are Porsche GT products overrated, or the best on the market? - Best driving shoes (cc: Piloti) - BMW 335d as a daily driver - G80 M3: xDrive auto or RWD manual? Or.....E90 M3? - Jason's take on motorcycles - Best NYC daily driver? - The extinction of Porsche 964 911s (cc: Singer Vehicle Design) - R53 Mini Cooper S - underrated? - Worst cars Jason and Derek have owned - Bentley Turbo R - The future of Hagerty and Willow Springs Raceway - Why the C8 Corvette gets so much hate - Semi trailing arm - most smile-inducing rear suspension? - Coolest understatement car All this and more, on this week's episode of The Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason and Derek return to the studio amidst a summer of cheap (and expensive) vehicular thrills. === 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. === Uncle Jason completed a cross-country road trip with his niece in her newly acquired 2017 Volkswagen GTI Sport (MK7). From traversing the desert to experiencing the agony of old Subaru Outbacks climbing up mountain passes, the dynamic duo had a bonding experience of a lifetime. In an arduous journey to revisit a past daily driver experience, Derek contemplates selling several cars in his fleet. In theory- this would include his 964 Porsche 911 and his 3.6L-powered S124 Mercedes-Benz E320 Wagon, making room for the acquisition of a Porsche 911SC, a W140 Mercedes-Benz S500 Grand Edition, and (yet another) S124 Mercedes-Benz E320 Wagon. Jason reconciles with some fleet updates of his own, contemplating the sale of his 2019 Volkswagen e-Golf (Mk7) to be replaced by a 1996 Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet (Mk3) in efforts to supplement the experience(s) of his Mk1 Golf Cabriolet and Scirocco. He also dives into more detail on the progression of his 1980 Rover SD1 restoration, and the recent acquisition of a 1973 Volkswagen Super Beetle-turned art installation poised to wreak havoc on his neighbor’s property values. All that and more on this week’s episode of The Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Jason explains how he crashed his 1980 Rover 3500 V8 en route to film an episode of Jay Leno's Garage — and explains why it's so incredibly important to have agreed-value insurance on collector cars. === Visit http://JasonSentMe.com to get a Hagerty Guaranteed Value (TM) collector-car insurance quote! === The Carmudgeons are back from Summer Break 2025! And this episode is all about Jason's experience in crashing his Rover SD1 — and explaining the virtues of having great insurance. Earlier this year, Jason got up early morning to drive 400 miles to film an episode of Jay Leno's Garage featuring the Rover (scheduled to be aired August 4, 2025.) Turns out Leno's crew didn't believe the Rover would make it without incident — after all, these cars weren't reliable when new, 45 years ago. As is turns out, Mr. Leno and his crew were right. But the incident wasn't a mechanical issue, it was Jason punting another car while attempting to make a lane change. Jason takes Hagerty's "Never Stop Driving" tagline to heart — and thanks to him checking every insurance box, he believes the Rover isn't a total loss and will be fixed and back on the road. Drive your cars, and it's not a matter of "if," but "when" something will happen. Jason is no stranger to an insurance claim despite this being his first chargeable claim in 30 years. He annihilated a deer in his E30 Touring, got rear-ended in the Honda Beat, and rammed a Cavalier in his beloved Scirocco – the resulting insurance debacle took years off Jason’s life and required a herculean effort to stop the car from being totaled because of its post-crash, actuarial-calculated “actual cash value”, and was a huge factor in Jason seeking out a better insurance company. He found one in Hagerty and its agreed value coverage. After some initial grieving and embarrassment, it's time to focus on the repairs and the opportunity to make this Rare Rover even better: A Series-1 front-end swap, lights, and euro bumpers, perhaps?,Oh, and a top-to-bottom engine overhaul courtesy of Hagerty's Redline Rebuild team in Michigan – more on that coming soon! Having the right insurance coverage is a literal matter of life and death for your cars, don’t skimp on it or you’ll be sorry! For a Hagerty quote, head over to jasonsentme.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Time for another AMA round of Ask Us Anything! We asked our listeners (that’s you) for questions, and we were positively bombarded. Now we return the favor with sarcasm and sass, plus an answer or two! (Note: due to timing concerns, the last two episodes were published out of order. Sorry!) === 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. === A sampling of listener-posed questions found in this episode: Thoughts on the A124 Mercedes? How do you stop yourself from getting too attached to a car? What’s the special sauce for big coupes? What are the criteria for a fun car in a place without fun roads? What is your 1-car solution for New York? What is a weird, niche corner of car history that needs exploring? Choose your Pope-mobile. What is the right amount of buttons to have in a car? If neither of you could work in the auto industry what would you be doing instead? Is it acceptable to arrive at a funeral in a convertible with the roof down? Has Jason ever ridden a motorcycle and is he willing to try? How do you tell minute differences in car handling? Opinions on Jetta GLI? Opinions on classic Minis? What will become a hot commodity in the next 10 years? Take on the NB (Miata)? Best first daily Mercedes for someone in their 20s prioritizing reliable/wagon? What is unique about SoCal vs NorCal car culture? Will Alfa survive in the USA? Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing or RS6 as a 1-car solution? Thoughts on cyclists? Is Leno’s Law going to affect the pre-1990s car market? Favorite non-Sacco Mercedes? Are 928s the next big p-car thing? Tips for driving in Germany as a Californian/American? What forbidden hot hatches would you want to drive? Best M-lite BMW? What is the weight limit of a true driver’s car? How can Mitsubishi be transformed to become a cool brand again? What are your favorite Japanese sports cars? Which Toyota Camry generation is the best? What’s coming up soon on Hagerty? Why do you guys like the Miata over the S2000? What’s your favorite sandwich? What are your thoughts on the 500 Abarth? How rusty is the Rover? What were your first impressions of Throttle House? What manufacturer has been most upset about a car review? Are you in any way fans of Swedish bricks? What is the best Cosworth – 190 or Sierra? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The C8 ZR1 has arrived, and so too has a new ICONS episode on Detroit’s supercar-killing, 1064-hp twin-turbo, flat-plane crank Corvette. We’ll review the new car in detail and cover all the important bit players: the original 6-cylinder C1, the C3’s optional ZR1 package, the Lotus-powered C4, and the supercharged C6 and C7 – plus rivals like the Ferrari 348, Porsche 911 Turbo, Ferrari 296 and SF90, and Lamborghini Revuelto. Can the C8 ZR1 cement its legacy as peak American sports car, or has it lost the plot pursuing the Europeans? === 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. === C8 ZR1 ICONS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StWSpZHF998 Check out C4 ZR1 Revelations episode for a deeper dive into the first real ZR1! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vs2tdR-9C8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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