Ethan Banks, co-founder of the Packet Pushers podcast network, joins Doug for a nostalgia-heavy chat that ties manual-transmission obsession to real-life car heartbreak and tech career parallels. Ethan recalls buying a beat-up 1986 Honda Accord, snapping an axle after it was lowered, then later losing it in a rear-end crash. He also shares how a Novell certification path (funded via refinancing that Accord) launched his IT career. The conversation shifts to his 2011 Subaru WRX hatchback—bought via Cars and Bids and driven cross-country with his son—plus future mods, sim racing, and a trivia win about cruise control’s inventor.
2011 Subaru WRX cross-country trip and 1986 Honda Accord memories. In this episode, we welcome Ethan Banks to the virtual garage. While the IT world knows him as the co-founder of the Packet Pushers podcast network, we’re turning back the odometer to explore his lifelong obsession with car culture and automotive history.
Ethan shares the story of winning a World Rally Blue 2011 Subaru WRX on Cars & Bids and embarking on an unforgettable father-son road trip across America. We also dive into his first car stories, including a manual 1986 Honda Accord that suffered a snapped axle on the LA freeway, and his perspective on building a 300-horsepower VW GTI sleeper.
In this episode, we cover:
🏎️ The WRX Road Trip: Buying a 2011 Subaru WRX and driving it from California to New Hampshire.
💥 First Car Memories: Life in a manual 1986 Honda Accord hatchback and the move to a 1989 Ford Taurusbeater.
🚀 The GTI Build: Teaching the next generation to drive stick in a modified VW GTI with a Cobb tuner.
🏎️ Porsche Obsession: Why the Porsche 930 Slant Nose with the whale tail is the ultimate dream ride.
🧠 Automotive History: The story of Ralph Teetor, the blind engineer who invented Cruise Control in 1950.
🎮 Virtual Racing: Doug's sim racing laps in a Mazda Miata at P1 Sim Racing.
"Podcast: To All The Cars I've Loved Before Episode: 2011 Subaru WRX & 1986 Honda Accord: Ethan Banks on Manual Transmissions 🏎️💥"
The Honda Accord is a long-running midsize sedan from Honda, and the 1980s era is especially associated with simple, durable mechanicals. In the context of a manual-transmission discussion, older Accords are often remembered for being approachable and reliable for learning to drive stick.
"Podcast: To All The Cars I've Loved Before Episode: 2011 Subaru WRX & 1986 Honda Accord: Ethan Banks on Manual Transmissions 🏎️💥"
The Subaru WRX is a sporty Subaru that’s known for being fun to drive. It usually has a turbo engine and all-wheel drive, and it’s popular with people who like driving a car themselves.
The Subaru WRX is a performance-focused model from Subaru, best known for its turbocharged engine and rally-inspired all-wheel-drive setup. In a manual-transmission episode, it’s often discussed for how engaging it feels to drive and how the drivetrain responds to driver inputs.
"I am just coming back from a couple laughs at Summit Point Race Park or Summit Point Speedway from a Miata."
The Miata is a small, fun Mazda roadster that’s known for being easy to drive fast. People take them to tracks a lot because they’re light and handle in a way that helps you learn.
The Mazda Miata (often just called “Miata”) is a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive roadster famous for its handling and driver-focused feel. It’s a common choice for track days and seat-time because it’s predictable and encourages good technique, especially when you’re working on lap times.
"And I did this all courtesy of P1 SimRacing and driver development in Annapolis, Maryland."
P1 SimRacing is a place that helps drivers get better using racing simulators. The host credits it with helping them improve their real driving.
P1 SimRacing is referenced as a training/driver-development organization that uses simulation to help drivers improve. In this episode, it’s tied directly to the host’s track performance and lap-time improvement.
"And I just beat my personal lap, personal best laptime, and I got a little personal instruction from one of the owners, Tommy."
Lap time is how long it takes to go around the track once. Faster lap times usually mean you’re driving more efficiently through the corners.
Lap time is the total time it takes to complete one full circuit of a track. On track days, lap time is the main metric drivers use to compare sessions and evaluate changes in driving line, braking, and tire performance.
"But it was an 86 Honda Accord two-door hatchback.
And I bought that with that."
A two-door hatchback is a car with two doors and a back door that lifts up to load things. It’s often handy for carrying stuff, but getting in and out of the back seat can be less convenient.
A two-door hatchback is a body style where the rear cargo area opens with a hatch, and there are only two doors total. Compared with a four-door sedan, it typically offers easier access to cargo but can be less convenient for rear-seat entry.
"...the matchbox had their collector's showcase... There was a matchbox magazine..."
Matchbox makes small toy cars. People collect them and display them like real car memorabilia.
Matchbox is a classic die-cast toy car brand. In car culture, collectors often trade and display specific models, and the speaker is describing that kind of collecting and showcasing.
"...you mentioned the matchbox, Hot Wheels... I'm a DeLorean owner..."
Hot Wheels is a toy car brand. People collect them, and the speaker is saying adults do it too when they’re looking for their favorite car as a toy.
Hot Wheels is another major die-cast toy car brand, known for colorful, often more stylized designs than Matchbox. The speaker compares toy collecting to how adults and kids both look for their favorite cars.
"I had that, and I had a model of a Ferrari Testarossa in red that I've had since high school. It's still kicking around this house somewhere, I think."
The Ferrari Testarossa is a super famous Ferrari from the 1980s. It’s the kind of car people remember from posters and magazines, and it’s known for its loud, dramatic look and sound.
The Ferrari Testarossa is a famous 1980s supercar known for its distinctive side strakes and V12 sound. In the transcript, it’s referenced as a model the speaker owned since high school, tying it to car-culture nostalgia and how people collect memorabilia.
The Nissan 300ZX is a popular older Nissan sports car. People love it because it’s fun to drive and has a big fan community, so it makes sense Ethan would keep one around.
The Nissan 300ZX is a classic Z-car from Nissan, known for its performance styling and strong enthusiast following. In this segment, Ethan mentions having one in his garage and talks about its history of getting hit, which frames it as a personal project/ownership story.
The Mazda RX-7 Turbo II is a sporty Mazda that’s known for being a little different from normal piston-engine cars. It’s turbocharged and has a reputation for being exciting to drive.
The Mazda RX-7 Turbo II is a performance-focused version of the RX-7, famous for its rotary engine and turbocharged character. Ethan’s friend owning one highlights the era’s enthusiast culture and the kind of cars that attract people who are “car crazy.”
A stick shift is a manual transmission. You use a clutch pedal and a gear lever to choose the right gear yourself.
“Stick shift” refers to a manual transmission, where the driver selects gears using a clutch pedal and gear lever. Ethan credits his dad with teaching him to drive it, making it central to the episode’s theme about manual-transmission experiences.
A “beater” is a car that’s not fancy or perfect, but it still gets you around. It’s the kind of car you don’t mind using hard.
“Beater” is car-enthusiast slang for an older, worn-in vehicle that’s used for practical transportation rather than show quality. Ethan contrasts beaters with “awesome cars,” suggesting his dad balanced passion with real-world ownership.
"...the hardtop on that first gen, I think it fitsthesecond gen, but in some cases worth more than the car itself. People want that hardtop."
A hardtop is the solid, rigid roof version of a convertible. Some people really want it because it looks better and can be more desirable than the soft top.
A hardtop is a rigid roof panel used on some convertibles/roadsters, replacing the soft top. The speaker notes the hardtop on the first-gen Miata can fit the second-gen and that in some cases it’s worth more than the car itself—highlighting how desirable and collectible certain accessory configurations can be.
"Iuh tryingtoget intouchwithsomebodywho'sgotabrokendownMiatawithahardtopnearbybecauseI think it needs a fuel pump."
The fuel pump is the part that sends gas from the tank to the engine. If it fails, the engine may not start or may act like it’s not getting fuel.
The fuel pump supplies pressurized fuel from the tank to the engine. The speaker is trying to find someone with a broken-down Miata with a hardtop nearby because they think it “needs a fuel pump,” which is a common troubleshooting target when a car won’t start or runs poorly.
Forza is a racing video game series. It’s one of the common games people start with when they try sim racing.
Forza is a popular racing game franchise (most commonly associated with Xbox/PC) known for detailed car models and track environments. It’s often used as an entry point for people who later get into sim racing setups.
U-Haul rents trailers for moving. Even a small trailer adds weight, so the car has to work harder to pull it.
U-Haul is a rental company known for providing trailers for moving. Using a small rental trailer is a common “budget move” approach, but it still adds significant weight and demands more from the towing vehicle.
"Alotofwhich I'dforgotten because man, II'vebeendrivingautomaticsforyears untilmymycurrentcarisastick... I'mdrivingastickagain after youknow20,30yearsofnotdrivingstick."
A manual transmission means you shift gears yourself, usually using a clutch pedal. It takes practice because your feet and hands have to work together.
A manual transmission requires the driver to use a clutch pedal and shift gears manually. The episode contrasts driving automatics for years with returning to a stick, emphasizing how the clutch-and-gear workflow changes your driving “muscle memory.”
“Total” means the insurance company decided it’s not worth fixing the car. The damage is bad enough that repairs would cost more than the car is worth.
When a car is declared “total,” the insurer determines the repair cost is too high compared with the vehicle’s value. That typically means the car won’t be economically repaired and is usually headed toward salvage or parts.
"Andsowhenthecargotwrecked, I was upsidedown on the loan that I had on the car. Andsoit'slike, oh crap."
“Upside down” means you owe more money on the car than it’s worth. If the car gets totaled, the insurance check might not be enough to pay off the loan.
Being “upside down” (negative equity) means the car’s current value is less than what you still owe on the loan. If the car is totaled, insurance pays the car’s value, which may not cover the remaining loan balance.
Rear-wheel drive means the back wheels do the work of moving the car. Many drivers like it because it can feel more connected and fun, especially when you accelerate.
Rear-wheel drive (RWD) means the engine sends power to the rear wheels. This often gives the car a more “balanced” feel for enthusiasts, and it can make throttle changes affect traction and rotation more noticeably than front-wheel drive.
"Ididn'thaveit,butnowtherearesuperchargerkits,thereareturbokits,therearelet'ssee,Ford5.0 swaps,like you godown the eBay rabbithole. IyoucouldfitaFordV8underthathood."
An engine swap means changing the engine to a different one. It can be done to make a car faster or more interesting, but it’s not a simple bolt-on job.
An engine swap is replacing a car’s original engine with a different one, often from another model or even a different brand. Swaps can unlock more power or better parts availability, but they require careful planning for mounts, wiring, cooling, and transmission/axle fitment.
The 1998 Acura Integra is a classic compact car from the late 1990s. They’re using it as an example of a car that was rebuilt and then driven long distances. It’s meant to show that a manual car can still be a great road-trip machine.
The 1998 Acura Integra is a late-90s compact performance car that’s often associated with the “manual transmission + driving enjoyment” crowd. In this segment, it’s referenced as a project/built car that was driven across the country, emphasizing reliability and real-world usability.
A subwoofer is the part that makes the deep bass sounds. It’s usually added to make music sound fuller than the factory speakers alone.
A subwoofer is a speaker designed specifically for low-frequency bass. The speaker pairs it with an amp and wiring work, which is a common upgrade path for improving audio quality in a factory-based interior.
An amp is a box that makes the audio louder and cleaner. It helps the speakers and subwoofer perform better than they would with just the factory stereo.
“Amp” refers to an amplifier, which boosts the audio signal so speakers (including a subwoofer) can play louder and with better control. In car audio, adding an amp often improves clarity and bass performance compared to powering everything directly from the factory head unit.
JDM means parts made for Japanese-market cars. People use JDM parts because they can fit better or look more correct than generic aftermarket pieces.
JDM stands for Japanese Domestic Market, referring to parts made for cars sold in Japan. The speaker orders a JDM panel for correct fitment around the double DIN opening, showing how enthusiasts use JDM trim to achieve a factory-like look.
"...the STi side mirrors have have marker lights... They look great, and now I've got side marker light on my mirrors."
Side marker lights are the small lights on the side of the car. They help other drivers see the car better, and here the speaker is adding them by swapping mirror parts.
Side marker lights are small lights mounted on the side of a vehicle, often integrated into mirrors or bodywork. In this segment, the speaker swaps STI mirrors (with marker lights) onto a WRX to add visibility and a more complete look.
Morimoto makes aftermarket headlights and tail lights. The host is upgrading to their lights to make the car look and work better at night.
Morimoto is an aftermarket lighting company known for headlamp and taillamp assemblies. The host is ordering Morimoto headlights to modernize the car’s lighting performance and appearance.
A restomod is an old car that’s been refreshed with newer technology. It keeps the classic style, but aims to drive better and feel more modern.
A restomod is a restyled and modernized classic car—typically keeping the original look or platform while updating key systems like suspension, brakes, and powertrain. The goal is to preserve the vibe of the original while improving drivability and reliability.
"Theenginelid,I'mnotlikeenginecover,I'mnotafanof. I think it's just something about that just kind of throws me off and makes me lose interest."
The engine cover is the panel you see on top of the engine. Some cars use it to look sporty, and if you don’t like how it looks, it can make the whole front end feel “off.”
An engine cover is the visible panel over the engine bay. On some cars it’s purely functional, while on others it’s part of the design language—so if someone dislikes the cover, it can affect how the whole car looks to them.
Whistling Diesel is a car YouTube channel. The host posts videos about cars, and this episode is pointing you to one of their Corvette-related videos.
Whistling Diesel is a YouTube channel focused on cars, often featuring real-world driving, reviews, and sometimes dramatic or high-stakes content. Mentioning it here signals that the speaker is referencing a specific viral video involving a Corvette.
An oil leak means oil is coming out of the engine instead of staying inside to lubricate everything. If it’s big enough, it can damage the engine and the fix can cost a lot.
A significant oil leak means the engine is losing oil at a rate that can quickly reduce lubrication and increase wear risk. Depending on where the leak is coming from, it can range from a gasket fix to a much more involved repair.
"He got what it I just remember it took voice commands. I'm like, show me how it works."
Voice commands let you talk to the car to control things. Instead of tapping buttons, you can ask the car to do tasks.
Voice commands are spoken inputs used to control infotainment functions like navigation, media, and climate. The speaker’s example highlights how early voice systems could be impressive because they reduced the need to touch menus while driving.
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