2011 Subaru WRX & 1986 Honda Accord: Ethan Banks on Manual Transmissions 🏎️💥
To All The Cars I've Loved Before: Classic Car Restoration, JDM, and Automotive History
To All The Cars I've Loved Before: Classic Car Restoration, JDM, and Automotive History
Apr 14, 2026
2011 Subaru WRX & 1986 Honda Accord: Ethan Banks on Manual Transmissions 🏎️💥
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Car
Honda Accord
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.
Car
Subaru WRX
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.
Car
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.
Company
P1 SimRacing
P1 SimRacing is a place that helps drivers get better using racing simulators. The host credits it with helping them improve their real driving.
Term
laptime
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.
Concept
two-door hatchback
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.
Brand
Matchbox
Matchbox makes small toy cars. People collect them and display them like real car memorabilia.
Brand
Hot Wheels
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.
Car
Ferrari Testarossa
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.
Car
Nissan 300ZX
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.
Car
Mazda RX-7 Turbo II
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.
Term
stick shift
A stick shift is a manual transmission. You use a clutch pedal and a gear lever to choose the right gear yourself.
Concept
beaters
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.
Term
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.
Term
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.
Company
Forza
Forza is a racing video game series. It’s one of the common games people start with when they try sim racing.
Company
U-Haul
U-Haul rents trailers for moving. Even a small trailer adds weight, so the car has to work harder to pull it.
Term
manual transmission
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.
Term
total
“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.
Concept
upsidedown on the loan
“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.
Term
rear-wheeldrive
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.
Term
engine swap
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.
Car
1998 Acura Integra
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.
Part
subwoofer
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.
Term
amp
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.
Term
JDM
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.
Term
side marker light
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.
Company
Morimoto
Morimoto makes aftermarket headlights and tail lights. The host is upgrading to their lights to make the car look and work better at night.
Concept
restomod
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.
Term
engine cover
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.”
Company
Whistling Diesel
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.
Term
significant oil leak
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.
Term
voice commands
Voice commands let you talk to the car to control things. Instead of tapping buttons, you can ask the car to do tasks.
LIVE
WelcomebacktoAlltheCarsI'veLovedBeforethePodcast,whereweparkthespecsatthedoortofocusonyourstoriestoldthroughtherearviewmirrorofyourpastcars.
It'stimetogetalittlegreaseunderyournailsandstepbackintothefirstmemoriesthatmakeussmile.
Thatsenseofpurefreedom,windowsdown,musicpegged,andyourbestfriendspiledintheback.
Everycarrevealsexactlywhoweare.
We'redrivingintothatpersonalhistorybehindthemetal.
Solet'sgetintoit.
I'myourco-hostDoughere.
I'mdrivingsolotoday,andwe'vegotagreatshowforyou.
I'mgoingtogiveyouanupdateonthepodcast.
IamjustcomingbackfromacouplelaughsatSummitPointRaceParkorSummitPointSpeedwayfromaMiata.
AndIdidthisallcourtesyofP1SimRacinganddriverdevelopmentinAnnapolis,Maryland.
Ifyouhaven'ttriedsimracingandliveintheDMV,thisistheplacetogo.
Ifindithelpsmefocusbeforedoingapodcastrecording.
AndIjustbeatmypersonallap,personalbestlaptime,andIgotalittlepersonalinstructionfromoneoftheowners,Tommy.
Theirwebsiteisdrivep1.com.
Andourpodcastcontinuestogrow,andwe'dliketohearyourstoriesandrecommendations.
Visitourlinktree,l-inktr.ee
slashcarslove,andusethattoconnectwithusoremailusstoriesatcarslove.com.
Here'sarecentreview.
ThisisfromGeorgeP,whoenjoyedourseasonone,episodefourepisodetitledFroma1987'sCorollatoTrackReadyInfinity,BangingGearstheWrongWay.
GeorgesaysAdam'sepisodewasmyfavorite,mostlybecauseIknowhim,andofcourse,becauseheisAdam.
Well,thankyou,George.
Gladyouenjoyedthatepisode.
It'soneofmyfavorites.
Andifyou'reenjoyingtheshow,thebestwaytosupportusisleaveusaquickreviewonApplePodcastsorsharethisepisodewithafriendwhostillmissestheirfirstride.
OurguestandIhavecrossedpathsmanytimesvirtually,mostlybecauseI'mahugefanofthepodcastnetworkthatheco-founded.
ButthesedaysI'mdelightedtoseehiscolleaguespostaboutthelatesttechnologyonLinkedIn,whichishowIwasabletogethimtovolunteertobeourspecialguesttoday.
Withoutfurtherado,wearethrilledtowelcomeEthanBankstoourvirtualgarage.
He'sbasedoutofNewHampshire,andheistheco-founderoftheincrediblePacketPushersPodcastNetwork,aveteranITpractitionerwhohasspenttwodecadesormoredesigninglargeenterprisenetworks,datacenters,andglobalWANs.
HeisatechnicalpowerhouseearningthecovetedCCIE.
Healsoco-authoredthebook,ComputerNetworkingProblemsandSolutions,andheco-hoststheflagshipshow,HeavyNetworking,andoneIreallylove,andisfornetworking.
ButwhattrulysetsEthanapartishisdedicationtogivingengineersavoiceandeducatingtheITcommunity.
Welcometothepodcast,Ethan.
Thatsoundedlikeacommercialforincogniordeleteme,becauseIgotifyoufoundallthatonlineaboutme,Igottadobetteraboutmyonlinepersona.
Waytoomuchinformationoutthereaboutme.
Mywork.
Yeah.
Thereisalot.
Yeah,maybeyoushouldsignupfordeleteme.
It'lltakeafewmonthsforittoalldisappear.
Iknowallthat'soutthere.
That'sjustpartofthepartandparcelofbeingapublicfigure.
We'reluckytohaveyoubecauseyou'renotonlyacarenthusiast,youareourfirstguestwhoalsorunsapodcast.
Sothatisveryunique.
Sogladyou'rewithus.
AndIIdidwanttoaskyou,whenwasthelasttimesomeoneaskedyouaboutyourfirstcar,Ethan?
Ohman,Iit'sitmightbeyoubecauseuhit'sjustnotaconversationIgetintoallthatoften.
Andit'skindoffuntogetonandtalkaboutsomethingthat'sstillnerdyandandtechie,butbutisn'tcomputersornetworksorpackets.
Uhyeah,it'samazing.
Iagreed.
Asafellownetworkguy,I'mwithyou.
AndandIhavetosay,whenpeopleaskmewhatIdo,Idon'tgointonetworkinganymore.
Isay,Yeah,I'mapodcasthost.
Whatpodcast?
Oh,wetalkaboutourfirstcars.
Andthentheystartsmiling.
Andyouseethemlookupandthinkabouttheirfirstcar.
Andinourpre-show,that'swhatweweredoing.
Andsohappytohaveyou.
Sosomyfirstcar,andI'mgoingoffmemoryhere,soifIdugintotherecords,maybeI'dcomeupwithsomeminordifferences.
Butitwasan86HondaAccordtwo-doorhatchback.
AndIboughtthatwiththat.
MywifeandIwerefirstmarried,andweneededacar,andthat'swhatwecouldafford.
Wewenttoadealerthatwasnearbywherewelived.
Itwasonthelot,andallthenewcarswerelikewayoutofreachforyoungnewlyweds.
Anduh,butthattherewasthatcar.
I'mlike,well,let'slookatthisthing.
Tookitforaride.
Itwasastandard,andwecouldaffordit.
Itcleanedmeout.
ItwaslikealleverythingIhadinmysavingsaccount.
Whatweputitdown,financedtherest.
AsIremember,liketwogranddownandfourgrandfinanced,gotusthis86Hondacord.
White,Ikindofrememberablue,uhredpinstripe,anditwasablueclothinterior.
Andwehadnokids,sotwo-doorwasfine.
Anditwasastandard,thatwasfine.
Idon'trememberbeingsupergoodatdrivingastandard,butgrowingup,I'dhadenoughexposuretothemwithcarsthatmydadhaddrivenovertheyears,andI'dhadmyshotatthatthatIkindofknewwhatwasgoingon.
Andwewegotitdone.
Sothatwasthatwascarnumberone.
Wow.
Soyouwasthisbackinhighschool?
Thiswasno,thiswasfirstmarried.
SothiswasIwas21.
Imean,Ididdrivenothercars,butIhadnotownedacar.
ThiswasthefirstcarthatIownedandboughtwithmyownmoney.
Imean,soImean,ifyouwanttogobacktofirstcarIeverdrove,wecanhavethatconversationtoo.
Yeah.
Well,whynotwhydon'tweholdthat?
BecauseIIdowanttohearaboutthat.
ButIalsowanttointroducetoday'striviaquestion,whichistechnologyrelatedandautomotiverelated.
Andwe'regonna,evenifyouknowtheanswer,we'llsaveitfortheend.
Butwhichcommonautomotivetechnologyfoundinalmosteverycartoday,Iwouldsaycar100%,maybenotthat86Accord,wasinventedbyamanwhowascompletelyblind.
Thisthisonesurprisedme.
Sobecauseablindmaninventingsomethingforacar,right,issurprising.
Youwouldthinkmaybeitmaybeahorn,butwe'regonnasavethattotheend.
ButIIwouldlovetohearaboutyourfirstdrivingexperienceprepre-marriage,pre-college.
Sothere,Imean,IIgotabunchofinteresting,youknow,littlelittlestoriesbecauseIlovedcars.
Asalittlekid,Iloved,lovedcars.
IcollectedmatchboxcarsandandI'dbuythemwithuhwithallowancemoney,oryouknow,maybemydadwouldpickoneupforme.
Sothisisthisismeasalittlekidcollectingmatchboxcars,manyofwhichIstillhave.
Istillhavetheirthematchboxhadtheircollectorshowcase.
Itwasabrownwall-mountablelittlelikegridthatyoucouldputcarsintotheselittleindividualcellsandshowoffyourmatchboxcollection.
Therewasamatchboxmagazine,likeanewsletterthingthey'dputout.
Oh,wow.
Kidsthathadcollectedtonsandtonsofcars,they'dhavepicturesofthemintheMatchboxuhmagazinethatIremember.
AndIrememberthisonekidwasshowingoffhiscollectionoflike900andsomethingcarswithacustom-mountedwalldisplay.
Anyway,allthattosayIlovedcarsgrowingup.
AndandmydadandIwouldsplitthesubscriptiontocarmagazines.
Andforawhile,weweregettingthethreebigones:caranddriver,roadandtrack,andmotortrend.
Wegotallthreeofthem,andIwouldreadthemfronttoback.
Iwouldcutpicturesoutofthemagazinesastheyagedoutandmakecollagestoputonmywallinmyroomandandandsoon.
So,Imean,carslikelivedinmyhead.
Ithoughtaboutthemallthetime.
I'dbeinthebackbehindmydadasalittlekid,andwe'dpasscarsontheinterstate,andI'dlikecountthenumberofcarswe'repassingbecauseinmyheadIwaspretendingwewereintheindie500,andI'dstartusatthebackofthefield,andtherewere33carsinthefielduntilwewereyouknowthereinfirstplace.
Okay.
SolongwaytosayIgrewuplovingcars,man.
Ireallydid.
Ititit'sfunnyyouyoumentionedthematchbox,HotWheels,likebecauseI'maDeLoreanowner,I'malwayslookingforDeLoreanmatchboxorHotWheels,andI'llgotothestoreandyouknow,intheI'minthetoyssection,right?
AndIseealotofadultsintherelookingforcars,andthey'rejusttheydon'thaveakidwiththem.
They'relooking,they'relikeme,they'relookingfortheirfavetoaddittotheirlisttokindofrelivethat.
IIdohavetoaskyou,sincewe'reinthesameagegroup,didyouhavetheposterjustificationforhighereducation?
No,theIdidn'thavethatone,butIknowtheoneyoumean.
Butit'sthegaragewiththethethreecarsparkedbythebeachwiththesunsetkindofthings,kindofhowtodoit.
Ohyeah,andtherewerealltheseawesomeexotics.
IbuttheoneIdidhavewasthetheclassicwhiteLamborghiniKuntagewiththeyouknowsideshotwiththeblackbackgroundandthebeautifulfont.
Yeah,withtheblackbackground.
Ohyeah,thatthathungonmywallforyearsandyears.
Ihadthat,andIhadamodelofaFerrariTesterosainredthatI'vehadsincehighschool.
It'sstillkickingaroundthishousesomewhere,Ithink.
Yeah,butsonotaposter,butbutthatmodelofyouknowofthecar.
Cometofindoutyearslater,it'slike,wow,youknow,asadrivingexperience,maybethetestosteronewasn'tallthat,butitwasbeabletolookat.
Doyoudoyoustillhaveanyofthemagazines?
Andthere'saleadingquestionwiththat.
Idonothaveanyofthepapermagazinesfrombackintheday.
No.
Hopefullythisshowsup.
Thesearenotoriginal.
Ohman.
ButIboughttheseafewyearsago.
IhavemorefromeBay.
Ireadthesespecificmagazines.
Irememberreadingthem.
Andyou,ofcourse,youcanfindanythingthankstotheinternet.
Wehelpmakethecommentonthat,right?
Andyeah,thesethesemagazinesarefantastic.
Soyou'vegotarethoseofthemgotMiattasonthecover,IthinkI'mseeing.
Onthisone,there'saMiataandthere'sa300ZX.
MiataI'veowned.
Actually,IjustcamebackfromracingvirtualMiata.
I'veownedtwooftheNAMiattas.
AndIhaveathree,Ihavea300ZXinmygaragethat'saboutfivedifferentcolorsbecauseitkeptgettinghitonmyneareststreet.
AnduhIneedtogetit,butthere'sathisisyourshow,butIdowanttoequatetheweweretalkingearlieraboutourearlycareersinNovellenetworkingorno.
AndwhenIwastryingtofigureoutwhattodo,Iwanteditpost-highschool,graduatedin91.
Iwasscrewingaroundincommunitycollege.
HowamIevergonnaafforda1990Nissan300ZX?
Well,IlookedintheWANads,andIwasalreadyacomputerguy,ofcourse,thankstomydad,butwhatamIgonnado?
NonetworkandNovellNetwareAdministrator,$31,000ayear.
Yeah.
I'mgoingforit.
Andittookmeprobably,Idon'tknow,let'ssee,30yearsbeforeIwentandgotthatcar.
Ikindofforgotaboutitalongtheway.
Butoneofmybestfriendshadownedone.
Hewashisfamilywastotalcarcrazy.
Theyhad,whenImethim,hehadaRX7Turbo2,thenhegotaMiada,andhewastheonlychild,sohewreckedallofthem.
Hisdadboughta944turbo.
Theyboughtmostcarsused.
HehadthisZ.
Hewreckeditalso.
Butman,IlovedthatZ.
AndIIIstilllovemine.
Mydadtaughtmetodrivestickshift,andthatwasthelastcarIthinkmydadeverdrovestickshiftin.
Somydadhadamixofofinteresting,likeawesomecarsandbeaters.
Sobecausehe'dhe'dworkonhisowncars.
Helovedcarstoo,bigenthusiast.
HehadaaTaurusSHO,theonewiththeYamahaheadonit.
Thathehadthatcar.
Thatthingwasincredible.
Whatacar.
Butstatewouldbegettingridofoldvehiclesandhe'dbuyyouknowathousandbucks,twelvehundredbucksforanoldstatepolicecruiser,andhe'dbringithomeandputbrakesonitandfixitup,whateverneeded,justforcheapmileagetocommutein.
Hewasalwaysonabudget.
Andsothatwas,Ilearnedhowtowrenchoncarsfrommydad.
HeandIspentyouknowqualitytimeoutinthebarnworkingoncars.
AndhedidlivinguphereinNewHampshirewhereeverything'srusty.
You'ddothingsabrakejobcouldbetakeyounewknowhowlongbecauseofrustybolts.
Justtryingtogetthingsapartsoyoucouldputthemtogether.
Asimplethinglikeabrakejobcouldtakealongtime.
Soyoulearnaboutpenetratingoilandhowtowaitforthingstosettlein,andthenthat'sstillnotcomingapart.
Okay,getouttheblowtorch.
Let'sheatthisthingupandseewhatwecando,andfinallygetitallapartandandandgetitbacktogetheragainandmakeitwork.
SoIlearnedalotofstufffrommydadaboutaboutcarsandnotjustbeinganenthusiast,buthowtoworkonthemandhowtocareforthemandhowlistentothenoisestheymakeandandtheimportanceofkeepingtheoilchangedandyouknow,allthosepracticalthingsthatyougottaknowasacarownerifyoureallycare.
Yeah,growingup,myIwasnottoomechanicallyinclined,butmydadmademysister,mybrother,andIwehadtoknowhowtochangetheoilbecausewehealwayshewastoocheap.
Healwayschangedtheoilathome.
Andwehadtoknowhowtochangeatire,allvaluablethings.
Yeah.
Myowndaughter,IshegotausedCRV.
Isaid,Doesithaveasparetire?
She'slike,Idon'tknow.
Like,doyouknowhowtochange?
Nowherhermomboughthermomgotherthecar,soit'snotmycar.
ButIIatleastwentandboughtheroneofthoseinyouknowsparetireinflatorsorinflators.
Yeah.
Notonlytheinflator,butthetubeofspray,thewhateverthatgreenstuffis,justincaseIknowshe'snotgonnaknowhowtochangethetire.
Whichdidn'thavethetechnology,right?
Wewereitwasuptoustofigureitout,andwewesurvived.
Yeah.
YouyoumentionedyoumentionedaMiata.
Youdroveyoujustdrovethatinasim,yousaid,right?
Yes.
SoacoupleofMiatastories.
Yeah.
One,Ithethethetheboringtouristsweweredrivinggotwreckedandweneededanothercar,mywifeandI.
AndoneofthecarsIwaslookingatwasaMiata.
AndIremembermybuddy,becausewedidn'thaveacarforamomentbecausethatothercarhadbeentotaledout.
AndwestoppedandlookedataMiata,gotinthatthing.
I'msittinginthedriver'sseat,he'ssittingnexttome.
Thisisasmallcar.
Thisisareallysmallcar.
Andhejustlooksatmeandhegoes,You'regonnakillyourselfinthisthing.
Thatwashiscomment.
AndIstartedthinkingaboutthat.
Like,yeah,he'sprobablyright.
SoIdidnotbuyaMiata,butIthoughtaboutitrealserious.
Thiswouldhavebeen,itwouldhavebeenmidmidtolate90s.
SoIdon'tknowhowoldexactlythisMiatawas,butitwouldhavebeenoneofthefirstgenerations.
Andthatreallywasatinycar.
ButafriendofminelaterendedupbuyingaMiatafromthatera.
Thisis,youknow,fastforward10,15years.
HeboughtaMiatafromthatera.
AndIIdrovehimouttheretogopickitupandthenfollowedhimallthewayhomebacktohishousewiththatuhthatcarinit.
Thatwasfun.
Irememberhegotonitthisonaramptogetonthehighwayanddisappeared.
AndI'minacarlikethat.
ThatwastheMiyata'snotthefastestcarintheworld,butIcouldnotkeepupwithhimbecausethecarIwasdriving,whichwasanall-wheeldrivescoop,understeeredhorriblygoinguptheramp.
SoIjustwatchedhimdriveaway.
AllIcoulddotogetcaughtupwithhimafteralittlebitandcatchuptohim.
AndI'mlookingoverathimashe'sinhisnewMiata,well,newoldMiata,butwiththisbigoldgrinonhisface.
Sothat'sacarIIhaveyettodriveandwouldliketooneofthesedays.
Yeah.
Yeah.
No,and35plusyearslater,they'restillmakingthem.
WeweactuallyhadsomebodyonfromMazdaUSAinapastepisode,andweweretalkinghehewasinvolvedwiththe35thanniversary,theproductlaunchforUtheMiataintheUSAforthe35thanniversaryspecial.
SoIlovethelookofthosenewcars,thelatestgenMiatasarewowMX5.
It'sjustgorgeousthings.
Justabsolutelybeautiful.
Yeah,andtheytheyhaveaextremelyloyalfollowing.
Anduhit'sfunny.
Thethehardtoponthatfirstgen,Ithinkitfitsthesecondgen,butinsomecasesworthmorethanthecaritself.
Peoplewantthathardtop.
Ithinkforracing,well,littlelittlesidething.
Iuhtryingtogetintouchwithsomebodywho'sgotabrokendownMiatawithahardtopnearbybecauseIthinkitneedsafuelpump.
I'vebeensittingforyears,butthatkindoftiesintomyI,youknow,it'sit'ssimracingislikethegatewayintoeverythingelse.
Andifyouyoueverthoughtaboutracingcars,simracingwillmakeyouthinkreallyhardaboutdoingit.
Imean,theclosestIcansayislikeplayingForzaonanXboxorsomething.
Yeah,yeah,forforsure.
AndtheuhactuallytheownerofIknowwe'regettingofftopic,buttheowneroftheSimRacingplace,youhaveyouseenthatmovieGranTurismo?
Notrecently,butyeah,Ihave.
Itcameoutafewyearsback,right?
Yeah,yeah.
Sohewasactuallynotinthefirstseasonorfirstyear.
HewasafinalistinGranTurismo.
Hewasselected,hewentovertoEnglandandraced,anduhunfortunately,orfortunately,hiswifegotpregnant.
He'slike,Yeah,maybeit'sthebestidea.
Sohesteppedhesteppedawayfromthat.
Buthe'slikethereallifeGranTurismoguy.
He'slike,Yeah,moviewasn'tquitelikethat.
ButI'mlike,wow.
Soyouyoulearntoraceinarigathome,andthat'scool.
There'stherearenowthatI'mconnectedwithmorepeopleinmotorsportsonLinkedIn,Imean,justacommenttheotherdayabouttherigsandhowhowgreattheyaretogetyououtthereandgetyouknow,professionaldriversareusingrigsallthetimejusttogetpracticelapsandI'veseenthatwiththeF1drivers.
That'sjustpartofpartandparcelofwhattheydo.
They'respendingtimelearningthetracks,learningthecars,andsoonintheSimsbecausethey'vegottensoexoticandsocapablenowofsimulatingwhat'sreallygoingon.
Reallyimpressivestuff.
Sosowhathappened,youknow,andofcourseIhavethebenefitofyourfromyourintakeform.
CirclingbacktotheAccord,whathappenedtotheAccord?
Ohman,sothecoretheAccordwaswaswithmeforprobablytwoandahalfyearsorso.
AndafterIboughtit,IwasyoungandnaivewhenIboughtit,andIdidn'trealizethethinghadbeenbeatonprettyhardbeforeIboughtit.
Thespringshadbeenchoppedbythepreviousowner,soitwasalowerride,andthatwasbad.
Thatthatstressedouttheaxlesandsoon.
ThethinghadalsobeeninsomekindofasignificantaccidentinthatafterI'dboughtit,IfoundbrokenglassinthebackandIfoundthatithadhadaithadbeenpainted.
Itsoriginalcolorwassomekindofasilvergray,anditwaswhitewhenIgotitontheoutside.
Didn'tandthesearethingsIdidn'tIwasyoungandnaive.
Ididn'tknowthisfirstcar,right?
Transportation.
Exactly,exactly,exactly.
Andsooneofthethingsthathappenedtomethatwasverydramatic,IwaslivinginLosAngeleswhenwhereIboughtandwasdrivingthiscar.
AndsotheLAfreewaysareseriousbusiness.
YoumergeontotheLAfreewaysatfreewayspeed,oryoudie.
Thoseareyourchoices.
Yes.
Soyougettoringoutacarlikealittle86Hondacore.
Thethingprobablyhad100horsepower.
Imean,itwasn'taveryheavycar,so100horsepowerdoesn'tsoundquiteasgrimasitmight,butyouknow,yougottagetonit.
AndIwillIhabituallygotonitontherampsoIcouldmergeatsomekindofauhusefulspeed.
Shiftingfromsecondtothirdunderfullthrottle,whateveryouwereIwasgettingoutofthispoorlittlecar,allofasuddentheitjustwent,youknow,thetackjustmaxedoutlike,whoa,whathappened?
Igotnopower.
Anditwasn'ttheclutch.
WhathadhappenedisI'dsnaptheaxle,youknow,shiftingfromsecondintothirdgear,uh,andthenreflectingbackonitbecausethecarhadbeenloweredbythepersonchoppingthesprings.
Thisaxlewasjusttoostressed.
Itwasnotatthecorrectgeometrythattheengineershaddesignedforthatcar.
AndsoImergedI'mmergingwithtraffic.
Thankfully,Iwasn'tgoingfromthirdtofourth,right?
SoIwasn'tgoingthatfast.
Iwasabletogetitstoppedandliterallypusheditbackwardsdowntherampbacktothesurfacestreetsandtosomewherewheresomebodycouldpickthethingupandtakeitawayforme.
Gotfixed.
Wegotthepropersuspensioninthething,didalotofmaintenanceworkonthatcartogetittobejustadecentrunner,justgoodandsolid,andthenthereliabilitythatHondaatthattimewasknownfor.
Notsomuchthat,Idon'tthinkthey'reknownforquitesomuchthesedays,butbutstill,ifyougrewupthere,HondaandToyota,thoseareyourtwobrandsifyouwantedareallyreliablecar,right?
SothatcarendeduptowingourhigherbelongingsinthesmallestU-Haullittletrailerthattheywouldrentusbecausewedidn'thavemuch,youknow,youngandpoor.
Andwedrovethatthingcross-countryallthewayfromCaliforniatoNewHampshireandhaulingatrailer.
Ithatcarhadnobusinesshavingatrailerhitchinstalledandhaulingatrailer.
Idon'tknowwhy.
Someoneshouldhavesaidsomethingtome.
It'slike,dude,you'regonnatrashtheclutchinthisthingifyoudothis.
Whatareyoudoing?
Butnoonesaidanything,andIdidn'tknowanybetter.
Andthecarwasfine.
Ididn'tdestroytheclutchsomehow.
Butitsunderpowerednaturemeantasweweredrivingcross-country,tryingtogetupoverthecontinentalofIwasathing.
IrememberbeinginArizonaandseeingthisenormoushillinfrontofuson,Idon'tknow,theI-10,I-40,whateverwewereon,andjustgoing,herewego,ashardasIcould,windingthisthingupandandhavingadownshiftaswe'regoingupthehillanddownshiftagain.
It'slikeI'mgonnarunoutagain,andthengettingnearthetop.
I'minsecondgearwiththethingjustscreamingandlosingrevs,butgettingoverthetopandthendroppingdowntheothersideandlike,ooh,okay,that'sthat'sgood.
I'mgladwemadethat.
That'sthat'sgood.
Yeah.
Thiscomesupoftentheplanningthatusedtoberequiredindrivinganoldercar,right?
Whetherit'sgoingthroughmountains,whetherit'sintraffic,includinguhapreviousguest,Marla,whotalkedaboutsheshethinkstherewouldbelessaccidentsandlessaggressivedrivingifpeoplehadeverybodyhadtodriveastickshiftcarbecausetheplanningthat'sinvolvedinit.
LikeIneedtorevuphere,oh,Ineedtogetaround,orgoingupthehill,Ineedtodownshift.
Goingdown,IgottagetasmuchspeedasIcanbecauseI'mgonnahaveto.
AlotofwhichI'dforgottenbecauseman,II'vebeendrivingautomaticsforyearsuntilmymycurrentcarisastick.
I'mdrivingastickagainafteryouknow20,30yearsofnotdrivingstick.
Andyeah,you'reright.
Youdoyougottathere'sadifferentwayyourbrainworksasyou'renavigating,cominguponcornersandnegotiatingabumpandcomingupbehindpeopleandandandgoingthroughstopandgotraffic,especiallyisawholedifferentwayyourbrainengagestodrivethevehicleforsure.
Forforsure,yeah.
AndifyouuhtwentyplusyearsagoIbrokemyleftankleanditputahamperonmyuhstickshiftobsessionforawhile.
Itstillitstillhurts.
Ionlyhaveonestickshift.
Well,Iactuallyhavetwo,butmydailydriverisnotastickshiftanymore.
Sotheendofmypoorcore.
PoorDoug.
IgottatellyouthatIgottabringclosuretothepoorvehiclebecauseIit'sit'sit'ssad.
IgotitbacktoNewHampshire.
WewerelivinginNewHampshireandIwasdrivingaround,goingtowork,doingwhatever.
AndIIstoppedonRouteThree,justamajorstateroutetogointwoways,notahighway,butIwasstoppedtomakeaturnintowhereIwasgonnadosomeshopping.
AndIgotrear-endedfromsomeonewhoneversloweddown.
Therewerenoskidmarksinvolved.
Iwassittingtherewaitingtoturn.
IhadjusttakenmyfootoffthebrakeandwasabouttoengagetheclutchtomakemyturnwhenIgothit.
Sothankfullythecarwasabletoabsorbalittlebitofthatenergymovingforward,asopposedtomebeinglayingintothebrakesatadeadstop.
SoIwasnothurt,butman,thatcartookabeating.
Itjusttheframewasbent,theroofwrinkled,therearglassandthehatchhadatintonitbecauseitcamefromCalifornia.
Verycommonforthesecarstohavetintedwindows.
Itwasasifthecarmovedandleftthewindowbehind.
Itsmashedstraightoutanddroppedtothegroundinapileheldtogetherbythetint.
Wow.
Allkindsofstuffwentflyingaroundinthecarandsoon.
Anditwas,yeah,Imean,thecarwastotal.
Itwasdoneatthatpoint.
AndIandIwassadbecausethatwasmyfirstcar.
Itwasstillagoodcar.
Andithadn'tgivenmeanyproblemsinsnappingthataxleandgettingthatcarsorted.
Sinceitwassorted,itwasagoodcar,andIandIlovedit.
Itwasmyfirstcar.
Itwasn'tsuperpowerful,butitwasfuntodrive.
Ienjoyedit.
Imisseditafterthat.
Butthatwasthesadendingtoit.
Iremembergoingtowhereverthetowtruckhadtakenit,therewassomekindofauharecordyardandlookingatthecarandtalkingaboutitwiththeinsuranceguy.
Andhe'slike,Yeah,it'sdone.
Look,framespent.
Andhepointedthewrinkleintheroof.
He'slike,That'showyouknow.
Andhe'slike,Comehere.
Andheandwewestoodbackfromthecarandlookedatitstraighton.
He'slike,thatthingwillnevergodowntheroadstraightagain.
Okay.
Sothat'swhatitwas.
Well,wewegetattachedtoourcars,andfortheforpeoplewhoarewatchingonYouTube,orifyou'relisteningandyouwanttoseeEthan'sreaction,right?
Like,Imeantrulygreatmemoriesandandsadnessoverthatcar.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It'sit'sfunny,Doug.
Itwasn'tthefastestcar.
Itwasn'tthesexiestorthemostbeautifullookingcar,butitwasspecial.
ItwasmythefirstoneI'deverboughtthatwasminemine,notoneIwasborrowingfrommomanddad,youknow?
Anditsymbolizedthebeginningofmylifejustoutofcollege,newlymarried,youknow,movingtoCalifornia,bigadventure,andandtohaveitendignominiously.
It'sjustitwasaitsucked.
It'satoobadofaitwasanunfortunateforwhatthatcarhadbeenandwhatitmeanttomeforittoendthewayitdidwaslike,whatacrappyending.
That'stoobad.
Yeah.
Ohwow.
Sowhatwhatwasthereplacementforthiswonderfulaccord?
Diditliveuptothereputationofthepreviouscar?
Soyou'reremindingmethatthere'sevenmoretothestorywiththisHondaDoug.
Okay.
AndyouyoubroughtupNovelleearlier.
SobeforeIthecarhadbeentotaled,IhadrefinancedmyaccordsothatIcouldgotoNovellSchool.
Sothoseofyouthatarelistening,becauseyou'recarnerdsandnotcomputernerds,Novellwaslikeanup-and-comingbigtechnologycompanythatalotofuscould,wecouldyoucouldgotoNovellSchool,getacertification,andyou'rethatskillsetwasindemand.
AndIwaswhatIdid.
Youtoo.
Andandandmetoo.
Yeah.
AndIthinkweweweregoingaroundthesametimewhenitwasnetwarethree.
Iwentto,Iwastakingclasses,buttheywereexpensiveandIdidn'thaveaccesstotheasmuchmoneyasIneeded.
I'drefinancedthecar.
Andsowhenthecargotwrecked,IwasupsidedownontheloanthatIhadonthecar.
Andsoit'slike,ohcrap.
SoIgotmyinsurancemoneyisnotgonnapay,payofftheloan.
SoIhadaloanIneededtopayoff.
IwasdeadbrokeandIhadnocar.
Andandandmydadhelpedmeout.
Mydadcomesintothestoryagain.
Iwaslike,Dad,thisiswhat'sup.
I'mneedsomehelp.
He'slike,Allright,wegotyou.
Anduhhehelpedme,heloanedmeenoughmoneytogettheloanpaidoff,howevermuchthatwas,probablymaybeathousandbucks,maybe,maybefifteenhundred,Idon'tknow.
Anduhandthenenoughtobuyaaarealbeaterdug.
Imean,isthisan89-ishFordTauruswithlike190,000milesonit?
IthinkitwaslikeaGen1FordTaurus.
Yeah,IthinkthatsoundslikeGen1.
Andandabsolutelythiscar,ithasaNewHampshirecarwith190,000milesonit.
Shewasnotabeauty,youknowwhatImean?
Hadalotofrust,I'mguessing.
Yeah,ititwashurting.
Andbutitwastransportation.
Itworked.
Itworked,andIcouldgetaroundinthething.
Andovertime,itIwasdoingalittleconsultingbecauseofNovellSchoolthatturnedintoaconsultingjobnotlongafterthatwasabletodostartconsulting.
Butthatcarwaslostreverse.
Itthatthattouristdidnothavereverseafterawhile.
SoyoulearnedtoparkintheWalmartparkinglotwhereyoucanpullthrough.
Youneedreverseifyoucanpullthrough,anduhandsoon.
Sothatbutthatgotmethrough.
Youknow,andagain,yeah,mydadenteringthestorywaswasabigdealbecausehebailedmeout,gotmeacar,andIpaidhimbackasquickasIcouldwhenIgotwhenIhadajob.
AndIdidhaveajobaftergettingthroughNovellSchool.
ItturnedoutNovellSchoolwasthatmyHondahadhelpedmepayforwasaninvestmentthatultimatelywasagamblethatpaidoffandsentmeonacareerinIT.
Itendedupbeingworthitall.
TheolduhnetwareCNE,certifiednetwareengineer.
IrememberthoseIrememberthosedays.
Yeah.
Iandactuallythatremindsme.
IsowhenIwasdrivingtheMiataalloverthecompanyIworkedforwasaNovelletrainingcompanyandhardwareandsoftwarereseller,andtheydidworkallovertheNovellPlatinum,yeah.
Yeah,mostlyBaltimore.
Actually,theyhaveatheyhaveacomputermuseum.
It'stheplaceiscalledSystemsHorse.
They'restillaround,they'reinkindofnorthwestBaltimorenearnearPennsylvania,wayupthere.
ButIwasIwasworkingatoneoftheircustomersandIwasonthebeltBaltimoreBeltwayeveryday,butIwasdrivingthatMiana.
IdrovethatcarwiththetopdownintoOctobertime.
WasitasfunasIthinkitis?
Yeah,itwasfun.
Itwasagreatcar.
Alittleunderpowered,butlikeunderpowered,butlightandrear-wheeldrive,yeah?
Rear-wheeldrive.
Iliketotellpeopleliketheconvertibleisthebestcaronaniceday.
Ontheworstday,notsomuch.
Therewasalittlesuperchargerkitforthatcar,wasn'tthere?
Ididn'thaveit,butnowtherearesuperchargerkits,thereareturbokits,therearelet'ssee,Ford5.0
swaps,likeyougodowntheeBayrabbithole.
IyoucouldfitaFordV8underthathood.
Man,itmusthavebeentight.
Yeah,toputabumponit.
TheycallitthemonsterMiata,butforobviousreasons.
Upsetthehandlingalittlebit,Iimagine.
Yeah,youcouldsaythat.
Butyeah,Imean,there'sprofessionalracingleaguesthatareMiataCupClubleagues.
Yeah.
MazdareallyandI'veownedfourMazdas,soI'maI'mahugefan.
Mazdabuildsgreatcars.
Anduh,we'regonnaactuallygonnahavesomebodyelsefromMazdaoninthenearfuture.
SoI'mlookinglookingforwardtothat.
Sowewetalkedaboutthefirstcouplecars,andyouandyouhavealotofstories,soI'mhopingyou'llcomeback.
That'suptoyou.
I'mgonnasayyesthen.
Okay.
Sotellusaboutyourcurrentfun,awesomecar.
Speakingoftuneranddoingmods,andwetalkedaboutitalittlebitinpassing,anditithasaverystrongfollowing,thesecars.
Verystrong.
Yeah.
Well,yeah,I'llI'llsetitupbysayingIgotintoSubaru'saround2010.
Mywifeneededanewcar,andweweretiredoffightingthesnowthatwegottodealwithuphereandjustdealingwiththetheheadachesofdrivinginthesnow.
AndIwantedsomethingbetterforhertobedrivingaroundin.
Andwegotheranoutback.
AndIsawher,Irememberherlookingoutthewindowasshedroveupthewiththekidsheadingofftoschool,takingthemtoschool.
Oneofthefirstdayswehaditonaslippery,nastyday,andthecarjustdroveliketherewasnothingwrongwhatsoever,likeitwasdrypavement.
IwasinaweandIfellinlovewithSubaruatthatverymoment.
Becausewe'dheardabouthowwonderfulSubrewswereintheNewHampshirewinters.
Andthatjustseeingthatmoment,knowingthepreviouscarshehadinonadaylikethat,thatpreviouscarwouldhavespunthetiresandfoughtandbeenathingandthendramatoseeifyoucouldactuallycrestthelittlehillwelivedonandthengetontheflatsandbeonyourway.
NottheSubaru.
IgotintoSubarusandSubarucultureatthatpoint.
AndIhadwantedforevertobuyaWRX,justhadwantedit,buttheywerealwaysabitoutofreachandnotpractical.
Andforalotofyears,Iwasneedingtobekindofpracticalaboutcarsandjustcouldn'tquitegetthere.
ButnowIatDecemberlastyear,soactuallyNewYear'sDay,Ipickedthiscarup.
A2011WRXintheclassic,iconicWorldRallyBluehatchback.
I'mallaboutthehatchbacks.
Ilovethehatchbackbodystyle.
EverySubaruwe'vehadhasbeenahatchbackinsomeformoranother.
AndinthisRexisadreamcometrue.
Ifounditlargelyunmodified.
Theyaredifficulttofindunmodifiedbecausethey'reareasonablyaffordablecar,andalotofyoungguyswillbuythemandmodthecrapoutofthemandbeatthemtodeath.
Theydon'ttakecareofthemalotoftimes.
Andsoifyoubuyonethat'smodded,that'sthat'sarisk.
Youdon'tknowreallywhatyou'regettinginto.
Ifyoucanfindonethat'slargelyunmodified,it'srare.
Butifyoucanandit'sbeentakencareof,that'saspecialcar.
AndIfoundit.
That'sbutthat'sthat'sthatcar'smybaby.
That'sIlovethisthing.
SoIboughtitonCarsandBids,DougDeMiro'sattheDougDeMiro'sauctionsite.
BeenwatchingauctionskindofidlybecauseIboughteverybodywatches.
Ifyou'reacarguy,yougotyouwatchDoug.
Everybody,weallknowDoug.
Iknew,IknowDougverywell.
Right?
SoIlovehisnametoo.
Yeah,ofcourseyoudo.
Andsothiscarcomesuponcarsandbids,andIwasnotthinkingaboutittooseriously,butkindoflookingatit,like,ohwow,whatthisisthisiswhatanicecar,andbutmoreadmiringitratherthanthinkingI'mgonnabuyit.
Butthenmysoncallsme.
Mysonhadbeendrivingmyhisgrandfather,myfather'sTaurusSHO,atwoor2013SHOforsomeyears.
Heboughtitfromhisgrandfather,whohadwasmovingoutofthatcarandboughtboughtsomethingelse.
Andsomystuffwas.
Wasn'tthattheV8SHO?
It'satwinturboV6.
Oh,okay.
Soit'sit'stheEcotechV6inthatinthatSHO.
Idon'tthinkthateverhadaV8.
Yeah,Ican'tremember.
Theydidsomethinguniqueforacertaintime,butthatwastowardstheendoftheSHO.
Butyeah,thiswastheyeah,yeah,right.
You'reinthethelatestbodystyleTaurus.
Fairlybigcar,butall-wheeldrive,tonsofpower,360horse,Ithink.
Imean,youstoodonthatthingandyouknewsomethingwasabouttohappen.
Itwasforreal.
Thatwasafastcar,alotofcar.
Butmyson,beingayoungman,wasjuststrugglingtokeepthethingontheroad.
Heput50somethingthousandmilesonit,butasitgotintosixfiguresontheodometer,anditwas,Idon'tknow,ithad110somethingthousand,justvariousthingswerestartingtogowrongwithit.
Andthecarbecametooexpensiveforhimtomaintain.
Anduh,longstoryshort,whatwedecidedtodowasmysonwasgonnadriveoneofmySubarus,andIwasgonnadrive,IwasgonnabuythisWRXwastheplan.
Butofcourse,Igottowintheauction.
Soit'sanauctioncaronCarsandBidsonDougDeMiro'ssite.
Okay,herewego.
Anduhlongstoryshort,Iwontheauction.
Butitwasoneofthoseauctionsthewaycarsandbidsworks,youyouhavetohavenobidsfor60secondsaftertheauctioncloses.
Ifsomeonebids,thenitrunsforanother60secondsandkeepsgoinguntilthere'snomorebids,andthenfinallytheauctionwillclose.
Andaslongasyoumeetthereserveprice,you'reyou'regoodtogo.
Anditwaslikethat.
Mymymyson'swatchinginrealtime.
He'sonacallwithmywifewho'slookingovermyshoulder,andI'msittinghere,I'mbidding.
It'smeandanotherguygoingbackandforth,backandforth.
AndI'mlike,stopbidding,stopit,stop,stop,stop,justno,thisismycar.
Itwasalittleirrationalatthatpoint.
ButbutwonthecaratapricethatI'mnottooembarrassedabout,butIgotitfor18whenitwasallsaidanddone,youknow,plusfees,pluswhatever.
Buthere'sthethingIliveinNewHampshire,andthatcarwasinCali.
Soit'sallthewayoutontheWestCoast.
Soitcouldn'thavebeenmuchfurtherawayfromme.
ButwhatItalkedtotheguyandIcouldhavehaditshippedandIthoughtaboutit,butIItalkedtohimandI'mlike,well,couldcouldIdrivethiscarback?
Wouldthiscarmakeitbackacrossthecountry?
He'slike,ohyeah,I'ddriveitback.
Noworries.
I'vebeentakingcareofit.
Andhehadallthecarfacts,recordsshowedithadbeenaverywell-maintainedcarandhadnothingwrongwithit.
Andsothat'swhathappened.
That'swhatIdid.
Imyuhwithmyson.
SomysonandImadeuhyouknowabigimportantmemoryinthiscartogether.
Hewasrighttherealltheway,youknow,needingacarandwasgonnadriveoneofmyothercarsandknewwhatthiscarwas.
Hehehimself,oneofhiscarsinhishistory,hehadtunedhisown.
Hehada2015VWGTIthathetunedanddonealotofthingsto.
AnduhheknewwhatthisWRXwas.
Hewasintoit.
AndI'mlike,well,canyouflytoCaliwithmeandlet'sdrivethiscarbackacrossthecountrytogether?
He'slike,Yeah,andIcandoit.
Let'slet'sandwewefiguredouthiswindowtogetoffwork,andthat'sexactlywhatwedid.
WeflewoutofBoston,allthewaytoSanFran,andthendownthecoasttoalittleSanLuisObispoairport,mettheguyattheairportwiththecar.
Weshookhands,didwhatneededtobedoingwithpaperworkandstuff.
Therewasn'tmuch.
Carsandbidstakescareofprettymucheverything.
Iputmytempinthehatchanddroveaway.
AndI'mtryingtorememberhowtodriveastickagain.
Soithadbeenaminute.
Andwedrove,wewedroveallthewaybackacrossthecountryintheracks,babyblue.
Infourdays,we,youknow,wedroveArizonaupintoupthroughOklahomaandMissouriandallthewayacrossandfinallyendedupbackinNewHampshireafterfourdays.
Andthatcargaveuswepaidattentiontotirepressure,andthatwasit.
Imean,wewerepayingattention,youknow,wewerebeingadultsstaringobsessivelyatthewatertempgaugeandandotherthings,butitgaveusnotroubleatallandandgotongotitallthewayhomeininonepiece.
Andyouknow,whatajoydrivingthatthing.
Itcamefromthefactorywithashortthrowshortthrowshifterkit.
Okay.
Thatwasafactoryoption.
IactuallywentoneBayandIgottheoriginaldealercatalogthatshowedyoualltheoptionsfortherestatthattime.
Buttheyaskedshortthrowshifterfromthefactoryandacatbackexhaustfromthefactoryaswell,whichwhichdidn'tdoesn'tchangethepowermuch,butdoesgiveyouthatnotableboxerburblebecausetheythatcar'sgotunequallengthheaders.
That'sthestandardSubaruconfig.
Notgreatforspeed,butincredibleforsound.
Imean,thatthat'siconicboxer,Subiboxerrumble.
Thatthingsoundsamazingwiththatcatbackexhaust.
Oh,itsoundssogood.
Yeah.
Andandwhatajoy,man.
Ilovethatcar.
AndI'vebeenI'vehadthecar.
I'mchuckingyourearoffrightnow,butuhthishasbeenwell.
I'mI'mthinkingaboutwewetalkedalittlebitaboutit,andanditremindsmeofI'mgonnaquoteyourfavoriteepisodefromourpodcast,whichwastheepisodewithNeilandRushinaboutcalltheywroteabookcalledTheConsoleClunker.
Theytheylivenottoofarfromyou,wheretheyrebuilta1998AcuraIntegraanddroveacrosscountryinit.
AndthentheydidthesamethingwiththeAlphaRomeospider,Ithink.
Somethingsomethingsimilar.
Yeah,theyjustbroughttheirintegratedclosertogether.
Yeah,it'sagreatstory.
Thatwasagreatstory.
Ititisagreatstory,andyeah,justdoingthatwithyoursonandyouknow,you'relightinguptalkingaboutyourson,butyou'relightingupaboutthecartoo,andandallthefactsandtheSubarulikebookforthatyear.
Youyouknow,whenyou'reyoungerandforwhateverreasonyoucan'tbuythatcar,whateverthecarisyou'relookingatinthemagazineorreadingabout,oryouseesomeoneelsedrivingontheroad,andthenfinallyyougetit,andit'stheoneyouwant.
It'stheoneyou'vebeenlookingat,it'stheonethatturnsyourheadeverytimeitgoesbytheotherdirection.
Godgetthatthing.
Nowyouhaveone.
Now,andIhaveone,andit'sagoodexample.
Andit'saCalicar,soit'sit'sinNewHampshire,butit'snotallrustedtodeath,youknow.
AndIIgetathomeandIsayI'vebeenmoddingit,butit'sallbeenverycareful,tastefulthings.
I'mnottouchingthedrivetrain.
Drivetrainisisisbeingleftalone,butI'mdoingthingstoupdatethecar.
SoII'veIhadtheentireinterioroutexceptforthedashboardtoputastereoinit.
IputsounddeadeninginitandIgotasubwooferinitandputaheadunitinanampanddidallthewiring.
Youknow,that'sallstuffIknowhowtodo,butIdiditverycarefully,allverymeticulous.
IIgotIorderedtheJDMpanelthatfitsaroundthedoubledinopeningcorrectly.
IfyouhavetheUSDNone,it'swide.
It'salittlewidebecauseofwhatthefactoryheadunits,theywerenotdoubledinstandard.
SoyouhavetogototheJDMpartsbintogetthepanelthatactuallyfitscorrectlyaroundadoubledinaftermarketheadunit.
AndIownedone.
Ihaveittookmethreeorderstogettherightone.
ThetwothatI'dorderedwerewrong.
Theyshowedupsupposedlybeingthecorrectpart.
No,theywerenotright.
Andittookmethreetriestoactuallygettherightpart.
SoIhaveIhavetwoSubaruandPresentWRXmodel2011dashpanels.
Ifanyone'slookingforone,maybeI'llputthemuponeBay.
Okay.
Thataren'ttherightthing.
Well,definitelyreferencingthemreferencingthemonourshowintheshownotestohelpyouout.
Weallendupwithextrapartsthatway.
It'sit'skindofthetherabbitholeofthislooksliketherightthing,I'mgonnapullthetrigger.
Itshowsup.
Yeah,no.
It'sbutI'vebeenhavingfundoingthingslikethat.
Sothiscarwasuhlimited.
Andwell,theSTIsidemirrorshavehavemarkerlightsandthestockWRX,becausethere'stheWRX,andthenthere'stheSTItrim,whichisacutabove.
It'sit'sit'smoreofit'sgotaverydifferentdrivetraininit,andit'sgotuhasomewhatdifferentmotorinit,uh,andsoon.
It'snottheoneIwaslookingforbecauseIbecausetheyridereallyrough,andinNewHampshire,theroadsarereallyrough,andsoyoudon'twantaroughridingcar,andsoIwantedtheRex,nottheWRXSTI,buttheSTIdidhavesomeniceperks,andoneofthemwasjustathinglikethosesidemarkermirrors.
Well,IfoundasetofthemoneBay,boughtthemin,putthemonthecar.
Theylookgreat,andnowI'vegotsidemarkerlightsonmymirrors.
That'sthat'sanicelittlething,youknow,littleupgradeslikethat.
I'mdoingthat,areIwecallitOEMPlus,isthewayI'mtryingtodomyIlikethatplus.
Ilikethat.
Yeah,yeah,yeah.
So,whatisnextfortheRex?
NextfortheRex,Ihaveskidplatestoinstall.
SoIamahikerandatrailrunner,andIgotoIgodownforestroadstogettotrailheadssoIcangetupintothemountains.
Soaskidplateseemslikeareallysmartthingtodoonthislow-ridingcar.
Thosearehere.
IgotthemfromPrimitiveRacing.
They'resittingintheirboxwaitingforme.
That'scoming.
IhaveheadlightsonorderfromMorimoto.
Moramotoisacompanythatmakesalotofaftermarketheadlampandtaillampassembliesforawholebunchofdifferentcars.
AndoneofthethingsthatletsthestockwrecksdownthatIhave,thisismodelyear2011,isthelights.
Modernlightsareawesome.
They'rebrightandwhiteandLEDandsoon.
Andtheoldhalogensjustdon'tcutthemustardbycomparison.
AndandbutMoramotomakessomeaftermarketupgradesforthecar.
AndI'vegotthemon.
IactuallyIpulledthetriggeronthemlastnightbecauseI'vebeenwaitingforbecausethey'reexpensive.
Expensive.
AndI'mfinallylike,okay,let'sgo.
Clickthebuttonandthey'recoming.
Sothingslikethatthatthataremodernizingthecar.
I'vegotlikeokay,IfeellikeaboyracerwhenIsaythis,butI'mdoingthethehellahornupgradesbecauseyougottodothatonyourSubaru.
Youhaveto.
SoI'vegotI'vegotthemsittinginthebox.
Andsothere'sadaycomingbecauseIgottotakethefrontbumperoffforallofthesethings.
Thefrontbumper'scomingoff.
I'mgonnadotheskidplate,I'mgonnadotheheadlights,I'mgonnadothehellahorninstall,andthat'sgonnabeafunday.
That'scoming.
SeeifIcangetmysonuptohelpmewiththat.
Okay,we'llwe'lltakepicturesandpostsomevideosforus.
Thatwouldbecooltocooltohear.
Andyou,youknow,weweretalkingaboutthingsfromthepast,andandyoumentionedheadlightsandyouknow,havingtwooldcars,thethe1990Zandthe81DeLorean.
LikeandandIdon'tknow,maybethat'sjustthewayitwasbackthen.
Maybeitthey'rejustold.
IIIdon'tknow.
Ican'timaginehowsafethatcouldhavebeenin1980.
ButIdon'tknow.
What'sweirdisIdon'trememberthem.
Imean,Idroveplentyofcarsatnightasakid.
Idon'trememberthatlightingbeingaproblem.
That'sIguesswe'respoiledinthemodernera.
Idon'tknow.
Yeah,IthinkIIthinkso.
SowhatwouldIthinkyouhaveoneofyourdreamcars,butwhatwouldbeyourdreamcarifyouknowmoneyweren'tanissue,time,garagespace,youhadachauffeur,allthatgoodstuff.
Ithat'salonglist.
I'llImeanI'llI'llstillsticktowhatIsentyoujusttohaveastartingpoint.
Butyeah,butonecarthatIadoredthelookofwhenIwasakid,lookgoingthroughmagazineswasitwasthePorsche930,technicallythe9-11slantnosewiththewhaletailonit,thatbigoldtail.
Thelinesofthatcar,somethingaboutitjustcaptivatedme.
Ilovethatthing.
Suchahandsomecarthatwasdistinctfromthetraditional9-11nosewiththatthat'siconic.
Yeah,everyoneknowswhatthatcarlookslike,buttheslantnosewiththepop-upheadlightsandthewhaletailwassomethingspecialtome.
Ijust,Iwasobsessedwiththelookofthatthing.
Andeverytimeitpoppedupinamagazine,theyweredoingateston,Iwaslike,loveit.
Lookatit.
Andseeushavecapturedmyattentionovertheyearsaswell.
AndthetheStratos,whichiskindofthewedgewiththeroundedbighaunchesonitandkindoftheroundtaillamps,ifyoucanrememberwhatthatthinglookslikeatthelouveredhood.
Reallyinteresting,handsome,fascinatingcar.
AndIdon'tknowhowitwasarallycar.
SoImeanit,I'msureitwasaverygoodthing.
Yeah,there'sarallycar.
Butyouknow,soIIdon'ttechnicallyknowhowfastitwas,butboy,itlookedfast,that'sforsure.
Whatathing.
Andtheythere'sarestomodversionofthatcarthesedays,Ithink,too.
Iforgetwho'smakingit,butit'smodeledafterthat.
ThatandIthinkthere'suhtheLancia,oh,I'mgonnagetthemodelnamewrong,butitwasaitwasathosetheStrawdale,butitwasmoreofatraditionalhatchbackkindofashape.
Therewego.
That'sthemodelI'mthinkingof.
Itwasrightinthere,too.
Interestingcars.
ButIIwouldcomebacktoavarietyofPorschesovertime.
WhenIwasnineyearsold,Ihadtodoaresearchpaperinschoolaboutsomethingthatwasathingtheywereteachingushowtodo.
AndIhadabigCoffeetablestylebookaboutPorsche.
Porsche,atraditionofgreatness,iswhatIbelievethetitleofthiscarwasthatcoveredPorsche'shistory.
Upthrough,Imean,Iwasakid,soitcouldn'thavebeenmuchmorethantheearly80s.
AndIjustateupeverythingPorschebecauseofthatbookandstudyingthatbooktoIcouldwritethisresearchpaperasalittlekid.
Andman,IstillrememberimagesofthePorsche928S4,andithadthischeckerboardpatternedinteriorandallthisstuff.
AndIguessAshainterior,that'swhattheycallit.
Wasthatwhatitwas?
Yeah,P-A-S-H-A,Ithink.
SonowIasanadultmetsomeonethatowneda928andsaid,youdon'twanttoownoneofthese.
They'reanightmaretokeepontheroad.
They'resoexpensivetomaintain.
Yeah.
Andbutstillcoollooking.
Iwanttogoforarideinone.
Idon'tthinkIwanttoownone.
Yeah,IthinkIIthinkIdroveoneoncejustfortheheckofit.
Idon'tknowwhysomebodywouldhaveletmedriveonewhenIwas,youknow,18orwhatever.
AndIrememberthegaspedalgettingstuckdown.
Andtherewereallthesewarninglights,butandthatV8.
Andyouknow,it'sfunnyyoumentioned928becauseIIwaswatchingpartofRiskyBusinesslastnightbecausemybestfriendandco-founderofthepodcast,Christian,lovesthe928andhelovesthatmovie.
SoIwasjustwatchingit.
Ititissuchanamazingcar.
Butthe944sgetmoreattentioninthemarketthan928s,929.
AndIthinkthere'smoreofthemaround.
Imean,thatwasjustitwasamoreaffordablecar.
IIyeah,howmanyofthemareingoodrunningorder?
Idon'tknow.
Butyeah,IItendtoseemore944sthan928scomeupforauctionandoutthere.
Butyeah,alotofPorsches.
I'dlovetoownaV8Americanmusclecaratsomepoint.
That'sprettyinterestingtome.
Yeah,IIgrewupinaFordfamily.
AndsoalotofmydadwasnotexclusivelyFords,buthehedidhavealotofFords,andsoIwasprettyfascinatedbyMustangsforalotofyears.
Butman,theuhlikemydreamyouknow,Mustangwouldbeuh,let'ssayalate80snotchback.
Oruhsorry,thatwouldhavebeenanLX,Ithink.
Butithadthe5-0init.
Butthenotchback,youknow,hardthatthatcar,notthatwithallthelouversoverthetaillightsandallthat.
Louverseveryyeah,louvershurts,yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Butbutwhenthosecomeupforauction,theygoforalotbecauseit'speoplelikeyouandmewithsomemoneythatfinallydecidethey'regonnahaveoneandgoandrackuptheprice.
Anditit'sfunnyyousaythatbecauseofcourse,myIcanjustpickoutcarstufffrommyday-to-daylife,butthenewNissanapparentlyhasbeendoingreallywell.
Andwhyaretheydoingit?
Retireesarebuyingthosecars,andthat'swhat'skeepingitalive.
AndI'mlike,thatcouldbemeandyou.
Yeah,yeah,yeah.
WouldIwantone?
Idon'tknow.
IIstillwanttogetmyZbackontheroad.
It'sjustsoI'llthrowanothercaratyou,andthenI'vegottoaskyouaquestion.
Please.
SotheIdon'tknowexactlywhatyearitwouldbe,butitwouldbeavetwithasplitwindowrearissuchagorgeousthingtome.
1963only.
Sobeautifulthatcar,right?
WhatdoyouthinkoftheC8Corvettelookingatit?
God,IhaveIknowsomanypeoplethathavethem,includingIhaveafriendwhohasaC8andaDeLoreanwithanLSmotorandabunchofotherCorvettes.
He,he,I'mgonnausehistermbecausehewasinItalyandhegottodriveaFerrari.
Obviously,he'sacarguy.
He'slike,thisistheAmericanFerrari.
Idon'tknow.
Theenginelid,I'mnotlikeenginecover,I'mnotafanof.
Ithinkit'sjustsomethingaboutthatjustkindofthrowsmeoffandmakesmeloseinterest.
Itisapparentlythemaybenottheansweryouwantedtohear,butititislikethecartohave,likeforthemoney.
Youcannotbeatthatcarattrackevents.
IactuallyI'mgoingtoatrackeventinAprilinRichmondwiththeextremeexperience.
Actually,wehadthisplug.
WehadtheirCEOonourpodcasttoo.
Sotheytheybringsupercarstotracksandtakeyougettodrivethem,dependingonhowmuch.
ButhesaidtheC8Z06,hesaidthatisamongsttheirmostpopularcar.
It'sit'snottheLamborghini,it'snottheFerrari,it'sit'sthatcarbecauseit'sit'sreasonable.
ItsoIIaskedthequestion,notbecauseIdon'tthinkthattheC8vetisaheckofacar,itisinallitsflavors.
Uhthewhetherit'stheZ06,andIforgettheIforgetallthenewletterdesignations,buttheythinkZeroOneisandtheyjustcameoutintheZeroOne.
Yeah,IknewtherewasanXinvolvedsomewhere.
Yeah.
Andthesecarsareastonishingwithwhattheirperformanceisandtheircapabilities,andit'sit'sallthat.
It'saheckofacar.
ButIlookatitandIcompareittotheshapesofaC6oraC7,let'ssay.
Andififlooksweretheonlyconsideration,Iwillhaveafrontenginevet,C6orC7,alldayoveraCeight.
Idon'tlikelookingattheCeight,andIfeellikeIshouldn'tbesayingthat.
Butthat'showIfeelaboutit.
Itlookswrongtome,andIcan'tgetmyheadaroundwhatitis.
Partofitistheenginecoverandthelines,andit'sverybusyanditlooksdisproportionatesomehowtome.
Yeah.
ItkindoflooksalittlelikeaBatmobilesomehow,likealaterBatmobile.
Yeah,Iknowexactlywhyyousaythat.
Yeah.
Well,andandititit'sfunnyifyouwanttoseesomethinghappentoyouofthat,ifyou'veheardofwhistlingdieselonYouTube.
Oh,Iwho'dhaven'theardofWhistlingDiesel?
YoujustrecentlydestroyedaC8,soit'sprobablyworthwatchingifyou'relookingatit.
Oh,theoh,theoldMontanaloophole.
Yeah,yeah,yeah.
Youcan'tgotoacarshowwithoutseeingafewcarswithMontanaplates.
True,truestory.
Butyeah,theCorvette,Ithinkthethingformeisthereareadimeadozen.
AndImean,youmightseemoreofthosethanyouseeofyourSubaru,tobehonest.
Yeah.
Right.
Andsoit'sbutit'sanincrediblecar.
Inmycase,Iwouldwanttoseefiveonlybecauseofthepop-upheadlights.
Likethat'stheonlyreason,butlikethat'stietiesmeback.
Butsoman,wetalkedaboutsomanycars,andIhavemorequestionsforyou,Ifyou'reacouplemoreminutesforus,Ethan.
Ido.
Okay,cool.
Sooneofthequestionsweliketoaskonthepodcastiswhatisthemostdangerouscarthatyou'vebeenin,you'vedriven,oryouwereapassengerin,andyou'resmiling.
Iknow,Iknowthestory,butIhaven'theardyoutellit.
SoIwasinokay.
SoI'mgonnadescribethismoreasadangeroussituationthatscaredmeasopposedtothecaritselfwasdangerous.
BecauseIIdon'tthinkthecaritselfwasdangerous,butitwassoImentionedmyson's2015VWGTI.
Thisuh,andandthatthatcarasis,it'svery,verysmall.
YoueverbeeninaGTI?
Youeverbeeninoneofthem?
Yeah.
Soyouknowhowtinythatthingis,right?
Youknow,youyouyouturnaroundandyourelbow'sgonnahittherearglass.
Okay,it'snotthatbad,butit'sit'sasmallcar.
Yeah,asmallcarwithabackseat.
Andit'sanditit'sastick,it'sdefinitelyanenthusiastcar.
It'salotoffuntodrive.
AnduhmycmysonandIboughtthiscartogether.
Thiswashisfirstcar,andhewas,anditwasastick,andhewasdeterminedtolearnhowtodriveastick,andIreallywantedhimtohavethethetheknowledgeofuhakidgrowingupintheyouknowinthemodernerawhereeverything'sanautomaticoryouknow,paddleshiftersorwhatever,toactuallyknowhowtodriveaproperstickwithaclutch.
Andhe'dbeoneofthefewpeopleintheworldthatyoucoulddoitatthispoint,thathardlyanybodyknowshowanymore.
Andhegotit,hegotgoodandhecoulddrivethatcar,andthenhegotintomodding.
Thatisthere'sabigmoddingscenearoundtheGTI.
Yeah,thereisships,shipsareeasyroadsforhegotacobuhtuner,andhegotatuneputonthisthing,andhegotanexhaust,reallyobnoxiouslylost,buthelovedit.
Anduh,andthiscargotfast.
IIdon't,itwasneverdynoed,wedon'tknowexactly,butgottaguessthiscarwaspushing,gettingnear300horseengine,Idon'tthinkwheel,butitwasitwasgettinguptherebecauseyoucanyoucangoalongwaywithjustacobandatune,pumpgas,anduhandacatback.
Youcanmakesomeprettygoodpowerinthatcar.
Andman,ontheroadafterhe'dgottenhislatesttunedone,andwewereonabackroad,wewentonthehighway,andhegotonit,anditscaredthecrapoutofme,notgonnalie.
Wasitdangerous?
Didwealmosthaveanaccident?
No,butIwaspetrifiedofthiscar,thismonstermysonhadcreatedinthisthing.
Itwasfun,butitwasititscaredme.
Yeah.
Andinanothermoment,inthatsamecar,hewasdrivingandIwasinthecartoo.
Yeah,thethreeofusweredefinitelyinthecarwhilesomeonepulledupnexttohimandonthehighway,thisisontheinterstate,andandtheygotthenod,anditwasthethree,two,one,andtheytookoffthepairofthem.
AndI'mjustalongfortheridegoing,thisishappening.
Okay,herewego.
Anditdidn'tlastlong.
Youknow,theytheytheywereshowingoff,youknow,youngmendemonstratinghowmuchpowertheygotunderthehood.
Andagain,nothingbadhappened.
Therewasnoaccidentandnoclosecallsoranything.
Butthatcartomewasdangerousbecauseitwassosmallandsofast,andit'sthekindofcar,ifyougetintoabadaccident,theyjustburyyouinthecar.
Thatwouldbethemostconvenientwaytodealwithyou.
Doeshestillhavethecar?
Wehadtosellthatcar.
Wehegotheputatonofmilesonitandititititoutgrewitsusefullife,requiredtonsandtonsofmaintenanceandmoney.
Andafterthatcariswhenheboughtmyfather,hisgrandfather'sTaurusSHO,whichbecamehisnextdailyafterthat.
SowewesoldtheGTI.
Yeah.
Okay.
Gotcha.
AndhehestillhastheSHO?
TheSHOiswhatjustdiedattheendoflastyear,andthatbecametoomuchmoneytomaintainwhenitdevelopedasignificantoilleak.
Itwasgonnabeintoitwassomethingwrongwithoneoftheturbosandthatengine,anditwasinto4,000sun.
Fixable,notfixablewhenyou'reabrokecollegestudentworkingonyouknowwhat'snextinyourlife.
Sowithlessmaintenance.
Sohe'she'she'sdrivingoneofdad'scarsrightnow,oneofmySubis.
Okay.
Allright.
Well,weknowthat'ssafeandnottoofast.
It'sontheAslongasit'snottheRex.
Imean,thethecarhe'sdrivingisisstillaturbochargedsubaruanduhcangetoutofitsownway,butit'suhititit'sgotallthenannies,alltheelectronicmoderntechstuffonitthatdoesn'tletyouhavetoomuchfun.
Yeah.
Well,youdidthingsinaroundaboutsortofwaywithyourson.
Yougothimthesuperfastcartomakehimhopefullyiappreciatepower,right?
Hedoesandhedoesandinandnowthathe'solder,healsoappreciatesthepracticalityofacarandbeingcomfortableinacarwhenyouhavetogolongdistancesandandallthat.
He'sactuallycardad'scar.
Dad'sgotthecoolcar.
Yeah.
Yeah,yeah.
Igetit.
So,whatisyourfavoritecarmovieorTVshow,Ethan?
There'safewdifferentmemorieshere.
WhenIwasakid,doyourememberashowthatwasonlyonbriefly,butitwascalledAutoman.
Ido.
IthadJesseArnazJr.
init.
SoAutomanisjustonmymemorybecauseitwastheyusedspecialeffectsandandsoon.
Andthiscarwasitwasanimaginarycar.
Idon'tknowwhatthethingwasactuallybasedon,butithadyouknowitglowedandspecialeffectsthatmadeitlooklikeitwasveryfastandontheroadandstuff.
Sothat'skindofaweird,aweirdone.
ButIjustwonderedifyoutoorememberedthatbecauseitreallymadeimpressiononmeasalittlebit.
Ithinkitwasoneseason,andyouremembertheuhthecarwhatcreateditwascalledCursor.
Yes,yes,right.
Cursorwoulddrawupathing,yeah.
Yeah,andotherstufftoothatwouldcometolife.
Yeah.
BacktoourIT,ITfun.
Thatactually,myformerco-hostChristian,hehelovesthatshowtoo.
Soit'sit'sgottabesobadtowatchnow.
Butyeah,IdoIdowonderwhatkindofcarthatwas.
Ialwaysconsideredthatmovie,Ithinkitcameoutrightaroundorthatshowrightaroundthesametime,Tron.
Therewassomecursorandallthat.
Yeah.
You'reabit,theywouldsay,inTronandCursorwaskindofthatsamesortofcreation,yeah.
Exactly.
Exactly.
Yeah,that'sfun.
SoanothercarmovieisSmokeyandtheBandit,ofcourse,thefirstone.
Thesecondone'sgotkindofforgettable,butthefirstonewasalotoffun.
Anduhandthat'sanotheroneofthosecarsthatthatblacktransamthathe'sdriving,whichisactuallynotthatfastandnotthatpowerful,butthewaytheyfilmedit,youknow,madeitlookthatway.
Andmyfavoritescenefromthatmovieistheconvoyscenewhereheneedstohide.
He'sgotsomeonechasinghimdown,andhetucksinbetweenthesesemisthatareridingataconvoy,andthentheothersemipullsoutandpushesthecopoutofthewayandthenscreenshimsohecanhideeffectively.
Whatafunscene.
Justagreatscene.
AmovieIjustwatchedrecentlythat'sintheYouTubecatalog.
YouTube'sgotawholemoviesseriesthattheyrunawholebunchofdifferentmoviesthroughthere.
AndtheGumballRallyshowsupfromtheGumballrally.
Like70s,early80s?
Idon'trememberexactlywhatyearthatcameout,butthere'sabunchofneatcarsinthere,FerrarisandPorsches,andjustamixandmatchofavarietyofinterestingcarsanddriversthathavebackstoriesifyoustartdiggingaroundontheinternetaboutit.
That'safunmovie.
I'veI'vegotamovieforyouthatyoumayitwilltiebacktoyourporloveforPorsches.
NoMan'sLandwithCharlieSheen.
Haveyouseenit?
No,Idon'tthinkso.
You'veyou'vegottowatchit.
It'sCharlieSheenandDBSweeney.
AndCharlieSheenstealsPorsches.
That'slikewhathedoes.
HehasaPorscheshop,whichislikeafrontforhimstealingPorschesandtrue.
DBSweeneyisisanundercovercopandprobablynotthebestmovie,butthere'ssomegreatchasescenesandsceneswith9-11goingaroundsomecrazyhairpinturns,andasyouknow,thetheweightintheback,right?
It'syeah,thatthetheWidowmaker.
Yeah.
TheWidowmaker.
Exactly.
Troubletrouble.
Sosomeotherothercars,youothermoviesyoubroughttomymind.
Again,maybenotthegreatestmovieintheworld,butwell,we'llletmebackupastep.
SteveMcQueen,Bullet.
Greatmovie.
GreatthaticoniccarsceneintheSanFranciscoHillsandallthatattheendwiththebulletMustang.
Whatagreat,justaniconic,memorablescene.
ButthenfastforwardtothethetheremakeofGonein60SecondswithNicolasCagewasinthat,AngelinaJoliewasinthat,andIforgetabunchofothercastofcharacters.
Thewholethingisaboutthemboostingcarsandmovingthemon,andthenthenEleanor,youknow,hiswhitewhale,youknow,theonehecouldneverquitesteal,youknow,andpackageupwithoutthingshappening.
Thatisafuncar.
Funmovie.
AndandEleanorinthatmoviewasabeautiful,beautifulcar.
Justthelookatthatthingwaswasgreat.
AndIIknowit'saremake.
Idon'tthinkI'veeverseentheoriginalGonein60Seconds.
I'minterestedinseeingit,butIhavenot.
IhadIhavenoteither.
SoonuhsinceyousaidtheEleanor,theonethatgotaway,whatisyourcarthatgotaway?
What'syourEleanor?
Iknowwetalkedaboutyourdreamcars,butitwouldhavetobeacarthatyou'veowned.
What'syourEleanor?
Well,Icantellyouaboutacarthatbrokemyheart.
ThiswaswhentheTLwaslikeinallwrittenupinallthemagazinesaslike,thisistheone,man.
Thisthiscarisgreat,Acura,nailedthattheygotitjustraised.
Thisis,IthinkIhaditasIthinkitwasa2006thatIhad.
BecauseIrememberthatthe2008editionofthatcarhadsometaillightsIlikedsomuchbetterthanmy2006.
AndIwasjealous,ifIrememberright.
Anyway,thiscarwasAcura,ofcourse,Honda'spremiumbrand.
Andatthattime,Acurawasrulingtheworld.
Theywereknockingitoutoftheparkwithsomanycars.
They'dcomeonthescene,Idon'tknow,15yearsearlierwiththelegend,20yearsearlierwiththelegend.
AndeverybodyjustknewtheAcuramarkandhelditinthehighestregard.
Andman,ifyoudroveanAcura,thatwasthething.
AndIjustIhadthisopportunitytobuyaTL.
ItwasusedandbutIlovedthatthing.
Itwasblue,ithadasaddleinterior,beige,beigeleather.
Idon'tremember,youknow,perforatedleatherseats.
Hadcamewithanavsystem,whichbackatthedaywherethatwaskindofabigdeal.
Youdidn'thavecarplay.
Andsotohaveacarwithabuilt-innabwaskindofawesome.
Hadareallynicestereointhething,andtheenginejustgotupandwent260-somethinghorse,Ithink,ifIrememberright.
Andlotsofpower.
Ithadalotofaluminuminit.
Sothethingwaslight.
Youknow,yougotunderit,andyouknow,partofthechassiswasaluminum,andpartoftheenginewasaluminum.
Anditwasjustlikeitfeltlikedrivinganexotictome.
Youknow,I'vebeendriving,IdrovealotofFordTauruses,man.
Thosewerenotexcitingcars.
TheygotyoufrompointAtopointB,buttheyweren'texcitingcars.
Alotofplastic.
Yeah,alotofplasticinthosecars.
Plastic.
Yeah,TL.
IIrememberafriendofminewhenIworkedatacompanythatbeginswithaC.
HehegotwhatitIjustrememberittookvoicecommands.
I'mlike,showmehowitworks.
Yeah.
Andhe'slike,okay,passengerheat,seat,heat,turnon.
Andthatwasit.
Iwaslike,oh,that'smaybenotthatexciting.
Andtheydidn'tunderstandyouabouthalfthetime,anyway.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Butthethecarbrokemyheartbecauseitthiswasmydaily.
AnduhandandIdrovethefamilyaroundit.
Ihadtwolittlekidsatthetime,anduhcominghomefromchurchonemorningwithallthekidsdressedupandyouknow,andsoon.
Andthecaroverheatsbad,andwe'realmosthome,butthecarislikedoingmakingbadnoisesanddoingbadthings,andI'mlike,thisisn'thappening.
ThisisaHonda,basically.
Thisislikesupposedtobethemostreliablecarintheworld,andit'smybaby,andIlovethiscar,andthisisn'thappening,andI'mindenialasthisisthisisgoingon.
Longstoryshort,isthecaroverheatedbadly.
Ithinkitwasalikeithadlikeafancythermostat.
Itwasn'tjustasimplebimetal,youknow,thermostatthatwouldopenwhenthetempsgothotenough.
Itwassomethingelectronicallycontrolledandsomethingfailed.
Andthatthermostatgotshut,causedthecartooverheat,andithadissuesandothersortsofproblemsbecauseithadoverheatedandwhatevergotwarped.
Itwasjustneverquiteright.
Itwasdrivable,butneverright.
AndInevertrusteditanything.
AndeverytimeIhadtotakeitinforservicetothedealer,therewasonlyoneAcuradealeraround.
AndI'dI'dbroughtitinthereandthey'dgivemealoanerandI'dgotowork.
AnditwasabitofapaininthebuttforeverafteruntilIuhItradeditinon,Ithinkthatwas,IthinkthatIthinkItradedthatcarinonmyfirstSubaru,actually,onthefirstSubaruthatIbought.
Iwifeuhhadboughtone,butthenIboughtoneafterbecauseIwassoimpressedwithwithwhatshewasdriving.
AndIthinkItradedintheTLtogetthatfirstSubaru,whichwas2012ImprezaHatch.
NottheWRX,butbutbutthethefirstyearofthenextgenerationoftheImpress,whichIthinkwasaGen4atthatpoint.
Anyway.
Okay.
SotheTLnotexactlytheonethatgotaway,buttheonethatIhadthehighestexpectationsforandkilledmebecauseofsomecrappypartthatbasicallywreckedthemotor.
Yeah.
Nowwe'reSubarufamily.
Yeah.
GotallSubarusI'vehadandImpresses.
IhadaIhadaForesterXTforawhilethatwedroveveryhighmiles,andtheengineeventuallyblew,kindofaknownproblemwiththebanjobolts,decidedtonotputtheputanotherengineinit,hadhadhadhadacrosstrek,hadmultipleoutback.
NowI'vegottwooutbackwildernesses,2022s,andandtheRex,big2011WRXhatch.
SoIdon'tknowhowmanytotalSubarusI'vehad.
Ihavetothinkaboutit,butabunch.
Abunch.
Yeah,yeah.
Definitely,definitelyaSubarufamily.
SoIwanttoshifttothetriviaquestionandanswer.
Sowhatwasawhatwasthedevicecreatedforcars?
Andit'spresentineverymoderndaycar.
Ican'tthinkofasingleonethatwascreatedbyablindperson.
Gotme,man.
Idonotknow.
Sothegentleman'snamewasRalphTitor.
Hewasanengineerwholosthissightatagefive,andheinventedwhatwascalledthespeedostat,laterrenamedCruiseControlin1950.
Andthecreationcamefromthefactthathewasfrustratedinridingwithhislawyer.
Theywouldtalkandthelawyerwasslowingdown,speedingup.
AndIthinkitjustkindofmadehimfeelalittlesick.
Andsohewenthomeandengineeredthiscreation,andwehavehimtothankforit.
Isn'tthatamazing?
Whereingenuitycomesfrom.
Andyouknow,Ihavetoplug,wewehavesomany,IIIfeellikeI'mbragging,butwehavesomanygreatepisodes,andwe'vetalkedaboutabunchofthem.
Idon'tknowifyou'veheardtheepisodewithDr.
RobertKearnsorhisson,whoTimothyKearns,wholivesnearby.
HehisdadcreatedtheintermittentwindshieldviperinDetroit.
Itwaskindofstolenbythebigthree,itwasthelongestcaseofpatentinfringementrunningforover30years.
Thechildrenwereinvolvedinit,andtherewasamovieaboutit,whichTimisveryproudofthemovie.
IIthinkit'safantasticfamilymovie,andforcarenthusiasts,it'scalledlet'ssee,whatisitcalled?
ItiscalledFlashofGeniuswithGregKneer,who'safamousactor.
Sohighlyrecommendwatchingthemovie.
Timisportrayedbyakidwithablueshirt.
Hisolderbrother,whoactuallyjustrecentlypassedaway,Dennisisinvolved,andthefamilyhelpedthefathergotocourt,andthefatherwasvery,youknow,driven.
Andhecouldhavehad,Idon'tknow,30milliondollarsfromFordandhesaidno.
Andhetookittocourtandhewon.
Heprobablygotlessmoney,buthewasidealisticandhegothehehewasarhewasrighteousinhisindignationandwantedjusticeserved.
Yeah,welldoneforhim.
Anduhyeah,whatitit'sagreatstory,andjusthavinghavingmetTim,whoalsoownsaPorsche,bytheway,thatherithatheraces.
HelIliveinMarylandonAnnapolisinAnnapolis,whichisthestatecapital,andhelivesontheeasternshore,whatwecalltheothersideofMaryland,whereyouhavetogooverthelargeChesapeakeBayBridge.
Butyeah,havingmetTiminpersonandjusthearingthestoryandIwatchedthemoviewithmykidsisawonderfultale.
Sojustmademethinkofthem.
Soyeah,we,ifpeoplewanttofindyou,Ethan,Imeanyou'realloveranythingwithnetworking,packandpushers,networkpopsup.
Up.
ButifyouwanttofindEpen,youcanfindhimonhiswebsite,thecompanywebsite,PacketPushers.net.
YoucanfindhimontheirYouTubeYouTubechannel,PacketPushersNetwork.
Andofcourse,anywhereyougetpodcasts,thereareatotalof13differentpodcastsonyourwebsite.
Yeah,13activeshowswe'vegotnowandsomeothermiscellaneousfeeds.
Butbutyeah,yeah,there'slotsandlotsofPacketPusherscontentoutthere,lotsofpods,andI'monI'monthreeofthem.
Nope.
HearyourvoiceoftenandIIseeyourLinkedInandI'mgladtohaveaanothercarguy,sameage,who'salsoalsointotechandhe'sgotgreatstories.
Sothankyouforinvitingme.
Thiswasalotoffun,Doug.
That'sfun.
Yeah,lovetohaveyouback.
Youhavemorestories.
Lovetohaveyouryoursonoryourwifeon,yourcolleagues,friends,anyanyone.
Solookingforwardtogettingthisout.
AndaswegentlysteerthepodcastintoPitLane,IwanttothankEthanBanksforbeingontheshow.
Again,it'sbeenanhonorhavinglistenedtoyourshowfor15years.
AndIthinkreallyitwasthefirstpodcastofitstypetogooutthereandtalkaboutcomputernetworks.
Anditwas.
Yeah.
Andyouguyscontinuetoimpressandallthedifferentpodcaststhathavespawnedfromitandtheevents,NetworkFieldDayandallthoseotherthings.
Well,wedidn'tstartNetworkFieldDay,butwecertainlywereapartofitbackinthebeginning.
Andstillare.
Yeah.
Andjusthavingseenthepodcastgrow.
Andthenyeah,thisisfantastic.
Soyouhavejustheardthehighrevving,lowmileage,latemodelheardroundtheworld,authoritativepodcastonautomotivenostalgia.
Andifyouhaveagreatstorytoshareorhaveafriendwhohasagreatstory,pleasedropusaline.
Andwe'reactiveonallthesocialmedia,includingLinkedIn,Facebook,Instagram,andYouTube.
Buttheeasiestwaytofindallourcontentistogotoourlinktree,LINKTRdotEEslashCarsLove,ordropusanote,sendusastory,referafriend,storiesatCarsLove.com.
Andwe'llseeyounexttime.
About this episode
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.
Original notes
Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!
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.
Don't miss Ethan's favorite past episode with Neil and Ruchin, authors of The Kansal Clunker, discussing their 1998 Acura Integra restoration: https://buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/18696226
Connect with our guest:
🌐 Website: packetpushers.net
🎥 YouTube: Packet Pushers Network
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