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#29: High School Plus Cars, Part 1

#29: High School Plus Cars, Part 1

Life Plus Cars Jan 08, 2026 42 min
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About this episode

A nostalgic dive into high school memories centered around cars, this episode features host Ian and his friends Martin, Alex, Colby, and Brendan sharing hilarious stories from their teenage years. They reminisce about their first cars, including a Subaru Outback, a Volvo 850, and a Chevy Suburban, while recounting wild adventures like pancake tailgating and mischief involving duct tape and Saran wrap. The camaraderie and humor shine through as they reflect on the joys and challenges of being young car enthusiasts.

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Car

Chevrolet Caprice Estate

"Oh, it's glorious. Yeah. It was a 1984 Caprice estate. Nice."

The Chevrolet Caprice Estate is a large family car that was made in the 1980s. It had a distinctive wood panel design and was often used for road trips and family outings.

Car

Volkswagen Rabbit

"...t was a 1984 Caprice estate. Nice. Let me down a rabbit hole and I don't know, Ian and Brendan, you proba..."

The Volkswagen Rabbit is a small car that’s easy to park and great for city driving. It’s known for being reliable and fun to drive, which is why many people like it.

Car

Chevrolet Corvettes

"...the streets were just filled with Corvettes. And that was just pretty much it. It was just like in just this tiny little Pennsylvania town, it would just be Corvette, Corvette, Corvette..."

The Chevrolet Corvette is a famous sports car made in America. It's known for being fast and having a unique look, making it popular among car enthusiasts.

Car

Subaru Outback

"...So I had the 1998 Subaru Outback..."

The 1998 Subaru Outback is a type of car that can handle rough roads and bad weather. It's great for people who like to go on adventures and need space for gear.

Term

hood scoop

"with like the not functional, but very cool hood scoop. Yes. I missed that car."

A hood scoop is a feature on some cars that lets air in through the hood. It can help the engine run better by providing it with more air.

Term

horsepower

"At least the hood scoop added at least another 10 horsepower. At least."

Horsepower is a way to measure how powerful an engine is. More horsepower usually means the car can go faster or perform better.

Term

fog lights

"Oh, yeah. Don't forget the giant fog lights too."

Fog lights are special lights on a car that help you see better when it's foggy. They shine low to the ground to cut through the fog.

Concept

rally car

"Basically a rally car. That was a solid car."

A rally car is a special kind of car made for racing on different types of roads, like dirt and gravel. They are built to handle tough conditions and go fast.

Car

Subaru Legacy

"...my dad's 98 Subaru Legacy. And it looked sort of like a poor man sports car because my dad bought one with a spoiler on the back and it actually did make it look pretty..."

The Subaru Legacy is a car that is known for being reliable and good in various weather conditions. The 1998 version is especially liked for its sporty look and good handling.

Term

spoiler

"...because my dad bought one with a spoiler on the back and it actually did make it look pretty..."

A spoiler is a part of a car that helps it stay stable when going fast. It can also make the car look sportier and more attractive.

Term

symmetrical all-wheel drive

"...That's symmetrical all wheel drive. Thank you, Subaru. There it is."

Symmetrical all-wheel drive means that all four wheels of the car get power from the engine, which helps the car stay stable and grip the road better, especially in bad weather.

Car

Subaru WRX

"...uld have told you that strength is car was like a WRX or one of the sporty ones just because it had a ..."

The Subaru WRX is a fast and sporty car that can handle tough roads and weather conditions because it has all-wheel drive. People love it for its speed and the fun of driving it, especially if they like racing or rallying.

Term

e-brake

"...they'd hang the cars like off, like they'd be pointed down that hill? You remember that? That was so crazy. They're just like showing off the e-brake at that time..."

The e-brake, also known as the emergency brake, is a special brake that helps keep the car from rolling when it's parked. It can also be used to help stop the car in emergencies.

Car

Subaru Baja

"...that cafeteria guy at the Hanover Hype had a Subaru Baja that he bought that was pointing down the hill. Oh my gosh. A Baja, Baja has entered the chat. Wow."

The Subaru Baja is a vehicle that looks like a mix between a car and a small truck. It was made by Subaru and is known for being different and useful for carrying things.

Car

Chevrolet Suburban

"... also not a car guy in any shape because we is a suburban. Why did we, why did we slash you guys call it th..."

The Chevrolet Suburban is a big SUV that can carry a lot of people and stuff, making it great for families or trips. It’s known for being strong and able to tow heavy things, which is why many people like to use it.

Concept

pickup truck

"...but I don't recall your suburban having a back bed. It was just three rows of seats if I recall correctly. And you could, yeah, you could take the third one out..."

A pickup truck is a type of vehicle that has a flat open area in the back for carrying things. It's great for moving stuff around and can also carry people in the front seats.

Concept

GVWR

"...the reason that they called it a truck is because it was on the exact same frame and same GVWR as their pickups. So Chevy and GMC, they marketed as a truck because it was same frame..."

GVWR is a number that tells you how much weight a vehicle can safely hold, including everything inside it. It's important for knowing how much stuff you can carry without overloading the vehicle.

Brand

GMC

"...the reason that they called it a truck is because it was on the exact same frame and same GVWR as their pickups. So Chevy and GMC, they marketed as a truck..."

GMC is another car brand that makes trucks and SUVs, similar to Chevy. They are known for their strong and tough-looking vehicles.

Brand

Chevy

"...the reason that they called it a truck is because it was on the exact same frame and same GVWR as their pickups. So Chevy and GMC, they marketed as a truck..."

Chevy is a popular car brand in the United States that makes many types of vehicles, including trucks and cars. It's short for Chevrolet.

Term

V8

"Yeah. V8, nothing better. That's true."

A V8 engine has eight cylinders that help the car go really fast and give it a lot of power. It's often found in trucks and sports cars.

Car

Audi S6

"...2, and he had his... I guess he probably had his S6 by then. Yeah, sure. But he was keeping the 92 a..."

The Audi S6 is a fancy car that’s really fast and fun to drive. It has a lot of luxury features inside, making it comfortable and high-tech, which is why some people love it.

Part

exhaust headers

"Your dad put headers on it, exhaust headers? No. He bought it with headers."

Exhaust headers are parts that help the exhaust gases leave the engine more efficiently. They can make the car sound better and help it run faster.

Term

exhaust manifold

"So all cars have an exhaust manifold, which is basically where the exhaust comes out the side of the engine."

The exhaust manifold is a part of the engine that gathers the exhaust gases and sends them out of the car. It's an important part of how the engine works.

Term

5.7 V8

"...would have been the 5.7, the 3.50 V8. I remember we were doing our high school assassin thing..."

The 5.7 V8 is a type of engine with eight cylinders that helps the car produce a lot of power. It's commonly found in larger vehicles like trucks and SUVs.

Car

Volvo 850

"Yep. So it was a 1996 Volvo 850, affectionately known as the tank. It was a sedan. It was gold."

The Volvo 850 is a sturdy car made by Volvo in the 1990s. It's known for being safe and reliable, which is why some people call it a 'tank'.

Car

Chevrolet Impala

"...s that. Oh, you got your yeah, you got your your Impala or your no tourists. Sorry. It was a Ford tourist..."

The Chevrolet Impala is a large car that’s comfortable to drive and has plenty of room for passengers. It’s a good choice for families because it’s reliable and has a smooth ride.

Car

Ford Taurus

"...and then that was also the same period that I had the tourists that. Oh, you got your yeah, you got your your Impala or your no tourists. Sorry. It was a Ford tourist."

The Ford Taurus is a type of car made by Ford. It is known for being a comfortable family car with a lot of space inside.

Car

Honda Odyssey

"...amily's. Yes, which I'm glad you brought up that Odyssey, Alex, because that also brings to mind another c..."

The Honda Odyssey is a minivan that’s great for families because it has lots of space and features that make traveling easier. It’s known for being dependable and comfortable, which is why many parents choose it.

Car

Volkswagen Jetta

"... a 98, which I know the year crazy, a Volkswagen Jetta that we named Jitters. Yep. And then it was my se..."

The Volkswagen Jetta is a small car that’s easy to drive and has a nice, comfortable interior. It’s popular because it’s reliable and gets good gas mileage, making it a smart choice for everyday use.

Car

Saab 900

"I remember racing what Danny Freed had a like a 1989 Saab 900. We were racing that..."

The Saab 900 is a type of car made by the brand Saab. The 1989 version was known for its distinctive look and could have a turbo engine, which made it faster.

Car

Chevy Trailblazer

"Hague Beaton had, I think it was a, I want to say a Trailblazer, you know, like a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer or something."

The Chevy Trailblazer is a type of SUV made by Chevrolet. The 2002 model was popular for being roomy and good for driving on different types of roads.

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