999: The Field Of Dreams Race Track, Long-Distance Love, Gamify Your Driving

Love them or hate them, everyone has an opinion on cars. But we believe we're all one great car away from a car enthusiast. So we're here to help you find a car you love and let it take us to everything else in life. I'm Todd. I'm Paul and this is the everyday driver car debate. Hello again everybody and hello for our last audio only studio podcast. I want to do some business up front and let you guys know what's going on here, what's going on. But we've got really cool announcements to make.

We've got two really cool car debates. Then we have a bunch of questions because you guys have bombarded us because you're watching. Thank you for watching. You're watching our latest piece on our main channel. That's right. $50,000 off-roaders, that includes the new 6GEN 4Runner. Now this is the TRD off-road. We just recently got back from the HQ Confidential event. We're going to talk about a few more vehicles that were released there, but we drove. The off-road took the fifth gen with us because the V6 is still beloved by enthusiasts, collectors, everyone.

They're still actually fairly expensive. In some cases, more the trim levels are more than the cost of the new one. For sure, yeah. And then we thought what are their $50,000 off-roader, the king? I mean, the legend is the Land Rover Discovery, the disco. The one with the scary potential reliability, but it's also the one with all the running gear. Yeah. Throws everything at off-roading and it's admittedly pretty impressive. This is episode 999. Triple 9. There actually currently isn't a Porsche model. That's 999. So we don't have to talk about Porsche this time though.

The key thing to know is this. This is coming out on a Friday. Happy Friday. Hope you have an amazing holiday weekend. It is Memorial Day weekend in the U.S. So most of you have Monday off. We will be working because we're prepping for roadtrip and for Coda. But that's nice work. I gotta admit, that's good work if you can get it. This will come out from Memorial Day weekend in 2025. And this begins a sporadic schedule for us for about the next month. I just want to let you know, as a podcast listener, thank you so much for liking this podcast.

We hope you've rated and reviewed it. We hope you've shared it with friends. It has been a twice a week phenomenon for us that has just been that we can't believe all of you guys listening. It's just been unbelievable to us for more than a decade. But this one will then take a break for about a week. And we will resurface on Saturday, May 31st, that night for a live stream to the everyday driver YouTube channel from Circuit of the Americas. We're going to live stream from there. That'll be our 1,000th pod

podcast live audience from the tower at Coda. Paul may have to be like climbing rope tethered to the back wall chain to the back wall. But we're going to do it. It's going to be very cool. That'll be in the middle of our monster road trip. And then let's be honest, we're still roadtripping. And we're moving to video. So between when that 1,000th drops on May 31st and our next actual podcast will be one of the later weeks of June. So be a couple week break there. Once you guys to know that ahead of time. Also what we'll do is we'll live stream that podcast. Then we'll pull

it down after 24 hours. So we'll pull it down. I'm going to do a little bit of editing around it to kind of give you the sense of the code event that we've had around it. And then I'm going to repost it for real with a nice thumbnail and just kind of more celebratory with some good stuff edited around it. That'll come out mid June. And then our next video podcast will come and that'll be our intention is it'll be Tuesday is going forward. It'll be a video podcast available on YouTube. However, for all of you that have listened forever, you'll be able to continue to listen. Nothing will change.

And on the listening side, it'll still be something that is audio. I am very concerned about it still being listener friendly and not just something you have to watch. So it'll exist on all the platforms that currently have it. I want you guys to know that starting at 1,000, but between now and probably a month from now going to be a little sporadic for the podcast, but we're incredibly excited at what's coming. So all this leads to hooked on driving at Coda May 31st June 1st 2025. We're talking about this for more than six months. Yes, I know. Finally upon us. Uh huh.

There's other hooked on driving events around the country to that you need to know about hooked on driving is at hedge hollow race track southeast of Kansas City June 13th through 15th. We will be there later in June hooked on driving is coming to the National Corbett Museum track NCM June 28th 29th. We will also be there. We would love to see you. We have never driven that track. If you are in the area we would love to have you register come out get great coaching have a great time.

Devon Bain and his wife Heather with Ryan Lorman as head coach are the new mid Atlantic region. Yes. That's June 28th 29th 2025. This begins are operating the barbecue apparently so we're excited to have him do that. This begins our whole June monster road trip season because you and I are going everywhere besides this monster trip. We're taking all the way to tail of the dragon. We're circling back in our cars will have not only us, but our cars at the hedge hollow event. This is supposed to be like the hidden gym track in the Midwest. This has been a guy's private race track.

It is opening up to HP or organizations like us come out to the inaugural Midwest hooked on driving event. We will be there with our cars and you get to drive hedge hollow which the more I hear about it the more I can't believe this unit is it's the track equivalent of field of dreams.

Guy with a crew field goes I'm going to make the ultimate thing and he makes a race track. It's the field of dreams race track in the middle of a genuinely a Kansas or public to make it a well technically the field of dreams think of the public as well.

That was the catalyst. That's the difference actually open it up. Yes, but but we're very excited to be there. So that is that thing. And then you and I have been talking about going to National Corvette Museum ever since we bought the C8 about almost two years ago at this point.

Yeah, so we are finally getting to go there the ZR one just got driven by some press we're hoping maybe we can get our hands on something heavy duty from the across the street Corvette Museum there be nice we'll see factory exactly right there like could you just do that one that would I'll take that color that's why they roll that we'll just anyway we'll be there. We're very excited about it. We're excited to support the mid Atlantic region, but we're also just thrilled to get on that track. If you are joining us for the code adventure or you can't join us for the code adventure, but either hedge hollow Kansas City

area is near you or bowling green Kentucky is near you come out to one of those events we would love to see you get you on track. It's going to be awesome. But wait there's more there's more you're right hooked on driving is at Watkins Glen July 4th weekend 2025. Make sure you register now for a three day weekend including camping. There's going to be loudest exhaust contest. There's going to be a car show. There's going to be of course the HPD the great coaching and instruction from saunting and Cody at the track three days.

But camping is available fireworks. It's going to be an incredible event if you're in the Northeast area. You've never been to Watkins Glen. This is your event July 4th weekend 2025. We are so excited. We will not be there unfortunately. But we are so thrilled that they're putting on this event. It's going to be a huge monster on the car thing as you and I have been traveling already for all of our adventures. We got back from Toyota HQ, which is an unbelievable facility.

Toyota can't roll out everything they are currently making under Toyota and Lexus including some concepts are not even allowed to talk about yet. But they rolled out everything you can imagine that they make including this this rock thing that was at the last SEMA, which is a crazy. It looks like you crossed the current land cruiser with Bronco Raptor, but those two and a blender. That's what this look like. That was there. The land cruiser with cool doors cool interior. Yes, different bodywork. Yes, it's the business. The biggest news of this event.

was the refresh of Toyota's best selling vehicle, one of the best selling vehicles in the US, the RAV4, which sells almost a half million units a year, ponder that for a second.

So it comes in many trims, including some trims they've never done before, and they rolled them all out and we got to see them. Nobody got to drive it. But we got to do the, oh look, the wraps just came off it. In fact, we were at the event while it was being kind of advertised everywhere nationwide and worldwide.

I need to comment on the styling for the RAV4 and admittedly there's a nice through line that could also be confusing between models at this point, especially for their SUVs. But they have introduced really beautiful surfaces truly on a vehicle that isn't a supercar isn't a hypercar. There's some great, great surfaces on there. So this sixth generation RAV4 now has three different grades and then a bunch of trim levels within each grade.

So there's core, rugged and sport, and the core includes le XLE limited front wheel driver, all wheel drive. There's different engine configurations too and there's so much choice here.

You've got PHEVs in the rugged category, so you can get up to 320 horsepower. You've got the new woodland nomenclature for all wheel drive, different than the street model, which is great.

And then all the way up to sport and Toyota has introduced GR sport nomenclature for the very first time. Of course, they have GR, but until now they have not had GR sport and that comes with a PHEV powertrain and all wheel drive, also up to 320 horsepower in a RAV4.

Again, nobody drove anything. They've got full hybrids, full PHEV hybrids and then a lot of different grade trim levels within these three different grades, core, rugged sport.

I think they're going to sell a ton of these. I'm looking forward driving it, but of course, the whole point of the RAV4 has never been to drive it. It's like, oh, it's a great driving thing. It's been good, but it's not the reason you buy a RAV4, but I expect it's going to drive well enough.

It's going to have all of these trims had a bunch of trims the prior time, but this GR sport trim is not a full GR RAV4. It's like a mid trim.

It is better than nothing. They are giving it more power. They said they're going to give a different suspension tuning. We've seen this do this concept successfully with like the Tacoma sport, which has a little bit more of a sporty take it on road ride.

So this is GR sport for the RAV4. So hopefully it does have a little bit sportier feel to drive, but it's not a full GR. You actually made the comment at one point over this past week that it's like when M does embatching, but it's not an M car like an M240.

Better than the two series, but not a full M car. This is that kind of thinking for the RAV4. The other thing they are returning with is the Toyota CHR, now returning as a EV all-wheel drive.

I'm sorry. Look, I enjoyed this. We have good friends at Toyota. They're good to us. We like a lot of their product, but even Toyota is susceptible to what are you doing?

And my favorite quote took about these last few days. I've said it to you multiple times was said to us with a straight face said to a room of journalists with a straight face.

And I don't know if anybody else cringed like I did, but the quote was our customers have told us there's not enough choice in SUVs.

Up to this point, we have counted. Toyota has offered nine or 10 different SUVs, not counting the trim levels. Like yes, just different SUVs.

Yes, but now we have even more choice. Who did they ask? This is my question. Our customers have told us there's not enough choice in SUVs. The entire market is SUVs. Walk away from Toyota. It's just a sea of five-seat SUVs at every possible size. What's missing?

Could it be dealer groups because if they don't land the sale because they don't have the exact thing that a particular customer was looking for on that day, then they're complaining to Toyota to say we didn't have that exact. Okay, we'll figure out this niche of a niche of a grade.

The number one thing this market makes, meaning cars. What are the car market make now SUVs? What do they make them in every size imaginable? Can you buy one? Yes, pick your brand.

If you had said pickups, I would have believed you and there's too many pickups. Yeah, but SUVs. That is the last thing we need more of but we're all leaning in. So there we go. We'll see what else is coming. Don't forget the BZ. They were very excited about the BZ.

The BZ Forex was the old name. They've dropped the Forex because nobody really got it. Nobody wanted to actually say BZ Forex.

So they have decided to rename it completely and it is now the BZ. Beyond zero, that's right. They've got the woodland edition of the BZ as well. They have also introduced beautiful colors for the woodland.

The colors admittedly they showed of the woodland in were nearly camouflage. They would the car kind of bend in it. If they pull you're a forest, it would blend into the forest and be like, where's my car? Hit the fog. They'd bush flashed amber lights. That must be my car.

Yes, it was that kind of shade. So the woodland is making its way. They are introducing a lot of cool new nomenclature naming. They're very excited about the woodland edition.

But then they've got blue, this new blue color, which is absolutely superb. It's on all of their TRD Pro products. It's called wave maker.

Courages. Toyota learned this more than a decade ago but they started doing and they're continuing to do it with the TRD Pro. They started offering a one year only special color.

And it was so successful on the trucks. They actually started doing it as well. You may have noticed on the GR cars. Like there was a really cool light blue on the super that was only available for one year.

So what they will do is they will offer that special color on one model for one year only. And then you can really tell who the Toyota fans are because they know what year your car or truck is based on the color they're seeing it in.

I've seen people walk up and be like, oh my gosh, it's a 2024 runner. And I'm sitting here going, how do you know it's a 2020 from the other because that color was only offered in 2020. Okay, calm down.

I think my favorite part of the new color is the marketing behind the color. Oh, the marketing is just cool color. It's the best cool new blue with wave maker. And I'm quoting here.

quoting the marketing materials is always we have friends in market to get Toyota, but it's still my very favorite thing of these events. You're not ready. Nobody's ready with wave maker. Toyota was inspired by unexplored areas of adventure, including extreme territory and even beyond earth.

Wave maker expresses an elemental spirit that evokes images of glacial depths and the thrill of new frontiers. It's blue. It's a great look at the blue, but it's blue. Well, I'm sorry, but you can't call out our space because we haven't found water anywhere else yet. I just say it. I love the marketing speak behind it, but cool color.

It is really enough for me. And it really makes all the TRD this Sequoia, the tundra, Tacoma, all the four runners. Well, really fantastic. But how did we come up with this? You don't you could have just mixed too much pigment. And I came up with this blue and look how good it looks. Yeah, this is fine with that. They could have called it killer blue. We would have been fine with that.

Like whoops, it was left over in the corner. We found this cool shade and we tried to replicate it and didn't quite match, but we came with a new one anyway.

Somebody was given one of those little like panels that they make when they first test a car. You know, they have like the here's the color your car could be. What do they call those? You know what I'm talking about?

Oh, little speed forms exactly. Yeah, somebody was given a speed form in that color set on their desk. And they said your task today is to write the marketing story behind this color. And then they went home. And that's what we got. And we just read it to you. But either way, we're making fun of a color that is actually phenomenal. So good.

I wish it was offered on something other than the TRD pro makes you want to buy a TRD pro product. I don't even need one just because it's a cool color. Yeah.

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Liam C. is in Brooklyn, New York riding to us because he got a big boy job. He is a recent listener.

Thank you Liam for riding. Really appreciate it. Like I said he's in Brooklyn, New York where traffic is crazy.

Insurance is even crazier. He just got this new job and he wants to finally upgrade from his old 1993 Honda Accord.

Hey I had a 93 Accord. You know I was a 92 but still same body style.

I hate to point this out but that's a 30 year old car.

Anyway, Liam's budget is around $30,000 but he's willing to stretch for the right car.

He's not commuting with it. Mostly Jim runs, groceries, going out, the occasional weekend trip.

So he wants something fun, turbo charged and ideally all-wheel drive since New York City weather can be unpredictable and he loves the planted feel.

He rented a BMW M340i for a weekend trip to New Jersey, fell in love with it.

I'm not surprised. Those are very good. They're excellent.

He also drove a Nissan GTR on a track and got hooked on performance.

Whatever you decide bring it to a hooked on driving.

Yes, you have to. You should. No question.

Hooked on driving. Santi and Cody run at NJMP, both track.

Yes, do. Yeah.

Pit race. There's a lot. Check that.

Lots of stuff. Check the schedule.

Now, he knows manuals are king, Liam says, but they're off the table for him for now.

So he is sticking to automatics.

Some of the cars that he's been considering include Genesis G73.3, all-wheel drive.

Volkswagen Golf R, yes.

Infinity Q50, red sport 400.

Lexus IS350, also all-wheel drive, and the Alpha Julia Velocè Q4.

He's also toyed with the Quad because if you're going to look at a Julia, you...

It's going to come up.

May as well look at the Quadrifoli.

I mean, this is the big thing with the Alpha Julia is the fact that

I see why you're looking at the Q4 because that's the all-wheel drive one.

Now, that has the base 4-cylinder turbo engine, which I will admit every time I've driven that car in that engine,

I felt like it was more powerful than the stats suggest.

But it is a little 4-cylinder and that's a good all-wheel drive.

If you go with the Quadrifoli, not only do you not get all-wheel drive,

but you will get a car whose back half would like to not have grip because it has a lot of power.

I would highly encourage you, actually, Liam, because I love that car.

And I think if I were looking for a fun sedan that ought to commute in daily, that's the thing.

The all-wheel drive reality of it I think is even less important because you aren't having to use it daily.

If you're willing to die to the all-wheel drive requirement,

I think the Alpha Julia, because you've already called it out, is the answer.

I decided it was a non-starter that we had to have it.

So I'm taking it off to talk about other things, but I think you've discovered it, Liam, I think you would love it.

But it isn't all-wheel drive.

In fact, it is kind of Zany 2-wheel drive.

I like Zany. I agree. Zany's cool.

What's wrong with that? Nothing.

Yeah.

Liam wants something he can pay off quickly or even buy outright just to avoid monthly stress and high premiums.

Okay.

Where we recommend that balance is fun, reliability and urban livability.

Size is a consideration here.

I think there's anything that he's missing that should be on his radar.

You've got a great list going so far.

Yes, there's lots of things.

And when I started, I might have blown up your budget a little bit because they thought that

in my head it was Audi RS3, but they're not $30,000.

That's a really great one.

It's just the wrong price one.

But it's an excellent, excellent choice here.

Yes.

So if you could find an RS3 that's not branded or salvaged title and it's $30,000 quick by it.

I mean, you could go S3. It's not as excited, which you could go S3.

And get down and close to your budget by a couple of years old when I'm probably just get it done.

No, actually, that's great.

I do think it works here because it's small, little urban run about.

It's also not a super flashy car.

But it's everything you're looking for.

It would be fun.

It would be good.

I think that it's more interesting and a little more big boy job than the Volkswagen Golf R.

That's the reason I like it.

Golf R is cool.

RS3, S3 says another step.

It does.

You're moving on up.

All right.

Also on my list, Liam is the Acura TLX ASPEC with the tech package.

There are many under $30,000.

Many.

Super handling all will drive.

I'm wondering about the Type S.

I don't know if you can get it for $30.

I would rather you're in the Type S.

I would too.

I don't think that's the one worth stretching for.

That's the one that really got under my skin for you is I really think that the TLX Type S is the fun power

that you're looking for in the Alfa Juley in a car you just can't see.

Let's see what Auto Tip says, but keep going.

The car that I think you should buy.

You said you liked the M340i.

Why is the 2021 BMW M240i X-Drive with 29,000 miles for $29,000?

Not on your radar.

Excellent choice.

That is the car.

You're right.

Done, X-Drive, 30,000 miles for 30 grand.

We're done.

I think that's the car that you should get.

That's very good.

However, Liam, I have a wild card for you.

Good.

I mentioned that you don't want manual for now.

But how can I convince you to get manual because you are not commuting in it?

Jim runs groceries going out in the occasional weekend trip.

And you enjoy that GTR on track, which means if you had something to track, you'd probably bring it.

You'd probably go to more track days.

I see it.

Yep, yep.

Right.

And that is everyone, a 2023 Toyota GR Corolla Core, they are $32,000 all day long.

He could also get an auto.

Well, the problem is the autos aren't down there quite yet.

Because they haven't been out long enough.

They haven't been out long enough.

Sure.

But the manual GR Corolla Core is $32,000 and you can rock a GR Corolla.

Practically a brand new car.

Yeah, I get it.

Now, Todd and I just drove the new automatic GR Corolla on Eagle's Canyon Raceway.

That's just the north west of Dallas.

What a great track.

Technical.

There is money being dumped into that track.

We did the off-road course there.

And for as flat as Texas is.

That was a track with constant elevation.

Constant.

You never really didn't have elevation in that track.

For both off-road and track.

I mean, there's outbuildings going in.

There's condo, car condos, fantastic facility.

But when we drove it on track, I thought, oh my gosh.

I mean, the track is superb.

So we need to have track days there in the future.

But when I came across the GR Corolla Core.

Nothing higher, the trim level higher than that, I wish.

Not like a circuit or anything.

Maybe.

But $32,000 because you're not buying a car for commuting.

OK.

All right.

I see it.

Yeah.

Sit in traffic.

Yeah, yeah.

That's right out.

But manual.

Oh, that's a fun special car.

But if still, it's still a hard no.

Still in your price.

I mean, exactly within your budget are M240i's.

2021.

That's five-year-old car.

Not bad at all.

And it's a great, great car.

Yeah.

In fact, we like that, Jen.

Better than we do the current one, which got bigger.

And you can get a good all-wheel drive.

Fun performing BMW out of that.

It's an area.

I like this very much, Liam.

I'm going to talk about the Genesis G70 versus the Infinity Red Sport.

These are both very good sedans.

The thing is, the Genesis wins because it looks better.

It seems more modern.

And I think the chassis is a bit more willing.

The best thing about the Infinity Q50 Red Sport 400 is that engine,

which found its way into the Z-Car and should have.

The engine's phenomenal.

That Q50 Red Sport drives far better than it should.

You come to how old that chassis is.

I mean, it's got weird double screens in the center console.

I mean, they have been milking that chassis for a long time.

It does drive well.

I don't think it drives as well as the Genesis.

And the best thing about it is the engine.

The car seems like an old car that they keep resurrecting.

So that's the reason that it's out.

The Lexus IS350 all-wheel drive and the Golf R.

Both feel like while owning them, you'll find them to be fine.

I don't think they're interesting enough.

Now the Golf R of course you could tune it.

The Lexus is just a little bit soft and kind of...

You're not in the full IS500, which is a very cool V8.

The 350 is a little bit subdued for what I feel like in the others of these.

The Golf R you could certainly tune, but I think the Audi product

is more interesting for you here.

I did look and I am pleased to say that the Acura TLX Type S,

which is the all-wheel drive performance model you want.

You don't have to worry about backseat space.

You'll be fine.

You rarely ever see these cars.

They're going to run like crazy.

Good power all-wheel drive, great look in sedan.

They start in the low 30s.

The ones you want are high 30s to mid 40s.

New ones you can find for 50 plus.

But slightly used ones are mid 30s.

Like 36 to 45 is where you can play.

I'm looking at a lot of tempers.

There's a lot of them ranging in miles from 25,000 to 50,000 in that price range.

We're talking 22s and 23s in that price range.

I think that is a very compelling car that gets overlooked.

You should go definitely drive the Acura TLX Type S.

I want you to drive that.

I want you to drive the Julia Quadrifolio and the Genesis with the 3.3 liter turbo.

I think one of those three cars, if you're going full-size sedan,

otherwise Paul's two series is excellent as is the Audi S3.

I am wondering about the amount of space you've got Liam.

How much space do you have where you're parking?

That's true.

The TLX is a larger car.

It is for sure.

Well, the Genesis isn't really small either.

Neither is the Quadrifolio.

They're all going to take some parking space.

So could you do it?

I mean, this is where the GR Corolla wins.

It's a short hatch.

That is very tiny.

You're not commuting.

I'm going to pound on that.

I see that.

Yeah.

I won't win.

But still.

Okay, so that's why I gave you the BMW.

But yeah, if you can get a Type S TLX, that is a special car.

Super handling all wheel drive is a real thing, my friend.

It really is.

It should be on everything.

Yeah.

If you've got a debate, like Liam's right to us every day driver TV at gmail.com,

Liam really appreciate your writing, topic Tuesdays, car conclusions, car debates.

The who's down and who knew they were making their list?

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Preston S is in Columbia, South Carolina.

He has a lacrosse enthusiast needs a car.

Preston is 25 years old, still kind of trying to find his career,

but he thinks he's got it figured out.

Right now, he's outside Raleigh, North Carolina, with his girlfriend,

and he drives a company-provided Kia Soul,

which is perfectly all right because it's free.

That is the right cost.

Yeah, it makes a lot of cars better.

Free is free.

Have a car.

Preston will be moving to Columbia, South Carolina to coach college lacrosse.

Oh, so there's the job you hoped for, and it's happening.

Good for you, man. That's really cool.

That job is 220 miles away.

And since lacrosse has been a lifelong passion for Preston,

he's very excited for this opportunity.

But after long discussions, it seems like he and his girlfriend will be staying in Raleigh

and they will manage long distance.

No, no, no, she's staying in Raleigh.

Oh, his girlfriend will, yes.

That's right.

Long discussions is the heavily weighted words here.

Preston's girlfriend is now listening to this and going, who are these guys?

After long discussions, she clearly has a job and a life in Raleigh,

so she is staying there.

He is going to Columbia, South Carolina.

And for the time being, they will have the dreaded long distance relationship.

I say dreaded because they are.

They're dreaded.

But they can be successful.

My wife and I, when we were engaged before we were married,

we were most of that time was long distance relationship.

And I'll be honest with you right now.

It's hard and it sucks.

It's not fun.

But it can be something that leads to something else.

But for right now, you're going to Columbia.

She's staying in Raleigh.

You're going to try to manage the long distance thing.

And the way you're going to manage it, that's why you told us it's 220 miles away.

There's going to be commuting.

What I can't figure out is, Preston told us he's got a company-provided key of soul.

That is as much as we hear about it.

It's never mentioned again in his email.

We don't hear anything else.

We don't know if it's staying.

Does that, I guess you're quitting your current job?

Whatever job he needs.

Yeah, that's what I think is happening.

Whatever job he needs.

Better than soul.

That's what I get.

I get that he's driving the Kia because whatever job he has provides that car.

But he leaves that job to go coach lacrosse and now he needs a car.

And he's going to be doing that 220 mile drive often.

He will also be traveling for scouting.

So it will definitely need to be reliable.

Okay.

He would say that he's got a much higher tolerance for poor ride quality than most people.

Okay.

He doesn't need electric cruiser.

If his car is extra fun and twisty, that's a bonus.

And Columbia, he hears is relatively close to lots of fun roads.

He hopes to frequent.

Love it.

The other thing this car needs to do, we keep mentioning lacrosse.

It needs to haul equipment.

It's not hockey gear, but it still takes up quite a bit of space.

Also manual transmission is a requirement for Preston.

And the hardest part, he says for us, is a hard cat budget of 10 grand.

I was hoping the cheaper the better.

I was hoping for twice that much.

Preston, I really was a 10 grand, kind of brought my brain to a screeching halt.

I recovered, but I was not expecting the land on $10,000.

You have to have this car do a lot of things.

And go a lot of distance, and you have 10 grand to work with.

I think I can get it done.

We're going to have to go back a few model years to get it done, Preston.

But I believe we can.

I started with WRX as much as you want to spend.

Within that 10 grand, you've got WRX choices galore.

Go look at WRXs.

But I kept moving, it just wasn't right.

So I moved on to Golf R because Liam and the prior email suggested Golf R.

So I went back to 2012 or 2013 and promptly didn't find any for 10 grand and under.

I was going to say, were you successful?

I was waiting to see if you were okay.

Nope.

But I did find a 2016 for 10 grand.

I found one car.

So there's not that many to be found.

Even though if you were to increase your budget slightly,

I bet you could get like a 2012, 2013 Golf R.

They're fun to drive great.

Put the miles on them.

Throw your budget out.

We'll get you a good car.

Yeah, that's bad.

But I really want to get this done for you.

And I think I can with the Mazda Speed 3.

You remember those?

Oh, that's good.

That's very good.

We used to recommend those a lot.

Yes, you're right.

It's a hatch.

And when you fold those seats down, it swallows a lot of gear.

We liked it because it had character.

Torque steer like crazy.

Like few other cars do.

It's a manageable Torque steer and a genuinely good chassis

and fun to drive car, for sure.

Yes.

Mazda Speed 3 is your car.

There's a lot of them under 10 grand.

So they range in how well they're cared for, mileage.

Of course.

But if you go back to the mid-Auts,

go find yourself a Mazda Speed 3 on auto-tempest.com.

Slash every day.

I think you can get it done.

I think you could find something really cool.

And for what your life is,

you're commuting, but you want some twisties and fun

and your Holland gear, maybe some friends,

that is what that car is all about.

I totally see it.

I went looking at Ford Focus RS's for you, Preston.

RS's.

Thinking.

Wow, okay.

Maybe they're down there with high mudge.

They are not.

Well, the ST's down there though.

I didn't look at ST's.

I think the Focus ST's would be.

Well, the ST could be a nice option as well.

But I just thought RS, those things just, they're built to last.

So yeah, ST might be another option for you as well.

But Mazda Speed 3, because you said reliable,

turbo, fun, interesting.

I think that gets it done for you, my friend.

I really like this, Preston.

I've got a few for you here.

I'm just going to throw the wild card out of here real quick

because it's ridiculous.

And I know I'm the only one on the planet

ever going to bring it up.

And I'm going to say it anyway.

You said WX.

I'll do you one better, sob 92X.

It's the WX and a sob suit.

They're out there.

They're cheap.

It's WX parts underneath.

It's 10 grand under.

It's a hatchback.

You can find them all day long.

Count the same.

I'm the only one that's ever going to bring it up.

I know.

So I'm just going to bring it up because it's the WX

that isn't inexplicably marked up.

Because people don't know about them.

That's the thing.

WX has got a sob badge.

Exactly right.

WXs typically are the really cheap ones have been really beat on

because WXs hold their value.

But the sobs didn't.

So if you can find one of those, you're interested in WX.

That's the way to go.

I don't know how serious I'm about that recommendation

because it is me and I know I had one.

But I'm putting it out there anyway.

I have two for you that you might not have thought of.

Both of which would do everything you want to talk about.

Fund to drive.

Can carry lacrosse sticks.

Manual transmission.

And approximately in your budget.

Okay?

The first one is the first Gen 86.

FRS or BRZ.

You could get it done now.

I will admit.

I'm looking nationwide on auto-tempest

and most of them are between $9,000 and $12,000.

Most of the high mile cheaper ones.

That's the range.

So I'm right at the upper tip top of your budget.

I didn't know they're down that far.

Maybe breaking the top of your budget a little bit.

But look for the Sion FRS.

You have to look for that because those are the cheaper ones.

But the interesting thing about it is a lot of the ones I'm seeing here.

They're cheaper because they're high mileage.

But it also says to me after all of the commentary about

those engines blow up.

There's a lot of them here.

Well into six digits.

130,000, 160,000 that are out there being sold for 10 grand.

Now I obviously would like you to get one that is lower miles

because that helps.

But the biggest thing is what's the maintenance on these?

Anything you buy at this price point is going to have miles.

It doesn't matter what it is.

But the FRS or the BRZ has that fold down back seat.

That's true.

If the sticks don't fit in the trunk,

you fold the back seat down and off you go.

I didn't realize there were about 10 grand.

So that is worthwhile.

The other one that I really like for you,

as we're talking about hatchbacks,

you can get these all day long right now for $10,000.

Really nice ones for above.

But $10,000 buys you a really nice Fiesta ST.

Are we back to 10 grand Fiesta STs?

We are back to 10 grand Fiesta STs.

We cycled for a bit.

COVID affected that.

We are back everybody.

Get ready.

That's huge near they are.

I mean, here's a 2014 for 8,500 with 90,000 miles.

Here's another one for $7,000 because it has 150,000 miles.

My point is the really, really nice ones are breaking 10 grand.

But you have options below 10 grand for a Fiesta ST.

We know them to be crazy fun.

You talked about the fact that you doesn't need to be super nice

or have a great ride.

So any of the complaints that I would have about the Fiesta ST

don't matter here.

What's your girlfriend's car?

Because you'll probably be taking that to dinner.

You'll take it to dinner.

You'll drive there in the Fiesta ST.

I mean, the Fiesta ST has its got cruise control

and everything.

It's got the stuff but it's...

Yeah, but here's the thing.

If you're taking back roads to get there,

you're going to love being in the Fiesta ST.

You will arrive with a smile on your face.

True.

That'll be your best 200 miles ever.

Okay, that's good.

Those are my top two.

I really think...

I mean, sob 92x is the outlier.

But I really think Fiesta ST or FRS BRZ

and be a happy lacrosse coach.

Congratulations on your new job.

Happy hunting.

Please let us know what you get in the form of a car conclusion.

Send photos if you can.

Yep.

Really appreciate it.

Both Liam, Preston, thank you both

and right to us every day driverTV at gmail.com.

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We had an email come in from Corey F.

Just recently talking about the 2026 RAV4

with this optional GR trim.

The GR Sport version.

Yeah, he said that we've said

they should GR everything.

But he says this is watered down and lame.

It thinks this GR Sport cheapens the GR name

because the GR name should represent actual performance.

I mean, everybody's saying we, again, we haven't driven it yet.

Nope, they put summer tires on it.

We don't know what the suspension is like.

Nope, this is pretty much,

everything is pretty much new for this RAV4.

Everything about, yes.

And he says Toyota did this with the TRD trim

which started off as the most capable

of the Toyota Tacoma was spread across the trucks

and then turned into the camera

and the Avalon appearance packages.

Now, Toyota's ditching that.

He's not wrong.

That is what happened to the TRD name.

You're right.

You're absolutely right.

I love that you love product planning as much as we do.

Coming down to grade levels and trim levels,

he says these models with minor improvements

are mostly styling exercises

that are TRD versions

and they should save the GR name for true performance variants.

He thinks Acura does it right

in the form of the A-Spec cars

because they look like performance cars.

They've got subtle suspension tweaks,

performance driving modes,

but it's mostly just looks

and then reserving the Type S nomenclature

for models with true performance upgrades

that separate them from the standard versions.

So, what are our thoughts?

Does this cheap in the GR name for the Corolla,

the 86 and the Supra,

or should he put his order in for a Honda CRV Type R?

Although, I'll have you know.

I'll do it there.

The talk amongst everybody was the Honda CRV Trail Sport,

which is tires, Corey.

Yeah.

That's it.

They gave it a badge called Trail Sport,

and tires.

Honda's been guilty of that for a bit here

because they want Trail Sport

to be an actual model line

that can do off-road stuff,

but they first introduced it as just a trim.

On the pilot, on the passport,

it's a trim.

What's different?

Nothing.

Now, they slowly are making it different,

but the original launch is like,

surprise, it's just a suit.

That's it.

It's just a suit.

If you were to put street tires back on that CRV,

does the badge fall off?

Like, maybe not worthy.

Maybe.

That may be the case.

Here's the thing, Corey,

and I think the key reality here,

and we are splitting it already,

and I know you're going to be speaking to this better than me, Paul,

but I think the key reality is

they're only referring to it as the GR Sport.

Yes, the badge is very specific.

It has sport in the word.

That means Audi had the S-line trim.

That was not the S-4.

It was the S-line trim on the S-4,

which is, I'll be honest.

This is kind of dumb,

but a lot of companies do this.

You brought it up earlier.

The M on the M-235 or M-240.

That is not the M-2.

That does not make it a true M-car.

It's not an M-car.

It's got a lot of imbages,

and it is better than the base model.

I think that's where Toyota is targeting here.

Does it potentially water it down?

It potentially does.

But I see their logic.

We'll see what the products are like that go with it, though,

because what I don't want to have happen is GR

to become like F-Sport over at Lexus.

Because you know what F-Sport is?

Trim.

Yeah, yeah.

It's a plague in the industry,

but Corey, I have to admit that

car companies have really figured out their consumers.

They've really figured out how to yank the chain of all of us

to get us like, oh, but it doesn't have the right trim level

and so I don't want it,

even if it is just the appearance package.

True.

And we're buying just for looks.

Are you kidding me?

No.

Yes, I'm buying just for looks.

Yes.

While I'm here, yes.

I guess I am.

But every car company, practically every car company does this

to make the people that cannot afford the GR

the N Hyundai car.

Yeah.

The M from BMW.

Hyundai has G.

Hyundai has an N line.

There's N line.

You're right.

Yeah.

I can't quite do that,

but even if I could,

I don't need that kind of crazy performance and I don't want those seats

and I don't need,

I'm going to take it to the track.

Good point.

But I want something sportier,

a little bit more power,

so they came with this mid grade

and will continue to do so.

It's leaning towards sporty.

Okay.

So Corey, here's my counterpoint.

Mazda did away with Mazda speed.

That was theirs.

Yeah, they did.

You're right.

Yeah.

And have not reintroduced it.

There.

Subaru did away

with the WRX STI.

It's now BRZTS, right?

That's that one there.

And WRXTS as well.

But STI has gone.

STI has gone at the moment.

Yeah.

So we are all lamenting.

It's not a true,

we're saying the same things in the opposite way.

Interesting point.

That's gone.

It's not a true STI.

You're right.

It's got some of the points

and it's got the appearance.

But that's not a real STI.

Oh, it's not a,

well, Cadillac's got the V series

but it's not the black wing.

Yeah, you're right.

Yeah.

So if the car company,

like, same thing with Mazda speed,

it's not a true Mazda speed product.

It's got,

it's a little bit gusty up

and it's got a little bit more power

but it's not the true,

you know,

the 2004 Miata,

Mazda speed Miata with the Turbo.

Like, doesn't really count.

Are we holding that

against the car manufacturers

in the same way?

If they don't make

the performance products

because they didn't see sales,

that's what it comes down to.

If they didn't identify good enough sales

from that product,

they're going to back it off

and just give us a badge and trim.

So we have to buy those performance versions

to stay around.

And if we do,

well,

I'll take N-line, S-line, V-line,

I'll take any of the lines

in between that aren't the real deal.

I'll take them all

if I can get the performance version.

As long as they keep a real one.

Let's see that.

Some great questions.

Thank you guys for watching

and responding

to our four runner versus four runner

versus defender piece.

And we're going to keep cranking out

these big comparisons.

We've also got

our Monster Road Trip series coming very soon

and guess what?

That whole road trip series.

It's not going to be one film.

It's going to be way too long.

It's going to be a series.

And that is all comparisons as well.

And kind of like our $8,000 car challenge,

it's all used cars.

It's all private owner cars paired up

in similar ways.

I'm very excited about the series

is going to come out with it.

That's going to be out for weeks and weeks and weeks

after we do our Coda trip.

But speaking of Coda and Hooked on Driving,

Thomas Downey is asking a Hooked on Driving question.

He says,

in his region,

and I'll tell you right now,

Thomas,

in every region in the US.

Hooked on Driving Track days

are more expensive than track days

from other organizations.

He's asking,

is this on purpose?

Are we wanting Hooked on Driving

to be more affordable?

And if not,

what is making HOD premium?

This is fascinating, Thomas,

because we've talked about this a lot

since buying this company.

It was always set up as a premium brand.

But we have really been digging in

because we want to find out,

what is the value that Hooked on Driving

is giving customers?

And if it isn't giving the value

that it should be to be a premium brand,

how do we change that?

We've made some small changes.

We're not making revolutionary stuff,

but I can actually give you the direct answer here.

You're paying more.

So that the person on track next to you,

they love their car as much as you love yours.

That's the difference.

You're not going to be banging

fenders at a Hooked on Driving Day.

There are companies out there

that will offer you

the cheapest possible way to get on track.

And I can't slight them for it.

I get it.

I understand it.

But I can almost guarantee you

there'll be more cars on track

with you every single session

than there will be at a Hooked on Driving event.

Because we have purposely lower car counts

so that there's not traffic.

So that gives you more free laps.

I have seen pictures of other track events

where it looks like commuting.

It's bad.

It's very bad.

It's horrible.

So we are concerned about

Total Max Car Count

that is a big thing we worry about

in every single region nationwide.

We have one of the best safety records.

And that is because we want

you to bring your special precious car

that you really want to have it be nice.

Come to Hooked on Driving.

One of our favorite things to see.

We've seen it a lot.

Somebody with a brand new

Super Hot 911 or brand new

Super Hot McClaren

in our A novice group

with an instructor.

I mean it's practically

they just took off the dealer tags.

That's what we want.

We want you with a precious car,

but we also have this conversation

with a coach this past weekend.

I would rather the guy

in his babyed Civic SI.

That's worth nothing.

And he's put a lot of blood sweat

and tears to make this car

his pristine car.

Rather he was out there

than some guy that just uses

Ferraris like napkins.

We want drivers who care about

their car are concerned about

their safety and the other thing

that we have found out recently

is we are one of the only

organizations out there

that when you get an instructor,

that instructor is assigned

to you and with you right seat

all day.

Most tracking organizations

unless you pay an exorbitant fee

well above our costs

to get a dedicated instructor

because they don't really offer it.

The amazing instruction

they offer you is lead follow.

It's a couple of lead follow laps.

And while that works,

lead follow can teach you

some things.

The difference between that

and somebody's sitting right

seat is profound.

And we learn this

on our pilgrimage trip every year.

Yes.

So this is what you're paying

for.

Safety, low-car count,

people that care about

their car just like you care

about yours

and really good instruction.

Yeah.

I'm going to add to that

and you're getting

superior coaching

because all the coaches

nationwide have been

vetted and that leads

to safety.

We think that safety starts

as the relationship

between you, the driver

and your coach

absolutely.

To teach you properly

to move up and to become

faster.

The goal is not faster.

It's to become a more

aware driver.

In our D-expert group,

that is really the highest

level of awareness

and your skills have come

with it.

So as you progress

over the course

of your track day

experiences,

you're getting vetted

by your coach.

And it's not just,

hey, I feel better

and I think I've got this

and I think I'm going

to go ahead and move up.

The coach wants to vet

you and make sure

that you are going

to be safe in the next

run group.

And that protects

everybody around you too.

We move people up

and down at every event.

Mm-hmm.

Somebody's in a run group

like, you know what?

You'd be better off

if you moved down

to this run group

and most of the time,

people are like,

you're right, I would be.

Let's pump you up.

Yes.

We want everybody

to be happy moving as a good

unit and it all is about

awareness and being a

better driver.

And that happens

at hooked on driving.

Eric P

asks on Instagram

if older cars make

better drivers.

Her first car was

an 86 Monte Carlo.

Whoa, okay.

You had to manually

turn on the lights

at night and a little

incandescent bulb

illuminated the dash.

Kind of.

Now we have a little screen

for our dash

and it's lit all the time,

likely confusing drivers

at night into thinking

their lights are on.

It happens a lot.

We see it all the time.

All the time.

Their face is glowing.

That must mean the headlights

are on. No.

And the DRLs, especially

with the light strip

all the way across,

emits enough light

to confuse you

or to make you think,

yeah, no, your headlights

are not on.

Drive around.

They're driving enough.

Leaving your local

airport where people

just rented a car.

Drive around a 10 mile radius

of your local airport

at night on a weekend

when people are in town.

They don't normally

drive that car.

You're going to find

somebody who's driving

with a daytime running lights

only in the middle of the

pitch blackness because

they don't know that car

and they just assume

the lights are on auto.

I mean, it forces you

to use all your skills,

all the things

that you've learned

over the years.

Yeah.

I almost think, Eric,

that all these new

safety systems

should default to off,

unless your driver profile

and you save it as such,

you want to add the things

that you like

an experience.

I like that.

Everything on.

There's a new car

and you experience

all these

safety systems

and they are defaulted

to be on.

True.

So you've got

lane keep.

You've got

the lane keep assist

drives me up a wall.

Yeah, it's really annoying.

There's lane keep.

There's lane departure warning.

There's lane,

there's

rear cross traffic alerts.

There's endless stuff.

So the way

you're used to driving

is now kind of fighting

with the way

the car wants to be driven.

Yeah.

I almost feel like

you should be

educated somehow

and it should be known

so you, okay,

this safety system does that.

You know what,

that could be a great thing,

but it starts

from your knowledge

rather than,

okay, well now

I can just be lazy.

I don't even have to turn around

and to look

where I'm going anymore.

Well, we've talked

about this before

and I'm going to point

the finger at Subaru

because I do think

it's happening a lot

with Subaru's.

You know, Volvo

used to be the brand

that everybody thought

of for safety.

And now the brand

that most people think

of for safety is Subaru.

They have a lot

of very good

they have systems

that are watching your eyes

as a driver.

They have every,

you know,

they have a safety system,

all this kind of stuff.

But there's a flip side here as well.

And that is,

if you take a driver

who's concerned about safety,

first and foremost,

maybe it's because you have kids,

but a lot of times

the drivers that are most concerned

about safety in their vehicle

it's because they are already

unnerved by driving.

It freaks them out a little bit,

so they want an extra safe car.

But if you get into

an extra safe car

with a lot of safety systems

and a lot of the Subaru's

they are,

the car is so alert.

It's constantly freaking out

about something.

So if you take a driver

who's already a bit on edge

and you put them

in an environment where the car

is always freaking out,

it's going to be a

epic spiral

into bad places.

Because they just keep

being reinforced

that the world is big

and scary

and they're about to do something

dangerous with their car.

And all that results is

slower and worse driving.

We see it is a lot.

I kind of like your,

you get,

I hate to say it with this.

There's flaws with this idea.

Of course.

No, I understand.

It's not straightforward

because there's regulations

as to why a lot of these cars

have this thing.

But it's almost like

earning a badge in a video game.

It's not.

But it's almost like that.

If you reach this level,

you can now turn on this system

if you'd like.

So the rocked rear cross-traffic

is so that we're working

you toward things

that you can either turn it on

or turn it off.

You're right.

They all come defaulted on

right now.

And this is the other reason why

I think there is a segment

of the populace

that's very excited

about the thought

of an autonomous car

because they don't want to drive.

They don't like driving.

And the only driving they do

is stop and go traffic,

which I'll be honest

with you.

If that's the only driving I did,

I'd like someone to drive me as well.

And for autonomous cars,

it could be the other direction.

So if you do enough trips

in your autonomous car,

you've unlocked a steering wheel.

You've unlocked the

a bit,

folds out of the dash,

but bump.

You can steer,

but you can't gas a break.

Next trip,

you can earn a gas pedal.

Earn the gas badge.

Ooh.

The one pedal driving badge.

Look at me.

You've got the stickers

across the back of your window

about all the things you've unlocked.

It could be a whole game.

Somebody can gamify the heck out of this.

And three things gamified.

One more for me.

Kirk Meyer is asking,

it's almost a topic Tuesday

but I'm touching on it quickly.

He said,

essentially,

how many miles are enough?

We've talked a lot of times

about how owners need to drive

and enjoy their cars

for what they're built for.

He said,

he appreciates that we do road trips

and stuff,

but he also acknowledges the fact

we have a dream job

for driving.

We get to drive fun places.

We're about to put,

probably the better part of 5,000 miles

on each of our cars

on this big road trip.

I mean, we are going to put

a lot of miles on these cars.

We try to take road trips

to make it worth it.

He said,

how much for the average person

is enough miles

to justify keeping the car?

He said,

if someone gets enjoyment

from only 500 miles a year,

is that enough?

Should he be looking at 2 to 5,000 a year?

He'd love to drive all the time

but weather and life

sometimes dictate otherwise.

Kirk,

I'm going to give you my

personal rule,

1,000 miles a year.

That's what I think

is the minimum.

I'd like to tell you two,

but I understand life

sometimes doesn't allow.

I'm guilty of that.

I know.

You're 928 is not doing

1,000 a year.

100% guilty.

But I did a bunch.

I feel like it's

four road trips.

It deserved a bit of a rest,

but I think the rest

time is ending.

But anyway.

But the thing is Kirk,

I want to encourage you.

I've said it on a couple

of podcasts recently.

I want you to drive

the car regularly,

whatever your fun car is.

Just because you can.

And you'll be surprised

at the amount of miles

that get added.

And you'll just have

enjoyment by just

driving it somewhere

you would probably

take a different car.

Just drive the fun car.

That's part of it.

I also really want

to encourage a road trip.

Just an overnighter.

Just do three,

400 miles today

and three,

400 miles tomorrow.

And take good roads

on purpose.

Take the time to

drive to a good road

because this is what's

going to give you

that extra enjoyment

of, oh,

so this is what this car

is for.

I really think less

than a thousand miles

a year.

I think

that car should go

somewhere else.

That's a question

for me.

Facebook.

Jeremy Hartson says

with the Mini Cooper

continuing to expand

at the waistline

and compacts

like the Fiesta.

Going to the waistline

is there a market

for a true compact hatch?

If so,

who should be building it

and what should it

contain?

All the S lines

and N lines

and things.

Maybe not.

Actually.

What you're really

asking, Jeremy,

is has enough time

elapsed

since the death

of the Fiesta

and focus

in the US.

Have people

forgotten it

and not realized,

you know what,

pickup trucks are

too big.

And SUVs

we don't need

all this space.

I mean, maybe not.

But I do feel like

pickup trucks are

just so freaking huge

that it's a specific

market.

But this is an

American thing.

Yes.

It is.

But I do feel like

people are warming

again to smaller cars.

They're warming

to a hot hatch.

I like this.

I think so.

I think this is where

electrics can shine.

Electrics could.

There needs to be

range.

And I don't know that the

range is still there.

The performance would be

that ID3 is the ID3

or just another ID.

They're getting rid

of the ID nomenclature.

Well, there was

that little Honda

recently.

That they

really cool looking

cute little Honda.

That felt like,

okay, yeah, bring that.

Yeah.

I'm thinking that Honda

could, of course,

all the Japanese

Korean manufacturers.

I still don't know that

the American

companies could do that.

Yeah.

But here we are

with the Corolla.

How about the

Starlet?

The GR Starlet.

Okay.

All right.

Tiny little thing.

Yeah.

I think something

super small could be

news.

I'm just reading about

the new Nissan Micro.

The little tiny

light.

Yeah.

Sure.

Well, if Nissan brings

that back,

not looking like a pick

in that pink color, though.

That has to,

it has to not happen.

But anyway.

Yeah.

Agreed.

Thank you all for your

questions.

Hold the cow.

We're taking a break right

now.

Keep your eyes posted on

social media as well.

And we're hoping to see

many of you at Kota

for the combined event.

We'll be road tripping,

seeing many of you along the

way.

I think next time

you hear from us,

we'll be from the top

of the tower at

Kota's 2025.

Until then,

we're looking forward to

it.

Cheers everyone.

999: The Field Of Dreams Race Track, Long-Distance Love, Gamify Your Driving

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