Are We The Same Car Enthusiasts We Once Were at 21? — Carmudgeon w/ Cammisa & DTS — Ep 228
About this episode
Jason Camisa and Derek Tam-Scott explore how automotive enthusiasm evolves from youth to adulthood, questioning if the enthusiast you are at 21 matches who you are now. They discuss youthful fixations on speed and supercars, the impact of life changes on car preferences, and the frustrations with modern cars’ compromises. They also reflect on how early experiences, media like Top Gear, and personal growth shape tastes, emphasizing the shift from superficial metrics to appreciating driving dynamics and authenticity.
supercars
"Let me guess, is it supercars? That's a really, no, it wasn't, but that's a really great."
Supercars are very fast and fancy cars that many people dream about owning because they look cool and can go really fast.
Supercars are high-performance sports cars known for their speed, advanced technology, and exclusivity. They often feature powerful engines and cutting-edge design, making them aspirational vehicles for many enthusiasts.
Porsche 911
"Sorry. I mean, I could hate your 9-11 in the background just for fun. I don't actually hate it."
Land Rover Range Rover
"...et there. A perfect example recently was I had a Range Rover Sport as a test car and it was the sixth cylinde..."
full boost
"bang off 3,500 or 4,000 RPM, full boost, shift after shift after shift."
Full boost means the engine is working really hard to push out as much power as it can.
Full boost refers to an engine, usually turbocharged or supercharged, operating at maximum forced induction pressure to produce peak power.
RPM
""63 gear downshift and 10,000 RPM screaming. This Range Rover was just perfectly tuned.""
RPM tells you how fast the engine is spinning; higher numbers mean the engine is working harder and faster.
RPM stands for revolutions per minute and measures how many times the engine's crankshaft rotates in one minute, indicating engine speed.
tactility
"And so the entire aspect of tactility and responsiveness, and there's this whole set of characteristics which are really subjective and difficult to describe in words,"
Tactility means how much you can feel the car through the steering wheel and pedals when you drive. It helps you know what the car is doing.
Tactility refers to the tactile feedback a driver feels through the controls of a car, such as the steering wheel, pedals, and gear shifter. It is an important aspect of the driving experience that helps the driver feel connected to the vehicle.
responsiveness
"And so the entire aspect of tactility and responsiveness, and there's this whole set of characteristics which are really subjective and difficult to describe in words,"
Responsiveness means how fast and well the car reacts when you turn the wheel or press the gas or brake. It makes driving feel better.
Responsiveness describes how quickly and accurately a car reacts to driver inputs, such as steering, throttle, and braking. It affects how engaging and predictable the driving experience feels.
Rolls-Royce Rollsroyce Corniche
"I wanted a firetruck, I guess. And my neighbor had a Rolls-Royce Corniche and I thought that was very cool as a child,"
Rolls-Royce Corniche
"And my neighbor had a Rolls-Royce Corniche and I thought that was very cool as a child,"
The Rolls-Royce Corniche is a very fancy and expensive car that people like because it looks nice and is very comfortable.
The Rolls-Royce Corniche is a luxury car produced by Rolls-Royce from the 1970s to the 1990s, known for its elegant design and high-end craftsmanship.
Volkswagen Beetle
"I noticed a Volkswagen Beetles"
The Volkswagen Beetle is a small, round car that lots of people know because it looks very different from other cars.
The Volkswagen Beetle is a compact car originally designed in the 1930s, famous for its distinctive rounded shape and cultural impact.
Citroen Dss
"I noticed a Volkswagen Beetles and I noticed there were two Citroën DSs in within biking distance of my house."
Volkswagen Super Beetle
"because at 14 in the US before I moved, I bought a 72 Super Beetle with my best friend."
Jaguar XJ6
"I mean, my mom drove an XJ6, so I was very keyed into Jaguars as well."
The Jaguar XJ6 is a fancy car made by Jaguar. It was popular for being comfortable and stylish, with a smooth engine that made it nice to drive.
The Jaguar XJ6 is a luxury sedan produced by Jaguar, known for its classic British styling and smooth inline-six engines. It was a flagship model for Jaguar during its production years, representing luxury and performance.
Saab 900 Turbo
"...which was my parents' cars. And my mom had a sob 900 turbo, which then became a Pujo 505."
The Saab 900 Turbo is a car that uses a turbocharger to make the engine more powerful. It was made by Saab and is known for its unique look and good performance.
The Saab 900 Turbo is a turbocharged variant of the Saab 900, a compact executive car produced by Saab. It is known for its distinctive design and the use of turbocharging to enhance performance.
Toyota Land Cruiser
"which then became a Pujo 505. And my dad had a Land Cruiser. And so I was like, oh, four wheel drive is cool"
four wheel drive
"...And my dad had a Land Cruiser. And so I was like, oh, four wheel drive is cool because when everyone else was stuck in the snow..."
Four wheel drive means the car can send power to all four wheels at the same time, which helps it drive better on snow, mud, or rough roads.
Four wheel drive (4WD) is a drivetrain system that powers all four wheels of a vehicle simultaneously to improve traction, especially on slippery or off-road surfaces.
Peugeot 505
"...that's where my mom bought the 505..."
The Peugeot 505 is a type of car made by a French company called Peugeot. It was popular for being comfortable and reliable, good for everyday use.
The Peugeot 505 is a mid-size family car produced by the French manufacturer Peugeot from 1979 to 1992. It was known for its comfortable ride and durability, often used as a practical daily driver in many countries.
Toyota Corolla
"...ng the end of a three-year lease on a 1994 Toyota Corolla DX 5-speed. What a very different..."
Mercedes-Benz 300E
"...When I... The first time I got into it, it was a 300E probably. I was a 124."
Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG
"Well, I gave her a C43 AMG and she loved that car. Yes. And then what happened? I took it away from her because she speeds. Yeah. It was three instances and I think a week or two where people spotted her. So it was a blue C43 AMG of which they made 14 in total. So it was very recognizable."
The C43 AMG is a sportier and faster version of a regular Mercedes car. It has a stronger engine and handles better, making it more fun to drive.
The Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG is a high-performance variant of the C-Class, tuned by AMG, Mercedes-Benz's performance division. It features a more powerful engine, sportier suspension, and distinctive styling compared to standard models.
AMG
"Well, I gave her a C43 AMG and she loved that car."
AMG is a special part of Mercedes that makes their cars faster and more powerful. Cars with AMG are sportier and more exciting to drive.
AMG is the performance and tuning division of Mercedes-Benz, responsible for creating high-performance versions of standard Mercedes vehicles with enhanced engines, suspensions, and styling.
Dodge Charger
"And then the second one was a friend of mine whose wife had a Dodge Charger. And we've raced together and he's a really fast driver. He's like, yeah, I was in his wife's Charger."
The Dodge Charger is a big car that can go really fast and is known for being strong and sporty. People like it because it looks cool and drives fast.
The Dodge Charger is a full-size sedan known for its powerful engine options and muscle car heritage. It is often recognized for its performance capabilities and aggressive styling.
stability control
""...with a lot of airbags and really good stability control and, you know, crash worthiness and AEB.""
Stability control helps keep the car steady and stops it from sliding or spinning out when driving fast or on slippery roads.
Stability control is an electronic system that helps prevent skidding and loss of control by automatically applying brakes or reducing engine power during critical driving situations.
AEB
""...with a lot of airbags and really good stability control and, you know, crash worthiness and AEB.""
AEB is a system in cars that can stop the car by itself if it thinks a crash is about to happen.
AEB stands for Automatic Emergency Braking, a safety technology that detects potential collisions and automatically applies the brakes to avoid or reduce the severity of an accident.
crash worthiness
""...with a lot of airbags and really good stability control and, you know, crash worthiness and AEB.""
Crash worthiness means how good a car is at keeping people safe if it gets into a crash.
Crash worthiness refers to how well a vehicle protects its occupants during an accident, based on its design, structure, and safety features.
airbags
""...with a lot of airbags and really good stability control and, you know, crash worthiness and AEB.""
Airbags are cushions inside cars that pop out quickly if there's a crash to keep people safe.
Airbags are safety devices in vehicles that inflate rapidly during a collision to protect occupants from injury. They are a critical component of modern automotive safety systems.
rear drive
""...I thought it was fun to drift it around in the snow because it was rear drive.""
Rear drive means the back wheels of the car make it move, which can make the car more fun to drive.
Rear drive, or rear-wheel drive, means the engine powers the rear wheels of the vehicle, which often provides better handling dynamics and driving enjoyment.
Nissan Sentra
"...d's brother. And all I still wanted was a Nissan Sentra SCR. That's all I wanted."
Volkswagen Scirocco
"...otally on brand, the 2316, totally on brand. The Scirocco, I had never even sat in, didn't know anything ab..."
Volkswagen Golf
"...ship when my mom made me get a new car and buy a Golf instead of a Corolla. But it never occurred to m..."
Volkswagen Egolf
"Do I own anything else? I'm the E-Golf. Hello, that makes perfect sense."
Lotus Elise
"... driver's car in the way that like even the Lotus Elise was. The Elise I sold because it was just too mu..."
six-cylinder engine
""I was basically not interested in anything that wasn't at least six cylinders. Like I just had this prejudice against four cylinder cars.""
A six-cylinder engine is a car engine with six parts that burn fuel to make the car go. It usually gives more power and smoother driving than smaller engines.
A six-cylinder engine has six cylinders and generally provides smoother power delivery and more performance than four-cylinder engines. They are common in sports cars and larger vehicles.
four-cylinder engine
""I was basically not interested in anything that wasn't at least six cylinders. Like I just had this prejudice against four cylinder cars. And as time has gone by, I've definitely gotten rid of that.""
A four-cylinder engine is a type of car engine that has four parts where fuel burns to make the car move. It's common in many cars because it uses less fuel and is easier to maintain.
A four-cylinder engine is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders arranged in a line or other configurations. It is common in many compact and mid-size cars due to its balance of efficiency and performance.
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
""I've owned some, like the Giulietta, for example, Miata. But yeah, I guess I haven't owned a lot of four cylinder cars.""
The Giulietta is a small car made by Alfa Romeo, an Italian company. It's known for looking nice and being fun to drive.
The Alfa Romeo Giulietta is a compact hatchback known for its Italian styling and sporty driving dynamics. It typically features four-cylinder engines and is appreciated for its engaging character.
Mazda MX-5 / Miata
"...I've owned some, like the Giulietta, for example, Miata. But yeah, I guess I haven't owned a lot of four..."
Fiat Pandas
"...ike not really drivable on the street cars. Like Fiat Pandas and Fiat Cinquecentos and you know, all this stuf..."
Honda Beats
"...Cinquecentos and you know, all this stuff. Yeah. Honda beats anything with like a thousand CCs or less. That'..."
Lamborghini Countach
"And they had a Countach there that they were working on and I was offered a ride in it, which I declined because I was scared because I was three and the thing had no engine lid and had no exhaust system."
The Lamborghini Countach is a very fast and cool sports car from the past, famous for how it looks and sounds. It was one of the first supercars many people dreamed about.
The Lamborghini Countach is a classic supercar produced from the 1970s to the early 1990s, known for its sharp, angular design and powerful V12 engine. It is iconic in automotive history for its exotic looks and performance.
Ford Mustang
"...dards was I was 16 and I got a ride in a box body Mustang five liter and that blew my mind. The noise and ..."
Audi Quattro
"... you know, where my dad had an Audi 90, 20 valve Quattro, which was fast. And my mom had an Opel Cadet GSI..."
GMC Cyclone
"...ut then actually offered the owner to buy was the Cyclone GMC Cyclone. It's just impossibly little and it'..."
Ford Contour
"...al desire to not true. I looked for a year for a contour SVT, but typically my taste is not, doesn't reall..."
Cadillac Sts
"...had that I was in that weren't Mercedes or BMWs. Cadillac STS. I love that North Star. I love the dash on that ..."
Nissan Gtr
"...scoveries. The first time I experienced a Skyline GTR, an R32, I had a similar experience. You wanted ..."
Nissan R32
"...s. The first time I experienced a Skyline GTR, an R32, I had a similar experience. You wanted one? I w..."
Datsun 240Z
"..., a 240. I don't, I really didn't like the stock 240Z that I drove, but modified three liters, three li..."
Mclaren F1
"...know, this is the question that I ask around the McLaren F1, for example, which is, what else can you buy tha..."
Chevrolet C5
"..., for gooding, I did a Pratt and Miller modified C5 Corvette. They assigned me that. And I was like, ..."
Renault Clio V6
"... there. Speaking of which, did you see there's a Clio V6 for sale in the area? Yeah, I have heard that the..."
Lancia Stratos
"...at I most desperately want to buy right now, the Stratos, which is not Prefiat and it's shitty, and a Pref..."
Lancia Aurelia
"...d a Prefiat launcher, which would probably be an Aurelia or something like that. But I just never tire of ..."
serpentine belt engine
"This was BMW's first, I believe, serpentine only belt engine. And clearly they were concerned that the AC compressor would lock up and then throw the belt off of your car."
A serpentine belt is one long belt in the engine that helps run many parts at once, making it easier to fix and keep working.
A serpentine belt engine uses a single, continuous belt to drive multiple peripheral devices like the alternator, power steering pump, and AC compressor, improving efficiency and ease of maintenance.
optical sensor
"BMW has an optical sensor. For fuck's sake, I hate this on the piston of the AC compressor. And so and what it's doing is looking at the actual speed of the compressor internals."
An optical sensor is a small device that uses light to check how fast parts inside the car are moving to make sure everything works right.
An optical sensor uses light to detect and measure the speed or position of mechanical parts, such as the internals of an AC compressor, to monitor performance.
Hagerty
""This episode is driven by Hagerty, the company that ensures all of Derek's cars, all 600 of them.""
Hagerty is a company that helps people insure and figure out the value of old and special cars. They make sure these cars are protected.
Hagerty is a company specializing in insurance and valuation services for classic and collector cars. They provide coverage tailored to enthusiasts and help determine car values in the collector market.
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