About this episode
Bassem Wasef, an automotive journalist and author, shares his journey from a passion for cars to a successful career in automotive writing. He recounts how a simple Craigslist ad led him to test drive exotic convertibles from brands like Aston Martin and Ferrari, and how his childhood love for cars shaped his professional path. With insights into the culture and history of automotive journalism, Bassem discusses the importance of storytelling in car content and reflects on the influences that have shaped his writing style.
Today, on That Car Show… it’s Basem Wasef. Author, journalist, content creator, and automotive man about town. Basem is always driving something amazing or checking in from some exotic locale. But it might surprise you how he even broke into this car thing. I’ll give you a hint: sometimes, you just have to ask. Also, we’ve got to say hello to our listeners in Korea, who must be the most loyal on the planet. We’ve been sitting at number 8 on the Korean automotive podcast charts this week. And, you heard it here… If you can get us to number one—Korean listeners—we’ll do an episode just for you. In the meantime, gamsahaeyo. It’s Basem Wasef. It’s That Car Show. And it’s a good one.
Ferrari
"I called Aston Martin, I called Mercedes-Benz, I called Ferrari and I called Porsche. And literally, I kid you not, within about two weeks, my garage had four exotic convertibles in it."
Ferrari is a famous Italian car brand that makes high-performance sports cars, known for their speed and racing heritage.
Ferrari is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer renowned for its high-performance vehicles and success in motorsport, particularly Formula 1.
Aston Martin
"I called Aston Martin, I called Mercedes-Benz, I called Ferrari and I called Porsche. And literally, I kid you not, within about two weeks, my garage had four exotic convertibles in it."
Aston Martin is a famous British car brand that makes luxury sports cars, often seen in movies like James Bond.
Aston Martin is a British luxury sports car manufacturer known for its high-performance vehicles and elegant design, often associated with James Bond films.
Daewoo Statesman
"..., how did this happen? How did I become the elder statesman of the car? Hey, watch out. We're the same age, ..."
Ford Mustang GTD
"...my parents got me a Mustang GT convertible as my first car when I was 16. You could do it a lot worse, right?"
The Ford Mustang GT is a fast sports car that many people love. It's known for being powerful and fun to drive, making it a popular choice for new drivers and car fans alike.
The Ford Mustang GT is a high-performance variant of the iconic Mustang sports car, known for its powerful engine and sporty design. It has been a popular choice among car enthusiasts since its introduction in the 1960s.
autocross
"...I autocrossed and did all these things, but it was pure passion, completely elective on my own."
Autocross is a fun racing event where drivers take turns driving through a course marked by cones. It's all about how fast and accurately you can drive, usually in a parking lot.
Autocross is a timed competition in which drivers navigate one at a time through a defined course on either a sealed or unsealed surface. It emphasizes precision driving and is often held in parking lots or on closed roads.
Porsche 911
"I failed that loan agreements for the 9-11 Cabriolet and I got a Maserati Spider."
The Porsche 911 Cabriolet is a version of the 911 sports car that has a convertible roof, allowing you to drive with the top down. It's famous for being fast and fun to drive.
The Porsche 911 Cabriolet is a convertible version of the iconic 911 sports car, known for its performance and distinctive design. It offers a blend of open-air driving and the handling characteristics of the 911.
Stuttgart
"...you see how things are in Stuttgart, like the center of German car culture, one of the centers of German car culture..."
Stuttgart is a city in Germany famous for cars. Many big car companies like Mercedes and Porsche are based there.
Stuttgart is a city in Germany known for being a major center of the automotive industry, home to several automotive manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.
Lotus Elise
"...like, oh, steering feeling that Lotus Elise, I just, this is what I want in every car... And how about that Lotus Elise, huh? Really one of the great cars, right?"
The Lotus Elise is a small, lightweight sports car that is famous for being fun to drive. It's designed to be very responsive and enjoyable on the road or track.
The Lotus Elise is a lightweight sports car known for its exceptional handling and driving experience. It features a minimalist design that emphasizes performance and agility, making it a favorite among driving enthusiasts.
Lotus Exige
"it was the exige, I think, actually. And all of a sudden car starts to spin."
The Lotus Exige is a faster, sportier version of the Elise, built for racing and high-performance driving. It has a more powerful engine and better handling.
The Lotus Exige is a more performance-oriented version of the Elise, featuring a more powerful engine and enhanced aerodynamics. It's designed for track use and offers even sharper handling than the Elise.
bonded aluminum tub
"But the silver lining of really crappy British construction is, if this is might be apocryphal, but when you get a new bonded aluminum tub, if you need to, it's way better than what came out of the factory because took them time to get the tolerances right and figure out how to make it proper."
A bonded aluminum tub is a part of a car's body made from aluminum pieces that are glued together instead of welded. This makes the car lighter and stronger, which helps with performance.
A bonded aluminum tub refers to a structural component of a car made from aluminum that is bonded together rather than welded. This construction method can improve weight savings and rigidity, which is particularly beneficial in performance vehicles.
manual steering
"...and just so good manual steering with that tiny little steering wheel. It's just you can't match that anything made sense."
Manual steering means that the driver has to turn the steering wheel without any help from power steering. This can make the car feel more responsive and connected to the road, but it also requires more effort to steer.
Manual steering refers to a steering system that does not use power assistance, requiring the driver to exert more effort to turn the steering wheel. This can provide a more connected and engaging driving experience, particularly in performance cars.
supercharged
"They're tight. For me, the supercharged really was the sweet spot because I mean, you can be patient with the 1.9 liter NA engine, but to have that torque just help things along makes the whole package kind of just feel more complete."
Supercharging is a way to make an engine more powerful by forcing more air into it, which helps it run better and faster.
Supercharging is a method of forced induction that increases an engine's power output by compressing the intake air, allowing more air and fuel to enter the combustion chamber. This results in increased torque and horsepower, enhancing the vehicle's performance.
NA engine
"For me, the supercharged really was the sweet spot because I mean, you can be patient with the 1.9 liter NA engine, but to have that torque just help things along makes the whole package kind of just feel more complete."
An NA engine is one that doesn't use any extra help to get air into it; it just relies on regular air pressure. This means it can feel smooth but might not be as powerful as engines that use turbochargers or superchargers.
An NA (naturally aspirated) engine is one that relies on atmospheric pressure to draw air into the combustion chamber, as opposed to using forced induction like turbocharging or supercharging. This type of engine typically has a more linear power delivery but may lack the high-end power of forced induction engines.
torque
"...but to have that torque just help things along makes the whole package kind of just feel more complete. Yeah, absolutely."
Torque is how much force an engine can produce to turn the wheels. More torque means the car can speed up faster and carry heavier things.
Torque is a measure of rotational force, which in automotive terms refers to the engine's ability to do work. Higher torque means better acceleration and the ability to move heavier loads, making it an important factor in vehicle performance.
air-cooled 911s
"It's just not an air-cooled 911s, but that's another store. Yeah, yeah, yeah."
Air-cooled 911s are older versions of the Porsche 911 that didn't use water to cool the engine. They are famous for their unique sound and style.
Air-cooled 911s refer to the early models of the Porsche 911, which used air cooling instead of water cooling for the engine. This design is known for its distinctive sound and has become iconic among car enthusiasts, particularly for models produced before 1998.
Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC
"pouring over the same, you know, slant nose conversions and wide body 560 SECs and all this."
The Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC is a fancy two-door car made in the late '80s and early '90s. It's known for being very comfortable and stylish.
The Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC is a luxury coupe produced in the late 1980s and early 1990s, known for its elegant design and powerful V8 engine. It represents the pinnacle of Mercedes-Benz luxury during that era.
Porsche 930 Turbo
"the odd 930 Turbo. But you have so many boutiques"
The Porsche 930 Turbo is a famous sports car made from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s. It's known for being fast and having a unique design.
The Porsche 930 Turbo, produced from 1975 to 1989, is an iconic sports car known for its distinctive turbocharged performance and classic design. It was one of the first turbocharged production cars and remains highly sought after by enthusiasts.
Lamborghini Countach
"like Testarosa's and Coontosh's and the odd 930 Turbo."
The Lamborghini Countach is a super cool sports car made from the 1970s to the 1990s. It's famous for its unique shape and doors that open upwards.
The Lamborghini Countach is a supercar that was produced from 1974 to 1990, known for its sharp angles and distinctive scissor doors. It became a symbol of 1980s automotive excess and remains a highly desirable collector's item.
Ferrari Testarossa
"like Testarosa's and Coontosh's and the odd 930 Turbo."
The Ferrari Testarossa is a famous sports car made in the 1980s and '90s. It's known for its cool looks and fast speed.
The Ferrari Testarossa is a legendary sports car produced from 1984 to 1996, known for its striking design and powerful flat-12 engine. It became an icon of 1980s automotive culture and is celebrated for its performance and style.
Koenigsegg
"that have entered the fray and you've got, you know, the Koenigseggs and the Pagani's and the,"
Koenigsegg is a car brand from Sweden that makes very fast and expensive cars.
Koenigsegg is a Swedish manufacturer known for producing high-performance hypercars, often featuring cutting-edge technology and design.
Pagani
"that have entered the fray and you've got, you know, the Koenigseggs and the Pagani's and the,"
Pagani is an Italian car brand that makes very exclusive and high-end sports cars.
Pagani is an Italian manufacturer of high-performance sports cars, known for their unique designs and limited production runs.
Rolls-Royce Phantom
"...e like, when they were developing the Rolls-Royce Phantom 7, they got it so quiet that you'd get vertigo i..."
Rimac Nevera
"cars like the Rimac, Nevera just accelerating so hard, like may as well cause internal damage to your organs..."
The Rimac Nevera is a super-fast electric car that can accelerate very quickly.
The Rimac Nevera is an all-electric hypercar known for its incredible acceleration and advanced technology, making it one of the fastest production cars in the world.
classics
"...part of my job that I love also is classics. I mean, I write more about classics now and they really talk to me like, I love old cars because they tell a totally different story..."
Classics are older cars that many people love because they have unique styles and stories. They are different from new cars and often remind us of the past.
Classics refer to older cars that are often valued for their historical significance, design, and driving experience. They typically evoke nostalgia and represent a different era in automotive history compared to modern vehicles.
Subaru Brat
"...did you drive on the Grand? Sound like a spoiled brat now. 300 SL Roadster. Thank you Mercedes-Benz cl..."
Mercedes-Benz SL
"...on the Grand? Sound like a spoiled brat now. 300 SL Roadster. Thank you Mercedes-Benz classic. It was..."
Porsche 356
"... me. I really have fallen in love with a Porsche 356 as well. Again, something that's new to me, alwa..."
G-Class Gwagon
"And they all came together for me. So those are the two that really kind of do it for me. But I also see the appeal of an old Land Rover or even an old G-wagon or something. Horses for courses. But there is something you can't replicate that they don't bake that experience into a car anymore,"
Ford Bronco
"... know, I'm I'm very lucky that my family has a 73 Bronco that I have access to. So of course, you know, I..."
Shelby Gt350
"... so I have three favorites. The other one is the Shelby GT350 because that's what I learned how to drive a manu..."
Myers Manx
"...you recently authored a book on a brand that, well, here I'll show it. What a cool thing. It's a brand that we hear at the car show have been crushing on for a while now, Myers Manx. They're just such cool things..."
Myers Manx makes fun, lightweight cars called dune buggies, which are great for driving on the beach or off-road. They're known for their cool design and enjoyable driving experience.
Myers Manx is a brand known for its iconic dune buggies, which are lightweight, open-top vehicles originally based on the Volkswagen Beetle chassis. They are celebrated for their unique design and fun driving experience, often associated with beach and off-road adventures.
EV
"...there's this well-formed concept and, you know, they're working on an EV and it actually kind of makes sense for the format..."
An EV, or electric vehicle, is a car that runs on electricity instead of gasoline. This means they produce less pollution and can be quieter to drive.
EV stands for electric vehicle, which is a type of vehicle that is powered entirely or partially by electricity. They are known for being more environmentally friendly compared to traditional gasoline-powered cars.
Mazda MX-5 / Miata
"...lot of money. And thank God, they still make the Miata. The MX-5 still lives, you know, the paragon of s..."
Bentley Bentayga
"...Rover provided Defender Okta. Bentley provided a Bentayga. And I flew to Munich for another trip that I ha..."
Audi RS6 Avant
"...ke, you know, every once in a while, you got the RS6 Avant behind you flashing here. Okay, go ahead. Go do y..."
Shelby Cobra
"...cause I picked it was either the GT4 or it was a Cobra. It was something smaller, but fun because I coul..."
Land Rover Defender
"..., and especially if you have like a G wagon or a Defender, you know, especially an Octa, you can go off roa..."
Volkswagen Id4S
"...ow, like Volkswagen did this thing where we took ID4s out into the desert, but they also took Baja Bugg..."
Jaguar SS100
"...ole bike. So tell us about this. Brough Superior SS100. This is the motorcycle, the type of motorcycle t..."
Cadillac Alantes
"...on't even know if they'll rise anytime soon, but Cadillac Alantes are like, it's a neat car. Like Pin and Farina b..."
Mclaren F1
"...? Well, for going old, I mean, the no brainer is McLaren F1. It's... Okay. Yeah. Talk about a car that I wish..."
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