The Nissan Skyline GT-T is a turbocharged Skyline model that’s famous with car fans, especially in the Japanese “JDM” world. People like it because it’s a great base car for upgrades and it drives in a fun, punchy way.
Brand
Work Seekers
“Work Seekers” sounds like a specific aftermarket wheel style from the WORK wheel brand. They’re talking about them as a cool, desirable set of rims.
The Miata is a small two-seat sports car made by Mazda. It’s popular because it’s light and fun to drive, and people often customize them. The podcast is praising how impressive a particular Miata looks.
The BMW M3 is a powerful sports sedan made by BMW. It’s designed to drive fast and handle well, not just look sporty. The podcast mentions it as a car the speaker is actively working with or maintaining.
K24 is the name for a specific Honda engine (a 2.4-liter four-cylinder). Putting a K24 “in” another car usually means they swapped the engine to get better performance and tuning options.
The Mustang is a sports car made by Ford. People talk about it a lot because there are many versions and it’s popular to modify. The podcast is bringing it up as one of the notable cars in that enthusiast mix.
A cowl is a raised part near the front of the car under the windshield/hood area. On a hood, it’s the shaped bump that changes both airflow and the look.
The Fiat 500 is a small Fiat that’s popular with car fans because it’s easy to customize. Here they’re talking about it being lowered for looks, which is why it stands out at car meets.
The Nissan Z is a sports car that’s been around for decades. Here they’re excited because someone finally got one, which shows how popular the new ones are with car fans.
“Period correct mods” means changing the car in a way that fits its original time period. Instead of making it look totally modern, you keep it looking like it belongs to when it was first made.
The thermostat helps the engine warm up and stay at the right temperature. If it gets stuck in the “open” position, coolant flows too much, and the engine can stay cold.
Coolant is the fluid that carries heat away from the engine. If it’s “free flowing” all the time, it means the thermostat isn’t controlling the flow anymore.
If the brakes feel “soft,” the pedal may sink or need more movement before the car slows down. That can happen when the brake system has a fluid problem or air in the lines.
Brake fluid is what makes the brake pedal’s push turn into stopping power at the wheels. If it’s not in good shape (or there’s air in the system), the brakes can feel wrong.
The master cylinder is the part that makes your brakes work when you press the pedal. It pushes brake fluid through the brake system to squeeze the brakes. If it’s acting up, braking can feel off or not as strong.
“All around” means the brakes at more than one wheel are being refreshed. That often includes replacing worn brake parts so braking feels even and predictable. It’s usually done when the system is unevenly worn.
A clunk noise usually means something in the suspension or steering is loose or worn. If it’s coming from one specific wheel, that area is the most likely culprit. Worn rubber parts can let things move and make that sound.
Bushings are the soft parts that help suspension components move smoothly. When they wear out, the suspension can get loose and start making noises. Replacing them can make the car feel tighter and more stable.
“Overhaul” here means doing a more thorough refresh than a quick fix. Instead of just patching one problem, it’s about replacing worn parts so everything feels right again. The goal is a tighter, better-driving car.
Rear hatch struts are gas-charged supports that help lift and hold the hatch in position. When they weaken, the hatch may not stay up reliably or may move too slowly. Replacing them is a common “refresh” item on hatchback/estate-style cars.
“Limited capacity” means the car can only handle a certain amount of weight. So even if it can tow something, it might not be able to do it safely or well.
A “Harlequin theme” means a car paint/design that uses multiple colors in a playful, patchwork way. The host is saying the plate and the car colors match nicely.
“Clear doors” means the doors are made to look see-through, so you can see what’s inside. It’s mostly a visual custom, and it can change how the door is built and mounted.
The 240SX is a Nissan sports car that many people modify. It’s especially known in car communities for being a good base for custom builds. The podcast is talking about a specific 240SX project and showing updates.
Topic
Bruce City Banger
“Bruce City Banger” sounds like a car event or show. The hosts are saying they might go there to see the same person’s car again.
Topic
WCEC show
“WCEC show” is another car event they might attend. They’re using it as a backup plan to meet the same person and see what’s changed.
Fitment is how your wheels and tires sit on the car—how close they are to the fenders and whether everything looks right. People care because it affects both the look and whether the tires rub when you drive or turn.
Continental DWS06 Plus is a particular brand/model of tire. People pick it because it’s designed to grip well for an all-season tire, not just in one season.
Brand
Konse KMPs
Konse KMPs are a type of aftermarket wheel. Wheel choice matters for how the car sits and whether the tire clears the suspension and fenders.
A “build thread” is like a running journal of a car project posted online. People share what parts they installed and what problems they ran into, so others can learn from it.
The Toyota Celica GT is a sporty Toyota model that car fans like to modify. Here, the story is about someone making a custom front bumper for their Celica GT using a video-game design as the starting point.
3D printing is a way to make a physical object from a computer file. In this story, someone printed a full-size bumper shape first, then used it to create the real bumper.
Aftermarket bumpers are replacement or upgraded bumpers made by companies other than the car’s original manufacturer. People buy them to change the look or make a custom setup.
The front bumper is the part on the front of the car that takes hits and protects the front body. The person in the story is making their own version of that bumper.
A fiberglass bumper is a custom bumper made from a strong, lightweight material. The story is saying the owner didn’t just buy a part—they built one out of fiberglass.
A wide-body is when someone modifies the car’s body so the fenders stick out wider. People do it for clearance (bigger tires) and for a more dramatic look.
A solid rear axle connects both rear wheels with one rigid bar. That can make it harder to lower the car as much as you want compared with independent suspension.
Aftermarket wheel options are wheels you buy that aren’t the original factory ones. Changing wheels can change how the tires fit and how the car feels on the road.
A warranty is a promise from the manufacturer or seller to cover certain problems for a set period. In the tire context, it typically means coverage for defects or premature wear, depending on the warranty terms.
Bring a Trailer is a website where car enthusiasts buy and sell cars at auction. The host is saying they watch it closely for new listings and bidding changes.
The host is also watching eBay auctions, not just car-specific sites. It’s another place where deals can pop up, but you still have to check the car carefully.
This is a Mazda RX-7 from 1981, a classic sports car. It’s known for its unusual rotary engine, and the story here is about a particularly clean, well-documented example that sold at auction.
They replaced the engine in the car. On a rotary car, that’s a big deal because the engine condition strongly affects how the car runs and how much it’s worth.
They repainted the car to match the original factory paint color. That can make the car look more correct, but you’d still want to confirm the work was done well.
This part is about how car auctions price things—what the car is currently bidding for and how bidders can raise it. The host describes watching the price and then placing a higher bid to win. It’s basically auction strategy and timing.
“Carbureted” means the car uses a carburetor to blend fuel and air. It can require more attention to tuning and starting than newer cars that use fuel injection.
Here, “rotary” means a Mazda engine type that spins internally instead of using pistons. That design can make the car feel and behave differently than most cars you’re used to.
Naturally aspirated means the engine doesn’t use a turbo or supercharger to push air in. It relies on normal engine breathing, which can feel different from turbo cars.
Turbocharged means there’s a turbo that compresses air before it enters the engine. That extra air can help the engine make more power than a non-turbo setup.
The Mazda RX-8 is another rotary sports car from Mazda. The rotary community talks about it a lot, and in this conversation it’s the car the host sold before getting back into an RX-7.
A body kit is aftermarket exterior styling for a car, usually adding things like different bumpers or side skirts. It’s meant to make the car look more aggressive or more aerodynamic.
Modified wheels means changing the car’s wheels—often for a different look or better fit. People do it to change the car’s stance and style.
Concept
1980s car styling gap
They’re basically saying people don’t talk about 1980s cars as much as they do about the 1990s and 2000s. But there were still a lot of cool, creative cars back then.
The Nissan 300ZX was a popular sports car from the late 1980s. People bring it up as a reference point for cars that look a little unusual but are still really cool to drive and own.
Air dams are aerodynamic add-ons (often mounted low on the front bumper) designed to manage airflow under and around the car. By reducing how much air gets under the front end, they can help the car look more “grounded” and may improve aerodynamic balance.
“3D print it” means making a part using a 3D printer. Car people use it when they can’t buy the exact piece anymore and want a custom or replacement part.
“Compression numbers” are a test result that tells you how well the engine is sealing and building pressure. If the numbers are low, it can mean the engine is worn out or not healthy.
A “V8” is a type of engine with eight cylinders arranged in a V shape. People swap to V8s to get a different feel and sound, but it’s not a simple bolt-on change.
“Slow car summer” is a fun trend where car people focus on enjoying their cars without trying to go fast. It’s more about cruising and having a good time than racing.
The BMW M5 is a fast, performance-focused BMW. Here it’s mentioned just to compare—like, “you used to get something very fast, now you’re getting something slow.”
“80s JDM cars” means Japanese cars that were made for the Japanese market in the 1980s. People like them because they can be special, different, and often have a strong enthusiast following.
Term
trackable
Here, “trackable” means the car is set up to be driven hard on a race track. It’s about whether the car can handle repeated fast laps safely.
Horsepower is a number that tells you how much power the engine can make. More horsepower usually helps the car speed up faster, but it’s not the only factor.
Coilovers are upgraded suspension parts that let you change how high or low the car sits. They can also affect how the car soaks up bumps and handles turns. Some are better quality than others, so “cheap” ones may not feel as good or last as long.
“Aftermarket suspension” means replacing or upgrading the suspension parts that came with the car from the factory. The goal is usually to make the car handle better or ride differently—either for everyday driving or for track days.
Fortunato is a company that makes aftermarket suspension upgrades. The hosts are saying it’s a strong option if you want to improve your car’s handling for either normal driving or track days.
Valving is the inside “control system” of a shock absorber. It affects how the suspension moves up and down, which can make the car feel more controlled when you drive hard.
Spring rates are a measure of how stiff the suspension springs are. Stiffer springs can help the car stay more stable when you’re driving hard, but the setup has to be balanced with the rest of the suspension.
Term
street drive the car to the track
This describes a “drive it to the track” use case where the same suspension setup is expected to work on both public roads and track sessions. It highlights why damping and spring choices matter: a setup that’s too aggressive can feel uncomfortable or unpredictable on the street.
The Honda Civic Type R (FL5) is a sporty, track-oriented version of the Civic. It’s front-wheel drive and turbocharged, and people like it because it drives in a very fun, precise way—sometimes even compared to much more expensive cars.
The BMW M2 is a small, sporty BMW that’s built to drive like a proper performance car. It’s rear-wheel drive, and it’s often used as a benchmark for “fun to drive” in the same price conversations as hot hatches.
The Porsche Boxster S is a sporty Porsche convertible/roadster. It’s designed for fun driving, so saying you’d pick a Civic Type R over it is a strong opinion about what “fun” means.
Cars.com is a website where people shop for cars and read automotive articles. Here, the host is reacting to a claim from a cars.com article and saying it doesn’t clearly explain how they proved it.
The Porsche Cayman is a Porsche sports car known for handling. They bring it up as another great option that costs more, which makes the article’s point seem off.
The Chevrolet Corvette is a well-known American sports car. They mention it as one of several great cars that are more expensive than the Type R.
Concept
car value vs "better" (regardless of cost)
The hosts are contrasting “value” (how good a car is for its price) with a blanket claim that one car is “better” regardless of cost. That distinction matters because a car can be objectively impressive yet still be a worse buy if it costs far more than the alternatives.
When people say “new chassis,” they mean the car’s main structure is redesigned. That can change how it handles, not just how it looks, which is why the hosts think the newer Type R generation feels different.
The Honda Civic is a common, everyday compact car. It’s known for being practical and easy to own. The podcast is saying that, even though it’s a regular car, it’s actually pretty good.
Front-wheel drive means the front wheels do the work of both steering and moving the car. That setup can make the car feel different than cars where the rear wheels provide most of the traction.
Understeer is when you turn the steering wheel and the car doesn’t rotate as much as you want. The front tires lose traction first, so the car tends to go wide.
BMW “M” cars are BMW’s performance versions. They’re designed to feel sportier and faster than regular BMW models. Here, they’re mentioned as part of the same price-bucket of cars people might compare.
The BMW Z3M is a sporty BMW roadster made by BMW’s M division. It’s known for being a fun, smaller car that feels more like a real enthusiast sports car than a typical everyday roadster.
A facelift is when a car gets updated partway through its production. It’s usually changes to the look (and sometimes features) without replacing the whole model.
Falcon RT-660s are a particular kind of performance tire. Tires are what actually grip the road, so the model you choose can change how the car handles.
The Falcon is a Ford model that some people use as a base for performance modifications. In the podcast, they mention adding parts like upgraded wheels and adjustable suspension. That implies the car is being built to drive better, not just look different.
“Planted” is enthusiast shorthand for a car that feels firmly settled and predictable at speed—especially in corners. It usually comes from a combination of suspension tuning, tire grip, and alignment settings that keep the tires working effectively.
The Subaru BRZ is a small sports car meant to feel nimble and fun to drive. Here, they’re talking about it because an article mentions BRZ, and they compare it to the Toyota GR86.
Scion was a Toyota brand that targeted younger drivers. In this conversation, they’re saying some people avoided the Scion-branded version and instead chose the Subaru.
Car
Honda Type R
Honda Type R is Honda’s badge for their most performance-focused versions. In this segment, they’re using it as an example of the kind of driving “character” they want.
CVT means the car uses a transmission that can change ratios smoothly instead of shifting gears. That can make driving feel smoother, but it also depends on how the car is tuned.
LIVE
Welcome back to the Martini Works podcast.
If you're listening, happy Friday, whether you're out on YouTube or Spotify or any streaming
platform you use to listen to us, we appreciate you.
I am here with, and I'm just kidding, it's long again, and that was good.
I'm Gels.
And Dakota here on this fine day, it's finally getting warm out a little nicer here, and
it feels like car season, baby.
So what we did is we hosted our first early birds event of the year, and it felt really
good.
If you guys didn't know, we host early birds, which is our version of cars and coffee,
essentially, except we broke our own rules on this one, and there was no birds and there
was no early coffee.
Oh, there was coffee.
Yeah, we ate coffee.
And a pig truck.
Yeah.
That was a pig truck.
Pig truck was sick.
It was.
A lot more pig truck.
Coffee at 3 p.m. wasn't a big hit.
Which is weird.
I get coffee at 3 p.m. all the time.
It's not.
No biggie to me.
Drink the coffee.
But I do, I will say, like the event was awesome, wasn't great.
Talk to a bunch of cool people and watch some formula one.
It was the first time I got to bring the Harlequin to an event.
So I got many conversations, which was really cool.
Everyone was so fucking kind.
It was awesome.
But I do really, I don't know what it is.
I enjoy our early mornings here when we get here, and everyone's still a little bit sleepy.
We got coffee rolling.
I like that vibe a lot.
So we're going to continue doing those.
If you guys haven't stopped out and checked out one of our early birds, please do.
You'll have a good time.
It's really chill, cool cars show up, and somehow different cars show up every single
time too, which it's like a smaller event.
We don't advertise it a whole lot because we don't want, we don't have a ton of space
to be quite frank.
But we got enough to host a good amount of people and it's like, dude, a yellow Skyline
GT-T showed up.
Just like ours.
Yeah, just like ours.
It was like, where'd you come from?
What the hell is this?
I thought we were the only other Skyline GT-T.
But it was really cool to see that.
It's also cool to see customers and stuff that have picked up wheels from us.
Wheels that we've even unboxed here.
We had those work seekers that came in and they're like, dude, we should really take
a peek at those to a video on them because they're really cool wheels.
And we did sent them out the door.
It's like, oh man, probably never see those again.
And then they literally showed up on the sick Miata.
And it looked phenomenal.
And it looked phenomenal.
And it's like, I love seeing that.
I love seeing the cool shit that comes in through the doors and then goes out and then
all of a sudden it shows up at our event on a sick car.
Yeah, not only that, we had a gentleman that lives in Japan.
He came all the way to Wisconsin for us in there.
He's originally from Wisconsin.
But last week he's been living in Japan and he was visiting.
So he's like, I got a little bit of time.
I'm going to come up to Early Birds and we got to talk to him.
He drives an EVO 5 and he had his family here and got to check out the Harlequin.
We were talking for a bit and it's like, damn, that's so cool.
Like we got people from all over coming and hanging out.
And so he listens to the podcast.
So if you're listening to this, thank you again.
Appreciate you guys.
When you guys bring up that you listen to the podcast, it makes my day.
And we hear it quite a bit.
So thank you for that.
That definitely his motivation to keep it rolling and keep doing it.
But what did you guys think of the event?
I thought it was awesome.
Yeah, it was really chill, which is my favorite thing.
A lot of the events are so much work, right?
We have to basically pick up our entire shop and move them to another state or something.
So it's really it's a nice change of pace to just hang out and bring people into our space.
And it's already set up.
Yeah, yeah, put on put on foam.
The one a couple TVs, you know, and enjoy that with people.
I thought that was really cool.
Yeah, yeah, I had some people sitting here and chill and watching.
Yeah, I loved it.
I think it's a great way to like, like you said, it's like the first.
Well, no, Riverside was like our first event, but like our first like local.
Our first early birds.
Yeah, it was our first early birds and it was like it just felt good.
Weather was nice.
Every time we do and it reminds me that we got to do more of these.
Yeah, because, you know, like it's it's such a chill vibe.
And I know it's it's the weekend and all that stuff.
But like it's so fun to just come hang out and and chat with a few people
and just do something for a few hours.
Like you say, that's it's nice.
It's more of a hang out.
And you know, we're not we set up some stuff.
We get some stuff.
We're only like we had the food truck and we put up our little merch and giveaways.
But yeah, did some giveaways.
That was really cool.
Shout out Konsei, too.
They sent us like a bunch of skate decks and stuff.
We were able to give those away and people are hyped.
Yeah, we had a bunch of like 12 like liquid molly bags of stuff.
Yes, the way it was huge.
And then we had some really cool, like one off or not me, not one off,
but unique floor mats that we gave away to.
Yeah, the guy next to him, I want to know that he did end up getting a skate deck.
So he was really happy about that.
But yeah, we gave away some cool stuff.
We usually try to do some community stuff like that, too, which is fun.
But yeah, we get we get a lot of stuff sent in from our vendors, which I love.
Yeah, I can't take anymore.
My house is full.
What's all we know here?
So the best the second best thing to do with it is obviously give it away to you guys.
So some of the stuff is like really cool.
It's KDEX, the formats.
I have some Konsei mechanics gloves I use to keep them in the M3 all the time.
Some of the stuff is really, really cool.
So I'm happy we can give that stuff along.
Yeah, we had some very cool vehicles show up, too.
So like Dale rolled up with his Mini Cooper that had a K24 in it and then a big turbo.
And then the icing on top, it was all wheel drive.
I don't know where the hell he's been hiding that.
Yeah, the last however long I've known him.
Never knew he had that.
I just I love this stuff that shows up.
It's so funny.
You see the this crazy stuff and like Mustang and Kron's Alexi's and like, well,
I missed a lot of people had good taste.
He's here often.
He's bought some stuff from us.
I really like his hood, too.
One thing he does is he has a carbon fiber hood and then because it's a
Mustang and kind of has like the cowl on it.
He left the cowl like the top of it carbon fiber and then like kind of like
faded it into the paint.
And it looks really good.
That car, that car is sick.
It is. It's a good looking Mustang for sure.
And had someone he's been a lot of our content.
We've interviewed him.
He has a Fiat 500 that's super sick.
It's bagged on work wheels, I think it's sick.
But he recently just picked up a Nissan Z and he's been wanting one since the launch.
He's been working on getting when he finally got it and he was able to bring it.
So that was super cool to see.
There's just a lot of cool stuff.
Mike drove up in his Audi that he's like doing kind of period correct mods on.
I love that.
Yeah, it's just so cool to have conversations here, what people's doing.
And like seeing it from last year to now, because like in Wisconsin,
we got this lull where you don't see people for like a bit.
And then they come out and they got some changes done.
That's cool.
Really fun to see.
But that I mean, early birds ain't it.
We got another show coming right up.
Yeah, but listen into this.
It's tomorrow.
Yeah.
Yep.
So that's exciting that WCEC is season opener.
That's in West Bend, West Bend, Wisconsin.
So we'll be going down to that.
That's a little bit more of a vent.
We'll be packing up our booth, bringing a bunch of stuff down.
Our Teenieworks will have a presence there.
And then we'll have an RC drift track that Gels will be running.
Real drift track.
Yeah, real drift track for full size cars too.
So it's going to be a big one.
So I'm really excited for this one.
We changed some things up like, in the past, it was always like, OK,
indoor, like car show, kind of like the VIP kind of thing.
Showcase, and then the outdoors, like the meet and greet.
But now we have like a full outdoor like concourse
that we're doing, the indoor.
We got drifting, we got the RC stuff.
Of course, got like the meet and greet stuff going on.
Dude, it's going to be crazy.
Yeah, I'm hoping to take the Harlequin,
but I don't know.
She'll make it down.
It's not in bad shape or anything,
but it's definitely in a state like,
I feel like the owner I got it from,
he took super good care of it.
But I want to say like probably the last year or so,
got away from him a bit.
Probably just threw in storage and, you know.
And so there's stuff to button up.
Like check the oil, very dark.
So getting the oil changed today, actually, as we speak.
I noticed when I'm driving it, it's not getting up to temp.
Looked up the cassette.
Typically thermostat is stuck open
or in really weird circumstances.
I thought this was so odd.
I found multiple threads of people with Mark IIs
that remove the thermostat.
So that way coolant is free flowing the entire time.
I don't know if that's the case,
but the car was in Florida and it's older.
So maybe if it wasn't running hot down there,
he's like, I have to take it out.
Either way, it's either stuck open, most likely,
or not in there.
So I'm going to get that fixed
because it's never getting up to temp here.
And then what else?
Oh, my brakes are like real soft, real soft.
It's like I get a little bit of pressure and then I get.
And then right at the end, that's where my brakes are.
So you just thin pads or a fluid?
Yeah, it's a fluid.
May the master cylinder or something's going weird
with that too.
I've read a little bit about that being odd.
Or it just needs new brakes all around.
It very well might just need new brakes.
I haven't looked into it.
It's a little refresh.
Yeah, so I need a little refresh on her.
I am getting a little weird like soft clunk noise
from the front right.
Might be just worn out bushings or something like that.
I'd like to do it overhaul.
I want it to feel tight.
I want it to feel like a go cart when I drive it.
Yeah.
Yeah, I know what you mean.
But the odd thing is, I'm not annoyed with any of this.
I'm having fun getting it back.
It's kind of nice, I don't know,
spending time making it mine
because I'm getting some parts for it too,
but then refreshing it and making it feel nice.
I've already done a few things like
replace the rear hatch struts.
There's a plastic insert that sits in the hatch.
And that was all the tabs, mounting tabs for it
were broken off so that was loose.
And when I'd shut the hatch, it was hanging.
Dude, it could have fell out of the damn car practically.
It would have been so sad.
Yeah, so the only thing that was really holding it in
is the motor components for the hatch
that are attached to the back of it.
But so what I did is I used some epoxy
and I got in there and kind of remade
the little mounting tabs for the screws.
And now it's sitting in there in solids.
I've been tinkering with it and doing some stuff,
but I'd love to get it down to West Bend.
I just don't know if we're at that point.
And I ain't rushing it.
I ain't pushing it.
We ain't doing no funny business.
If I don't got brakes, I probably
don't want to drive it an hour and a half.
On the highway, yeah.
Hypothetically, the 400 could tow it, right?
Yeah, and I've thought of that.
But the 400 is really not the best at towing.
It kind of has a limited capacity.
So with trailer and car, I'd be right there.
Like right there.
And she'd probably be struggling.
And then I already get like 13, 14 miles per gallon,
so I'd probably get like five.
Yeah, that's fine.
But I could.
I could, I absolutely could.
Especially for that show, too.
Like that wouldn't be that bad going that far.
Yeah, that wouldn't be.
So that's an option as well.
That'd be kind of cool, too.
And we kind of still have the four-runner and the four-runner
and the golf on the.
Oh, man, now I kind of want to fucking do it.
Yeah, we'll make it happen.
Let's see.
But I'm excited.
It got me jazzed up.
It's cool to be back in a car again and like bring it
to events and stuff.
Because like I said, I had so many good discussions
with people.
And you know, the one weird thing that got
complimented the most was my license plate.
They're like, dude, it's so sick.
You got a yellow license plate.
That's brand new for Wisconsin.
We just got it this year.
They did a retro plate.
I didn't know Wisconsin ever had yellow license plates.
But with the Harlequin theme, there's no yellow on my back.
It's like I have a blue hatch and red bumper and stuff like that.
So I seen that retro play.
I'm like, oh, that's perfect.
Yeah, that's cool.
That's a cool touch.
I know I made a crack when you pulled in to park yesterday.
But it is it is it's one of those quirky things about that car.
Because it was the S15 red and yellow GTT.
And then the Harlequin, I'm like, it matches perfect.
Yeah, no matter where you put it,
it just fits in.
It's really cool because it's so goofy.
Yeah, we were saying too, how it was cool.
Like we got a lineup of our cars.
So Chris, I got the Supra that she pulled in.
We had the GTT S15 Harlequin.
It's like, damn, when you come to work,
everyone's driving their dailies.
It's like all just like white, gray or black vehicles.
It literally is.
I don't know how we manage this.
You look out here at any point during like the normal work week,
especially if it's like raining or something like that.
Every vehicle is like a white four door somehow.
I don't.
And then on the weekend, early birds
you come in, it's like a rainbow out the most colorful parking lot ever.
So it's kind of cool.
But yeah, it was fun.
I'm excited to go to the WCC show regardless.
And if you're there, if you bring your car
and you want to make some content, shoot me a message.
You can either DM me directly on my Instagram, my personal one,
or shoot Martini Works DM.
We'd love to film with you.
So me and Brent will be running around making content,
finding cool cars, cool stories.
I mean, if you just want to chat about your build to him,
I'd love to see it and what you got going on.
So make sure to shoot us a message.
But that's been really fun, too, with Martini Works,
is getting the opportunity to tell and showcase
other people's stories of their builds.
I think that's something really unique that we've been able to do
is so many people build these insane vehicles.
And a lot of them, honestly, keep under the radar
or they do make content
and they just don't have that much of a following or anything.
And we tell these stories and it gets to so many people
and they get so hyped.
And now it's cool because a lot of the people
we've met up and done this with, we see them at shows
and we get the updates and we go and talk with them again.
You see the changes.
Yes, I've had a ton of fun doing that.
I don't know if you guys remember the guy with the clear doors
on the Nissan 240SX.
He was sending some updated photos and stuff.
He's got some stuff in the works and he's doing with that.
And it was really cool.
I was like, dude, I love that.
I love that you're shooting this messages
because now I can't wait,
whether we go to Bruce City Banger
or maybe he's at the WCEC show, I don't know,
but we'll catch up with him.
That's such a wild car.
And it just leads perfectly to the build threads
what we have going on there.
And if you guys haven't checked out the build threads
or added your car to that, do that.
That's another way to get your car featured on our socials
and we'll share your story.
Or if you just want a place to keep track
of all your mods you've done and everything like that,
you can also link your socials on there
so people can find you.
We want to showcase the community's stories and builds
because what you guys do is amazing.
And two, not only that is a showcasing,
but it's helping other enthusiasts.
So they come to our site, they're able to see,
okay, this dude has a really dope GTI
and I really want that fitment.
Okay, he's running Continental DWSO6 Pluses
and some Konse KMPs and that fitment looks perfect.
I wanna check that out.
And it's there to help you too.
Yeah, it's like how many times have you like, you know,
run into like a weird thing with your car
or maybe you have like a quirky platform
or something like that.
And it's like, what do you do?
You go and Google, you know,
what wheels are gonna fit this car
or why is my car making this noise
or how do I get more power out of it?
You know, how many times have you landed on
like an old forum, you know?
And some, unfortunately, some of those aren't around anymore.
I mean, you think, what was it, Zilvia?
The forums there got shut down like last year,
which was super information.
Yeah, it's like, imagine if like the library burned down
with all that information on it.
It's essentially like what happened.
Like it's just gone.
So much worse, honestly, there's probably more.
But yeah, that's another part too.
So we're not done with the build threads.
We're always working on them.
Yeah, it is, it truly is.
And we're trying to make it a place where it's like for them.
So too, if you have questions to the owner,
eventually you'll be able to comment
and we'll be able to have threads in there
where you guys can have that information,
like a modern day forum, essentially.
So we're constantly working on it.
Obviously we got a small team of people.
So we're rolling out updates frequently,
I think May has some pretty big updates rolling out.
Yeah, so get in there.
We're also at a point too,
I believe now Lars, Kregman, you can update,
like what you can add to your build thread
and then like, let's say in a few months
you do something to it, you can modify it.
So you can keep your build updated on there,
which is really exciting.
That was some direct feedback from you guys
that have used it already.
We're like, hey, I submitted my build thread.
I threw some new wheels on it or I wrapped it.
Can I update it?
And we're like, should we probably have a way to update it?
So you can do that now too.
And on a note, just to share this, I suppose,
every feedback you guys give us,
whether it's in comments or messages or emails
or order notes, whatever, we read all of that stuff.
And I mean all of it.
So keep hitting us with that stuff
and all the stuff that's important to you guys,
like we want in the build threads.
Like it's kind of foundational
to how we started Martini Works
was to get this platform rolling.
So we're looking for more of that.
So don't ever be shy, get it to us
and we'll get to work on it.
100% feedback is huge and we love hearing it.
And we like to see you guys using it.
And if you guys do wanna get featured on the socials,
I can give you some tips.
Best way to do it, have as many images
that you can get, high quality ones,
and then give a good story.
Just tell us why you bought the car,
what you like about it, what you dislike about it,
what mods you picked and why put that in your little blurb.
I mean, I feel like that's kind of what makes
the build thread special at Martini Works
is having the chance to kind of voice
and say what your thoughts are on your build.
And the story can take a build from a six out of 10
to a 10 out of 10 really quick.
I was gonna say, the cars are usually cool,
but nine out of 10 times,
there's always a really cool story to go along with it.
One of the ones we just featured
where it was the Toyota Celica GT
and he found a bumper on a video game
and he really liked it.
So he like put it in his software and he 3D printed it.
And he 3D printed it like full scale.
And then what he did was he made a mold from that 3D print
and he was able to completely make this bumper
from a video game.
And it looks dope, it looks good.
That's crazy.
Cause like, I don't know Toyota Celica GTs.
I never had one.
I don't know the community.
I don't know the aftermarket bumpers
that are available for them.
So I would have just thought,
oh, it has an aftermarket front bumper.
But with him being able to tell that,
it's like, holy shit, put in work.
Literally fabricated his own fiberglass bumper.
Yeah, so that's Jeremy's car.
Check it out.
We have it on our Instagram.
We did a little short feature.
Actually, it's on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, all of it.
But check out that car because yeah,
it was really cool.
He made his own wide body out of aluminum or steel.
So the thing is built like a fricking tank.
He did can't the lever air suspension,
which I can't say I've really ever seen.
I don't know if I've ever seen that.
Yeah, I didn't.
Can't a lever air suspension is crazy.
That's wild.
I mean, I guess it works.
I suppose you'd lose the up and down,
but you gain adjustability, like infinite adjustability.
So it's a solid rear axle normally.
So to get them low, you can't.
So that's why he's like, I had to custom make my own
to get it to drop where I wanted it to on the air suspension.
So it's just a neat car.
It's a cool car.
It was a car you got for 500 bucks
and now it looks like a damn Gundam.
And he just went buck wild with it.
If you know that dude, he's a wild dude
and he went wild with the car.
But like that's the type of shit.
I love to see like the stories and stuff
and getting to learn.
And then yeah, we'll tag you and showcase it
and all that stuff.
That's enough blurbs about the build threads,
but it's not enough blurbs about continental tire.
You mean Conti?
Conti, Conti.
There it is.
Yes.
The sponsor of the Martini Works podcast, Continental.
You guys have heard us talk a ton about Continental.
At this point, you have to know how much we enjoy Conti
on our vehicles.
I'm looking to get some DWSO6 pluses
for the Harlequin probably.
Actually, I mean, I'm only going to drive it in the summer.
So maybe I'll pull up if they make ECSO2.
ECSO2s and 16s, I'll go check.
They do.
Yeah, they do.
One thing with Continental is there's
a ton of sizes available, which makes it really nice.
That's why I was able to put Viking Contact 7s on my Supra
for the winter.
And I can go shop for my little tiny baby Gulf Harlequin.
Also having small wheels is the biggest benefit
I've ever had in my life.
I've been looking at some aftermarket wheel options
and shopping with tires and seeing the prices of that
versus 19s.
Oh, baby.
I bet it's quite the difference.
It is.
So head on over to Martini Works.
We have a nice filter.
So you can click Continental and look at all their options.
And you're like, damn, this is so many options.
I don't know what to do.
Chris and Zach are answering questions
every single day on making recommendations
on what tires you should get.
If you have a question about size,
if you have a question about what model,
we'd be more than happy to help you with that.
And then to Continental has a fantastic warranty
with their tires.
So while you have the tires, you'll be taken care of.
It's probably one of the best warranties
any tire manufacturer has.
So check out Continental.
Thank you to Continental.
And we'll be right back in the next segment.
All right, well, it's getting nicer out, as we said.
Here in Wisconsin, car season is rolling in.
And I feel like it's been slapping everyone in the face.
Yeah.
It feels like it's back.
I feel like we've literally climbed, crawled,
out of our caves from hibernation.
Yeah, I'm pale as fuck.
Yeah.
And I mean, Jules, what have you had going on over here?
Yeah, it really did slap everyone in the face,
because we're all getting new cars, including me.
But not a new car, new to me car.
Beginning of the year, I said I wanted to set out and get
my RX7.
And I did it.
He did it.
It's so exciting.
It was so crazy how it happened.
Let me clarify.
Let me clarify before it's not an FD.
No, no.
But that's OK.
It's better.
Yeah, in some ways.
In some ways, yeah, it's better.
Out of fucking nowhere.
So I've been looking and just keeping my eyes out
as every car person does.
You just keep an eye out.
So I've got all the bring-to-trailer updates
and all the eBay auction updates and scour marketplace
all the time and changing locations to check things out.
Yeah.
There was an absolute gem of a 1981 Mazda RX7.
So it's a Series 2 FB that came up for auction with no reserve.
It was a one-owner car, been in the family its entire life,
been immaculately taken care of, had a bunch of stuff done
to it in the 90s.
Of course, RX7 had a new engine put in it.
They had it re-sprayed to the factory color again,
did a bunch of upholstery on the interior.
The dude was really tall, apparently,
so they extended the seat rails, which is perfect.
I was just saying, that's probably perfect for you.
I'm also tall as shit.
So it was just immaculate.
Look, the interior is so nice.
It's black color.
It's a Series 2.
So it's sleek.
It doesn't have the weird front bumpers and stuff like that.
And I was keeping an eye on it.
And the auction really wasn't moving.
But you know how auctions go.
And no reserve.
And no reserve.
So it was like sitting at like,
I think it was like 2,300 bucks or something like that.
And I'm like, you know what, fuck it.
Threw a bit on it for like 2,400.
Just to say you did it.
Just to say I did it.
Because I was talking, we're all sitting around,
across from each other.
I'm like, guys, I don't know how to do it.
I keep going back to it.
There's something about it.
And threw it on there.
It stayed for a while.
Then of course, it was like the final day,
like within a few hours.
And then it started going on.
As they do.
As they do.
And I was like, all right, you know, whatever.
At least I can say I did it.
But I kept coming back to it.
And I was just sitting like, dude,
it would be really, really fun.
And it's like, the price was still insane,
like for what it was.
Yeah, 100%.
And there was no reserve on it.
And like, I'm gonna just keep an eye on it.
And it was like in the final 30 minutes.
And now everybody's on board.
Everyone is like, the whole office is like,
they're watching it on their screens.
I did.
I was like, hold up.
It's like, oh, so it's so just bad.
Damn it.
We're all like, like, screw you.
Jets, man.
They're like, are you gonna do it?
You're gonna do it?
I'm like, I don't know.
And then I was like, oh, fuck it.
What's another $100, I guess, did it.
And it came down to the frickin' wire.
It was a little above where I told myself
I was gonna stop.
As auctions go.
As auctions go.
But I was like, so bring a trailer, does this thing.
So you don't just like scoop in the last second,
like snipe an auction out from someone.
So like bots or like that.
Honestly, yeah.
I like that.
I really like that.
And so anytime within the two minute window
of an auction ending, if you bid or if a bid is placed,
it adds another two minutes to the auction,
which I really like.
So it was down to like 45 seconds.
I'm like, fuck it, one more.
Slapped another $100 on it.
And then the timer just kept, you know,
added the two minutes.
I'm like, guaranteed, cause like there was a bidding war
going on.
It was tense in here for that two minutes.
It was a bidding war going on.
And I was like, I guarantee someone's gonna,
cause like, I'm gonna do this thing's gonna go
for like another $1,000 of these.
Yeah, for sure.
Easily.
And it just, it didn't.
No.
And the clock kept going down.
And it got to like 30 seconds.
And also everyone had their phones out.
I'm like, there's no way I'm going to get this car.
And it got to like 10 seconds and then five.
And then it ended.
And then I said, waiting for any last minute bids.
I was like, okay, it's someone's gonna.
Here it is.
Here it is.
And then I fucking want it.
It was awesome.
I also recorded that whole,
I think like the last minute or so of it I recorded.
Cause I was like, dude, I had no idea.
Honestly, I didn't think it was gonna go.
I figured someone else would jump in too.
Cause you've got it for a very good price.
And so I was like,
but in case he fucking wins this right now,
I gotta have this record cause it was such a cool moment.
We were all cheering and like, oh my God.
It was so insane.
Like we had a friends in like our group chat
that they were also watching it.
Like something, you know, in another town,
they were messing with like, dude, holy shit, you got it.
Call my wife, Maggie.
And I was like, hey, I won the car.
She's like, holy shit, like that's crazy.
So yeah, it is a, it is a beautiful hour.
Throw some pictures up here for it,
but I'm very, very excited.
I was honestly stressing the fuck out
because I'm like, dude, what did I just do?
This was such like a spur of the moment.
You bought one from like an auction like that, right?
First time ever participating in something like that.
Yeah. They're intimidating.
It is, it really is.
It's honestly kind of like gambling and that's, that's scary.
Yeah, it is.
And like too, like it, it naturally,
and that's the reason people do auctions.
Like, well, you don't, you, you get into it.
Dude, it was.
It was a fucking roller coaster.
Cause it was like, all right, I met my, I met my cap.
Yeah.
Wasn't meant to be.
Fuck, it'd be really cool though.
And it's only a hundred dollars to just try again.
You shouldn't have no reserve one.
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
That's what it was.
All you need is another 50.
Yeah. If there was, if there was like a reserve set on it,
it's like, okay, well, what's, you know, what's the point?
I don't like reserve auctions.
Cause it's like, you could win it, but not.
And then you don't.
Yeah.
And then, yeah, you can.
You don't even know.
But you're.
But yeah, I'll throw up some pictures of it here.
It's an immaculate car.
I've been in contact with essentially the owner of it
who's selling it on behalf of her mother now, pretty much.
They've been, they've been really sweet.
They've been really awesome.
And we're getting everything situated here.
Cause I don't have it yet.
This literally just happened at the time of filming.
This is a couple of days ago.
So I'm figuring out like the shipping
cause it's in Monterey, California.
So it is a California car.
So it is absolutely spotless, really well taken care of.
But yeah.
It's going to be traveling.
It's going to be traveling.
It's going to take a minute to get here.
I think probably like a week or so
once we lock everything.
Honestly, I did.
Because like Alex and Greg were just out in Monterey.
They were literally out there last weekend
when this all happened.
And I was like, almost like, dude, I don't,
cause like I said, I was kind of stressed out a bit
cause I'd never done any of this.
And then I'm like, okay, well now I have to pay for all this
and get this like figured out.
There's a lot with it.
There's a lot with it.
Cause there's like the, you know, you got like the,
like the fees and like the taxes.
And then like, you know, you gotta put like a down payment
on stuff and there's actually like a thing too.
Like when you bid, it's like a minimum of like,
when you place a bid to like make sure you're legit,
they have like a 5% like fee, like of whatever you bid on it too.
So like that goes to bring a trip.
So there was like a lot of stuff upfront that I was like,
oh shit, I gotta go figure this out now.
But now that it's like kind of getting situated,
you know, the last couple of days I've been getting really,
really, really fucking excited about it.
I don't know what it is about that car,
like the FB specifically.
I think like, I remember playing like Gran Turismo
back in the day and it was like the first Gran Turismo.
It was like one of the starter cars that you could start.
Oh really?
And I always remember ripping that one.
And I didn't know how to operate video games
that much back in the day.
Other than just hit go and turn.
So I just kept doing the one single race
over and again with like a blue FB.
So it was kind of that.
And I think just like that era of cars,
like we always talk about like the 90s, right?
And like the 90s JDM.
Dude, the 80s got something special going on.
When it comes to, like you think like the Datsun
and like the Nissan's and stuff back then,
dude Mazda with the FB like,
there's so much like racing heritage to that car
and like just other heritage in general.
Absolutely.
And I'm really, I'm really fucking excited about it.
Like it's a carbureted 12A rotary.
So it's going to be a huge fucking learning curve.
I've never had anything carbureted in my life
outside of like my RC stuff.
So probably be the same.
Yeah.
It's like modifying a carbureted rotary
going to be a little bit interesting for sure.
But you know, the plan with it, you know,
I just want to, I want to keep it really clean.
I want to do like kind of like period correct stuff with it.
We're talking about like little wheels, you know,
these take like 15, 16.
So like, you know, there's some like really, really cool
like old like vintage like mesh wheels out there
or just like some like random Japanese like multi-piece
wheels that you can get for stupid cheap.
So like maybe find something like that, refinishing it.
You know, I'm really looking forward to doing again,
like kind of like a car of firsts again, like the RX-8
and really fucking stuck to get back into a rotary.
I'm so happy you're getting like, I sold the RX-8
and I told myself I'm going to end up
with the rotary again someday.
It feels right.
It feels so right.
I think all of us around you, like it feels right.
Yeah, 100%.
I agree.
And I mean, it's naturally aspirated.
Yeah.
So it's perfect.
Gels is able to use looking at RX-7, he's like,
oh my God, the FD, that's turbocharged, disgusting.
Oh, the FD, that's naturally aspirated, that's perfect.
Yeah, exactly.
But all seriousness, super glad you're getting back into it.
We talked about it a little bit,
but like when you sold the RX-8,
it felt like now there's been something missing.
You've been the rotary dude around the shop
and I think the FD is sick.
And honest to God, I didn't know a lot about them
before this whole shindig went down.
So after you getting one, I started looking them up,
looking what they look like, modified wheels,
body kit, stuff around.
It's like, dude, these are sick and they are so slept on.
It's so cool.
Like nobody's modding these right now.
So like for you to get one is just,
I think it's gonna be so cool because it's different
and it looks sleek.
Yeah, from everything that I've seen,
and that was like the idea too, it's like, dude,
like when I was thinking about like originally
like looking at one, or I think I've talked about it
on here before, I'm like, dude, the FBs are slept on.
Like they're a cool looking car, if you do them right.
It would be really cool to get one
and just do some like simple stuff to it.
And yeah, I think they look absolutely incredible.
I think it's also really cool
because we don't really talk,
and I'm trying to think through my head.
Like we don't really see cars from the 80s anymore.
There's like this gap where we talk a lot about the 2000s
and some late 90s stuff.
And we see, obviously the muscle car group
from the 70s and stuff is still around.
But this gap in the 80s, like you're absolutely right.
There's some rad stuff out there.
They were really doing stuff.
It got a little like fucking weird in the 80s.
It was like, cause you look at like the series one,
RX 7s, and they have like the actual like,
like exposed like bumper on it.
So it's got like the actual like rubber bumper.
It looks like, and it looks a little like goofy, right?
And it's like, what is it, like the 300ZX of the time
or something like that in the late 80s.
Like, you know, they got just like really kind of odd looking,
but they're just really cool cars.
And I feel like the series two FBs,
and honestly like the SEs, I think if I'm saying that right,
which was like after that, it was like 83 to 85.
I feel like they like dialed that car in
and it's so good looking.
Like it's just, it's just a wedge.
Bless you.
It looks really, it looks really, really good.
So yeah, I think like just some simple stuff.
Like you can get some like air dams and stuff for it.
So it doesn't look like it's like super like a overbite.
Yeah, right, right.
So like brings out the bumper a little bit.
So there's some really cool stuff that you can find with that,
which I think people are still making or, you know,
I'll have to go scouring some auctions again
to find some pieces.
3D print it.
Yeah, 3D print it.
And that's totally an option too.
Like, I think it's gonna be really cool.
It's gonna be really different.
Fingers crossed.
I did a, you know, the big rotary send.
It didn't have compression numbers when I'm on it.
But they said it was running and driving.
They had like, you know, the video of it
running and it wasn't like smoking or anything like that.
So it looked good.
And you know, every interaction that I've had
with the people selling it have been awesome.
And the story behind the car is super cool.
Yeah, it looks like it's really been taken care of.
Yeah.
And I told them to, I'm like,
I promise I'm not gonna destroy it.
I'm gonna treat it right.
Do the making my own, obviously.
We're gonna do some stuff too.
Yeah, we're not gonna, you know,
there's obviously like kits that you can do
like the whole like IMSA, like wide body kit.
Like you're gonna like throw V8 in it, you know,
make it fun.
I'm like, I don't want to do that.
I want to keep it simple.
I want to clean it up.
You know, I think a carbureted rotary is fucking weird.
And I like it.
It's so unique.
Super unique.
That'll be, it'll be cool.
I'm excited to hear how it sounds, how it drives.
Like the RX-8 was such a unique driving experience, dude.
I think that's gonna be such a cool car for a, you know,
summer, Friday, Saturday night.
Just cruise, take it downtown, go to dinner.
Oh my God, I think it's gonna be just perfect for that.
I hit my quarter life crisis.
Yep, I turned 30 and I'm like,
I need something slow and old.
Yep.
Exactly, it's slow car summer.
That's what we've been saying.
Hashtag slow car summer, tag us in it.
Everybody's been doing it.
It's the trend now.
You guys saw all your M5 and get something very slow large.
I already have the GRD6.
Oh, okay, all right.
No, I do.
Well, you have to keep that now too.
I am itching because this whole experience
and thinking through, you know, 80s JDM cars and stuff,
it does make me crave some of those older cars
that have pushed to the side for a long time
in the pursuit of speed and race cars and trackable,
whatever, it's like, there's something just satisfying
about just cruising, just chilling for a while.
So I think when that car gets here,
and obviously the Harley Quinn's already here,
I am gonna get that itch.
I want a shark so that 24, oh my God.
Like I said too, it's like, you know, I wasn't,
I didn't set out and be like, I'm gonna buy a car today.
But like, dude, it's so sick.
Cause like a lot of people, you know,
you picked up like the Harley Quinn,
Chris actually just picked up a Mark V Supra.
Like it's absolutely fucking awesome.
People have been making moves around the shop
and it's like, got the itch like super bad.
And, you know, the 240 has just been just sitting
and you know, it just is what it is.
I really like that car still.
What's the plan there then?
You know, as much as I'd like to keep it
and possibly could too, but it'd be nice to have
like the garage space back for the FB.
Yeah.
You know, and I think it's gonna come down
to either letting that car go
or figuring out something else to do with it.
Which is, you know, I've had it for a while,
had my fun with it.
For sure.
And I think, you know, it's just how it'd be.
Yeah, for sure.
And we've talked about it for years now.
You've had ideas of like fixing it up
and painting it and like kind of getting it.
So it's like, you could have went that route
or you could have got another car to experience.
And I feel like getting the RX-7 was sick.
I think that was a good decision.
You've had plenty of fun with the 240 and gotten a drift.
You got to learn a lot of, you know,
new motorsport stuff with it.
And now you get to experience a whole new platform
rather than just shining up what you've already learned.
You know.
So I think you made the right one.
RX-7's got LSD in it, so we can still whip that too.
You bring the RX-7 to US Air?
No, no, no, no, no.
Maybe, actually.
I feel like doing it once.
You got to try it, right?
You got to.
Do you know how much horsepower it makes?
No.
I'm curious.
I'm going to look it up, actually.
More than G86, I bet.
Will it pass the goal?
I think the golf factory numbers are like 140, I think.
That might be being generous, honestly.
Let's see here.
It's a 2-0.
Yeah, look it up.
Well, you have the 2-0.
Yeah.
It's a base model golf GL.
Gotcha.
Yeah, what did you say yours was?
I think it's 140, but let me check them for you.
I'm so curious now.
How old is the whole thing?
It was 146.
So there's a 140 horsepower that makes?
No.
Oh.
115.
Oh, shit.
Yeah, mine's about 100.
Oh.
We got to line them up.
Yeah.
Road-wheel-drivers, rear-wheel-drive.
About, depending on everything.
But yeah.
On a good day?
Yeah, good day.
Hey, that's plenty.
That's more than enough.
So we'll hopefully see when it gets here and.
I'm so excited.
I would imagine probably about a week or so.
Yeah.
Can't wait to get it, take it off for a drive,
see what it's all about, see if it needs a rebuild.
If it needs a rebuild, we're bridge-porting it.
Yeah, doing some cool shit with it.
That first drive, getting a car delivered.
We talked about this before.
Oh my god, it's so satisfying.
I've never actually had a car delivered.
Usually we've either gone and got it,
or trailered it back ourselves.
But this will be the first time I'm showing up at the door.
I still remember.
It's a 40-year-old car.
When the M3 got dropped off, it was at 4.30,
5 AM in the morning, or whatever.
So we pulled it off the trailer.
And actually, it was a buddy of mine who picked it up.
So I let him drive it around the block with me in the car
first, because I was still waking up and everything.
And he was really excited to do it.
And then put it in the garage, took a nap.
And I was like, I can't sleep.
So I got up, drove across town to a gas station,
and then just drove straight to work.
There is something that's like, you get,
I had this with the bike too when I first got it.
And it's like, the weather's nice.
It's like, I had to find an excuse to just go ride or drive
this thing.
Any excuse.
And for me, the car was out of gas.
I was like, I got to get it.
Yeah, you got to go fill it up.
That one, and the one far away.
Yeah, because they have better gas there.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm really thirsty.
I can go for an energy drink.
You might as well take the bike, go get an energy drink.
And the nice part is now you'll want to do that all the time.
I know.
It is exciting.
I mean, I don't want to make it sound like I'm giving up
on the 240.
Because a part of me really wants to just keep that car too.
But it's like, I don't want, also at the same time,
like two cars to have to stick money into.
Because then it's like, I've done that in the past.
And it's just like, you start cutting corners a little bit.
It's like, OK, well, this needs that.
And this also needs that.
So it's like, instead of like, oh, I'm
going to save up for the nice coilovers,
I'm going to go get the cheaper coilovers.
Oh, instead of doing this to that,
it's like, they both slow down a ton.
And it's not like I'm trying to do this overnight either.
But it's like, I just want focus on one car and do it right.
Because when I look at the beginning of the RX-8 build,
it was very rushed.
And then the next two years of owning the car,
it was really figuring out what I really
wanted to do with it and completing it the way that it
should have been completed the first time.
So it's like, I just want to do this right the first time
with this car.
And I think it just flows into what we're all about here.
Absolutely.
I can't wait to see it.
I'm excited.
Slow car summer.
Slow car summer.
Tagus.
If your car is in the hundreds of horsepower,
you're in slow car summer.
Or under, I guess.
It's got to be under 200 horsepower to be slow car summer.
All right, then.
I've always been in.
I love summer.
Cool.
Well, that leads us to the next Spongebob podcast.
Joe's, who we got?
Of course, Fortunato.
Yeah.
So if you're looking for some aftermarket suspension,
if we get into slow car summer or fast car summer,
whatever you want to be a part of, I guess,
even though slow car summer is kind of cooler.
If you're looking for some aftermarket suspension,
some of the best stuff out there, of course,
is going to be Fortunato.
They do an incredible job making aftermarket suspension,
whether you're looking for something
streetable like the 500 that you can take on the track
if you want to.
Or if you want something more track focused like the 510 series,
they got you covered.
They can do some absolutely incredible stuff,
even when it comes to customizing coilovers
for your specific needs.
Bringing back to the 240, told them
I was going to be drifting it.
They helped me set up the valving and everything,
spring rates that were going to be
needed for those coilovers to get the job done.
And honestly, they feel incredible.
I would street drive the car to the track,
rip on it all day, drive it home.
And the car, suspension-wise, never missed a beat, felt awesome.
So Fortunato, they've been a sponsor for the podcast
since the beginning, and we reached out to them
because we truly believe in the stuff
that they're doing when it comes to aftermarket suspension.
We have them available over at Martini Works.
So if you're looking for a new set of coilovers,
not sure what to get, maybe have some questions on it.
Make sure to hit us up and get you set up
with some Fortunato's, answer any questions you've got.
And of course, thank you so much for Fortunato
for sponsoring the podcast.
[?].
All right, a little bit of news that's going on in the world.
I came across an article, and I knew it would probably
trigger Lars.
Where did you find this?
On the internet, FL5 Civic Type R
is the best driving car under $100,000.
That is madness.
Hell yeah.
That's a big statement.
That is a wild statement to group.
What does we say a Type R goes for now, like 50?
Yeah, the newer ones are in the 50s, 60s.
Yeah.
Putting that up against $100,000 cars and claiming it's
better is a wild statement.
In this article, they said, better than a BMW M2,
better than any Chevrolet Corvette.
And I'd even take a Type R over a Porsche 718 Cayman or Boxster S.
OK, what article is this?
Who wrote this?
This is cars.com.
Connor of cars.com.
Wow.
That is wild.
But I was reading this article, OK?
And here's what gets me about this,
because he may not be wrong.
I'm not here to shit on another platform.
But I see no actual statement for this is better than X.
He just keeps saying that Type R is just really good.
And that's a little odd to me.
Yeah, you're right.
It's not the fastest.
I'm thinking the speed doesn't matter for good, necessarily.
I'm just really confused by this article,
because the M2, the Corvette, and the Cayman
are all fantastic cars that are a little more expensive, yes.
But I don't know.
I guess I'm just confused by what his point is,
because he's not talking about value.
He's talking just straight up better.
The car is just better, yeah, regardless of cost.
Have any of us driven an FK8?
I know obviously we have the FK8.
No, we have the FK8, but I have not experienced the FK5 yet.
I want to.
Yeah.
Bad.
My understanding was that it's more or less the same car,
right?
Sure.
Just styling-wise a little different?
I mean, it is a new chassis.
So it went from the 10th gen to the 11th gen.
OK.
And I believe they essentially changed the chassis for that.
Yeah, it wasn't just a facelift.
As a Type R owner, what do you think about that statement?
You've driven your share of sports cars.
Yeah.
I mean, I wouldn't not believe it.
Again, we haven't taken our Type R on the track or anything,
even though I kind of want to, to really put it to the test.
But it's like, it is a properly good car.
We've threw it on some twisties.
And we've gotten on it and stuff before.
And it's like, for what a Honda Civic is,
it is a really, really good car.
It feels really good.
I think the tech in it is at the right amount
for what that car should be without being over the top
for no reason.
It doesn't really do anything bad.
But again, no, it doesn't do anything bad.
But again, that is a bold statement.
When you're like, oh yeah, anything under $100,000,
you're looping in a lot of fucking cars.
And what's wild to me is it's the only front-wheel drive
car in the whole comparison.
So that's, and I have a bit of a prejudice
against front-wheel drive sporty cars.
So maybe that's part of it.
Ooh.
Front-wheel drive is good.
I said sporty.
Even sporty, I like front-wheel drive sporty cars.
I think people that shit on front-wheel drive
just aren't good at driving them or something.
Because they're good.
It's a blast.
Front-wheel drive cars are fun.
They can be.
They can be bad too.
I get it.
The understeer is shitty.
It's not fun.
But they can be so good.
Some of the funnest cars I've ever driven in my life
are front-wheel drive.
Does that make them good or fun?
Yeah, did you read the article?
It's the best car under $100,000.
No, I hear you.
I think that article is more clickbait than anything.
Because I think he's biting off a bit more than he can issue
with that statement.
I think it is one of the best cars
you can get in its price range.
I would stand behind that all day long.
So that's $50,000?
$40,000 to $50,000.
I would 100%.
I wouldn't even probably argue it.
I can't think of another good car that's that cheap.
And I've got the chance to talk to a few owners,
and they love them.
Yeah, everyone that I've talked to has loved the FL-5.
But yeah, there's only so much I can say
without getting the chance to experience it.
Yeah, I agree.
I want to drive one.
Because there's some crossover with the BMW community,
also with the Type R. So maybe I'm
missing something entirely.
But to compare it against the Cayman, a Corvette,
and at $100,000, you're talking like,
I think can't you get a ZO6 for $100,000?
I don't know.
You're talking like a lot of M cars in there, too, obviously.
I think all of them showed of this SCS and the M5.
But even then, it's like those are still incredible cars.
Yeah.
Nuts.
I thought those were goofy.
Anyways, Joseph, do you have a build trip?
Yeah, I got to speak of some goofy stuff here.
I got one.
I think we shared this on our socials before.
But I think it's just too good not to talk about again.
Yeah.
We had a 1995, or sorry, 1999 BMW Z3M.
But this isn't your everyday Z3M.
This one got a bit of a facelift on it.
A bit?
Yeah.
All right, almost on record.
Showing the photos here.
Let's give a bit of the backstory.
So I've always loved the car design and custom builds.
A friend sent me a picture of a Z3 re-body kit
where people try to mimic other brands.
I saw an opportunity to make my own version that
stands by itself.
This project is and has been a learning tool.
Before starting, I had no body work experience whatsoever.
But I've always loved wrenching on my own cars.
Just dove in and went for it.
I love that.
I fucking love that.
It's kind of how I attack majority of my stuff, too.
So I found a clean car.
Southern California brought it to Michigan,
and then threw this body kit on it.
And I think it kind of reminds me of a, ah, that was like a,
I can't think of the name.
Looks like a TVR to me.
Yeah, something like that.
There was like the mini GT.
Not the mini GT.
What am I thinking of?
They're like the old cars.
MGs?
MG, yeah.
They kind of look like an MG front end on here.
And honestly, it works.
Well, even the rear is like completely redone, too.
I think it works really well.
It works.
The proportions are extremely good.
Yeah.
Never having any body work experience
and just diving in and doing something like this yourself.
I don't know how you can do it better.
I love the story on this one.
Like if I'm being hypercritical, right?
The only thing that reeks of body kit
is that the doors flat whenever other panels like curve.
Super bubbly or anything.
But that's super nitpicky.
Like this is incredible.
I also love, too.
It's like, obviously, you're looking at a really solid platform
to start with, and then you're throwing some Apex wheels on it,
some Falcon RT-660s, TC Klein adjustable coil overs.
You've got camber plates on there,
a bunch of suspension stuff.
So it's got to just absolutely feel planted.
And then, oh yeah, so it's a tribute automotive fiberglass
body.
Yeah, it looks really cool.
It looks really unique.
It's a head turner for sure.
And then, yeah, this platform, I'm
sure it's an absolute blast to drive in.
It's cool to see.
And it's not just a show car.
Like there's photos here of it at the track and stuff, too.
So it's like, I mean, I would be terrified
making a custom body kit and then bringing it to the track.
That sounds like, oh my god.
Like I'd be white knuckle in the whole time.
Stay away from me.
But man, is it cool.
And I appreciate what they did with it.
But yeah, again, I really like the story of like,
I didn't really know what to do, but I just went for it.
I sent it, and I learned along the way.
And quality parts to support it, too.
Like visually, obviously, it's all custom.
But then, like a TC Klein coilovers are very high quality.
I met Mr. Klein at Road America one year.
Oh, shit.
Like he was developing coilovers for the M2 Comp
back in the day.
That's super cool.
So that's very good stuff.
He's a former race car driver.
Very cool stuff, so.
Super neat.
So that's just a reminder, you know,
if you want your car featured.
Doesn't have to be anything insane like that.
Again, like Dakota said, if you've got a good story
behind your car, you know, we love to hear that, too.
So make sure to add your car over to the Martini Works.
Build threads will put a link in the description.
So you go do so, and then keep coming back and checking it out
because we're constantly adding stuff over there.
Got one more article real quick for us to toss in here.
Because I thought it was interesting because we all
seen the new Honda Prelude.
We were excited.
We hear Prelude.
We're like, oh, sick.
And we see it.
And we're like, oh, that kind of fell a little bit short, I think.
This just looks like meh.
But apparently, that's not exactly what's going on.
So according to sales data, the Honda Prelude,
the new one that just came out, if you compare Subaru BRZ sales
to Honda Prelude sales, the Honda Prelude
has surpassed the BRZ in last month's sale.
Not saying overall or anything like that, obviously.
But that just has to show.
Is that North America?
Is that global?
I believe it's North America.
But I'm not 100% sure.
It might be global.
Because I remember hearing when the Prelude first came out,
it was doing super well in Japan.
OK.
It was doing really, really well over there.
But in North America.
I think it's total.
I think it is total.
So that is included in there.
I mean, I'm surprised, but I'm not at the same time.
What is, do we know the price point of what this is coming in?
Also, too, this article specifically says Subaru BRZ.
It's like, what about the GR86?
I feel like people gravitate towards more.
I see more GR86s than BRZs.
Which is interesting, because when it was like the FRS
and the BRZ, everyone wanted the BRZ.
Because everyone was like, well, I don't want a Scion.
Yeah, I want a Subaru.
I want a Subaru.
And it's got a Subaru engine in it.
So they went for the BRZ.
Like the BRZ was a little more prestigious.
And now it seems like, well, no, the GR86.
You want a GR86.
You don't want a BRZ.
I want JDM.
I found the price.
Of the new Prelude?
It's like $40,000 or something.
$42,000.
Damn, that's expensive.
Whoa.
I expected like GR86 prices.
Yeah, that's what I thought it was, too.
That's crazy.
But I mean, maybe it goes to show maybe there's
something a little bit we're missing with that platform.
Otherwise, it just looks really good as a daily commuter.
Yeah, it does look really, really nice.
It gets great gas mileage.
We didn't see it modified, and it obviously looked better
modified, but I still don't, I'm not in love with it.
It lacks the soul of what a Honda sports car is.
You look at, again, you bring it back to what the Type R is.
I'm not saying it needs to be like the Type R,
but it's like, dude, that is what Honda is capable of.
And the shit that they can put in those cars is insane.
It just feels like they just slap that one together a little bit.
It's round and normal.
I also see here it's CVT.
Yeah, that's another thing.
And then, no, not even an option for a manual.
And I'm not a purist by any means, but that's kind of the sports car.
That's disappointing.
It's an odd move.
Yeah, it is.
But interesting to hear.
Yeah, maybe someone's picking them up.
Yeah, they're doing well somewhere.
So we'll have to keep an eye on that and see where it goes.
I thought that was interesting, though.
But thank you guys so much for listening to the Martiniworks
podcast.
Before you go, we have one more sponsor, which is Motegi.
Head on over to Martiniworks.
Take a look at Motegi's catalog.
You might be happily surprised because they
have some awesome offerings, different models,
and a bunch of cool finishes.
Not only that, but you can save up to $200
by getting tires with your wheels.
We will mount and balance them and send them right to your door,
so they're already good to go.
You don't have to worry about trying to cram your tires and wheels
all into your car and then taking it to the tire shop.
And then they ding it and don't care about you.
We will do it all for you.
So that way, they show up at your door
and you literally slap them on your car.
Not the dinging part.
We won't do that.
No, hell no.
Hell no.
But so check out Motegi.
We can do those wheel and tire packages with those for sure.
And they have a bunch of cool models.
And they're pretty dang affordable, which is really nice.
So if you're looking for something
that's not going to absolutely destroy your bank account,
I think Motegi is a phenomenal option
to get some aftermarket wheels on your car
and to have some neat ones too.
So head on over.
Take a peek.
Thank you to Motegi for being a sponsor of our Teamworks
podcast.
I hope you all have a fantastic weekend.
And thank you so much for listening to the podcast.
Absolutely.
Do you guys have anything?
Slow car summer.
Slow car summer after we head.
That's right.
About this episode
MartiniWorks Podcast keeps it upbeat with “early birds” car-meet vibes, surprising Skyline arrivals, and a relaxed show that mixes shipping wheel setups, community giveaways, and wide-ranging builds—from K24-swapped Minis to bagged Fiats. Between event talk, the hosts get practical about buying and maintaining cars: auction strategy (no-reserve vs reserves), build threads, and even diagnosing thermostat and brake-fluid issues. The episode also pivots to what they’re shopping next—tires, coilovers, and a carbureted rotary “slow car summer” plan.
Like having the Pod every Friday? Keep it going by modding your car at https://martiniworks.com/Gels picked up a new car! Well, a new to him car. After an impromptu bidding war Gels is going to be back into a rotary. The boys cover this and more on today's episode of the podcast! #cars #podcast #automotive Pick up our Coffee here! https://martiniworks.com/products/other/show-merchA HUGE thank you to Continental, Motegi, and Fortune Auto for being the official tire, wheel, and suspension of the MartiniWorks Podcast! Let us know if you need a set of tires or coilovers.Shop Continental tires here https://martiniworks.com/products/wheels-tires/tires?brands=continentalShop Motegi wheels here https://martiniworks.com/aftermarket-car-parts-brands/wheels/motegiShop Fortune Auto suspension here https://martiniworks.com/products/suspension/coilovers?brands=fortune-autoCheck out the main channel! @MartiniWorksOfficialWe also have an unboxing channel @MartiniWorksUnboxedFollow Lars @lars.martiniworksFollow Dakota @dakotastoneeFollow Gels @akagels
