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C.R.E.A.M. Ft Jonny Smith - Max Power Memories, Fifth Gear Stories and AC Hate

C.R.E.A.M. Ft Jonny Smith - Max Power Memories, Fifth Gear Stories and AC Hate

C.R.E.A.M. (The TDC Podcast) May 26, 2026 136 min
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About this episode

At Ignition Cars and Coffee, Jonny Smith joins the hosts for a wide-ranging chat that swings from Max Power memories and Fifth Gear stories to modern car culture. They compare old-school magazine influence with today’s YouTube speed, swap stunt and mishap anecdotes (from brake failures to crash tests), and get into EV record builds and adaptive cruise drama. The conversation also turns practical and opinionated—DIY learning, parts availability, and even why they argue about air conditioning.

Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Car

Dodge Charger

"[70.5s] You're actually leaning on the Dodge, the charger, and then we've got the Tokyo Taxi"

A Dodge Charger is a well-known American car model. People often associate it with powerful engines and a sporty look.

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Car

Nissan Cedric

"[75.3s] Cedric Nissan, then we've got my Avenger Touring, Finnish Touring Car."

A Nissan Cedric is a Japanese car model. The hosts are talking about the name “Cedric” and confirming that’s what their car is called.

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Car

Dodge Avenger

"[75.3s] Cedric Nissan, then we've got my Avenger Touring, Finnish Touring Car."

They mention an “Avenger Touring,” which sounds like a specific version or build meant for touring-car style use. The exact make/model isn’t clear from this snippet.

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Car

Jag XFR

"Our Jag XFR that we had had no keys and Dips wasn't available to come. So we rung up another guy."

The Jaguar XFR is a Jaguar performance car. In this part of the episode, they’re talking about it because it had no keys, so they had to get help to fix the situation.

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Car

911 GT3 RS

"By the way, if you hear any background sort of stuff, there is a car on my shoulder, a 911 GT3 RS. It's not mine, sadly, that's being repaired at the moment."

The Porsche 911 GT3 RS is a very serious, track-oriented 911. In this segment it’s just the example of a high-end car in their workshop that’s currently waiting on parts and repairs.

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Concept

project cars

"And then we do that. And then project cars, you realize that you could legitimately talk about a project and maybe get some parts cheaper. Ooh, okay. So it's like-"

A “project car” is a car someone is working on over time—fixing it up or upgrading it. In this story, the host is saying that making content around that kind of car can sometimes help you get parts for less.

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Term

YouTube thumbnail influencer face

"It's literally YouTube, basically. It is what happens on YouTube now, but on paper basically. [607.6s] You know, you see the YouTube thumbnail influencer face like, oh my gosh, I just chapped my pants."

They’re talking about the exaggerated facial expression people use in video thumbnails to get your attention. The point is that magazines used a similar trick years ago, just in print instead of on YouTube.

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Car

Volkswagen Beetle

"It would have been a new, because it was at the Volkswagen mag. So although we were a classic mag, the new Beetle had launched or was about to launch and we got a very early left undrived one. When I say new, that new Beetle is what, 1990?"

The Volkswagen Beetle is a famous Volkswagen model with a long history. Here, the host is describing an early press car they got to drive for a magazine—an early version of the Beetle that was about to be launched.

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Place

Wolfsburg

"And I remember driving that to, did we drive into Wolfsburg? I think we drove it to Wolfsburg and went to the museum, the Auto Stat."

Wolfsburg is a city in Germany that’s strongly connected to Volkswagen. The host went there as part of a magazine trip and visited a museum connected to the brand.

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Place

Auto Stat

"I think we drove it to Wolfsburg and went to the museum, the Auto Stat. And I remember because that I sat in Hitler's car as well, which I don't think was part of the Got My Hook for the episode."

The host is talking about a museum they visited in Wolfsburg. It had lots of historic Volkswagen cars, and they even had a creepy moment sitting in a famous car display.

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Car

Lamborghini Gallardo

"...eos, they would get a press car, they would get a Gallardo or a 550 and go, well, you're going to drive to I..."

The Lamborghini Gallardo is a high-performance supercar made by Lamborghini. It’s known for being very fast and for having a strong V10 engine. The podcast mentions it because it was commonly used as a car people were given to drive for press or events.

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Car

Ford Granada

"...n his car parking space and I had a low rider for Granada at the time, as you would. Great sentence again."

The Ford Granada is a mid-size car model from Ford’s past. People sometimes customized older Granadas, including lowering them for a “low rider” look. The episode mentions it because it’s part of a personal story about that kind of modification.

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Term

Geneva Motor Show

"I met his producer at the Geneva Motor Show and we were just having a chat because I was there reporting for print media."

The Geneva Motor Show is a big car exhibition in Switzerland. Car companies use it to show off new cars and new tech, and journalists go there to report on what’s coming.

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Term

rolling camera and mics

"And he came out and met me with the rolling camera and mics. And I was like, oh, right."

In TV production, “rolling camera” means the camera is on and recording. “Mics” are the microphones used to capture what people say while filming.

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Car

Volkswagen Golf Gti

"What car was it? Luckily, it was a car I actually knew something about. It was the then just launched Mark five golf GTI, which is still a really special car to me because it was a massive deal at a time."

This is a Volkswagen Golf GTI, specifically the Mark V generation. It’s a small, practical hatchback that’s tuned to drive more like a sporty car than a normal Golf. The host is saying it was a big deal when it came out and still feels special to them.

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Car

Honda S600 Coupe

"I think one that I regret selling the most is probably one I couldn't physically fit in it. So that took the shine off the ownership a little bit, which is the Honda S600 Coupe, which is mega, like the godfather of the VTech."

The Honda S600 Coupe is an old Honda sports car from the 1960s. It’s remembered for being fun and revvy for its size, and the host is linking it to Honda’s later “VTEC” performance reputation.

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Term

VTech

"which is the Honda S600 Coupe, which is mega, like the godfather of the VTech."

“VTech” is the host’s way of talking about Honda’s VTEC system. It helps the engine breathe better by changing how the valves work, depending on how you’re driving.

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Car

Fiat 126

"But I had a Pulski Fiat 126, which I sort of bought on a whim as a bit of a laugh. But I bought it unseen and it was absolutely immaculate."

The Fiat 126 is a tiny Italian car that’s known for being simple and easy to live with. The host is saying he bought one without seeing it first, and it turned out to be in great shape.

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Car

Tesla My Model

"...like, right, 100% profit, profit. That was always my model. And I did that on the side because didn't earn t..."
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Term

street legal

"It's probably the EV that I built into the world's quickest street legal electric car, which I got that record 10 years ago."

“Street legal” means the car can be driven on normal public roads. It has to meet the rules for things like lights and safety equipment, not just be a track-only build.

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Car

Tesla Model S

"...give me any money. Elon Musk didn't even have the Model S out when I first started that. Yes, it predates t..."

The Tesla Model S is an electric car, meaning it runs on batteries instead of gasoline. It’s a large, high-end sedan that became one of Tesla’s best-known early models. The episode mentions it to show when the car came out compared to other events.

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Term

Formula E

"Yes, it predates the Model S. It predates Formula E, any kind of proper,"

Formula E is a racing series where the cars are fully electric. The speaker is basically saying his EV build happened before electric racing became a big, organized thing.

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Term

dual motor

"Really? What did it take until the later Model S, the dual motor Model S? [1422.9s] Yeah."

A dual-motor EV uses two electric motors (typically one per axle) instead of a single motor. That usually improves acceleration and traction because the car can split torque more effectively between the front and rear wheels.

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Car

Chevrolet Camaro

"Yeah. And I think in between that, either four door GM, I think GM built a Hot Camaro EV, [1428.4s] which was like just a prototype PR stunt."

They’re talking about a prototype electric version of the Chevrolet Camaro. The key detail is that it wasn’t really meant to be a normal street car.

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Term

drag strip

"You say you're a bridge between a charger and an EV. But in some old tat that no one really knows [1477.5s] what they are anymore. And yet there is doing silly times down a drag strip."

A drag strip is a track designed for straight-line acceleration races. It’s where you test how fast a car can launch and accelerate over a set distance.

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Term

aerodynamically stable

"He said, you'll find that it's really aerodynamically stable at probably the speed you're going to go [1529.4s] at because I over-engineered it."

Aerodynamic stability means the car stays steady and predictable as it goes very fast. The idea is that the shape and airflow management help prevent the car from getting twitchy at speed.

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Term

over-engineered

"He said, you'll find that it's really aerodynamically stable at probably the speed you're going to go [1529.4s] at because I over-engineered it."

“Over-engineered” means the designer put in more work and extra safety margin than usual. In this case, it’s about making the car more stable at high speed.

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Car

Seagulls

"...across the beach with the beach buggy and all the seagulls going everywhere. But alas, it didn't happen."

In the part you quoted, “seagull” sounds like it’s describing birds at the beach. It doesn’t clearly point to a specific car model. So it may be just background for the story, not a car being discussed.

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Car

Ford Cougar

"...es always were if you've seen the trip with Steve Cougar and Rob Briden, it's like a rubbish, more car-cen..."

The Ford Cougar is a Ford car model name. It’s usually remembered as a sporty-looking car from earlier years. The episode brings it up because it’s part of a specific story the speaker is telling.

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Car

W124

"The, there was one of my vivid memory was the W124 that you tried to kill... I had a W124, the one that I ran on vegetable oil on Chip Fat... And then we bought a 124 estate."

“W124” is a Mercedes-Benz E-Class generation name used by enthusiasts. It’s known for being tough, and here they’re talking about one they used on vegetable oil and later a wagon/estate version.

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Term

vegetable oil

"I had a W124, the one that I ran on vegetable oil on Chip Fat."

They’re talking about using plant-based oil instead of regular diesel fuel. That can work in some diesel setups, but it usually needs extra prep so the engine doesn’t get clogged.

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Term

Chip Fat

"I had a W124, the one that I ran on vegetable oil on Chip Fat."

“Chip fat” is used cooking oil—like the oil left over from frying chips. Here, they’re saying they used that oil as the fuel for their car.

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Term

jump

"Other than maybe the jump. Yeah. The Duke of Essex jump, which gets talked about probably the bonnet up there for a Cavalier, the Goldie looking chain, Cavalier."

Here, “jump” means the car is driven so it goes airborne and then lands. That kind of stunt can stress the suspension and other parts a lot, and it can cause leaks or damage that normal driving wouldn’t.

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Car

Aztek Pontiac Aztec

"...tched any of that stuff back. And we did, I had a Pontiac Aztec, which we modified and I did quite, we did a quit..."

The Pontiac Aztek is a crossover-type car with a very unusual look. The episode mentions it because the speaker owned one and made changes to it. That means it’s being discussed as a personal project car.

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Term

automatic fluid

"we did a quite big jump in that and it still ran. Definitely was gradually losing automatic fluid."

Automatic fluid is the fluid an automatic gearbox uses to shift gears smoothly. If it’s leaking after a stunt, it can mean something got damaged and the car may start shifting badly or stop working.

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Term

brake hose

"I lifted up the bonnet and was looking around and I chafed through a brake hose. [2586.5s] And it's not dual circuit. [2588.7s] Oh, wow."

A brake hose is a tube that carries brake fluid to the brakes. If it gets damaged and leaks, the brakes can fail because there’s not enough fluid pressure.

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Term

dual circuit

"And it's not dual circuit. [2588.7s] Oh, wow. [2589.0s] Single circuit."

Most cars have brakes split into two separate hydraulic systems. If one side gets damaged, the other side can still work so you’re not left with no brakes.

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Term

single circuit

"Oh, wow. [2589.0s] Single circuit. [2589.6s] Everything went."

Some cars use just one brake fluid system. If a hose bursts, the brake fluid can leak out and the brakes can stop working much more completely.

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Term

brake pads

"I mean, I remember my brothers bought things like brake pads out of scrap yards. Rather than new brake pads. Not, not a great idea."

Brake pads are the parts that squeeze against the brake discs to make the car slow down. Buying them from a scrap yard can be a bad idea because you don’t really know how worn they are.

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Term

wheel bearings

"I have driven on some quite questionable bearing. Wheel bearings that were very vocal. Extremely vocal."

Wheel bearings are small parts that help your wheel spin freely. If they wear out, they can start making a loud humming sound, like the host is describing.

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Term

red light

"And we, someone ran a, ran a red light and drove straight into the back of us at quite [2695.2s] fast speed. [2695.6s] It was a van driver who was looking the wrong way."

A red light means cars should stop. The speaker is saying the other driver ran the red light and hit them.

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Term

seat belt clearly didn't retract properly

"I hit my head on the steering wheel. [2699.9s] I remember that so my belt clearly didn't retract properly. [2702.6s] I just remember going, and then going, God, that happened so fast."

Seat belts are designed to pull back and stay snug. In this crash, the speaker felt like the belt didn’t rewind properly after the impact, which can happen when the car is hit suddenly.

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Term

on the limiter

"It sat on the limiter for I think 10 minutes, which is a long time. It's a long time."

It means the engine was revving so high that the car’s computer stopped it from going any faster. The engine is basically being held at its maximum RPM.

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Term

exhaust hangers

"And what it was, is it had burned all of its exhaust hangers. They were all on fire."

Exhaust hangers are the parts that hold the exhaust system up under the car. If they burn through, the exhaust can get loose and overheat, sometimes causing smoke or even flames.

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Car

Ford Cortina

"And he had a, I don't know if I should say what car it was, but it was quite distinctive car as well, which is just, it was a real sleeper. It was a Ford Cortina, a state that had like a primer front wing."

A Ford Cortina is a classic Ford from the UK. Here it’s being described as a “sleeper,” meaning it looks plain but can be surprisingly quick or aggressive underneath.

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Term

Cosworth YB

"And it was running really high power, Cosworth YB. [2915.0s] It was like 400 horsepower, which at the time was enormous for that engine."

Cosworth YB is a specific kind of turbo engine (an engine code) that Ford used in some performance cars. People talk about it because it can make a lot of power for its size when tuned.

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Term

400 horsepower

"And it was running really high power, Cosworth YB. [2915.0s] It was like 400 horsepower, which at the time was enormous for that engine."

Horsepower is a way to measure how strong the engine is. Here they’re saying that around 400 horsepower was a big deal at the time for that engine.

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Concept

witness protection

"And, but he was on witness protection. [2922.0s] It turns out. [2922.9s] So we were like, well, how are we going to do this?"

Witness protection is a safety program where someone’s identity is hidden so they can’t be found. In this story, they had to disguise the person to safely feature the car in a magazine.

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Brand

Max Power

"And this is the thing. [2959.3s] If you don't know about Max Power, it was the biggest selling car magazine in Europe."

Max Power is a car magazine. The host is explaining that it was very popular, which is why the story about disguising the person mattered for getting the car featured.

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Car

Chevrolet Nova

"This is incredible. You weren't looking at Nova's. I was on the back three pages with neon kits."

The Chevrolet Nova is a car model made by Chevrolet. It was popular in the past and many owners modified them for a custom look. The episode mentions Novas in connection with flashy aftermarket styling.

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Car

Civic Type R

"So you could go out and buy a Civic Type R, [3311.8s] because the Civic Type R was like a really big shift moment."

The Civic Type R is Honda’s high-performance version of the Civic hatchback. It’s a fast, sporty car that helped change the scene because you could buy something quick without needing as many extreme modifications.

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Term

front splitter

"And yes, you can buy some slightly lighter wheels for it, [3326.0s] or a slightly different front splitter. [3328.3s] But it's out the box pretty crazy."

A front splitter is a piece added under the front bumper. It helps the car “push down” a bit at the front by shaping airflow, which can make it feel more planted when driving hard.

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Saxo VTR
Kieran White from Manchester, England (CC BY 2.0)
Car

Saxo VTR

"And when I was three or four, he had a Saxo VTR. [3344.4s] So it's a base engine, so not a VTS, but with a, it was featured, [3348.5s] it was a Max Power feature car. [3350.5s] It was repainted ice blue, full kit, exhaust, like 15 inch, 10, 50."

The Citroën Saxo VTR is a small sporty hatchback. In this story, it’s a lower-spec version compared to the VTS, but it was heavily modified with a full body kit, a new exhaust, and a loud paint job—very typical of that early “Max Power” scene.

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Term

full kit

"It was repainted ice blue, full kit, exhaust, like 15 inch, 10, 50. [3356.2s] It was one of the ones that had the whole bumper was the exhaust."

A “full kit” means the car got multiple body parts, like bumpers and side pieces, not just one small change. It’s usually done to make the whole car look more aggressive and matched.

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Term

ice blue

"It was repainted ice blue, full kit, exhaust, like 15 inch, 10, 50. [3356.2s] It was one of the ones that had the whole bumper was the exhaust."

“Ice blue” is just the color they repainted the car. In that kind of modified scene, the paint job is part of how the car looks and stands out.

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Car

Nissan 350Z

"six months later, I went over, and he had just a brand new 350Z, orange for one of the first ones of the country."

The Nissan 350Z is a sports car that’s popular with car fans. It’s rear-wheel drive and was seen as a big upgrade from cheaper cars.

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Car

Lotus Exige

"And then an Exige, and then an Astra VXR."

The Lotus Exige is a small, lightweight sports car made by Lotus. People like it because it feels very sporty and driver-focused.

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Car

Opel Astra

"...es of the country. And then an Exige, and then an Astra VXR. But it was because of that, it was finance."

The Opel Astra is a compact car. The Astra VXR is a sportier version of it. The episode mentions it because someone ended up with one through financing rather than just picking it outright.

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Car

Vauxhall Astra VXR

"And then an Exige, and then an Astra VXR."

The Astra VXR is a sporty version of the Vauxhall Astra. It’s meant to be faster and more fun than the regular model.

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Term

finance

"But it was because of that, it was finance. He had found out that he could get rid of the Saxo and finance his way into a way better car."

“Finance” here means paying for the car over time instead of all at once. It’s how he could upgrade to better cars sooner.

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Car

Citroën Saxo

"He had found out that he could get rid of the Saxo and finance his way into a way better car."

The Citroën Saxo is a small, inexpensive hatchback. It’s the kind of car people start with before upgrading to something more exciting.

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Term

rectangular exhaust

"And it had huge rectangular exhaust, [3429.7s] like a perfect rectangle twins that took up [3432.4s] the entire width of the car."

An exhaust is the part that lets gases out of the car. A rectangular exhaust means the tip is shaped like a box, and here it’s being mentioned because it looked really bold and noticeable.

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Term

TVR green

"And it was basically like your grid, like TVR green, [3439.1s] imagine a blue but green."

“TVR green” is a famous green paint color people associate with TVR cars. The speaker is using it like a color comparison to help you picture how the car looked.

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Concept

fiddle with cars

"and some of the other creators of like encouraging people to [3458.3s] actually fiddle with cars. [3459.5s] Yeah."

Here, “fiddle with cars” means getting your hands dirty—working on the car yourself or making changes. The host is contrasting that with just buying stuff and doing only surface-level stuff.

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Concept

detail it

"And not just buy stuff and detail it and go to Turkey and get new teeth. [3466.0s] You know, because that's all too easy."

“Detail it” means cleaning and improving how the car looks, like washing, polishing, and cleaning the inside. The speaker is saying that’s easier than doing real work on the car.

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Term

engine swaps

"And you might enjoy that car way more because you know, you've done, it doesn't mean doing engine swaps necessarily. [3524.1s] I think that's where people get worried about it."

An engine swap means replacing the car’s original engine with a different one. People do it to change how the car drives or to build something more powerful, but it can be a bigger job than it sounds.

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differential

"They go, well, I could never do that because I'm going to have to take my engine out. [3528.4s] I'm going to have to replace, you know, my differential, but it's not necessarily that."

The differential is part of the drivetrain that helps the wheels turn at different speeds, like when you’re going around a corner. It affects how well the car can put power down without slipping.

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Term

coil pack

"Now you can just go on YouTube and someone's going, [3579.3s] oh, yeah, I found you can replace this coil pack with this coil pack."

A coil pack is part of the ignition system. It makes the electrical spark that lights the fuel in the engine’s cylinders.

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Car

Pagani Zonda

"he turned up at the shoot and rendezvoused with the whoever brought the then really new Pagani Sonda. [3965.2s] There was a Bentley Arnaj tea."
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Term

gear stick snapped in half

"he went, yeah. [3986.5s] So the gear stick snapped in half while I was driving up here. [3989.6s] And I went, what? [3990.8s] And he went, yep, I've taped it together."

They’re saying the gear lever literally broke. Because of that, they had to tape it and shift in a different, awkward way just to keep the car drivable.

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Term

gaffer taped

"And he went, yep, I've taped it together. [3992.5s] We gaffer taped the, the stalk. [3996.1s] So and we all had to drive it shifting really low near the base."

Gaffer tape is the strong tape people use on sets and in racing. They used it as a quick fix to hold the broken gear lever together.

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short shifter

"So and we all had to drive it shifting really low near the base. [4000.4s] So then it didn't got a short shifter. [4001.8s] Bear in mind, this was brand new."

A short shifter is a modification that makes the gear lever move less to change gears. They’re saying the car didn’t even have that upgrade, but the broken lever still made shifting feel weird and limited.

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Term

press cars

"Because I know there's a few early press cars on, I think it was purple. [4016.9s] I think it was. [4017.6s] So it was Y1."

Press cars are vehicles provided to journalists and media outlets before or around a model’s launch so they can write reviews and create early coverage. The host is referencing early press-car examples and launch materials to explain how perceptions of a car can evolve over time.

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Topic

opinions shift from launch-era reviews to later auction/nostalgia

"Yeah. But it's quite funny to, to read them now. [4040.3s] It's the same with, with the Gallardo as well, where the way people talk about them now, [4044.6s] it's completely different then."

They’re talking about how people’s opinions about cars can change a lot over time. Old magazines might have hated a car, but years later people may see it differently—especially when it comes up for auction.

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Car

Ferrari 550

"This is better than any Ferrari or 911. ... every single review I've seen of the 550. It's not a very good looking car. Whereas now people look at 550s and go, that was potentially some of the best Ferrari styling."

This is a Ferrari from the 1990s that’s famous for having a big V12 engine. The discussion here is about how its styling opinion has changed over time.

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Car

Porsche 911

"This is better than any Ferrari or 911. In the world."

The Porsche 911 is one of the most famous sports cars ever made. In this clip it’s just being used as a comparison against the Ferrari 550.

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Car

BMW 550S

"...very good looking car. Whereas now people look at 550s and go, that was potentially some of the best Fer..."

The BMW 5 Series is a mid-size BMW sedan meant for comfortable daily driving. The “550” refers to a higher-performance version. The episode is talking about how people’s opinions about those cars can change.

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Term

Audi RS's

"Look at things like Audi RS's especially. Yeah. Aesthetically."

Audi’s “RS” cars are the high-performance versions of Audi models. They’re usually more powerful and more aggressive-looking than the regular versions.

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Term

electric stuff

"It's way too vapy for me. Because obviously, it's way too vapy. Obviously you're quite into electric stuff."

They’re talking about electric cars—vehicles that run on electricity from a battery. The point is that the speaker doesn’t like how things have shifted toward that.

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Term

discontinued

"The moment the car, the last model, the last one off the line, has reached 10 years old, [4500.8s] every part gets discontinued. [4503.0s] And then you're just down to what is left in the stores."

“Discontinued” here means the carmaker stops making certain replacement parts. When that happens, parts become harder to find and often cost more, which makes older cars less attractive to buy.

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Term

devalues

"[4503.0s] And then you're just down to what is left in the stores. [4505.3s] It completely devalues the used car, especially a car like that. [4509.5s] The RS6 we've got, the V10 one."

“Devalues” means the car becomes worth less money when you go to sell it. The host is saying that if parts get harder to find or repairs get expensive, buyers pay less.

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Car

RS6

"The RS6 we've got, the V10 one. [4511.2s] Yeah. [4511.8s] They will keep tanking in value because no one will ever want to maintain it."

The Audi RS6 is a very fast, high-end Audi model. The host is talking about the V10 version and saying that when parts become hard to get, it gets expensive to maintain, which hurts resale value.

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Term

V10

"The RS6 we've got, the V10 one. [4511.2s] Yeah. [4511.8s] They will keep tanking in value because no one will ever want to maintain it."

A V10 is an engine with 10 cylinders arranged in two banks. The host is using it to describe the specific RS6 they have, and the idea is that expensive, specialized maintenance can hurt ownership and resale.

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Term

injectors

"When you have to spend 3,500, 3,200 pounds, whatever it is on injectors, [4521.4s] no one's going to want to stomach that on a 10 grand car."

Injectors are parts that deliver fuel into the engine. If they fail, fixing them can be costly—so the host is using injector prices to explain why an older performance car can become financially painful to maintain.

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Term

arch liner

"So that it will end up becoming a 5 grand car and a 3 grand car. [4526.8s] We got until it is, you know, the arch liner. [4529.6s] The arch liner we got was the last in the world in stock."

An arch liner is a plastic or trim piece inside the wheel area. The host is saying that after parts stop being made, you’re left hunting for whatever leftover stock exists—even for smaller pieces like this.

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Part

four arms

"[4529.6s] The arch liner we got was the last in the world in stock. [4535.0s] The four arms that we bought, those were a thousand pounds for four tiny little arms"

“Four arms” sounds like the suspension arms that help hold the wheels in place and control how the car rides. The host is noting the cost of replacing them, which adds to why older cars can become expensive to keep.

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Term

dampers

"[4546.6s] Dampers. We asked about dampers. [4548.1s] Dampers gone. [4549.1s] We can get you a front right."

Dampers are the shock absorbers in a car’s suspension. They help stop the car from bouncing after you hit a bump, so the tires keep better contact with the road.

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Car

Audi Quattro

"... like, I know the original Audi, you know, the UR Quattro, some of the bits on that are unobtainable."

The Audi Quattro is a performance car known for using all-wheel drive. The UR Quattro is an early, important version of that model. The episode mentions it because some original parts are difficult to find now.

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Term

Tuv

"Because there are too many restrictions. [4697.3s] Same in Germany. [4698.0s] You have the Tuv restrictions that stop you from doing anything."

In Germany, TÜV is the group that checks whether a car is safe and legal to drive. If you modify a car, you often need approval/inspection first, otherwise it can be considered illegal.

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Term

MOTs

"We have our MOTs and we complain about them, but we have such lax laws. [4706.6s] You can do all sorts."

An MOT is the UK inspection your car has to pass to be allowed on the road. It checks safety and emissions, and the rules can affect whether modifications are allowed.

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Term

vin plate

"We're not America. We're not Florida. [4709.5s] You can't stamp a vin plate on a microwave and drive it down the road like you can there."

A VIN plate is the official ID tag for a car—the VIN is like its unique fingerprint. Changing or stamping it is tightly controlled because it can be used to misrepresent a vehicle’s identity.

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Term

logbook

"Do you want to change the color on the logbook? [4720.2s] Fine."

A logbook is the official paperwork for a vehicle that lists its registered details. If you change something like the color, you may need to update the paperwork so it matches the car.

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Term

left hand drive

"Left hand drive, obviously. But on Dutch plates, well, although that is on Dutch plates,"

Left-hand drive means the steering wheel is on the left side of the car. That’s normal in the UK, and it can feel different if you’re used to right-hand-drive cars.

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Car

Mercedes-Benz C63

"And then there was a C63 came past it, incredible speeds past me."

The Mercedes-Benz C63 is the sporty, high-performance version of the C-Class. It’s the kind of car that can accelerate very quickly, which is why it stands out when it blasts past.

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Term

blacked out tail lights

"And again, some of it is blacked out tail lights, but it is still doing something."

“Blacked out tail lights” means the rear lights are made darker than stock, usually for a custom look. It can change how noticeable they are when you’re braking or driving at night.

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Car

BMW M140I

"...time or comments where we'll say, we've bought an M140i for £9,000. And everyone says, what the hell?"

The BMW 1 Series is a smaller BMW designed for everyday driving. The M140i is a higher-performance version of that model line. The episode mentions it because someone bought one for a surprisingly low amount.

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Term

air conditioning

"Now, Will, you might not know this, but what's your opinion on air conditioning? In cars? I knew this would come out. I enjoy it."

Air conditioning in a car is what cools the cabin and helps keep the windows from fogging up. It’s basically the system that makes the inside of the car feel comfortable.

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Term

AC

"But when I found out the Alpha had a nice AC, I thought I actually quite... [4878.4s] It's lovely on a nice hot day... [4890.0s] For me, it's more the steaming up. [4892.7s] It helps with that."

AC is the car’s air-conditioning. It doesn’t just make the cabin colder—it also removes some moisture from the air, which helps stop the windows from fogging.

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Term

steaming up

"[4888.0s] I know it's hot over there. [4890.0s] For me, it's more the steaming up. [4892.7s] It helps with that."

“Steaming up” means the windows fog over. That happens when the air inside is humid and the glass is cooler, and AC helps dry the air so the fog goes away.

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Term

radar cruise control

"But you don't use the cruise control. [5003.6s] And you had radar cruise control."

Radar cruise control is cruise control that can “see” the car in front of you. It can automatically slow down if you get too close, and then speed up again when the road clears.

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