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Car Torque 600!!!

Car Torque 600!!!

Car Torque with Matty J Jul 20, 2026 87 min
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About this episode

Celebrating Car Torque with Matty J hitting its 600th episode and a 10-year run, the hosts kick off with road-trip and “car talk race” memories—complete with live-stream mishaps and cars that didn’t cooperate. The conversation then swings through breakdown stories, rust and flood repairs, and comfort/tech details like air-con quirks. Between nostalgia debates (Falcon/Magna heritage) and community event planning, they also share Japan museum highlights and a few “what could go wrong” ownership anecdotes.

Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Car

GMC Typhoon

"...t want to have the Liberty B4. Yeah, I was in the Typhoon. And Adam and James, were they in the MPS?"

The GMC Typhoon is an older SUV that was built to be much faster than most SUVs of its time. People bring it up because it had a strong performance focus. In the podcast, it’s mentioned as a car someone was in or discussed.

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Term

manual transmission

"And with a five-speed manual. It was pretty much an XI6 drivetrain."

It’s a gearbox with five gears that you shift yourself using a clutch. You choose the gear, which helps you control how the engine feels while driving.

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Term

XI6 drivetrain

"It was pretty much an XI6 drivetrain. Brembo brakes on it, too."

“XI6 drivetrain” is shorthand for a particular performance car setup—how the engine sends power to the wheels. It usually means a specific combination of engine and gearbox parts that enthusiasts recognize.

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Brand

Brembo

"Brembo brakes on it, too. Brembo's in the front."

Brembo is a well-known company that makes performance brake parts. Upgrading to Brembo usually means the car can brake harder and handle heat better than stock brakes.

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Concept

flooded

"It took me two to get it back on the road properly because it actually was flooded out in Queensland. It was set where the dealership was."

A flooded car is one that got water inside. Water can damage wiring and cause rust later, so the repairs can be bigger than you’d expect.

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rusted out

"So it was all rusted out in the boot, the lower quarter panels, everything was all rusted out. So I had to get it all cut out and redone."

“Rusted out” means the metal has corroded badly enough that it may be weak or even have holes. Floodwater can speed this up because it leaves moisture behind.

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rear quarter panels

"So it was all rusted out in the boot, the lower quarter panels, everything was all rusted out. So I had to get it all cut out and redone."

Lower quarter panels are the metal sections on the rear sides of the car, near the wheels. They can rust badly because they get hit by water and dirt, and floodwater can make it worse.

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boot

"So it was all rusted out in the boot, the lower quarter panels, everything was all rusted out. So I had to get it all cut out and redone."

The boot is the trunk. If water gets into it, it can cause rust and damage to parts inside the car.

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Concept

car restoration program

"Maybe they should do a restoration program. You know how like GDRs get them."

A restoration program is a planned effort to fix up an old car and bring it back to how it used to be. They’re suggesting that instead of turning the idea into a new SUV, they should restore the classic cars.

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Concept

heritage program

"The heritage program. Just for the magna."

A heritage program is when a brand tries to bring back or celebrate an older model. In this discussion, they’re debating whether a “bring it back” plan would stay true to the original car or turn into a totally different SUV-style vehicle.

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Car

Ford Falcon

"And as much as we have fond memories of the Falcon wagons and the magna wagons and all those great, you know, all those great Australian made cars."

The Ford Falcon was a popular Australian car, and “wagons” means the station-wagon version. They’re saying people have fond memories of those older Australian cars and want to keep them around.

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Car

magna wagons

"And as much as we have fond memories of the Falcon wagons and the magna wagons and all those great, you know, all those great Australian made cars."

The Holden Magna was an Australian car, and “wagons” means the station-wagon version. They’re talking about keeping those older Australian cars alive because people have strong memories of them.

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Car

eclipse cross

"ASX and the eclipse cross. I think that's just nothing against Mr. Mishie, but ASX and eclipse cross."

The Eclipse Cross is Mitsubishi’s smaller SUV/crossover. They’re basically saying it doesn’t live up to the excitement people associate with Mitsubishi’s past.

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Car

ASX

"ASX and the eclipse cross. I think that's just nothing against Mr. Mishie, but ASX and eclipse cross. I think that's just nothing against Mr. Mishie, but ASX and eclipse cross."

ASX is Mitsubishi’s compact SUV/crossover. In this conversation, they’re saying the newer one doesn’t feel as good as older Mitsubishi cars used to.

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Concept

resurgence

"So, um, so I think, I think the Magna has definitely had its resurgence and it's, it's gone to a place where people are just like, oh, you know,"

“Resurgence” just means something becomes popular again. In this case, the host is saying people are buying and talking about older Australian cars more than they used to.

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Car

VL Commodore

"And I think, you know, the, I mean, well, you know, I think I saw a VL, uh, Commodore for, was it an exact for $25,000?"

A “VL Commodore” is an older Holden Commodore model. The speaker is using it as an example of what these cars cost now, to show how the market has changed.

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Car

Toyota Camry

"they built Magnus, they built, they built Camrys. Camrys, yeah."

“Camrys” are Toyota sedans that many people recognize worldwide. Here it’s mentioned to show Australia also built/assembled other mainstream models.

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Magnus
Andreas Kontokanis from Piraeus, Greece (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Car

Magnus

"Like, like, they built Magnus, they built, they built Camrys."

“Magnus” is a Holden model (a type of sedan) that was sold in Australia. The host is using it as an example of lesser-remembered Aussie cars.

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Car

Daewoo Statesman

"And you found it after. No, that was the WB statesman that I had. It's a common occurrence back then."

The Daewoo Statesman is a large sedan made by Daewoo. In the episode, it’s brought up because someone had a specific version (“WB Statesman”) and it sounds like this kind of mix-up or situation happened more than once. It’s mainly referenced as a story detail.

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Term

climate control

"It was unreal. That was the first car that came out with the, how do you call it, the climate control."

Climate control is the car’s heating and air-conditioning system that tries to keep the cabin at the temperature you choose. You set a number, and the car adjusts fan and cooling/heating to hold it there.

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air conditioning (AC)

"Air conditioning. And it would... I don't know if you had it worked or proper,"

Air conditioning is what cools the inside of the car. It also helps remove moisture so the windows don’t fog as easily.

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Term

digital clusters

"And I always remember when you put the lights on, [2399.9s] they had a digital cluster. [2401.5s] It dimmed slowly."

A digital cluster is the screen behind the steering wheel that shows your speed and other gauges. When you turn the lights on, it can automatically dim to be easier on your eyes.

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Term

fan speed

"And then the fan speed, [2407.3s] like you put it and it go up slowly. [2409.5s] It was like, it was really like,"

Fan speed is how strong the airflow is from the vents. Higher fan speed moves more air, so the cabin changes temperature faster.

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gas shockers

"And plus, the shockers. Like, they came out with gas shockers. So the person I bought previously, he took the gas shockers off, put them on the shockers off."

“Gas shockers” means the car’s shock absorbers are filled with pressurized gas. That helps them work more consistently when you hit bumps or drive hard.

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Term

rust sorted

"Yeah. Now, I remember when I took it to the panel beta to get a bit of rust sorted. I didn't want to take it back to Rob after the first..."

“Rust sorted” means they repaired areas where the car body had started to corrode. Fixing rust early helps prevent it from getting worse and causing bigger damage later.

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Company

panel beta

"Now, I remember when I took it to the panel beta to get a bit of rust sorted. I didn't want to take it back to Rob after the first..."

A “panel beta” is basically a car body shop. They fix dents, damaged panels, and sometimes rust too.

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Term

air shocks

"he's like, these have got, you know, air shocks in the back. So, you can... There's a button you press and you can lower it and you can do it."

Air shocks are suspension parts that use air pressure instead of metal springs. That air pressure can be changed to raise or lower the car, sometimes with a button.

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ride height control

"There's a button you press and you can lower it and you can do it. And I'm like, I think they've been changed."

Ride-height control is how the car changes its ground clearance—how high it sits. On cars with air suspension, it can be adjusted by controlling the air pressure in the shocks.

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Term

V8

"So... They had the V8 in it. You probably would have kept it."

A V8 is an engine with eight cylinders arranged in a V shape. More cylinders usually means smoother power and often more strong pulling power.

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Term

3.9 multipoint

"But it was a 3.9 multipoint. It was, you know what? It went all right."

“3.9 multipoint” means a 3.9-liter engine that uses multipoint fuel injection—fuel is sprayed in more precisely for each cylinder. That generally helps the engine run smoother and respond better.

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Place

Honda collection hall

"And going to the collection hall at Honda. Did you guys go to the collection hall when you were there?"

They’re talking about Honda’s museum/collection building. It’s where Honda keeps and shows cars and bikes, and it’s far enough away that it takes planning to visit.

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Car

Honda Civics

"We got civics here anyway, so I don't see the point."

A Honda Civic is a very popular Honda compact car. In this conversation, they’re basically saying the museum already had Civics, so it didn’t feel like a surprise to them.

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Car

Honda NSX

"Well, when you see two people get married in an NSX that we saw on the day,"

The Honda NSX is a famous Honda sports car. It’s known for being quick and balanced, and it has a special engine layout that helps it handle well.

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Term

motorbikes

"One level was just all the motorbikes, like the Honda motorbikes, the Cubs and race bikes and everything."

They’re talking about motorcycles. The museum had a whole section with Honda motorcycles, not just cars.

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Term

race bikes

"One level was just all the motorbikes, like the Honda motorbikes, the Cubs and race bikes and everything."

“Race bikes” are motorcycles made for racing. They’re usually set up to be faster and handle better than regular street bikes.

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Term

road cars

"And then they had like, you know, race cars and road cars."

“Road cars” are the regular cars you can drive on public roads. They’re contrasting those with race cars meant for track use.

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Term

jerrycan

"I will say though, Anthony got a Jerry can and saved my ass. And then we drove to the petrol station."

A Jerry can is a portable container for fuel. It’s what you use when you need to bring gas to a car because there’s no pump nearby.

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Term

petrol station

"And then we drove to the petrol station. And I proceeded to fill it through the petrol and it was fine."

A petrol station is where you stop to put gas in the car.

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Place

Grafton

"And my uncle, someone picked it up for a forum here and drove it all the way to Grafton without a single hitch. The thing drove better."

Grafton is a place they drove to. Mentioning it is basically saying the car made it a long way without breaking down.

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Concept

forum

"And my uncle, someone picked it up for a forum here and drove it all the way to Grafton without a single hitch. The thing drove better."

A “forum” is an online group for car people. They use it to coordinate things like buying, selling, or moving cars.

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Term

bloody fine

"The thing drove better. The guy got a bloody fine on the way out."

A “fine” is a ticket/penalty you get from police or traffic enforcement. They’re saying the car was fast enough that the driver got in trouble for it.

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Term

power steering

"And the car literally rolled in because like, and the power steering was locking up because I was like, oh, shit, here we go."

Power steering helps you turn the wheel without having to use a lot of strength. If it starts locking up, the steering can get hard or stiff, and the car becomes harder to control.

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Car

Ford Mustang

"...ou know, basic stuff, Camry's and, and Magnus and Mustangs and lasers and, you know, I-30s and all sorts of,..."

The Ford Mustang is a sporty car from Ford, usually with a powerful engine and a fun driving feel. It’s known for being a popular choice when people want something more exciting than a basic commuter car. In the podcast, it’s mentioned alongside other well-known models.

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Car

Hyundai i30

"Um, people are into, you know, basic stuff, Camry's and, and Magnus and Mustangs and lasers and, you know, I-30s and all sorts of, you know, all sorts of things. It doesn't matter."

The Hyundai i30 is a regular compact car made for everyday driving. It’s usually chosen for practicality and reasonable running costs. The episode references it while talking about common, everyday models.

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Car

Mercedes-Benz Eclass

"Business class. Who needs an E-Class when he's got business class? John, anything you would like to plug?"

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a comfortable luxury car, usually a sedan, designed for smooth rides. People often choose it for work travel because it feels upscale and relaxing. The podcast mentions it as a kind of “business” option.

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12 cars featured

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