Drive Thru News #69 - From Le Mans to Lemons-ade
About this episode
Celebrate six years of the podcast with a deep dive into the highs and lows of the latest 24 Hours of Le Mans. The hosts debate whether this year’s race felt unusually lackluster, dissecting Toyota's surprising comeback victory from the back of the grid and Ferrari's disappointing performance. They also explore how shifting the race away from its traditional Father's Day weekend impacted fan engagement and attendance at viewing parties, while questioning the future of the GTP class and the historical weight of a potential Ford versus Ferrari rematch.
Drive Thru News Episode #69 marks Break/Fix's six-year anniversary and recaps June’s automotive news, led by a 24 Hours of Le Mans discussion: Toyota’s comeback win, a generally "meh" race, more LMP2 coverage, Corvette’s GT3 win, and a surprising Lexus run amid BOP and marketing criticisms, plus a Simeone Museum viewing-party report with lower attendance due to the race not falling on Father’s Day. The hosts then explain why their Lemons effort never reached the starting line after their Ford Focus entered limp mode, leading to extensive troubleshooting, ECU replacement/programming issues, and plans to replace the engine wiring harness and relocate the ECU. Other topics include rumored Audi TT revival on a Boxster platform, possible US return of the base Golf via Mexico, unusual Audi tech, VW sales via Costco, harsh reactions to Ferrari’s new Luce EV design, Chrysler-Fiat rebadges, Chinese-ownership restrictions affecting Polestar/Volvo, defense-industry tie-ins, Subaru manual rumors, the Slate truck, Toyota’s EV "stall" patent, California tire regulation, book and event plugs, and quirky crime stories.
===== (Oo---x---oO) =====00:00:00 Dad Jams and Car Culture 00:02:28 Le Mans 2026 00:07:23 Simeone Viewing Party 00:09:25 Ferrari Frustrations 00:12:52 GT3 Surprise Lexus Run & BOP Politics Explained 00:17:29 Lemons Plans #EpicFail 00:29:59 Volkswagen Audi Rumor Mill - Is the TT Coming Back? 00:34:46 Golf Returns with Tariff Drama 00:36:37 Bonkers Audi Contraption and Projector Turn Signal Debate 00:40:37 Volkswagen Goes Costco 00:42:12 Ferrari Luce EV Design Roast 00:46:45 Chrysler Rebadged Fiats in 2027 00:48:59 Chinese Ownership Car Bans 00:55:04 BMW ///M2 News Spiral 00:56:17 GM Teams With Lockheed 00:58:17 Subaru Manual Rumors 01:03:41 Honda Element Nostalgia 01:06:31 Slate Truck EV Breakdown 01:10:53 Toyota's "EV Stall" Patent 01:14:14 Aftermarket Tire Crackdown 01:19:16 Book Club Pick: Preston Lerner 01:20:22 Concours at Copshaholm Event Plug 01:22:40 Mattel Brick Shop vs Lego 01:25:59 The Florida "Chase Files" 01:39:41 Motorsports Updates 01:42:35 Wrap Up and Sponsors
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24 Hours of Le Mans
"But June is also the month where we celebrate the high holy holiday of motorsport, the 24 hours of Le Mans. Did you watch the race?"
A famous day-long race in France where sports cars drive at high speeds for 24 hours straight. The team that covers the greatest distance wins, making it a massive test of how tough and reliable the cars are.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest active sports car endurance race, held annually near the town of Le Mans, France. It represents one of the legs of the Triple Crown of Motorsport, testing both speed and vehicle reliability over a grueling 24-hour period.
Ferrari 499P
"Ferrari won three years in a row, they should have stopped. Do we see the 499P for two more years?"
Ferrari's top-tier hybrid race car built specifically to win the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race. It uses a powerful V6 engine combined with electric power to go incredibly fast while saving fuel.
The Ferrari 499P is a Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) developed by Ferrari to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine paired with a front-axle electric motor, it secured back-to-back victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023 and 2024.
Porsche 963
"Porsche will come back with something, but it's not going to be the 963."
A high-tech hybrid race car built by Porsche to compete in the world's biggest endurance races. It combines a loud V8 engine with electric hybrid technology to race for hours on end.
The Porsche 963 is an LMDh (Le Mans Daytona h) prototype race car designed by Porsche and built by Multimatic to compete in the Hypercar class. It features a 4.6-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine derived from the Porsche 918 Spyder, integrated with a standardized hybrid system.
Chevrolet Corvette
"... else see what I saw happening in GT three? I saw Corvette one Corvette one, but who is in second place and ..."
Ford Mustang
"... never been fast compared to the Corvettes or the Mustangs or the Porsche's or the Fright. Like they're alwa..."
Toyota Camry
"... tires and engine. They're still out there with a Camry. So basically it's Toyota being Toyota."
Balance of Performance (BOP)
"But as we know, and having talked to Mark Raffoff and other people that are in the know and write the rules, especially Mark, the BOP exists."
A set of rules used in racing to make sure one car model doesn't easily dominate all the others. Officials will intentionally add weight or restrict engine power on faster cars to keep the races close and exciting.
Balance of Performance (BOP) is a regulatory mechanism used in sports car racing to equalize the performance of different car models. This is achieved by adjusting parameters such as vehicle weight, engine power, restrictor sizes, and fuel capacity to ensure close, competitive racing.
Porsche 911
"Yeah. 9-11 is not the same shape as a Lambo is not the same shape as the Lexus. So they have to figure out how to make them all equal, hence the balance of"
Limp Mode
"I stopped to take a picture of it with the stickers on it so I could send it to our sponsors and say, Hey, look, we put your stickers on the car. I just let it sit there and idle. I put it in reverse to back it into its spot and it went into lip mode and now Oh, I don't know. A month later, it's still in lip mode. It will not come out of limbo."
A self-defense mode your car goes into when its computer senses a major mechanical or electrical problem. It limits your speed and power so you don't blow up the engine, but still lets you slowly drive to a safe spot or mechanic.
Limp mode is a safety state triggered by a vehicle's engine control unit (ECU) when it detects a significant fault in the powertrain. It severely restricts engine power and RPMs to protect the engine and transmission from catastrophic damage while allowing the driver to slowly 'limp' to a service station.
ECU
"They went through and retested everything that we did and they got to the point where they're like, look, man, there's a problem with the computer itself, the ECU."
The brain of your car's engine. It is a small computer that constantly monitors sensors to decide exactly how much fuel and air the engine needs to run smoothly and efficiently.
The Engine Control Unit (ECU) is an electronic computer that manages a series of actuators on an internal combustion engine to ensure optimal performance. It reads values from various sensors, dynamically adjusting fuel injection, ignition timing, and boost pressure.
Volkswagen Passat
"...ars like the two door GTI, we said goodbye to the Passat, we said goodbye to the T T. They said no more."
Volkswagen Gti
"...s where we said goodbye to cars like the two door GTI, we said goodbye to the Passat, we said goodbye t..."
Volkswagen Egolfs
"It's not going to happen. We're only going to sell e-golfs and ID buzzes and ID fours and all this other stuff."
Audi TT
"And now they're talking about a successor to the T T and this particular test mule is built on top of the Boxster. It's terrible. I mean, it looks like a Porsche. Who cares? Why are we calling this a TT?"
A stylish, compact two-door sports car made by Audi that is famous for its rounded, futuristic design. It was discontinued recently after a successful 25-year run.
The Audi TT is a two-door sports car produced by Audi across three generations from 1998 to 2023. Known for its iconic geometric design, it was built on the Volkswagen Group A platform and offered with front-wheel drive or Quattro all-wheel drive.
Porsche Boxster
"... this particular test mule is built on top of the Boxster. It's terrible."
Audi Quattro
"...TT with this mid-engine platform, supposedly with Quattro, right?"
Volkswagen Beetle
"...oing. It'd be like saying, oh, we're making a new Beetle and it's a fucking four door sedan."
Porsche Panamera
"four door sedan. They call that the Panamera and then be like, ooh, the new Beetle. Be like, n..."
Audi RS3
"What Audi should do is they should take the RS3 chassis and put a redesigned TT body on it and then boom, you're done. But the problem with the Jetta is that it's not sporty enough. The chassis, you're telling me an RS3 is not sporty?"
An incredibly fast, high-performance version of Audi's smallest sedan. It is famous among car enthusiasts for using a rare five-cylinder engine that makes a unique growling sound.
The Audi RS3 is a high-performance compact car developed by Audi Sport, famous for its unique 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five engine. This engine layout produces a distinctive exhaust note and delivers power to all four wheels via Audi's Quattro system.
Volkswagen Jetta
"... then boom, you're done. But the problem with the Jetta is that it's not sporty enough. The chassis, you'..."
Volkswagen Golf R
"And not only that, if they're going to do what they said they're going to do, which has come out with the new ultimate Golf R with the RS3 engine in it, why would you build something inferior to the GTI?"
The ultimate, fastest version of the Volkswagen Golf hatchback. It has more power than the famous GTI and comes with all-wheel drive to help grip the road in all weather conditions.
The Volkswagen Golf R is the flagship high-performance variant of the Golf lineup, sitting above the GTI. It features a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine, a sophisticated Haldex-based 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system, and upgraded suspension and brakes.
Nissan R32
"...ast golf to be made in Wolfsburg was the original R32. The person writing this article is clueless for ..."
Chrysler Pacifica
"...ere's also a limited time special in the Chrysler Pacifica Chrysler Voyager."
Chrysler Voyager
"...ed time special in the Chrysler Pacifica Chrysler Voyager. You can buy Volvo's through Costco."
Mazda Miatas
"More than you should. I like how Teslas have become the Miata's like how many Miata's can you buy for $640,000?"
Fiat Multipla
"... is horrendous. This even starts to make the Fiat Multipla look good. Wouldn't that kind of backfire because..."
Nissan Leaf
"... trolling Ferrari by showing pictures of like the leaf? I did see that, but the Mazda doubles down."
Jeep Cherokee
"...rt of looks like the successor to the little Jeep Cherokee as well. I mean, they're all very, very similar."
Polestar 2
"... got that Colorado shape to it. It looks like the Polestar 2 or whatever. It's not great, but it's not terribl..."
Ford Bronco Sport
"...o 60 in 25 days. You say that, but all those Ford Bronco sports that are out there have three cylinder turbo engi..."
Fisker Oceans
"...er. They sell about as many of these as they sell Fisker Oceans. I haven't read enough into this new legislation ..."
Subaru WRX
"No, they're pretty ugly. And whatever that WRX thing is really heinous looking, whatever their l..."
Toyota GR Corolla
"Why'd you leave off the GR Corolla? All right, we'll add the GR. That's fair. That's fair. Of the four, these are the four hot hatches we have to choose from in the United States..."
A wild, rally-inspired version of the sensible Toyota Corolla hatchback. It features a highly tuned three-cylinder engine and a special all-wheel-drive system designed for high-speed cornering and gravel sliding.
The Toyota GR Corolla is a hot hatchback developed by Toyota's Gazoo Racing division, featuring a 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine (G16E-GTS) producing 300 horsepower. It utilizes the rally-derived GR-Four adjustable all-wheel-drive system, allowing drivers to customize front-to-rear torque split.
Honda Element
"I have a feeling when nuclear holocaust comes, there will be two things on this planet. Cockroaches and Honda elements. They will just outlive everything. They don't die."
A very boxy, quirky SUV made by Honda that is loved by campers and dog owners. It has suicide doors, no carpet on the floor (making it easy to sweep out), and seats that can fold completely flat or be removed entirely.
The Honda Element is a compact crossover SUV manufactured from 2003 to 2011, noted for its boxy styling and highly versatile interior. It featured rear-hinged side doors, a plastic-clad exterior, and a hose-out utility interior with fold-flat seats.
Ferrari Luche
"Here's co-pilot. Please redesign the Ferrari Luche into a car that people actually want. I feel like..."
Telo MT1
"You can put your order in for the Slate truck. In time for Prime Day? Which is funny because this article is showing them at 27 to 30,000. However, the big hoopla that's been being said is that they're starting at 24,595..."
A new, tiny electric pickup truck designed to be as short as a small hatchback but still have a usable truck bed. It uses clever design tricks to maximize interior space without being a giant, heavy vehicle.
The Telo MT1 is an upcoming compact electric pickup truck designed to offer the utility of a mid-size truck in the footprint of a Mini Cooper. It features a highly efficient packaging design, a crew cab layout, and a modular truck bed.
Truck Slate Truck
"No. You can put your order in for the Slate truck. In time for Prime Day?"
Land Rover Range Rover
"That is so that one's cool. Oh, the Range Rover looking one. Yeah."
Money Shift
"Because what you're really trying to simulate there is a money shift and that isn't going to slam the brakes on in your car. That's just going to go pop and then you're going to keep rolling and catch fire."
An accidental mistake in a manual transmission car where the driver shifts into a gear that is way too low (like going from 5th to 2nd instead of 4th). This forces the engine to spin way too fast, instantly destroying it and costing a lot of 'money' to fix.
A money shift is an accidental downshift into a gear that is too low for the vehicle's current road speed, forcing the engine past its mechanical redline. This catastrophic event typically results in severe engine damage, such as bent valves, broken pistons, or thrown connecting rods.
Honda S2000
"... of weird like my daughter got the hot pink Honda S2000 from Fast and the Furious and she loves it."
Toyota Supra
"... quote unquote extra value me I mean look at this Supra compared the Lego one is super chunky and blocky ..."
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
"So apparently a family gifted their college son an $80,000 ZL1 Camaro blah edition. It was stolen. It was retrieved ended up at whatever dealer only to be stolen a second time."
The absolute fastest, most powerful version of the modern Chevy Camaro. It features a supercharged V8 engine and high-tech suspension designed to dominate both drag strips and twisty race tracks.
The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is the high-performance pinnacle of the sixth-generation Camaro, powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V8 engine producing 650 horsepower. It features advanced track-focused hardware, including Magnetic Ride Control suspension and optional aerodynamic packages.
Buick Regal
"...lea market Tuesday, I would say it's like a Buick Regal and an old Cadillac de Vil or something like that..."
Ford Taurus
"With a North Star in it. Chevy Lumina and Ford Taurus. I'm going to go out on a limb without looking at..."
Dodge Challenger
"...those deals where it's like not only did he buy a challenger. He bought a challenger demon 170 or something li..."
Nissan 350Z
"I think this is a Z. He's in a Z. He's in a Z convertible. That is a 350 Z door handle right there. Look at that. That's what that is. He's in a 350 Z Cabriolet..."
A popular two-seater sports car made by Nissan in the 2000s. It is famous for its rear-wheel-drive layout, sporty handling, and a loud, distinct-sounding V6 engine.
The Nissan 350Z (Z33) is a two-seat sports car manufactured by Nissan from 2002 to 2009, powered by the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter VQ35DE or VQ35HR V6 engine. It revived Nissan's iconic Z-car lineup, offering a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout with excellent chassis balance.
Porsche Cayenne
"A juice cleanse. You know, they use lemons and cayenne pepper. It's perfect."
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