Episode #216 - No Sport Variant, But Deserved One
About this episode
The hosts dive into a fun discussion about cars that deserved sporty variants but never got them, like the Geo Metro convertible and Nissan Versa Spec-V. They explore quirky ideas like a turbo Subaru Brat and a hot Hyundai Venue, mixing nostalgia with modern hot hatch aspirations. The conversation also covers personal car projects, including mount replacements and daily driving joys with lightweight, quirky vehicles. They wrap up with a playful automotive ad quiz and tease upcoming content, blending humor, car culture, and enthusiast insights throughout.
We love talking about hot versions of more mundane cars here on the pod, but what about all of those norm core whips that never hot a spicy variant? The fellas talk about hot versions that should have been made and dry dream of cars that never were.
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Ford Focus SVT
"bro, is that an SVT? I was like, you know it. He's like, hell yeah, he was like so pumped that it was an SVT, that it was the sport variant of the Ford Focus. Oh, I see what you did there. Yeah, and that's what we are talking about today. The world of sport variants."
The Ford Focus SVT is a faster and sportier version of the regular Ford Focus. It has a stronger engine and better handling to make driving more fun.
The Ford Focus SVT is a sport variant of the Ford Focus developed by Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT). It features performance upgrades over the standard Focus, including a more powerful engine, sport-tuned suspension, and unique styling cues.
SVT
"bro, is that an SVT? I was like, you know it. He's like, hell yeah, he was like so pumped that it was an SVT, that it was the sport variant of the Ford Focus."
SVT is a special team at Ford that makes faster and sportier versions of their regular cars. These cars have better engines and handling.
SVT stands for Special Vehicle Team, Ford's performance division responsible for developing high-performance versions of standard Ford models. SVT vehicles typically have upgraded engines, suspensions, and styling.
sport variant
"that it was an SVT, that it was the sport variant of the Ford Focus. Oh, I see what you did there. Yeah, and that's what we are talking about today. The world of sport variants."
A sport variant is a special version of a car that is made to be faster and handle better than the regular version. It usually looks sportier too.
A sport variant is a version of a car model that has been enhanced with performance-oriented features such as a more powerful engine, improved suspension, and sportier styling. These variants are designed to offer a more engaging driving experience.
Suzuki Swift
"...I mean, you could have done a metro version of the Swift because the Swift was so rare. Like if you wanted that car even back in the day, they were pretty hard to get."
The Suzuki Swift is a small car that's easy to drive and park. It was the same kind of car that the Geo Metro was based on.
The Suzuki Swift is a small hatchback known for its nimble handling and compact size. It has been popular in various markets and was the basis for the Geo Metro in the U.S. market.
Geo Metro
"...I actually put that down the Geo Metro GSI because there was never technically a variant of that. That would be cool if they did make a hot Metro, which we didn't get."
The Geo Metro is a small, cheap car from the 1990s that was good on gas. It was made by a company called Geo, which worked with Suzuki to build it.
The Geo Metro was a subcompact car sold in the United States during the late 1980s and 1990s, known for its fuel efficiency and affordability. It was a collaboration between General Motors and Suzuki, often sharing components with the Suzuki Swift.
chassis
"I still think a chassis would shit its pants specifically in the convertible because it's maybe single-handedly, like just the worst chassis feel of any vehicle I've ever driven."
The chassis is like the car's skeleton that holds everything together. It helps the car feel stable and handle well when you drive.
The chassis of a vehicle is its structural framework that supports the body and mechanical components. It greatly affects the car's handling, rigidity, and overall driving feel.
convertible
"I still think a chassis would shit its pants specifically in the convertible because it's maybe single-handedly, like just the worst chassis feel of any vehicle I've ever driven."
A convertible is a car where you can fold down or take off the roof to drive with the wind in your hair. Because it doesn't have a solid roof, it can sometimes feel less stable.
A convertible is a car with a roof structure that can be retracted or removed, allowing open-air driving. Convertibles often have chassis stiffness challenges due to the lack of a fixed roof.
naturally aspirated
"The base impulse 1.6 naturally aspirated motor."
A naturally aspirated engine is a regular engine that breathes air by itself, without any extra help like a turbo to push air in.
A naturally aspirated engine is one that draws air into the combustion chamber without the use of forced induction like a turbocharger or supercharger. It relies solely on atmospheric pressure for air intake.
turbo
"Yeah, but there was an impulse RS while we were driving the Turbo."
A turbo is a part that helps the engine get more air, so it can make the car go faster.
A turbocharger is a device that forces extra air into the engine's combustion chamber, increasing power output by allowing more fuel to be burned. Turbocharged engines typically produce more horsepower than naturally aspirated ones of the same size.
front-wheel drive
"Would you have left it front-wheel drive or put an all-wheel drive system for the RS in there?"
Front-wheel drive means the car's engine makes the front wheels move, which helps the car go and turn.
Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a drivetrain layout where the engine powers the front wheels of the vehicle. It is common in compact and economy cars and generally offers better traction in slippery conditions.
all-wheel drive
"Would you have left it front-wheel drive or put an all-wheel drive system for the RS in there? I think the all-wheel drive system is how they would have sold it because that's like the hotness."
All-wheel drive means the car's engine makes all four wheels move, which helps the car drive better on slippery roads or rough ground.
All-wheel drive (AWD) is a drivetrain system that powers all four wheels of a vehicle simultaneously, improving traction and handling, especially in adverse weather or off-road conditions. It is often used in performance and sportier cars.
limited-slip differential
"Yeah. Or even just, you don't get the all-wheel drive but you get an LSD."
A limited-slip differential helps both wheels on the same axle turn at similar speeds, so the car can grip better when turning or on slippery roads.
A limited-slip differential (LSD) is a mechanical component that limits the difference in rotational speed between the two wheels on an axle, improving traction and handling, especially during cornering or on slippery surfaces.
Geo Storm
"You know what, every time I think of the GeoStorm, do you ever remember it's like a 20-year-old pre-viral viral video..."
The Geo Storm is a small sporty car made in the early 1990s that was fun to drive and looked cool for its time.
The Geo Storm is a compact sports coupe produced by Geo (a brand of General Motors) from 1990 to 1993. It was known for its sporty styling and was based on the Suzuki Swift platform.
wheelbase
""Yeah, I think the wheelbase was longer on the R. Yeah, I think on the GeoWagon it was longer wheelbase too.""
Wheelbase means how far apart the front and back wheels are. It changes how the car drives and how much room there is inside.
Wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear axles of a vehicle. It affects the car's stability, handling, and interior space.
Lamborghini Countach
"I would say the coontash is the more common vehicle."
The Lamborghini Countach is a famous fast sports car from Italy with a very cool, sharp look. It was made a long time ago and is very special to car fans.
The Lamborghini Countach is a classic Italian supercar produced from the 1970s to the early 1990s, known for its sharp, angular design and powerful V12 engine. It is considered an iconic model that helped define the supercar genre.
Pontiac Sunfire
"is the more common vehicle. Or the Asuna Sunfire? Yeah, same. We'll go with all the variants."
Nissan Versa
"This one is something they could have done and I think they should have done the Nissan Versa SCR Spec-V."
The Nissan Versa is a small and affordable car that many people use for everyday driving. It comes in different styles like a small car with four doors or a hatchback with a rear door that opens upwards.
The Nissan Versa is a subcompact car produced by Nissan, known for its affordability and practicality. It is often offered in sedan and hatchback body styles and is popular as an economical daily driver.
2.5L engine
"I'm talking that same 2.5L. Yep, drop the 2.5L right from Nissan's famous for doing this."
The 2.5L engine is the size of the engine in the car, meaning it can hold 2.5 liters of air and fuel inside its cylinders. This size helps the car have enough power to drive well.
A 2.5-liter engine refers to the engine's total displacement, which is the combined volume of all its cylinders. Nissan commonly uses 2.5L four-cylinder engines in various models, known for a balance of power and efficiency.
6-speed manual transmission
"Put the 2.5L, put the 6-speed manual, put the Spec-V or the Spec-V suspension in there, in the Versa"
A 6-speed manual transmission means the driver changes gears by hand using a stick and pedal. There are six different gears to choose from, which helps the car go faster or slower as needed.
A 6-speed manual transmission is a gearbox that requires the driver to manually select and engage gears using a clutch and gear stick. It offers six forward gear ratios, providing more control and engagement compared to automatic transmissions.
Mitsubishi Mirage
"until the Mitsubishi Mirage fucking knocked it down a step or two."
The Mitsubishi Mirage is a small, inexpensive car that people buy because it costs very little and uses little gas. It became the cheapest car you could buy in the U.S. after the Versa.
The Mitsubishi Mirage is a subcompact hatchback known for its low price and fuel efficiency. It surpassed the Nissan Versa as the cheapest car for sale in the United States for a period.
Nissan Juke
"...the turbo juke like the Juke Nismo"
The Nissan Juke Nismo is a small SUV that is made to be faster and handle better than the regular Juke. It has a special turbo engine and better suspension to make it more fun to drive.
The Nissan Juke Nismo is a sportier, performance-oriented version of the Nissan Juke subcompact crossover. It features a turbocharged engine and sport-tuned suspension for enhanced driving dynamics.
production numbers
"I'm curious what the production numbers I still want one but I'm curious what the production numbers on them are"
Production numbers tell you how many of a certain car were made. If only a few were made, the car is rare and might be special.
Production numbers refer to the total quantity of a specific car model or variant manufactured by the automaker. Low production numbers often make a car rarer and sometimes more collectible.
Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG
"what was that Mercedes wagon, the R63 that had super low production numbers too"
The Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG is a rare and fast SUV made by Mercedes' AMG division. It combines the space of an SUV with the power of a sports car.
The Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG is a high-performance version of the R-Class luxury crossover, equipped with a powerful AMG-tuned V8 engine. It is known for its rarity and unique combination of performance and utility.
2JZ
"you know to 2JZ GTE twin turbo"
The 2JZ is a type of engine made by Toyota. It's very strong and can be made to go really fast, which makes it popular with car fans.
The 2JZ is a famous inline-six engine produced by Toyota, renowned for its strength and tuning potential. It is especially known for its use in the Toyota Supra and is popular among car enthusiasts for high-performance builds.
GTE
"to 2JZ GTE twin turbo"
GTE is a special version of the Toyota 2JZ engine that has two turbochargers. This makes the engine much more powerful.
GTE refers to a specific variant of the Toyota 2JZ engine, typically the 2JZ-GTE, which is a twin-turbocharged version producing significantly more power than the naturally aspirated versions.
Subaru Legacy Turbo
"like the WX's or anything like that but we did get a legacy turbo with a 2.2 sealed deck right"
The Subaru Legacy Turbo is a version of the Legacy car that has a turbo engine, which helps it go faster. It has a strong 2.2-liter engine that is good for tuning and making more power.
The Subaru Legacy Turbo is a turbocharged variant of the Legacy sedan or wagon, featuring a 2.2-liter sealed deck engine known for its durability and tuning potential. It was one of the few turbocharged Subaru models available in the U.S. during the era.
sealed deck
"like that but we did get a legacy turbo with a 2.2 sealed deck right so what I would do is take that"
A sealed deck means the engine block is built strong around the cylinders to keep everything tight and stop leaks. This helps the engine last longer, especially when it has a turbo.
A sealed deck engine block has a design where the cylinder walls are fully enclosed by the engine block, improving rigidity and reducing the risk of head gasket failure. This design is preferred for turbocharged engines due to better durability under high boost.
5 speed manual
"EG EJ 22T and I would swap that with the 5 speed into a brat and call it the Subaru Brats GT"
A 5 speed manual means the car has five gears that the driver changes by hand using a stick and a pedal called the clutch. It helps the driver control the car better.
A 5 speed manual transmission is a gearbox with five forward gears operated manually by the driver using a clutch and gear stick. It allows more driver control and engagement compared to automatic transmissions.
torque
"because that's like 160 horsepower a bunch of torque all-wheel drive 5 speed manual"
Torque is how much twisting power the engine makes. More torque helps the car speed up faster and pull heavy things.
Torque is a measure of rotational force produced by an engine, which affects a vehicle's ability to accelerate and pull loads. Higher torque generally means better low-end power and responsiveness.
Subaru Baja
"hey we've got a Baja we've got this weird truck that shouldn't exist let's put the turbo motor in it"
The Subaru Baja is a special kind of car that looks like both a car and a small truck. It was made in the early 2000s and was different from most other cars.
The Subaru Baja is a unique four-door utility vehicle produced in the early 2000s that combined features of a car and a pickup truck. It was known for its quirky design and versatility but was considered an unusual model in Subaru's lineup.
1ZZ engine
"the Corolla motor was the was a one ZZ it was it was the same four cylinder in the Camry so it was a"
The 1ZZ engine is a small engine made by Toyota that helps cars like the Corolla run well and use fuel efficiently.
The 1ZZ is a 1.8-liter inline-4 engine from Toyota, widely used in vehicles like the Corolla and early Camrys. It produces around 130-140 horsepower and is known for its durability and fuel efficiency.
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