Great cars undone by one fatal flaw #319

Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland, and it’s being used here as the travel/meeting location for the hosts’ discussion. The episode ties the “great cars undone by one fatal flaw” theme to a real trip in a specific car.

The DeLorean DMC-12 is the iconic gull-wing sports car most people associate with the DeLorean name, and the 1981 model year is part of its final stretch of production. It’s a car enthusiasts remember for its distinctive styling and its stainless-steel body, but it also has a reputation for certain ownership/maintenance headaches that can undermine the experience.

The engine bay is the compartment in a car where the engine and related components are mounted. The host uses it as a social/behavior point: when many cars are lined up with an open engine bay, people naturally gather to inspect and help.

A self-selecting group is a set of people or items that choose themselves into the situation, rather than being randomly selected. Here, it implies the DeLorean owners who showed up were likely the ones who maintain their cars well, which can make the event look unusually reliable.

An alternator is the engine-driven generator that powers the car’s electrical system and recharges the battery while you drive. If it isn’t sized or regulated correctly, heavy electrical loads (like air conditioning, fans, and headlights) can drain the battery instead of charging it.

Central locking modules are the electronic control units that manage locking/unlocking functions for the car. If they have faults, you can get problems like doors not locking reliably or getting stuck in a locked state.

“Back to the Future conversions” here means modifying a DeLorean to replicate the movie car’s look and features for real-world use. The segment highlights that these conversions can create practical engineering problems—especially cooling—because they require changes in the engine bay and surrounding systems.

The “flux capacitor” is a fictional device from Back to the Future used to describe time travel. In this context, the hosts treat it as a real-world conversion feature people try to engineer for show cars, even though it’s not an actual automotive technology.

Overheating issues mean the engine or cooling system can’t shed heat effectively under real driving conditions. The segment links overheating to modifications made during Back to the Future conversions, which can disrupt airflow and cooling in the engine bay.

Adding about 200 kg increases the car’s mass, which can hurt acceleration, braking, and overall efficiency. Extra weight also tends to worsen aerodynamic behavior, which the segment connects to wind noise and stability concerns at speed.

“Aerodynamically effective” describes how well a car’s shape and added bodywork manage airflow. If a conversion isn’t aerodynamically effective, it can increase drag and create more wind noise, and it may also affect stability at highway speeds.

The segment argues that the DeLorean company made a high-risk business decision: doubling production in October 1981. In manufacturing terms, ramping output too quickly can strain cash flow, quality control, and supply chains—contributing to a project’s failure even if the product has potential.

Liquidators are appointed to wind down a failing company’s affairs, typically selling assets to pay creditors. In this segment, liquidators/receivers arrive after the company runs out of cash, and they try to keep resources alive by rebranding and changing production plans.

Receivers are court-appointed managers who take control of a distressed company’s assets to protect creditors and manage the turnaround or liquidation process. The segment contrasts receivers’ goals with wrapping up the company, explaining why they explored rebranding and production changes.

The Triumph TR7 is a British sports car from the late 1970s, known for its front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout and distinctive styling. The segment mentions plans to start making TR7s in the same factory as part of a proposed company resurrection.

This refers to a planned swap to use an engine from Honda instead of the existing PRV powerplant. Engine swaps like this are often discussed when a car’s original engine choice is seen as a weakness (cost, reliability, or performance).

PRV is an engine family acronym used for a V6 design developed by Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo. In this segment, it’s the engine the DeLorean was using (or planned to use), and the liquidators/receivers were considering replacing it with a Honda engine.

John DeLorean was the entrepreneur behind the DeLorean sports car project. The segment ties his FBI arrest during a cocaine sting to the company’s collapse, arguing the reputational damage killed the chances of resurrecting the business.

The Lotus Esprit is a British sports car known for its double-wishbone front suspension layout, which helps it stay stable and predictable when pushed hard. In this segment, the host uses the Esprit as the benchmark for how the DeLorean’s front suspension differed and why that mattered dynamically.

“Double front wishbone” refers to a front suspension geometry that uses two control arms (upper and lower) shaped like wishbones. This layout helps control wheel motion more precisely, improving steering feel and reducing unwanted handling effects over bumps and during braking.

Bump steer is when the steering angle changes unintentionally as the suspension moves over bumps. It happens when the suspension geometry doesn’t keep the wheel’s direction aligned with the road during vertical travel, leading to twitchy or unpredictable steering.

Brake steer is a handling effect where applying the brakes causes the car to steer or pull in a particular direction. It’s often caused by suspension geometry changes under braking loads, so the car doesn’t track straight when decelerating.

Colin Chapman was a major figure in Lotus engineering, known for pushing innovative lightweight and performance-focused designs. In this segment, he’s mentioned as being brought into the project because the DeLorean was rebuilt around Lotus Esprit learnings, and the host ties that involvement to the project’s later problems.

The segment describes an “ERM” concept as a plastic chassis intended to be long-lasting. The idea matters because chassis material and structure affect stiffness, durability, and how well the suspension geometry stays consistent under hard driving.

An anti-corrosion warranty is a contract promise that covers rust-related damage for a set period. The hosts point out that the DeLorean’s stainless body looked like it should resist rust, but it still didn’t come with the kind of long-term corrosion coverage buyers often expect.

“Emissions stuff” refers to emissions-control equipment and calibration changes required to meet regulations. The hosts argue that when the DeLorean was adapted for the US, these additions hurt performance so much that it struggled to keep up with cars like the Porsche 911.

This describes a mixed-material structure: a steel chassis paired with a fiberglass tub. The hosts use it to explain why the DeLorean ended up heavier than the original target—real-world engineering and packaging often add weight beyond early estimates.

“Stainless steel DeLorean bits” refers to replacement components made from the DeLorean’s signature stainless-steel body material. Because the car’s body is unusual, sourcing correct stainless panels (not just generic steel replacements) is a key restoration and repair concern.

A left front wing is the front fender panel on the driver’s side of the car. The hosts discuss it specifically because it’s a common crash area and, for a long time, was rumored to be nearly impossible to source for the DeLorean.

A parts car is a donor vehicle used to harvest usable components for repairs. The hosts say that for a long time, the only reliable way to get certain DeLorean body panels (like a left front wing) was to buy parts cars and salvage them.

The Renault 5 Turbo is a hot-hatch variant of the Renault 5, known for its turbocharged engine and rally-derived reputation. The hosts use it as a comparison point to argue that DeLorean parts can be easier to source than you’d expect, unlike some other older, niche cars.

Running gear is the set of mechanical components that move the car—commonly things like suspension, drivetrain components, and other underbody hardware. The hosts say the DeLorean’s running gear was cross-referenced with other British or European cars, which helps explain why parts can be easier to find.

Cross-referenced parts means components are identified as compatible across different vehicles—often by matching part numbers, dimensions, or supplier origins. Here, the hosts claim the DeLorean’s running gear was cross-referenced with other British or European cars, making sourcing replacements less mysterious.

The Mazda RX-8 is a sports car known for its rotary engine, which is different from the more common piston engines. The podcast calls out the RX-8 as something the speaker really likes and mentions having driven a couple. It comes up as an enthusiast favorite because of its unique engine character and driving experience.

A rotary engine (Wankel design) makes power using a spinning rotor rather than pistons moving up and down. The host links this design to the RX-8’s low torque feel and to wear items like seals, which can lead to shorter service life if not maintained well.

Torque is the twisting force an engine produces, and it strongly affects how easily a car accelerates from low speeds. The host says the RX-8’s rotary engine had “no torque,” making it feel less responsive despite high-rev smoothness.

The Nissan 350Z is a performance-oriented sports coupe that became popular for its driving feel and enthusiast following. It’s mentioned alongside the 370Z as part of a group of cars people consider “great masters.” In the podcast, it’s used as an example of a model that fits that enthusiast-friendly category.

Apex seals are critical sealing components inside a rotary engine that help maintain compression as the rotor moves. The host claims the apex seals in the Mazda RX-8 (and another rotary) get “chewed up and spat out,” which can cause rapid wear and major reliability problems.

Twin turbo means the engine uses two turbochargers to force more air into the cylinders. Using two turbos can help improve boost response and power compared with a single turbo, depending on the design.

A V6 is an engine with six cylinders arranged in a “V” shape. The host uses it to contrast the smaller V6 used in the Jaguar HG2 20 against the much larger V12 that people expected.

A pushrod engine uses pushrods to transfer motion from the camshaft to the engine’s valves. The host notes the engine started life as a pushrod Buick V8, then was adapted into the later V6 twin-turbo configuration.

A V12 is an engine with twelve cylinders arranged in a V configuration. In the segment, the V12 is important because the show car’s V12 promise set expectations for sound and character that the delivered car didn’t match.

A turbocharged V6 is an engine with six cylinders arranged in a “V” shape, boosted by a turbocharger. The turbocharger forces more air into the engine, which can make a smaller engine feel stronger, but some people dislike the sound or character compared with a naturally aspirated V12.

The Ferrari F40 is a classic, hardcore performance Ferrari known for its lightweight, driver-focused approach. It’s a landmark 1980s supercar and often comes up when discussing how “serious” or “raw” certain cars feel. The podcast references it in the context of comparing weight and character to other supercars.

The McLaren F1 is a rare, high-performance supercar built to be extremely fast and lightweight. It’s widely discussed because of its engineering focus and its reputation as one of the most significant cars of its era. The podcast compares its “lightness” to other supercars mentioned.

Four-wheel drive (4WD) sends power to both the front and rear axles, improving traction—especially on slippery surfaces. The host speculates that a V12 version was meant to have four-wheel drive, but that older systems might have been “agricultural,” meaning heavy, less refined, and not as seamless as modern setups.

The BMW i8 is a plug-in hybrid “junior supercar” from BMW that’s known for its lightweight, futuristic design and unusual powertrain choice. In this segment, the key point is that it uses a small 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine (shared with the Mini family), which some people dismissed as not “proper” enough—yet the host says they loved it and that the backlash likely hurt its reputation.

A “three cylinder 1500 cc” engine is a 1.5-liter inline three-cylinder layout, meaning three cylinders share the same engine bank. The host uses this to highlight why some people judged the BMW i8 harshly: they expected a bigger engine for a supercar-like car, even though the i8’s overall design and hybrid system change how it feels.

In this context, “curated” means the car’s sound is intentionally engineered and managed—through exhaust design, engine mounting, and sometimes speaker-based audio—to create a specific driving experience. It’s not purely “natural” engine noise; it’s tuned to feel a certain way.

In an exhaust system, headers are the shaped pipes that collect exhaust gases from the engine’s cylinders and route them toward the rest of the exhaust. Their shape affects how smoothly exhaust flows, which can influence sound and sometimes performance.

The Ferrari 296 GTB is a modern Ferrari plug-in hybrid built around a turbocharged V6 paired with an electric motor. The hosts bring it up as an example of a “great car” that didn’t sell as strongly as expected, despite being objectively better than a predecessor.

A downsized engine is a smaller-displacement engine used to deliver similar power to a larger engine, typically with turbocharging or other efficiency tech. The host calls it “incongruous” because it may not match the car’s intended character or “aspiration” (how it’s supposed to feel).

Battery packs are the large rechargeable battery modules in an electric vehicle. The host is concerned about how battery packs can degrade over time and whether a used i3s still feels “strong and fit and tight” after that aging.

The BMW i3s is a sportier version of the BMW i3 electric car, tuned for a more dynamic feel. The podcast notes that the i3s has had problems, which is why it’s part of a discussion about whether it’s a good choice. It’s raised as a caution alongside the idea of tight, responsive driving.

The Lancia Gamma is a model from Lancia that the podcast brings up as part of a discussion about a “fatal flaw” or a serious downside. The mention suggests the speaker is weighing whether the Gamma has a particular issue that matters to buyers. It’s referenced as a specific example in a broader conversation about which cars have major problems.

A flat-four is an engine with four cylinders arranged in a horizontally opposed (“boxer”) layout. The host mentions a “two and a half liter flat four” for the Lancia Gamma, setting up the discussion of how that engine configuration relates to the car’s supposed fatal flaw.

An interference engine is designed so that, if valve timing goes wrong (like a skipped timing event), the pistons can physically reach the valves. That’s why timing-belt/chain failures can destroy the engine rather than just causing a loss of power.

A cam belt (timing belt) synchronizes the crankshaft and camshafts so the engine’s valves open at the right time. If it fails on an interference engine, the pistons can hit the valves, causing catastrophic damage.

The power steering pump is the component that pressurizes hydraulic fluid to assist steering effort. In this failure scenario, its drive method ties it to the engine’s timing components, so steering loads can contribute to timing-chain problems.

A timing chain synchronizes the crankshaft and camshafts, similar to a timing belt but typically made of metal links. If it skips a tooth, valve timing becomes incorrect, which can lead to piston/valve contact in an interference engine.

A robotized manual is a manual gearbox controlled by actuators (electronic/mechanical “robots”) that automate clutch and shift actions, often with paddle shifters. Compared with modern dual-clutch transmissions, earlier robotized manuals can feel slower and less smooth.

The Lamborghini Aventador is known for its high-performance, supercar driving experience, and in this discussion it’s specifically called out for its transmission feel. The host criticizes the Aventador’s robotized manual paddle-shift gearbox as being slower and less refined than a DCT.

DCT stands for dual-clutch transmission. It uses two clutches to pre-select the next gear, enabling faster, smoother shifts than many older automated-manual setups.

A downshift is when the transmission changes to a lower gear to increase engine speed (RPM) for stronger acceleration or engine braking. In this segment, the hosts discuss how downshifts can be slow or need patience, especially in automated/manual-style systems.

The throttle is the driver-controlled input that regulates how much air (and therefore fuel) the engine can use. The hosts describe coming off the throttle during an upshift to help the transmission shift smoothly and quickly.

An upshift is when the transmission moves to a higher gear, usually to reduce engine RPM and improve efficiency. The hosts discuss how the timing of coming off the throttle while requesting an upshift can make the shift smoother.

BMW M3 CSL is a lightweight, track-oriented variant of the E46-generation M3, built to feel more focused and special than the standard car. The hosts mention it in the context of transmission feel, implying that even in a “best case” CSL setup, the automatic still can’t replicate the immediacy of a manual.

The “CSL” badge refers to BMW’s lightweight, track-focused M3 variant. In this segment it’s mentioned as part of a comparison group for transmission quality, but the exact model naming is unclear in the transcript.

The Aston Martin Vanquish is a grand tourer known for its powerful V12 engine and high-speed comfort. Here it’s used as a cautionary example of an early-iteration transmission/behavior problem: the car would get stuck in neutral after clutch overheating protection, then restart when the lights changed.

The clutch is the mechanical connection between the engine and the transmission that allows gears to engage smoothly. The hosts describe clutch overheating protection on the early Vanquish, where the car would decide the clutch was too hot and force neutral to protect it.

Neutral is the transmission state where no gear is engaged, so power isn’t transmitted to the wheels. In the anecdote, the Vanquish goes to neutral automatically without the driver realizing it, which is why the car feels frustrating at traffic lights.

The Lexus LFA is a halo supercar known for its naturally aspirated V10 and high-rev character, plus a reputation for being a “driver’s” machine. In this segment, the host brings it up to discuss how automated shifting (DCT/automated manuals) affects the experience—especially outside of track conditions.

Vallelunga (often referred to as “Vallelunga” or “Valolunga” in casual speech) is an Italian circuit used for testing and track events. The host references it to explain a real on-track scenario where shifting mid-corner can upset stability.

Corsa is a performance driving mode used on some Lamborghini models, typically making throttle response and gearbox behavior more aggressive. In this segment, the host says selecting Corsa at Vallelunga during a fast corner caused a destabilizing “bang.”

The Toyota Camry is referenced as the source of the 3.5-liter V6 engine used in the early Lotus Evora story. The host notes the Camry engine isn’t known as a performance unit, but it can still work well when packaged and tuned for a sports car application.

Naturally aspirated describes an engine that draws air in without a turbocharger or supercharger. The host contrasts this with the idea of “pre-turbo” flat-six engines and argues that pairing naturally aspirated torque delivery with diesel-like long ratios can make the car feel like it doesn’t stay in its power band.

Self-centering refers to a manual shifter mechanism that returns the gear lever toward a neutral position after you move it. The host says many of these early Evora cars lacked self-centering, so the driver couldn’t easily tell where the gearbox was, contributing to a “not nice to use” feel.

A diesel gearbox is a transmission designed for diesel engines, which typically produce torque differently than gasoline engines. In this segment, the host says Lotus used a diesel gearbox with a V6 petrol engine, requiring custom packaging that contributed to NVH (notably rattle) and early-gear durability concerns.

Shift quality describes how a transmission changes gears—how smooth, precise, and consistent the engagement feels. The host contrasts early Evora gearbox behavior (rattle and problematic gears) with later generations that have better shift quality and different gearing.

The Lotus Emira is a modern Lotus sports car that’s designed to deliver the brand’s driving feel with updated engineering. In the podcast, it’s discussed as having the same gearbox as the referenced model, but with improvements that make it work better. That’s why it comes up in a conversation about how the car drives and how the transmission behaves.

Bell housing rattle is noise that can originate around the engine-to-transmission connection area. The host says later Evora gearbox generations improved the shift quality, but a small amount of this rattle still remained.

Gear ratios determine how engine RPM relates to vehicle speed in each gear. The host says Lotus “shorten[ed] the ratios” by changing gears in the gearbox, and that this helped address earlier issues and improved how the car drives.

Close-ratio gearing means the transmission’s gear ratios are spaced closely together, keeping engine RPM in a tighter band between shifts. The host says that on 2010–2011 Evora close-ratio editions, 4th and 5th gear could fail catastrophically (“disintegrate”), leading to very expensive rebuilds.

“Launching” in this context describes a severe gearbox failure mode where a gear can jump out of engagement or fail under load. The host ties this to early Evora S gearbox risk in 4th and 5th gear, which could trigger a costly repair.

The Aston Martin V12 Vantage S is a high-performance V12-powered Vantage variant, built to deliver a more dramatic, premium sports-car experience. The host argues that the manual-gearbox version disappointed because the gearbox feel was “slushy” and the shift quality wasn’t good enough for the car.

The Jaguar F-Type is a British sports car known for its performance-focused driving feel and (in some versions) V8/V6 powertrains. In this segment, the host criticizes a manual-gearbox version as having poor shift quality—described as slushy and sluggish—so the transmission doesn’t match the car’s intended character.

“Slushy” and “sluggish” are enthusiast descriptions of how a gearbox feels when it doesn’t engage crisply. In this context, the host is saying the manual transmission’s shift feel and response were poor—so it didn’t deliver the precise, connected driving experience you expect from a sports car.

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a performance-focused Aston Martin model that uses a V8 engine and is offered in different transmission configurations. The podcast specifically contrasts it with a V12 Vantage, noting that the V8 Vantage manual availability is part of what makes the comparison interesting. It’s discussed in the context of which versions are manual and how that affects the car’s appeal.

A “seven-speed auto” refers to an automatic transmission with seven forward gears. The host uses it to contrast the original V12 Vantage’s automatic gearbox with the later manual version, implying the manual swap didn’t improve the driving feel.

“Slush box” is a derogatory term for an automatic transmission that feels soft, delayed, and not very responsive. The host mentions Mercedes automatics from the 1970s and 1980s, arguing that if you want that kind of relaxed feel, those older transmissions might actually be what you’re after.

The Ferrari 458 Spyder is a mid-engine Ferrari drop-top known for its high-revving V8 character and driver-focused handling. The host’s “fatal flaw” angle here is structural compliance: on bumpy roads, the body “wobbles and shakes,” affecting the steering feel.

A carbon monocoque is a vehicle body structure where the carbon-fiber shell carries most of the load. Because it’s stiff and strong, it can make a convertible less prone to chassis flex compared with cars that rely on the roof for stiffness.

The Ford Flex is a boxy, family-oriented crossover-style vehicle known for its distinctive styling and practicality. The podcast mentions putting a convertible roof on it, using that idea to talk about how structural changes can affect rigidity. It’s referenced as an example of how altering the roof can make the car feel less solid.