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Has The Porsche 911 Turbo Been a Worthy Flagship? — Carmudgeon w/ Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 215

Has The Porsche 911 Turbo Been a Worthy Flagship? — Carmudgeon w/ Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 215

The Carmudgeon Show Dec 03, 2025 73 min
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About this episode

Celebrating 50 years of the Porsche 911 Turbo, Cammisa and Tam-Scott dive into the history and evolution of this iconic model. They discuss its performance, the unique characteristics of various generations, and why they personally prefer other variants over the Turbo. With insights from their experiences and a humorous take on the car's quirks, the episode balances nostalgia with critical analysis. Notable guests and anecdotes from the documentary on the Turbo add depth to the conversation, making it a rich exploration of this legendary sports car.

Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Porsche 911 Turbo
Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Porsche 911 Turbo

"...the Porsche 911 Turbo which is celebrating its 50th birthday. Is it December 2nd? Well, I no one knows the exact date..."

The Porsche 911 Turbo is a fast and powerful version of the Porsche 911, which is a famous sports car. It has a turbocharged engine that makes it quicker and more exciting to drive.

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Porsche Turbo
Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Porsche Turbo

"...just so we have a a grand Porsche Turbo celebration. Um, this is definitely a celebration of the turbo."

The Porsche Turbo is a special version of Porsche cars that uses a turbocharger to make the engine more powerful. It's famous for its speed and performance.

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Concept

50 years of turbo

"...the documentary is a celebration of the 50 years of turbo."

This means that it's been 50 years since turbo engines were first used in cars, which has changed how fast and efficient cars can be.

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Company

Hagerty

"Hagerty is a insurance company by enthusiasts for enthusiasts. Um, and"

Hagerty is a company that provides insurance specifically for classic cars. They understand the needs of car lovers and offer special policies for older or unique vehicles.

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Term

agreed value insurance

"One of which is uh and I think the most important thing from my perspective is that uh the this is agreed value insurance. Hagerty calls it guaranteed value and that is you engage in a conversation with your"

Agreed value insurance means that you and the insurance company decide how much your car is worth, and if something happens to it, you'll get that agreed amount back.

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Volkswagen Scirocco
Stefan Brending (2eight) (CC BY-SA 3.0 de)
Car

Volkswagen Scirocco

"...because I had to fight to keep the Shurocco. I did not have to fight to keep the E30 when I hit"

The Scirocco is a sporty car made by Volkswagen. It's known for being fun to drive and has a unique look that many people like.

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BMW E30
Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

BMW E30

"...to keep the Shurocco. I did not have to fight to keep the E30 when I hit"

The E30 is a model of the BMW 3 Series, which is a popular compact car. It's known for being fun to drive and has a classic design that many people love.

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Term

agreed value replacement cost insurance

"...if I did not have agreed value replacement cost insurance on it..."

This is a special type of car insurance where you and the insurance company agree on how much your car is worth. If your car gets damaged beyond repair, you get that agreed amount instead of a lower market value.

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Company

Mobil 1

"...in concert with Mobile One."

Mobil 1 is a brand of oil that helps keep car engines running smoothly. It's often used in fast cars because it works really well in tough conditions.

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Porsche 911 GT3
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)
Car

Porsche 911 GT3

"I would say no, it's the naturally aspirated GT3 that is actually the the high point, but that's m..."
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Term

naturally aspirated

"...I would say no, it's the naturally aspirated GT3 that is actually the the high point..."

Naturally aspirated means that the engine gets air from the atmosphere without any extra help from devices like turbochargers. This can make the car feel more responsive and connected to the driver.

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Term

intercooler

"was an early uh Intercool 3.3. Yeah. Uh, this one was uh So, anyway, so more importantly, I thought, yeah, I'm happy I'm always happy to do research, happy to delve in."

An intercooler helps cool down the air that goes into the engine after it's been compressed by a turbo. Cooler air helps the engine perform better because it can burn more fuel efficiently.

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Porsche 911 Turbo S
David Villarreal Fernández (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Car

Porsche 911 Turbo S

"...review, a very quicky sort of review of the 992.2 Turbo S, which is the new one with electric turbos that's"
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Term

hybrid

"that's now a hybrid."

A hybrid car uses both a regular engine and an electric motor. This helps the car save fuel and produce less pollution while still being powerful.

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Term

generation

"So 930, which is the original >> 964, 993, 996, 997, 991, 992."

A generation is a version of a car model that comes out at a certain time. Each generation usually has improvements or changes compared to the last one.

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Term

GT2

"some pretty cool cars in there like GT2s..."

The GT2 is a super-fast version of the Porsche 911, built for racing and high performance. It has a stronger engine and is lighter than regular models, which helps it go faster.

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Term

horsepower

"260 horse."

Horsepower is a way to measure how powerful an engine is. More horsepower means the car can go faster or do more work.

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Dodge Viper
ArildV (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Dodge Viper

"was so pretty. >> Yeah, you had Viper green metallic. >> Oh my god. I mean, it was just..."
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Term

Viper Green Metallic

"Oh my god. I mean, it was just like I'm not I did while you were in the bathroom"

Viper Green Metallic is a bright green color used on some sports cars. It's a flashy color that many people love because it makes the car look unique and exciting.

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Porsche 930
Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Porsche 930

"the racing version of the 930 was the 935 which had a slightly different body on it..."

The Porsche 930 is a special version of the Porsche 911 that has a turbocharger. It was made from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s and is famous for being fast and having a unique look.

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Porsche 935
Lothar Spurzem (CC BY-SA 2.0 de)
Car

Porsche 935

"the racing version of the 930 was the 935 which had a slightly different body on it..."

The Porsche 935 is a race car that was built from the Porsche 911. It was designed to be very fast and won many races in the late 1970s.

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Porsche Carrera RS
David Villarreal Fernández (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Car

Porsche Carrera RS

"true for ages and ages. And so what used to be Carrera RS is what is now GT3 effectively. And so that linea..."
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Term

Turbo Carrera

"the original Turbo was called the Turbo Carrera for that reason because they wanted to indicate that it was the highest performance car."

Turbo Carrera is a name used for a fast version of the Porsche 911. It shows that this car is one of the best in terms of performance.

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Porsche 356S
Berthold Werner (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Car

Porsche 356S

"used the Carrera name since they stopped making the 4 cam 356s. So normally 356s are single cam push rod motors..."

The Porsche 356 is an older sports car made by Porsche before the 911. It was known for being light and fun to drive, and it had different types of engines.

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Term

push rod

"hold on. You mean push rod? Yes. One total cam shaft, not one overhead."

A push rod is a metal rod that helps open and close the engine's valves. It connects the camshaft to the valves, allowing the engine to breathe properly.

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Term

camshaft

"One total cam shaft, not one overhead. Okay."

A camshaft is a part of the engine that helps open and close the valves. It makes sure the engine gets air and fuel at the right time.

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Term

roller bearings

"...this thing was super sophisticated and it was gear driven and like you know roller bearings."

Roller bearings are parts that help things move smoothly by reducing friction. They are used in many machines, including car engines, to make them work better.

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Porsche 904
Lothar Spurzem (CC BY-SA 2.0 de)
Car

Porsche 904

"and a whole bunch of other race cars too like the 904 for example."

The Porsche 904 is a racing car from the 1960s. It's known for being very light and fast, making it great for racing.

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Concept

Carrera Panamericana

"And uh and it was named after the Carrera Panameana, the race in Mexico."

The Carrera Panamericana was a famous car race in Mexico that took place in the early 1950s. It was known for being very difficult and exciting, and it helped shape car racing as we know it today.

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Ford GT40
MrWalkr (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ford GT40

"the GT40 is running with 7 L. And for an event like Le Mans"

The GT40 is a famous race car made by Ford that won the Le Mans race several times in the 1960s.

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Porsche 917
Ank Kumar (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Porsche 917

"...s fast. So, they do a clean sheet car. That's the 917. It's a first 12cylinder Porsche. It's um maybe t..."
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Term

flat-12 engine

"Uh it's a horizontally opposed air cooled flat 12. Uh it's 4 1/2 L initially and uh they had some reliability issues initially..."

A flat-12 engine has 12 cylinders that are laid out flat, which helps the car be more stable and perform better. It's different from regular engines that have cylinders standing up.

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Brand

Lola

"the races were dominated by Lola and McLaren"

Lola is a company that makes racing cars and has been successful in many types of racing competitions.

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Brand

McLaren

"the races were dominated by Lola and McLaren"

McLaren is a company that makes fast sports cars and has a strong presence in car racing, especially in Formula 1.

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Bugatti Veyron
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Bugatti Veyron

"...his wasn't just holy [ __ ] fast this was Bugatti Veyron fast when compared to everything else on the road"
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Lamborghini Countach
MrWalkr (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Lamborghini Countach

"...ed. Fastest car in America cuz we couldn't have a Countach which did 170 something."
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Volkswagen Golf GTI
Johann Jaritz (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Volkswagen Golf GTI

"... like, "You will not believe." Now, Anthony has a GTI, a Mark 7 GTI. Um he's had plenty he's"
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Volkswagen Golf
Vauxford (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Volkswagen Golf

"...rison, I think I would have an easier time in the Golf. Now, I'm familiar with a Mark 1 Volkswagen."
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Porsche 928
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)
Car

Porsche 928

"further. >> Worse than a 928 >> and say it's the absolute worst sports"
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Mercedes-Benz Sclass
Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Mercedes-Benz Sclass

"[ __ ] S 320. I I it was it was tuned like it should be in a diesel S-Class. Starts in second unless you floor it."
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Mercedes-Benz SL
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)
Car

Mercedes-Benz SL

"...a Mercedes or, you know, BMW. It's effectively an SL competitor with a shitty interior and a"
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Car

Porsche Gt3 Carrera

">> Easy to go fast. And that's the the core difference between a GT3/ Carrera RS and a Turbo. Everyone when the Turbo came"
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Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)
Car

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

">> R, which is a GT3 RS kind of um effectively. Um but yeah, no, Turbo ju..."
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Nissan Gtr
先従隗始 (CC0)
Car

Nissan Gtr

"...think there's any car. So, I always sort of use a Nissan GTR as the benchmark for a car that I would take on"
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Tesla Model
Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Tesla Model

"..., right. So, you could get even more speed with a Tesla Model S Plaid, for example. But what I like about even ..."
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Tesla Model S
Granada (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Tesla Model S

"...t. So, you could get even more speed with a Tesla Model S Plaid, for example. But what I like about even ev..."
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Lotus Elise
Thierry & Didier Descouens (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Lotus Elise

"as a daily driver than listening like a Lotus Elise. No. far far more interesting and far more"
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Renault R5 Turbo
MrWalkr (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Renault R5 Turbo

"...part of the car's character like you would with a Renault R5 turbo, you know, like then you're like embracing"
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Audi RS2
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Audi RS2

"..., like then you're like embracing the turbo or an RS2, right? You're like, "Okay, I'm specifically sign..."
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Porsche 959
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Porsche 959

"... speed and we really reward cars that remove like 959 is a perfect example. We should have one in this"
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Chevrolet Corvette
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)
Car

Chevrolet Corvette

"50 years? >> The Corvette. >> Yeah. Also something else I would do a"
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Chevrolet Suburban
OWS Photography (CC BY 4.0)
Car

Chevrolet Suburban

"documentary. >> Chevrolet Suburban >> 100% do a documentary on that. Um it's"
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Honda Accords
Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Honda Accords

"yeah. No, it's not that many cars. Like Accord's not 50 yet either. Camry is certainly not 50."
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Toyota Camry
S5A-0043 (CC BY 2.0)
Car

Toyota Camry

"... that many cars. Like Accord's not 50 yet either. Camry is certainly not 50."
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Honda Civic
MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Honda Civic

"certainly not 50. >> Civic Civic is 1974."
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Toyota Corolla
TTTNIS (CC0)
Car

Toyota Corolla

"Civic. >> That's the point is, you know, Corolla probably."
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Saab9 Turbo
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Saab9 Turbo

"... that was not regular production. So 2002 Turbo 9 Saab9 Turbo was really the first regular production."
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Chevrolet Corvair
SFoskett (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Car

Chevrolet Corvair

">> and the Corv. >> The Corvair, which were the first two, but they were very sho..."
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