The guys mark a numbering headache—episode 400/401—then bounce through car culture: Lotus’s push toward a range-extended Eletra, why modern “simple” cars aren’t really simple anymore, and a debate on whether Lotus should focus on smaller sports cars (with a TVR-style daydream). Listener stories bring laughs and heartbreak: a “man with ill-fitting trousers” tale tied to a crash, plus a touching Francis Barnett “Fanny B” email. News covers Eagle Specialist Vehicles/Wilcox limousines going into administration, sparking talk on funeral-car longevity. The rest is BMW i3/iX3 chatter, EV range expectations, and a Bentley visit anecdote.
Jonny and Richard discuss a needlessly specific BMW specialist. Also in this, the 400th episode of Smith and Sniff (but also, not), who’s got the Lotus Evora, simple cars, follow-up on a listener’s crash story, bad news about Eagle, cars v planes, an encounter in Five Guys, the new BMW i3 and various Ken Lees.
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Progressive is an insurance company for car owners. They’re saying you might pay less for your car insurance if you qualify for their discounts.
Progressive Insurance is an auto insurance provider that markets discounts for things like paying in full and bundling with other policies. In the segment, they’re positioned as a way to reduce insurance costs for drivers.
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Car insurance is a policy that helps cover financial losses from accidents, theft, and other covered events. The segment focuses on how switching providers can change your premium based on eligibility for discounts.
"Potential savings will vary, not available in all states or situations."
Insurance savings are not guaranteed and depend on your personal situation and location. The segment also notes that discounts may not be available in all states or circumstances.
"you can buy your car completely online on AutoTrader, really. Just go to autotrader.com and get picky. Search through dealer listings for the make, model, color, and the features that matter to you."
AutoTrader is a website/app where you can browse car listings from dealers. It helps you filter cars so you can find ones that match what you want.
AutoTrader is an online marketplace and listing service for used and new vehicles. In this segment, it’s positioned as the place to search dealer inventory by make, model, color, and features.
"With some of the, which Lotus? The Evora, was it? Had a spout 400."
The Lotus Evora is a sports car made by Lotus. It’s designed to feel sporty and agile, with the engine placed in the middle for better balance. The podcast mentions it in the context of a higher-performance Evora.
The Lotus Evora is a mid-engine sports car from Lotus, built for sharp handling and a driver-focused feel. It’s often discussed by enthusiasts because it’s relatively compact and emphasizes performance per pound rather than luxury. The podcast references an Evora with a “spout 400,” pointing to a higher-performance version or output figure.
"and they suddenly will go, actually, well, I quite like cruise control. Because that's the thing, the A110,"
Cruise control keeps the car at the speed you set. You don’t have to keep your foot on the gas.
Cruise control maintains a set speed without you holding the accelerator. It’s a comfort feature that many drivers now expect, even in smaller sports cars.
"[461.8s] It has forward collision radar and all these things
[464.5s] because that's about to become mandatory in the US."
This is a sensor in the front of the car that looks ahead for other cars. If it thinks you’re going to hit something, it can warn you or even help slow the car down.
Forward collision radar is a sensor system mounted on the front of a vehicle that watches for vehicles ahead and helps trigger warnings or automatic braking. It’s part of modern driver-assistance features that reduce crash risk.
"still using Lotus's amazing chassis tech and lightweight composites and construction, that kind of thing."
Composites are special materials that can be strong but much lighter than metal. Using them helps a sports car feel quicker and more agile.
Composites are materials made from combining fibers and resins (often fiberglass or carbon fiber) to create strong, lightweight body and structural components. Using composites is a common strategy in sports cars to improve power-to-weight ratio and handling without adding mass.
"going, damn you, damn you, Alpine. But they should just be British Alpine."
Alpine is a sports-car brand best known for the A110. In this chat, they’re talking about how Alpine builds its reputation and fan base.
Alpine is a French sports-car brand (historically tied to Renault) that’s known for models like the A110. The discussion here is about Alpine’s market performance and how it positions itself as a “club” brand rather than chasing pure sales volume.
"The A110 was supposed to be in league with Caterham, and then they had to pull out."
Caterham makes very lightweight, fun-to-drive sports cars that enthusiasts love. When they compare to Caterham, they’re basically saying “this is the kind of car people buy for the driving experience.”
Caterham is known for lightweight, driver-focused cars (often based on the Lotus Seven formula) and a strong enthusiast following. Mentioning Caterham frames the Alpine A110 as a similar kind of niche sports-car alternative.
TVR is a British sports-car brand with a loyal fan base. They’re hinting they want to talk more about TVR’s kind of quirky, enthusiast-driven approach.
TVR is a British manufacturer known for bold, enthusiast-focused sports cars, often with a reputation for character and a cult following. The speaker’s “get a bit of TVR back” suggests shifting the conversation toward that brand’s style of niche, driver-centric cars.
"on his Francis Barnett Cruiser 80. This chap called Graham Asquith has emailed us about a year ago, saying, reference to your dad's motorbike."
This is a British motorcycle model called the Francis Barnett Cruiser 80. The “80” is basically its engine-size class, and it was the kind of bike people used for normal riding back when it was new.
The Francis Barnett Cruiser 80 is a classic British small-displacement motorcycle. The “80” typically refers to the engine size class, and these bikes were popular for everyday riding and as starter/commuter motorcycles in their era.
"My dad always referred to this bike as his Fanny B until his friend, Colin, suggested that now the children were getting a little older, it should perhaps be re-christened,"
“Fanny B” is just a nickname for the motorcycle. It’s how the family referred to it in everyday conversation.
“Fanny B” is a nickname the speaker’s dad used for the Francis Barnett Cruiser 80. It’s an affectionate shorthand that helps listeners connect the bike’s model name to the story.
"whereupon it became simply known as the frantic bayonet, a sweet, sweet ride, different times, et cetera, et cetera."
“Frantic bayonet” is another nickname for the same bike. They’re jokingly calling it that instead of the earlier nickname.
“Frantic bayonet” is the new nickname given to the Francis Barnett Cruiser 80 after it was “re-christened.” It’s part of the episode’s humor, but it also clearly identifies the same motorcycle being discussed.
"The Wigan family run firm that made the Eagle Quest, Eagle Specialist Vehicles, no less. Yes. Which also trades as Wilcox limousines, has just announced it's due to cease trading, and the administrators have been appointed..."
They’re talking about a company called Eagle Specialist Vehicles. The episode says it’s about to stop operating and has been put into administration, which can mean support and parts may become harder to get.
The speaker is referring to Eagle Specialist Vehicles, a company associated with the “Eagle Quest.” This is mentioned in the context of the firm ceasing trading and entering administration, which is a business-status change that can affect customers, parts availability, and ongoing support.
"and I will have a hearse because I like them.
But I'm not bothered about the rest of the ceremony."
A hearse is a special car used for funerals. It’s usually designed to carry a coffin, and it often looks very traditional.
A hearse is a specialized vehicle used to transport a deceased person, typically with a coffin or casket. In enthusiast discussions, people often talk about how these vehicles are built, maintained, and presented—more like a “show” vehicle than a daily driver.
"are you a poor family because you've got a really old hearse? No one's going to say that, are they? ... that looks like a proper funeral car"
A “funeral car” is a vehicle used to transport the deceased and/or family during a funeral procession. The speaker is discussing how certain car shapes and styling cues (classic luxury vs. modern/modified) influence whether people perceive the vehicle as appropriate or odd.
"Well, with the name your price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills."
This is a Progressive feature where you pick the price you want to pay for insurance. Then it shows options that might fit that budget.
“Name your price” is a Progressive online tool that helps estimate auto insurance options based on a target budget. It’s essentially a budgeting-first way to compare coverage levels and pricing.
"If the fleet is running well and not costing you anything and it's paid for, then stick with it."
A fleet just means a bunch of cars used for a business. If they’re already working well and don’t cost much to keep running, the business may keep them longer instead of buying new ones.
A “fleet” is a group of vehicles owned or operated together for a business purpose (like service vehicles, taxis, or funeral cars). Fleet managers often prioritize reliability and low downtime, so if the vehicles are already paid for and running well, they may delay replacing them.
"...or even lifting the bonnet, actually, which you probably couldn't in the 70s or the 80s."
A “bonnet” is the hood of the car. The point being made is that you don’t have to open it as often to keep the car going.
In UK usage, the “bonnet” is what many listeners in the US would call the hood. The speaker is emphasizing that modern cars can often go longer without even needing routine checks under the hood compared with older cars.
"And in that time, the lady who had this beautiful delage, she removed the gearbox using nothing but her tights and an old hat."
A gearbox is the part that lets the car use different gears. Removing it is usually hard work, so the story is emphasizing how unusual (and impressive) the lady’s DIY effort was.
A gearbox is the transmission assembly that changes gear ratios between the engine and the drivetrain. In classic cars, removing the gearbox can be a major job because it’s heavy and requires careful alignment during reinstallation.
"...and does specialise in five series BMs,
[2038.8s] they should take that and run with it."
BMW is a German automaker known for performance-focused engineering and a wide range of model “series” (like 3 Series, 5 Series, etc.). When the transcript mentions “five series BMs,” it’s referring to BMW’s model lineup organized by those series names.
"[2042.6s] You don't think it's a business model, it's a little narrow?
[2046.8s] It is.
[2047.4s] There's quite a lot of part-sharing"
Part-sharing is when different car models use common components—like engines, transmissions, or interior parts—to reduce cost and simplify manufacturing. The transcript suggests BMW models share parts across the lineup, which can matter for repairs and availability of parts.
"And they've always had, especially the EVs, really good drivetrains."
EVs are cars that run on electricity from a battery. The “drivetrain” is the system that turns that power into motion, like the motor and how it sends power to the wheels.
EVs (electric vehicles) rely on electric motors and high-voltage battery packs instead of a traditional internal-combustion engine. When people say “good drivetrains” in EVs, they’re usually talking about motor response, efficiency, and how power is delivered to the wheels.
"But this is bearing the name of what was the quirky, quite wild, but wonderful i3, little suicide-doored Easter Island-haired car."
The BMW i3 is an early electric car from BMW. People talk about it because it was one of the first EVs that felt different in how it was designed and packaged.
The BMW i3 is BMW’s early mass-market electric hatchback, known for its distinctive design and EV-focused packaging. It’s often discussed for its “quirky” styling and how BMW approached electric drivetrain integration and interior layout.
"it's got that funny four-spoke steering wheel where that includes vertical spokes."
A four-spoke steering wheel just means the steering wheel has four main sections (spokes) coming out from the center. It’s mostly a design/feel thing, and some cars use it to look more sporty or unique.
A four-spoke steering wheel refers to a wheel design with four distinct spokes connecting the center hub to the rim. The number and shape of spokes can affect ergonomics and how the wheel feels in hand, and it’s also a styling signature for certain models or trims.
"[2323.1s] I think I find the exterior a little...
[2327.3s] It's a curate's egg.
[2329.1s] Some of it I really like, some of it I'm not so sure about."
“Curate’s egg” is a saying for something that’s not all good or all bad. It means there are parts you like, and parts you don’t.
A “curate’s egg” is an idiom meaning something is partly good and partly bad. Here, the speaker is saying the car’s exterior design has elements they like and others they dislike.
"[2329.1s] Some of it I really like, some of it I'm not so sure about.
[2332.1s] I don't like the way that the back lights almost touch.
[2334.1s] I don't get why they've done that."
“Back lights” are the lights at the back of the car. Designers can shape them to make the car look wider or more aggressive, even if the actual body dimensions don’t change.
“Back lights” refers to the rear lighting elements, usually the tail lamps and sometimes the brake/indicator sections. In design discussions, how close they are or how they’re shaped can strongly affect the car’s perceived width and stance.
"And you go, yeah, what you're saying is, you've bought a car that drives great and it's ugly as sin. Just say it."
“Ugly as sin” is a colorful idiom meaning extremely unattractive. In car talk, it often frames a debate between aesthetics and other strengths like ride quality, performance, or usability—here, the speaker argues the car drives great even if it looks bad.
"I know it was on sale for a long time, but they also had to spend more R&D money on it. During that time, you know, doing batteries and stuff like that, upgrading those."
R&D (research and development) is the money and engineering effort spent to design new technology—here, especially batteries and related EV systems. The host is arguing that the i3’s early development costs were high and that BMW had to keep investing to improve the battery tech over time.
"It's Audi, I guess, who aren't doing very impressive EV stuff, [2561.5s] I think, with that..."
They bring up Audi as a brand that, in their view, isn’t matching the best EV performance right now. It’s basically a comparison of how different automakers are doing with electric-car range.
Audi is mentioned in the context of EV competitiveness, with the speaker suggesting Audi isn’t doing “very impressive” EV work compared to others. Audi is a major German automaker with an EV lineup, and range/efficiency are central to how it’s judged in the market.
"do you know which country invented the chainsaw? ... It's Scotland. Really? However, do you know why? ... It was originally developed for use in childbirth."
A chainsaw is a machine with a moving cutting chain that slices through wood. The episode jokes about where it came from, saying it was first developed for medical reasons before people used it for trees.
A chainsaw is a power tool with a rotating chain used to cut wood quickly. In the segment, the hosts discuss an origin story tying the chainsaw’s development to medical use before it became common for cutting trees.
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