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Matt Farah's Taco Recipe

Matt Farah's Taco Recipe

Hooniverse Apr 07, 2026 52 min
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About this episode

Dan Roth and Ross Ballett welcome Matt Farah (The Smoking Tire) for a wide-ranging chat that starts with how touchscreens and haptics changed car interiors—and why “high-tech” isn’t always better. They dig into the annoyance of ADAS and drive modes resetting every restart, arguing that safety features can become luxury only if they stay configured. The conversation then pivots to Matt’s analog-minded car tastes, his Myers Manx obsession, and his sailing background. It ends with a debate: hot dog vs taco, plus Matt’s Korean taco recipe.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

touch screens

"...like doing haptics and touch screens is 50% cheaper than making buttons..."

A touchscreen is the big screen in the dashboard you tap to control things. Instead of pressing buttons, you use your fingers on the screen.

Brand

Ford

"it was really interesting going inside Ford where once Tesla really got rolling that they had one competitor and it was Tesla, like Ford. Right. Like all they talked about was like, let's do it like Tesla."

Ford is a big car company. Here they’re talking about how Ford designs the car’s tech and screens, and whether that makes the car easier or more annoying to use.

Brand

Tesla

"it was really interesting going inside Ford where once Tesla really got rolling that they had one competitor and it was Tesla, like Ford. Right. Like all they talked about was like, let's do it like Tesla."

Tesla is an electric-car company known for lots of tech in the car. In this segment, it’s used as the example that other brands try to imitate.

Car

Lamborghini Kuntosh

"...super sucks. Like, you know, like my Lamborghini Kuntosh, like the air conditioning knob is from like a L..."

The Countach is an older Lamborghini supercar. It’s known for its bold, unusual styling and for being very distinctive inside and out. The podcast references it by pointing out a specific interior detail.

Part

air conditioning knob

"Like, you know, like my Lamborghini Kuntosh, like the air conditioning knob is from like a Lancia that costs like $5,000."

They’re talking about the physical knob you use to control the car’s A/C. The point is that even small parts can be very expensive to replace on some cars.

Brand

Lancia

"Like, you know, like my Lamborghini Kuntosh, like the air conditioning knob is from like a Lancia that costs like $5,000."

Lancia is another car brand. Here it’s mentioned because the speaker claims a Lamborghini interior knob is related to a Lancia part, which makes it feel costly and frustrating.

Brand

Pagani

"than the low volume bespoke cars, mostly just because of the scale and until you get to like, you know, Pagani or whatever, you know, that's a different conversation."

Pagani is a small Italian company that makes very limited-run supercars. The speaker is saying that when you get to rare, high-end brands like Pagani, the rules about “who can do details better” start to change because they build far fewer cars.

Concept

cold start

"[460.7s] Yeah. [460.7s] The story I was told about that car is that Cadillac employees were told this was the [465.2s] last internal combustion car they would ever design. [468.5s] Seriously. [469.6s] That's, that's the story that they were told. [471.3s] They said, this is your last hurrah for a fucking cold start."

A cold start is when you start the car after it’s been parked for a while. Because the engine is cold, it often sounds louder and runs differently for a short time.

Term

ADAS

"But at the same time, if you, if it starts with full ADAS every time and you've got to go into these touch screens to turn all this every time."

ADAS means the car’s driver-assist tech. Things like lane help and automatic braking that try to make driving safer, and many cars turn them on automatically.

Concept

daily driver

"And you're in, you know, you're intended to use this as a daily driver car. [557.9s] I mean, it's an expensive SUV, but like the people who buy these SUVs, that's their daily for the most part, right?"

A “daily driver” is a vehicle used regularly for everyday commuting rather than occasional weekend use. The speaker argues that if a car is meant to be lived with daily, repeatedly dealing with re-enabled ADAS settings (and menu steps) clashes with the intended premium experience.

Car

Lexus LS

"[625.6s] It's the Porsche spider. [628.5s] I'm surprised it's not like the Lexus LS or something. [632.4s] No, it's the fucking."

They bring up the Lexus LS as an example of a luxury car that might have had a CD player for a long time. It’s Lexus’s big, top-tier sedan.

Term

single zone climate control

"[651.3s] And I have, I have a CD player, and I have single zone climate control, and I have wired [657.9s] carplay, and I have an analog gauge cluster, and that has one, you know, one of the rings"

Single zone climate control means the car heats or cools the whole cabin to one temperature setting. You can’t set different temperatures for driver and passenger.

Term

wired carplay

"[651.3s] And I have, I have a CD player, and I have single zone climate control, and I have wired [657.9s] carplay, and I have an analog gauge cluster, and that has one, you know, one of the rings"

Wired CarPlay means you plug your phone into the car with a cable to use maps and music on the car screen. It’s the “older” CarPlay style before wireless became common.

Term

analog gauge cluster

"[657.9s] carplay, and I have an analog gauge cluster, and that has one, you know, one of the rings [664.78s] "

An analog gauge cluster uses traditional physical dials and needles (speedometer/tachometer) instead of a fully digital screen. Enthusiasts often prefer analog clusters for their readability and classic feel.

Term

TPMS

"is the screen that has a multifunction for my TPMS and shit like that."

TPMS means your car can monitor tire pressure for you. If a tire is low, it will warn you so you don’t drive on underinflated tires.

Car

Mazda Miata

"And I believe pretty strongly that that is the, the most analog new car that you could actually buy, even more so than a Miata, which has push button start."

The Mazda Miata is a small, fun sports car that many people like because it feels straightforward and easy to drive. In this conversation, it’s used as a benchmark for how “analog” a car can feel.

Term

push button start

"even more so than a Miata, which has push button start."

Instead of turning a key, you press a button to start the car. Some people feel it makes the car feel less old-school and more techy.

Part

disc brakes

"like I go on the highway, like it's geared to 90 and you can you can add it's got Porsche 356, like style disc brakes, but not like original ones like what you would put on a 356 race car like today."

Disc brakes are the common braking system where pads squeeze a metal disc to slow the car. They usually work better and more consistently than older drum brakes.

Term

Sunfish

"What did you start? What did you start in? I started in Sunfish when I was like 10 right okay at at camp."

A Sunfish is a small sailboat you can learn on. It’s usually used by beginners because it’s not too complicated.

Term

laser

"My parents got me a laser. Also not a lot of sail, not a lot of laser. Nice and fast. Lasers are the fucking best lasers rip. So I went from Sunfish to laser."

A Laser is a common type of small sailboat people race. It’s a step up from the easiest boats because you have to sail it well.

Term

catamarans

"we go with the moorings and we charter these 50 foot catamarans, like the leopard catamarans, which are they sail like meh."

A catamaran is a boat with two hulls. It usually feels steadier and has more room, which makes it more comfortable for longer trips.

Concept

hydrofoil

"that's a great that's a great photo of the back as well. Isn't that like what a hydrofoil is? Like no, hydrofoils rise out of the water. So a hydrofoil has the has luck out of me being on a"

A hydrofoil is a boat that uses underwater “wings” to lift up above the water at speed. When it lifts, it can ride more smoothly because it’s not constantly hitting the waves.

Concept

galley

"And like, if I'm the captain, and my sister in law Jillian shout out to her is like a professional grade cook. So we have an arrangement that we travel together. I captain she mans the fucking galley."

The galley is just the boat’s kitchen. It’s where you cook meals while you’re traveling.

Term

optimist

"And then they transitioned out of weenips to optimists for their trainer. Yeah. So optimists are where a lot of little kids start."

An Optimist is a tiny beginner sailboat, usually for kids. It’s designed to be easy to learn on and forgiving when you’re new.

Term

frostbite sailing

"We actually did summer and winter. We actually did frostbite sailing there as well. In the diet. So it was like the whitest of white things."

Frostbite sailing is sailing in very cold conditions—often in winter—where the challenge is managing cold weather and harsh water/air temperatures. The speaker compares it to polar-bear-style cold tolerance events, emphasizing how conditions drive the experience.

Brand

Road & Track

"I wouldn't have been able to tell you that I would be an editor at road and track. That seemed like, you know, when I was a kid..."

Road & Track is a well-known car magazine. He’s saying that working there felt like an impossible dream when he was younger.

Term

Google Maps

"I was the expert in like Google Maps, which had just launched in 05. So I was making these routes that nobody had seen before,"

Google Maps is an app that helps you find directions and plan routes. In this story, it helped them find interesting roads to drive.

Concept

SEMA

"scenes. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. About SEMA. I can't remember what year it was. Like, it was it was like a little graphic probably."

SEMA is a big car show in the U.S. where companies and builders show off aftermarket parts and custom/performance cars. It’s a place where a lot of new car ideas and products get attention.

Term

towing

"So it's not like I have like no experience towing, I've towed like tens of thousands of miles. I've towed like very recently, pulled my own car, whatever. I got I have a decent amount of experience towing."

Towing means pulling a trailer behind your car. It can feel different than normal driving, so having experience helps you know what to expect.

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