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OTOSOT 74

OTOSOT 74

Smith and Sniff Oct 24, 2025 29 min
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About this episode

Richard and Johnny dive into quirky petrol station purchases and the nostalgia of unexpected finds. They share amusing stories about odd items bought on road trips, from novelty glasses to bizarre perfumes. The conversation shifts to a listener's quest for a new daily driver, exploring options that balance fun and practicality within a £15,000 budget. They discuss various cars, including the Mazda 6, Mondeo, and Civic Type R, while also addressing the importance of car badges and the charm of unique design features.

Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Fiat Cinquecento Sporting
RL GNZLZ from Chile (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Car

Fiat Cinquecento Sporting

"...to look at a Fiat Cinquecento Sporting. Oh! I'm trying to justify to myself that the Sporting is a cool Italian baby warm hatch."

The Fiat Cinquecento Sporting is a small car from Italy that is fun to drive. It's known for being light and easy to handle, which makes it a good choice for city driving.

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Vauxhall Vectra
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Vauxhall Vectra

"Fiesta Z-Tec, Vectra SRI, 2.2 Vectra SRI believe."

The Vauxhall Vectra is a family car that's comfortable and practical. It's a good choice for everyday driving.

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Ford Fiesta ST
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ford Fiesta ST

"1.6 Fiesta ST, 1.6 Fiesta ST Mountune,"

The Ford Fiesta ST is a sportier version of the regular Fiesta. It's designed to be more fun to drive and has a more powerful engine.

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Mazda Rx8
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Mazda Rx8

"RX-8 Chade spec, 1.4 Aster SXI."

The Mazda RX-8 is a sports car that has a special type of engine called a rotary engine. It's known for being fun to drive and has a unique look.

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Peugeot 406 Coupé
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Peugeot 406 Coupé

"...you could have said like 406 coupé or something like that. But they're not around."

The Peugeot 406 Coupé is a two-door car made by Peugeot, known for its good looks and comfort. It was made a while ago, from 1997 to 2004, and isn't commonly seen on the roads today.

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Mazda 6
Vauxford (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Mazda 6

"...I don't know why the Mazda 6 suddenly sprung to mind. I think it's because I think they're quite nice looking."

The Mazda 6 is a mid-size car made by Mazda that has been around since 2002. It's known for being fun to drive and having a stylish design, which is why some people find it appealing.

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Ford Mondeo
Niels de Wit from Lunteren, The Netherlands (CC BY 2.0)
Car

Ford Mondeo

"He could get one of the last of the Mondeos. Yes. He could be one of those guys who really celebrates the outgoing legend that is."

The Ford Mondeo is a family car made by Ford. It's known for being roomy and fun to drive, making it a popular choice for many families.

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Car

Vauxhall Insignia

"All right, so what's going on in Vauxhall land then? Could we not, what's the insignia? The last insignia."

The Vauxhall Insignia is a newer family car from Vauxhall that replaced the Vectra. It's designed to be modern and has lots of tech features.

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Term

turbo

"Yeah, the ones that got turbo written on the boot."

Turbo means the car has a special part that helps the engine go faster by getting more air in. This makes the car more powerful and can help it use fuel better.

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Brand

Subaru

"I keep thinking about Subaru's. Oh. Well, a lot of them are manual and a lot of them are saloons or estates."

Subaru is a car company from Japan that makes vehicles, often known for their all-wheel drive and sporty designs.

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Honda Civic
MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Honda Civic

"15 grand is going to get you into some kind of civic type R that might be lean into the sportiness. Oh, yeah."

The Civic Type R is a sportier version of the Honda Civic, designed for better performance and handling. It's well-liked by car fans for its fun driving experience.

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Honda Accord
Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Honda Accord

"Yeah. Is there any other Honda that the Accord would have ended by then, wouldn't they? A big e..."

The Honda Accord is a type of car that is known for being dependable and good on gas. It's a roomy car that many people like to drive because it's comfortable and lasts a long time.

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Civic Type R
MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Civic Type R

"if you set a max budget of £15,000 for a Civic Type R, then you end up with, you could get one of the space shipy look ones."

The Civic Type R is a sportier version of the Honda Civic, designed for better performance and handling. It's a favorite among car fans for its speed and style.

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Jaguar Xtype
DieselFordMondeo (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Jaguar Xtype

"...unless you've got some kind of X-type manual, but I'm not sure that..."

The Jaguar X-Type is a car made by the Jaguar brand. It was created to be a comfortable and luxury vehicle but isn't as sporty as some might expect from Jaguar.

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Jaguar XF
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Jaguar XF

"I feel like I'm seeing a lot of XFs, first-gen XFs around now, that have been sort of slightly monkey-ed with in a fairly crude way..."

The Jaguar XF is a fancy car made by Jaguar, known for being stylish and comfortable. It's a good choice if you're looking for a luxury car that stands out.

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Jaguar XJ40
IFCAR (Public domain)
Car

Jaguar XJ40

"...driving around in my XJ-40, four-litre Sov. Yes. I would have just been a bit of a dick..."

The Jaguar XJ40 is a type of luxury car made by Jaguar. It was popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s and is known for being stylish and comfortable to drive.

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Term

four-litre

"...driving around in my XJ-40, four-litre Sov. Yes. I would have just been a bit of a dick..."

'Four-litre' means the engine in the car has a size of four litres. This size can affect how powerful the car is and how it drives.

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Ford Cortina
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ford Cortina

"...the extreme rear overhang of a Ford Cortina estate gets me going. Oh, I know. I love the way the rear clings on for dear life."

The Ford Cortina is a car that was made in the UK and was popular for many years. The estate version is a type of car that has extra space in the back for carrying things, and it has a unique design.

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Ford Escort
Toquehusk (CC BY 4.0)
Car

Ford Escort

"...of Mark 1 and Mark 2 Escort estates, where the side window just goes on for approximately 12 metres."

The Ford Escort is a small car that was made by Ford. The Mk1 and Mk2 versions were popular in the past, and the estate version has more room for carrying things.

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Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Vauxford (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

"...but one that I saw the other day that I thought looked exceptional was on an Alfa Romeo Stelvio."

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a stylish SUV that combines luxury with sporty performance. It's designed to be fun to drive while also being practical for everyday use.

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Volvo 850
Toquehusk (CC BY 4.0)
Car

Volvo 850

"And I always sought the Volvo 850 T5R with the..."

The Volvo 850 T5R is a special version of the Volvo 850 that has a more powerful engine and sporty features. It was popular in the 1990s for its performance and distinctive look.

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Part

alloy wheels

"It was one of the first alloy wheels, I remember being gunmetal grey rather than silver."

Alloy wheels are wheels made from a special metal that is lighter and looks nicer than regular steel wheels. They can help the car handle better and look more stylish.

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Audi Tt
Sarah Larson from Ann Arbor, MI, USA (CC BY 2.0)
Car

Audi Tt

"Same as a first gen Audi TT, had the very chunky five spoke. And they look great."

The Audi TT is a small sports car that looks stylish and performs well. The first version came out in the late 1990s and is known for its round shape and cool interior.

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Dodge Charger
Ermell (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Dodge Charger

"I think one of the most pervy, sexy shapes is the front wing of my 68 Dodge Charger."

The 1968 Dodge Charger is a famous muscle car from the late 1960s. It has a powerful engine and a cool design that many people love.

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Honda Beat
MrWalkr (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Honda Beat

"I've got a Honda Beat. So, a sensation of speed without any actual speed is a very familiar."

The Honda Beat is a tiny sports car made by Honda that was popular in the 1990s. It has its engine in the middle, which helps it handle well and feel fast, even if it doesn't go super fast.

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Term

midship

"Actually, your beat is with its midship excitement"

Midship means the engine is placed in the middle of the car. This helps the car handle better and feel more stable when driving.

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Porsche Taycan
Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Porsche Taycan

"Hello, Porsche, Taycan. But I digress."

The Porsche Taycan is a fast electric car made by Porsche. It's known for being very powerful and has a modern design, making it a popular choice among luxury car buyers.

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Lancia Lambda
Unknown photographer (Public domain)
Car

Lancia Lambda

"They had lambdasond as a badge to show the cars had a lambda sen..."

The Lancia Lambda is an old car from the 1920s that was special because it was built differently than most cars at the time, making it lighter and easier to handle. It was also known for being a fancy car with nice features.

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Ford Capri
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ford Capri

"And he spotted a few cars up ahead, a brand new Capri 2.8 injection. And knowing that I was into cars ..."

The Ford Capri is a sporty car that was made in Europe and is known for being fun to drive. It has a cool design and was popular because it was cheaper than other fancy sports cars.

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Honda Civic Shuttle
MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Honda Civic Shuttle

"...with the Honda Civic Shuttle with real-time four-wheel drive written down the side. Oh, yeah, real-time."

The Honda Civic Shuttle is a type of Honda Civic that has a hatchback design, making it more spacious. It was popular in the late 80s and early 90s.

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23 cars featured

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