9WERKS Radio : The Porsche and Car Podcast Dec 22, 2025

Porsche 2025 year in review

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Car

Porsche 356

The Porsche 356 is an old sports car made by the German company Porsche. It has a flat‑four engine at the back and is known for its classic look and racing history.

Brand

Bermester

Bermester makes fancy car speakers and sound systems that are used in expensive cars. They’re known for good quality audio.

Term

center gravity

Center gravity is the spot in a car where all its weight balances. A lower center makes the car feel more stable when turning.

Part

suspension

Suspension is the part of a car that keeps the wheels on the road and makes the ride smooth. It includes springs and shock absorbers.

Car

Porsche Cayman

The Cayman is a sporty car made by Porsche that sits in the middle of the car. It’s liked because it handles well and is lighter than many other cars.

Car

718 GT4

The 718 GT4 is a Porsche sports car made for racing and fun driving. It has a powerful engine, good handling, and is designed to be fast on the track.

Concept

Porsche's by the lake

It’s a gathering where people come to see Porsche cars by a lake. Fans of the brand enjoy watching and talking about the cars together.

Term

flat-six engine

A flat-six engine has six cylinders that sit side by side in a flat layout, which helps keep the car balanced and makes it run smoothly.

Part

4S

The 4S is a small engine that Honda used in some of its cars. It’s not very powerful but runs smoothly and uses less gas.

Part

4GTS

The 4GTS is a powerful engine that makes the car go fast. It’s used in special high‑speed versions of the Honda Civic.

Car

9-1/2 Targa

The 9‑1/2 Targa is a special version of the Porsche 911 sports car. It has a removable roof section that gives it a unique look and was made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Targa style.

Brand

Rolls-Royce

Rolls‑Royce makes very fancy, expensive cars that are often seen as a symbol of wealth and status.

Term

9-on-1

In this style, nine cars race together while one car races alone. The solo driver has a clear track ahead and can focus on speed without traffic.

Car

Porsche Carrera T

The Carrera T is a special, race‑ready version of Porsche’s famous 911 sports car. It’s lighter and faster than the regular 911, with a powerful engine that makes it exciting to drive.

Part

manual gearbox

A manual gearbox lets you choose the gear yourself by moving a lever and pressing a pedal. It can feel more engaging because you’re directly controlling the car’s speed and power.

Term

Club Sport

‘Club Sport’ is a special version of the Porsche 911 that’s set up to be faster and more fun to drive, usually with better suspension and lighter parts.

Term

boxer

A boxer engine is like two pistons that push out in opposite directions, so the car stays low and balanced.

Part

Pizzo injectors

Pizzo injectors are special parts that spray fuel into the engine’s cylinders. They help the car run smoother and use less gas.

Concept

hybrid

A hybrid car uses both a regular gasoline engine and an electric motor. This helps the car use less fuel and produce fewer emissions, while still giving it good power.

Car

STI

STI is a special version of Subaru cars that are faster and more fun to drive. They have extra power, better handling, and a sporty look.

Term

overdrive

Think of overdrive as a gear that helps the car go faster without making the engine work too hard. It’s like shifting to a higher gear so you can drive long distances more comfortably and save gas.

Term

sub-20

"Sub‑20" means the car costs less than $20,000. It’s a way people talk about how affordable a used car is.

Concept

classic retrofit

A classic retrofit means taking an old car and adding newer parts to make it run better or look nicer, but keeping its original style.

Part

PCM

PCM is a computer inside the car that tells the engine and gearbox when to turn on or off. It helps the car run smoothly and efficiently.

Term

PCCM Plus

PCCM Plus is Porsche’s fancy computer that lets you use things like Apple CarPlay, maps, and music on the car’s screen.

Company

Slendage

They make parts that let you change gears more easily in a Porsche 911.

Part

sliding bushes

They are tiny parts that let two pieces of a car’s drivetrain turn together without grinding, keeping the connection smooth.

Car

Pontiac Le Mans

The Pontiac Le Mans is a classic American car from the 1970s. It’s known for its roomy interior and was part of Pontiac’s lineup before the brand was discontinued.

Term

ceramic brakes

Ceramic brakes are a special type of brake that is lighter and stays cool even when you use it a lot, so the car can stop faster without overheating.

LIVE

9x Radio is brought to you in association with Heritage Parts Centre. Get up to 10% off your basket for all manner of Porsche's, from 356 to 997, inclusive, plus the mid-engine and transactual Porsche's. By using the code 9x10 at heritagepartcenter.com. That's the code 9x10 at heritagepartcenter.com.

This is 9x10 radio brought to you by the 9x10 market place, empowered by the driven, not hidden collective. Sign up now at 9x10.com.uk.

Welcome to the Brooksabad. The Brooksabad for the final 9x10 radio podcast of 2025. Welcome one and all. There's three of us today. Three amigos. Welcome Mr. Paul Pressland. Thank you very much. She's a great privilege to be here. Good to see you. Always great. Yet have you joined us? You've been on a few times over the years. You know the gig. I know the gig. We've hauled you back. You have? You've got me back.

I'm sure Andy's got everything turned on. We've definitely hit the red button and we've also got a big curry inside of it. So if there's any funny noises going on. Extra noises. Just ignore those, shall we? Yeah, it's not. It's not your bermester crackling away. We can assure you everything's working fine. You're in. So yeah, it's a bit of a tradition. I think for us here at 9x Radio, we always like to round off the year, reflect and just go over our highlights. But we do like to

do it post Ruby Murray, which has happened. Definitely been the tradition, isn't it? Absolutely. Four fourth year we've done that now. So we are local. We're down in Dorset. We might as well do a spread the love now and say a big thanks to Dilly Hat, which is Dorset's premier curry house. It really is. That's fantastic. Good gear. Good recommendations from the good good people working there. Absolutely. Yeah, butter chicken. Oh, that was good. And what was the chili one?

All that hurt. Yeah. That was the starter. Chili chicken starter.

Chili chicken starter with a sport plus sauce on it. So yeah, look, yeah, we're as as we said at the top of the podcast, it's an episode of reflection.

Because lots has gone on this year. It's been a quiet year, hasn't it? Aside from the 8,000 road trip miles delivered.

We're sure there's more than that. Driven not hidden. You've been saying 8,000 too long. You've been to France since France was 2000.

It's a very good point. Yeah, maybe 10,000, I don't think we've included the wrong terms either. So we are we're well on the way there. There's been many highlights in terms of events.

I'm thinking other like driven not hidden wise. We kicked off the year with some online virtual seminars. Obviously as we're back into the fallow months, the offseason, the winter months, while some of the cars do get hidden not driven.

We still like to do something. So we have connections digitally and there's a really good seminar coming up in a couple of days and isn't there? Yeah, it'll be the evening of when this podcast goes out, actually, which is with center gravity.

Chris and Peter joining us to take us through all things suspension.

Obviously, obviously very interesting and educational. Yeah. Yeah. All manner of stuff. Again, I'm thinking back to the spring. We celebrated 20 years of Cayman.

With a lovely Sunday morning drive through Dorset, one of the only counties in the UK, bereft of motorways, we then ended up at Porsche center, Bournemouth, where you and your creator that lovely came in display with owners. Yeah.

Was that really this year? Yeah, yeah. April, April. So yeah, what else we've done, aside from there, we've done two track days, one in the UK, one in mainland Europe. Yeah.

So lots of opportunities for people to get out there and enjoy the cars, but also make new connections, make new friendships, fortify friendships as well. Perfect. More of the same next year, please, I'll say that right off the top of the bat.

Absolutely agree with that. Yeah, completely agree. It's been a great year.

I would like to point out to the listeners that there were varying degrees of preparation here. And whilst everybody at the table is prepared, the curry was a bit like going to school back in the day.

Yes, one of us, PP has come with a solid, four printed A4 pages of homework, we'll call it. And then Andy, you were definitely one of those, I think, at the back of the bus, scribbling their homework on the way in school.

He might have been at the back of the bus. I just been thrown under the bus.

And if anybody knows me, this is a real shocker.

That's a poor sheet of eight.

No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no, no.

It's too sheets.

In all seriousness, it's wonderful to have you back with this, PP, I know listeners will be feeling the same as well, but, but also I feel like watching from the outside in you've done a lot in the world of Porsche this year.

How would you reflect on 2025?

Yes, I have. And really enjoyed it. And I think that what's come out of it is that the real thing for me is the driving of the cars and the events that you go to, but more the road trips, that really is just just the absolute peak for me and having built a collection and

then done the collection down and you focus upon what you really want about the cars, so the cars that you are keep or have are ones that I really would want to pick up the keys and go for a long drive, not just a short drive, but a long drive, and it's the memories they provide and those trips, the people we meet, and that's really been what I've taken from this year, that cars are meant to be driven, and so that is what I will take from 2025.

How many miles do you reckon you've done this year?

Oh, it's a really good question. I would say on road trips, probably 6,000, maybe, maybe more, and that's includes UK and obviously the larger European ones where was Norway, the museum and Cook to Sombra.

That's the right words, please. Don't not me, PP, I'm still struggling with English.

You're obviously PP as well, you're one of our 487 Cayman R owners in the collective as well.

I know you've really enjoyed that car this year, and obviously we'll talk about it later on in the podcast.

It's bound to come out of England.

Sorry, I'm not sure.

I'm under for here, under false assumption. I thought this was the Cayman R appreciation society.

The fluff are.

Well, again, we recently enjoyed for those maybe outside the collective.

We recently had just like a bit of a Christmas gathering in London a couple of weeks ago.

The theme was hidden not driven, leave the cars at home, just come and have a bit of a social.

And we realised that one stage, the pub that we'd met in for a couple of pre-drinks, I think there were eight Cayman R owners.

There's more Cayman R owners than the non, yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

So it's been a great story.

I think certainly been in the collective this year, also perhaps as well within wider poor circles.

I'm sure we'll talk about, but the format of the final podcast episode of the year is as usual.

I think we have eight or nine questions, the same questions that we like to ask every year.

And hopefully it paints a bit of a picture, not just of the individual years we've had, but perhaps also sharing memories that other people have shared with us just to close off the year.

So I hope you'll enjoy it while taking it all with a bit of a pinch of salt listening at home, really.

Absolutely.

Question one, which I have here, is best show slash event, if that correlates with what you have.

It is, yeah.

Do we got them in the same order?

It's a strong start.

Yeah, it's a strong start.

So best show or event.

So who would like to get us off?

Notable ones for me, right from the beginning, is our traditional heritage event down in word.

Is it wording?

Where is it?

Ensuring.

Ensuring, yes.

So we get together in down at Heritage Warehouse and have a bit of a shindig down there very early on in January.

And I think the highlight is actually a photograph of you riding one of those little bikes.

A little pedal car.

Yeah, what they steering cars.

So we get to use the steering to get you down the track and the demon eyes that you had on.

Everybody, the competitiveness of it.

I thought we wouldn't outdo what we did the year before, which was the Hot Wheels track.

But the competitiveness of these little trike things was just unreal.

Really enjoyed that.

So it actually came out that same demon look going up Red Rock Pass in the South of France.

I was looking in the back in the mirror and there was little Irish and these eyes looking at me.

It was a bit like Jack Nicholson from the shining looking coming up in the mountain pass.

That was about 12 hours before the car passed out.

Yeah, yeah, just a big anti-barrier turn to glitter.

I will confess to being scared into going and pulling off the road actually.

I was burying into the back of your head.

So I really enjoyed that.

But probably my absolute highlight was the...

There were no cars there and that was the one that you mentioned just previously, which was the DNHC.

X must do.

Okay.

I bloody loved it.

I just spoke to so many people, had such a warm feeling that so many people would travel all the way into the middle of London

to gather together and everybody knew everybody else and was having such a lovely evening.

And there was no cars there to stand around and kick tires off.

It was just mutual love for each other.

Yeah, absolutely.

Personifies the DNHC for me and enjoyed that probably the most of any event over the whole year.

Well, it doesn't that underline the adage of come for the car stay for the people.

So the whole reason everybody in that room had met to begin with was a love of a certain brand of car really.

And that's the loosest bond, really, but from there friendship had been fortified.

And yeah, as you said, there were no cars that evening.

So we were there purely to enjoy not the sound of cars entering a car park or leaving or whatever it is and admiring a spec.

Just to have a conversation with somebody else, particularly important in the run up to Christmas time as well.

Yeah, I mean, for a cold day in November, it was a lot of warmth.

And yeah, absolutely, that was the case.

And as we were saying earlier that you find your people and they are your people because there were no cars there.

And yet there was still the glue in the room.

And you should let you walk from person to person to group to group and chat away and pick up a conversation, move on to another conversation.

And a lot of partners there as well, which was great.

And there's some people that hadn't seen for ages.

There was some new faces there as well that I hadn't met, but it was lovely to meet them in that circumstance.

And I think everybody felt welcome and everybody was chatting to everybody.

Yeah, and you have the insight because when people join up, you're the first point of contact.

You see your joints, whether whatever level or it doesn't matter what level it is, its point is you're part of the group.

And so for you then to actually meet those people, and I met a couple of people who Alex is with the 718 GT4, great talking to him and hearing his story.

And an old journey rather.

And yeah, fantastic, really amazing event.

Yeah, loved it.

loved it.

So that's mine.

Good stuff, Andy B.

Yeah, what about our guest, P.P.

But actually so many.

Just on that theme though, I went to the first time to Wimbledon Southside and put a little bit of a shout out on.

It's great, isn't it?

Yeah.

Yeah, it is.

I put a little bit of a shout out on one of the WhatsApp group who's going where type of thing.

And because I'd never been, even though it's in Wimbledon, not too far away from where I'm based in London now.

And I got the message back saying, yeah, turn up at this time so I turned up.

And when I was there, Toby Diamond's there, which is great.

He lives not very far from there.

But I met Tim and his son, Olly Oliver Dredge and John Wallace there who were coming on the museum trip.

So I hadn't met them before.

And so it was wonderful that you say sort of virtually turning up on my own.

And yet, out of that event, I met three people from the DNHG and Olly is definitely an honorary member,

got more knowledge than the rest was put together.

And I've actually subsequently seen Oliver at two or three events over the last couple of months.

So actually a big shout out for Wimbledon Southside, which would not be an obvious one initially.

And then I have to say, I do like boxing gas predominantly for the quality and just a variety of top, top portions.

And I don't know how I'm going to keep that going in terms of up in the quality the whole time.

And there are parts of the event, yeah, not perhaps not so good, but actually just the quality of the cars is phenomenal.

And what's been created there is an environment.

Flat six show, good wood, just a really relaxed, great event.

I think you guys are quite a, you were doing some presence, not this year so much last year, was it?

Yeah, we had that paddock area, so we had all the arses out this year.

Yes, of course, sorry, sorry in the middle.

Yeah, it was good, it was good, really good.

Yeah, so that would be mine.

Good revival, but that's sort of, it's quite obvious.

Which one are you going to pick?

Oh, I'm sorry, I'm going to pick Wimbledon Southside.

Good, cool.

Nice, yeah.

No, no, I'd really like to.

What I like about it is it seems not disorganized.

It's off the cuff, off the, you know, almost like what scramble was in its form.

It wouldn't have a clue what was going to turn up on the day.

Yeah, that looks great.

It was turning up in a Daytona drop top with a great dain in the passenger seat.

That's amazing in there, that's amazing.

That's the sort of stuff we had to see.

There was somebody there.

It wasn't that particular one, it's another one that I went to.

And they had one of those original electric cars.

They were made in India.

It was called a, can't remember what they were called now.

Tiny, it'll noddy type car.

Oh, like the go or something was there.

Yes, something like that.

Something like that.

G-Wiz, that's it, yes.

G-Wiz.

Yeah.

I mean, if you were coming up Partney Hill and it was raining and dark,

you'd either have to have the wipers on or the headlights, you couldn't have both.

Haha, really.

Just, they were shocking cut.

But there's one there, and they were proud.

There's somebody using one around here somewhere.

Is there really?

Yeah, yeah, keeps hearing it.

Yeah.

Well, that was it.

Okay.

My best show slash event feels a little bit limited for me this year.

I realize not managed to get to as many.

I was gutted to Miss Flatsyix, I have to say.

And the curation of the, yeah, backside out was a new take.

I mean, it's the business end, isn't it?

Certainly for the small cars that we love.

So that was a really great idea.

But it's always such a great show.

It's always a really good, gives a good account of, back in the day,

you'd almost call it Porsche counterculture, you know, with modifications.

And then historically in this country scene, there's a bit of a taboo almost.

Whereas Flatsyix, I think, has really put that movement on the pedestal.

And it's obviously, it's a lot more accepted these days.

But I just love that show so much.

And I really hope it's on next year.

But for me, my favorite show slash event by far and away is Porsche's by the lake.

The only thing I'd like to say is, and Andy James and the Geese, who organized it,

won't thank me for saying it.

But I think one day is not enough, boys.

I would love for that to be a two-day event.

Yeah.

It's a great event.

And I'm apologizing to you now because I know how hard you work to put on.

What is a fantastic event.

And you've got great support from a lot of people.

But again, it's a great meeting point for DNHC as all over the country to get to that.

But I feel like with the venue and the way they curate some of the displays,

I think they'd be appetite for two days, personally.

Camping filled.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Moving on the Saturday night or whatever it is.

Yeah.

You know?

Actually, you're absolutely right.

24 hour podcast.

Not where anything to do with that, but you know, just have people telling their stories.

Yeah.

Over a campfire.

There we go.

There you go.

Yeah.

So that for me is such a good event.

I've already looking forward to 2026.

And if you can at all master it, guys, now you're very busy.

Let's do two days.

Yeah.

Oh, that's great.

Great.

Okay.

And the way that's right.

Gaze listening to this going.

Oh.

Yeah.

Brilliant.

Right.

Question two is a best road trip.

Oh.

Go on, Andy.

Well, I've only done one this year.

Well, that's what it's easy for you to want.

It's the easy pick, isn't it?

Saying that, we did do our little trip to Leeds.

Yeah.

Just me and Lee, wasn't it, which was a nice little trip that we thoroughly enjoyed just getting

up there and back.

But yeah, Wales, I only did Wales this year, which was fantastic as it ever is.

Have you done Wales yet?

No, down for Wales next year.

Really good for your trip.

Yeah.

It's a great, great, great trip.

I don't think I'll ever bore myself of going around Wales.

It just gets better and better every time.

I personally really enjoyed.

You did a podcast afterwards with the guys and girls that went on that trip.

Yeah.

And just here in there, sharing some of the stories afterwards.

You know, it allowed us to feel like we were there.

But by all accounts, there was a lot of cast swapping going on this year.

Yes, there was, yeah.

It sounded quite interesting.

Yeah.

And that sort of scenario providing it plays out successfully, obviously.

Is it, is it, is a great enabler in many ways?

And Alex, for example, I know Steve Cav was very kind to Chuck Alex.

He's the key to his Cayman R.

Yeah, I drove it too.

Fluffing the R.

Yeah.

We've got seven minutes in or whatever.

My lips are sealed.

But, you know, I know Alex has just thought a lot about Caymans for the rest of this year,

whether it's R or GT4.

And it's just, you know, so long as the owner is kind enough and the...

And short-sense.

Low knee is respectful enough.

It's a great way, just a bit of peat behind the curtain and put a possible next purchase.

Yeah.

It seemed a lot of that going on.

Yeah.

Yeah, it was good.

But yeah, I'm, yeah, amateur compared to you two.

And how many of you done this year, Paul?

I've done three.

Three.

I thought you'd done more than that.

Well, maybe I'll have.

How many of you done Lee?

Or come back to me.

Well, so it will be four if I count the Aberville track day.

Yeah.

But I count that more as a track day than a trip because we drove there.

Yeah.

And did the day and we'll host it by Johan and his, just, his great team

but also just the amazing machinery that was there.

And we've seen you driving.

What was it?

There's a nine.

Nine, three, four.

Yeah, what a day.

Yeah.

What a day.

Yeah.

So I don't really count that as a road trip.

Okay.

So yeah.

So taking you through the road trips, the main ones I've done this year are Norway.

Yeah.

The museum.

And Kurt Dessonbrough, which is the most recent.

Norway.

Well, I mean, just...

Well, the fact is it's a drive to Norway.

And you mentioned to people who aren't particularly into cars or anything.

And they'd look at you like you're from planning Zorg.

They're about to...

You're gonna get Norway.

It's wrong with the plane.

What?

Yeah.

Well, what's wrong with the plane?

It's not a flat-six engine.

So...

Oh, and there were so many memories from Norway.

And obviously the hollow leg Norwegians and their hospitality.

I used to be just fantastic.

I mean, just Thomas Slate at night at the bar.

You're just looking at him thinking, oh no, he's not again.

He's still going.

Yeah.

And all the people there are just fantastic in the hospitality.

And that hotel is just...

Just stunning.

Yeah.

The sort of visions of seeing Lee in the hot tub at...

Oh, yeah.

That's not good.

We're all coming down for breakfast and Lee's still in the hot tub.

I think they're really...

Too mayhem dip.

Yeah, too mayhem.

Do you like it?

No, I don't.

Yeah.

And actually, I've really enjoyed the boat trip.

We did the boat trip around the ordinary, it was fantastic.

And from that trip, new friends, you know, Surge.

And obviously Nick and Karen were there.

Ben, Mike, Simon.

It was a really good crew.

It's a key with his 4S, 4GTS.

Sorry, because we keep...

That was a 4GTS, which he's sort of...

I don't know.

He keeps sort of saying, might sell it, not sell it.

And goes on a trip and it's staying put.

So Norway was amazing.

And next year, obviously going that bit further

to the Arctic Circle.

Or the Arctic Roll, as I call it.

Arctic Roll.

Yeah.

The Arctic Rolls.

We were eroding out on the road trip.

Museum, amazing.

That stands out because of the running theme of memories

using one's cars, the pleasure.

There were 16 cars, I think Lee went there,

but the behaviour and the discipline

from everybody was fantastic.

Down to the speed limit and the villages.

Join the open road.

And of course, we had that famous line of...

Clear.

Oh!

It's been a T-shirt, mate, for that.

Yeah, which Mike put into a T-shirt, which is fantastic.

And just seeing Andy Bowers with his dad.

He had Oli there, Tim Sahn.

And he then had Brian Sahn, Ethan.

And just that whole sort of thing.

I'll pass on the pigeon.

For those who were there, it was on the menu one night.

Just even thinking about the pigeon.

Pass the pigeon, definitely.

Yeah, yeah, what was that?

But actually, for me, the complete highlight

was Cloak de Sombra, which was five cars.

And a bit impromptu, didn't know we were staying.

What we were doing, where we were going.

Lee had some ideas from routes.

And to keep an amazing route across the top on the way back.

But just the way we were blessed with the weather,

blessed with the company, blessed with the cars.

And we had just the most amazing trip.

And just some of the best roads I've ever driven on.

And I think that was echoed by others on the trip too.

That was such a great way to finish the year.

Probably worth touching on this on the public podcast,

for those that don't know.

We'd mentioned it on our internal DNHC.

But yeah, basically, the idea came from a special mission,

if you like, from Porsche G.B.

I think I was the only journalist silly enough to do it possibly.

So I got a phone call on the Friday night from the PR team back in 2017.

And they said, yeah, what were you doing this weekend?

I said, well, I've got a feeling whatever I did have was about to change.

And yeah, so there was a career at T, German registered down on the South Coast of France.

And they said, fly you there.

It needs to be back at Porsche G.B. headquarters in Reading for Monday morning.

So where you go and whatever from there is totally up to you.

And obviously that's a first drive review for you as well.

Fantastic.

There's a two part video on brilliant.

Is there a video on this?

It's a two part.

It was the first career at the time.

Brand new ground.

I was a little bit lukewarm on the car.

So much so that I actually revisited the T,

probably about 18 months later and basically said I was wrong.

So you know, watch the video by all means because it's a good,

there's a road trip side to the story rather than just the,

you know, land, beige review, if you like.

But yeah, it didn't wow me at first.

But anyway, whilst being down in that part of the world,

you realise, well, hang on a minute.

The roads are empty.

The weather's still okay.

And don't get me wrong.

You need a bit of a touch.

A bit of luck.

That time of the year with the weather.

But the weather seems to be okay.

It's a month before the Monte Carlo rallies.

All the roads are still open.

There's potential for a road trip.

So hence, coat de jure in December.

I've called it the coat december.

And it's something that we'd really like to offer

the collective next year as a road trip.

So a few of us here, road drivers put the thing out.

A memo a month ago saying basically we're going down there

in three weeks time.

It's not an official road trip.

I'm going to go along for four or five days,

whatever it is.

If you want to join, you're very welcome.

And I think, yeah, like you said,

there were five cars in total.

And we just made the whole thing up as we went along.

In the morning, we didn't know where we'd be staying that night.

It was just that is the definition of an adventure, isn't it?

Yeah.

And a great way to finish, as we said,

such a special year for road trips within the collective.

Yeah, so probably, like you said, over 9,000 miles at least now.

Some in the UK, some in Europe.

And I kind of feel, and I've mentioned it briefly,

before on the podcast.

But the dialing back from the cars and coffee side of things

has possibly been a little bit deliberate for me.

Because, you know, and it's not to poo poo those events,

they're great.

But, you know, time is so precious to all of us, isn't it?

And where we spend that time is a our choice.

But also in a world of many distractions and attractions,

you know, that's just thing have to be a bit more considered.

And I am just a road trip junkie, I've realised.

And I would rather do one road trip than 10 cars and coffee

because it gives you memories for a lifetime.

I'd gotten to a bit of a rut a couple of years

before where every week going to a different event.

And by the following Sunday, I'd forgotten what I did the Sunday before.

And where there's every single road trip I can think of now,

there's still richly ingrained in my brain.

And I hope when I'm sitting in an old people's home dribbling away,

I'll still remember with great fondness some of these memories.

And the French trip a couple of weeks ago is one of them.

The standout trip for me this year,

I have to say was the Sicily trip.

Yeah, that looks amazing.

What an outstanding trip for so many reasons.

One it fortifies DNHC because there was a lot of people on the trip

who I hadn't met previously.

Is there a better way to get to know somebody really quickly

than spending 10 days with them?

Yeah.

And it just became a bit of a brother and sisterhood in a way.

It's a great way to get to know whichever car you're in as well.

And 10 days is quite a long time to be on the road.

We covered a lot of miles.

And there's a couple of standout memories which is great to share.

And there was myself and Andy and Steve and Mark.

And we were standing by the start line of one of the mini races,

if you like, for the Targa Floreau,

the stages as the word I'm looking for.

And we hadn't realised when we'd gone to Sicily

that the Targa Floreau race would be on that week.

And it's the first time it was on since COVID.

First time in five years, you know, it was a little bit worried

because all the Italians in Broken English were telling us

that the roads were closed, which they weren't in the end.

But just standing there on the start line,

watching these classic cars haul themselves off the start line.

It may as well have been 1973 as we discussed on the podcast earlier this year.

But I think Mark turned around.

And he went, it's only day five.

It's day five of tenies.

And we all said if we went home there and then

it would still be one of the best things we've ever done.

And we just had another five amazing days.

And I honestly firmly believe, you know, doing tracing the Targa Floreau

in a 9-11 Targa on the 50th anniversary of the 9-11 Targa

with the most spectacular human beings is honestly one of the very best things I've ever done.

It's superb.

And that to me underlines why we elect to do it.

Because you can easily just not bother, stay at home.

There were many variables, many things that could go wrong.

You know, and it takes a certain kind of person to go,

yeah, come what may I'm all in on that, you know?

Yeah, I think you've absolutely knocked you in the head.

Did the Targa Floreau organise realise that there was a DNA trip?

And that's why they were there.

You've actually, you were not prepared.

They piggybacked, they found out the info on the DNA trip.

They gave me porcelot some contact.

Yeah, yeah.

They gave this at least simply chappy some contact with his mates.

But I think you've highlighted it beautifully there.

What I was trying to articulate earlier was just this thing about those trips just getting grained.

And I would encourage anybody who's half thinking about it.

10 days are a long time to be away from home, loved ones, etc. work.

We've all got those sort of pressures.

But even the small trips, even the bit of Ireland, bit of Wales,

bit of taking up to Leeds for an event up then,

there's a really active WhatsApp group about DNA she up north,

and I'm very tempted to drop in to a couple of their things just to,

just because it's a trip out of town,

and you get up north and roads are great, and the people are fantastic.

So, but I would really emphasise anybody who's on the fence just to give it a go.

You will come away with amazing memories, new friends,

and you'll find some more of your people.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

What could go wrong?

And you're using your car.

You can average out the cosper mile enormously just by that trip.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, great, great shout that.

So, that's what we've covered, yeah, best road there,

or best road trip, bit of Ireland.

It's best individual drive, which is slightly different.

So, you know, we kind of use it to zoom in in a bit more detail

if there's a specific, specific who,

rather than tying it into a bigger thing.

So, I was having a bit of difficulty thinking of a particular individual drive.

So, something that came into my mind was actually when you,

Paul Lee and our friend Nigel, we had a quick drive out one night.

It was an impromptu one.

And we did a bit of a blast over the Perbex.

Did you say it was June the 2nd?

Do you've seen the 2nd?

Yeah, yeah.

You found it, yeah.

I was just an epic drive.

We just hit it right, didn't we?

There was nobody about every road we hit.

There was nobody on it.

It was beautiful weather.

It was just epic.

But then, I thought I'd mention that because it just brings back

such good memories of just a quick drive out one night.

But I did then think of another one that I've done.

And there's a little event called the Sunday Startup

that's up near Salisbury getting on towards Salisbury.

In the Wilton House.

No, not that.

Oh, that's right.

No, the Sunday Startup, it's at the Stalls.

Sorry, yes, of course.

Yes, yeah.

And there's a route back that I always take.

I always go the simple route that sort of takes you past the airfield

and over and quite, it's the easy route over.

But on the way back, I always come back over Gernston down

and through a couple of little villages, I think it's called Bo Chalk

and a couple of villages.

And it's just classic Dorset names, by the way.

Yeah.

But the roads are just fantastic.

For my little car, I mean, the last time I did it was a couple of weeks ago

when it was, it had been pissing down my rain.

So the roads are actually kind of gravely and like full of water and everything.

But it's just an epic little drive out in the country.

Dorset hills up and down.

And you can see great views and vistas and yeah, just magic.

So if anybody fanciers doing a Sunday Startup at the Stalls

and I'm there, follow me on my home and you're being for a good drive.

Yeah, I could good breakfast in the Stalls as well.

Yes, very good.

Really friendly, very.

Yeah, it's good to go there.

Good hot chocolate as well.

So they're for a hot chocolate the other weekend.

She had the chili, chili hot chocolate.

There is a wider point Andy, if you don't mind me making it.

Yeah, from the first drive you mentioned,

where there was small group of DNHC as in Dorset

went for that evening drive.

Yeah.

I think there's a wider point to be made on it.

And that's, you know, don't, don't wait until Sunday for your drive.

That was Tuesday evening, I think.

Yeah, you know, you can get into that right, as I said,

of just kind of going from weekend to weekend.

I understand everybody works extremely hard in the week.

But the weekend is precious with where you have precious from family.

And it all sorts, you know, and everything else.

But there's such merit to doing something on a weeknight.

Which was a bit cheeky.

It feels a bit cheeky, but also it's a great way to,

especially if you've had a stressful day,

to pretty quickly restore equilibrium in your life.

Get the car out, quick blast, 45 minutes.

It could be straight, you know,

garage to garage in that time or, you know, whatever.

It's highly, highly, highly rewarding.

Don't wait till Sunday.

That's very, very well put, yeah.

Yeah, very well put.

So yeah, go out on a school night.

Yeah.

Go out on a school night.

I do, actually, if I get a stressful day,

I will sort of go out on a school night.

It's sort of about a 45 minute drive for me.

It's just go down to the RACA episode,

or somewhere like that.

You just go down there and sit and have a coffee or a beer

or something like that.

And just, it just is a way,

it's always been my space to the car, to unwind and to think.

Yeah.

And it's a tricky times all around, I think,

at the moment, and lead up to Christmas.

And just to have that little bit, perhaps pay a bit of music,

perhaps listen to a podcast, or just have silence.

Just you, the car, the engine, your thoughts, and just wind down.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely.

And again, something that you've mentioned there, Andy,

you know, like that drive, your second point,

when you mention your drive, I think, yeah,

you'd bombed out on your own that morning and had that drive.

And again, there's something to be said.

And I know, especially with us within the DNHC,

where collective is the operative word,

and that is great.

But again, don't dismiss going out on your own.

Oh, yeah.

It's, you know, in terms of, you know,

some of us use driving as a form of meditation,

and you're not worrying about meetings coming up

or anxieties you might have,

or whatever pressures that are impinging on your safe space

where you're thinking, you know,

just the idea of one corner to the next,

gear shift, steering, throttle input,

you are therefore living in the moment,

and that is meditation.

And that, again, just a little quick square half an hour,

really, we'll work wonders.

And being by yourself as well, not being in a group driving.

Yeah, can be very...

I thought I could say pathartic, that's not the way.

Pathartic, yeah, pathartic.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Who needs therapy when you've got a pause?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It's your own space, your thing to go and do,

and it's...

That's very true.

True.

P.P. individual drive?

Yeah, there's a bit of a person on this,

and it is a very personal one.

And I will start it by saying

I did go in the Kminar floffer.

But it was...

I got a fairly one day.

It was actually, I think, a bank holiday Monday.

And I decided I was going to go to...

I wanted to go to Chatsworth Health in Derbyshire.

And Derbyshire's where my grandparents lived

were based when I was a child, me, Scott, there for Christmasism.

The reason they were there was my grandfather was at Rolls-Royce.

There was an engineer at Rolls-Royce.

And I just felt that I wanted to go and do that trip.

So I went to Chatsworth House,

and then I went to find the house that they lived in.

And it's now a nursing home.

And I sort of went down the drive.

And my grandfather being an engineer

would have absolutely loved the essence of what

the cameam is, was lightweight, responsive, etc.

So it was a very personal day,

and I really enjoyed it.

He probably would have taken the mic out of me

or rather said something to roger to towards me

because he was that generation

that didn't just actually approve of German cars at the time.

But he would have admired the engineering.

And, yeah, I said, what was the memory?

So it was a good day.

And that's not a small drive out from London,

as you would have been, I guess.

No, it was not a small drive.

But I did stop at a beautiful little pub

on the Derbyshire Dales

and parked up the car.

And when you walk away, I look back

and hear that tingles going on as you walk away

and watch out to the pub.

It's sunny, you can sat outside.

And all this something to eat

and you've got a chat into a couple of people

and they're asking about the car.

Oh, yeah, from London, I heard.

And that wasn't a Derbyshire actually.

But it was the conversation.

I was like, you come all the way from London today.

When you're going back.

Now?

Right, looking at you like, you're mad.

So it was a little bit of a personal journey.

It was getting to know the car.

I was doing something that meant something to me.

And, yeah, we had a great relationship.

My grandfather's saying, that was my personal drive.

Excellent, excellent.

Nice to have the personal touch to that as well.

Yeah, very nice, very nice.

I have some honourable mentions.

Number one was the first nine-mox road trip of this year.

We went to Northumberland.

And I had just the most memorable drive with Owen,

who was in his 9-on-1.2 career at S.

Beautiful thing, Carmine Redd.

And over that trip, we'd sort of, I think,

because this was from memory the penultimate day.

And we'd sort of split down into a couple of different groups.

I think Nick liked to associate them

with different levels of curry in terms of pace.

I kind of felt like it was possibly between those

that could afford great lawyers if it went wrong.

And those of us that perhaps couldn't.

But in any case, Owen and I, we just kind of,

for one reason or another, I can't think,

why, we just got separated for everybody else.

So there was a period of about 20 minutes

where Owen and I were just sowing these corners together,

myself and it all Irish,

Owen behind in his 9-on-1.

And we weren't the only DNHC's on the road.

We were the only cars on the road.

And just sowing those cars,

and again, it was pure meditation and flow state.

And there was a point where I glanced up, looked in the mirror.

And I could see that Owen was having the same experience

in his head as I was in mine.

It was fantastic.

And we, we stopped off,

impromptu, just got out of the cars,

and we just looked each other and we were both, wow.

Wow, you know.

And just again, that shared experience

has something to remember for me vividly eight months on.

Fantastic.

And I know Owen will feel the same about that.

And likewise, Ben very on that trip,

very conny let me, he's came and are.

And I have to mention that bloody car.

And yeah, following Mark in his 9-on-on-2,

sorry, .1 touring.

And again, kind of cutting through the more.

And then I saw it in the distance.

And I thought we were, you know,

we had a very good average, average pace

that was within the limit.

And I remember looking through the valley, this B shape,

just, you know, echoing out into the distance,

if you like.

And in the very far distance, I can see this little green dot

that is little Irish with Ben at the wheel.

And it was about five working days ahead of us, you know.

And I just remember thinking, that's fantastic, you know.

The spaniel.

Yeah, the spaniel.

It's a mystery as to why that car's broken now.

Oh, yeah.

Sorry.

No, it's amazing, isn't it?

Yeah, the good run, the good run.

But my number one.

Again, I'll go back to Sicily on the way back.

We got the boat down.

Again, as we covered on the podcast at the time,

on the way back, we elected to drive through Italy,

which is a great way to see a lot of the country

in a short space of time.

And yeah, we popped in to like Serenzo and whatnot

and had like a flying tour of the Amalfi coast,

which was just so incredible under the most beautiful weather.

And again, in a lovely target with a roof down,

it was so fantastic.

It was a slightly funny slash, not funny story.

Obviously, we'd moved house the week before.

I had a phone call from Mrs. Sibs on that time

and she sounded a bit of a meltdowns.

There was a leak from the bathroom into the kitchen

and did job you were around them to pop in and fix the day.

But it's like the water's coming through the roof.

How's your day?

I just didn't have the guts to say, you know.

I've been driving my life right now.

It's amazing.

I'm surrounded by water as well.

But that was special.

And again, as a group, we all stopped off for a coffee afterwards.

And we all just said that was incredible.

And again, our average speed was probably 20 clicks an hour.

Yeah, wonderful, wonderful.

Another great memory that a just a small drive can leave

imprinted on your year, really.

Fantastic.

Super, right?

Slightly left-field question.

Biggest surprise of 2025.

Again, open to interpretation this one.

Yeah, it is.

Good time, isn't it?

Yeah.

I was struggling because I was thinking a bigger surprise.

And actually, it was only while we were having dinner this evening

that it sort of came to me.

It was actually I attended the garage therapy.

How to clean your motor?

How to clean your car?

And I was, that's anybody who knows me.

I was not my car cleaner.

No, I can't clean her.

And listening to Mars and the team there and watching them

Bowers, Andre Bowers managed to get his car clean.

But the science and the thought and the care that has gone into

developing those products has been incredible.

And it opened my eyes to what can be done and what it's all about.

And what we've all been doing wrong with a bucket,

not two buckets, one bucket, a cloth with grit on it and very liquid.

And it really opened my eyes and I actually cleaned my car.

They fought that weekend after using their product.

And I was genuinely impressed.

Wow.

So he's quite a turnaround.

Yeah.

So I am surprised.

Have you cleaned the car since?

Of course not.

No, I have actually.

And it's, yeah, that was my surprise.

Because it was, I admire what they've achieved with that product

and what it actually does.

And it does, I sort of got why people like cleaning cars

because there was a huge amount of satisfaction.

And yeah, great.

So that was my surprise.

That was my interpretation of it.

Yeah, love it.

Love it.

I was going to say they came in on, but it does.

There we are.

Yeah, it's worth pointing out, actually.

If you're unaware of the garage therapy story,

it's well worth taking a look.

They've been on the podcast a couple of times.

If you'd like to look back through the back catalog,

also a host of their products are available on the NUMWORKS website as well.

So we're very, very, very proud of our association with garage therapy.

It's clean to the benefit of others as well.

Really?

As you said, when you turned up people on that day,

I thought you were lost.

So that's great.

That's great.

So what are you doing here?

Yeah.

And I did.

I did.

I thought it was great.

It's so awesome.

And that's again, and I open it.

Go to these events.

You're tuning into your sessions.

You've got one with center gravity.

Yes.

Something happens to happen on that.

What's your biggest surprise?

What was my biggest surprise?

I think it's bloody obvious.

What was the year in the podcast?

Yeah, I'm still here.

No, my biggest surprise was when we did a group test for a video earlier in the year.

It was a bloody hot June day.

July.

July day.

Yeah.

You gathered together three generations of what we termed as the best cars from each generation.

So we had your 40th anniversary, Sir Kibs 997GTS,

and the newest car there was the Carrera T.

You will always give it a bit of pre thought before the day and thinking what I'm going to be.

What's going to be the one that I'm going to go for, which one I'm going to enjoy most.

And you sort of have some pre ideas of what it was.

And I, that Carrera T did not feature on my,

anywhere near the top of that list.

It was, it was there.

And yeah, I'd drive it and see what I thought.

But I've driven a few 992s this year and they just don't do anything for me.

But that Carrera T, I've said it many a time on this podcast.

And to anybody that listened to me,

I'd take that as my retirement car.

And I can't believe that that is a freaking massive surprise.

That was a surprise for all of us.

It is, you know, to underline the gravitas of that, you know,

this is, you know, an air-cooled guy.

And it's possibly up there with, you know,

P.P. washing his car, having, you know,

having bought products.

It's that big and unexpected.

From a shocker.

Not even a surprise.

It's a shocker.

Yeah, yeah.

And there was a running through and deep particular loss at the moment.

I mean, that was quite a, whoa, okay.

And it just shows.

It just shows.

I know you're, obviously, a lot has been made on this podcast

and in other media sources of the rising cost of new product from Porsche.

But it has to be said, you know,

what's so wonderful about your

eulogizing of the Carrera T is that sometimes bass is just best.

Yeah.

Yeah, but the performance, if you look at the performance stats

and what you can do on the road.

And a Turbo S is amazing car.

But you can't use it mostly.

Most of it, you can't be 70% of it on the road,

whereas you go to a T, which would have been,

you know, you can see what the stats are

with the Carrera T's performance compared with a 930 or a 997 Turbo

being just to see what they are.

But I actually popped into Porsche and a Guilford not very long ago,

a few weeks ago.

And there was a T in there, it was a PTS, it was cancelled order.

But I was really surprised at how much standard kit there is on the car,

for the money.

Yeah.

Yeah, really impressed with how much there was on it.

And not superfluous stuff.

It was things that you'd go,

well, if I have to just take the basic car,

that's fine with this perspective.

Yeah, yeah.

And I think there's a little bit of,

it's there, correct me if I'm wrongly, you know,

much more about it than I did.

Is there somebody there just saying, let's get back to the routes.

We can do something with this product that gives back to people who just want to come in

and buy a car.

I'm going to sit there going through waiting through options,

waiting and the cost goes up and up and up and up and up.

Whereas if you want to, what's the list price,

$120,000?

$150,000.

Yeah.

So if you went in,

if you walked in the showroom,

and 115,000 pounds, a couple of little bits,

probably sub 120 grand,

you can walk out with a brand new Porsche,

that actually is there for real world driving.

Yeah.

Yeah, completely agree.

It's completely agree.

I think as well with 992.2,

and I hear what you're saying there, Andy,

I think a lot of people, again,

where the product is gone,

and I mean in terms of like, you know,

that this model year car has to have all of the EU led,

you know, being some bongs on it and whatnot.

There was a growing sentiment among the masses,

that cars are just loot sports cars,

are just losing a little bit of engagement,

a little bit of, you know, the heart,

it's not wearing the heart on the sleeve as much like they used to.

That is definitely an issue,

twin with rising costs.

It is a harder sell upstairs than perhaps it used to be.

Yeah.

But I do fund with the Carrera T,

and I know we've sung the praises of the car so many times

on this podcast.

Sorry, guys.

Unapologetically so.

The Carrera T is one of the few cars

in the 992.2 lineup for me,

where it is pound for pound better than its predecessor.

Yeah, agree.

What I mean by that is, you know,

when I recently did phenomenal its TV,

992.2 touring versus its predecessor,

and the new car is a fantastic car.

In my opinion, is it worth the 30K upgrade over the Gen 1?

No.

But with the T, I think there are two,

in the 992 lineup,

the T absolutely pound for pound is worth the upgrade

over its predecessor and the one before.

And I know we've not had the new RS,

but the 992.1 GT3 RS,

I think, is objectively pound for pound,

a huge leap on over its predecessor.

They're the two,

and it's quite interesting that they said that the two bookends

cost-wise.

You know, the rest of it,

fantastic cars, if you want the latest thing fine,

but if you're happy to save a bit of cash,

the car before it is still so good.

Yeah.

I think the thing to throw into the mix of that is

manual gearbox,

that gives you more of an engagement.

So you can have all these features that they have to put on

through legislation,

but the manual gearbox gives you back some engagement,

because they can't mess around the legislators

with the manual gearbox.

You feel that engagement?

I've not driven one of those.

Is the gearbox good?

It's brilliant.

I loved it.

Yeah.

Thought it was really good.

You were a little bit,

you were feeling that the 997 gearbox was

more your thing, weren't you?

That's such a good gearbox.

That's the issue.

It's not that the T gearbox is bad.

It's just that the 997's

six-speeder is zenith.

Clear.

Yeah.

No, I just love the driver that T.

As you say, engaging.

I just shrunk around me.

Every other 992 that I've driven has felt that, you know,

what everybody says on 992 is too big.

And they have felt big to me.

Yeah.

But that T just shrunk around me and felt like I was driving

something old-school.

Yeah.

And would you say it's for one of the better word,

chuck ability, a bit?

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Absolutely.

Yeah, I was ripping out of corners

and giving a little shake of the arse.

Yeah.

Just with notice.

Yeah.

Just really.

Get it.

Yeah.

You can get it by the scruff of its neck.

Yes.

And there's not too much power.

No.

And just really enjoy it and rev it out.

Because that's actually something more powerful.

It will be looking around for its safety, nanny net things

that it's going to do, whereas with that, you're not really

getting there and you're getting a little bit more of a feel

for it.

Yeah.

And I think less is my idea.

We talked about this on many occasions through conversations

and events or public or whatever.

Where's Pete Kahn?

And we've sort of had it.

And I think the 992 is trying to go back.

It's Paul's trying to go back, 92T.

Sorry, he's trying to go back to that.

What can we do to give more engagement,

to give the real enthusiast a car that really works?

That actually anybody can jump in and drive on a Sunday

to the shops or whatever it is.

Yeah.

But you take it on your Welsh road.

Yeah.

And it's two cars in one.

Yeah.

It straddles that purpose.

Yeah.

Going back to that video I did with the original

career of tea driving through France and where I reflected

and thought I've possibly got it slightly wrong.

My gripe at the time was this is such a great concept

because it was base engine and a few tweaks

of suspension.

And you've got a really lovely chisel, basic car,

basic 911.

You know, it reminded me a little bit of the club sport

in the eight from the 80s and a little bit of a way in terms

of on paper changes and minimal,

which I have to say I agree for me too.

But my gripe at the time was the career of tea principal

Porsche didn't go far enough with that 911.2.

And actually, with the 992.2, they've got it.

They've absolutely smashed it.

That is perfection.

Do you think the first one was the...

Let's move on to the better way.

The engineers trying to push the boundaries a bit

that perhaps the marketing department or the board weren't going to do.

So it was the first go at it.

And then the success of it pushed towards the...

And also they've suffered from sales.

They've got to do something to have a broader church

in order to appeal to more people

because people don't have 150,000 pounds to walk in there

whatever the payments are or putting the cash down.

Whereas that is still accessible, strong residuals

so your payment should be less if you're taking that route.

Yeah.

And they've talked about a smaller lighter 911 type car

but the legislation is never going to allow it.

No.

And as we said in the summer,

that tea is possibly the last throw of the dice

for a manual 911 away from a GT product.

So we've been poor people to go and buy it

if not it will be taken away from us

because with any company, make any product

if people aren't buying it in the numbers required.

Absolutely.

It has to be volume talks either they are a public company

and they have to meet the numbers.

Yeah.

Thank goodness for the cayenne and McCahn

because that is kept that the 911, the boxer,

that came in going much longer

than it would if the pure sports car company.

Without that.

And so...

And also the engine though,

I understand talking to Mark Anderson

the difference between the 992 turbo engine

and turbo as in the 3-liter and the 991.

There's quite a bit of difference I think he's saying.

Yeah, so there's,

they've been refinements.

They have definitely ruggedized it

because from what we've seen so far,

there isn't the same issue with the turbos

as there is with 9 and 1.2.

It's slightly more efficient as well.

I think the 992 generation cars

1 and 2 over the 991,

they use the Pizzo injectors or Pizzo.

Which is basically more efficient than 9 and 1.

So it's that same 982-coated flat CX

but yeah, with these constant evolutions

in the greatest Porsche traditions.

Yeah, that's the cookie clock.

That's the Porsche family's cookie clock

was on the wall of Brooksville.

It's the reminder for us to keep on track.

But yeah, the fact, as you said,

you know, oily hands,

born, born, you know,

your views are barely insconced

in all things looked for you to like that carerity.

It's like it's so much.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It's not air in the tyres, I suppose,

but yeah.

Would you put a set of tyres?

I would certainly put a set of tyres.

So hear that from Andy.

And credit to you for being able to actually say

that it was that good,

but you actually said,

you know guys,

I really like that.

And then you are Mr. Aircool.

Yeah.

So fantastic.

What was your surprise?

My biggest surprise is still being here

at the end of the year.

Absolutely.

It's always bonus, isn't it?

On the airwaves.

Thanks for listening,

particularly post-max as well.

Very much appreciated.

The biggest surprise for me is the U-turn on the 718 platform

in regards to combustion engines.

And you know, I say that because last summer

at the hybrid 911 GTS International launch

when I had that wonderful conversation

for the evening over dinner

with the director of chassis engineering at Porsche.

And he was so genuinely glowing

and excited to bring the EV 718 to market.

You know, the rhetoric was, it's coming soon.

And we are so genuinely excited

to show you guys how good that car is.

And obviously it's with 18 months on.

It's still not here for the reasons outlined.

But for Porsche to make that U-turn

and say, no, we will stick an engine in that car still.

Which is absolutely the right decision

but still incredibly brave to make the decision

and to admit the U-turn.

But it does show the company listens to the market

and listens to the wish of its customers.

So that's been a very big surprise

but also a very welcome change.

Yeah, I think the whole situation

with the EV and for existing manufacturers though

and we've seen now that they've kicked the can down the road again

in Europe so we will follow.

I think I'm going to say that it's 2035 now

or is it 2040?

Yeah, it was 35 and it's now been, yeah.

It's been kicked down the road.

Government's trying to, not getting political,

but governments trying to tell everybody

what they should be doing in particularly manufacturers

and awful lot of very, very, very clever people around the world

working for these manufacturers.

But they've been from everyday cars

to the sports car manufacturers

and actually better off to have said,

guys, we want you to get to these emissions by this time

and that would have been a challenge.

Now whether that was a hybrid engine

or an ICE engine or an electric engine

and allow them to get to that point

and it doesn't go unnoticed

since it's in the press quite a lot.

The German region, the box,

we're going to base it and Porsche are based in.

They own a lot of shares in that industry

but more importantly, there's a lot of people's livelihoods

and that's not just the engineers

and the people we hear of,

it's everybody to do with that factory.

It's the people that clean the factory,

the people that manufacture the cars that we all enjoy

and they realize that that's a social problem

if these people are not employed.

Absolutely.

And so, yeah, it is very welcome.

Yeah.

There's a bar over the last,

one of the last four-liter boxes on it.

It's exciting.

But I think it's going to be a very different car indeed.

So, yeah, that's great.

And as we said, you know,

not without challenges

because they're almost going to have to reverse engineer that.

They've made a platform that's purely EV.

No engine considered.

That's not going to be without challenges.

Well, it's almost back to the drawing board.

Yeah.

But it's so welcome.

So, were those pictures around?

We saw somebody put something up,

there was sort of auto-car did some sketches.

Was that their interpretation?

It was, yeah.

It was, so it's not what we're going to see.

Yeah.

It is, but however,

and again, Michael Mauer,

head of design at Porsche,

said to Nile Mike's radio a year ago

in terms of the number one I missed.

Yes, yeah.

That's your passport sitting on the side table.

He said, you know, we should get used to this paraphrasing

at this stage.

We should get used to Porsche's

that have a different look to a round headlight.

And I think that's in direct reference to Box the Cayman.

And if you look at the new electric cayenne

that's very recently launched,

the design language of the headlight

is very similar to the McCann in the Taycan.

And I think that a Modgini will spread to two doors.

Yeah.

A way from 9.11

because obviously that's very different,

but Cayman Box, I think, will file like that.

I thought that auto-car sketch would,

it looked pretty cool.

Actually, I quite liked the look of that.

I thought it looked good.

Yeah.

You've seen the new car in the flesh.

Yes.

So, yeah, Porsche Bournemouth had a,

so it wasn't a launch.

It's what I've realised since.

I've just thought, you know how the cars end up going around

all the centres.

It's not the case at all.

It was like a pre-launch.

So, only if certain dealers in the country

get the...

And it's electric cars.

Yeah, they get one or two.

There's one or two cars circulating the country basically.

So, I think the first deliveries of that

are going to be April 2026, May 2026.

Was that the left-hand drive, wasn't it?

Yeah.

Did Dashboard only look absolutely...

Did I say it was pink?

You had it lit up or something?

Yeah, the screens are at this weird sort of,

like, bendy, bendy screen.

But it was...

Yeah, you can customise all of that.

And I think that was the point.

They did that, so it's striking.

And, you know, very contrasty to the exterior green colour

to show you what you can do.

But, you know, and again,

what you say about the front of that car, Andy,

there was that clear,

because I will say the Cayenne is...

far less offensive in the metal.

It's actually quite a pretty thing,

nicely proportioned thing in the metal,

whether it's not first saw the renders,

I thought, personally,

that's not what a Porsche is,

it's far too shouty and aggressive.

But it's really nice.

But it had on the front,

this is the Turbo Cayenne electric.

Which obviously, yeah, there was no turbocharger involved.

Obviously, that's an old joke.

But it had the adaptive veins on the front bumper,

like the hybrid 911 GTS.

And, again, I just think in terms of design homogeneity,

and they're there to serve a functional purpose,

rather than an aesthetic thing.

Again, that is something that will follow on to the other.

And those veins are doing what's aerodynamic,

or is it to the brakes?

So they do various...

or serve various purposes

that are a mixture of aerodynamics and cooling.

So they speed dependent

when at which angle they open.

So they do serve a purpose, but that will come back.

So I mean, if you think it's almost a return to the 80s, 90s,

if you think of 959, 968, 993,

at that similar look of the round sunk headlights,

with the single grille going the full width of the front,

and obviously they would eventually all sag,

wouldn't they, and give the car a bit of a smiley face.

There's almost a bit of a return to that now,

where you've got the gills along the bottom of the front bumper,

and then the round-over headlights anymore, are they?

And the way that the 993 did that,

were turning design that way, it was so flatter.

And it was going, when you look at it against the 959 or 968,

you can see that sort of lineage there.

Definitely.

Yeah, definitely.

So it's nice it's nice that we're going back to that in a way, I think.

So yeah, that was the biggest surprise anyway.

Best car driven guys.

What are you laughing for, Andy V?

Which was the same answer.

Well, I've got it on my little list here.

I've got Carrera T on my list of best car driven.

And I've got a 7-1-8 spider.

I drove James Goods, 7-1-8 spider in Wales,

which I really enjoyed.

I think James had heart attacks on how close I was getting to the edge of the road

at some point, so I do apologise James.

But, I think it's got a B.

I, a little driver, Steve's came in.

Wait, this podcast is a joke, isn't it?

And I really, really, I am.

And feeling a little bit like, oh, I can feel a GNHC pull car coming on.

But I really did enjoy the drive of that car.

That the size of that thing is just magnificent, isn't it?

It really does shrink around you.

And the little bastards dance along the road.

They're just lovely.

So yeah.

There I am.

Sorry guys.

Fluff away.

I'm saying no more.

Best car driven, P.P.

Don't you dare.

Oh, dear.

Okay, I'll come back to the R.

And, actually, I've had a real privilege this year of driving some wonderful cars.

I mean, first of all, 9-Lebna's T.

That's done on 2ST.

Amazing.

That does.

I believe it's a bit like the T.

It does shrink around you.

You get it onto the twisty stuff.

And it's a phenomenal car.

The front ends are amazing.

I had one of the early touring's and really never got on with that car.

And sold it very quickly.

And only because I didn't get on with it.

But the remit for me now is, as I said earlier and articulated,

it's the road trips and the experiences and the memories

are created that are really important to me.

And the STI drove to Norway.

Oh, I liked it.

Not as much as driving a 9-13.

But, yeah.

And it was really the way that there were certain aspects of that journey.

It just did not cope well with.

And that was predominantly fast, dual carriageways, etc.

The revs are so high, it really needs an overdrive.

It doesn't.

Nick Jeffrey drove the car in the hills and up in the mountains.

And he was like, wow, wow, wow.

And it is wow, amazing.

But as an overall road trip car, it didn't take the box from me.

There are other cars that will do that.

And it's a privilege to own it.

I've done 5,000 miles in it.

But it's not a long term.

Because it doesn't fulfill what I really like.

So, amazing dynamic car.

Coming on to the Cayman R, genuinely.

It's become a very, very big joke about the fluffer fluffing of the R, etc.

But to me, when I first drove it, it just reminded me the essence of what sports cars about.

It's relatively small.

Takes you back to the 9-11.

It's not a 9-11.

It's a mid-engine car.

But it was the essence of it was small.

It's fun.

It's not silly value.

I mean, it's still 40,000 pounds is a lot of money.

But it's not ridiculous money.

And just you feel just...

And I don't personally get the modding of them because I think it's absolutely on the spot out of the box.

There are a few little tweaks you can do.

There are certain boxes that some people some were not ticked at from the outset.

But it's generally out the box.

They're just a great car.

It reminds you what a sports car is all about.

It's a shame the prices are moving.

Because, actually, accessibility.

But I think that it came in S.

Get your long, long, long way there.

And you could do a little few things with it came in S.

So I think actually it's more of an accolade for that platform in general.

And just the fun and usability of it.

So, Cayman S is accessible.

I don't know the price points.

Cayman S of that era.

Is it sub-20?

I think you can get some for sub-20.

I think it's early 20s.

Gen 2, early 20s.

I'm sure there's some little bits that right June or Barnes-Border,

whoever can do to that car,

to just get a little bit more pep.

And it just shows you that we've talked about peak car in it.

That's peak fun that era.

Whether it's Sakeeb's GTS.

Whatever the car's eye, it's just,

it really is what driving is all about.

Without the nanny aids, without the interference of legislation.

And great.

So, Cayman S are amazing.

Fantastic.

Absolutely loved it.

I suppose, but the overall,

2,000 miles in,

or 2,000, actually 2,800 miles have done since,

were in less than three weeks,

in the four litre box of GTS.

And for me, that's just a really accomplished road trip car.

Two boots.

The ability to just push the button,

which we did on a number of occasions,

to do the outs, when the sun came out,

you push the button, the roof comes down.

You can't do that in a spider.

I love a spider, but I couldn't reconcile

with the whole fact is that I wanted to use it,

particularly through the winter months,

and the ability to just push a button,

the roof goes down, the roof comes up.

And just, it's a four litre.

It's a four litre flat six engine

in a production car that comes off the production line,

and you go into a showroom,

second hand, or not, you know,

but second hand, you can buy.

Yeah.

And manual gearbox.

Yeah, I've gone to town on respect,

but that was just my choice

that I wanted to have a car that was me,

and I felt, did what it should do,

which is amazing road trips.

Great fun on the twisty bits.

Put the roof up, Lee and I,

we were coming back up Northern France.

It was biblical rain,

biblical rain when we got to England,

and we were just chatting away.

Yeah, yeah.

And it did that.

And four hours earlier,

it had been going up red rock pass,

and being chased by the Larrich

and trying to keep on the tail of Ben Bailey.

And also less wind noise in the cabin

than a 996 or 7.

Yeah, with the roof up.

True.

Yeah, yeah.

Very well engineered.

And I just think as an overall package,

the whole of that 718 platform,

be it, came in all-boxed,

is relatively accessible financially.

I think it's a solid place to put your money

because, yes,

we've talked about the construction,

they are going to be making more,

but they're not making more 718s.

Yeah, yeah.

And you've got to bear in mind that the screens you are

can touch, but there are lots of buttons.

You're not going to get all this electronic stuff

in front of you,

where you're scrubbing around,

you push that button,

and the fan goes on,

and you do this,

and the window goes down,

and whatever it is.

It's a bit of an anomaly, isn't it, the 718?

It's kind of like peak car,

10 years after peak car.

As in, it's actually still

kind of an old-school type car

that really should have been retired off before,

but because of the EV stuff come in,

it's kind of extended its life,

and extended its life.

So, yeah, it's not much different to a 9887

or an early 981.

It's not much different, really,

and that's a positive thing

because it's that peak era

that we all sort of...

EV's extended peak.

It has a peak car period

because it stayed production longer.

And actually...

Normally, what have I done?

You take, but just...

Every day in London,

I drive a Mark 7.5 Golf GTI.

I've got back to all the same buttons

and all the same stuff,

kidding it.

But you just don't want anything else.

And it's just fantastic,

it's analog,

but it's still got the touchy bits here,

and I do think that,

well, perhaps come on to this later,

but one of the things

that is really important is

have the more analog experience

of the car,

but the infertile system

needs to be up to date

because that makes it great.

It's a safety perspective,

but also your music,

your navigation,

all those sorts of things.

And you blend the two together

and that's a powerful package.

Yeah, very compelling.

Very compelling.

Okay, so pressure on

to not mention Kminar here then,

which is not a problem.

So, a couple of honorable mentions

Rory in the collective,

you are so kind mates

to let me that lovely 50th anniversary

for a whole day up in Northumberland.

You definitely got the raw end of the deal

in being stiffed with little Irish

for God knows how long with the,

noisy squeaky window wipers

and indicating things

doesn't cancel and whatnot.

You know, that car really is

so, so special.

It's so, so special.

I really, really love it.

I really hope to own one day.

It's a beautiful thing.

So, an honorable mention to you Rory.

Thank you for that mate.

Good choice.

It was a really cool on a,

on a personal thing to drive the

981 GT4 club sport

that ended up competing

in the Carrera Panamericana

and Rob has been on the podcast

twice this year to talk through

that, yeah, the run up to one

of the most famous endurance races

on the earth.

And then, and then also

his reflections haven't competed on it.

It's really fun to watch the updates

on how Rob was getting on in Mexico,

knowing that a few weeks before

I got to drive the car

around Cornwall,

so that was pretty cool.

I have to say,

I do want to give a shout out as well.

So, I'm going to,

SC is right up there.

Look on you, Andy.

What?

SC.

Yeah. So, have you driven

Johnny classic retrofit SC?

It's not the cream one.

Yeah.

Stealthy green.

What a car that is, by the way.

What a car.

There's, there's a video on

non-mox TV if anyone

is interested in the watch.

And I just feel like

Johnny has done all the mods

that you couldn't

should do with the SC platform.

I would be really interested

to get your thoughts, Andy.

We can always have a conversation

on another episode about this.

And again, just where that car

is sort of the test bed

for a lot of what classic retrofit do.

There's been a couple of just, I think,

mods that have arisen out

of Johnny's curiosity

that has just ended up feeding

into the SC.

I mean, it must be one of

the lightest SCs out there, by the way.

Yeah.

Just by virtue of all the electric

AC stuff that's on it.

It's stripped out of

load of...

Oh, I'm disappointed.

Yeah, I wanted plumbing as an example

and just little stuff like that.

The oil cooling system has been relocated

to up in the back of the rear

arch rather than the all the necessary

plumbing running it

to like the front rate

usually is and whatnot.

12 kilos saved

and three litres less oil.

Just as an example,

I've got the full list here

of bits and pieces he's done.

It's quite exhaustive,

but that is such a good car

and is a car that belies the fact

that it's getting on for a quarter

of a century old.

I believe it's an 82 car,

so it's one of the 204 horsepower cars.

So where was yours

is one of the first SCs.

Johnny's is one of the last.

But it is a fantastic,

fantastic little thing.

And yes, it is where

it's a test bed of classic retrofit

kind of products.

It's not like a polished

museum piece.

It's well used.

Nothing.

It's all the better for it.

It's actually over 40 years old.

Yes.

Over 40 years old.

Yeah.

And it is so sprightly,

it handled wonderfully.

It was just it wants for nothing.

It's a wonderful thing

and shows,

again, in reference

what you're saying

with Cayman Iron,

how that works on the road.

You know, a classic can do that.

And Andy yours is the same.

You know, that's a car

that's getting on in years.

But it's still way

capable of thrilling

in ways that some modern stuff

cannot.

It was yours, 82.

I 78.

You're 78.

Yeah.

Well, yeah.

Yeah.

You've just reminded me of a car

that I've forgotten that I've

driven this year, which was

William Crawford's

rally car.

Oh, yes.

Yeah.

Another SC.

Well, that would have been on,

would have definitely been in my mix

if I remembered I've driven it.

Yeah.

I can't believe I've

forgotten it.

Yeah.

That's steering set up on that car.

Wonderful.

Yeah.

And again, shows what you can do.

Yeah.

Obviously it was very fortunate

to drive that 934 earlier this year.

And I have to give an honourable

mention for that.

Yeah.

That the...

You were running it in, weren't they?

You were sorry.

They were running it in, weren't they?

Yes.

I mean, I had to short shift

at $5,000 here in which

I was very happy to do.

And as you guys know,

it's such a fantastic person,

very happy to share the cars

in his collection

in order for their story.

You know, not necessarily

that specific car,

but the story of that model

in general to be told,

particularly to a younger

audience.

You know, I myself...

That's a 1976 car.

I wasn't around when that car

was built and raised.

But to see that history

still alive and well in such fine

fetal, it's just amazing.

And that really is

such a beast of a car for me.

That is now the barometer

when it comes to

a beast of a car.

And how frightening

something can be to drive, you know.

It was great putting it next to

your 930, actually, people.

Yeah, absolutely.

And then...

You could see the synergy

between road and race.

But, you know,

there were many similarities

but also many start differences

and it's just a monster.

I mean,

I can still hear the sound

of that car now.

Oh, I bet, yeah.

Yeah.

It was...

Kudos to Yehan.

Yeah, absolutely.

Keeping those cars

going, keeping history

on the track.

Okay, then.

We've only got a couple more.

Is that your...

That's your favourite car, isn't it?

Yeah.

934, with those honorable

mentions, I feel, feels worth...

Yeah, cool.

Worth chucking in there.

Best podcast episode.

Oh!

That was really tough one.

And then, I was looking through

the list earlier.

I can't believe I'm going to

reel a few names off

if you don't mind.

Nicole Johnson,

early on in the year.

Great pod.

That was a great pod.

Such enthusiasm and life.

Yeah.

Yeah, just wonderful.

All wind springer.

Got two parts with all wind.

What a character.

What a wonderful human.

Yes.

So competitive,

but also such a team-type person

not just within his team

but with the other teams

that he was competing against.

You could tell a warm character.

I loved his sort of birthday list thing.

I can't remember if we included that

actually in the pod,

but he knows the birthdays of everybody

and every person on his list

he speaks to every year on their birthday.

Wow.

I just thought that was lovely.

As a great life lesson

because the sentiment was

when people wish a happy birthday,

you know, they're not asking for anything.

Yeah.

They're just wishing you happy birthday.

Happy birthday.

Yeah.

And he's like, it's a marker

if he wishes you happy birthday

and he doesn't.

Great.

Great bit of advice for life.

Yeah.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

What a character and what a great man.

Yeah.

Chris Hoy.

Sir Chris Hoy.

Obviously we know the circumstances

of what he's going through and gone through.

But to have an amazing conversation

about being a petrol head

and going through all these stories

of what he's done over the years

in cars and how he enjoys them so much,

it was like, you know,

us sitting around in a pub.

Absolutely no different.

So, you know, really enjoyed that time.

Yes.

Absolutely.

One that I really enjoyed that's not

a person but was two people

was William's Crawford story.

Oh, yeah.

I love that.

I really enjoyed that.

And then one last one from me

which would be, which I think we've talked about before

and I've said how much I enjoyed it.

And that was Johnny Smith.

Yeah.

himself and Max talking to Johnny.

I mean, we started.

It took a bit of planning

and getting Johnny to sit still for five minutes.

But once he sat still, we couldn't actually stop him.

I think we started at quarter past nine in the end

and we finished at quarter past twelve.

Wow.

Three hours.

Yeah.

It was gone midnight and he was still

stepping on a glass of wine.

So, that is my favourite is Johnny Smith.

Really?

Yeah.

I just enjoyed talking to him.

Yeah.

Real good lad.

Oh, since you two are the hosts,

I shall go in the middle.

You can start it.

You can book it in the middle.

First of all, it was sort of actually probably

my top one but was Chris Hoi.

Yeah.

And as I said just now, the generosity of time

and hearing the man has credible success,

life story, the curveballs,

or the curveballs come along

and then reading following his podcast

and taking more interest

by having heard it about him personally

and one thing that podcasts do,

I think you get to the real essence of somebody

you get, particularly if you share a passion

with them as well.

So suddenly puts them on a level with you

and makes them more human.

And so that was great.

And then listening to him watching his,

and I forgive him, I mean,

I can't remember the name of the race that he did up in.

Tour de force.

Yeah.

And there was a chap locally actually,

you touched on Mark Crib did that,

who used to own Jenkins.

I agree.

Because Mark, it's public knowledge

in the head of Journey,

he went through with a cancer.

And so he did that.

Yes, he did.

And so, yeah.

And then there's the disappointment

without getting political,

the government won't back what he was trying to achieve,

which was this regular testing for men.

But I suppose what it does do is say,

guys, it's out there,

you can do it yourself.

The government might not be writing to you,

but it's something you can do yourself.

So that was the other one that I have to say,

it's a big shout out for Steve Cav

for that Manuel versus Peter Kay.

Podcasts because it was just so well put

and having had that experience

with both those types of cars

and the journey of between them.

It really helped somebody,

I felt, that couldn't decide which way to go.

There isn't a wrong choice.

It's a question of the choice that's best for you.

And I thought that he put it across very well indeed.

And that was a really enjoyable thing.

Sometimes the podcast for me

are more meaningful because perhaps

I've got a long tedious journey.

I'm on or something's been a bad day

and he put it on and he's like,

oh, great.

Aaron and I have to get to so-and-so.

Podcasts Aaron and I have,

thank you very much.

But that one I listened to quite intently.

I was coming down the M1 actually

and it was pouring away.

The other one, which I think we all absolutely love

and play the game ourselves,

was the 500K fantasy garage.

That was a good one.

Yeah, with Max.

And it's actually something that everybody can do

with sitting in the pub with mates

and just sit there and do that 500K fantasy.

Of course, the 500K is probably shifting upwards

or downwards wherever it is now.

But it's a great one to,

because you can actually,

there's a lot of pleasure involved with doing that

and what I do if I won the lottery or what it is.

So those for them,

if I had to pick one,

I'd say probably the Chris Hoi,

but partly because of the journey.

Yeah, absolutely.

I have deco that for me.

The Sir Chris Hoi episode,

it was such a privilege to chat to Sir Chris

and we mentioned the tour de four charity program

raising money for five charities.

It was actually an excess of two million pounds raised.

Wow.

From the event that took place in September,

I think we spoke to Sir Chris in the spring time.

Much better cause,

but he could have four 500K garages.

Yeah, yeah.

But no, he'd get chosen the amount of money involved.

That's incredible.

It's fantastic.

And exactly as you said,

PP, to be so generous with one's time

was just such a thrill in a privilege

to have that conversation.

And the other takeaway I had from that conversation

was Max Newman delivering an absolute masterclass

in radio journalism.

And I've said this,

Max, to you,

you'll know my sentiments haven't spoken directly,

but just Max's craft on the night there.

It was just a pleasure to witness that conversation

developing life because Max led that.

And he does have an art.

Kudos to you, Max.

That was fantastic to watch.

So yeah, brilliant.

So for me,

it was the interview of Sir Chris Hoi.

I'd like to give an honorable mention

to Boris Appenbrink,

however, from Portrait Exclusive.

And we've mentioned previously on the podcast,

we'll touch on it a little bit tonight on,

you know, just where the industry is going,

where cars, sorry,

the industry is going,

where sports cars are going in general,

it's so important that you have the right people,

the right minds,

the right personalities

in the key positions in these companies

to help cajole companies along in the right direction.

And, you know,

we've made reference to,

we're very lucky that we've had somebody

like Andrews Proininger,

heading up the GT department,

that has made these halo cars

that are literally

craving, admired and desired by

tens of thousands of people globally,

hundreds of thousands.

And Mr. Appenbrink,

I think, is the same with what he's done,

with the Portrait Exclusive

and Individualization Program at Portrait,

which should come ever more important,

but rather than it just being merely a cash cow

for Portrait to make extra money off cars

that are already coming off the production line,

it's somebody that understands intrinsically

as he demonstrated on the interview,

the history of the company,

reference with the sport classic,

the original, which was obviously his concept.

I think it's kind of what cemented his position at Portrait.

It's very important that people like him

are leading the way at companies like Portrait,

and his interview he demonstrated,

he was not only a very affable chap

but someone that understands

the industry and the scene,

the enthusiastic sphere,

he has a sharp eye for what's going on out there.

So I came away with a lot of admiration

but also a lot of respect for Mr. Appenbrink there.

Yeah, that's great.

But people often ask me why Portrait?

We've all been through those conversations

with friends who aren't particularly in the cars

and say why why Portrait?

And that essence is when it's the history of the company

and the fact that the accessibility of the brand

from your three, four, five-gram box tour

all the way through to your Sundle cars

and the ones that they're producing.

So that is a really important fact

that the people there are able to talk to the board

and persuade the board and say no,

if you don't do this, you're going to lose the essence.

It's the hardest thing is building a reputation

you can lose it overnight.

Absolutely.

And in a similar vein,

Torsten Klein joined us as on the same day

over in Berlin in early February.

The interviews I think were released on 9 Weeks radio

once embargo lifted in April.

So it's quite a long layover.

But Torsten again was involved with the 9-11 Spirit 70 project.

He's done a hell of a lot of Porsche in his time at the company since.

But he's a big enthusiast, a big collector

and half the interview was almost chatting.

We've got the mics rolling

and he was talking with such enthusiasts

and for his three, five, six.

And again, these are people building sports cars from tomorrow.

And they're driving the ones that come before that is invaluable.

They're not being counters.

They've got petrol running through their veins.

And so therefore they're creating the spirit of the brand

or rather keeping the spirit of the brand going

and saying, repeat myself,

but going back to the board and saying no,

we need to, this needs to happen.

You can do this side of it.

The four by fours and the electrics and things like that.

But people buy into the Porsche brand because of that history

and because of the sports cars and the racing.

Yeah, absolutely.

Very well said.

Right.

OK, so best mod to one's car.

This will probably be a short one, I imagine.

Well, I should start off very quickly.

Like me, my best mod to my car didn't do it myself

because my friend across the table from me

and he broke fitted my 930 Martini,

the classic retrofit.

Fuse, panel and upgraded the bulbs in the headlight.

So I can see where I'm going because driving at night,

particularly in the winter is not great.

And it was a little bit like a couple of candles in the front

and I kept getting fuses going.

So that has been a fantastic mod.

And so thank you very much, Andy.

Making that car reliable for Norway, wasn't it?

It was indeed, because I was a bit worried.

And because I think you had to do some running repairs

when we were up there.

Well, previous year, yes, we didn't make it.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Then we did muck around with a fuse box last year.

Yeah, which is what sort of brought it on.

And a bulb went in the bulb.

Yeah.

Yeah, also it's an anagons.

So that would be the mod.

The other thing is road trip preparation.

And you came up with this sort of folding sort of box.

So basically you chuckle the stuff you're going to have

on your road trip to it's accessible, be it your M&M,

peanut M&M's or bottles of water or whatever it is

that you just keep them in one place in the car.

But I also think it's worth looking at a...

Well, Sir Keep has got his center lock.

A center lock survival kit.

A center lock survival kit, which I think you should put up there

and so everybody can...

I think he did actually somebody else help him with that

and the DNHC.

And they...

Was it was Sunil?

Was it?

Yes.

Yeah.

That's very kind of him.

And so just being prep for road trips, the stuff that you,

well, let it happen to you, when Dilarish gave up the...

Yeah.

...gave up the ghost that you suddenly realised you were

no phone signal and you were on a mountainside

and it was going to be cold and it was...

Yeah, there's just a few things you perhaps would have wanted

in the car.

Yeah, yeah.

But the upgrade which I think is really exciting is coming

very soon is 987 and 997 and 991.1 classic PCM or the upgrade

for the PCM coming directly from Porsche.

What a game changer.

Yeah.

Big time.

It allows for modern technology we've touched on it earlier

of infertile system modern but you're given a naturally aspirated

analog car but yet you can have that modern tech.

Yeah.

No brainer.

I still think there's a discount available at Porsche Bournemouth

through nine months.

Yes, there is.

We won't reveal the discount code but DNX years will know it.

So it's definitely worth it.

Yeah, looking that up, we got it on the form of it.

Here we have it.

Which everyone's freely accessible on via the WhatsApp.

But again, we were saying over a succulent butter chicken an hour or so ago

that some of the specialists we talked to in the industry

who particularly deal with 991 generation cars.

They've observed that some people will opt for the doctor

to purely for the connectivity that it has in being compatible with Apple Car.

They've observed the dot one isn't.

And obviously with the PCCM plus as it will be called.

It's crazy to call 991 a classic, right?

But we're on the cusp.

But that really will be the great leveler.

It's the big advantage.

You know, side swipe to the knees for the dot two in a way.

So the 75 year old Lee simply be going around car shares going.

I remember those 991s wasn't it?

Yeah, yeah.

I went to the launch, you know.

I was in Frankfurt and I saw the 50th anniversary.

Yeah, absolutely.

Oh, I see you've got the PCCM too.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

PCCM plus and sports.

What a combo.

Yeah, that's that's that he's going to be a game changing mod when it arrives in really big time.

There's something coming for the classics as well.

They're replacing the what would be the clock with

temperature oil and wood and not water obviously.

It's an oil temperature and some other bits in there.

I was given a sort of bit of early on it.

But there's something that will replace the clock on the five dial classic.

Yeah, okay.

Which then interface with the engine giving electronic readouts.

Yeah.

Wow, okay.

Yeah.

I feel about that.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

So it's the man who just picked up a 992 team.

Yeah.

Hashtag.

Leave my dipstick alive.

That's how you check the oil.

Absolutely.

Fantastic.

A bit old, old jumping.

So it's fairly obvious.

Really.

Best mod to my car is absolutely that attractive system.

Yeah, of course.

There's been some rather amusing quips.

I've seen with nine works TV should be called Tractive TV now.

What's that?

The new fluffer.

He's the new fluffer.

But yeah, I'm happy with that.

That's for good reason.

You know, that is outstanding kit and has.

Yeah, absolutely.

Trance will might experience with a little Irish this year.

Obviously before it died.

And may the GT3er?

Yeah.

An option for you, I guess.

Yeah.

Definitely.

So that is, you know, creature comforts for Mrs. Super.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

Absolutely.

It's very existence.

That really was like the final missing piece in the jigsaw, really.

How many nights would take you to persuade other than my career?

Yeah.

It's easier to seek forgiveness than permission.

So that's how we go.

And that's why I'm on the sofa at Andy's house.

And yeah, that's, that's, it's a great motor.

It's an easy, easy way.

Yeah.

Just a quick one on the track.

Where they based?

Netherlands.

Could be a stop off.

Absolutely.

The guys, honestly, ring your head.

Just let them know.

And they will absolutely welcome you in the facility.

Not much.

Not much class.

Yeah, absolutely.

Absolutely.

It's a great, it's a great idea.

The facility is first class.

So do, do drop in.

Do drop in to Rod and the guys.

Are you at Andy Bestmod?

I don't think I've done much this year.

Really?

Yeah.

So I'm like me, isn't it?

I know why.

I know why, because you've been busy fixing other people's car.

Yeah, my sister.

I'm thinking of the V water, whatever it was this year,

weren't you fixing Rob's 356.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, trying to, trying to release his, um,

caliper on that, yeah.

It's no time to mess around with your own car.

Too much doing other.

Got, yeah, fixing your car.

I think I've fixed the 40th.

Let, yes.

The battery on that.

Yeah.

Oh, yes.

930.

Well, that was, that was an upgrade.

Wasn't it a mod?

Yeah, it wasn't.

Yeah, it was a mod.

I think the only thing that I've done to mine was fit a new coupling

to the gear lever.

Slendage.

Really?

Yeah.

I think that has been it.

Yeah.

It's a coupling.

Does that give it a spring?

No, it's, um, it's just behind your ass.

And it's the coupling between the gearbox and the rod

that comes the attaches to the gearbox.

The standard coupling is, um, there's got a couple of sort of

sliding bushes in there and a pin.

Um, and it's a little bit sort of chunky.

Um, so I've been forever sort of trying to improve the shift on,

on Thermador.

Um, and it's taking it that one step further.

It just is like a, what they call a helicopter joint.

So it's like a universal joint.

So it takes out any sort of slop in it.

Um, makes it a little bit noisy in the capping.

But, um, I'm fine with that.

Um, and yeah, it's, it's done this thing.

But, um, or anything in the Thermador was not right out of the box,

but when you, when you got Thermador, there was a lot that was right.

Oh, yeah, it was a lot.

Yeah.

The only thing that I wanted to improve really initially was the gear change.

So I've done a lot of work.

Yeah.

That's it.

No.

Beautiful.

Not very.

No.

Well, I'm not a list, so yeah, apologies for that.

I'm quite sorry.

I think I'll make, make it different next year.

Next year, I will very subjective apologies for those at home.

But it's, you know, hopefully there's maybe some sort of inspiration.

There may not be.

Well, I need to catch up with you guys and that's do more road trips.

Yeah.

So, yeah, definitely going to be out on the road more this year.

Superb.

Yeah, definitely.

Superb.

So it's simpler.

That for me.

Yeah.

Do you know these themes generally though, we've been talking about people if they've been on the fence do a road trip

even with a couple of mates put something on on the WhatsApp or on the DNHC anybody fancy doing a

trip to wherever quick trip. I did not see um

Was it Owen and Carl did a quick trip around Wales midweek this week? Great way to spend a December midweek. Yeah

just I'll be no no must be no traffic. Yeah looked for a look for the weather forecast for a nice

crisp. Yeah right day went off and hit it hit some yeah it's hit some great roads. Fantastic. Yeah

great shout. Great shout Andy B. I'll jump in people if you want. Yeah say say the last answer for

our guest. Yeah next next shit I will I think for me I would like to explore a new road slash region

so I think where we've done a lot of DNHC road trips last few years they're well trodden in my eyes

which have no problem with at all but again just that adrenaline junk in me I'd quite like to um

yeah just explore somewhere somewhere I've not been certainly for a few years

if not the first time having been there you know I think I think that yeah we'd love to do that

we'd love to go whether on my own or with other people who knows I mean again it could be an

opportunity to reach out to DNHC as and say it's anyone fancy it but it goes back to the south of

France gig a couple of weeks ago PP it was just a recognition ultimately but so much fun had you know

yeah that's an interesting case in point for perhaps some sort of impromptu what's that group or

or something whether to somebody just puts up something with it's a separate group you put up

something say hey I'm thinking of going to Wells tomorrow the next few days and particularly

if you're self-employed or retired or have the opportunity just to be able to jump on those sort of

sub sort of groups which then they can feed back into a wide drop of the scale rather rather going

driving yeah going driving that's the that's the what's that group is it get enjoying it if you

haven't joined it already I thought it was going driving I'm driving I'm sorry there it is

it's there yeah one step ahead of you okay going driving it'll be I'll be on there anyway but

suggestions of stuff will be great so mine is again a sort of personal thing which when I was

21 I drove across America starting New York City ended up in Baja California that was carried out

predominantly in a Pontiac Le Mans and please do not think that there's got anything to do with

the 24-hour race in America because it certainly does it's a voxel bellmont if you know what that is

you'll understand number reasons I'd like to do it first of all nostalgic something that I did

when when I was younger and sort of top in telling your sort of college through to working life

in the end and it's looking at it with with eyes of having had a career children and also a

difficult different political climate that exists in America and the changes and just doing it

my ideal whether it'll happen next year or the year after I'm not sure but my ideal will be

ship across an air called 911 a left-hand drive car it's just a thought of doing it in your own car

and that experience and and doing it really appeals to me so that would be my next year I hope

magic would love it can I come well what I was thinking because you guys will know me I'm

quite like the peace and quiet of driving and but what I was thinking about doing was if I am

able to is to put a shout out to people and say look I'm going to be in driving across here and

somebody wants to fly and do a leg or do an experience or something but also you can actually

borrow cars or hire cars from Porsche and in the US and I'm sure with your connections

Lee with that perhaps we could perhaps a few people come out and get a couple of 911s and join

and do certain things but I think it's really important to perhaps have some destination events

so you guys went over to what's that big event you went. Rensport reunion. Rensport union I'm

not sure what year that is next. I think it will be the year after next 27. There's no word

certainly nothing that's reached British shores that we can say with any authority but I think

27. Okay so if it is 27 I'll be going West East North South and waiting for 2027 but

but no I think it's quite important to Monterey car week those sorts of things I know that they're

very upscale but apparently the really good stuff happens in all random places around the whole

week where people gather in car parks and and where events not not the sort of high-end.

And certainly the stuff on the big money stuff but actually just watching cars drive around.

I mean you've experienced that kind of money in car scene and it is quite mind-blowing.

Yeah so that's mine. Love it. Love it. Love it. Absolutely love it. Love that and I really hope

that that happens for you. Thank you. Thank you. Can I just want to very quickly refine mine if

that's okay just very quickly. So yeah next year I would like to drive the gross glauctna

path. So what was ruminating in my head previously was driving somewhere different but just to hone

in on the detail on that. That is a road I've never driven before. It's one of Europe's highest

passes. The views are spectacular and it's well known is it back in the day was the test route

for the Porsche family to drive their hand-built new Porsche sports cars and I like the historical

tie-in. I'd love to do that next year. Tidly in the fifth anniversary year of nine works

that'd be very special. Oh yeah. I actually just I know you guys have come across it but it keeps

coming up on the new Instagram because of all the algorithms but driving in the Alps book which

I've now ordered and I've got it I forgot to bring it down with me. Is it curves or not?

Yeah I think it is a curves book. Yeah yeah I think it is. So I will share those details

but I literally just started to read it and that exactly what you were just describing how

was the historic pass that the Porsche family used. Porsche family used for those sort of

testing to the cars and yeah that's a great call definitely definitely. Can I finish? I know

we've all put a shift in but it's just a very quick bonus question. It's that's okay just very quickly

yeah let a cheeky side swipe but it's you know away from my own experience. We haven't done

any prep for the hoop. The car of the year what did what did this is in your own you know by whatever

metric what is the the the Porsche of the year really and for what reason and I say that because

obviously there's been a lot of airtime delivered to the Kminar this year which has to be for me

the Porsche 2025 without a shadow of a doubt and I do feel that this podcast I don't care what anybody

says I do feel this podcast it's pretty central to that finally being unearthed because it's sat

there for for the last 10 years plus a manual bucket seat Kminar has been 40k in this country

yeah and like now it's you know that a PDK car will be a 40 and a manual be knocking on for for

50s now. I personally think it's great that that car is starting to finally be revealed for what it

is and I think there are 10 odd in cars and the collective I know there's a WhatsApp group dedicated

to the cars which is great and shows the enthusiasm for them but yeah we've spoke about that car

in such glowing terms for a long time it's great to see a non-911 take to the floor so for me

yeah car of the year it's got me there. Well I'm not going to disagree with that in any way

sure I'll take the bung in cash people. Yeah absolutely the the the folding stuff will be coming

no generally we joke about it and it causes some amusement but but there's a reason and it is

going back to what I said earlier it's going back to the essence of what a sports car was about

I think probably the Elise series one had a bit of that as well and as you know my brother's very

into his Elise it was into Lotus' and so and he's got a couple of releases I think and it's just

you get in it and you just you just think this is what it's about and yeah okay it's pushing 50,000

but 40 are grand they were 35, 40 grand for a long time and yeah it has to be the Cayman R

for me. I'll agree with you. Yeah yeah it was my best car trip in this year. Yeah yeah yeah well

let's all in. Yeah yeah yeah we're nothing if not predictable honorable mentions for 997 GT3s

and RS's they're starting to kick on a little bit now there's for a long time been a big overlap

with 996 GT product but 997s have definitely kicking on and as you congratulations to Mr. Bailey.

Yes yeah yeah fantastic. What a car yeah 997.2 RS. We're staying in Ashford overnight on the

way back from Colt de Sombra and oh look 997 GT3 RS in gray with red bits on it popped up in all

innocence. Oh I'm sure Ben won't mind me sharing at all. I've been having joined for a brilliant

podcast with you Andy and Max. I think it was the end of last year or early this year and then

he explained his man maths behind amassing the cars and I congratulate Ben on the GT3 RS purchase

and I noticed it had ceramics and I said would you take the ceramics off and box them and his

reply was who would I be boxing them for another one the personification of the DNHC when you go to

midnight mass for Christmas and you look up at the stained glass you won't see Jesus you'll see Ben

daily. So yeah kudos to you Ben that is that's fantastic. That's definitely been a great

feel good or positive story in terms of models this year and also a bit of a curve ball to end

as well. I'll put up there is the McCann EV because those cars have sold by the bucket load

and in a period where Porsche it's well documented the financial struggles it's happening

happening. There could be an argument that the McCann is safe Porsche this year in a big way.

So yeah they they have proved very very very popular. That's great great news. I didn't know that.

Very popular. Well that's 2025 we hope you've enjoyed. Thanks for all your support not just today

but in every single episode you choose to listen we're so grateful to have your time. Thank you

P.P for the time you've dedicated to us. As I've said elsewhere on YouTube a big thank you

to you personally for helping me out with the little Irish breaking down in the south of France.

You have got such a lovely car that is the last internal combustion engine

GTS 4 liter from Porsche Bournemouth. You immediately drove it around south of France within the

first week of it being in your custody and then very kindly gave it to me for a couple of days so

that Laura and I could just get about so as I said to you not all heroes wear capes.

Thank you very much indeed for the opportunity coming on here and summarising the year we've all

happened to be great and more in the future. More friends, more drives. Absolutely.

Here's more fun time. Absolutely and lots and lots of miles.

Yeah perfect. Always driven not hidden.

Cheers all. Bye bye.

This episode is brought to you by the driven not hidden collective.

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About this episode

Reflecting on 2025, the hosts of 9WERKS Radio share their highlights, including memorable road trips, events, and the impact of the Cayman R on the Porsche community. They discuss the camaraderie built through shared experiences, notable guests like Sir Chris Hoy, and the evolution of Porsche models. The episode emphasizes the joy of driving, the importance of community, and the excitement surrounding upcoming Porsche releases, including the anticipated return of combustion engines in the 718 lineup. A mix of nostalgia and forward-looking optimism makes this a compelling wrap-up of the year.

4GTS 9-on-1 Bermester boxer center gravity ceramic brakes classic retrofit Club Sport flat six engine hybrid

Pontiac Lemans GTO Convertible Porsche 356 Porsche 911 Porsche Cayman

Original notes

Andy and Lee are joined by Paul Pressland from the Driven Not Hidden Collective to review and reflect on their Porsche adventures in 2025. What’s been the biggest surprise? Which car has been crowned Porsche Of The Year? And what’s in store for 2026?!

Thanks for all your support in 2025.

Find your dream Porsche on the 9WERKS Marketplace: 9werks.co.uk/marketplace

Thanks to our friends heritagepartscentre.com for sponsoring this podcast, get up to 10% off your basket by entering the code ‘9WERKS10’ at the checkout on heritagepartscentre.com

‘9WERKS Radio’ @9werks.radio is your dedicated Porsche and car podcast, taking you closer than ever to the world’s finest sports cars and the culture and history behind them.

The show is brought to you by 9werks.co.uk, the innovative online platform for Porsche enthusiasts. Hosted by Porsche Journalist Lee Sibley @9werks_lee, and 911 owner and engineer Andy Brookes @993andy, with special input from friends and experts around the industry, including you, our valued listeners.

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