The hosts kick off with a listener’s “4D” license-plate question, arguing number plates are “3D” and the “fourth dimension” is time. They then riff on protruding “4D/raised digit” plates, offenders-register “pedo plates,” and decode a “Toyota Tacoma” water pump gasket reference (1996–2010). The conversation turns to 1980s car-and-celebrity pairings—Grace Jones, the CX Turbo, and a “Palmer in the Bahamas” convertible gag—before switching to fuel-station etiquette and car-show/seat-adjustment manners.
In this week’s On The Other Side Of Things question answering show, Jonny and Richard discuss ‘4D’ plates, Grace Jones and the Citroen CX, fuel station etiquette, a very podcast coded car, and random challenges from strangers.
"... 4D than the rest of us as we all whiz around the galaxy. The plastic, flat number plates that most normal..."
The Ford Galaxy is a people-car, built to carry several passengers at once. It’s designed for family trips and daily driving where space and comfort matter.
The Ford Galaxy is a large family-oriented MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) designed to carry multiple passengers comfortably. It’s often discussed in the context of practical, everyday motoring—space, seating, and visibility—rather than performance. That makes it a natural topic when the conversation turns to how people “whiz around” in bigger, more practical cars.
"...o have tried to make a car as efficient or Toyota Prius or whatever, tried to make this car as wind tunne..."
The Toyota Prius is a car that uses both a gas engine and an electric motor to help it use less fuel. People talk about it a lot when discussing how to make cars more efficient, including how the shape of the car affects fuel use.
The Toyota Prius is a hybrid car known for prioritizing fuel efficiency by combining a gasoline engine with an electric motor. It often comes up in discussions about aerodynamic design and “wind tunnel” development because small efficiency gains matter a lot for real-world mileage. It’s a common reference point when people talk about how to make cars use less energy.
A water pump gasket is a thin seal that sits between the water pump and the engine. It helps stop coolant from leaking out—if it wears out, you can lose coolant and the engine can run hot.
A water pump gasket is the sealing layer between the engine’s water pump and the engine block. Its job is to prevent coolant leaks; if it fails, you can get overheating or coolant loss.
"“It's a water pump gasket for a Toyota Tacoma. I think 1996 to 2010 model.”"
A Toyota Tacoma is a pickup truck. Here they’re talking about a gasket used with the water pump, which helps keep the engine’s coolant system sealed so it doesn’t leak.
The Toyota Tacoma is a midsize pickup truck known for its durability and popularity in North America. In this segment, the hosts are specifically talking about a water pump gasket used on the Tacoma, which is a cooling-system sealing part.
"He says, can we talk about the Citroen CX turbo and how wonderful it looks?
[352.3s] And he sent a link to that infamous advert for the CX with Grace Jones."
The Citroën CX is a famous older Citroën that’s known for its unique look and comfort. “Turbo” means the engine has a device that forces extra air in, which helps it make more power.
The Citroën CX is a classic French executive car known for its distinctive styling and its comfort-focused engineering. In this context, “turbo” points to a CX variant that uses a turbocharger to boost power compared with the naturally aspirated versions.
"That is good. He says, can we talk about the Citroen CX turbo and how wonderful it looks? And he sent a l..."
The Citroën CX is an older, comfort-focused car from Citroën. The “turbo” version means it has a turbocharger to help the engine make more power.
The Citroën CX is a classic French executive car known for its distinctive design and comfort-focused engineering. It’s often discussed with admiration because of its unique look and the way it was built to feel smooth and composed. When the podcast mentions the “CX turbo,” it’s pointing to a performance-oriented version of that same model line.
"Perhaps Robert Palmer in a Senator 3000 CD driving through the Cairn Gorms,
[385.0s] or Mike Rutherford in a Di Tommaso Pantera jumping over five elephants on a wooden ramp."
The Cairngorms are mountains in Scotland. They’re known for rough, scenic landscapes—great for a dramatic car story.
The Cairn Gorms refers to the Cairngorms area in Scotland, known for rugged highland terrain and dramatic weather. It’s the kind of landscape that makes a “driving through” scenario feel cinematic, especially for a big, classic car.
"Perhaps Robert Palmer in a Senator 3000 CD driving through the Cairn Gorms,
[385.0s] or Mike Rutherford in a Di Tommaso Pantera jumping over five elephants on a wooden ramp."
The De Tomaso Pantera is an older Italian sports car with the engine in the middle. It’s known for being fast and having a very dramatic, exotic look.
The De Tomaso Pantera is an Italian mid-engine sports car from the 1970s/early 1980s, famous for its aggressive styling and V8 performance. It’s often remembered as a “supercar look” machine that became a pop-culture icon in the era of big, loud sports cars.
"If I did that jump over those elephants, I might damage my guitar in the boot, so no.
[435.4s] I'm going to take the Saab, which has got a very roomy boot..."
A “boot” is the trunk of the car—the storage space in the back. They’re saying the Saab has a big one that can fit heavy or awkward items like drums.
In UK car talk, the “boot” means the trunk area at the back of the car where you store luggage and cargo. The hosts mention using the Saab’s roomy boot to help move drums, emphasizing how practical the car is for carrying bulky items.
"But then you wouldn't stick him in a mini-moke.
[471.2s] It's not suave enough."
A Mini Moke is a tiny, open-top car that’s often linked with fun, beach-style driving. They’re joking that Palmer wouldn’t look right in one.
The Mini Moke is a small, open-top off-road-style vehicle originally developed for military and later civilian use. It’s often associated with beachy, carefree driving—so the hosts are joking that Palmer wouldn’t fit the “Bahamas” vibe in something like a Mini Moke.
"Well, it'll turn into the air brake that we've talked about before, won't he,
[494.4s] and a convertible if he's not careful."
An “air brake” is something that slows you down by pushing against the air. Here they’re joking that his shirt would catch air and slow him down like a brake would.
An “air brake” is a device or effect that uses airflow to slow a vehicle down, increasing aerodynamic drag. In this segment it’s used as a metaphor for how an overly billowy shirt could act like drag while driving.
"Well, obviously, there's Brian Ferry in a white dinner suit
[518.2s] in a Jaguar XJ12 Series 3.
[521.8s] Would he be in the XJ12, would he?"
The Jaguar XJ12 Series 3 is a classic Jaguar luxury car with a V12 engine. People like it because it’s smooth and sounds great, and it feels very “old-school” and upscale.
The Jaguar XJ12 Series 3 is a late-1970s/early-1980s luxury sedan from Jaguar, notable for its V12 engine—one of the brand’s most characterful powertrains. In enthusiast circles, the Series 3 is remembered for its classic big-cat styling and the way the V12 delivers smooth, effortless power.
"XJS Cabrio might... XJS might hit some suave notes if..."
The Jaguar XJ-S is a classic-style sports coupe made by Jaguar. It’s meant for comfortable long-distance driving with a more dramatic, stylish look.
The Jaguar XJ-S is a grand touring coupe from Jaguar, known for its stylish design and performance-focused character. It’s the kind of car that gets mentioned when people talk about “suave” or distinctive personalities in classic sports cars. In a podcast, it often comes up as an example of a memorable, characterful model rather than a practical choice.
Term
full grip
"His refusal to use a full grip on the steering wheel because he is, by definition, Robert Palmer."
“Full grip” just means holding the steering wheel firmly and correctly. The point is that the driver isn’t holding it the right way, so things go wrong.
“Full grip” here refers to holding the steering wheel with a proper, secure hand position rather than a loose or incomplete hold. The host is using it as a driving-control detail to explain why the car ends up in trouble.
"I'm a sales director who does an awful lot of motorway work in a three-litre petrol Audi Q7, covering 120,000 miles in less than three years."
A motorway is a high-speed controlled-access road (typically with multiple lanes and limited entry/exit). In the UK context, it’s the kind of road where long-distance commuting racks up mileage quickly, which is why the speaker’s “120,000 miles” claim is framed around motorway work.
"in a three-litre petrol Audi Q7, covering 120,000 miles in less than three years."
The Audi Q7 is a luxury SUV. It’s the kind of car people use for long drives and everyday commuting, and here it’s mentioned as the speaker’s high-mileage motorway vehicle.
The Audi Q7 is a midsize luxury SUV from Audi, known for its comfort-focused ride and practical family size. In this segment, the host mentions a “three-litre petrol” version, which points to a larger-displacement engine option used for high-mileage motorway commuting.
"As a result, I find myself at a petrol station two or three times a week. Oh, thank goodness for company petrol cards in brackets."
A petrol station is where you stop to put fuel in your car. The question here is about what you should do when there’s a queue and some pumps are already taken.
A petrol station is a fueling stop with one or more pumps where drivers queue to refuel. The episode’s Q&A is specifically about etiquette when multiple pumps are available and one side is occupied, which makes this a practical, situation-specific topic rather than a generic driving term.
"so I'm not sure if the forgiveness is there in my choice of SUV."
Rover is a car brand. The speaker is basically saying they’re a Rover fan, which is why they’re talking about whether their SUV choice “fits” their personality.
Rover is a British car brand (historically associated with models like the 200/400 series and the Range Rover line). In this segment, “Rover driver at heart” is a brand identity statement rather than a specific model, used to frame the speaker’s SUV choice preferences.
"...cause a pissing accident. But I saw someone in an Octavia estate. I saw them because I could see as I appro..."
The Skoda Octavia is a regular passenger car that’s designed to be practical. The estate (wagon) version has extra space for luggage or carrying things.
The Skoda Octavia is a practical compact-to-midsize car (often available as an estate/wagon) known for offering lots of space for the money. It can come up in everyday driving stories because it’s common and easy to spot in traffic. In the context you provided, it’s mentioned as an estate you could see while driving.
"But then that's only covering that base. The X-Type seems to... So, no, I don't think..."
The Jaguar X-Type is a Jaguar car that’s built as a regular sedan for everyday driving. It’s meant to be a more practical Jaguar option compared with more specialized sports models.
The Jaguar X-Type is a Jaguar-badged sedan that’s typically discussed as a more accessible, mainstream entry into the brand’s lineup. In a conversation like this, it may be referenced as part of a broader “which model fits the idea” discussion. The key point is that it’s a Jaguar model aimed at everyday driving rather than being purely a niche sports car.
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