S2 Ep32: I BROKE The Top Gear Suzuki Liana (& Help Pick A NEW Colour For My Clio Williams!)
About this episode
A chaotic, car-nerd catch-up episode: both Suzuki Lianas they tried at Top Gear’s Dunsfold test track blew up, with one car losing power and the other dumping coolant. The hosts dive into real buying mistakes and wins—CarVertical flags a Fiat 500C’s mileage rollback, while Taylor and Rory debate what to buy next (including a possible cheap Bentley Continental for £6k). Project updates include RS4 headliner/ozone/coilovers, a Porsche gearbox rebuild, and Rory’s barn-find 9-11 G-body. The show ends with a “how much that?” pricing game and an “extreme car buying disorder” email.
BMW E60
"...yan removing shitty black wrap from a set of BMW E60 kidney grills. Good man. Sean Burbridge listening..."
The BMW 5 Series is a comfortable, mid-size sedan. The episode talks about the E60 generation and its front grille design. They mention it because it’s a popular BMW model people notice and sometimes modify.
The BMW 5 Series is a mid-size executive sedan known for balancing comfort with driving dynamics. The podcast references an “E60” and “kidney grills,” which are design features associated with that generation. It’s discussed because the E60-era 5 Series is a recognizable BMW shape and a common platform for owner customization.
Maserati Ghibli
"...rtugal, Lewis Morgan loving life in his Maserati Ghibli, David on a train to Edinburgh, mechanic Tom weld..."
The Maserati Ghibli is a luxury sedan, meaning it’s built to feel comfortable and premium. It’s also meant to be more exciting than a typical family car. They mention it because it’s a stylish car people enjoy driving.
The Maserati Ghibli is a luxury sports sedan designed to combine comfort with a more performance-focused character. The podcast mentions someone “loving life” in a Maserati Ghibli, which frames it as a stylish, enjoyable daily driver. It’s discussed because it’s a recognizable Maserati model that sits in the luxury-sport segment.
Crufts
"That's like crufts, isn't it? Yeah, it's when you get bad dogs. No, it's when you make them do tricks"
Crufts is a big UK dog show. The hosts are comparing the dog training event they mentioned to that kind of competition.
Crufts is a major UK dog show where dogs compete and owners demonstrate training and skills. In the transcript, it’s used as a comparison for a dog training competition.
CarVertical
"onto the podcast sponsor, which is CarVertical. [375.3s] We use CarVertical every single day, every single hour... [386.8s] And the man on the phone to you said that it wasn't a Cat D. [390.6s] And we CarVertical'd it, and it came up as it was."
CarVertical is a website/app that checks a car’s history using records from different databases. It can help you spot things like whether a car was written off, so you don’t get surprised later.
CarVertical is a vehicle history service that pulls data from multiple sources to help you understand a car’s past. In this segment, it’s used to check whether a car is a Cat D write-off, which affects how you should value and negotiate the vehicle.
scrapyard
"Well, I say selling. It's, it's going to the unfortunate scrapyard. Yeah."
A scrapyard is a place that breaks old cars apart for parts and recycling. If someone says it’s going to the scrapyard, the car is basically being written off.
A scrapyard is where end-of-life vehicles are taken to be dismantled and recycled. When a car is described as going to the scrapyard, it usually means it’s no longer economical or safe to repair.
welding
"didn't I say mechanic Tom welding a transit? ... can you weld our transit?"
Welding is a repair method used to join or replace damaged metal sections—often required when rust has eaten through panels or structural parts. It can restore strength, but the underlying cause (corrosion) still needs to be addressed with proper cleaning, treatment, and protection.
rusting
"And obviously those transits are, those generations are known for rusting. They're really bad."
Rusting is when the metal starts to corrode and weaken. On vans, it can get worse fast because of salt and weather, and eventually it can mean the van isn’t worth fixing.
Rusting refers to corrosion of the metal body, which can start small and then spread quickly—especially on vans that see road salt and heavy use. Once structural areas are affected, welding may be temporary and the vehicle can become unsafe or uneconomical to keep.
ozone machine
"You can get ozone machines on Amazon for what you also like 40 quid... it just stinks and just buys up by an ozone machine and just blast it for 15 minutes."
An ozone machine is a device that makes a special gas that helps kill bad smells in a car. You don’t want to breathe that gas, so you usually run it while nobody is inside the vehicle.
An ozone machine generates ozone (O₃) to break down odors, including smoke smells, by oxidizing odor-causing compounds. It’s often used for car interiors, but it must be used carefully because ozone is harmful to breathe.
headliner
"So if bought some more bits for the RS4, so headliner, because we're going to do the headliner ourselves... You can get the headliner out through the..."
The headliner is the material on the inside of the roof. If it’s sagging or damaged, you have to remove it and fit a new one, usually by taking off some interior trim.
The headliner is the fabric/trim panel on the underside of the roof inside the cabin. Replacing it often involves removing trim pieces and sometimes dealing with clips, glue, and access through the doors or windows.
coolant
"Were they knocking? Just exhaust should know. So one of them was coolant. It went everywhere."
Coolant is the liquid that keeps the engine from getting too hot. If it leaks out, the engine can overheat fast.
Coolant is the fluid that carries heat away from the engine so it doesn’t overheat. If coolant “goes everywhere,” it usually means a leak or hose failure, which can quickly lead to overheating and engine damage if not addressed.
doing laps
"Either way, I did some laps and it was fun. So it wasn't you then? What? Shit. No, Mike didn't get to have a go."
“Doing laps” just means driving around a track over and over. People do it to see how the car handles and how fun it is to drive.
“Doing laps” means repeatedly driving around a track or closed course to test how the car feels and performs. It’s a common way to evaluate grip, braking, steering response, and overall drivability in a controlled environment.
metallic
"It's got a lot of metallic in it, a bit more of a modern color. I think it looks great."
Metallic paint contains tiny metal flakes that reflect light, which can make colors look deeper and more dynamic—especially in sunlight. The speaker notes Alpine Racing Blue has “a lot of metallic,” implying it will look more modern and vivid than a flatter classic blue.
spray up a few little swatches
"[1123.1s] So I need to chat to our painter, Chris, just down the road. [1126.5s] And then he's going to spray up a few little swatches, and then we can have a look. [1130.6s] That's very exciting."
A swatch is a small test paint sample. They spray a few options so you can see which color looks right before painting the whole car.
“Swatches” are small painted samples used to preview a color before committing to a full respray. This helps confirm the exact shade, how it looks in different lighting, and whether it matches the intended finish (like metallic flake or pearl).
scrapping
"So the question is, is what are you doing with the old version of this vehicle? I'm scrapping it. It's already scrapping."
“Scrapping” means the car is basically being taken apart and recycled instead of being kept or sold. It usually happens when it’s not worth repairing.
“Scrapping” means the vehicle is being dismantled and recycled rather than repaired or resold. In the UK context, this often follows a write-off decision, and it can affect whether parts are available later and what paperwork/valuation you get.
BMW M2
"Or the other one is a BMW M2. Sorry, I switched off there... The M2, if it is a great looking car, do you know what? I drove one at the weekend."
The BMW M2 is BMW’s smaller, sportier “M” car. People like it because it drives like a proper performance car without being as big as some other BMW M models.
The BMW M2 is a compact performance coupe from BMW’s M division. It’s known for delivering “small car” agility with an M-style driving feel, and it’s offered in different trims including manual versions.
Shopify
"Now, Chris, you've been using Shopify for quite a while. Why is it so good? Why has it actually helped supercharge the growth?"
Shopify is a website builder for selling things online. It helps you list products, take payments, and track sales so you don’t have to set up all the tools yourself.
Shopify is an e-commerce platform that lets you build an online store, manage products, and process payments. In the context of the episode, it’s being used to help a business sell online without having to build everything from scratch.
engine bay
"I cleaned inside and out. I put a trim shine on it. I cleaned all the engine bay."
The engine bay is the space under the hood. People clean it to keep it looking good and to make it easier to see leaks or worn parts.
The engine bay is the compartment under the hood where the engine and major components live. Cleaning it can help you spot leaks, worn hoses, and grime buildup that can hide problems.
supercharger
"I cleaned all the engine bay. I polished my supercharger. Okay."
A supercharger is a device that forces extra air into the engine. More air usually means more power, but it needs proper care so it keeps working reliably.
A supercharger is a forced-induction device that uses engine power to compress air before it enters the engine. That denser air lets the engine make more power, but it also means you need to keep the system clean and maintained.
burnouts
"Were there lots of burnouts? There was a few. Excellent. There was, I turned around actually, I was talking to someone."
A burnout is when someone revs and spins the tires to make smoke and noise. It’s mostly for show, but it can wear out tires quickly.
A burnout is when a driver spins the driven wheels while the car is held in place or moving very slowly, usually to heat up the tires or show off. In enthusiast contexts, it’s often done for drama and sound, but it can also accelerate tire wear.
Alpina
"Excellent. With Alpina stripes on the side of it. Nice."
Alpina is a company that takes certain BMWs and makes them more special—faster and more refined. The stripes are a recognizable Alpina look.
Alpina is a German tuner that builds performance-oriented versions of BMWs (and some other brands) with its own engineering and tuning. Alpina stripes are a visual cue that the car may be an Alpina-prepped or Alpina-styled build rather than a factory BMW-only spec.
spoiler
"And all the little touches of the like the ductile little spoiler that we put on, the rear diffuser, the front lip."
A spoiler is a piece on the back (or sometimes the front) of a car that helps the air flow better. It can make the car feel more stable and also changes the look.
A spoiler is an aerodynamic add-on mounted to the car’s body to help manage airflow. On many performance cars it can improve stability at speed, but it’s also often chosen for styling.
costs thousands of pounds
"And it's going to cost thousands, literally thousands of pounds,"
They’re saying the repair bill will be in the thousands of pounds. That’s a big deal because it can change whether it’s worth fixing or not.
Stating it will “cost thousands of pounds” highlights the financial reality of major repairs and rebuilds. For enthusiasts, this is often the point where you weigh repair costs against the car’s value and future reliability.
mint
"I did everything I wanted to do with that car. It's absolutely mint. Yep."
“Mint” just means really good condition. If someone says a car is “mint,” they mean it’s clean and looks/feels like it’s been cared for.
“Mint” is British slang meaning something is in excellent condition. In car talk, calling a car “mint” usually implies it looks great and is well-kept, with minimal wear or issues.
LED headlights
"So... He wants to get those LED headlights from... "
LED headlights are a type of car headlight that uses LED bulbs. People upgrade to them because they often look better and can light the road more clearly.
LED headlights use light-emitting diodes instead of older halogen bulbs. They’re popular because they can be brighter, more efficient, and may offer different light patterns depending on the housing and whether they’re designed for reflector vs projector setups.
dream car
"Because as it turns out, Rory, that's my dream car. [2377.5s] Not so much in green. [2378.5s] No, green. [2383.0s] I'm not going to say dream car because we overused that."
“Dream car” is the enthusiast term for the specific vehicle someone most wants to own, often regardless of practicality. The speaker also notes they’re trying not to overuse the phrase, but the concept is still central to the conversation.
straight swap
"Straight swap. A straight swap? Straight swap. Yeah, I would straight swap it."
A straight swap is a direct trade: you give your car and get the other car back, without adding money. It usually means both cars are considered similar value.
A “straight swap” means exchanging one car for another with no cash added—just a direct trade. It’s a common way enthusiasts talk about trades when both sides believe the cars are roughly equal in value.
91,000 miles on the clock
"Yeah, and it's only got 91,000 miles on the clock, which for one of those is actually really low."
“Miles on the clock” just means the odometer reading. Lower mileage can mean the car has been driven less, which can be a good sign for wear. But you still want to make sure it was maintained properly.
“Miles on the clock” is the odometer reading—how many miles the car has been driven. For classic cars, mileage can matter because lower mileage often suggests less wear, but it’s still important to check maintenance history and condition.
barn finds
"Oh my God, this was like, you know when you dream of those barn finds? Yeah, when we got there, the door was half open, you just see half of it."
A barn find is a car that’s been sitting somewhere for a long time—like in a barn or garage—and then gets discovered. It can be exciting because it might be rare or low-mileage, but it may need work after sitting.
A “barn find” is an old or forgotten car that’s been stored away (often for years) and is rediscovered. The appeal is usually the potential for originality and low mileage, but it can also mean long-term storage issues to sort out.
full respray
"it needs to go for a full respray. And I don't mean full respray."
A full respray is repainting the entire car, typically after body repairs and surface preparation. It’s more expensive and time-consuming than spot repairs, and it’s often done when the paint is mismatched, faded, or the bodywork would look uneven without a uniform new coat.
road legal
"If we're going by that, mine's running and dry. Okay. So yours is road legal because mine is."
“Road legal” means the car is allowed to be driven on public roads. It usually requires registration and passing any required checks. Here, they’re saying one car can legally be driven, while the other can’t.
“Road legal” means the car meets the legal requirements to be driven on public roads (typically things like registration, insurance, and required safety/emissions compliance). In the context here, the speaker is contrasting their car’s status with the other person’s car, implying one is legal to drive while the other isn’t. That distinction often affects how urgently you need to fix issues before using the car daily.
cheap luxury
"It's just cheap luxury, isn't it? It's a bit of fun."
“Cheap luxury” means getting a fancy brand for less money than you’d pay new. The catch is that repairs and maintenance can cost more than you’d expect.
“Cheap luxury” usually refers to buying a premium-brand car on a budget once it has depreciated. The tradeoff is that older luxury cars can be expensive to maintain because they often have more complex systems and higher parts costs.
daily driver
"That's why I've been daily in my 540i. Do you know, actually, that comes to a point that I just worked out the other day, it's now cheaper for me to drive my Aston into work than it is to drive the Land Rover."
A “daily driver” is the car you use for everyday commuting and errands. The segment uses this idea to show how fuel prices and efficiency matter most in real, repeated use—not just when buying the car.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.