S2 Ep37: How To Look RICH On A Budget & Lotus Carlton UPDATE!
The AutoAlex Podcast
S2 Ep37: How To Look RICH On A Budget & Lotus Carlton UPDATE! The AutoAlex Podcast · Jun 14, 2026
S2 Ep37: How To Look RICH On A Budget & Lotus Carlton UPDATE!

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S2 Ep37: How To Look RICH On A Budget & Lotus Carlton UPDATE!
Tesla Model
Car

Tesla Model

The Tesla Model Y is an electric SUV made by Tesla. It’s meant for regular driving, but it uses electricity instead of gasoline. People talk about it a lot because it’s one of Tesla’s most popular models.

Tesla Model 3
Car

Tesla Model 3

The Tesla Model 3 is an electric car made by Tesla. Instead of using gasoline, it runs on a battery. It’s a popular model, so it often shows up in conversations about electric cars.

Aston Martin DB11
Car

Aston Martin DB11

The Aston Martin DB11 is a luxury sports car made by Aston Martin. It’s meant for comfortable driving over longer distances. The podcast mentions it because someone in the conversation has one in their family.

Vantage
Car

Vantage

The Aston Martin Vantage is a sportier Aston Martin than the DB11. It tends to get more attention, and in this story the host thinks it’s because it’s louder and more noticeable.

Volkswagen XL1
Car

Volkswagen XL1

The Volkswagen XL1 is a very fuel-efficient hybrid car. It’s also known for its weird-looking doors that open upward, which is part of why people find it memorable.

Audi RS4
Car

Audi RS4

An Audi RS4 is a sporty, higher-performance Audi A4. It’s the kind of car people buy when they want something that drives nicely every day but still feels quick and fun.

Ferrari F40
Car

Ferrari F40

The Ferrari F40 is a famous old-school supercar from Ferrari that people consider a classic. It’s known for being fast in a very dramatic, hardcore way—and it’s extremely expensive today.

Lamborghini Aventador roadster
Car

Lamborghini Aventador roadster

The Lamborghini Aventador is a very expensive, high-power supercar. A “roadster” version is basically the open-top (convertible) version, so it usually costs more and feels more special to drive.

Term

finance yourself up to your eyeballs

That phrase means borrowing as much money as you can to buy the car, so your payments are really stretched. It’s basically saying “go all-in with financing,” not a car feature.

Topic

Top Gear influence on dream cars

They’re talking about how watching Top Gear as a kid made certain supercars feel like dreams. It shows how TV can make a car become a lifelong obsession.

Mercedes SLR McLaren
Car

Mercedes SLR McLaren

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is a very special Mercedes supercar made with help from McLaren. It’s the kind of car that got a lot of attention because it looked wild and was extremely fast for its time.

Bugatti Veyron
Car

Bugatti Veyron

The Bugatti Veyron is one of the most famous hypercars ever made. People talked about it because it was unbelievably powerful—around 1,000 horsepower—and it felt like a once-in-a-generation machine.

Part

injectors

Injectors are parts that deliver fuel into the engine. If they’re not working right, the engine can run poorly, so replacing the injectors is a real repair.

E46
Car

E46

“E46” is a BMW 3 Series from a specific generation. They’re talking about testing it on a dyno so they can tune it for better performance.

Term

dyno

A dyno is a testing machine for cars. It measures how much power the engine makes, and it helps tuners adjust the car so it runs better.

Term

tune a car

“Tune a car” means adjusting the engine’s control settings (like fuel delivery and ignition timing) to improve how it drives and how much power it makes. On modern cars, this is usually done with ECU calibration changes based on dyno or road data.

Porsche Carrera GT
Car

Porsche Carrera GT

The Porsche Carrera GT is a very rare, very fast supercar made by Porsche. It’s the kind of car people talk about because it’s special and hard to find. In the episode, it’s mentioned alongside other older Porsche models.

911 930S
Car

911 930S

The Porsche 911 is a famous sports car model made by Porsche. It has been around for many decades, and there are different versions depending on the year. In the episode, it’s mentioned as part of a discussion about older Porsche models.

Part

heater matrix

The heater matrix is the part that warms the air for the cabin using hot coolant from the engine. If it leaks, coolant can end up in the floor area under your feet.

Term

footwell

The footwell is the floor space where your feet go. If coolant is pooling there, it usually means something in the car’s heating/cooling system is leaking.

Term

coolant

Coolant is the liquid that keeps the engine from overheating. If you find it where your feet are, it usually means a leak from the heating system.

Opel Astra
Car

Opel Astra

The Opel Astra is a regular, everyday compact car. The podcast mentions it as a recognizable name, not as a detailed performance topic. It’s the kind of car many people would know by sight or name.

Jaguar Xf
Car

Jaguar Xf

A Jaguar XF is a luxury car (a sedan) from Jaguar. Here, the host says they bought one as a daily driver and want to restore it because it had problems when they got it.

Term

MOT

In the UK, MOT is a yearly safety/emissions test for cars. If it fails, the car usually needs repairs before it’s allowed back on the road.

Term

fully restore it

“Fully restore it” means fixing the car properly, not just patching it. In this case, the host implies both the looks and the mechanical problems will be addressed.

Term

air-conditioned seats

Air-conditioned seats are seats with cooling built in. They help keep you comfortable by blowing cool air through the seat.

Term

full-engine rebuild

A full-engine rebuild means the engine is taken apart and repaired with new or reconditioned parts. It’s usually done when the engine has serious problems, but it can make the car run properly again.

Porsche 993
Car

Porsche 993

The Porsche 993 is a specific generation of the 911. It’s special because it’s the last air-cooled 911, so many enthusiasts see it as a classic “dream” version of the car.

Lotus Carlton
Car

Lotus Carlton

The Lotus Carlton is a very rare, special performance car based on the Carlton. Because it’s so hard to find, people treat it like something you can’t easily get—so buying one usually means you need to be extra careful about its condition.

Term

unobtainium

“Unobtainium” is a funny way to say “so rare you can’t get it.” Here, they mean the Lotus Carlton is extremely hard to find.

Term

high mileage

“High mileage” just means the car has been driven a lot. More miles usually means more wear, and it can also mean more problems might be waiting to show up.

Term

rusty

“Rusty” means the car has corrosion. Rust can be more than cosmetic—on older cars it can spread and become expensive to repair.

BMW M3
Car

BMW M3

The BMW M3 is a faster, performance-focused version of the BMW 3 Series. It’s made for people who want stronger acceleration and a more sporty driving feel. The episode mentions a full restoration, meaning the car is being rebuilt carefully from the ground up.

BMW 330i Techno Violet
Car

BMW 330i Techno Violet

This is a BMW 330i, and “Techno Violet” is the name of a particular paint color. They’re saying that after a huge number of miles, it’s extremely unlikely you can still find the original, matching car/chassis in that exact condition.

Term

bathroom sealant

Bathroom sealant is the stuff you’d use around a bath or sink. If it’s been used inside a car, it’s a red flag that the car was patched up with the wrong materials instead of being properly repaired.

Term

tiger seal

Tiger Seal is a strong glue/sealant product. If it’s been used in a car along with other patch materials, it can mean the car was “fixed” in a DIY way instead of being properly repaired.

Term

fiberglass

Fiberglass is a repair material made from glass fibers and resin. In cars, it can be used for real repairs, but if it’s part of a messy mix of sealants and patches, it often means the damage was covered up instead of fixed correctly.

Term

bodged it up

“Bodged it up” means someone did a sloppy, not-very-professional fix. The concern is that the car might look patched, but the real problem wasn’t properly repaired.

BMW 540I
Car

BMW 540I

The BMW 5 Series is a mid-size luxury sedan made by BMW. In the episode, it’s mentioned because someone is talking about the sound of the exhaust on a car. That usually means they’re comparing how it drives or sounds.

Term

rear discs

“Discs” are brake rotors. If the rear still has disc brakes, the car keeps that braking setup even if you’re changing other brake parts.

Term

internal drums

“Internal drums” refers to drum-brake hardware integrated inside the rear brake assembly. This is often used so the handbrake can still work even when the main service brakes are disc brakes.

Brand

AP racing

AP Racing is a company that makes performance brake parts. Here, they’re being asked to build custom brake discs for this specific car.

Term

floating discs

“Floating discs” are brake rotors that can move slightly as they heat up. That helps them stay aligned and work more consistently during braking.

Term

calipers

Brake calipers are the parts that squeeze the brake pads against the disc to slow the car down. Rebuilding them usually means replacing worn seals and parts so they work evenly again.

Term

coilover

Coilovers are suspension parts that combine the spring and shock in one unit. They can often be adjusted to change how the car sits and how it handles.

Brand

LEDA

LEDA is a company that makes performance suspension parts. In this context, they’re the specialist behind the coilover setup.

Term

turbos

Turbos are turbochargers that help the engine make more power by forcing extra air in. If they’re “knackered,” they may need rebuilding so the car can reliably make the target power.

Term

horsepower

Horsepower is a way to describe how much power the engine can produce. Higher horsepower usually means stronger acceleration and more top-end potential (within limits).

Term

top speed run

A top speed run is when you try to see how fast the car can go at its maximum. It’s not just about having power—things like gearing and cooling matter too.

Term

diff

“Diff” is the part that controls how the two driven wheels spin relative to each other. If it’s “aggressive,” it can make the car slide more easily when you apply power.

Term

burnouts

A burnout is when you spin the tires on purpose to make them slip and heat up. It’s fun to watch, but it wears tires quickly.

Term

fully sideways

“Fully sideways” means the car is sliding instead of gripping the road. The wheels are pointing one way, but the car is moving another.

Term

spooling its tires

“Spooling its tires” means the tires start spinning faster than the car can move forward. It usually happens when there isn’t enough grip.

Part

carbon intake

A carbon intake is a part that helps your engine get air. People upgrade it because it can make the car respond better and it also looks cool.

Mercedes SL
Car

Mercedes SL

The Mercedes SL is a Mercedes model line that’s built for comfortable long-distance driving, usually with a sporty vibe. Here, they’re talking about working on one and upgrading it as part of a V8-focused project.

Term

V8

A V8 is an engine with eight cylinders arranged in a V shape. It’s often used in cars that want strong, smooth power for everyday driving and highway cruising.

2016 Honda Jazz 1.5
Car

2016 Honda Jazz 1.5

A Honda Jazz is a small, practical car that’s meant to be easy to live with. The “1.5” usually means it has a 1.5-liter engine, which is typically chosen for everyday driving and good efficiency.

Car

2009 Mercedes-Benz C320CDI W204

This is a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and the “W204” tells you which generation it is. “CDI” indicates it’s a diesel model, which was common for buyers looking for strong everyday torque and efficiency.

Term

car vertical

“Car vertical” is a website/service that checks a car’s history using records tied to that vehicle. It can show things like reported damage so you know what you’re buying.

Term

damage report

A “damage report” is basically a record of any reported crashes or damage for that car. It may come from insurance paperwork, and sometimes it’s not detailed enough to tell you exactly how bad it was.

Dodge Charger
Car

Dodge Charger

The Dodge Charger is a famous American car model, often associated with powerful engines and performance. Here, the news is that it’s starting to be delivered to Europe for the first time.

Dodge Challenger
Car

Dodge Challenger

The Dodge Challenger is a muscle car made by Dodge. It’s usually a two-door car with a focus on strong performance. In the episode, it’s brought up because it looks similar to another Dodge model, but the number of doors is different.

Term

twin turbo

A “twin turbo” engine has two turbochargers. Turbochargers cram more air into the engine, which usually makes the car much faster.

Term

electric hybrid sort of thing

An electric hybrid uses both a gas engine and an electric motor. The electric part can help the car launch harder and can recharge a bit when you slow down.

Term

0-60 in 3.3 seconds

“0-60” measures how fast a car goes from standing still to 60 mph. “3.3 seconds” means it’s extremely quick off the line.

Term

rear wheel drive

Rear-wheel drive means the power goes to the back wheels. It can feel more “classic” to drive, but grip can vary with weather and tires.

Term

four wheel drive

Four-wheel drive powers all four wheels. That usually helps the car grip better on slippery roads and can make it accelerate more confidently.

Audi R8
Car

Audi R8

The Audi R8 is Audi’s well-known supercar. Here, the host is saying the new car looks similar to the R8 concept they remember from the past.

Place

Nurburgring

The Nürburgring is a very famous race/test track in Germany. If a prototype is being tested there, it usually means the engineers are pushing it hard to see how it behaves.

Term

plug-in hybrid

A plug-in hybrid is a car that uses both gas and electricity, and you can charge it by plugging it in. When it has enough charge, it can drive on electricity for a while.

Term

M Performance division

BMW’s M Performance division sits between BMW’s regular models and the full M cars. It typically focuses on higher-performance tuning and more aggressive styling, but with a broader, more “usable” lineup than the hardcore M models.

BMW M1
Car

BMW M1

The BMW M1 is a famous old BMW supercar from the late 1970s. The hosts mention it to compare how rare it is for BMW M to build a standalone model.

Bmw M
Car

Bmw M

The BMW M Coupe (E36) is a small, sporty BMW made by BMW’s performance division. It’s a rare two-door car, and the episode mentions it because it was an early standalone M model. People talk about it because it’s special and not very common.

BMW XM
Car

BMW XM

The BMW XM is a big, fancy SUV from BMW’s performance division. It uses a gas V8 plus an electric motor together, which is why it’s so powerful.

Term

4.4 V8

A “4.4 V8” means the engine is a V8 with 4.4 liters of total size. Bigger V8 engines generally have more potential to make power, and here it’s combined with electricity.

Aston Martin Lagonda
Car

Aston Martin Lagonda

The Aston Martin Lagonda is a very unusual Aston Martin model with a bold, angular look. The hosts are talking about how big it is and whether it’s a four-door car.

Term

wedge

A “wedge” is a style where the car’s shape looks like a wedge—wider at the back and pointed or narrower at the front. It’s meant to look sporty and aerodynamic.

Aston Db5S
Car

Aston Db5S

The Aston Martin DB5 is an older, famous luxury sports car made by Aston Martin. People talk about it because it’s a classic design and a major part of the brand’s history. In the episode, it’s used to highlight how Aston Martin models evolved over time.

Foxbody Mustang
Car

Foxbody Mustang

The “Foxbody Mustang” is a nickname for a specific generation of the Ford Mustang (late 1970s through early 1990s). People talk about it as a big visual change from the earlier 1960s Mustangs.

Eletre Lotus Electra
Car

Eletre Lotus Electra

The Eletre is an electric SUV made by Lotus. It’s a car that runs on electricity and is built for everyday driving with an SUV body. The podcast mentions it because the speaker has strong feelings about it.

Term

electric SUVs

An electric SUV is a bigger family-style car that runs on electricity. The host’s point is that some of them look roomy, but the inside space can still be disappointing.

Term

sloped back

A “sloped back” means the roof and rear end taper downward like a sporty coupe. That shape can make the cabin feel smaller, especially for taller passengers in the back.

Lotus Esprit
Car

Lotus Esprit

The Lotus Esprit is a well-known Lotus sports car. The hosts are saying Lotus is bringing it back with new tech like hybrid power and all-wheel drive, which would be very different from the older versions.

Term

all-wheel drive

All-wheel drive means the car can send power to more than just one set of wheels. That usually helps it grip the road better, especially when accelerating or on slippery surfaces.

Concept

concept inches

They’re basically saying we’ve only seen a design idea so far, not the real finished car. What you see in a concept can look different once the production version is built.

Lotus Cortina
Car

Lotus Cortina

The Lotus Cortina is an older car that Lotus built using the Ford Cortina as a starting point. It matters because it was made to be much more track-capable than a normal Cortina.

Lamborghini Urus
Car

Lamborghini Urus

The Lamborghini Urus is a Lamborghini SUV. It’s a big, fast, luxury vehicle that many people see as Lamborghini doing something different from its usual sports cars.

Porsche Cayenne
Car

Porsche Cayenne

The Porsche Cayenne is Porsche’s SUV. It’s important because it’s one of the SUVs that made Porsche’s brand work beyond just sports cars.

BMW X5
Car

BMW X5

The BMW X5 is a popular luxury SUV. In this discussion, it’s mentioned mainly as a comparison to the Porsche Cayenne.

Aston Martin DB9
Car

Aston Martin DB9

The Aston Martin DB9 is a stylish Aston Martin coupe meant for comfortable long-distance driving. The host is saying it can be surprisingly affordable compared to what it looks like.

Term

flappy paddly

“Flappy paddly” is just a nickname for paddle shifters. They’re the little buttons/levers behind the steering wheel that let you change gears without moving a gear stick.

Term

manual

A “manual” means you change gears yourself using a clutch and a gear stick. They’re saying you can get the car this way, but it’s usually more expensive than the paddle-shift version.

Term

V12s

A “V12” is an engine with 12 cylinders arranged in a V shape. It’s a big, powerful engine layout often found in expensive performance/luxury cars, and they’re saying you can still find these for relatively low money now.

Aston Martin Rapid
Car

Aston Martin Rapid

The Aston Martin Rapid is a luxury Aston Martin with four doors. The host is saying it’s basically related to the DB9, just made longer and more practical for everyday use.

Saab 900
Car

Saab 900

The Saab 900 is an older Saab model. Here it’s mentioned as an example of a car that doesn’t really make you look “rich” just by driving it.

Saab 95
Car

Saab 95

The Saab 9-5 is a mid-size car made by Saab. It’s meant to be a normal everyday executive-style sedan. The episode mentions it because someone is talking about what it’s like to drive one.

Saab 93
Car

Saab 93

The Saab 9-3 is a compact car made by Saab. It’s meant to be a normal everyday car, but with a unique look and feel. The podcast mentions one because someone owns a black example.

Maserati Quattroporti
Car

Maserati Quattroporti

The Maserati Quattroporte is a fancy, performance-focused Maserati sedan. They’re debating whether it still signals “wealth,” or whether people think it’s too common/cheap now.

Aston Martin Rapide
Car

Aston Martin Rapide

The Aston Martin Rapide is a luxury Aston Martin with four doors. They’re comparing its price to other ultra-luxury cars to make the point that you can sometimes buy the look for less than you’d expect.

Rolls-Royce Phantom
Car

Rolls-Royce Phantom

The Rolls-Royce Phantom is one of the most luxurious cars you can buy. They’re saying they saw one for around £25,000, but it had a serious engine problem (a head gasket), which is why the price can drop.

Term

head gasket

The head gasket is a critical seal inside the engine. If it’s bad, the engine can overheat or mix fluids, and repairs can be expensive—so it matters a lot for used-car pricing.

Range Rover L405
Car

Range Rover L405

This is a specific generation of the Range Rover SUV (the L405). People associate it with luxury, so it can look expensive even when you find one for less money.

E60M5
Car

E60M5

E60 M5 is a BMW M5 from the E60 generation. It’s a fast, expensive-looking BMW, and the M5 name is a big part of why people notice it.

Triumph Spitfire
Car

Triumph Spitfire

The Triumph Spitfire is a classic British open-top sports car. Here, the host is saying that if a car like this looks really good—especially with nice paint—people who aren’t car experts may think it must be worth a lot of money.

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