S7E19: The Car Collector Who Stopped at 1992 — When Cars Got Too Smart
About this episode
A passionate car collector shares his love for 1990s sports cars, favoring simplicity and mechanical purity over modern computerized vehicles. He discusses his diverse collection of Japanese and German cars from that era, highlighting the intense competition between manufacturers and the timeless appeal of lightweight, driver-focused designs like the Miata and S2000. The conversation touches on how modern regulations and electronics have homogenized car design and performance, leading to a loss of character. The collector also reflects on the challenges of maintaining classic cars and the joy of driving on curvy European roads.
In this episode, we explore why this car collector draws the line at 1992—the turning point when Computer-Aided Design (CAD) transformed car design. As engineering shifted from hands-on craftsmanship to digital precision, did cars lose some of their analog soul?
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Dodge Charger
"Well, today I'm sitting here in a Dodge Charger, the new generation with a six-pack engine."
The Dodge Charger is a big car that is famous for being fast and powerful. The new version has a special kind of engine called a six-pack that helps it go really fast.
The Dodge Charger is a full-size sedan known for its muscle car heritage. The mention of a 'new generation with a six-pack engine' refers to a recent model iteration featuring a powerful engine setup.
Chevrolet Corvette
"And that happened last week, not with this car, but with the Corvette. And I'm here with Andrés, who I met him there at Marina. How are you, Andrés? Yeah, I was asking questions about the Corvette, the new Corvette."
The Corvette is a fast sports car made by Chevrolet. The new version has the latest features and looks different from older ones.
The Chevrolet Corvette is a famous American sports car known for its performance and iconic design. The 'new Corvette' likely refers to the latest generation, which features modern technology and engineering.
rust
"I also don't like cars that rust. Yeah. All the cars, beyond before a certain age, rust it. You were, if you owned a new car, you were, you were fighting the rust. Before they improved the processes."
Rust is when metal parts of a car get damaged and turn reddish-brown because of water and air. This can make the car weaker and look bad.
Rust is the corrosion of metal caused by exposure to moisture and oxygen, which can severely damage a car's body and structural components. Older cars, especially those made before improved rust-proofing processes, are more susceptible.
vacuum hoses
"And I don't like cars that have vacuum hoses. All the cars, beyond before a certain age, rust it."
Vacuum hoses are small tubes in older cars that help parts of the engine work properly. Over time, these tubes can break or leak.
Vacuum hoses are rubber tubes used in older cars to route vacuum pressure to various engine components for functions like emissions control and fuel delivery. They are often prone to cracking and leaks as cars age.
BMW M3
""I have two German cars. I have BMW M3, Z3 M3.""
The BMW M3 is a sportier and faster version of a regular BMW car. People like it because it drives really well and is fun to own.
The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series, known for its sporty handling and powerful engines. It is a popular enthusiast car, especially models from the 1990s which are highly regarded for their driving dynamics.
BMW Z3
""I have two German cars. I have BMW M3, Z3 M3.""
The BMW Z3 M is a faster and sportier version of a small BMW convertible car. It is fun to drive and looks cool.
The BMW Z3 M is the high-performance variant of the BMW Z3 roadster, featuring upgraded engines and suspension for enhanced driving dynamics. It was produced in the late 1990s and is prized for its sporty character and classic roadster styling.
Porsche 911
""I have a Porsche from 97, the last of the, of the air cooled ones...""
The Porsche 911 is a famous sports car that has a special kind of engine cooling using air instead of liquid. The 1997 version is one of the last to have this feature.
The Porsche 911 is a legendary sports car known for its distinctive design and rear-engine layout. The 1997 model is among the last of the air-cooled 911s, which are prized by collectors for their unique engine cooling system and driving feel.
air-cooled engine
""...the last of the, of the air cooled ones, the really oil cooled, but air cooled...""
An air-cooled engine cools itself by air moving over it, not by using water or liquid. This makes the engine sound and work differently.
An air-cooled engine uses air flowing over the engine to remove heat instead of a liquid coolant. This design was common in older Porsche 911s and gives the car a distinctive sound and mechanical character.
Mazda Rx7
""I have a Mazda from that period, an RX7, and I have a Honda.""
The Mazda RX-7 is a sporty car that uses a special type of engine called a rotary engine. It is light and fun to drive.
The Mazda RX-7 is a sports car famous for its rotary engine and lightweight design. It was highly regarded in the 1990s for its sharp handling and unique engine technology.
Honda S2000
""So I've got 2,000. Yeah, S2000.""
The Honda S2000 is a small sporty car with two seats. It is known for being fun to drive and having an engine that can go very fast.
The Honda S2000 is a two-seat roadster known for its high-revving engine and precise handling. Introduced in the late 1990s, it is celebrated for its driver-focused experience.
lightweight engineering
""The Japanese were lightweight engineers. They didn't need the horsepower.""
Lightweight engineering means making cars lighter so they can be faster and easier to drive. Instead of just making the engine stronger, they make the car weigh less.
Lightweight engineering refers to designing cars with reduced weight to improve performance, handling, and efficiency. Japanese manufacturers often focused on making cars lighter rather than just increasing engine power.
touch screens
""They have a lot of a lot of knobs and buttons, no touch screens. But they're all sports cars.""
Touch screens are like the screens on your phone or tablet inside a car, letting you press icons to change settings instead of turning knobs.
Touch screens in car interiors refer to digital displays that allow drivers to control various functions like navigation, audio, and climate control through a touchscreen interface instead of physical buttons or knobs.
Nissan
"Alfonso, his brother, her brother is the chief engineer and designer for Nissan and Infiniti."
Nissan is a big car company from Japan that makes many different cars, including fancy ones under the Infiniti name.
Nissan is a major Japanese automotive manufacturer known for producing a wide range of vehicles from economy cars to performance models. It also owns the luxury brand Infiniti.
Infiniti
"Alfonso, his brother, her brother is the chief engineer and designer for Nissan and Infiniti."
Infiniti is the fancy car brand made by Nissan, with nicer cars and more features.
Infiniti is the luxury vehicle division of Nissan, offering premium cars and SUVs with advanced technology and upscale features.
Jaguar E-Type
"And he looked like a type E maybe or something like that."
The Jaguar E-Type is a very pretty and fast old car from England that many people love because it looks cool and drives well.
The Jaguar E-Type is a British sports car produced between 1961 and 1975, famous for its sleek design and high performance. It is considered an iconic classic car and a symbol of 1960s automotive style.
Triumph TR4
"My first car was a was a Triumph TR4. Oh, OK. British guy and British sports car."
The Triumph TR4 is an old British sports car that people liked to drive because it was fun and looked cool. It was made a long time ago and is still loved by car fans.
The Triumph TR4 is a British sports car produced by Triumph in the 1960s, known for its classic styling and spirited driving experience. It represents a key era of British sports cars that enthusiasts often appreciate for their character and design.
muscle car
"So we're sitting here in the Dutch charger, like this is the last muscle car"
A muscle car is a strong and fast car made in America, usually with a big engine that makes it go really fast in a straight line. People like them because they look cool and are fun to drive.
A muscle car is a type of American car known for its powerful V8 engine and performance-oriented design, popular especially in the 1960s and 1970s. Muscle cars are often associated with straight-line speed and aggressive styling.
key fob
"And suddenly the car is failing, like the the the key doesn't work. Brand new Dutch charger. It doesn't turn on."
A key fob is like a remote control for your car. It lets you open the doors and start the car without putting a key in the lock or ignition.
A key fob is a small electronic device used to remotely lock, unlock, and sometimes start a car. It communicates with the car's security system to allow access and ignition without using a traditional key.
car computer systems
"So that's the thing with the computers, right? Like so. Yeah. And I was reading the story late last night before. But that's a good thing. Yeah, my Porsche right now is at the is at the dealer. Yeah, it has just one little computer, which is the clicker. OK, that turns off the the security. Yeah, that broke. And it's not so it has almost no computers and still tiny little computer sent it to the shop today."
Cars today have small computers inside that help run things like the engine and locks. Sometimes these computers can stop working and cause problems with the car.
Modern cars have multiple computer systems controlling everything from security to engine management. These computers can fail and cause issues like the car not starting or security systems malfunctioning.
brand loyalty
"And the difference is going to be like maybe brand loyalty and maybe price. And then if we include the Chinese factor in it, it's even worse or better."
Brand loyalty means people keep buying cars from the same company because they like it or trust it, even if other cars are similar.
Brand loyalty refers to consumers' preference for a particular car manufacturer based on past experiences, reputation, or emotional connection, even when products become similar across brands.
Mazda Miata
"Yeah, it was what the Miata did. Exactly. The price is going to be a factor. It said enough of these big German cars were going to go down. Yeah. The Miata had one hundred and twenty eight horsepower. Right. Very, very light. I mean, it was so light that it's super fast. You're going to see you're going to see a first generation Miata that I have."
The Mazda Miata is a small, light sports car that is fun to drive. Even though it doesn't have a lot of power, it handles very well and is easy to maintain, making it popular among car fans.
The Mazda Miata, especially the first generation, is a lightweight, affordable sports car known for its nimble handling and simplicity. It has a modest horsepower output (around 128 hp) but is praised for its driving dynamics and reliability, often compared to more exotic sports cars like Lotus.
horsepower
"Yeah. The Miata had one hundred and twenty eight horsepower. Right. Very, very light."
Horsepower tells you how strong a car's engine is. More horsepower usually means the car can go faster and accelerate quicker.
Horsepower is a unit of measurement that quantifies the power output of an engine. It helps indicate how much work an engine can perform, influencing a car's acceleration and top speed.
Ferrari 458 Spider
"One is it was a Ferrari 458 Spider and then the next one was the Miata. So the Ferrari is a Ferrari. I mean, I'm not going to say it was a bad car. Unique. It was like something really good."
The Ferrari 458 Spider is a fancy sports car that can convert from a hardtop to an open roof. It has a strong engine and is very fast, but it is much more expensive and complex than smaller sports cars.
The Ferrari 458 Spider is a high-performance convertible sports car from Ferrari, known for its powerful V8 engine and dynamic driving experience. It is a luxury exotic car that offers a very different driving feel compared to lightweight sports cars like the Miata.
manual transmission
"You're like driving the manual transmission. And although for our modern Ferrari, it's like an electronic double clutch,"
A manual transmission means you change gears yourself using a stick and a pedal called the clutch, which lets you control the car better.
A manual transmission is a type of gearbox that requires the driver to manually shift gears using a clutch and gear stick, offering more direct control over the car's power delivery.
classic cars
"But the feeling of the classic cars is also one of the things. Which has changed."
Classic cars are old cars that people like because they look cool and are simple to drive compared to new cars.
Classic cars refer to older vehicles, often prized for their design, mechanical simplicity, and nostalgic value, typically from several decades ago before modern electronic aids.
regulation
"That's for regulation. Yeah, but you think I look good?"
Regulations are rules that car makers have to follow to keep people safe, like how tall the windows can be.
Regulations in car design refer to legal requirements that manufacturers must follow, often affecting features like window height and door design for safety reasons.
BMW concept car with sliding door
"There was, I don't know if you remember, a BMW concept car that had a door that slid down. That was a concept car that maybe because of regulation didn't pass and they never saw production."
BMW made a special car design with doors that slide down instead of opening normally. This car was only a test and never sold because of rules about car safety and design.
BMW developed a concept car featuring a sliding door design that never reached production, likely due to regulatory challenges. Concept cars are prototypes showcasing new ideas and designs that may influence future models.
concept car
"There was, I don't know if you remember, a BMW concept car that had a door that slid down. That was a concept car that maybe because of regulation didn't pass and they never saw production."
A concept car is a special car made to show new ideas about how cars could look or work. They are usually not sold to people but help car makers decide what to build later.
A concept car is a prototype vehicle made to showcase new styling and technology ideas. These cars are often shown at auto shows but may never be produced for sale.
Fiat Abarth 124 Spider
"The last, the last design car that I might consider buying is the Fiat, is the is the Fiat Abarth. Abarth. Abarth based on the Biata. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, the it was the Spyder one. Twenty one. I do something like that. One twenty four. Yeah. One twenty four. Yeah. But they get a new one. Yeah. OK. OK. That's the latest one that I would buy. And I would recommend getting a whole one of those."
The Fiat Abarth 124 Spider is a small convertible car that is fun to drive and looks stylish. It has a special engine that makes it faster and sportier than regular cars.
The Fiat Abarth 124 Spider is a sporty convertible based on the Mazda MX-5 Miata platform but with Italian styling and a turbocharged engine tuned by Abarth, Fiat's performance division. It combines lightweight handling with a distinctive Italian design and sporty performance.
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.