The best car I've driven this year

The Renault Wind is a small, compact convertible-style car (a “cabriolet” concept) built for open-top driving in a practical size. It’s the kind of model that stands out because it blends everyday dimensions with the experience of a roof-down ride. That makes it a memorable car to mention in a story or when describing a mood or setting.

The Ford Edge is a mid-size crossover SUV designed for comfortable everyday driving with practical space. It’s often discussed because it’s a common “family” vehicle type—easy to live with, but not usually the focus of performance talk. In the podcast context, it’s likely mentioned simply as a car name that fits the moment rather than a deep technical discussion.

A serving hatch is a door or opening that lets you pass items in and out without fully opening the vehicle. In this context, it’s being discussed as part of a vehicle layout (likely a van or service vehicle) and why it’s positioned unusually high.

“Body on the back” here is describing a vehicle packaging choice where the main bodywork sits over/behind the chassis area. The host is using it to explain how the vehicle is designed to accommodate interior space and mechanical components underneath.

A false floor is an extra floor panel installed above the main floor to create space for equipment. It’s commonly used to hide wiring, tanks, or mechanical systems while keeping the cabin/working area usable.

Idling is when an engine is running while the vehicle is stationary. The host is connecting long-term idling to engine wear and failures, especially in vehicles that spend lots of time running without being driven.

A long range fuel tank is a larger-than-normal fuel storage tank intended to extend how far the vehicle can go before refueling. Here, the host clarifies the purpose isn’t driving range—it’s to support long periods of engine running.

A 300-liter diesel tank is an unusually large fuel capacity, which supports very long runtime. In this segment, it’s presented as being sized for continuous idling rather than typical driving range.

“B&W police cars” refers to a specific fleet of police vehicles the host remembers having a problem. The key technical point is that the failure was linked to long idling duty cycles rather than normal driving.

The Sierra 3 Doors refers to a three-door version of the Ford Sierra, a model that’s known for its sporty, enthusiast-friendly body styles. It comes up in car talk because certain Sierra variants—especially rare or performance-focused ones—can be highly sought after. In the podcast context, it’s likely being used to draw a line between more common Sierra models and exceptionally special ones.

The Ferrari 275 is a mid-1960s Ferrari grand tourer line (often discussed as the 275 GTB/275 GTS) that’s famous for its V12 character and racing-derived styling. When someone mentions a “Ferrari 275” at a car show, they’re usually pointing to a high-status classic that enthusiasts treat as a trophy car.

This refers to a recurring podcast quiz segment called “Wheel Trim of Misfortune.” It’s a show-specific bit, likely themed around car trivia and/or humorous misadventures involving wheels and trim pieces.

“100 miles on the road” is a break-in or verification drive after work has been done. The idea is to confirm everything is adjusted correctly before the car is handed back for normal use.

Porsche is a German sports-car brand known for performance-focused engineering and a strong enthusiast following. Here it’s mentioned as the subject of a joke about Jerry Seinfeld switching allegiances to another marque.

Saab is a Swedish automaker (now defunct) with a loyal fan base, often associated with distinctive engineering and quirky design. The host uses “Saab loyalist” as a humorous label for someone who would switch from Porsche to Saab.

Mileage is the total distance a car has been driven, usually reported in miles or kilometers. In classic-car listings, low mileage for the car’s age can suggest less wear—though it doesn’t automatically guarantee the car is mechanically perfect.

A turbocharger (“turbo”) uses exhaust gases to spin a turbine that forces more air into the engine, which can increase power and torque. The hosts specifically say this Saab 99 is not “crucially a turbo,” meaning it’s not the boosted version they associate with extra performance.

“Festival of the Unexceptional” is an event concept that celebrates ordinary, overlooked, or quirky cars rather than only the most exotic or expensive models. The hosts are suggesting this Saab 99 fits that vibe.

A “five speed box” means a five-speed transmission (gearbox), typically manual unless otherwise stated. The hosts are pointing out that this car has a five-speed setup, and they connect the presence of a rev counter with a more driver-focused feel.

A “rev counter” is the tachometer, the gauge that shows engine speed in revolutions per minute (RPM). The hosts call it “quite sporty,” because tachometers help drivers keep the engine in the right rev range for performance.

Headlight washers are sprayers that apply cleaning fluid to the headlamp lenses, helping remove grime and road film that can dim the lights. On older cars, they’re often mechanically linked to the wiper/washer system, which is why the host describes the motion and mechanism in detail.

A “trad wiper” refers to the conventional windshield wiper motion, which typically sweeps in an arc across the glass. The host uses this as a comparison point to highlight that the headlight washer’s blade doesn’t follow the same arcing sweep.

A cam is a rotating or shaped component that converts rotation into a specific motion pattern, often used to drive mechanisms like wipers or washer arms. The host suspects the headlight washer is “on a cam,” meaning the blade’s back-and-forth motion is controlled by the cam’s shape.

A steam engine piston drive system is a classic mechanical arrangement where a piston moves back and forth to turn energy into motion. The host uses it as an analogy for the washer mechanism’s “pushing” motion, suggesting a mechanical linkage that feels similar in movement, even if the car’s system is cleaner and simpler.

The BMW E30 is a 3 Series generation known for its classic, boxy proportions and strong motorsport and tuning legacy. In this segment, the host calls out a twin-turbo E30, which is a modified setup that uses two turbochargers to boost power.

“Group II” is a historic racing classification used for touring cars, with rules that determined what modifications were allowed and how cars had to be homologated. When someone calls a car a “Group II touring car,” they’re pointing to its era-specific race-prep spec.

The Ford Capri RS 2600 is a performance-focused variant of the classic Capri, and “Group II” refers to a historic racing homologation class. A Group II touring car is built and prepared to meet the rules for that era’s touring-car racing, which is why it’s so motorsport-specific.

The Lancia Delta is a rally-bred hatchback that became famous in motorsport, and “Martini” refers to the Martini-liveried racing team branding. In this context, the host is referencing a specific rally team identity associated with the Delta’s competition history.

Saab is a Swedish automaker known for practical engineering and distinctive design, often with a reputation for being “unpretentious” compared with flashier performance brands. In this segment, the host praises a beige Saab as a genuinely appealing, functional “Swedish automobile.”

The Renault Twingo is a small city car, and this episode focuses on its electric version for real-world road-trip use. The host specifically discusses how motorway driving affects the car’s usable distance, which is a key EV consideration.

EVs stands for electric vehicles—cars powered primarily by electric motors and a battery. The host uses it to explain why highway driving can reduce the distance you can cover between charges.

An electric charger is the device used to replenish an EV’s battery. The host describes an interaction where an older couple couldn’t get the charger to work for their car, highlighting how charging access and usability matter on trips.

The Dodge Charger is a full-size American muscle car known for its powerful engines and aggressive styling. It often comes up in conversations about performance cars and also in everyday driving because it has been offered in both traditional gas and newer electric forms. In a podcast, it may be mentioned when discussing how people react to different “chargers” or when the name overlaps with charging technology.

A lease is a financing arrangement where you pay to use a car for a set period, typically with limits on mileage and wear, and you return it at the end unless you buy it out. The host uses Renault’s leasing offer to illustrate how low the monthly cost could be for an entry-level car.

The Dacia Spring is an entry-level electric city car positioned as a low-cost alternative to more expensive EVs. The host compares its monthly cost to the Renault lease deal, using it as a reference point for what “cheap” means in practice.

A movable back seat is a rear bench that can slide or reposition to change how much space you have for passengers versus cargo. The host suggests this is a key feature that adds value (and cost) to the car’s packaging, and they compare it to what the “five” should have.

Regen adjustment paddles let the driver control regenerative braking strength. Regenerative braking uses the electric motor to slow the car while turning some of that motion back into electricity to recharge the battery.

Metal flake is a paint effect where tiny metallic particles are mixed into the clear coat to create sparkle and depth in sunlight. The hosts contrast “launch green” and “launch yellow” as being not just metallic, but “almost metal flake,” implying a more dramatic visual finish.

This describes an internal automaker dynamic where styling/design goals (like wheel size and color) compete with engineering constraints and finance/budget limits. The hosts argue that this tension drives what actually makes it into production.

“Big wheels” refers to larger wheel diameters that change a car’s visual stance and can affect ride comfort and tire cost. In the segment, design teams want bigger wheels because they make the car look better, while finance pushes back based on tire pricing.

“18s” is shorthand for 18-inch wheels (wheel diameter). The segment frames wheel size as a design/finance constraint because larger wheels require different tires that can cost more.

“16 inch” refers to 16-inch wheel diameter, used here as the cost baseline for tire pricing. The hosts’ point is that finance will only approve bigger wheels if the tire cost stays similar to the smaller 16-inch setup.

A hard button is a physical, tactile control (like a knob or button) rather than a touchscreen menu. The host is praising the Twingo’s layout because the most-used functions are controlled directly with physical controls.

A touchscreen is the in-cabin display you interact with directly to control vehicle functions. In modern cars, it often works alongside physical buttons to manage settings like driver-assistance behavior.

Lane keep assist is a driver-assistance feature that helps keep the car centered in its lane. If the car detects lane markings and senses you drifting, it can provide steering corrections or alerts to bring you back.

Speed warning is a driver-assistance alert that notifies you when you’re exceeding a limit or driving faster than the system believes is appropriate. It’s usually based on speed-limit recognition and/or GPS/map data plus vehicle speed.

In the UK, A-roads and B-roads are categories of roads based on their importance and connectivity. A-roads are typically busier and faster than B-roads, so they’re common routes for spirited driving where you can use the car’s responsiveness.

A “stroker” refers to an engine build or setup that increases stroke length, which changes how the engine makes torque and how it feels to drive. In this context, they’re using it as a metaphor for a more forceful, torque-rich driving style.

“Battery life” here means how long the car’s high-voltage battery can keep performing before it degrades. Driving hard can increase battery stress (especially heat and high power draw), which can affect long-term capacity and range retention.

A “charging opportunity” is a planned moment to plug in and add energy to an EV battery during a trip. They’re describing using stops (like getting food) as practical times to recharge rather than waiting until the battery is nearly empty.

A “fast charger” is an EV charging station designed to deliver high power so the battery can recharge quickly. The key limitation is that the car must be able to accept that power level; if it can’t, charging will be slower even on a fast charger.

“Built in cooling” refers to an EV battery thermal management system that helps keep the battery at an optimal temperature. Without active cooling, the car may limit charging power to prevent overheating, which slows charging on fast chargers.

“50 kilowatts” is the charging power limit they’re quoting for the EV in question. Charging power (measured in kW) strongly affects how quickly you can add range, and a cap like this means the car won’t benefit from the highest-power chargers.

“Sophisticated cooling capacity” means the battery’s thermal system can move heat away effectively and maintain safe temperatures under high power. More capable cooling typically allows higher sustained charging rates, while limited cooling forces the car to throttle charging.

“Miles per kilowatt hour” is an efficiency measure for electric cars. It tells you how many miles you can drive for each unit of electrical energy (one kilowatt-hour) taken from the battery. Higher numbers mean the car is using energy more efficiently.

Friction braking is the conventional braking method where brake pads clamp onto a rotor to create stopping force. In EVs, friction braking often works alongside regenerative braking, so the “blend” between the two strongly affects pedal feel.

In braking feel, “lurching” describes a sudden, jerky change in deceleration—often caused by an abrupt transition between regenerative braking and friction brakes. The host says the Twingo avoids that jerky stop behavior.

Electric power steering (EPS) uses an electric motor to assist the driver’s steering effort instead of a hydraulic pump. The host notes that EPS can feel “isolated” from the road, so getting feedback through the wheel is a notable improvement in this case.

“Ryobi Strimer engine” refers to the engine portion of a Ryobi string trimmer (“strimer”) powerhead. The hosts clarify it’s only the back/engine section and doesn’t include the shaft or head, which are separate parts on a trimmer.

In a string trimmer, the shaft is the long tube/rod that connects the engine to the cutting head. The hosts mention it specifically to explain that the item they’re considering is missing that long connecting section.

A plinth is a raised base or stand used to display an object. Here, the hosts joke that the cost of plinths may have increased, implying they’re planning a display setup for the trimmer engine.

“Factory Cobra” refers to a Shelby Cobra that’s built to the original factory specification, rather than a generic replica. In enthusiast circles, the word “factory” is a shorthand for authenticity—how closely the car matches the original build and parts sourcing.

A “nut and bolt” restoration means the car is disassembled down to individual components, then rebuilt and refinished piece-by-piece. It’s typically more thorough than a cosmetic refresh, and it’s often used to restore classic cars to near-original condition.

This refers to Lamborghini’s in-house historic restoration program/division, which works on classic cars to return them to a correct, high-quality condition. In collector circles, restorations done by the manufacturer’s own historic team are often valued more than generic third-party work.

The Lotus Esprit is a classic British sports car famous for its distinctive wedge-shaped design and driving character. It’s a model that enthusiasts actively hunt for because it represents a particular era of lightweight, performance-focused engineering. It’s the kind of car that would come up when someone is planning to find one or talk about what makes it special.

The Ferrari 275 GT is a classic grand touring Ferrari from the 1960s, known for its V12 engine and elegant, expensive coachbuilt styling. It’s a highly collectible model today, so even a casual mention usually signals a very special car in the conversation.

The MGC is a British MG model (MG’s V8-powered variant of the MGB line) that’s known for its unusual engine choice compared with typical MGs. In this segment it’s specifically brought up because the speaker mentions overheating problems, which is a classic “buying/ownership” concern for older cars.

“Overheating problems” means the engine temperature rises beyond its normal operating range, usually because the cooling system isn’t removing heat effectively. On older cars, this can point to issues like a failing thermostat, weak water pump, clogged radiator, or cooling fans not working.

A gearbox is the transmission system that changes engine speed and torque to match driving conditions. On older or exotic cars, gearbox feel and shift behavior can be a big part of whether the car is enjoyable to drive.

Craigslist is an online classifieds marketplace where people list used items, including cars. In this context, it’s being used to describe how quickly an exotic car was being advertised and sold.

The Kia Pride is a compact car that was sold in various markets, including the UK, and is now mostly remembered as an affordable, everyday “small car” from earlier decades. In this segment, it’s notable because the host is talking about a collection of them and one specific example that’s been sitting in a barn.

A barn find is a car that’s been stored away for a long time—often in a barn, garage, or similar building—before being rediscovered. These finds are exciting because the car may be rare, original, and untouched, but it can also need significant work to get running again.

Subaru is the Japanese automaker known for practical cars and, in many models, all-wheel-drive systems. In this segment, the host doesn’t name a specific Subaru model, but the point is that the barn find is a Subaru that most people likely haven’t seen.

Wayne Carini is a well-known classic-car personality associated with the TV show “Chasing Classic Cars.” In this segment, he’s referenced as the kind of buyer who shows up quickly when a rare car is found.