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The New Ferrari Leaf Fails

The New Ferrari Leaf Fails

The Avants Podcast May 31, 2026 49 min
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About this episode

The Avants Podcast bounces from road-trip chaos to hands-on vehicle advice and then into Ferrari’s polarizing EV pivot. Hosts swap stories about being detained at the border in a brand-new Subaru Forester, including questions about ā€œguns or drugsā€ and delays near Blaine. They then share a service-department ā€œtip of the weekā€ on using Loctite/threadlocker, correct torque, and even nail polish for vibration-prone suspension fasteners. The rest of the show turns to Ferrari’s Leaf-like design backlash, allocation worries, and range-extender vs hybrid EV strategy.

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Company

Carter Subaru

"ā€œI want a huge shout out to carter automotive and carter subaru because they have their new service centerā€¦ā€"

Carter Subaru is a local Subaru dealership/service shop the host is talking about. They’re sharing a maintenance tip they learned from that service experience.

Company

Carter Automotive

"ā€œI want a huge shout out to carter automotive and carter subaru because they have their new service centerā€¦ā€"

Carter Automotive is a dealership/service shop the host is praising. They connect it to a tip about keeping bolts tight on your vehicle.

Brand

Loctite

"ā€œCarter automotive tip of the week about loctite.ā€ ... ā€œLoctite is a brand by the way there. It's thread locker is what I'm talking about loctite the brandā€¦ā€"

Loctite is a product you put on bolt threads so the bolts don’t loosen over time. It’s especially useful on cars that bounce around or vibrate a lot.

Car

Land Cruiser

"ā€œā€¦I’ll add like especially like a rack to a motorcycle a rack to the land cruiser. Yeah that one. Um bumper parts anything you're bolting onto your vehicleā€¦ā€"

The Toyota Land Cruiser is a tough off-road SUV. The host is using it as an example of a vehicle that vibrates a lot, so bolts on add-ons can loosen unless you use threadlocker.

Term

thread locker

"ā€œLoctite is a brand by the way there. It's thread locker is what I'm talking aboutā€¦ā€"

Thread locker is a sticky chemical for bolt threads. It helps keep bolts tight so they don’t back out from shaking and bumps.

Term

panhard bars

"You'll have panhard bars go loose which I've had experience with in the the bronco rafter and moab [452.0s] Super simple fix it uh ford credit to them has a design on the rear panhard bar [457.0s] Their panhard bars in general if you look at them up close have a really cool feature where"

Panhard bars are parts of the suspension that help keep the axle centered as the wheels move. If they loosen, the car can feel weird or unsafe. The host is saying their design helps keep the bar from completely falling off.

Car

Ford Bronco

"You'll have panhard bars go loose which I've had experience with in the the bronco rafter and moab [452.0s] Super simple fix it uh ford credit to them has a design on the rear panhard bar"

They’re talking about a Ford Bronco they used off-road near Moab. Off-road driving can shake bolts loose. That’s why they’re emphasizing using the right fixes to keep parts from rattling.

Term

torque

"That was just a simple simple fix add some loctite bolt it back on torque it down [477.1s] But it's not just torque a lot of those applications most have a loctite [482.3s] Ask they say use this loctite a very specific loctite blue red or purple yellow like"

Torque is how hard you tighten a bolt. The right torque helps keep the part secure without damaging the bolt or threads. The host is saying you may need both the right torque and thread-locking compound.

Term

1300 foot pounds

"But those things are torqued to like 1300 foot pounds and require heat"

ā€œ1300 foot poundsā€ means an extremely tight bolt setting. That level of tightening is usually for big heavy parts, not normal everyday car bolts. It’s part of the point that these are serious, industrial-style assemblies.

Term

aluminum bolts

"[550.0s] If you don't want to strip it if you're using aluminum bolts [552.3s] You typically don't use blue loctite, but they have low strength threadlocker purple"

Aluminum threads/bolts can strip more easily than steel. The idea is to use a gentler locking method so you don’t damage the threads when tightening or removing the bolt.

Term

vibration

"[556.5s] Which is literally just made for vibration [558.1s] Yeah, and it it cracks loose like with just a quick little turn"

Vibration is the constant shaking your car parts experience while driving. That shaking can loosen bolts, so people use locking products or marks to catch movement early.

Term

suspension components

"[592.0s] But that's a really great indicator for stuff that takes a lot of vibration and a lot of stress [595.9s] Suspension components are a big one. Even if they don't require a loctite, you could mark them with that"

Suspension components are the parts that help your car ride smoothly and handle bumps. Because they move a lot and shake, bolts there can loosen unless you secure them.

Term

blue

"But yeah, I used the right. I think I used a blue. blue on that ... Yeah, blue is a great way to go for most motorcycle applications"

Here ā€œblueā€ isn’t paint—it’s a type of bolt-locking chemical. It helps keep bolts from backing out from shaking, but it’s usually meant to be removable later. Heat can help break it loose.

Term

purple

"Yeah, blue is a great way to go for most motorcycle applications ... Like and that causes stratic Catastrophic catastrophic ... unless you're dealing with aluminum bolts then use purple"

ā€œPurpleā€ is another kind of bolt-locking chemical. The speaker is saying it’s better for aluminum bolts than the blue one. Different grades behave differently, so choosing the right one helps the bolt stay secure without causing problems later.

Term

socket

"That if your socket isn't absolutely correct, you will strip the top of the bolt is what he's yeah and so with motorcycles you can buy bolt kits"

A socket is the tool that fits over the bolt head. If it doesn’t fit perfectly, you can damage the bolt head while trying to loosen it. That’s why the speaker warns that with thread-locker, the wrong socket can strip the bolt.

Term

lug nuts

"You're going to carry a spare selection of your most common bolts like lug nuts things like that Off-roaders you probably want to look at your tie rod ends"

Lug nuts are the bolts that hold your wheel onto the car. People check them because if they loosen, the wheel can become unsafe.

Term

tie rod ends

"Off-roaders you probably want to look at your tie rod ends You're probably carrying extra tie rod ends and things like that for the real hardcore guys"

Tie rod ends are parts that help connect your steering to the wheels. If they wear out or get loose, steering can feel off, especially on bumpy roads.

Term

factory service manual

"and factory service manual they It's rare, but I have seen it on motorcycles actually."

A factory service manual is the official guide from the car maker. It tells you the correct specs for things like how tight bolts should be.

Term

extreme duty

"They call it extreme Circumstances are extreme duty like a lot of trucks have that yeah like where you half life your air filters"

ā€œExtreme dutyā€ means tougher-than-normal use, like lots of vibration or rough terrain. Under those conditions, you may need stronger or more specific products and more frequent checks.

Car

Subaru Forester sport hybrid

"It's driving season Kate and I bought a new Subaru Forester sport hybrid, which by the way, I love I've talked about it already"

This is a Subaru Forester, a practical crossover that’s popular for commuting and road trips. The ā€œhybridā€ part means it uses both a gas engine and an electric system, which can help it use less fuel.

Term

tank of gas

"But like I just put a tank of gas in it and I've gone almost 500 miles and I still have yeah"

A ā€œtank of gasā€ just means the full amount of fuel in the car. Saying how many miles you get on a tank is a simple way to estimate fuel efficiency.

Car

Ford Mustang

"... some of those cars that must think that modified mustang. Oh, yeah, that musting was gorgeous If you haven..."

The Mustang is a sports car from Ford that’s been around for many years. A lot of owners modify them—changing things like appearance and performance—so you’ll often hear about special builds. It’s a popular car to talk about because there are many ways to customize it.

Brand

metropolitain

"Yep, so exactly a huge shout out to metropolitain as well Uh, I ran into charles at the event actually telling me they are starting to do way more social stuff"

Metropolitain sounds like a local car detailing shop. They’re also doing window tint work and getting more involved with car events.

Brand

s tech

"Uh, if you don't know our friends, you know s tech is a huge part of the show and they do They are now doing window tint and metropolitain has hired a specific window tinting person."

S tech is being talked about as a window-tint option. The idea is that the tint helps block heat so the car stays cooler.

Term

window tint

"They are now doing window tint and metropolitain has hired a specific window tinting person. They have a very specific Uh, let's just say they got some really really great talent."

Window tint is a thin film put on car windows. It can block some sunlight and heat, so the inside of the car feels cooler.

Car

Audi R8

"...t on all of our vehicles I got s tech tint on the r8 next to me and it's beautiful and keeps the car c..."

The Audi R8 is a sports car with strong performance. It’s designed to look dramatic and it’s often customized, like adding window tint. The podcast is basically pointing out how good it looks in that kind of setup.

Term

k-swap

"But it's his new 9 11 with a uh, it's a k-swap the k-swap turbo k-swap 9 11, you know, because why not?"

A ā€œK-swapā€ means putting a Honda K-series engine into a different car than it originally came with. It’s a common modification style for people who want a different engine and usually more power.

Car

Ferrari 308

"I would be the guy who would be throwing Of something else. I want a Ferrari 308 and I want to junk the motor and transmission immediately and do something like that"

A Ferrari 308 is an older, iconic Ferrari with a V8 and a mid-engine layout. The speaker is saying they’d tear out the original engine and gearbox and replace them with something else to completely change the car’s character.

Term

motor and transmission

"I want a Ferrari 308 and I want to junk the motor and transmission immediately and do something like that"

They’re talking about replacing the engine (ā€œmotorā€) and the gearbox (ā€œtransmissionā€). Swapping those is a big job because it changes how the car makes power and how it sends that power to the wheels.

Term

purists

"Sounds amazing too. Yeah, it does. So, uh, yeah purists be damned Unfortunately, I will I will eat those words as we talk about our next topic."

ā€œPuristsā€ are fans who want a brand to stay true to what they think it should be. Here, it means some Ferrari fans don’t like the company making an all-electric car. The hosts are saying those fans are upset about the change.

Person

Benedetto Vigna

"Oh that Benedetto Vigna The soon-to-be former Ferrari chief executive, I'm assuming uh launched the luce And um, we have to talk about it."

Benedetto Vigna is a top executive at Ferrari. The hosts mention him because he’s tied to Ferrari’s recent decisions about new cars, including an all-electric one. That’s why his name comes up in a debate about whether the car fits Ferrari’s image.

Car

Ferrari Luce

"...ari chief executive, I'm assuming uh launched the luce And um, we have to talk about it. I feel like it'..."

The Ferrari Luce is a new car model from Ferrari that was recently launched. The podcast is bringing it up because it’s a fresh release people are talking about. The hosts want to discuss what it is and why it matters.

Brand

Nissan

"Yeah, okay I have it saved. Okay. Good. Yeah, Nissan posted an ad thanking Ferrari for praising their new leaf"

Nissan is the automaker mentioned as posting an ad that thanks Ferrari for praising Nissan’s new Leaf. In this segment, it’s used as a real-world example of how the Leaf’s design is being compared to Ferrari’s new EV. That comparison is part of the broader ā€œripoffā€/design controversy the hosts are discussing.

Car

Nissan Leaf

"...ted an ad thanking Ferrari for praising their new leaf Because it looks like a ripoff of a leaf. Yeah, a..."

The Leaf is an electric car made by Nissan. Instead of using gasoline, it runs on a battery and an electric motor. It’s a common choice for people who want a simple, practical electric vehicle, and its design gets talked about a lot.

Term

all-electric

"This is an all-electric Ferrari Designed by a guy that used to design iPhones"

ā€œAll-electricā€ means the car runs on electricity stored in a battery. It doesn’t use a gas engine. The hosts mention it because this is a big shift for Ferrari fans.

Concept

allocation

"[1882.7s] This is going to be one of those cars that ferrari requires people to buy [1885.4s] In order to stay on the list for the new for the big cars. ... [1895.3s] eliminate a lot of people because [1898.6s] It's fine. He goes. It's fine to buy"

ā€œAllocationā€ here means limited supply—only certain customers get the cars. The collector is worried Ferrari might make people buy a less popular model first to stay eligible for the really desirable ones.

Car

Testarossa Testarosa

"...esigns are already controversial. Yes, like a but testarosa and all that Yeah, but now they're talking about ..."

The Testarossa is a famous sports car from Ferrari. People often talk about its looks, and the podcast mentions that its design has been controversial for a long time. It’s an example of a car where style is a big part of the conversation.

Place

marinello

"But also ferrari has been building a brand new factory in marinello to build all these electric the new"

Maranello is where Ferrari is based in Italy. The host is saying Ferrari is building a new factory there for making electric cars.

Car

cybertruck

"But also ferrari has been building a brand new factory in marinello to build all these electric the new ... unlike a lot of other vehicles like the jaguar or the cybertruck"

The Tesla Cybertruck is an electric pickup. It’s famous for its unusual, sharp-looking design, and the host is comparing how people respond to it.

Car

Ferrari Roma

"[2065.5s] And say okay, here's our new entry level Ferrari just like the roma. Here's our new entry level Ferrari [2069.5s] It's an electric car."

The Ferrari Roma is a Ferrari model meant to be a more ā€œeverydayā€ Ferrari compared with the brand’s most extreme supercars. Here, they’re using it as an example of how Ferrari might price and market a new cheaper EV.

Concept

entry level Ferrari

"[2065.5s] And say okay, here's our new entry level Ferrari just like the roma. Here's our new entry level Ferrari [2069.5s] It's an electric car."

ā€œEntry level Ferrariā€ means a Ferrari that’s positioned as the cheaper way to get into the Ferrari lineup. They’re discussing whether that strategy would work for an electric model.

Term

electric car

"[2069.5s] It's an electric car. You got to buy one so you can buy these three other cars fine [2073.2s] I think it's stupid still"

An electric car runs on electricity stored in a battery instead of gasoline. The hosts are debating whether a Ferrari EV could sell if it’s priced right and feels like a real Ferrari.

Car

Audi Etron

"But votes wagon knows how to do it because you look at that that four-door outie the e-tron [2117.5s] Yeah, okay, and then you look at the one of my favorite car in the world is that Porsche panamera"

The Audi e-tron is Audi’s electric car lineup. In this conversation, it’s brought up as proof that a practical four-door EV can still work well.

Car

Porsche Panamera

"[2117.5s] Yeah, okay, and then you look at the one of my favorite car in the world is that Porsche panamera"

The Porsche Panamera is a four-door Porsche that’s meant to be both practical and fun to drive. They mention it as one of their favorite cars, basically saying they like the idea of a usable performance car.

Concept

marketing and advertising works to advertise to that market

"It's not knowing their audience? It's the exactly that's what it is. It's you don't do it because you don't know your audience It's not wrong. It's just that marketing and that advertising works to advertise to that market"

They’re talking about how ads only work when they’re aimed at the right people. If the message doesn’t fit what those people want, it won’t land.

Car

Lamborghini Urus

"Does just like the Lamborghini urus does like okay? I get it. It's not something"

They mention the Lamborghini Urus as an example of a supercar brand making an SUV that actually makes sense to buyers. It’s a case where the product matched the audience.

Term

shareholder value

"You understand where the company's coming from you understand shareholder value you understand how the market works and you're like, okay [2255.6s] This makes sense"

Shareholder value means the company is trying to make money for the people who own shares in it. The host is saying Ferrari’s choices can be explained by business incentives, not just car enthusiasm.

Term

bespoke cars

"We make bespoke cars everybody wants in limited quantities and they are worth a mint and you're gonna pay out the bud if you want one [2277.1s] Instead I like I just don't"

Bespoke cars are custom-built vehicles tailored to specific customer requests rather than mass-produced for broad demand. The speaker contrasts Ferrari’s traditional ā€œlimited, special, customā€ positioning with the idea of making more mainstream products like SUVs.

Car

Ferrari 296 speciale

"Those two things happen the same room in the fact that they put somebody designed the 296 speciale [2284.8s] Which is one of I love."

The Ferrari 296 Speciale is a high-end Ferrari supercar. It uses a modern performance setup (including electrification), and the hosts bring it up to argue about what Ferrari ā€œshouldā€ be making.

Car

Ferrari Testarossa

"Which is one of I love. Yeah, that's really free car. I'm not a huge fan of the testarossa [2289.0s] It will grow on me"

The Ferrari Testarossa is an older, famous Ferrari from the late 1980s/early 1990s. The host brings it up as an example of a Ferrari design that might not click right away but could win you over later.

Term

twin turbo

"And you go this doesn't make sense and ferrari you make v12 you make you can make screaming v8 twin turbo [2299.9s] Whatever you want to do."

Twin-turbo means the engine uses two turbochargers to make more power. The host is using it as an example of the kind of exciting engine tech they think Ferrari should focus on.

Car

Polestar roadster

"Nearly as much as I thought it would have you seen the new poll store, uh, roadster [2682.7s] It's beautiful. Okay. It is beautiful now poll star people have"

Polestar’s roadster is an upcoming electric sports car. The host says it looks great and that it’s meant to compete with Tesla’s electric roadster plans.

Car

Tesla Roadster

"For those of you waiting for the vaporware of the tesla roadster [2700.6s] This is a really significant competitor to that."

The Tesla Roadster is a rumored/anticipated electric sports car from Tesla. The host is comparing other EVs to it and saying some competitors could be serious alternatives.

Concept

vaporware

"For those of you waiting for the vaporware of the tesla roadster [2700.6s] This is a really significant competitor to that."

ā€œVaporwareā€ means something that’s talked about a lot, but you can’t actually buy it yet. The host is using it to say the Tesla Roadster has been promised for a long time without showing up.

Term

supply chain issues

"Uh, I also was going to say, uh, even though scout is delayed [2723.9s] Uh supply chain issues costs are going through the roof"

Supply chain issues mean problems getting the parts and materials needed to build cars. When that happens, production can slow down and costs can rise.

Term

range extender

"I think that was the biggest miss for ferrari right there [2727.1s] Is if they had done a range extender version of an actual not an sgb like a scout"

A range extender is extra power that helps an electric car drive farther. Think of it like a backup generator that keeps the battery charged when you need more range.

Term

generator built onto the thing for extended range

"So weird, right? Don't be wrong. It's not a hybrid. It's a generator built onto the thing for extended range Which I think is the way to go that makes by far the most sense"

That’s a ā€œrange extenderā€ idea. The car has a small engine that makes electricity to help the battery last longer, so you can drive farther without charging as often.

Car

Dodge Charger

"...hey can pivot dodge pivoted with the the electric charger and put an engine in that yeah like a week Yeah, ..."

The Charger is a car model from Dodge that’s known for performance. It’s been offered with different power options over time, and the podcast is discussing the idea of an electric version using the Charger name. That’s why it comes up in conversations about changes in what the car can be.

Car

Dodge Viper

"...because it'll they're basically replacing the the viper truck. They're doing a Rumblebee. Yeah rumblebee ..."

The Viper is a sports car made by Dodge that was built to be very fast and exciting to drive. The podcast is talking about the Viper name and how it might be used in a new kind of vehicle. That’s why it’s brought up in the context of replacement or evolution.

Term

supercharger option

"I want more competition in the market. I want to see [2820.0s] Ford I mean Ford's already got the supercharger option on theirs [2822.7s] But if I would love to see some competition from Ford and Chevy for this"

A supercharger is a device that forces extra air into the engine. That extra air helps the engine make more power.

Car

Ford F-150 Lightning

"...ssic ss truck back in the day Ford had the actual lightning not the electric one, but a real lightning Which ..."

The F-150 Lightning is an electric pickup truck from Ford. It uses a battery instead of a gasoline engine, but it’s still meant to be a practical truck for everyday and work use. The podcast mentions it because the ā€œLightningā€ name is being used for an electric version of the truck.

Term

hybrid lightning truck

"Hey, listen here. Make a hybrid lightning truck not an electric but a hybrid lightning [2840.9s] Take the lightnings and do like dodge did and put an engine in it. Yeah, so you gotta do [2846.0s] Drive the front wheels like you like Chevy is doing with the 01 and all their "

The host is imagining a hybrid version of an electric truck. The idea is to use an engine to help the battery so you don’t have to rely only on charging.

Term

Drive the front wheels

"Take the lightnings and do like dodge did and put an engine in it. Yeah, so you gotta do [2846.0s] Drive the front wheels like you like Chevy is doing with the 01 and all their [2850.1s] Hybrid models do that like that would be an awesome truck."

Front-wheel drive means the front wheels are the ones that push the truck forward. The host is talking about which wheels should get the power in a hybrid truck setup.

Brand

Rivian

"Scout yeah, yeah, so but yeah, hopefully scout comes back soon Rivian launched the r2 configurator [2868.7s] Which looks great and it's a great price point Rivian's doing really well"

Rivian is a company that makes electric trucks and SUVs. They’re talking about Rivian’s new R2 ā€œconfigurator,ā€ which is a tool that lets you choose options and see pricing.

Term

configurator

"Rivian launched the r2 configurator [2868.7s] Which looks great and it's a great price point Rivian's doing really well"

A configurator is a website tool where you pick options for a car (like packages or features) and see the price change. It’s basically ā€œbuild your carā€ online.

Rivian R2
Official manufacturer press image
Car

Rivian R2

"Scout yeah, yeah, so but yeah, hopefully scout comes back soon Rivian launched the r2 configurator [2868.7s] Which looks great and it's a great price point Rivian's doing really well"

The Rivian R2 is an upcoming electric truck/SUV from Rivian. They’re excited about it because the pricing is expected to be more affordable than earlier Rivian vehicles.

Term

range extension

"It's obviously the new scout [2924.0s] I just even if you don't like the ev part of it. I love the bench seat. I love the range extension"

Range extension means the vehicle can go farther than the battery alone by using an extra system to keep power available. It’s meant to make long trips easier without charging as often.

Term

V8

"I really wish it was an actual hybrid [2932.8s] I think it would do better as an actual hybrid and I would buy one if it was an actual hybrid with a v8"

A V8 is a type of gas engine with eight cylinders. The host is basically saying they’d like the hybrid to include a traditional, powerful gas engine setup.

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