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The One-Year Garage: 2012

The One-Year Garage: 2012

Bring a Trailer Podcast Nov 20, 2025 63 min
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About this episode

A nostalgic dive into the automotive landscape of 2012, this episode features hosts Alex, Zach, and Back as they curate their ideal one-year garage. They discuss the standout cars from that year, including the Lexus LFA, Ferrari FF, and Porsche Cayman R, while reminiscing about personal experiences and the cultural backdrop of 2012. The conversation also touches on the evolution of technology in cars, notable racing events, and the quirky charm of vehicles like the Acura TSX Sportwagon. With a mix of humor and insight, the hosts navigate through their picks and the unique characteristics of each vehicle.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Car

BMW New Class

"... the office. Oh, yeah. Thank you, Huff. There's a new class in there. There's an MGBGT in there right now. Th..."
Car

MGB GT

"...there's an MGB GT in there right now. Things have really changed on that route. Yeah. The color spectrum..."

The MGB GT is a classic sports car made by MG. It's known for its stylish look and fun driving experience, making it a favorite among car enthusiasts.

Term

wing

"...my five-year-old knows about spoilers and wings because I have a lot of cars with wings..."

A wing is a big piece on the back of some cars that helps them stick to the road when they go fast. It makes the car more stable and easier to control.

Term

spoiler

"...my five-year-old knows about spoilers and wings because I have a lot of cars with wings..."

A spoiler is a part on the back of a car that helps it stay stable when going fast. It changes how air moves around the car to make it handle better.

Car

Acura NSX

"...the NSX had the built-in one. The GT3 had one and the Civic stupidly has one. But he can tell the difference though..."

The Acura NSX is a fast sports car made by Acura. It has a unique look and is known for being fun to drive.

Car

Honda Civic

"...NSX had the built-in one. The GT3 had one and the Civic stupidly has one. But he can tell the difference ..."
Car

Porsche 911 GT3

"...ngs too because the NSX had the built-in one. The GT3 had one and the Civic stupidly has one. But he ca..."
Term

tweener year

"it's a good car, but it's not the best version of this car. It's the tweener year. There's no halo cars."

A 'tweener year' is a year when a car model isn't quite new enough to have all the latest features, but isn't old enough to be considered a classic. It can be seen as a less desirable option.

Car

Ferrari 599

"that stuff, but it's not a Ferrari halo car. There's no right. Could you get a 2012 599?"

The Ferrari 599 is a high-performance sports car made by Ferrari, known for its speed and luxury features.

Car

Pontiac GTO

"...a I think 2011 is the last. There may have been a GTO or is the GTO 11? No, the GTOs are 11 and then th..."
Car

BMW F12

"...r is the GTO 11? No, the GTOs are 11 and then the F12 is 13. Right. So there may be no big front and th..."
Car

Ferrari F12

"the GTOs are 11 and then the F12 is 13."

The Ferrari F12 is a fast sports car made by Ferrari, known for its powerful engine and sleek design.

Term

LS7

"the Camaro with the LS7 in it isn't around, which I was hoping it was."

The LS7 is a powerful engine made by Chevrolet, often used in their sports cars for better performance.

Car

Chevrolet Camaro

"... there may be no big front and there's no the the Camaro with the LS7 in it isn't around, which I was hopi..."
Car

Porsche 918 Spyder

"Yeah, 918, no. Yeah, no P1, no law Ferrari."

The Porsche 918 is a very fast car that uses both gas and electric power to go super fast while being more efficient.

Car

Dodge Avengers

"...y upset as well. Still in top movie, the year the Avengers, the original one. They did a bunch of those. Oka..."
Car

Honda Prelude

"Just that in the Prelude. That in the Prelude, which was my only car until I bought the Black GT3."

The Honda Prelude is a sporty car that Honda made for many years. It's known for being fun to drive and has many fans.

Company

Bring a Trailer (BaT)

"Yeah, 2012 was about when I started reading BAT. That's about when I found it."

Bring a Trailer is a website where people can buy and sell special cars, like classic or rare models.

Car

BMW 2002 TII

"...discussed in the office, still the cheapest running 2002 TII that's ever sold. Under 10 grand, right? Right. Yes..."

The BMW 2002 TII is a small, sporty car made by BMW in the 1970s. It's loved by fans for being fun to drive and has become a classic collectible car.

Car

Husqvarna Supermoto

"...that's when I bought my first motorcycle, the Husqvarna Supermoto. Wow."

The Husqvarna Supermoto is a motorcycle that can be used on both streets and dirt roads. It's known for being fun to ride and very maneuverable.

Term

V8 engine

"These were still NAV8s with like the electronic recovery system. There's one more year of NAV8s in 2013, not Lewis or Nika."

A V8 engine has eight cylinders arranged in a V shape, which helps it produce a lot of power. It's often found in powerful cars and trucks.

Car

Red Bull

"...Vettel in a Red Bull. That's right. That's what he won all his titles at Red Bull."

Red Bull Racing is a famous Formula 1 team that builds fast cars to compete in races. They have won many championships and are known for their innovative designs.

Term

V8s

"...the hybrids that the Red Bull didn't acclimate as quickly. The V8s, you could put your little power unit wherever you wanted..."

V8s are a type of engine that has eight cylinders. They are popular because they provide a lot of power and are often found in fast cars and trucks.

Term

hybrids

"...the hybrids that the Red Bull didn't acclimate as quickly. The V8s, you could put your little power unit wherever you wanted..."

Hybrids are cars that use both a gas engine and an electric motor. This helps them save fuel and produce less pollution than regular cars.

Term

traction control

"sort of just putting on the rear axle. And they got to trick it to treat it like it was traction control. When traction control was considered illegal."

Traction control is a system in cars that helps keep the wheels from spinning too much when you accelerate. It makes driving safer, especially on wet or slippery roads.

Concept

Vettel era

"When traction control was considered illegal. And that made massive dominance for the Vettel era. And when it went to hybrids, they kind of struggled."

The 'Vettel era' is a time in Formula 1 when driver Sebastian Vettel was very successful, winning many races and championships. He drove for a team called Red Bull and was known for his speed and skill.

Term

V8

"...Because that's the end of the V8. R is 13."

A V8 is a type of car engine that has eight cylinders arranged in a V shape. It's known for being powerful and is often used in sports cars and trucks.

Term

V6 turbo diesel

"It's the R18 V6 turbo diesel though."

A V6 turbo diesel engine is a powerful engine that has six cylinders and uses diesel fuel. The turbo helps it run faster and more efficiently.

Concept

Le Mans

"Le Mans is still diesel outies. It's I think probably the last of those. It's the R18 V6 turbo diesel though."

Le Mans is a famous car race that lasts for 24 hours. Cars race around a track, and it's known for being very challenging and exciting.

Car

Audi R18

"Le Mans is still diesel outies. It's I think probably the last of those. It's the R18 V6 turbo diesel though."

The Audi R18 is a special race car made by Audi for a long car race called Le Mans. It has a powerful engine and is built to be very fast and efficient.

Car

DeltaWing

"But the Delta wing was there that year. I definitely remember that. Remember that weird car wing?"

The DeltaWing is a special race car that looks different from regular cars. It has a narrow front and a wider back, which helps it go faster.

Car

No Reserve: 2012 Lexus LFA

Featured on Bring a Trailer: No Reserve: 2012 Lexus LFA

Car

Lexus LFA

"...e a press car? It is a lot, 219-424 sunset orange LFA. What do we need to say about it? It's great. Tha..."
Term

dual clutch

"Yes. Single clutch or dual clutch is a single clutch. Single clutch. That's going to be one of the things that's going to come up..."

A dual clutch is a type of automatic transmission that uses two clutches to change gears quickly. This makes the car feel faster and more responsive.

Term

single clutch

"Yes. Single clutch or dual clutch is a single clutch. Single clutch. That's going to be one of the things that's going to come up..."

A single clutch is a type of automatic gearbox that shifts gears using one clutch. It can change gears quickly, but it might not feel as smooth as other types.

Car

Ferrari F50

"I think that's the best sounding road car of all time. Maybe an F50. Yeah, I was just going to say you've said the F50 before."

The Ferrari F50 is a very fast sports car made by Ferrari in the 1990s. It's known for being lightweight and having a powerful engine that sounds amazing.

Car

909-Mile 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Featured on Bring a Trailer: 909-Mile 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Car

458

Featured on Bring a Trailer: 458

Car

No Reserve: 14k-Mile 2012 Ford Fusion SEL

Featured on Bring a Trailer: No Reserve: 14k-Mile 2012 Ford Fusion SEL

Car

Ford Fusion

"...mes up when you search 2012 is a 14,000-mile Ford Fusion SEAL. I mean, that's that's fine. That's fine, ba..."
Car

BMW E30

"...ll even go back further. Like, at what point is a E30, a classic car? I mean, I think most people would..."
Car

Cadillac Ctsv

"...or the best family hauler, which is going to be a CTSV wagon. That was on my list, for sure. Decent amou..."
Car

Ferrari Ff

"...r. My family hauler is a shooting break. It's the Ferrari FF. Yeah, yeah. This is just turning into, here's al..."
Car

FF

Featured on Bring a Trailer: FF

Car

Acura TSX Sport Wagon

"...g about this last night. I'm going to pick a 2012 TSX Sport wagon, which we actually owned, and I really liked, and..."
Car

Acura TSX

"...ng way crappier. Yeah, you should have picked the TSX or sports car totally. Totally. All right, back w..."
Car

14k-Mile 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series

Featured on Bring a Trailer: 14k-Mile 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series

Car

Mercedes-Benz Cclass

"at in black. I think they're coops only. Coops only. A lot two, 10, 8, 9, 1 in black over black. Great. Look, and I actually liked that C-class coupe a lot. I do as well. That's going to be fun. I had one of those in like a 350 and he loved it. I think maybe still has it, but like a 100,000"
Car

No Reserve: 32k-Mile 2012 Porsche Cayman R

Featured on Bring a Trailer: No Reserve: 32k-Mile 2012 Porsche Cayman R 6-Speed

Car

Porsche Cayman

"...hey messaged me. They're like, hey, I bought your Cayman. You work at Peridot trailer. That's so cool. I'm..."
Car

Audi TTS

"...t that wasn't the R motor, right? No, because the TTS is the, so there's the regular TT, which is like ..."
Car

Volkswagen Golf

"... I believe, or maybe that's the first year I, the Golf R. I think there's already. Yes, I think there's ..."
Car

No Reserve: 2012 Titan XD 4400 4x4 Camper Conversion

Featured on Bring a Trailer: No Reserve: 2012 Titan XD 4400 4x4 Camper Conversion

Car

Toyota Sprinter

"...r normal sort of maybe a little bit larger than a sprinter van. But I think what's probably the most importa..."
Car

Ford F-150 Raptor

"... truck I really like. So I'm going to pick an SVT Raptor. That was my number two. Yeah. Brodozer. I actual..."
Car

Ford F150

"like, let me go to the dunes and jump them and they were bending them all in half. People thought they were like trophy trucks basically. And it's like, no, it's still an F-150 under there. It's got a lot of stuff on it. But it's not totally ready to do the Baja 1000."
Car

Subaru Baja

"...stuff on it. But it's not totally ready to do the Baja 1000. I love it. It's still the SVT branding. Tha..."
Car

Ford Mustang

"...that much. But as a kid, that's what was the best Mustang, right? That's what was the best. SVO, baby. Righ..."
Car

Ford Contour

"...ight. And the best Ford Focus. Oh, tech, yes. And contour. That's right. That's right. That's right. And th..."
Car

Ford Raptor Bronco

"... But then there's Raptors on other, you can get a Raptor Bronco, right? You get a Raptor or something else too. R..."
Car

Delorean DMC-12

"...similar ruling online. So good. Okay. This is the Delorean DMC hovercraft that was on, bring a trailer. I've..."
Car

DeLorean DMC-12-Style Hovercraft

Featured on Bring a Trailer: DeLorean DMC-12-Style Hovercraft

Car

2012 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

Featured on Bring a Trailer: 2012 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

Car

Porsche 911

"...t of these, but go ahead, Zach. Big one, the 997, 911 final year, just C2, C2S, GTS, just fantastic at ..."
Car

Chevrolet C6

"... still have. I home defense and some, yeah, a 0-1 C6 last year, 2012. The Bentley continental super sp..."
Car

Bentley Flying Spur

"...,300 pounds. I had a lot of Bentley's on my list. Flying spur speed for family hauler, Molener GTCoupe. Yeah, i..."
Car

Aston Martin V12 Vantage

"...it was totally. Totally. Another animal mentioned V12 vantage. Oh, totally. V12 vantage, six feet. How about re..."
Car

Lamborghini Gallardo

"... like 30 grand, aren't they? Yeah. Diardo. End of Gallardo thing. You could get the two tires on what I thou..."
Car

Mclaren Mp412C

"..., or V8, that was on my short list. You guys like MP412C? I was looking at it. Zaxx squinting his eyes. No..."
Car

Mclaren 650S

"... M or the 12C? I think so. And then it became the 650S, which had the same rear end but the updated fron..."
Car

Mclaren 570S

"...oks like the P1 and the P1. And then they did the 570s, which is like the junior one below the 650S. Tha..."
Car

Mclaren 720S

"...op. It's kind of small. Yeah, I like those a lot. 720s came out. There's McLaren GT, which you got to fi..."
Car

Mclaren Gt

"... Yeah, I like those a lot. 720s came out. There's McLaren GT, which you got to figure out where that goes in. ..."
Car

Mclaren F1 Mclaren

"... Yeah, but they have the new, you know, the retro F1 McLaren there, the one that looks like the McLaren F1 fro..."
Car

Lotus Evora

"...ou get a black series. They're cool. I like them. Evora, daily driver, not your jam, Mazda Speed 3, E63 W..."
Car

Mazda Speed

".... I like them. Evora, daily driver, not your jam, Mazda Speed 3, E63 WAG. No, E63 WAG, you thought about Mazda ..."
Car

Volvo C30

"...t like the second generation WRX, but I do. Volvo C30 T5R. I don't think there's a whole star in 2012, ..."
Car

Volvo C30

"...e don't like the second generation WRX, but I do. Volvo C30 T5R. I don't think there's a whole star in 2012, ..."
Car

Subaru WRX

"...thing. Everything on my list has been brought up. WRX wagon. I like that. A lot of people don't like th..."
Car

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

".... Zach, congratulations on second place with your SLS AMG. The podcast that should have just been an Instag..."
Car

Ford Falcon

"...t pick a lot. And wild card GT3 RSR. Lot 1161662. Falcon library. And my picks. Sports car 458 Italia. Fam..."
Car

Ferrari 458 Italia

"...1161662. Falcon library. And my picks. Sports car 458 Italia. Family hauler Acura TSX Sportwagon. Daily driver..."
Car

Ford Svt

"...gon. Daily driver. Audi TTRS. Truck four by four. Ford SVT Raptor. Wild card. A Pratt Miller C6R Corvette. D..."
49 cars featured

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