Unpopular Opinions - Ep.188

RB26 refers to Nissan’s RB26DETT engine, a twin-turbo inline-six used in the Skyline GT-R. It’s become iconic because it’s compact, rev-happy, and has a strong aftermarket support base for making big power.

“Four door” here means a sedan-style body with four doors instead of the GT-R’s more typical two-door coupe layout. For performance cars like the GT-R, the body style affects packaging, weight distribution, and how the car is built for homologation and production.

A removable rear seat is a configurable interior where the back seating can be taken out to create more cargo space or a more track-focused layout. On special GT-R variants, this kind of feature can reflect a “use it hard” design philosophy and changes how the car is packaged for different purposes.

Homologation is the process of getting a car approved for racing by meeting rules that require a minimum number of road-legal versions. That’s why certain body styles or variants (like a four-door GT-R) can be rare—race rules often push manufacturers toward specific configurations.

Sound deadening is the factory or added material used to reduce cabin noise and vibration. Removing it can make the car louder and harsher, which is why the host calls it “not fun” later in the segment.

A cage usually refers to a roll cage—an internal metal frame installed for crash protection and rigidity. It’s common in track-focused builds, but can be intrusive for street driving, especially if the interior isn’t being put back.

The Honda Civic Type R is a hot hatch known for being a track-capable, front-wheel-drive performance car. The host describes a magazine car setup as “overly modified,” highlighting how extreme changes (like removing comfort items) can make it unpleasant for daily use.

Relocating the battery underneath the dashboard is a common track-prep modification to improve weight distribution and free up engine-bay space. It also requires careful wiring and secure mounting for safety and reliability.

The engine bay is the compartment under the hood where the engine and related components sit. The host mentions it being “completely tucked,” implying a highly packaged, show/track-oriented layout.

In this context, “heat” refers to the cabin heating system being removed or disabled. That’s a comfort feature many street cars rely on, especially in cold climates.

“AC” here means the air-conditioning system being removed or disabled. Losing it makes the car harder to live with in hot weather, which the host implies contributed to their wife disliking the setup.

Colorado is referenced as the climate where the speaker and their wife lived. The mention supports why removing comfort features like heat/AC would be especially unpleasant there.

Motor mounts are the components that attach the engine to the vehicle’s chassis and help isolate vibration. In cold weather, worn or stiff mounts can make the engine feel harsher or more noticeable, which is why the host brings them up while talking about freezing conditions.

Up badging is when someone puts badges from a higher trim or higher-performance model onto a lower-spec car to make it look like the more expensive version. Enthusiasts often view it as misleading because the car may not actually have the same parts or performance hardware.

The Honda Civic DX is a lower-trim Civic, typically not equipped with the same performance parts as the top Civic variants. In the segment, it’s used as the “base” car that someone might try to disguise with higher-model badges.

B16B refers to a specific Honda engine family/variant (a high-revving DOHC VTEC inline-four) associated with performance Civics/Integras. In the segment, it’s used to illustrate the idea that a car might have “all the parts” of a higher-performance setup, even if the badge doesn’t match the original model.

A tribute car is a build that’s styled to honor a specific car, driver, or era—often using visual cues like badges, decals, and body details. The host contrasts tribute builds with up badging, implying that tribute intent can make the badge/appearance choices feel more honest.

In car culture, “badges” are the model/trim nameplates on the exterior (like grille or trunk emblems) that signal what variant the car is. This episode focuses on “upbadging,” where badges are added or swapped to imply a higher trim than the car actually has.

The Nissan GT-R is a performance flagship known for its all-wheel-drive traction and twin-turbo power. In this segment, the hosts criticize people who add GT-R-style badges to other cars to get attention without actually owning a GT-R.

The “JDM community” refers to enthusiasts who focus on Japanese Domestic Market cars and the culture around them. In this segment, they’re using it as the context where GT-R-style badging is especially common.

“Debadge” means removing the manufacturer/model emblems from a car’s exterior. In enthusiast circles, it can signal a personal preference, but it can also be interpreted as trying to hide what the car really is.

The host is describing a very small excavator used in a traffic/parking context, calling it a “kei excavator.” The automotive-relevant idea is that kei-sized equipment is designed to fit the same compact constraints as kei trucks—small footprint, limited working space, and tight maneuvering.

Kei trucks are small Japanese trucks built to meet “kei” regulations that cap size and engine displacement. That rule drives their packaging—shorter overall length and a very compact footprint—so they can be practical in dense Japanese cities.

“Grinding” when shifting into third gear usually means the synchronizers aren’t matching gear speeds, so the gears clash briefly. It’s often a sign of worn shift components, low transmission fluid, or a driver technique issue (not fully depressing the clutch).

Michelons is almost certainly a reference to Michelin tires. The host is using tire brand as a proxy for how much care a car owner puts into their setup.

“Yoko hamas” is a reference to Yokohama tires. The host groups tire brands by perceived quality and uses them as a clue to the kind of car enthusiast someone is.

“LMGT fours” sounds like a reference to a wheel/tire setup (likely a wheel model/size) rather than a standard, widely-used tire term. In enthusiast talk, people often name specific wheel designs or sizes, and pair them with tire brands to signal the build’s budget vs. quality.

“Junk rubber” is slang for low-quality tires. Tires are the only contact patch between the car and the road, so tire quality strongly affects grip, braking, and how confidently the car can be driven.

“Cheap Chinese tire” refers to budget tires sourced from China, which the speaker associates with lower build quality or worse performance. Tire quality varies widely by brand and model, but the discussion is about perceived cost-cutting and how it can show up across a build.

Radiator hoses are the coolant lines that route engine coolant between the radiator and engine. If hoses are low quality or worn, they can leak or fail, which can quickly lead to overheating.

“Blue couplers” appears to be slang for generic/aftermarket hose connectors or couplings used in a cooling or plumbing setup. The speaker is using it as an example of low-cost parts chosen to “get it done,” rather than higher-quality components.

“Falcons” here refers to a tire brand/model the speaker has on their car and RV. The hosts are debating tire brand reputation and origin, using it to support their broader point about cheap vs. quality tires.

The Mazda 626 is a mid-size family sedan/coupe from Mazda’s lineup that was popular in the 1980s and 1990s. In enthusiast talk, it often comes up as a “normal” commuter car rather than a standout sports model, which is why it’s used here as an example of a less exciting 90s pick.

The Acura NSX is a high-performance sports car known for its advanced engineering and distinctive styling. It’s especially famous for its butterfly-style doors, which make it stand out even among other supercars. In a podcast, it often comes up as a “beautiful” and iconic example of a modern Japanese performance car.

The Honda NSX is a mid-engine supercar that became a benchmark for “everyday usable” exotic performance when it debuted. The hosts call it “beautiful,” contrasting it with their broader claim that most 1990s cars were visually unappealing.

The Nissan Skyline is a Japanese performance car line that became especially famous in the JDM scene. It’s referenced here as one of the “cool” 1990s cars that people tend to remember fondly, even while the hosts argue most 90s designs were visually awkward.

Butterfly doors are a door style where the doors swing upward and outward, often using hinges mounted near the A-pillar. They’re a distinctive design cue associated with certain exotic cars and are mentioned here as part of why some JDM/90s cars are remembered as special.

The Chevrolet Cavalier was a mainstream compact car in the U.S. market, especially common in the 1980s and 1990s. It’s brought up here as an example of a “domestic” 90s car that many people wouldn’t call attractive.

USDM stands for “United States Domestic Market,” meaning cars that were sold in the U.S. market (often with U.S.-specific specs, emissions equipment, and trim). The hosts use it to talk about what kinds of 1990s-era cars people collect and why some models seem more common than others.

The Pontiac Fiero is a 1980s mid-engine sports car from Pontiac, known for its unusual layout and cult following. In this segment, the hosts mention seeing multiple Fieros in one yard, which highlights how certain 1990s USDM cars (and specifically the Fiero) can become local “collectibles.”

The “retro” trend here refers to the broader cultural shift where automakers and buyers started embracing older styling cues and nostalgia. The hosts connect it to the early 2000s, suggesting that design tastes changed around then, making some cars look less “ugly” to them.

The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a retro-styled compact car from Chrysler, known for its boxy, “old-school” design cues. In this segment, it’s mentioned as an example of a throwback design trend in the U.S.

The Chevrolet SSR is a retro-styled pickup/roadster that Chevrolet produced in the mid-2000s. It’s brought up here as another example of American nostalgia-driven design.

The Ford Mustang is a long-running American sports car that’s repeatedly used “throwback” styling cues to connect new models to the original. In this segment, it’s referenced as an example of design trends starting with nostalgia.

Wheel fitment is how wheels and tires sit on a car—especially how far in or out they sit relative to the fenders and suspension components. The hosts argue it’s the most important aesthetic factor because it strongly affects the car’s visual “stance.”

Tight flush fitment means the wheel/tire sits very close to the fender surface, with minimal poke or gap. Enthusiasts often chase this look because it visually emphasizes the car’s proportions and makes the wheel look integrated into the body.

Suspension setup refers to how the car’s suspension is configured—commonly including ride height and how the suspension geometry is tuned. The hosts connect it to wheel fitment because changing ride height and alignment affects how the wheels sit and how the car’s stance looks.

In car culture, stance is the overall visual attitude of the car—mainly ride height and wheel position relative to the body. The hosts say stance and wheel fitment work together, because the way the car sits visually is a big part of its aesthetic appeal.

Knockoff wheels are aftermarket wheels that copy the design of popular brands/models, often at a lower price. The host’s mention suggests that even if you chase the right fitment, the wheel choice (including knockoffs) can still be part of the aesthetic debate.

Tire size refers to the tire’s dimensions (width, aspect ratio, and diameter) and how that affects clearance and overall stance. Using the wrong tire size for a given wheel setup can cause poor fitment, rubbing, or a “goofy” look.

Wheel spacers are hardware placed between the wheel and hub to push the wheel outward. They’re commonly used to improve clearance and achieve a desired stance, but they must be chosen correctly to maintain safe fitment and proper wheel-bolt engagement.