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Why are the Rich so Timid; 930 Slant-nose; NSX for SALE?

Why are the Rich so Timid; 930 Slant-nose; NSX for SALE?

The Smoking Tire Nov 18, 2025 86 min
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About this episode

Exploring the intersection of car enthusiasm and capitalism, the hosts discuss the psychological barriers that prevent wealthy collectors from using their prized vehicles. A notable conversation revolves around the NSX and its value in the collector's market, leading to a debate on whether to drive or preserve such cars. Zach shares his experience with a slant-nose 911, highlighting its unique appeal and the nostalgia it evokes. The episode also touches on various listener questions about performance cars, recalls, and the practicality of different models.

Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Porsche 911
David Villarreal Fernández (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Car

Porsche 911

"Zach has had a go in a very cool slant nose 9-11."

The Porsche 911 is a well-known sports car that has been around for many years. The 'slant nose' version has a unique front design that makes it stand out.

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Porsche 918 Spyder
Chelsea Jay (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Porsche 918 Spyder

"...when I was driving the 918 about like what a bummer it is that most people that can earn enough money to buy a 918 won't put miles on it because..."

The Porsche 918 is a very fast and expensive sports car that uses both gasoline and electricity to run. It's designed for high performance and is considered a supercar.

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Company

Gemballa

"This is Gemballa's kid. Not Ui Gemballa. Right."

Gemballa is a company that takes Porsche cars and makes them look and perform even better. They are known for their unique designs and upgrades.

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Term

manual transmission

"It's a manual transmission. It's like a shitload of horsepower."

A manual transmission is a system in cars where you have to change gears yourself, usually using a stick and a pedal. It gives you more control over how the car drives.

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Term

horsepower

"It's like a shitload of horsepower. You know, it's, so it's based on the, it's based on the 911 Turbo S."

Horsepower is a way to measure how powerful an engine is. The higher the horsepower, the more work the engine can do, which usually means faster speeds.

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Porsche 911 Turbo S
David Villarreal Fernández (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Car

Porsche 911 Turbo S

"...it's, so it's based on the, it's based on the 911 Turbo S. Okay."
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Chevrolet Corvette
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)
Car

Chevrolet Corvette

"...just look at any fucking boomer and their C5 Corvette dude. You know what I'm saying?"

The C5 Corvette is a sports car made by Chevrolet that was built between 1997 and 2004. It's known for being fast and fun to drive, and many people love it for its sleek design and powerful engine.

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Car

Ferrari 360

"...like you got all of a sudden a bunch of money, like you might buy, I don't know, a Ferrari 360 and daily it..."

The Ferrari 360 is a sports car made by Ferrari, famous for being fast and stylish. It was made between 1999 and 2005 and is often considered a classic among car enthusiasts.

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Acura NSX
TTTNIS (CC0)
Car

Acura NSX

"...an say it, why the fuck not. I'm about to list my NSX at auction because it's, it's just, it's too nice..."
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Term

mileage

"When I got to like hit 20,000 miles and I was like, oh, and now is like the difference between one with 20,000 and 25,000 or 20,000 and 30,000 is a substantial difference whereas in a way..."

Mileage is how far a car has been driven, measured in miles. The more miles, the more wear and tear the car may have, which can affect its value.

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Ferrari F40
Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ferrari F40

"...the guy who was like camping in his Ferrari F40 or whatever."

The Ferrari F40 is a famous sports car made by Ferrari. It was built to be very fast and is known for its unique design and powerful engine.

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Car

Buick GNX

"Oh, the GNX, remember that documentary?"

The Buick GNX is a special version of a Buick car that was made in the 1980s. It's famous for being fast and is now very collectible.

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Volkswagen Beetle
Palauenc05 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Volkswagen Beetle

"I think, I bet there's Volkswagen folks like Beetle folks, Carmen Gia folks, I don't know what the entry price is."

The Volkswagen Beetle is a small, round car that many people recognize. It's famous for its unique shape and has been loved by many generations.

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Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
CEphoto, Uwe Aranas (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Car

Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

"I think, I bet there's Volkswagen folks like Beetle folks, Carmen Gia folks, I don't know what the entry price is."

The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia is a classic car that looks sporty and stylish. It was made by Volkswagen and is loved for its unique design.

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Ferrari Testarossa
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ferrari Testarossa

"for instance, you're fortunate enough where you could find a Testerosa with 300 miles on it or something, an 80s one, something like that."

The Ferrari Testarossa is a famous sports car from the 1980s. It's known for its unique look and powerful engine, making it a favorite among car enthusiasts.

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BMW M3
MB-one (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

BMW M3

"I'll probably turn a profit on the NSX, unlike the BMW M3, but like, and then I've enjoyed"

The BMW M3 is a sporty version of the BMW 3 Series. It's known for being fast and fun to drive, making it a favorite among car lovers.

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Term

GT car

"Like I love them as GT cars, but around town, like the shifter is perfect, but the steering is not."

GT cars are built for speed and comfort, making them great for long drives. They have powerful engines and nice interiors, so you can enjoy driving fast without sacrificing comfort.

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Porsche 718 Cayman GT4
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)
Car

Porsche 718 Cayman GT4

"It's a great car to own if you don't also own a GT4 or a Boxster Spider. If you have a Boxster Spider, you can draw a straight line from this now better."

The Boxster Spider is a special version of the Porsche Boxster that is lighter and faster. It's made for people who love to drive and want an exciting open-top experience.

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Porsche Boxster
Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Porsche Boxster

"...great car to own if you don't also own a GT4 or a Boxster Spider. If you have a Boxster Spider, you can dra..."
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Concept

mid-engine

"Almost any mid-engine car from the last 18 years is better than the NSX and is an evolution of it."

Mid-engine means the car's engine is located in the middle, between the front and back wheels. This helps the car handle better and feel more balanced when driving.

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Porsche Panamera
Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Porsche Panamera

"Someone asked a question on the last show about buying a Porsche Panamera with 14-way seats and putting in a 18-way seat."

The Porsche Panamera is a fancy car that's both sporty and practical. It's designed for people who want a high-performance vehicle that can also be used for daily driving.

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Porsche 911 GT3
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)
Car

Porsche 911 GT3

"...And he tried to do it with a GT3. He tried to put in the race buckets and take out the sports seats."

The Porsche GT3 is a special version of the Porsche 911 that is built for racing and high performance, making it faster and more agile than regular models.

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Company

Danny McLaughlin

"His name is Danny McLaughlin and he built a bunch of racing body work for 935s back in the day."

Danny McLaughlin is a person who made special body parts for racing Porsches. He is known for making high-quality parts that help improve the car's performance.

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Porsche 935S
Lothar Spurzem (CC BY-SA 2.0 de)
Car

Porsche 935S

"and he built a bunch of racing body work for 935s back in the day. So he did high quality stuff"
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Term

930 turbo engine

"...but it also has a factory turbo, 930 turbo engine, transmission, suspension and brakes."

The 930 turbo engine is a powerful version of the engine used in the Porsche 911. It has a turbocharger that helps it produce more power, making the car faster.

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Porsche Safari
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Porsche Safari

"My Safari car, that had power seats, that was an 87. Okay, so yeah, not 74."

The Porsche Safari is a special version of the Porsche 911 that can handle rough roads and off-road driving. The 1987 model had some features that made it more comfortable for long drives.

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Term

sound deadening technology

"this would be a great car to drive like thousands of miles, except it's loud inside. And it's like the sound deadening technology back then,"

Sound deadening technology is used in cars to make them quieter inside by blocking out noise from the engine and the road. It helps make long drives more pleasant by reducing distractions from sounds.

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Term

tire noise

"I mean, the tire noise isn't crazy, but it's just air, tire, diff, trans, and it's not insulated with 600 pounds of insulation."

Tire noise is the sound you hear from the tires while driving. It can be louder or quieter depending on the type of tires and the road you are on.

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Porsche 959
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Porsche 959

"... the only really quiet 911 of that period was the 959, which is not a, it was like they did so much to ..."
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Term

gearbox

"...the gearbox is like, there's a, not a stiffness to these things, but it feels like there's rubber holding onto the shaft as it moves."

The gearbox is the part of the car that helps it change speeds. It connects the engine to the wheels and allows you to drive faster or slower.

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Term

Tremec

"...it's not difficult like a Tremac. Oh, really? Yeah, for ours, it's a slow gear change."

Tremec makes special gearboxes for cars that help with shifting gears smoothly. They're popular in fast cars because they are strong and reliable.

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Term

air-cooled cars

"...Do you still, do you like air-cooled cars yet?"

Air-cooled cars cool their engines with air instead of water. This makes them lighter and easier to maintain, and they're known for their unique sound and feel.

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Term

water-cooled cars

"...having owned old water-cooled cars and an old air-cooled car, it is really nice to not have one less gauge you have to monitor."

Water-cooled cars keep their engines cool using liquid instead of just air. This helps the engine run better and last longer by preventing it from getting too hot.

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Jeep Cherokees
Mr.choppers (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Car

Jeep Cherokees

"...s page here earlier today. It's, yeah, it's Grand Cherokees. Remember we drove the Grand Cherokee 4XE?"
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Toyota Tundras
IFCAR (Public domain)
Car

Toyota Tundras

"...oss the industry. Toyota, they just recalled more Tundras. Turbo 6s."
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Toyota Rav4
TTTNIS (CC0)
Car

Toyota Rav4

"we drove for 12 minutes and I was like, the RAV4 hybrid does not do this. The one that my wife dri..."
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Mitsubishi Eclipse
Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Mitsubishi Eclipse

"...s generational trend and why is it the Mitsubishi Eclipse? I mean, that's kind of funny,"
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Ford Mustangs
Hans-Jürgen Neubert (CC BY 4.0)
Car

Ford Mustangs

"...k there's good payloads there for sure. How about Mustangs, right? 65, 65, 66, pretty fucking good."
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Lucid Gravity
Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)
Car

Lucid Gravity

"Convertibles are not often lighter. The center of gravity might be lower because the top is cloth and with ..."
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Ford Mustang GT
Vauxford (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ford Mustang GT

"Yeah, sure. SN95 Mustang GT, curb weight, coupe and convertible. I bet you go..."
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Pontiac Gt Convertible
Bull-Doser (Public domain)
Car

Pontiac Gt Convertible

"And I can tell you for fucking certain that a GT convertible Mustang of that era is not as rigid as a GT coupe..."
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Lancia Delta Integrale
MrWalkr (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Lancia Delta Integrale

"...y to want to trade in my 991 Turbo S for a Lancia Delta Integrale Evo? I have 10 cars."
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Ford Focus RS
Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Ford Focus RS

"...el like the sort of grandfather of a Golf R and a Focus RS and stuff like that, but they have a weird kind o..."
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Alfa Romeo Sprint
Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Alfa Romeo Sprint

"...hing. Belgian Spa Day bought an Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint for 25K. I think it would be a pretty good buy."
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Alfa Romeo Giulia
Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Alfa Romeo Giulia

"... same thing. Belgian Spa Day bought an Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint for 25K. I think it would be a pretty good..."
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Mazda Miata
Yaktatel (Public domain)
Car

Mazda Miata

"...raceful racing. I'm doing an engine swap on an ND Miata. Tremac is doing a release of the Transaxle"
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Shelby GT500
MrWalkr (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Shelby GT500

"...emac is doing a release of the Transaxle from the GT500, which we talked about. I plan on making 500-whee..."
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Shelby Cobra
Spurzem - Lothar Spurzem (CC BY-SA 2.0 de)
Car

Shelby Cobra

"...ecause then you've basically made a tiny Japanese Cobra. Yeah."
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Toyota Supra
Dietmar Rabich (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Toyota Supra

"...ng that being used, I saw some guy did a Mark III Supra with a BMW DCT. Whoa."
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Land Rover Discovery
Kirill Borisenko (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Car

Land Rover Discovery

"...his and he bought an absolutely tragic Land Rover Discovery. He wanted to be Disco Guy."
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31 cars featured

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