Konig - Behind The Wheel Podcast May 27, 2026

Why Modern Cars Lack “Soul” (Analog vs. Digital)

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Car

R35

“R35” is the generation code for the Nissan GT-R. It’s a modern supercar that uses a lot of technology, so it often comes up in discussions about how newer cars feel different from older ones.

Car

Toyota A90

“A90 Supra” means the newer Toyota GR Supra. It’s a modern sports car, so it’s often used to compare how newer cars can feel more computerized than older ones.

Car

The Nissan Skyline is a performance car line that has different versions over the years. In the podcast, it’s mentioned because people connect it to the GT-R and to specific older generations like the R32. The point is usually about how those cars feel and drive compared with newer ones.

Concept

analog into digital

The speaker is talking about how older cars feel more “mechanical” and direct, while newer cars use more computers to manage things. That can make the driving feel smoother, but sometimes less raw or less connected to what your foot and hands are doing.

Term

traction control

Traction control is a system that helps the tires grip the road. If the wheels start spinning too much, it steps in to reduce power or brake a wheel so you don’t lose control.

Term

scan tool

A scan tool is like a computer that plugs into the car to read what the car’s systems are doing. Mechanics use it to find problems and to see live information from sensors.

Term

OBD2

OBD2 is the standard way cars report their status to a diagnostic computer. It lets you plug in a tool and see things like sensor readings and error codes.

Term

data stream

A data stream is live, continuously updating sensor and system information pulled from the car via OBD2. Watching the data stream helps you understand what the car is doing in real time (for example, how inputs and engine management respond).

Concept

flash codes

Flash codes are an older way cars tell you what’s wrong. Instead of plugging in a computer, the car blinks a light in patterns that you have to interpret.

Term

sensor

A sensor is a small electronic part that measures something about the car (like air, temperature, or engine conditions). The car uses those readings to decide how to run the engine, and wrong readings can trigger error codes.

Term

scope

To “scope” a signal means checking the electrical pattern with a special tool. It can show whether a sensor signal is actually behaving correctly, not just whether the computer logged a fault.

Term

check engine

The check engine light comes on when the car’s computer finds a problem. Usually it stores an error code that a scanner can read to help figure out what’s wrong.

Term

module

A module is a computer in the car that controls a specific system. If one computer starts acting up, it can cause error codes even if the sensors seem to be reading normally.

Term

OBD1

OBD1 is the older “self-diagnosis” system used on earlier cars. It can be harder to read than OBD2 because it’s less standardized across vehicles.

Term

standalone

A standalone is an aftermarket engine computer that takes over control of the engine. It can make tuning simpler because you’re not depending on the factory computer network to work correctly.

Company

Haltech

Haltech makes aftermarket engine computers used for tuning. The host is saying that using something like this can simplify things when you’re aiming for big power.

Car

Audi

Audi is mentioned as an example of a modern car with many computers working together. If you change parts without using a full standalone setup, some features may stop working because the computers don’t communicate correctly.

Car

Nissan 370Z

The Nissan 370Z is a two-door sports car made for driving enjoyment. It’s rear-wheel drive, which helps it feel more connected and sporty. It’s mentioned a lot by people who like the Z and similar Nissan sports cars.

Car

G37

The Infiniti G37 is a popular enthusiast car that people modify for more power. The host is saying some tuning paths can run into problems with the car’s factory control systems.

Term

Vivo control

“Vivo control” sounds like the name of one of the car’s factory computer systems. The point is that the car’s electronics are connected, so swapping parts can cause problems unless you manage the engine control properly.

Term

VQ35 heads

“VQ35 heads” means cylinder-head parts from Nissan’s VQ35 engine. The host is saying that swapping parts like this can be tricky with the car’s factory computers, so people often switch to a standalone setup.

Term

drive by wire throttle bodies

Instead of a cable pulling the throttle open, the car uses electronics to tell the throttle to open. A computer (ECU) sends the command, which can make throttle response and idle behavior more consistent.

Term

cable drive

Cable drive is the older setup where pressing the gas pulls a cable that opens the throttle. It’s straightforward, but it doesn’t let the computer control the throttle as flexibly.

Term

idle control motors

Idle control motors help keep the engine speed steady when you’re stopped. They adjust airflow or throttle position so the car doesn’t idle too fast or stall when systems like A/C or power steering kick in.

Term

ECU

The ECU is the car’s engine computer. It reads sensors and decides what to do, like how far to open the throttle to keep the engine running smoothly.

Term

fast out of the air valves

These valves help the engine idle faster for a short time, like when it’s cold. They add a bit of extra airflow so the engine runs smoothly until it warms up.

Term

adjustment screws

Adjustment screws are mechanical settings used to fine-tune airflow and idle behavior on some throttle/idle systems. On cable-driven or older setups, these adjustments can affect how much air bypasses the throttle at idle and therefore how stable the idle is.

Term

tip in

“Tip in” means the instant you begin to press the gas. A good tune makes that first movement feel smooth, while a bad one can make the car hesitate or jerk.

Term

one-to-one ratio

They’re talking about making the gas pedal and throttle opening match up more directly. The idea is that when you move your foot, the engine responds in a more predictable way.

Term

tune

A “tune” is a change to the car’s engine computer settings. Here, it’s being used to make the throttle feel more direct, like older cable-driven cars.

Term

linear

“Linear” here means the response is smooth and predictable as you press the gas. Instead of the car feeling jumpy in certain spots, it changes in a steady way.

Term

factory electronic throttle body

Your gas pedal controls a valve that lets air into the engine. In many modern cars, that valve is controlled electronically instead of by a direct cable, so the response can feel different.

Term

electric power steering

Electric power steering uses a motor to help you turn the wheel. Some drivers feel it doesn’t “talk back” the way older hydraulic systems can.

Term

hydraulic steering feel

Hydraulic steering uses fluid pressure to help turn the wheels. People who like the “feel” usually mean the steering wheel gives more direct feedback.

Car

Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer ST is a sportier version of the Explorer SUV. The host is using it to explain that even in a fun modern truck, the steering can still feel less “connected.”

Term

Roman mechanical feel

They’re describing the kind of driving feel you get from older, more mechanical cars—where the car feels more “connected” to what you’re doing. Newer electronics can make that feedback feel muted or artificial.

Term

electric differentials

A differential helps the wheels turn at different speeds when you’re cornering. Some modern cars use electronics to control how power is sent to the wheels, which can change how the car feels on the road.

Term

AYC system

AYC is an electronic system that helps the car rotate and grip better when you turn. It uses computers to shift how much power each wheel gets, which can make the car feel different than a more mechanical setup.

Term

drive by wire break

This is the idea of brake-by-wire: instead of your pedal directly controlling hydraulics, it sends electronic signals that tell the brakes what to do. That can make the pedal feel different because it’s not a direct mechanical link anymore.

Car

EVO

“EVO” usually means the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. It’s a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive performance car, and the speaker is comparing its vibe to the more grand-touring feel of the 3000GT.

Car

your 3000 GT

The “3000 GT” is a Mitsubishi sports coupe from the JDM era. The point here is that it’s more of a comfortable, long-distance style car compared with the more track-focused EVO.

Brand

Brembo

Brembo makes high-performance brake parts. The speaker is worried that if a computer-controlled braking system stops working, you might not have enough braking left to stay safe.

Term

redundancy

Here, “redundancy” means there’s a backup plan if something fails. The speaker is worried that the backup might only work for a short time, and then you could lose braking.

Term

computer

They’re talking about the car using computers to control braking. Their worry is that if the computer fails, you might not be able to stop safely.

Term

fly by wire

Instead of cables and rods directly moving the airplane’s controls, the pilot’s commands become electronic signals. Computers then help move the control surfaces, which can make the plane easier to handle and more consistent.

Term

drive by wire throttle body

On a drive-by-wire setup, pressing the gas pedal sends an electronic signal. That signal tells a motor to open or close the throttle body, which controls how much air the engine gets.

Term

self driving cars

Self-driving cars use cameras, radar, and computers to help steer, accelerate, and brake. The point in this discussion is that modern electronic driving tech can become dependable over time.

Term

adaptive cruise control

Adaptive cruise control is cruise control that “watches” the car in front of you. If the traffic slows down, it can slow your car too, so you don’t have to constantly brake and accelerate.

Term

defaults

“Defaults” here means the car has a backup plan. If something important stops working, it switches to a safer, simpler mode so it doesn’t act strangely.

Term

lock up the rear brakes

It means the rear wheels stop turning and start sliding. Sliding wheels don’t grip the road as well, so the car can feel sketchy or harder to control.

Term

hydraulic line

Brake systems use fluid under pressure to move the brakes. If a brake line fails, the fluid can’t reach the brakes, so you may not get normal stopping power.

Term

master cylinder fail

The master cylinder is like the “pump” that creates pressure for the brakes. If it fails, pressing the pedal won’t build enough pressure to stop the car.

Term

knockback

Knockback is when the brake pads get pushed slightly away from the brake disc. The first part of your pedal press may feel “dead” until the pads move back into contact.

Term

pads out all the way

“Pads out all the way” describes the pads being fully positioned against the rotors so the pedal has normal travel and immediate braking response. In track driving, people may “pre-load” the brakes to reduce the chance of knockback making the first pedal press feel weak.

Term

brake fade

Brake fade is when your brakes stop working as well because they’re overheating. You press harder, but the car still won’t slow down like it should.

Concept

analog versus digital

This phrase is about whether a car’s driving feel is more “mechanical and direct” (analog) or more “computer-controlled” (digital). The point being made is that the listener cares less about the technology itself and more about whether the car feels fun and responsive.

Concept

connectivity

In modern-car talk, “connectivity” usually means the car’s ability to link to networks and devices (for apps, services, and data). In this segment, it’s contrasted with “rawness,” implying that as cars become more connected and refined, they can lose some of the unfiltered, analog-like character people associate with earlier driving experiences.

Concept

golden era

A “golden era” is when fans look back at a certain time period and say, “That was the best version.” Here, it’s used to explain why people miss the feel of older cars and why newer ones don’t always match that vibe.

Term

market share

Market share just means how much of the car-buying market a company gets compared to competitors. Here it’s used to say automakers are trying to chase what sells, not necessarily what makes the car feel special.

Car

Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is a popular small car made for everyday driving. Some versions are tuned for performance, like the Civic Type R, but most Civics are built to be efficient and easy to live with. It’s often mentioned because it’s so common and has both normal and sporty options.

Term

electronic brakes

This means the braking system is controlled with electronics rather than only traditional hydraulic feel. That can make the brake pedal feel different, and some drivers think it reduces the “connection” to the car.

Term

electronic power steering

This is power steering that uses electronics and a motor to help you steer. Some people feel it can make the steering feel less “connected” to the road than older, more mechanical setups.

Car

Civic Type R

The Honda Civic Type R is a high-performance version of the Civic. The host brings it up as an example of a modern car that feels more “engineered” than old-school raw driving.

Car

Nissan Juke

The Nissan Juke is a small crossover, meaning it’s higher than a regular sedan and designed for easier everyday use. It’s known for a unique look and compact dimensions. The podcast mentions it because people are talking about Nismo-style performance versions and which models are included.

Brand

Nismo

Nismo is Nissan’s in-house performance brand, used for higher-output and track-oriented versions of Nissan models. In the episode, “Nismo edition” is mentioned as part of the pattern of modern special trims that enthusiasts hope will stay “raw,” even as cars gain more electronic control.

Car

Toyota GR Corolla

The Toyota GR Corolla is a sporty version of a compact hatchback. It’s designed to be fun to drive and to handle well, not just to get you from place to place. People often talk about it after test drives because it’s meant to feel special behind the wheel.

Term

automated

Here, “automated” means the car is doing some of the work for you, like shifting. The host thinks that can make the car feel less connected to you.

Term

driver feedback

Driver feedback is how the car “talks back” to you—through how the steering and pedals feel. The host is saying automakers are starting to bring back that more direct, connected feeling.

Part

braking systems

The braking system is what makes the car slow down and stop. The host is saying Nissan updated the brakes because they found problems when the car was actually being driven.

Part

better pad

Brake pads are the replaceable part that actually rubs against the brake disc to stop the car. A better pad can make braking feel more responsive and less likely to fade.

Part

rotors

Rotors are the brake discs that the brake pads clamp onto to generate stopping force through friction. Upgrading rotors and pairing them with better pads can improve braking consistency and pedal feel, which is exactly what the speaker credits for making the car feel better.

Term

rowing through the gears

“Rowing through the gears” just means you’re actively shifting yourself through the gears. The host is saying that kind of hands-on shifting feels more engaging than automated shifting.

Term

fake manual

“Fake manual” means the car pretends to shift like a manual, but it’s still controlled automatically. The host thinks it can feel less connected than a real manual where you shift yourself.

Term

manual gearbox

A manual gearbox is the kind of transmission where you choose gears yourself. You use a clutch to switch gears, and the host is saying the car’s feel isn’t just about having a manual—it’s about how directly it responds to you.

Car

Nissan Z

The Nissan Z is a sports car that’s meant to feel engaging to drive. Here, the host is talking about how the steering and throttle feel can change between versions of the Z.

Term

throttle hanging

Throttle hanging means the car keeps revving or pulling for a moment even after you let off the gas. The host thinks that makes the car feel less responsive and less “connected” to the driver.

Term

rev hang

Rev hang is when the engine doesn’t drop RPM immediately after you lift off the gas. The host is saying it can make the car feel delayed and artificial, instead of responding instantly.

Concept

analog and digital

“Analog vs. digital” here means whether the car feels like it responds through direct mechanical action or through computer-controlled logic. The host is basically asking: how much computer is too much before the driving feel stops being satisfying.

Car

my 350 Z

The Nissan 350Z is a sports car that many enthusiasts describe as feeling more “mechanical” and connected. In this discussion, the host uses their 2006 350Z as the baseline for what they consider a good analog-vs-digital balance.

Concept

numbness

Here “numbness” means the car doesn’t feel as responsive or communicative. Instead of giving you clear feedback through the controls, it can feel muted—like the car is doing things for you rather than letting you feel the road.

Concept

analog feel

“Analog feel” means the car feels connected to you in a more mechanical, natural way—like you can sense what the tires and suspension are doing. The speaker is comparing that to newer cars that can feel more controlled by computers, which may feel less exciting.

Concept

generations of cars

“Generations of cars” means the same model across different redesigns over the years. Each redesign can change how the car drives, so the speaker is asking which versions still feel more engaging.

LIVE

So I've noticed that you have a particular taste in cars as you've been collecting more

and more of them.

Are you trying to recapture your childhood?

Is it something about the cars that in particular that speak to you?

Because like for me, I'm still in that like right at the end of the 90s, early 2000s, and

even into the 2010s, like do you see yourself getting a R35 or an A90 Supra or is it this

time period that really is what's speaking to you?

I don't know.

I mean, you mean like why do I have all these older Japanese cars kind of, whatever?

Yeah.

I mean, listen, I mean, do I think there's nostalgic pieces to it?

Absolutely.

Like these are the cars that as a kid, I saw people buy or drive and I wanted them, right?

But I also think I have this really like I think like when we look at the GTRs, right,

there's R32, which everybody would say is the most analog and is the most, you know,

raw feeling.

R33 is kind of a combination.

It's when it started to go from analog into digital, but it's not really digital yet.

R34, I think kind of made the transition to digital, although I would still say all those

early 2000s cars still have a lot of analog comparatively to like jumping to like 2006,

right?

But like like like my Z, my Z is 2006.

So it's the newest car that I have that I like I mess with, right?

And I still think it's a really good balance between digital and analog.

But like here's the thing, that car definitely has some, you know, digital nature, right?

Like there's still a lot of controls in there that, you know, you can feel like turning

off the, you know, the traction control is a little bit more work than just pushing the

button.

People think it is, but like you turn it off and you, it still has some there.

Like there's, you have to go through and like bypass it with, you know.

So I think that there is a little bit of that.

I like the fact that these cars are more mechanical than anything else.

And honestly, I think it makes it more fun to work on because you don't have to get involved

with a scan tool that requires you to scan a hundred modules and, you know, try to look

for all the different things that could be fighting each other.

So I think from that aspect, that's fun.

I mean, listen, I love, I love the idea of having an R35 or doing some different things.

But you're right.

They don't, they don't come to me as the cars that I like have to run to first.

Yeah.

I think that the aspect I do enjoy about that, and I think that's where we differ is I very

much enjoy the OBD2 aspect of it.

I like being able to plug in, well, I like being able to pull data stream and actually

watching and, and being able to see data right there.

But these cars can do that.

Yes.

But I feel like the language is less, and let's be honest, the language is not universal.

And I think that's where I struggle a little bit more too, is that you get kind of used

to, you know, being trained to look for values.

I mean, most of my training was done on OBD2 stuff.

So you kind of get used to seeing the way that those systems work and communicate and,

you know, modules are talking to one another and you get into one of, you get into some

of these older cars that are pre-OBD2 and you don't have that same ease of access, let's

say.

You have to kind of figure out where you're getting your information from or, or God forbid

you're pulling flash codes, things like that.

It's just a more in-depth process to do the diagram where honestly with OBD2 I plug in

and I can go there and go, oh, look, the sensor's not really doing what I want it to do.

Let me pull it up and scope it right there and be ready to go.

Well, but let me, me bring some counter to that because I don't want to go

too far.

And I don't want to just turn into a tuning session, right?

But like, let's say we pull you, you have a modern day Audi that you're trying to tune.

Now I know you don't tune, but let's say it gets tuned, now the car comes to you or let's

say it's your car and you have it tuned and you get it back and now it's got a check engine

line, right?

And you know, you're going to go pull that thing, you'll get a code, get a couple codes,

whatever it's going to be.

Most likely you're not going to be able to take those codes at face value, there's something

there that's been, that's causing those codes.

So you're going to now deep dive through things and you know, what do you do when you have

a module, one of maybe, I don't know, 16 of them that goes bad and all of a sudden it's

throwing codes for stuff that clearly when you look at the raw sensor value is looking

to be fine, right?

And that to me is the issue I think you have with a lot of modern day cars and look, there's

people out there that are pure diagnosticians that really know the cars and they know this

stuff well and they could figure that stuff out.

But as a hobby enthusiast, right, I can, I mean, both listen, so like my Evo is OBD2,

right?

Technically it's sort of.

But you know, it is an OBD2 plug and you know, the ECU is a 2000 or 1999 ECU.

So there's that.

The second thing is the VR4, well, it's a first gen and it would have been an OBD1 car.

You know, I have a Jester Chrome ECU, so it's actually a 99 style ECU.

So theoretically I have, I have both, I can do OBD1 or OBD2, but for diagnostic, for

diagnosing things, like I'll be in OBD2 mode most of the time, right?

So is it, is it more primitive maybe than, you know, some of the later cars?

Sure, but that's because the complexity of the later cars is just so much different,

right?

Like, I mean, it really is tough for me when I start to think about wanting to make big

power on some of these other cars.

If you're not going to a standalone, I think that's the if, right?

Because here's the thing, if you build a car too that you take and you go, you go full

Haltech or something like that, you don't need to worry about a lot of that stuff.

But if you were to do that on a new Audi, let's say, a lot of those functions aren't

going to work because those modules won't be able to communicate with each other.

Yeah, and you do see some, so being that I'm a G37, 370Z fan, we run into that problem

a little bit with the Vivo control because a lot of guys will say, I'm not going to deal

with the Vivo and go straight over to putting VQ35 heads on it and doing away with that

and just running cams so that they can run a standalone.

You can get around that, but it takes a lot of work.

And is the juice worth the squeeze that some of these people know?

So I can see where you're coming from on that because you're adding a whole complexity

into a system you don't need.

But I do see a lot of benefits from, for instance, the drive by wire throttle bodies.

I think that getting away from cable drive, I do very much enjoy not having to mess around

with idle control motors as much and things like that where the throttle bodies doing all

of the work right there in the ECU cracks open.

And now I'm not fighting with trying to get something dialed in and get the values all

handled.

Listen, I get that.

I mean, you know, with both cars lately, I struggled a little bit trying to figure out

this whole idle thing.

And there's between fast out of the air valves, idle control motors, adjustment screws, different

things like that where you're basically parsing different air around the throttle body.

Yeah, right.

Exactly.

So I understand what you mean.

I mean, I do think that they're, and while I do think that they've done a good job with

the springs and the feel of all that stuff, to me, drive by wire while it's cool.

And it is.

And I think under most circumstances, I'm an advocate for drive by wire.

I still think that there's this other issue, which is when it starts getting into some

of these older cars, I kind of like the simplicity of the cable, right?

Now, if you're going to go standalone, or if you're going to even be tuning an ECU,

okay, which means you've modified the car enough, then I think there are real settings

in there.

If you choose to block off a fast out of the air valve or do some of these things that

you can use to be able to help with tip in and be able to help the idle and do some different

things, right?

I think that that's in the tuning part.

But there is something primitive about a cable.

Pull the throttle to 100%.

It opens 100%.

And I get that.

But you can do that once you have access to the ECU.

If you're tuned, you can go in and get that one-to-one ratio.

What's your tune?

Yeah.

And I think that's also part of it, too.

I come from a world where tuning is ubiquitous.

I know that there are a lot of people out there that don't tune their cars.

And I think sometimes I struggle with that.

I'm like, oh, easy, we just get access to the ECU, go in and make that throttle act like

it does on a cable drive.

So we're not dealing with that.

Right.

You make it linear without having that.

Exactly.

So I get that part.

So I get that I'm a little jaded in that regard.

And I think that might be part of it, too, is that I'm not dealing with some of those

same situations that other people are with a factory electronic throttle body.

And so maybe my experience might be different.

But there is one thing I think we all agree on, and I'm not the biggest fan of the electric

power steering.

I really do like a good hydraulic steering feel.

I think that they've done a lot to get the electronic power steering better.

But I still feel like I'm playing a video game sometimes, even in my wife's truck.

I love that Explorer ST.

But there's sometimes where I'm turning and I want the feedback from the tires and I'm

not getting it.

I'm not feeling the car.

There's like a disconnect somewhere.

And I don't know if it's maybe the tires aren't giving me the information, but I still feel

that it's electric.

I feel like it's just too easy.

I'm not fighting anything.

Yeah.

I mean, look, from it, I think there's a drivability thing here, too.

Right?

Like, I like the analog nature of some of these older cars.

It's a Roman mechanical feel.

It's a different thing.

There's a big difference in feel to me between, let's say, you know, electric differentials

and something that's like that EVO, right?

Like, the EVO is just pure manual diffs.

Like, you know what I mean?

Even within, you know, the AYC system and all that stuff, like, the car just naturally

feels like it's connected, right?

And I think you can lose some of that.

And I think the power, the electronic power steering and some of the things they'll do,

but like drive by wire, electric power steering, now there's this idea, which I think is starting

to come more into the production sense of Brembo, where a few years ago they patented

that whole thing about the drive by wire break.

Break by wire, it sounds like it's coming.

And it sounds like break by nightmare.

That's kind of where I'm at.

I mean, that was a good Seinfeld joke, but I feel like I'm struggling with that.

The concept of there being no mechanical connection between my break, I mean, hydraulics are not

necessarily mechanical and I get that, but there's just ones and zeros now going between

my brake pedal and my brakes.

I tend to, like obviously the feel, for an car I want to modify or play with, I like

the feel of the analog nature of cars.

That's why I think if you look at them, my favorite year GTR is an R33.

Which a lot of people, a long time ago, they hated that car.

That was the bastard GTR.

It got so much unwanted flak, but now I think obviously that's tapered, I think that's tapered

off quite a bit, but like still, to me, the R33 is still the GTR that I want.

Not because I don't think I'd want to own an R34, I just feel it's kind of like the

Playboy GTR, right?

And the R32 to me, it's good.

I know people will say it's the best.

To me, it just feels a little too, I like that weird era in JDM culture where you had

cars that had just enough electronics, but not too much.

I think I like the R33 because it's more of a bigger car, like yet again, so I like

your 3000 GT over the EVO because that grand touring car to me is more of that feel.

So I feel like the R33 has more curve to it, more car to it.

The R32 is great.

I've driven a bunch of them, worked on a bunch of them, they're fun, they're peppy

little cars, they're little cars though.

They feel like you're driving a S13 on steroids and don't get me wrong, the R33 is like driving

a maximum on steroids, but yet again, it's not a small car comparatively.

Let's go back.

The reason I wanted to go back is because I thought I had a really fun example.

So you are struggling with the idea of trusting this Brembo thing.

What part of it scares you?

That if the system stops working, the redundancy of the, I can still push that pedal one more

time before I don't have brakes.

Okay.

Now, is that something that would keep you from buying a car or driving that car?

Yes, it was not me from buying it, 100%.

Because you're worried about putting your life in the hands of a computer that essentially

could fail and then could be catastrophic.

Correct.

Okay.

Are you against flying to go on vacation?

So I purposely drove 12 hours to PRI through the night so that I wouldn't have to take

a plane.

So you don't like to fly?

I don't like to fly at all.

Yet again, I know, safest form of travel, we know that, but it's that, I don't even

like getting in the passenger seat of a car.

But you have a fear of flying.

Let's start that.

No, I'll get on a plane.

Okay.

So let's start.

Yeah.

Exactly.

When you go, let's take away the pilot, you can't be the pilot.

No, they don't want me flying the plane.

But with that said, let's say, all right, so now, let's say you're a book a ticket.

Do you pick a flight because it has one plane versus another?

Oh my gosh.

So not necessarily, but definitely the relief of getting on the plane and realizing it's

a plane that you know has a better safety history than another manufacturer.

Yes.

That happens.

Okay.

But what I'm saying is like, you don't do, let's just be, you don't do your research

on what plane you're going to fly on.

No.

You book a ticket.

Correct.

So there's a big thing in the aviation community about when people start towing, like, you

know, there's the Nikon and Canon thing for cameras.

So anyhow, so there's, there's in the camera, there's the Nikon and Canon thing in, you

know, Airbus and Boeing, of course.

So in the aviation community, it's if you got people that are like, oh, Boeing's the

best, you know, Airbus is the best.

And, and I think you have all the people that are on the Boeing side say how shitty the

Airbus is because of the fact that it's all by wire.

It's, you know, it's fly by wire.

I mean, the whole thing is right.

And so when you get on those planes, you're essentially hope you're, and so I, you know,

and I'm sure that some really specific aviators that are on watching this because I'm sure

we're going to get so many of them that they'll, they'll say they'll point out some sort of

redundant, you know, system they've put in, sure.

Okay, maybe, but like, so, so I guess, I guess I'm a little bit less worried about the break

by wire, not because I don't think that it needs to go through its, you know, trials

and tribulations first.

But because I think that it's just as reliable as a drive by wire throttle body, it's just

as reliable as, you know, some of the other things we've given to, I mean, think about

it like, you know, you have self driving cars, right?

You have, you have, you know, adaptive cruise controls that basically really take over a

lot of the cars functionality and, and we trust that.

Took a very long time to get used to the adaptive cruise control.

I started messing with it and it's great on road, road trips.

I love it.

But man, when the first time that thing's breaking for you, it is a very disconnected

feeling.

Like you, well, it's because it's a trust factor, Nick.

Yeah.

No, no, everything you're talking about is about trust, right?

And so, you know, do I think that a drive by wire, do I think there's, there's a fair

share of, you know, concern?

Sure.

Because we don't deal with the systems in every single way.

I would imagine that at some level, a car's ECU has to be done in a way where if the

pedal fails, it has to do something in defaults.

Yeah.

Right?

Like there has to be something.

It's got to use some other sensors in the car, maybe proximity sensors on for the, for

the, for the, that they use for like adaptive cruise control to be able to sense what's

in front of you.

So it knows like how aggressively it should, it should automatically come on.

Cause I don't think it's a caliper that's going to fail.

It's going to be something.

It's going to be lock up the rear brakes.

Dude, there's got to be something.

I mean, they can't just put you in there and say, good luck.

Right.

Like, and I don't think they will.

I think, but it's just, it's that one, like, and I get it.

And we've all, I'm sure most of us have experienced a break blowout on a hydraulic

line, you know, or a failure of a fitting or a master cylinder fail or something like

that.

And it's terrifying.

Like that first time that pedal goes to the floor and you're like, oh, I don't have

brake anymore.

It's got to, it's just, it, and, and it's just as scary as it, you know, if you've

ever had like a, a tremendous amount of like knockback on a track, when you go to get

into that, into the brakes or whatever, you know, you touch the brakes usually before

you hit a turn so that you know that the pedals there, right?

Pads out all the way.

And so like, like, you know, if you've ever had a knockback where you're basically

standing on the pedal or you're extreme brake fade, where you're on this thing and

you get that feeling of like, doesn't matter how hard I push, it's never going to

stop.

That's, you know, that is giving it all she's got captain.

And I got one more terrifying.

Yeah, yeah.

I know you get to get there once or twice.

But so, all right.

So yes, I understand the whole, the whole thing, but what about the feel of these

cars to me, to me, that when I hear the term analog versus digital from a nature of

cars, I'm less worried about the tech.

I'm more worried about like, how does it feel?

How does it respond?

Yeah, there's an era that is captured by cars that have this analog feel.

No difference if it's Porsche, if it's JDM cars, if it's European cars, there

becomes that point where they become, they start to become refined enough that some of

that connectivity that rawness goes away.

I think every generation of car and every model that would have been around, you know,

let's say from 1990 or earlier, all the way up until, you know, who knows when, you

know, past the digital age there.

I think that they all have those model generations or years where people will say,

this is the golden era.

Yeah.

Right.

And I feel like a lot of automakers are struggling with that because they're trying

to capture that as a market share.

Like they, let's be honest, like the Civic Type R, they're trying to capture what we

all looked at as the holy grail of Hondas.

You know, that, that Type R over in Japan, the EK9 was something that as car guys, if

you wanted out the best Honda, that was the one you looked at.

And we've gone into that before with like badging and all that.

But, but are you going to be able to capture that same feeling that those cars had when

you have electronic power steering and you have electronic brakes and you have

electronic, no, I don't think you will because you're disconnecting the driver more

and more from the mechanical nature of the vehicle.

Yeah, it's interesting.

I mean, you know, I think that, you know, I always felt like when you start to see cars

like Civic Type R come out or a Nismo edition, you know, let's say, you know, any, any Nismo

edition car, maybe not the Juke, but what you're really like, I'm talking about, like,

when you see a Nismo, you catch these strays every time when you see like a Nismo

edition, you know, GTR, you see a Nismo edition Z or whatever it's going to be, you

know, Honda, Civic Type R, different things.

I have to, I always feel like there's the company and then there's all of these

engineers and then there's like these hardcore niche enthusiasts that are like

over there like, please just let us build this one little addition, you know.

And so, I mean, obviously that could be way off, but, but the reason is because I

think those people that are in that design area that are really responsible for some

of those vehicles, they probably are faced with a lot of battles, right?

Like how do you work modern day systems in and still go, go back enough that you can

keep the car raw and stuff like that?

Because the cars that don't have that, that feel, let me put it this way, I don't

know if anybody else feels this way.

And if you've driven one, you know, out there, I think people should comment below,

right?

But like I drove a GR Corolla.

I wasn't really that impressed.

Okay.

Just felt like the car felt a little underwhelming.

And I don't know, it just didn't feel connected.

It didn't feel like that car that I'm like, yeah, like, you know, doesn't mean it

wasn't quick, doesn't mean it didn't do what it was supposed to do, did it break

all that stuff.

It, you know, it does that just didn't feel like as raw as I was hoping the car

would feel.

So with, I noticed that recently they've been test driving the new Nismo that is

manual.

Yeah.

So to say that, you know, I would want to say that automated, I'm sorry, maybe

auto manufacturers are noticing the demand for a little bit of that driver feedback

and we're getting that.

I don't know if we're going to get it from all of them, but I definitely think

that at least this time Nissan seemed to listen.

They got, you know, they went in, they redid some braking systems on it from

what I understand they, I think they upgraded the rotors and they went with

like a better pad, things like that.

Just because these were the shortcomings that they saw when the car was actually

being used.

I don't know that that's enough to make the car like, look, there's, there's

definitely a feel that you get from at rowing through the gears.

Yeah.

But now you've seen like Hyundai and some of these companies that are starting

to go to these fake manual, you know, so, so, so I guess try to block that out.

Thanks for bringing it back.

I guess what I'm saying is though, is that you can bring some of that stuff back.

I don't know.

It's the analog feel that I'm talking about.

No, like I don't, I think a car either has an analog feel from a driver's

perspective or doesn't, and there's, and I don't think you could add pieces

back in to give more of a enthusiast or exciting driving experience, but I

don't think you can make the car analog because you put a manual gearbox.

No, no, no.

I'm just saying that I think that they're realizing that there needs to be driver,

there needs to be a connection back to the driver.

Like the biggest thing, one of the complaints I know from the regular Z to

at least the Nismo, because I drove both the regular base model and I drove a

Nismo model before they went manual was the steering feel and the, and the

throttle hanging and things like that.

Like those weird little things that you only get from those digital platforms.

Like the, the no steering feedback was terrible.

It honestly felt like you were playing like cruising USA back in the arcade

where you could just spin the wheel and the car drove.

Like I didn't like that.

It felt numb to me, absolutely numb.

Yeah.

Um, the same thing with the rev hang on the throttle, like you're accelerating

and you let off the gas and it's just staying up there because the throttle

bodies are just closing nice and slow or doing whatever they're doing.

It felt weird.

Like it just didn't, it didn't feel right.

So I can see where those problems were addressed or at least where they're

saying they're addressed.

I haven't gotten a chance to drive the new one.

Um, but on the other Nismo, they did correct the throttle body issue and it

was a noticeable difference in the way the car felt when I was driving it.

Yeah.

Still to me doesn't, doesn't, doesn't, it's not, that's not, that's not the

animal for me.

That's not the animal car.

So I guess, I guess, you know, before we kind of wrap this thing up, I think,

um, let's ask the people out there, right?

Like the, you know, if you're, if you're driving these cars, where's your

stance on, first off, where you think the line gets drawn between analog and

digital, like where, where is that happy medium, happy sweet spot that exists?

Um, I think for me, like my 350 Z it's 2006.

I think it's like, like that to me, if you're looking at a scale, right?

With, with this N being analog and this N being digital, I feel like it's fifth.

It's in the middle, but like just edging towards the, the digital side.

And I feel like I can, I can, but like any more than that, I feel like,

hmm.

I mean, it can be said, you can go all the way till the end of the three 70,

because even the three 70 still had a very mechanical, like you get into a

manual, one of those, it still feels very mechanical.

It's not, it wasn't until the Q 15 and Q 60s.

And then obviously the Zs were Nissan felt that way to me.

Um, I feel like Audi and all that surpassed that a long time ago.

Like when you get into the German cars, I feel like that numbness kicked in

back in like 2005.

Yeah.

And I think there'd be a lot of people that will, will disagree with that

based off of different platforms, but let's, you know, let's hear, let's

hear what they have to say interested to hear, you know, what other people

think about that.

But, um, yeah, I mean, look, a, to me, you know, just to kind of circle

back, I would absolutely own an R 35, right?

I just think that for me, some of these older cars, I want to own as well.

And I want to have them first, like they're my priority cars.

And then I can always, as I somehow try to search for more money in places

that I don't have any, um, I can try to, you know, kind of,

look for those next.

But yeah, I mean, look, I think, um, I think there's a very specific

feel to an analog car.

So, um, you know, I'm super interested to hear what people say.

Do you, you know, especially when they start talking about generations of

cars, comparing all the, you know, all the GTRs together, like where, where

do you think that analog feel still is where it's not, right?

Interesting, right?

Yeah.

So leave your comments down below.

This has been the behind the wheel podcast.

I'm Nick that Scott catch you on the next one.

Peace out.

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28:10

Why Modern Cars Lack “Soul” (Analog vs. Digital)

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