Best In Class
Steve and Adam
Last episode about 1 year agoTwo car-obsessed guys share their thoughts on when cars hit their peak moment of desirability.
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Episodes (152)
#101 Steve’s next car? The MINI Clubman
The MINI Clubman is the oddball in the MINI lineup, and Steve is the meatball of the Best in Class partnership - so it's a match made in heaven. Steve is on the hunt for a new dog car, and the Clubman is looking like the answer. Predictably, Adam is here to tell him all the ways in which he is wrong...
#100th Episode Special on the Ford Model T
We made it to 100 episodes! I'm not sure how, why, or even where, but 100 have been recorded and broadcast (well 101 if you count the accidental re-record of Panamera...), so what better time to cover the car that started it all - the Ford Model T. Plus Steve tells us about his ancestral homelands.
#99 The spaghetti schnitzel Lamborghini Urus
The current music video and tiktok selfie king is the Lamborghini Urus - first of the super SUVs. It's brakes are bigger than most cars' wheels, it's as fast as a sports car, and uglier than burnt Picasso. But is it any good at being an SUV? What about being a Lamborghini? And will Steve shove his dog in the back of one as his new car? That's this week on Best in Class.
#98 The box appeal Fiat Panda
The Fiat Panda is the Italian poster child for "cheap and cheerful." Known to be aggressively simple to manufacture, run, and maintain, it is as much the car of Italy as the 500. But is it any good? And will Steve's dog fit in the back? We get into all that and more this week, without somehow talking about the Porsche Panamera again...
#98 The pretty ugly Porsche Panamera (oops accidental repeat)
The Porsche Panamera just might be the first four door sports car. Not sported-up sedan or sporty saloon, but actual sports car. Purpose built from the ground up to carry four passengers with inhumane speed around corners. So why did it take Porsche so long to come out with it? Which one is the best? And can we get Steve to trade his Ferrari for one?
#97 The artistically fast BMW race cars (with special guest Ezra)
Steve doesn't believe Adam is any good at being a racing driver, so he's brought in an experienced BMW racer to teach Adam a thing or two, and to discuss which BMW race car was the best of all time. For some reason, Steve is allowed to have an opinion on this, despite never having been to a race track.
#96 The hilariously homely VW Thing (with special guest host Read filling in for Steve)
The VW Thing just might be the weirdest mass-market car ever attempted. Decidedly unattractive - anti-aethestic even - with no creature comforts, and a price the well exceeded the normal Bug. They never caught on, but now they are classics because of their quirks. But are they actually any good? Steve is gone today, so Adam has enlisted VW expert Reed to help sort through the history of the Thing and decide which one is Best in Class.
#95 The spaghetti western Cadillac Allante
The modern world is built on international cooperation and globalization. Cadillac was there first in the early 80's when they came out with the Allante. Proudly built over two continents, this was supposed to keep Cadillac on top of the luxury market for another decade. Instead, it was another nail in the coffin of Cadillac's demise. And we're here to detail every precarious step.
#94 The betta getta Jetta
The Volkswagen Jetta is widely regarded as the big brother of the fun, plucky Golf - and with good reason because it's true! The Jetta was originally just a Golf with a trunk. But is it actually any good, and are there any generations worth getting? Adam and Steve are on the case to try to liven up this very boring car!
#93 The good to be bad Jaguar F-Type (Adam’s last podcast again?)
Jaguar famously leaned into their bad-boy reputation with the "Good to be Bad" advertising campaign featuring famous British movie villains shilling for the new F-Type. So is the F-Type a car only fit for a sociopath, or can you enjoy one too? And which is the best one for the professional race car driver? That's this week on Best in Class.
#92 The fast and fiery Pontiac Fiero
The Pontiac Fiero has a rich and storied history as a terrible car that is most famous for being the base of numerous questionable kit cars. But is that sordid reputation deserved? Was the Fiero ever a good car? And can Adam talk Steve into ditching his Ferrari for a replica? All that and more on this week's Best in Class.
#91 The not quite a Ferrari Dino (with special guest Jacob)
Let's get this out of the way upfront - The Dino 206 is not a Ferrari. It's a Dino. Enzo refused to call it a Ferrari, and Steve won't ever let us argue with Enzo, so we won't call it one here. But is the almost Ferrari any good? Well, we got a perspective owner to chip in on this one and let us know what's so special about this sub-brand car.
#90 The Indian Model T Hindustand Ambassador
The Hindustand Ambassador has been called "the wheels of India" and has served as transport for taxi riders and Prime Ministers. It lasted for five decades and was based on 1940's British technology. Sounds like a sure-fire hit! But which one is best? And will Steve trade in his car for one? That's this week on Best in Class.
#89 The stuck in time Delorean (with special guest Geoff)
The Delorean DMC-12 had such a tumultuous life that whole movies and books have been written about it's short two year life. But beyond all the drama and rumors, are the cars any good? Is it possible to get away from the Back to the Future references? And is there a Ferrari connection Steve can talk about? To get the answers to these questions, we enlisted current owner Geoff and then just heckled him. It's a good time!
#88 The acid tripping VW Bus (with special guest Sean)
The VW Type 2, or bus, is an icon around the world. Over 6 generations, it has sold millions of examples and been the ride of choice for everyone from hippies to terrorists. But which one is the best of the best? To help us find out, we enlisted an actual expert and owner to sort through this vehicle's 70 year history. What will Steve, Adam, and Sean pick as their Best in Class?
#87 The fast and infuriating Mazda RX-7
Ah the Mazda RX-7. Too strange to live, too rare to die. Adam owned an RX-7 when he was way too young to appreciate it, too dumb to fix it, and too poor to keep it for long. Ignoring that he bought one, are they any good at all? Is there a single model in the three generations that won't leave you stranded on the side of the road? All that and more on today's Best in Class.
#86 The absolute worst Ferrari Mondial (with special guest Dave)
The Ferrari Mondial has been described as the cheapest way into a Ferrari, the ugly duckling, and worse than the car it replaced. And those are all true. But it was also Ferrari's best seller at the time. So what is going on here? This week we've enlisted current Mondial owner Dave to help us understand the least-loved Ferrari and perhaps gain some appreciation for it. Or perhaps not.
#85 Adam’s other other car the BMW 2002 (with guest host Matt filling in for Steve)
We've finally come to the last car in Adam's fleet - the venerable BMW 2002. And yet, Steve conveniently couldn't make it this week so our special guest turned into a guest host! Matt will help us get down into what the best BMW 2002 of all time is, as well as making fun of Steve since he's not here to fight back...
#84 The rugged individualist International Scout (with special guest Rashod)
The International Harvester Scout was arguably the first American SUV ever made. The model also only lasted 20 years before the whole company went out of business. So if it wasn't good enough to save the company, is the car any good? And which one is the best one? We've enlisted guest host Rashod to help us sort it out this week.
#83 The ”it’s a car” Toyota Yaris
The Toyota Yaris was basic transportation for millions of people, and that it about it. Or is it? Are there any redeeming features to this cheap-as-chips vehicle? And why are we talking about it right after Diablo? What the hell? We'll try to answer that this week.
#82 The Chryslerfied Lamborghini Diablo
If you had a car poster on your wall in the 90's, the odds are you had an extra large one of the Lamborghini Diablo. If you didn't have any posters, you certainly "drove" a Diablo in Need for Speed or Cruisin' USA. It was a car of the moment in the Clinton years. But what about today? Could it be used around town without falling apart after 30 years? Steve and Adam are on the case today.
#81 The lost in time Morgan
The Morgan Motor Car company started in 1909, and hasn't changed so much as a light bulb since then. Their cars are still handmade, quite weird, and built out of wood. They are truly a automotive basketcase. But hey, it's Steve's birthday so we'll cover them anyway...
#80 The anti-charity Ferrari Purosangue
Ferrari has come out with their first 4-door, AND their first SUV. Although they won't call it an SUV. And two of doors open backward. And the order books are already full. But beyond all those quibbles, it's big news! Adam and Steve have poured over all the official information, unofficial leaks, and pure rumor to give you our first episode on a car that we haven't even seen yet. What could go wrong?
#79 The German’s wurst Chrysler Crossfire
For one fine moment, you could walk into a Chrysler dealership and pick between a PT Cruiser, a Dodge Magnum, and a Chrysler Crossfire. During this halcyon day of the Pentastar brand, Germany was calling the shots in the form of now-owners Daimler-Benz. The Crossfire was the first product of this German-American marriage, and boy was it a doozy.
#78 Live like Gatsby Duesenberg
Adam is back from his Vacation, and Steve is obviously upset. A perfect time to cover the original American supercar, the arguable cause of the Great Depression, and the most expensive pre-war car ever to be sold. Of course we can only be referring to Duesenberg! Which of these 1920's monsters is the Best in Class, and is Steve's Ferrari really slower than one?