The Carmudgeon Show
Hagerty Media
Updated 4 days agoPart of the Hagerty Podcast Network, the Carmudgeon Show is a comedic, information-filled conversation with Jason Cammisa and Derek Tam-Scott, two car enthusiasts who are curmudgeonly beyond their years. Proving you don’t have to be old to be grumpy, they spend each episode talking about what’s wrong with various parts of the automotive universe. Despite their best efforts to keep it negative, they usually wind up laughing, happy, and extolling their love for cars. Which just makes them angrier and more bitter. Jason Cammisa is an automotive journalist, social-media figure, and TV host with over 300 million views on YouTube alone. Jason’s deeply technical understanding, made possible by a lifelong obsession with cars, allows him to fully digest what’s going on within an automobile — and then put it into simple terms for others to understand. Also, a Master’s Degree in Law trained him to be impossible to argue with. Derek Tam-Scott still tries. He’s a young automotive expert with old-man taste in cars, and a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering — which means he knows how to be civil to Jason. Or at least he tries. With a decade and a half’s experience buying, selling, driving and brokering classic and exotic cars, he’s experienced the world’s most iconic cars. And hated most of them.
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Episodes (192)
Navigating Wars of Words as a Journalist — The Carmudgeon Show Jason Cammisa Derek Tam-Scott Ep. 164
Three cars have caused Jason a journalistic existential crisis: the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the Tesla Cybertruck, and the Tesla Model 3 Performance. Two of them have nothing to do with the cars, and everything to do with the internet backlash from passionate enthusiasts. It's war out there. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev Jason's Hoodie & Merch: https://closed-course-productions.printify.me/ === The Carmudgeon Show has a new studio! (Or at least a new look.) But back to the cars: All of the innovation in the car industry these days is happening at the nontraditional OEMs. Which necessarily means that all of the interesting stories are about EVs. And yet every time Jason does a review of an EV, it incites an online war between EV fans and ICE fans. And when Telsa's passionate fans and detractors become involved on X (formerly known as Twitter) it gets personal. Suddenly, Jason is vilified and "loses his credibility." This reality has caused Jason to take a serious look at the possibility of no longer reviewing new cars. He wonders if his personal interest in them is too small to put up with the backlash — and maybe he should concentrate on the older cars he loves more? On the other hand, is that letting the armchair warriors win? Perhaps. But the larger trend, as Jeremy Clarkson pointed out recently, is that new cars are shit. And it was the Alfa Romeo Tonale that highlighted Jason's concerns. Not because it's a bad car — it's not — but Jason had a hard time getting excited about a 1.3-liter PHEV compact SUV with an Alfa Romeo badge on it. It has none of the qualities he likes in cars. And specifically none of the qualities (other than gorgeous green paint) that he feels are appropriate for a brand like Alfa Romeo. Hear all about the dissonance on this episode of the Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Driving the Ferrari F50 and Pagani Zonda — The Carmudgeon Show Jason Cammisa Derek Tam-Scott Ep. 163
Reviewing two V12, manual-transmission masterpieces — the Carmudgeons drove a Pagani Zonda Nero and a Ferrari F50, thanks to DK Engineering. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev Jason's Hoodie & Merch: https://closed-course-productions.printify.me/ === DK Engineering slid into Jason's DMs with an offer to drive an F50, a car he hadn't driven. Derek is already on record praising the F50 — but neither had driven a Zonda. They drove the cars, but didn't talk about it with one another until now. So here's the unfiltered truth about these two cars. In reality, they couldn't be more different. Disappointing. Derek called the Pagani disappointing — the worst thing you could ever hear from your parents. Especially after Jason had just ridden in the Gordon Murray GMA T.50. Perhaps this Zonda, which had been federalized for U.S. emissions, was quieter than most, but it was an acoustic nonevent: it sounded like a Toyota Camry V6. Which isn't an insult (that's the best sounding V6 in production today) — but it was out of bounds with their expectations. Where the Zonda surprised, however, was that it's a nice GT. But one perhaps that's not what the boys expected. On the other hand, the Ferrari F50 was a complete experience. Its V12 sounds nothing like any of the other 3 Ferrari V12s (Colombo, Lampredi, or F116/F140.) It's not a particularly beautiful sound — more a yell than a scream — but it's fully enveloping and wonderful. The rest of the experience matches up, with linear controls, beautiful steering, and a chassis that feels natural and wonderful. With one of the best clutch/shifter/gas calibrations ever, despite the V12 having almost no flywheel weight. Also, we include a video of Jason shifting the F50 about 2.2 million times in a minute. All this and more on this episode of the Carmudgeon Show, which is part of the Hagerty Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Can An Electric 911 Be Any Good? — The Carmudgeon Show w/ Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott Ep. 162
We drive the Sacrilege Motors 911 "Blackbird" — a fully electric-converted 964-chassis Porsche 911, and answer the question: can an EV be fun? === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === The name of the company says it all: it is sacrilege to rip out a flat-six from the back of a 911 and replace it with batteries and a motor. But calling it out as sacrilege takes the wind out of that argument, and so Derek (a 964 owner and 911-weenie) and Jason each spent some time with this $850,000 (ish) Porsche to answer the question on whether it makes sense. The answer might surprise you. It surprised both of the boys, who hadn't discussed their opinions until we hit record in the studio. Derek was, of course, violent at the idea of a Restomod 911. Called it an abomination, at least conceptually. Especially because it's a 964, the least numerous of the air-cooled variants — and the best-driving according to Derek. This is the same basic car that companies like Singer also modify, because you can backdate the styling — which isn't possible on a 993. Jason, meanwhile, loved the memory structure of the Tesla Roadster blowing his mind — the other electric convertible sports car with great steering. But did the boys like it? Love it? Hate it? Want to burn it at the stake? Only one way to find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Ferrari Market Crashes at Pebble Beach — Carmudgeon Show Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott Ep. 161
Car Week Update, including: the Vintage Ferrari market nosedives at Pebble Beach. Jason sells his Lotus Elise. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Neither of the Carmudgeons went to Sunday's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, but both boys were at Car Week for the rest of the week. And then left to shoot an episode of "Jason Cammisa on the ICONS" and "Ultimate Drag Race Replay." Which was even hotter than it was in the studio, where it was over 100ºF recording the Lexus LFA episode. Sreten from M539 destroyed Jason's house, warehouse, and life, but resurrected an E60 M5 (that OTS & Co will be selling!) They discuss some Behind-the-Scenes on what it's like to try to close a road — Jason means it when he says "professional idiot on a closed course." Hint: it doesn't always work. Derek's company, OTS & Company, sold Jason's 2009 Lotus Elise SC, which was a pleasant surprise for Jason, who's never sold through an agent before — and who is generally terrible at selling cars. Jason is now a convert — and wants OTS&Co to sell everything! OTS & Co also won an award at the Quail with the Ferrari 365 "Croisette" shooting break at the Quail! That coach built Ferrari might be the Ultimate Car Week Car! But it could be M539's Ring Taxi homage E60 M5 manual! But the real surprise at Car Week was how poorly the Blue Chip Ferraris did at auction. There were some other cars that were soft (including two Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo II that sold below Derek's expectations) but the multiple-million-dollar 1950s and 1960s Ferrari market was the big shock. At the same time, a Ferrari F50 hit a new record at $5.5 million with fees — so there's probably not some major bubble bursting. Maybe it's just a generational shift? Lots of philosophical discussion ensues. You should listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
GMA T.50 Passenger Seat Review & LFA — Carmudgeon Show Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep. 160
Jason rides in the left seat of a T.50 and declares it the best sounding engine he's ever heard — dethroning the Lexus LFA. With which he and Derek have experience. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === First of all, Jason calculates his cars' brake fluid age and is mostly okay with it, but also slightly horrified at how old the brake fluid is in several of his cars — one of which is 13 years old. Whoops. Secondly, GMA allowed Jason a ride in the leftmost (passenger) seat of Gordon Murray's T.50, with Dario Franchitti in the center seat. There's video — and audio. And it's enough to have moved Jason to dethrone the LFA, which he had just pronounced the best sounding engine of all time. The LFA's V-10 sounds amazing — far better in the car than the Porsche Carrera GT, the other best-sounding V-10 of all time (with honorable mention given to the BMW S85 — and every other V10 short of the Viper's.) The boys also speak about the LFA Revelations Episode — and the history of the Lexus LFA. And of cars that ride poorly, like the LFA does. Like the Mercedes AMG GT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sreten from @M539Restorations and E60 M5 — Carmudgeon Show Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep. 159
In this episode, Jason and Derek interview Sreten, a friend and YouTuber who stars in his channel M539 Restorations. Sreten bought a salvaged, rare 6-speed manual-transmission E60 BMW M5 — and resurrected it to attend Monterey Car Week. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === M539 Restorations specializes in resurrecting abandoned and neglected BMWs from around the world. Based in Frankfurt, Germany, Serbian-born Sreten creates entertaining videos where he approaches huge repairs without ever skimping on anything. This time, on his honeymoon, Sreten bought a salvaged E60 M5 that was located in Fresno, California — and Jason had it shipped to his warehouse. Sreten sent boxes of parts, and showed up a week before Car Week and started the process of getting the E60 running again. If you've now seen Sreten's posts, you'll know he performed a miracle (or got incredibly lucky with a really nice E60) and the car runs again. But that all happened after we recorded this episode. Get to know the real Sreten. And why he loves the S85 V-10 and the E60 5-series in which it's installed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bad Mechanics Leave a Lasting Legacy — The Carmudgeon Show Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 158
Jason just solved a nagging problem on his car that he paid to have fixed 26 years ago. Turns out, the mechanic charged him for a repair he didn't make. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Jason just solved a nagging problem on his car that he paid to have fixed 26 years ago. Turns out, the mechanic charged him for a repair he didn't make. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === It's well known that Jason Cammisa's Volkswagen Scirocco 16V is his favorite car. What's not so well-known is that he hit a curb while driving it back in the late 1990s, and bent a control arm. After saving for over a year, he finally had the money to replace the arm, and commissioned a local repair shop to perform the work. The Scirocco came back from the alignment shop with bad news: Installing the new control arm didn't put there wheel back where it belonged. The Scirocco's frame was bent. After living with the guilt of having damaged his favorite toy for more than a quarter-century, Jason finally got up the gumption (and money) to have the car's frame straightened. The frame shop had some interesting news: there was nothing wrong with the car — the control arm was merely bent. Turns out the shop that charged Young Jason to replace the arm... didn't. And last week, Jason finally replaced it himself, solving a decades-long alignment issue. This made Jason think about his first three bad experiences as a young man with a VW shop (who tried to charge him near as much in diagnostics than he'd paid for the whole car for a simple bad ground wire) a VW dealer who disconnected his headlights and tried to extort him out of hundreds... and the aforementioned shop — all of whom are responsible for encouraging Jason to do all the work on his cars himself. Derek has a similar story about a local mechanic to tried to charge him $4500 for a simple ignition coil. Fun times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The E31 BMW 850CSi and other 8-series — The Carmudgeon Show Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 157
E31 Syndrome: The explanation of why the E31 8-series is widely regarded as a beautiful failure. This is the full history of the BMW 850i, 850Ci, 850CSi, and 840Ci. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === The BMW 850i had the first post-war German V12. It made 300 hp and was installed in a pillarless, Ferrari-esque coupe almost universally praised for its beauty. After its debut at the 1989 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, its first 3 years of production were sold out. But many of those orders were cancelled once the press got a hold of the 850i. Was it a bad car? In no way. The problem was that its Ferrari looks were married to an uninspired driving experience. The E31 had been conceived by BMW's R&D department (not its marketing department) as a rolling showpiece for its capabilities. And so BMW's priorities were perhaps not in line with market expectations. In other words: E31 Syndrome. A car that looks one way but drives differently. The discrepancy was solved when BMW's Motorsport Division made an M8 out of the 850i... but the marketing issue remained because BMW didn't badge it an M8. It was called 850CSi, which wasn't enough of a differentiator. And was made worse because the 850i was renamed 850Ci for no explicable reason. The 850CSi was a success — it landed to rave reviews, and sold out almost immediately. But its lack of M Badging has cost it enthusiast recognition. Even though it's a full M car with a WBS VIN prefix and the same treatment that the E36 got becoming an M3 out of a 325i. Learn all about this car on this episode of the Carmudgeon Show — a part of the Hagerty Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Cars: Travel Is Fatal To Prejudice — The Carmudgeon Show w/ Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 156
Single-brand car fans don't know what they're missing. Mark Twain once wrote that “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts." The sentiment holds true for cars, too. **SORRY FOR BEING A DAY LATE, FOLKS!** === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev Jason's T-Shirt: https://closed-course-productions.printify.me/ === In this episode, the Carmudgeons proceed to rip into one of their friends — light-heartedly. It all started when GG brought his R129 Mercedes 500SL to a shoot involving Jason's E31 850 CSI, and the two started a mock-argument about which car was better. Anthony Esposito, our favorite cinematographer, said GG's Mercedes-fanboyism reminded him of the Twain quote. In fact, GG's automotive tastes are actually quite well-rounded, but the experience served as the perfect impetus for a conversation about car fans who only experience one brand, or one marque, or one era, or one type of car. Turns out that nearly every car Jason and Derek have experienced has created fascination and interest in something they didn't previously know enough about to be interested. Travel — i.e. experiencing new things — often creates unforeseeable interest in people and places you'd never have realized you were interested in. So, umm, Never Stop Driving... new-to-you cars! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Insights on Your Car's Future Value — The Carmudgeon Show w Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 155
The enthusiast car market has cooled — which likely benefits you. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === This episode is the Tales of a Used Car Salesman, Derek Tam-Scott Edition! Derek spends his professional (and personal) life selling enthusiast and collectible cars, and he's noticed some major changes in the market. The bottom hasn't fallen out, he says, but the market has become more rational — which means transaction prices seem to make sense. Even if that transaction price is $117,600 for a Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3. Because Derek has a rational explanation for the record-breaking six-figure E46 M3 he sold last month. All this insight and more, with a dose of comedy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
America's Most Powerful Cars Ever — The Carmudgeon Show w/ Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 154
Do we love fast cars? Or is the experience more important than the speed? === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Jason's T-Shirt: https://closed-course-productions.printify.me/ Get some behind-the-scenes of Jason's Ultimate Drag Race Replay episode racing the two most powerful American cars of all time: the 1234-hp Lucid Air Sapphire and the 1025-hp Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170. Jason's episode raced the cars both on regular asphalt and then on a VHT-prepped race surface at the Famoso Drag Strip. Are the Carmudgeons impressed? We'll find out — in a discussion about whether the faster engine option is the better choice. Is it speed we love? Or are we looking for experience? In that latter case, electric sports cars like the Rimac Nevera might be in trouble. And it might explain why Bugatti-Rimac's latest car uses a combustion engine. This, and more, on this episode of the Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Automotive 4-Letter Word — The Carmudgeon Show w/ Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 153
Oh, truck it, let's say the word! Nobody likes the word "hybrid" but adding electric assist to combustion engines really can pave a way forward, especially for long-haul trucking. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev https://www.pickmebean.com https://range.energy === This week, Derek and Jason have an experience at Sonoma Raceway with Range Energy, a company focusing on hybridizing long-haul trucking. It's an ingenious solution to the problem of reducing emissions and fuel consumption, without needing to throw away existing diesel tractors. And while they were there, they take Jason's e-Golf on the race track. Because, stupid. But the idea of electricity helping combustion engines is what propelled Porsche to install a hybrid system on the 992.2 911 GTS. Learn how that system works in our discussion — including a chart of engine response of the last 3.0-liter twin-turbo six that debuted 991.2 Carrera versus naturally aspirated engines. Also, Derek drives a Lucid Sapphire around Sonoma Raceway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Crazy Hybrids Are The New Normal — The Carmudgeon Show w/ Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 152
It's not just Bugatti — we're seeing a shift away from pedestrian turbocharged engines and toward hybrids with an amazing engine as the centerpiece. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === There's a bunch of amazing stuff coming — but sadly nothing for enthusiasts who don't have unlimited funds. Lamborghini has two new powertrains: a hybrid V-12 for the Revuelto and a 10,000-rpm V-8 for the Huracan replacement. Aston is developing a new V-12. The GMA T.50 and T.30 and Aston Valkyrie use a Cosworth V-12; the Bugatti Tourbillon uses a 9500-rpm Cosworth V-16. The Porsche 992.2 GTS uses an amazing hybrid turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six. What's happening in the car market? First, there's a discussion of who buys new cars? How old are car buyers? And how old is the average car on the road? And why Hybrids all of a sudden? What's happening is that manufacturers are realizing that a high-revving, vocal combustion engine is what customers want. And a plug-in hybrid system allows this to happen while passing emissions legislation. All this and more in a very, very curmudgeonly episode of the Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Signs You Might Be A Bad Driver! — The Carmudgeon Show w/ Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 151
Let's have some fun coming up with a list of things that other drivers do that piss you off! Make sure to comment below! === This episode is sponsored by Vyper Industrial — America’s #1 rated shop chair, tool carts, and creepers, proudly made here in the US. Go to https://www.vyperindustrial.com/ and use code HAGERTY for $50 off on all your order! Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === In this episode, Jason prompts Derek to come up with a list of 5 Signs You Might Be a Bad Driver. Derek came up with one. Jason came up with a Biblical List of Driving Crimes, including: 1. If you're not angry, you're probably the problem. 2. If people are mad at you, you might be a bad driver. 3. If people are mad at you, and you don't know why, you're DEFINITELY a bad driver. 4. If you don't know the rules, you're a bad driver. 5. If you don't pull over to let people pass on a California road, you're a bad driver. 6. If you don't (always) use turn signals, you're a bad driver. 7. If your passengers can feel your lane changes, you're a bad driver. 8. If you don't use vehicular body language, you're a bad driver. 9. If your passengers' heads are bobbing around from your control inputs, you are a bad driver. 10. If you have worn out a clutch, you're probably a bad driver. (There are exceptions.) 11. If you hold a phone while driving, you're a bad driver. 12. If you don't rev-match, you're probably not a good driver. 13. If you don't double-clutch into 1st... you know the drill. 14. If you don't warm up your car, guess what? Bad driver. 15. If you don't hold the steering wheel at 9:00 or 3:00 (or anywhere not 180º apart) you're definitely a bad driver. 16. If you drink and drive, Jason has no respect for you and hopes you get arrested before you hurt someone else. If you hurt yourself, good. 17. You don't know why the ESP or Traction Control light is flashing, you are a bad driver. 18. If you haven't read your owner's manual, you might be a bad driver. 19. If you don't understand the Zipper Merge, you're not just a bad driver, you're a c-word. 20. If you break the law for the convenience of others, you're a bad driver. 21. If you don't care that you're inconveniencing someone else, you're a bad driver. 22. If you speed up when being passed, you're guilty of attempted murder. And finally, 23. If you are the host of the Carmudgeon Show, you're definitely a bad driver. :) Let us know what we forgot to include! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Rivian R1T & R1S 2nd-gen Review — The Carmudgeon Show w/ Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 150
There's a new set of Rivian twins on the market, but most of updates on the R1T and R1S are under the skin. But they're very significant! === This episode is sponsored by Vyper Industrial — America’s #1 rated shop chair, tool carts, and creepers, proudly made here in the US. Go to https://www.vyperindustrial.com/ and use code HAGERTY for $50 off on all your order! Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === The new R1T and R1S feature new batteries, new motors, a new electrical architecture, new lighting, and new substantive updates to the interior — Jason flew to Washington to drive them on and off-road. The new R1 includes infotainment updates that includes Apple Music — but still no Apple CarPlay, which Jason finds to be a wart on an otherwise near-perfect machine. The other wart is the ride quality — it's still fantastic off-road, and it's better, but it's not up to the level of greatness attained by the rest of the vehicle. The quad-motor variant rips off a face-melting 2.5-second 0-60 and 10.5 @ 130 mph in the quarter mile — which is impressive. But necessary? Of course, the Carmudgeons spend some time insulting Subaru drivers (admitting that their experience with slow Subarus might be a San Francisco Bay Area phenomenon) but looking at some national statistics that show that Subaru drivers are the worst of any passenger-car brand. And of course, they address people comparing their previous Waymo self-driving robotaxi episode experience to Tesla's Full Self Driving. They're not even remotely close. More of this and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is Waymo The Best Taxi Ride Ever? — The Carmudgeon Show w/ Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 149
We discuss the future of motoring in the back seat of a Jaguar I-Pace while it's being self-driven by Waymo's computers around San Francisco. === This episode is sponsored by Vyper Industrial — America’s #1 rated shop chair, tool carts, and creepers, proudly made here in the US. Go to https://www.vyperindustrial.com/ and use code HAGERTY for $50 off on all your order! Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === The End Must Be Nigh — because Jason Cammisa convinced the ultimate self-driving car-hating Carmudgeon, Derek Tam-Scott, to ride along in the back of a Waymo on an hour-long city adventure. And even Derek had to admit... We're getting ahead of ourselves. There's discussion about: Who Is Waymo? How is Waymo different than other autonomous brands like Cruise or Uber? How do you hail a Waymo cab? ...and important journalistic endeavors like: What happens if a minivan cuts you off and ABS'es to a stop in front of you? Jason's Van, Jynah, wanted to know. So we found out. The other question: to what standard should we hold self-driving taxis? Should they follow all rules? Should they prioritize safety and smoothness (like Jason suggests) or do whatever possible to minimize commute time, even at the risk of making passengers sick (like Derek wants?) It's an amusing, intelligent real-time discussion on the future of self-driving cars. And no, Waymo is nothing like Tesla Autopilot or any other current car's self-driving system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Most Fun You Can Have — The Carmudgeon Show w/ Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 148
This week, the Carmudgeons recap their recent 600-mile back-road blast, which resulted in a surprise Best Car for the Mission. Unrelated, an update on their newly-acquired V-12 cars. === This episode is sponsored by Vyper Industrial — America’s #1 rated shop chair, tool carts, and creepers, proudly made here in the US. Go to https://www.vyperindustrial.com/ and use code HAGERTY for $50 off on all your order! Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Jason and Derek now both own V-12-powered cars. Jason confesses his 850 CSI purchase, which happened while he was doing research for an upcoming Revelations episode. Derek lit his on fire while learning that it needs an engine rebuild. Turns out the BMW 850CSi has the shortest gear ratios of any V-12 car ever sold — and Jason is a self-described whore for short gearing. Meanwhile, Derek bought a V12, manual Ferrari that has no compression in several cylinders. The main subject of the episode is one of Jason and Derek's many friend-group backroad trips in Northern California. As usual, it was a varied group of cars: Jason brought "Beatrice," his E30 BMW 325i sedan. Derek brought his race-prepped Mk5 Volkswagen GTI. Also present was a BMW Z3 2.8, an NA Miata, a GR Corolla, and one car that was very much not appropriate for tight mountain roads: A C126 Mercedes 560SEC. And the Mercedes was, by far, everyone's favorite. Wildly obese and far too large, with non-performance tires, the W126-chassis Mercedes should have been miserable. And what it instead demonstrated was perfect chassis balance, an indefatigable, 300-hp Euro/Japan-spec 5.5-liter engine, and a riotous time. Sometimes, it's the wrong car on the right road that's the most fun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is The EV Market Actually Doomed? — The Carmudgeon Show w/ Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 147
It's largely being reported in the media that Electric Vehicles are in trouble — sales are down, inventory is up, and customers just aren't interested. Is any of this true? ...or is this just a blip in the now-unavoidable transition away from combustion vehicles? === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Special Tuesday Episode: Happy Memorial Day! Hyundai is making great EVs. BMW is making really good EVs. Tesla (despite the controversy) is still selling the dickens out of its cars — and the new "Highland" Model 3 is nearly perfect. But the rest of the industry? Perhaps no one is interested in their cars because the cars are crap. We don't know. But the Carmudgeons certainly have opinions on it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The V12 Is(n't) the Ultimate Engine — The Carmudgeon Show w Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 146
This is an inclusive list of every V-12 passenger car engine ever produced — with information, opinion, and the possibility that the V-12 isn't actually the best engine layout. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Update: The data sharing programs from Honda, Hyundai (Verisk) and General Motors (Lexis Nexis) that we covered in Episode 143 have all been cancelled. Score one for Data Privacy and for Car Enthusiasts! This episode stems from the quote from former Car and Driver editor (and founder of Automobile Magazine) David E. Davis, who said: “I firmly believe that everyone who is worth anything at all should own a 12-cylinder car before they die,” We pose the question: why? And then answer it with technical information about the V-12 engine layout, and discuss all of them — including defining the chapters of the V-12: 1. Prehistoric Luxury V12s. 2. Carbureted Performance/Racing V12s 3. Fuel-injected V12s. 4. Modern V12s. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Full Piëchisode Podcast Bonus! — The Carmudgeon Show w Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 145
Y'all never thought it was going to happen, but here it is — whether you've seen the ICONS video or not, this is one to watch! HOODIE: https://tinyurl.com/CammisaHoodie === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === After years of teasing, the Carmudgeon Show is finally covering the life and achievements of Ferdinand Piëch. This is where the idea began, and the boys provide far more in-depth information than Jason could cover in the relatively short ICONS episode. Enjoy, and thanks for the patient wait! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
ND3 Miata Review & Pre-Piëchisode Ep — The Carmudgeon Show Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 144
After a quick review of the updated (and even better) 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata, the boys delve into the long-awaited Piëchisode by talking about the cars it featured. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === Included in this episode is a review and discussion of: 2024 Mazda Miata MX-5 (ND3) 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS 1980 Mercedes-Benz 300SD Turbodiesel (W116) 1985 Audi Coupe Quattro (Ur-Quattro) 2002 Volkswagen Golf TDI (Mk4) 2004 Volkswagen Golf R32 (Mk4) 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton W12 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 2014 Volkswagen XL1 2024 Bentley Continental GT Speed W12 and a small discussion of Ferdinand Piëch, Dieselgate, and corporate conscience (Boeing, The Ford Pinto) === Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
ALERT! These Cars Will Snitch On You — The Carmudgeon Show Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 143
Your Honda, Acura, Hyundai or Kia is selling driving data to insurance companies as an excuse to hurt enthusiasts. And that is disgusting. UPDATE: General Motors has cancelled its OnStar Smart Driver System, which means you can safely keep driving your Blackwing like it was meant to be driven. === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === It has recently come to light that three major auto manufacturers have been selling consumer driving data to LexisNexis so that it can be sold to your insurance company and used against you to raise your rates or cancel your insurance. Not only is this a gross violation of your expectation of privacy, but it's also a flawed reporting system. This is especially difficult for Jason, since he so enthusiastically recommends many Honda and Hyundai products — and now has to backtrack. The Civic Type R is off his shopping list together with all Honda, Acura, Hyundai, and Kia products, until their manufacturers can ensure drivers that their data is not being shared. **NOTE: This episode was recorded before Jason drove the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.** Of course, the Carmudgeons don't stop complaining just there, but then go onto a discussion of "corporate conscience" and ethics in engineering including Volkswagen's Dieselgate, the Challenger space ship, the Ford Pinto, and of course Boeing. And United Airlines' Bingo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance Full Review w/ Jason Cammisa — The Carmudgeon Show Ep. 142
The "Highland" Tesla Model 3 is a big step forward for the world's best transportation device. The new Performance (not Plaid!) model approaches sport-sedan perfection === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === The facelifted '24 Model 3 Performance features fully revised suspension, with not a single shared component with the regular Model 3 Long Range. It features real-time adaptive shocks, for the first time on a 3, that adjust continually (in a combined compression/rebound adjustment.) The New M3P's interior features real (excellent) sport seats, a carbon-fiber "blade" on the dashboard, and an adjustable track mode that allows full control of handling balance. The exterior gets unique front fascia with an air dam, a rear spoiler and diffuser, and forged, staggered wheels. Weight is the same as the outgoing car, at 4055 lb. Range should increase 2-3% in the real world versus the previous car. Pricing will be less than $60,000. Model 3 Performance's output is 510 hp and 547 lb-ft, and it comes with additional rear bias thanks to the more powerful 4th-generation rear motor. The last car would put 60 to 70% power to the rear, the new one is capable of sending 70 to 85% power to the rear at most times. The inverter can now handle 950 amps, up from the previous 830A, and the battery is now the limiting factor in output. The new Performance logo looks similar to the Plaid badge, but isn't — that will be held for 3-motor variants with carbon-sleeve-wrapped rotors. But the specs aren't what's important here — enjoy the full review from Jason Cammisa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Is The Answer — The Carmudgeon Show w/ Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 141
There's finally a hot-hatch for enthusiasts that runs on electricity — and it's a $67,500 Hyundai! === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === This is the Embargoed first review of the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N by Jason Cammisa! The Ioniq 5 N isn't just an EV — it has a mode called N e-Shift that emulates an internal combustion engine and 8-speed dual-clutch automatic.... and it's so good, it could genuinely fool an enthusiast into thinking it's real. Should this be happening? Is simulated fun as good as real fun? Well, on track, the Ioniq 5 N is actual fun — with a well-behaved, well-balanced chassis set up for tail-out antics. Learn all about it in this full review from Jason Cammisa. === Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Automakers Are Cheating Again! — The Carmudgeon Show w/ Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott — Ep 140
If you've noticed that headlights are blinding, you should know it's because automakers are cheating on lighting standards, just as they've cheated about emissions and safety. Jason calls it Lighting-Gate! === Click here to join the Hagerty Driver's Club: https://bit.ly/Join-HDC-Cammisa-Rev === The dim-witted U.S. Government has blocked automakers from installing Adaptive Matrix Lights, which are a quantum step forward in lighting technology, because it worries about them blinding oncoming traffic. Which they're specifically designed to avoid. Meanwhile, the automakers have been blatantly cheating on lighting standards by installing "dark pixels" so that their cars pass the ill-written letter of the law but entirely not the spirit. And the government hasn't noticed — they've probably been blinded by those headlights. And worse, at the same time, they've allowed cars to be driven without a single light on their exterior — but a fully illuminated, dimmed instrument panel. And ALSO, allows red turn signals, when amber turn signals have been demonstrated to reduce rear-end collisions by a FOURTH. We have an epidemic of bad automotive lighting in America, and the automakers need to be held accountable. === Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices