Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Episode: "Wow! Cool Ride Bill...Shame It's On Fire"

Date: September 15, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of the Armstrong & Getty "One More Thing" podcast dives into car culture, perceptions about car owners, and a timely discussion about a recall on certain high-performance Corvettes that have been catching fire. With their trademark mix of humor and personal anecdotes, Jack Armstrong, Joe Getty, and producer Katie share stories ranging from mysterious family car fires to the social dynamics of driving “statement” vehicles—ending up in an unexpectedly thoughtful critique of automotive tribalism and the way cars impact social perceptions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Armstrong's Family Car Fire "Scandal"

[03:49 – 06:09]

• Armstrong opens with a decades-old family mystery: his brother’s Mustang caught fire and was destroyed the night before leaving for the Army, and Armstrong has never believed the official story.
• Quote (Armstrong, 04:15):
  “My brother had this cool Mustang in high school ... the last day, he was out as a young 18-year-old, and his car burnt to the ground. ... I just never believed there isn’t something more to that story.”
• Getty jokes about possible cover-ups, including arson, drunkenness, and wilder scenarios.
• Katie suggests: "Is it possible he was so drunk he doesn't remember?" (05:48)
• Armstrong recalls trying to get the truth for decades with no luck.

2. Corvette Car Fire Recall

[06:09 – 08:12]

• Getty transitions to a news topic: a recall on some "super high performing Corvettes" (ZR1 and Z06) due to them catching fire while refueling.
• Getty gives specs: "The ZR1 can hit 233mph. ... If you need to shoot a gap, that's nice to have." (07:20)
• Armstrong asks if Corvettes are being discontinued; Katie corrects that they're being updated for 2026, including hybrid and electric models.
• Armstrong's take: “Electric, which is lame.” (07:37)
• Getty explains the technical issue: Fans stay on after shutdown, and if the gas pump malfunctions, it could blow spilled gas onto a hot engine—causing rare fires.

3. Who Drives a Corvette – and What Does It Say?

[08:12 – 11:14]

• Armstrong and Getty launch into stereotypes about Corvette owners (often depicted as older men with mustaches and young girlfriends).
• Getty asks: "Do you look at Corvettes and assume the guy driving it is a bit of a DB?" (08:12)
• Armstrong admits the stereotype's power: “I don't know why ... but I've always had an attitude about a Corvette guy.” (08:56)
• Katie weighs in: “It depends on how they're driving it. ... If he cuts me off, I’m like, okay, you're a douchebag with a nice car.” (08:47)
• Getty notes the ‘look at me’ factor exists, but not all owners fit the stereotype.

4. Car Models and Social Perception

[09:02 – 11:14]

• Getty shares Porsche-driving jokes:
  "What's the difference between a porcupine and a Porsche? ... with a porcupine, the pricks are on the outside." (09:30)
• Armstrong remembers high school jokes comparing popular girls to luxury cars, critiquing the defensiveness such jokes reveal:
  “Pretending to reject that which has rejected you.” (10:26)
• Getty underlines while stereotypes exist, it's important "not to stereotype" all drivers.

5. Personal Car Stories: Cybertruck Bias

[11:14 – 12:56]

• Armstrong discusses driving a Tesla Cybertruck and getting flipped off regularly for it:
  “So anyway, I'm a guy who gets flipped off for what he drives almost every day of my life.” (11:14)
• He recounts a recent incident where a street person flipped him off with “both barrels” (11:53), and his son's confusion at the encounter.
• Getty: “Wow. You're looked down upon by people who live in shrubs.” (11:47)
• The team muses about the psychology of car-based hostility, especially aimed at drivers of "statement vehicles" like the Cybertruck.

6. Why Are Cars So Tribal?

[13:24 – 15:07]

• Getty points out that for true speed, "you got to go electric," though he misses the classic car sound.
• Armstrong and Getty discuss the anger that the Cybertruck inspires, noting no other car model has ever provoked such a reaction:
  “Has there ever been a car that's had that kind of anger at it? No, there's never been anything even close.” (14:55)
• They note mockery of PT Cruisers—Katie: "I had so much fun mocking PT Cruisers." (15:12)—but agree it never rises to true rage.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I just never believed there isn’t something more to that story.”
  — Armstrong on his brother’s burnt Mustang ([04:15])
• “Do you look at Corvettes and assume the guy driving it is a bit of a DB?”
  — Getty ([08:12])
• “If I see a guy driving a Corvette, I’m like, okay, nice car. Then if he cuts me off, I’m like, okay, you’re a douchebag with a nice car.”
  — Katie ([08:47])
• “I continue to make those jokes. I don't know why I continue to make those jokes.”
  — Armstrong on Corvette stereotypes ([11:09])
• “So anyway, I'm a guy who gets flipped off for what he drives almost every day of my life.”
  — Armstrong, Cybertruck owner ([11:14])
• “Wow. You're looked down upon by people who live in shrubs.”
  — Getty ([11:47])
• “Has there ever been a car that's had that kind of anger at it? No, there's never been anything even close.”
  — Armstrong on the Cybertruck hatred ([14:55])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:43 – Main topic begins: Armstrong’s car fire story.
• 06:29 – News: Corvette recall for fiery faults.
• 08:12 – Stereotypes: Corvette and Porsche drivers.
• 11:14 – Armstrong on Cybertruck bias and being flipped off.
• 13:24 – Shift to broader reflections about car culture and vehicle tribalism.
• 15:12 – Mini-segment: Mocking PT Cruisers and why some cars inspire jokes rather than rage.

Tone & Style

The episode is rich in Armstrong & Getty’s signature banter, mixing honest curiosity, personal embarrassment, nostalgia, and sardonic humor. Several personal and cultural stereotypes are playfully explored, but the conversation is ultimately self-aware and frequently undercuts itself, landing on a message about not judging people by what they drive. The tone is casual, irreverent, and relatable, with the hosts making fun of themselves as much as their subjects.

Conclusion

This episode uses the news of a flashy car recall to launch into a wide-ranging, humorous, and surprisingly thoughtful discussion about the way cars signal identity and status. The hosts unpack both the fun and the folly of car stereotypes, publicly owned insecurities, and the strange, sometimes hostile, social dynamics that manifest on America’s roads. As always, Armstrong & Getty blend wit with a dose of real reflection, making this a lively listen for car enthusiasts and skeptics alike.