The Smoking Tire Podcast: Lotus Carlton Review, 2025 Chevy Blazer, Sailing Prep & Q&A

Hosts: Matt Farah & Zack Klapman
Date: March 12, 2026
Podcast Link

Overview

In this lively episode, Matt and Zack dive into a range of automotive topics, seamlessly blending car culture, personal experiences, and enthusiast Q&A. The key highlights include Matt’s first drive in the legendary Lotus Carlton (soon up for auction), a surprisingly thorough review of their 2025 Chevy Blazer rental car after an ice racing trip, and preparations for their upcoming sailing adventure in the British Virgin Islands. Listener Q&As cover everything from Porsche’s financial health and future car cult followings, to offbeat car advice and frank discussions about fun, competence, and car modifications.

Sailing Adventure Prep & Yachting (00:00–21:54)

Nostalgia & Logistics

• Matt & Zack prepare for a nine-day sailing trip in the British Virgin Islands, retracing Matt's childhood sailing camp route.
• Matt reflects on the lasting value of privileged experiences:
  • “How does wealth and privilege perpetuate itself? Well, by my parents being able to send me to sailing camp. …I got a license that allows us to go charter boats as an adult, which is an incredibly high value vacation...” (07:30)
• Zack emphasizes sailing as an accessible, affordable way to experience the tropics:
  • “If you have access and the time to go get a sailing license, …the most amazing tropical vacation for far, far less than you could if you had to pay a captain to be there. Just do it. It's fantastic.” (09:34)
• Discussion of practical trip prep: clothing (don’t bother with nice shirts), avoiding sunburns, boat logistics, and not bringing travel pens (“Lives on my desk.” 05:53).
• Humorous observations about luxury, privilege, and the ROI of sailing camp investments.

Notable Quote:

“It's an RV, but like a much better, more spacious RV that's parked in a much prettier place.” – Matt Farah (13:13)

Memorable Moment:
A listener/fan “prepays” the guys for drinks at a legendary BVI bar—proof that podcast fam is everywhere. (20:22)

Lotus Carlton Review & Discussion (21:54–34:02)

What Is the Lotus Carlton?

• British super-sedan, based on the Vauxhall Omega—infamous for being the fastest sedan of its time.
• RHD, 3.6L 24V twin-turbo inline-six (~375 hp/419 lb-ft torque), six-speed gearbox from Corvette.
• “Effectively it's Corvette ZR-1 power in 1990.” – Matt (24:22)

Driving Impressions

• Fast, light on its feet, notably rapid at modern standards.
• Comfortable seats, well-made interior for its age, but "AC does not work".
• “You put the hammer down in second—this car is fast. Really fast.” – Matt (24:49)
• Steering praised for its vintage feel, but still lively.

Engineering Nerd-Out

• Zach and Matt dissect the “long boost” piping, complex engine bay, and quirks of the English approach to over-engineering.

Notable Quote:

“If you've kind of had everything else, and you're comfortable with a real DTME car that only a few people absolutely lose their mind for, it's a super cool sleeper.” – Matt (26:04)

Memorable Sidebar:
Speculation on who could actually fix a Lotus Carlton in the US. Matt's career advice for young mechanics: “If you were familiar with working on Japanese imported cars …you will have a lifetime career. Easy.” (36:56)

2025 Chevy Blazer (38:34–41:39)

Surprisingly Good Rental

• Rented for an ice race trip—praised for:
  • Roomy interior, genuinely usable back seat
  • Excellent MPG (36mpg+ in mixed, mountainous driving)
  • Simple, unpretentious but functional interior
  • Big trunk fits mountains of luggage (with caveats on skier loads)
  • “It is a very bland automobile…But we rented one for ice race and this is a pretty small car that fit four adults, like really comfortably.” – Matt (38:46)
  • Rear seats “shaped better” than a RAV4, in Zack's experience (41:12)
• Downside: Expensive rental rates during the trip.

Memorable Moment:
Matt unable to get the remote start funtion to work — “It had a button that was a remote start button. But it would not and did not remote start.” (41:15)

Ferrari 360 & Garage Update (45:02–49:35)

For Sale Highlights

• Silver F1 360 Modena: low miles (18k), blue seats, extensive records, up for auction. “Would be a great candidate for a [manual] swap because it's otherwise just aces.” – Matt (45:44)
• Garage preview: black/black Ferrari 348 TS (Targa) coming up, along with a one-owner Mercedes 450SL and a turquoise-wrapped 997 Cab.
• Quick debate: 360 F1 vs. 348 TS for similar money. Both hosts lean toward the 360 for daily driveability and graceful aging.

Notable Quote:

“If I had the money…this would be incredibly appealing for me to just have made this dude an offer and keep this car. But I'm exercising some self-control.” – Matt (46:35)

Listener Q&A Highlights (50:43–91:17)

Car Culture & Industry

• Future Porsche-style cult brands?

  • Zack: Rivian shows Wrangler-like enthusiasm, Tesla is beyond cult, bordering on “lunatics.” (51:35–52:08)
  • Matt: Porsche’s appeal built on racer credibility and consistent design evolution — hard to replicate.

• Porsche Financial Struggles

  • Concerns stem from huge sunk cost in EV development as regulations shift — “Lighting hundreds of millions of dollars on fire” (65:50), shrinking margins and expensive Cayennes cut into profits despite strong product desirability.

Car Advice & Fun Philosophy

• Best secondary cars for learning to wrench: Ranger, Tacoma, Miata, Civic, Crown Vic—all “Lego” vehicles with major enthusiast communities. (86:22–88:46)
• Cheap cars to outshine exotics at a car meet: “Autozam AZ-1, Delica, Figaro, weird JDM stuff, diesel RHD 4Runners.” (74:15)
• Crossover “bad to great” with mods: Civic + suspension, Mustang GT with square stance, Fox-Body Mustang with watts-link, etc. (77:39)
• Most overlooked car features: Rear wipers, onboard navi, sunroofs (81:01)

Memorable, Entertaining Tangents

• Matt’s advice for future mechanics: “Right now, like JDM shit. You can make a solid living being a person who is an expert in JDM cars… You will have a customer base for life.” (36:27)
• Raccoon aspirations. Zack: “Sarah and I are gonna have a pet raccoon in, like, 10 years.” (33:09)

Notable Quotes (with timestamps)

• On Lotus Carlton Drive:

  “I put the hammer down in second. This car is fast. Really fast.” — Matt (24:49)

• On privilege & sailing:

  “My parents being able to send me to sailing camp… It actually generated a thing of value, a tangible thing of value that we could go back and use later.” — Matt (08:12)

• On Ferrari 360:

  “They’re comfortable. They’re just really nice comfortable cars to drive. You could just drive them all over the country, drive them all the time, drive them every day…” — Matt (46:35)

• On Porsche’s profitability:

  “Lighting hundreds of millions of dollars on fire by developing an entire range of cars that you might not actually build is a real fucking problem.” — Matt (65:50)

Final Thoughts: What’s Fun? (89:05–91:46)

• Matt & Zack reflect on what’s actually fun for them (and fans!): learning new things, hobbies like cooking, sailing, hiking, travel, and the enjoyment of the learning process itself.
  • “A lot of things are fun. Adrenaline’s fun… Sometimes work is fun.” – Zack (89:21)
  • “It’s okay to be shitty at stuff.” – Matt (91:19)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------- | ---------- | | Sailing/Yacht Prep | 00:00–21:54| | Lotus Carlton Deep Dive | 21:54–34:02| | Chevy Blazer Rental Review | 38:34–41:39| | Ferrari 360 & Cars for Auction | 45:02–49:35| | Listener Q&A (Car Culture) | 50:43–68:52| | Porsche Financials | 65:03–68:52| | Q&As (Advice & Modding) | 70:00–89:05| | Fun & Learning Discussion | 89:05–91:46|

Summary

This episode is a prime example of The Smoking Tire’s blend of insightful, humorous, and authentic car culture commentary. Matt and Zack treat listeners to a rare hands-on Lotus Carlton review, drop real-world rental car wisdom, and show off their wide-ranging knowledge through engaging, often hilarious, Q&A. Peppered with memorable moments, self-deprecating reflections, and actionable enthusiast advice, this episode is a must for car enthusiasts and fans of “hanging out in the garage” automotive podcasts.