The Smoking Tire Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode: New Car-Buying Law; Century is Back; Spyker Returns?; THAT Ferrari One-Off
Hosts: Matt Farah, Zack Klapman
Date: October 23, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Matt and Zack cover a broad span of automotive topics, from the return of ultra-niche brands and wild one-off Ferraris to a significant new car-buying law in California and Toyota's surprising leap beyond Lexus. As always, conversation is loaded with their signature blend of humor, honest critique, and deep industry insight, making it both informative and highly entertaining for auto enthusiasts and casual listeners alike.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Military Exercises Unexpectedly Disrupt Commute (00:45–06:00)

• The show opens with both hosts laughing about an odd military live-fire exercise near San Diego, which resulted in highway signs flashing "LIVE FIRE" all the way up to LA and even shrapnel hitting CHP vehicles.
  • Matt Farah (02:11): “Shrapnel hit two CHP vehicles… Vehicles doing Marine Corps demonstration at Pendleton.”
  • Both hosts express amusement and disappointment at how underwhelming the event looked compared to their expectations (“I thought they’d launch cruise missiles like dolphins at SeaWorld.”).
  • They joke about comparisons to over-the-top North Korean dictatorial displays vs. the reality of just “a 75-yard line of big cannons on the beach.”

2. Ferrari SC40 One-Off: Design Disaster or Masterpiece? (06:01–13:00)

• Discussion turns to the new, one-off Ferrari SC40, described as an F40 homage for a private client.
  • Matt (06:08): "They're cashing in on their F40 retro futurism... except the problem is... this is bad. Really, like really bad."
  • Extensive debate on Ferrari’s modern one-offs, focusing on why blending square classic cues (like the F40's) with Ferrari’s recently “curvaceous” design language ends up looking awkward.
  • Zack scrolls through Ferrari’s recent one-offs, comparing the SC40’s styling missteps to more successful efforts like SP38, the F12 TRS, and the Clapton 512 Boxer tribute.
  • Matt (11:04): “It ends up looking like an MC20 kit car... the headline should be, ‘Man in rural Russia builds his own MC20.’ And with that, I've been uninvited from every Ferrari event.”
  • Both agreed that the white wheels were a particularly bad idea.

3. Quick Touch: New Mobility Devices (18:53–19:40)

• Short chat about the founder of Infinite Machines (the “Cybertrucky” scooter) and their minimalist, more practical new designs for e-bikes and standup scooters.

4. Spyker’s Return – Can Retro-Exotic Keep Up? (19:41–26:09)

• News breaks that Dutch boutique automaker Spyker is back after resolving a long-standing ownership dispute.
  • Matt (20:39): “Now that anti-screens is a thing in sports cars, they’re pretty well poised to come back and be like ‘art deco interior, toggles, machine-turned...’.”
  • Reminiscences of driving Spykers—applauding their wild, aircraft-inspired interiors and rowdy V8s.
  • Used market prices and rare features like the La Violette’s “coolest roof scoop ever” are discussed.
  • Zack: “It just looks like an airplane that you drive on the ground. Like an old fighter plane.”
  • The hosts note that a non-airbag, vintage-style boat steering wheel was a highlight in earlier models.
  • Both agree a Spyker revival could thrive now that retro and analog interiors are back in style.

5. California’s New Car-Buying Law: Major Consumer Protections (26:10–36:36)

• Matt dives deep into the new California “CARS Act,” a significant consumer protection measure for car buyers.
  • Major points:
    • Full price disclosure: Dealers must provide transparent, all-in pricing.
    • Add-on restrictions: Bans “valueless” items like nitrogen tire refills unless exceeding 95% purity, oil changes for EVs, and any add-on that voids the manufacturer’s warranty (e.g., improperly applied ceramic coatings).
    • Three-day return policy: Used cars under $50k can be returned within three days and 400 miles for a full refund if not damaged.
    • Strict records retention: Dealers must keep compliance documents for two years.
  • Zack (29:44): “If you put less than 400 miles on the car… you can return that car.”
  • Matt (31:54): “These are laws written in people's fucking blood, essentially. Not, hopefully not literally, but you know what we mean.”
  • They joke about the scammy “nitrogen tire fill” and how the law tries to close such loopholes.

6. Toyota’s New Ultra-Luxury Brand: Century Goes Mainstream? (39:10–45:47)

• Discussion on rumors that Toyota will launch “Century” as a brand above Lexus for ultra-luxury vehicles.
  • Matt (39:10): “Toyota is going to basically try to build Bentleys, essentially… they probably can.”
  • Both hosts speculate on what makes cars like the Century and what it would take to succeed: ultra-high build quality, uniquely Japanese design cues, advanced creature comforts, but not just a re-badged LS.
  • Conversation about luxury EVs vs. range-extended hybrids, referencing Toyota’s expertise in refinement.
  • Zack (44:19): “If it’s a Camry V6 with a hybrid assist that gives it 500 hp, that’s enough. It needs some magic.”

Highlight Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ferrari’s Styling Misses
  • Matt (11:10): “The headline should be, ‘Man in rural Russia builds his own MC20.’ And with that, I’ve been uninvited from every Ferrari event.”
• On Military Exercises
  • Zack (04:12): “This is a smaller fireworks show... Putin and Kim Jong Un would do it bigger than this.”
• On Spykers and Retro Charm
  • Matt (23:04): “That’s the Chris Craft steering wheel. God, that's unbelievable… everything was like just super polished metal.”
• On the New Car-Buying Law
  • Matt (31:54): “These are laws written in people's fucking blood, essentially.”
  • Zack (36:52): “There's our new channel, the Nitro Brothers,” (joking about investigating tire nitrogen scams).
• On Century’s Design Philosophy
  • Zack (41:37): “They're usually a lot more subtle. Rolls Royce was, for decades, ‘Look at this giant fireplace, silver grill in the front.’”
• Lighter Moment: Dr. Hydraulics
  • Matt (38:05): “Dr. Hydraulics. Like, that dude's bouncing on the weekends with 16 switches… but it's actually the guy's initials.”

Patreon Section & Q&A Highlights (52:36–End)

• Driving in the Wet: Both discuss how they don't particularly enjoy wet track days, noting the risk and psychological stress outweighs the claimed learning opportunities, despite racing schools insisting “you’re so lucky!” (54:16).
• Buying for Content? Matt is candid that although every purchase can become content, he doesn't buy cars solely for YouTube engagement (56:22).
• Kit Car Worthiness: Broad consensus—kit cars’ quality is highly dependent on builder skill and the donor car’s baseline; e.g., Caterhams and Factory Five’s 818 can be “pretty raw,” but build quality is everything (60:56).
• Rear-wheel-drive-converted 996 Turbo: Only “worth it” if you really want the sharper steering at the cost of all-weather usability and possible resale drama. Try a stock AWD first! (79:54).
• Slowest “Code Brown” Moments: Zack shares a brush with disaster while asleep in the back of a Crown Vic; Matt recalls locking up all brakes in a heavily laden Delica (77:36).
• Music Tastes: Both hosts reveal a deep appreciation for ‘90s alternative and punk (Green Day, Rise Against, Metallica, Offspring), with Matt adding Springsteen and Billy Joel to his eclectic mix (63:43).

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:45–06:00 – Military exercise shenanigans on the highway
• 06:01–13:00 – Ferrari SC40: retro-futurist design fails?
• 18:53–19:40 – Electric micro-mobility device design chat
• 19:41–26:09 – Spyker’s comeback and retro exotic admiration
• 26:10–36:36 – Deep dive: California’s new car-buying law
• 39:10–45:47 – Toyota “Century” ultra-luxury brand predictions
• 52:36–81:00 – Extended Q&A, including car choices, track driving, kit cars, and culture topics

Original Language and Tone

The episode is fast-paced, irreverent, and deeply knowledgeable. The hosts’ self-deprecating humor combines with genuine expertise, blending technical car critique, social commentary, and banter about daily life.

For listeners or readers who missed the show, expect a jam-packed episode highlighting why The Smoking Tire remains one of the most entertaining and insightful podcasts in the automotive world.