The Smoking Tire Podcast
Rivian R1S Quad Review; I Hate Sims; 1st Waymo Ride
Date: December 4, 2025
Hosts: Matt Farah, Zack Klapman
Episode Overview
In this lively episode, Matt Farah and Zack Klapman deliver an in-depth review of the Rivian R1S Quad Motor, share Matt’s simmering frustration with race simulators, and dissect Zack’s first ride in a Waymo autonomous vehicle. Alongside these headline discussions, the duo touches on racing prep, automotive news (including Jaguar’s design shake-up), and answers a windfall of listener questions. The episode is punctuated by equal parts wit, real-world insight, and automotive nerdiness.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Travel Fatigue and Racing Prep (01:55–10:08)
- Matt’s been on a non-stop travel bender—narrates humorously about “vacationing in your normal life.”
- Caught in an airline status chase: needs just one more Delta flight for diamond status.
- “Why would Delta not reality show tension this to the end of the year, like F1?” – Matt (02:26)
- Debates where to fly last-minute for mileage: “I’d rather not just fly somewhere, turn around. I’d like to do something of interest.” – Matt (04:01)
- Upcoming race in Texas: original car down, upgrade to BMW M240 Club Sport—a “turnkey race car.”
- Discusses how wealthy “racetrack country club” members skip Miatas for something flashier, but ultimately end up relating to Miata’s charm (07:23–07:47)
2. Sim Racing Struggles: Matt vs. the Machine (10:12–25:12)
- Matt’s infuriating training session on a racing sim at Sergio’s garage.
- “I am horrible at Sims. So fucking bad at them.” – Matt (10:16)
- The sim car (Ford FR500 Mustang) didn’t handle like the real M3 expected for the race.
- Details relentless spinning out at Circuit of the Americas (CoTA):
- “I am not able to complete a single lap without spinning out… in all different fucking places.” – Matt (15:10)
- No traction control: “If you gave me three hours in a real car on a racetrack, bro, I’m in the hunt.” (20:53)
- Finds sim feedback less intuitive than real car dynamics; discusses game physics vs. reality (19:38–21:30).
- Positive takeaways: watching a skilled driver’s sim line is useful, but the mental fatigue is real.
3. On-Track Logistics & Race Prep (24:03–32:09)
- Planning for race weekend driver stints, practice, qualifying.
- Weather could impact practice sessions.
- Discussions on seat time, wet vs. dry track, and cockpit ergonomics (visibility issues with driver nets at CoTA).
- Helmet audio: prefers earbuds with integrated comms.
- Light-hearted aside about race car volume—“there are worse things than a race car that's not that loud.” – Matt (26:53)
4. Rivian R1S Quad Motor Review (33:00–48:55)
- Matt’s overall impression: outstanding build and ride quality, but questions who needs a $120,000, 1000-hp SUV.
- “I’m not sure who’s gonna buy into this… You can get a dual motor Rivian… for half the money.” – Matt (33:17)
- Praises suspension (body control, damper options), fit and finish, and ride comfort.
- “The body control on the suspension is so nice. Just beautiful riding car.” – Matt (33:17)
- Quirks: Shortened wheelbase makes steering feel unusually quick, almost “rally car-like” in a three-row SUV (35:13).
- “It is uncomfortable to launch this car and this one had the knobbies on it. So it’ll just spin all four wheels. It’s nuts. The power is nuts.” – Matt (36:28)
- Customizable drive modes and “tuner screen” lauded for user-friendliness (37:07–37:44).
- Hilarious aside about a weird badge—“It’s some kind of hairy monster in a Marty McFly vest.” – Matt (38:59)
- Praises: wet weather handling, advanced headlights, nav, camera systems.
- “The cameras are great… Hannah was so blown away with the Rivian’s backup camera.” – Matt (39:58)
- Criticisms: rear seat comfort is “notably worse” than front, possibly wheel/tire dependent (41:40–42:30).
- Overall: very refined, but “nobody needs a thousand horsepower in a thing like this. That’s crazy.” (43:08)
- EV off-roading is awesome: “It’s like walking without using your feet.” – Matt (47:18)
- Anticipation for the upcoming R2 and R3 Rivians, which should scale down the formula.
5. Automotive News: Jaguar Design Boss Fired (49:06–51:20)
- Discusses Jerry McGovern’s departure from JLR amid mixed reception for new Jaguar concepts.
- “Land Rover design since ’06 has turned out some pretty decent looking vehicles.” – Matt (49:30)
- Comments on the sometimes fickle public reaction to concept cars, and the impact of executive and design turnover.
6. Listener Q&A Highlights (55:16–97:44)
Vehicle Ownership and Market Trends
- “Why are so many 911 owners afraid to put miles on their cars?”: Matt argues many Porsche owners—especially in CA—drive them regularly (86:35–88:09).
- “Would you trade the Countach for a Diablo or Murciélago?”:
- “The poster car exists in stasis. There is no, there’s no like… let me upgrade this.” – Matt (92:08)
Used Car Picks & Value
- Boxster S as a bargain: “While it’s working, that’s probably about as good as it gets.” – Matt (61:19)
- Cars with driving experience higher than value: C8 Z06, non-numbers-matching classics, kit Cobras/GT40s, 996 911s, etc. (63:41–65:51)
- Options that tank or improve value: manual Ferraris, color choices, roof design, and the notorious SMG transmission (62:03–90:17).
Maintenance & Ownership
- Wrenching: Zack enjoys the focus/mechanical therapy; Matt prefers to leave it to pros for high-performance cars (81:22-82:25).
- Used G-Wagons: fun but “cost a fucking fortune to run” (73:22–74:13)
Miscellaneous
- Favorite old car names to revive: “Galaxy would have been a good one for electric cars.” – Matt (93:44)
- Opinions on black wheels: they make wheels look smaller; generally less visually appealing unless done with care (82:54–84:07).
- Comparisons among used sports cars (Miata vs. Boxster S vs. C5 Corvette):
- “Fuck. Mary. Kill. All right, fine. You marry the Miata. You fuck the Porsche. You kill the Corvette.” – Matt (92:04)
7. First Waymo Ride: Autonomous Impressions (55:52–60:47)
- Zack takes a Waymo to dinner through LA; driving style alternates between “aggressive” and surprisingly “meek.”
- Describes zigzagging routing as it tries to find the best path.
- Matt explains Waymo still uses local cut-throughs because “there’s just not enough of them for people to complain.” (57:32)
- Noted upsides: impressive LIDAR/pedestrian detection at night, cinema experience in the car.
- Downsides: no driver means no one to remove trash, adjust front seat for rear passengers, etc.
- “This was someone’s trash can. And that’s just. That’s gonna happen.” – Matt (60:47)
Notable Quotes & Time Stamps
- On Airline Status:
- “Reality show tension this to the end of the year, like F1.” – Matt (02:26)
- On Sim Racing:
- “I am horrible at Sims. So fucking bad at them.” – Matt (10:16)
- “For the first hour… I am not able to complete a single lap without spinning out.” – Matt (15:10)
- On Racing Realities:
- “If you gave me three hours in a real car on a racetrack, bro, I’m in the hunt.” – Matt (20:53)
- On the Rivian R1S Quad:
- “The body control... the damper settings are like really nice. Just beautiful riding car. …Build quality has been ratcheted up... a really nicely made thing.” – Matt (33:17)
- “It’s like a Ferrari 812 steering ratio in something with a shorter wheelbase.” – Matt (35:14)
- “Nobody needs a thousand horsepower in a thing like this. That’s crazy.” – Matt (43:08)
- On Autonomous Cars:
- “Waymos will still do the mad avoidance through residential shit that Waze won’t have you doing anymore.” – Matt (57:34)
- On Poster Cars:
- “The poster car exists in stasis… That was the dream. The dream is real.” – Matt (92:12)
- On Car Names:
- “Galaxy would have been a good one for electric cars.” – Matt (93:44)
Notable and Memorable Moments
- Sim Racing Exasperation: Matt’s emotional arc during three hours of sim practice is both comedic and relatable.
- Mystery Badge on Rivian: A hilarious debate over whether Rivian’s cartoon rear badge is “Teen Wolf,” Chewbacca, or “a Yogi Bear that’s been through a rave.” (38:41)
- Waymo Zigzag Routes: Zack is amused and confused by the self-driving car’s tendency to cut through residentials, prompting Matt's explanation about routing algorithms and resident complaints (56:46–57:34).
- Poster Car Rant: Matt’s passionate assertion that you don’t “trade up” your poster car—Countach stays forever (92:08).
- Listener Q&A Banter: Includes gems on the value of high-mileage sports cars, funky car names to revive, and the quirks of cheap G-Wagons.
Important Segments & Timestamps
- Travel fatigue & airline points: 01:55–06:11
- Racing sim struggles: 10:12–25:12
- Race event prep: 24:03–32:09
- Rivian R1S Quad review: 33:00–48:55
- Waymo ride discussion: 55:52–60:47
- Jaguar design boss news: 49:06–51:20
- Listener Q&A: 55:16–97:44
Tone and Language
Matt and Zack riff with their signature blend of irreverence, sarcasm, and seasoned automotive expertise. Matt’s colorful language punctuates his frustrations and insights, while Zack’s quick wit and technical curiosity balance the conversation. The episode is casual, candid, and welcoming to both enthusiasts and general listeners.