The Smoking Tire Podcast – Episode Summary
Episode: RTR Spec 5 Review; Waymo Problems; Odometer Rollbacks
Release Date: January 2, 2026
Hosts: Matt Farah & Zack Klapman

Main Theme & Purpose

In this lively, unscripted episode, Matt Farah and Zack Klapman dive into the world of high-performance Mustangs, autonomous vehicles in the rain, consumer car trends, and offbeat car culture. Anchored by Matt’s first-hand review of the RTR Spec 5 Mustang and his San Diego road trip, the episode weaves together news, personal anecdotes, and listener Q&A, delivering automotive insight balanced with humor, skepticism, and a dose of nostalgia.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. RTR Spec 5 Mustang Review (06:16–25:08; 36:39–37:26)

• RTR Spec 5 Overview:

  • Matt detailed his experience driving the new RTR Spec 5 Mustang, a wide-body, 850+ horsepower beast developed in partnership between RTR (Vaughn Gittin Jr.) and Ford.
  • Available at Ford dealers, positioned as a “GTD Lite”—massive power, practical interior, and a stick shift.
  • Pricing around $160k, with wild color options like "Mystichrome."

• Driving Impressions & Practicality:

  • The car is very fast, very loud (“Unlike the Spec 3, it does not have a quiet mode. It only has a loud mode.” – Matt, 11:56).
  • Suitable for a 25-year-old’s sensibilities (“It’s a 25-year-old’s loud. But most 25-year-olds don’t have 160 grand.” – Matt, 22:37).
  • Retains practicality with a usable backseat and trunk unlike the GTD.
  • Draws a lot of positive attention even at a “Richie Rich” Cars & Coffee event.

• Color Options & Collectibility:

  • Strong preference for Mystichrome paint despite the $15k upcharge, referencing the collectibility of rare colors from past Mustang generations.
  • Discussion about potential future appreciation of these “manufacturer-adjacent tuner” cars.

• RTR Bronco Mention:

  • Brief comments on the similarly modified RTR Bronco: comfortable, cool paint, but noisy in a practical highway sense due to racks/roof (10:09–11:14).

2. Waymo Self-Driving Taxis Performance in Rain (39:28–45:42)

• Real-World Experience in LA:

  • Matt describes his experience using Waymo during rainy weather—wipers operate, ride is cautious and safe.
  • One minor annoyance: Waymo drops him off in a flooded alley, demonstrating lack of awareness about safe exit locations.
  • Matt’s attempts to report routing/dropping-off problems have yet to trigger any service changes.

• Quote:
  “You just can’t be like, ‘hey, buddy, you’re in a fucking puddle.’ There should be a thing on the screen... a nudge button that would go, ‘this is not a suitable place to stop. Find the next available place to stop.’” – Matt, 41:57

• Broader Takeaways:

  • Autonomous cars are impressively safe, but still fumble nuances humans take for granted (e.g., drop-off awareness).
  • Observational note on how quickly riders adjust to riding in autonomous vehicles (“Within two or three minutes, they’re scrolling Instagram… It doesn’t do anything crazy for two minutes and they just go, ‘this is safe.’” – Matt, 45:12).

3. EPA Standards Rollback & Consumer Impacts (51:01–61:41)

• Industry Insider Input:

  • The Biden administration's proposal to relax EPA standards is dissected:
    • OEMs will save ~$1,000/car, but that’s unlikely to be passed to consumers—income will simply increase manufacturer profit margins.
    • Savings will be offset over years as fuel economy drops, causing consumers to pay more in gasoline.

• Maintenance & Technology Changes:

  • Minor consumer maintenance savings as items like active grille shutters and stop-start systems are phased out.
  • Hosts discuss the relative triviality of these savings.

• Matt’s Take:

  • Strong opinion that fuel efficiency should never regress (“How the fuck do we not understand that... these cars should probably burn less gas over time?” – Matt, 56:49).
  • Skepticism of arguments delaying efficiency progress.

4. Car Project Updates & Vespa Dreams (37:29–39:28)

• Matt discusses possibly upgrading to a new Vespa if his car auction hits certain financial thresholds, considering evolving personal transportation options as he ages.

5. Odometer Rollbacks & Restorations (107:14–108:31)

• Listener Q: Is it acceptable to “reset” an odometer on a restomod or full restoration?
  • Hosts: If a car is completely torn down and rebuilt (ala Singer or Gunther Werks), a zeroed odometer is reasonable. For less comprehensive builds, retaining the original odometer reading is often better for transparency.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Old Toyotas’ Reputation:

  • “They were trying to make a big statement in the US market about their cars, and they earned customers for fucking life doing that.” – Matt, 85:42

• On Car Meets and License Plates:

  • (Re: Montana plates on out-of-state cars): “This guy’s in San Diego, like, 2,500 miles from Montana. He’s visiting... with the hood popped in his Evo, bro.” – Matt, 96:19

• On Baywatch, Bars, and LA:

  • Humorous sidebar about a bar in LA filled with “young, hot women” that only plays Baywatch on loop, yet serves “not very good beverages” (32:35–34:33).

• On Collectors’ Paint Choices:

  • “If I was gonna spend 160 grand on this Mustang, I would 1000% have them paint it Mystichrome, ‘cause the Bronco looks extremely awesome.” – Matt, 09:15

• On Adjusting to Autonomous Cars:

  • “Almost everybody has exactly the same reaction, which is, wow, this is incredible. And then within two or three minutes, they’re scrolling on Instagram or something.” – Matt, 45:12

Audience Q&A Highlights (63:40–108:31)

• Dream Dinner With a Chef:

  • Matt: “I would have Carl in my kitchen with me making the matzo ball soup again.”
  • Zach: “I’d probably choose Bourdain, so I could just talk to him and learn things.”

• Electric Turbo vs. Supercharger:

  • Discussion of modern electric forced induction, highlighting that electric turbos still often rely on exhaust and achieve higher psi compared to superchargers.

• Best Non-Criminal Speed Sports Cars:

  • Recommendations include vintage Ferraris, Lotus Elise, and air-cooled 911s with short gearing.

• CD Players in Modern Cars:

  • Only a handful (Lexus RC, Subaru Outback/Legacy) still offer them—an oddity in today’s tech landscape.

• Funniest “Medical” Car Rx:

  • A listener with Raynaud’s disease is advised to buy a 2004 Rolls Royce Phantom or Bentley Turbo R, the only modern cars able to direct hot air at feet and cold air above:
    “I didn’t say that this car would be affordable, just that we would find one.” – Matt, 90:45

Additional Memorable Segments

• Watch Talk:

  • Discussion of Ulysse Nardin x Urwerk “Urfreak” ($122k watch), complications, and collecting.

• Book Recommendations:

  • Plug for Kristen Lee’s children’s book The 50 States Things That Go (47:19–48:52).
  • Matt recommends The Image (Daniel Boorstin, 1962)—“It basically talked about the problems we’re having with algorithmic news ... in 1962. It’s so crazy and so frustrating.” (80:13)

Episode Timeline & Timestamps

• 06:16–25:08—RTR Spec 5 Mustang review, color talk, market context
• 39:28–45:42—Waymo in the rain, user experience, AV adaptation speed
• 51:01–61:41—EPA standards, trickle-down, fuel economy, climate politics
• 63:40–108:31—Patreon Q&A, including odometer rollbacks, “medical” car needs, electric forced induction, best analog sports cars, and more

Bottom Line:
Packed with humor, opinions, and sharp insight, this episode spotlights the cutting edge and quirks of car culture—whether living with a thundering RTR Mustang, dodging puddles in a self-driving Waymo, or dreaming about Vespas and future-friendly policies. A satisfying listen for enthusiasts and everyday drivers alike.