The Smoking Tire Podcast

Episode Title: Screen Depreciation; CHEAP V12s; Rainy Days; Q&A
Date: November 20, 2025
Hosts: Matt Farah and Zack Klapman

Episode Overview

This episode is a classic freewheeling mix: Matt and Zack dig into Los Angeles’ rare rainy spell and how it transforms driving, nerd out on car suspension and steering feel, trade stories about PA system mishaps and their rollerblading youth, and field a lively Q&A from their Patreon audience. Major themes include the impact of screens on future car collectibility, what cars drive best when their suspensions are set to "sport," the appeal and risk of cheap V12s, financing car adventures (and whether you ever should), practical used car advice, and the joys and challenges of both modern and analog automotive experiences.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. LA Rain and Driving Dynamics (13:48–23:17)

• Taycan in the Wet: Matt explains how rain transforms his Porsche Taycan 4 into a “fun” car:

  “Turns out the Taycan, if it’s wet, you can initiate a little bit.” (14:01, Matt)

• Playing with Traction Control: They discuss how modern driver skills now include knowing arcane button sequences, comparing hidden car functions to unintuitive stereo menus.

  “We as monkeys have learned that pressing a button and holding it can bring you a different result than just pressing the button.” (08:52, Zack)

• Suspension Settings: Matt’s revelation that his Taycan rides better daily with the chassis in Sport and the powertrain in Normal, flipping his usual preferences.

  "This car is too soft in soft mode and is just right in sport... There’s not a lot of cars where I do that." (17:35, Matt)

• Cars that Drive Best “in Sport”: The BMW M5 Touring and Maybach sedan are cited as others that are “too soft” in comfort mode, benefiting from firmer suspension.

2. Adventures in Automotive Audio and Technology (02:07–10:00)

• Hilarious recount of botching a PA speaker setup at a watch event, leading into a broader discussion about modern tech, hidden menus, and the “hold to access features” phenomenon in both cars and pro audio.

  “You can walk up to any stereo and make it sound as best as it can sound. That’s like your gig. And so I was like, I’m sorry for the inconvenience. That’s all I did.” (04:34, Matt) “That skill comes from… traction control. That’s a 100% traction control skill.” (08:48, Matt)

3. Rollerblade Nostalgia and LA Stereotypes (23:43–28:30)

• The saga of "rollerblade wheel mods" for Pelican cases leads to reminiscing about ‘90s rollerblading culture, specific gear, and seeing quintessential LA scenes straight out of a movie.

  “It was when I had my skiing crash that stopped me. That was the last time I rollerbladed, 2011.” (27:16, Matt) “This would be in Beverly Hills Cop and I would think the writers just put it in there—it’s in the movie because it’s in real life.” (28:03, Zack)

4. Touchscreens and Car Collectibility (48:11–50:28)

• Discussion on whether cars burdened with large central touchscreens will ever become true collectibles.

  “I think the touch screens could potentially really age these cars fast.” (48:11, Matt) “Repairability can be a huge headwind… If no one can work on it, like, if you need to know a machinist to make this engine work, or you need a computer programmer…” (49:33, Zack)

• Praise for Bentley’s trick rotating display as an elegant solution.

5. Q&A Highlights (39:36–98:59)

New Land Cruiser vs Lexus GX vs Defender 110 (40:15)

• Decision Guide:
  • Finance: Land Cruiser (keep long-term)
  • Lease: Defender (let someone else deal with issues)
  • Straight Cash: Lexus GX (best resale value)

  “The Defender drives the best… The Toyota is the most bang for your buck.” (40:15, Matt)

Cheapest V12 Joy (61:55)

• Manual Aston Martin DB7 cited as the current cheap V12 grand tourer winner, with pricing observations and service caveats.

  “How do you buy a 20,000 mile V12 Aston Martin for 35 grand? … That’s money in, money out.” (63:09, Matt)

Simple, Slow Cars Reset Perspective (47:58)

• Driving something basic and underpowered, like a Delica or 20-year-old pickup, resets expectations and makes you appreciate modern cars again.

Purchasing Experiences or Cars (68:17)

• Strong advice not to finance car adventures like a Road & Track trip:

  “Dude, to go on a vacation and be making payments like six months later—oof, bro.” (69:20, Matt)

  • Save first, then reward yourself.

Best Invisible Car (78:16)

• Consensus: Fleet-white Prius, Chevy Malibu, old Dodge Caravan.

  “Any of the eggs in white… That will walk amongst them.” (78:52, Zack)

Mechanic Shortage (80:59)

• Listeners ask about Ford’s search for techs and barriers to advancement; hosts relay frustration from field mechanics about waitlists and stagnant pay despite “six-figure job” claims.

Timex Going Upmarket (82:55)

• Approval for Timex’s higher-end “Atelier” line.

  “I have no problem with a company that’s been making watches for as long as Timex has…” (83:16, Matt)

Aftermarket Tech and CarPlay (90:58)

• Tesla finally adds CarPlay after years of resisting it, showing consumer demand trumps brand ego. Matt and Zack compare how Tesla/Rivian usability stacked up.

  “There’s some shit that I really like my CarPlay… my garage door opener is an app…” (91:20, Matt)

6. Notable Memorable Quotes

• “We as monkeys have learned that pressing a button and holding it can bring you a different result than just pressing the button.” (08:52, Zack)
• “This car is too soft in soft mode and is just right in sport… There’s not a lot of cars where I do that.” (17:35, Matt)
• “I think the touch screens could potentially really age these cars fast.” (48:11, Matt)
• “Dude, to go on a vacation and be making payments like six months later—oof, bro.” (69:20, Matt)
• “How do you buy a 20,000 mile V12 Aston Martin for 35 grand?” (63:09, Matt)
• “Any of the eggs in white… That will walk amongst them.” (78:52, Zack)

Additional Memorable Segments & Timestamps

• (19:25) E-Pass vs Hydraulic steering: Modern E-PAS steering is sometimes better than the classics, especially if the ratio and weighting are dialed in right.
• (86:07) Manual Mode Automatics: Answering if using manual mode on auto transmissions increases wear (short answer: not really, as long as you’re not lugging the engine).
• (96:34) Evaluating a Listener's New Watch Brand: Gentle, constructive, and honest feedback on a fan-submitted watch line.

Tone and Flow

Laid-back, irreverent, tangential, and peppered with deep car geekery, playful arguments, and “inside baseball” references. The episode is equally accessible to casual fans and car nerds, brimming with practical advice and funny asides.

For More

• The Smoking Tire YouTube
• Follow hosts:
  • Twitter: @thesmokingtire, @zackklapman
  • Instagram: @thesmokingtire, @fakezackklapman

This summary captures the full spirit of the episode—a blend of car culture, technical insight, personal storytelling, and plugged-in community Q&A, with timestamps to help you zero in on favorite segments.