Podcast Summary: The Smoking Tire – “Zack’s Game Show; M5 Touring (Again); Aston Vanquish Review”

Release Date: August 21, 2025
Hosts: Matt Farah, Zack Klapman

Overview

In this lively episode, Matt Farah and Zack Klapman recap a week full of new experiences—from Zack’s debut game show to revisiting the BMW M5 Touring and a deep-dive review of the new Aston Martin Vanquish. Along the way, they tackle behind-the-scenes industry quirks (a cybersecurity mishap), share memorable personal moments, and field listener questions ranging from car advice to cooking tips. The episode is full of banter, insight, and classic Smoking Tire humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Zack Klapman’s New Game Show: “Driver’s Test”

[04:57–13:49]

• Inspiration & Format:

  • Zack explains the show was inspired by British panel shows where comedians and notable personalities gather for semi-structured banter. He wanted a car-world version of that format: “It’s like a podcast, but with a little bit of an agenda.” (Zack, 06:34)
  • The show features guests with varying degrees of car knowledge, lighthearted competition, and is purposefully low-pressure in terms of scoring.

• Production Stories:

  • The disheveled suit was a deliberate host look, adding to the fun, not-too-serious vibe.
  • The filming location (Marco’s shop) was so well-lit that people thought it was a green screen.
  • Technical challenges included writing 15–16 questions per episode and managing four guests plus crew for each shoot.

• Audience Reception:

  • Strong initial feedback: over 3,000 subscribers and 11,000 views from the first episode.
  • Matt praises Zack for finding the sweet spot: “I was like, am I watching a game show that feels like a podcast or a podcast that feels like a game show?...That’s exactly it.” (Matt, 10:13)

• Challenges:

  • Scheduling guests is tricky; one episode a month is the current plan.
  • Suggestions poured in from viewers, some more realistic than others.

2. Matt’s Cybersecurity Mishap

[14:34–24:28]

• Matt recounts a phishing email incident where he accidentally clicked a legitimate-looking link from his ad agent. Four days later, it sent scam emails to every contact he’d ever emailed.
• The scam mimicked standard ad proposal emails, making it very hard to spot.
• “I got boomered. But the email came from the perfect...person where I would go, ‘okay,’ and open it.” (Matt, 18:08)
• Both hosts commiserate over the hassle of advertiser-required digital portals and propose a “portal fee” for the extra labor.
• Personal anecdotes underscore how easy it is to get caught—even Zack’s mom fell for a basic scam.

3. BMW M5 Touring Review – Take Two

[24:58–31:54]

• First Impressions:

  • The initial M5 Touring they received was “really bad”—with numerous handling problems traced to mechanical faults (bald tires, misaligned rear steer).

• Replacement Car:

  • New blue M5 Touring felt vastly improved—drives and handles as intended.
  • Still, both hosts thought it was stiff, heavy, and not their preference, especially compared to the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.
  • “The Panamera Turbo S will handle just as well as this. And it rides like a Phantom.” (Matt, 30:13)

• Interior Critiques:

  • Zack criticizes the design, likening the lighting and panels to a “laser tag arena.”
  • Despite its performance, little about the car “hooked” either host—it’s violently fast but lacks refinement for the price and intended luxury.

4. Aston Martin Vanquish Review – First Drive

[32:05–41:52]

• General Impressions:

  • Matt dubs it “a mighty automobile,” with an 838hp twin-turbo V12 and two-seat layout. Aston Martin’s take on a front-mid-engine GT.
  • Usable day-to-day, albeit on the stiff side with tramlining and aggressive steering.
  • Once above 4,000 rpm: “Holy fucking hell, the earth spins the other way. It goes up the road so goddamn fast...” (Matt, 33:37)
  • Interior quality and leather are excellent, but it’s almost $200k more than a DB12—difference isn’t always perceivable.

• Tech Quirks:

  • Issues with CarPlay Ultra connectivity—sometimes fails after multiple back-to-back connection cycles typical of filming.
  • No nose-lift option, so the front scrapes frequently.

• Comparisons & Context:

  • The car is better suited as a weekend GT than a daily.
  • Matt: “If you’re dailying...Bentley is the answer of all answers.” (40:08)
  • The Vanquish stands out for presence and spectacle but is “stiff and darty” for luxury GT expectations.

• Visuals & Desirability:

  • Both hosts love the styling, especially the rear, which Zack likens to the Ford GT’s best features. Matt emphasizes: “You don’t seem like an asshole when you drive it. You seem like someone who knows some shit.” (41:22)

5. Running Out of Gas: Shared Bentley Adventure

[44:53–52:58]

• Zack details a “range anxiety” incident in the Bentley Bentayga returning from Big Sur—gauge declined faster than expected, causing a nervous moment.

• Matt echoes with an epic tale of towing over the Grapevine in LA-area traffic: trapped in a jam with fuel rapidly dropping from 90 to 40 miles-to-empty.

• Both emphasize the importance of monitoring fuel during California highway travel.

• Classic Matt line:
  “Don’t go up the Grapevine without plenty of fucking juice.” (Matt, 48:57)

• Swap of Bentley comfort features—Zack confused postural adjustment for massage seat, Matt clarifies how to actually enable real massage.

  • “The postural adjustment is just stress relief, not massage.” (Matt, 51:51)

6. Listener Q&A (Samples & Highlights)

[54:00–end]

• Cooking for Beginners:

  • Matt’s advice: Start with well-written YouTube recipes, get quality knives, a good cutting board, and “The Flavor Bible” as a must-have kitchen reference.
  • “The most important book in your kitchen...is called The Flavor Bible. If you don’t have it, you are very much missing out.” (Matt, 58:21)

• Affordable Fun Car for Large Dogs:

  • Mini JCW Countryman, potentially with rear seat delete (if manual trans is a must).
  • Manual, fun crossovers are very rare; suggestions included creative retrofits.

• Lotus Evora vs. 911 for $60k budget:

  • Both love the Evora S for reliability, looks, and Toyota drivetrain; just be careful with bodywork.

• Aston Martin Valhalla “no trunk” concern:

  • Matt: For most buyers, lack of luggage isn’t a dealbreaker—supercars often get shipped or used only on short, spirited drives.

• Pontiac Phoenix, Embarrassing Early Car Mods, and More:

  • The hosts share youthful car mod stories (glow kits, AutoZone parts) and poke fun at malaise-era GM cars.

• Scenic U.S. States to Drive:

  • Best picks: Utah and Colorado stand out for variety and striking beauty. “Utah—tough to beat that.” (Matt, 85:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On game show inspiration
  “The BBC is great because they have like five shows that are just excuses for comedians to talk to each other. It’s like a podcast, but with a little bit of an agenda.”
  — Zack Klapman [06:34]

• Matt on the game show’s odd blend:
  “Am I watching a game show that feels like a podcast or a podcast that feels like a game show?...That’s exactly it.”
  — Matt Farah [10:13]

• On the M5 Touring’s flaws:
  “The car moved in an incredibly unnatural way...they sent another one, this blue one. It was much better...Still really stiff and really big and really heavy.”
  — Matt [26:34-27:15]

• On the new Aston Vanquish:
  “Holy fucking hell, the earth spins the other way. I mean, whatever was there is here.”
  — Matt [33:37]

• On owning an analog car:
  “Right now the sort of peak collector cars are still...the end-run stick shift stuff and sort of the early hypercars.”
  — Matt [67:53]

• When discussing the price gap in GT cars:
  “People who buy 812s are not as rich as people who buy brand new Vanquishes. You buy a brand new Vanquish, you know you’re taking a depreciation hit.”
  — Matt [39:44]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------|-----------| | Zack’s Game Show Recap | 04:57–13:49 | | Matt’s Phishing/Email Scam | 14:34–24:28 | | BMW M5 Touring Review | 24:58–31:54 | | Aston Martin Vanquish Review | 32:05–41:52 | | Bentley Fuel Range Stories | 44:53–52:58 | | Listener Q&A (Cars, Cooking, Advice) | 54:00–end |

Conclusion

This episode perfectly highlights the blend of fun, deep analysis, and real-world car enthusiasm that defines The Smoking Tire. It delivers new ventures (Zack’s game show), honest reviews (BMW, Aston, Bentley tales), and lots of practical advice—always wrapped in the hosts’ irreverent, approachable style. Listeners are reminded to check out “Zack Klapman’s Driver’s Test” on YouTube and to keep those questions coming via Patreon.

For fans:
You’ve got a new car game show to watch, reasons to be skeptical of email links, and a shopping list for your starter kitchen. And next time you brave the Grapevine or consider scraping a $450k Aston, you’ll have Matt and Zack’s voices ringing in your ears.