THIS CAR POD! with Doug DeMuro & Friends!

Episode: BMW M3 Goes Electric?! The Corvette ZR1X! Why is Doug Disappointed?
Host: Doug DeMuro
Co-Hosts: Filippo, Nick (filling in for Kenan)
Release Date: January 16, 2026

Overview

This energetic episode covers the biggest automotive news and controversies of the week—from the mind-bending performance of the new Corvette ZR1X, to the (potentially heretical?) all-electric BMW M3, to Doug’s personal car buying journey and market analysis. The mood is irreverent and fast-paced, with Doug, Nick, and Filippo trading insider insights, car nerd laughter, and hot takes on everything from government SUV procurement, to why Toyota and Subaru left them cold at Tokyo Auto Salon, to detailed stories of project cars and “cars and bids” market updates.

Major Discussion Points

1. Corvette ZR1X: Insanely Fast and Pump Gas Practical

(00:09 – 06:10)

• Numbers That Don’t Seem Possible:
  Doug reveals the new ZR1X hits 0–60 mph in 1.68 seconds and does the quarter mile in 8.675s at 160 mph—on pump gas and a prepped drag strip.
  • “It gets to be such small numbers that it just doesn’t even make sense anymore.” – Nick (00:26)
• Drag Strip Practicalities:
  Discusses the mechanics of running the car at a drag strip and how these times are community-validated by slamming on brakes to dodge being kicked out for excessive speed.
• Dealer Service Concerns:
  “Imagine your average Chevy dealer trying to fix a 1 second 0-60 car…” – Nick (02:20)
• Technicals:
  ZR1X combines the twin-turbo V8 from the base ZR1 and the hybrid system from the E-Ray: 1,250 hp, four-wheel drive, “just a Corvette” but pushing the boundary of street-car performance.
• Comparable Supercars:
  Faster than Chiron, Revuelto, SSC Tuatara (which struggled to validate numbers—even with 1,750 hp).
  “We’re not that far off of top fuel dragsters. … It’s wild.” – Doug (01:48)
• Will Cars Get Even Faster?
  Panel debates whether this will be the ceiling for street-legal acceleration: “Cars aren’t gonna be doing 0–60 in 0.7 seconds. It won’t. It’s just not going to be occurring.” – Doug (05:12)
• Safety Concerns:
  “People are gonna crash these. … College athletes—because they can be paid now!” – Doug (05:43–05:53)

2. Tokyo Auto Salon: “BS” Reveals & Disappointment

(06:10 – 08:51)

• Frustration with Overhyped Reveals:
  Doug is fed up: “We at the Cars & Bids podcast … no longer support the Tokyo Auto Salon. We don’t believe in it. We don’t accept it. … bunch of trivial non news.” (06:32)
• Toyota’s ‘Secret Mid-Engine Car’ Turns Out to Be K-Car:
  “It turned out to be a K car on chunky tires. Yep, that’s BS. … You just disappointed us. We hate you.” – Doug (06:34–06:51)
• Subaru’s ‘STI News’ = Cosmetic Package:
  It's just a trim package for the WRX, actually less torque than before:
  “In true STI tradition, it’s got less performance.” – Doug (07:13) “It could have been something good.” – Doug (08:15)
• Brand Dilution:
  “All you’re really doing is watering down the brand. Like it’s just–I don’t get it.” – Nick (08:36)
• Verdict:
  “If you’re an organizer of the Tokyo Auto Salon … we will never talk about your dud of a show ever again.” – Doug (07:41)

3. FBI Chooses BMW X5s as Armored Vehicles

(08:55 – 12:09)

• FBI’s Shift from Armored SUVs:
  News that the FBI has purchased armored BMW X5s instead of the classic Suburban.
  “These are about half the price of a GM Defense Suburban… it’s maybe a little bit more discreet.” – Filippo (09:25)
• Debate on Capability:
  Doug questions if the X5 can match the Suburban’s protection. Panel notes X5s are still US-built (Spartanburg, SC).
• Reliability Jokes:
  “You can’t kill an LS, but a BMW motor… just make it go 2,000 miles without a service… It’s the B58, man.” – Nick (11:25–11:38)

4. Electric BMW M3 Incoming: Heresy or Inevitable?

(13:16 – 17:54)

• BMW M3 May Go All-Electric—Quad Motors, Fun Features:
  “When I was a child, there was a Chrome M3 and it broke the Internet. Now we have an EV M3. Yep.” – Nick (13:39)
• Quad Motor Setup, Simulated Gear Shifts:
  “Simulated gear shift’s a huge deal.” – Doug (13:53)
• New Battery Chemistry, Design:
  BMW working on faster-responding batteries; even in camo, “it looks better than the outgoing M3.” – Nick (14:21)
• The "Heart of Joy":
  BMW names new performance control unit “the Heart of Joy.”
  “This is Germans. … They think—this must be how Italians feel!” – Doug (14:56)
• Will Gas M3s Continue?
  Concern over how enthusiast sedan EVs will sell, and if this spells the end of gas M3s. Panel predicts these EVs will be critical in Europe, but US market is uncertain.
• Automotive Geopolitics:
  Americans focus on power; Japanese automakers playing it safe, Germans rolling forward with EVs.

5. End of Stellantis Plug-In Hybrids

(19:21 – 21:12)

• Massive Recall & Discontinuation:
  “Stellantis has killed all of its plug-in hybrids.” – Doug (19:23) The Jeep 4xe, Grand Cherokee, and Pacifica plug-in hybrids abruptly discontinued, largely due to unresolved fire risks.
• Loss of a Unique Segment:
  “The only plug-in hybrid minivan. That was your favorite…” – Doug (20:41) Fears this pulls the plug on an important step for electrification in the US.

6. Manual Transmission “Take Rate” Stats

(21:29 – 26:07)

• Manual Take Rates Across Models:
  Panel quizzes each other on how many buyers choose manuals on various models, revealing surprising numbers:
  • BMW M2: 30–40%
  • M3: 6–10%
  • Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing: 61%
  • Lotus Emira: 88%
  • 911 Carrera T & GT3 Touring: 83%
  • Subaru BRZ: 90%
  • Toyota Tacoma: 1%
  • GLI: 45%
• Volkswagen Axes Manuals Despite Popularity:
  “50% of people choosing it for a manual and yet… They got rid of them. … This company is so lost.” – Doug (25:08–25:13)
• Insight:
  If manuals are offered, enthusiasts still buy them in large percentages for sporty/performance models.

7. Doug’s Car Search & ‘Car Mom’ Saga

(26:07 – 31:32)

• Reconsidering the Lexus LX Overtrail:
  Doug reveals that after a negative review from car influencer “The Car Mom,” especially regarding car seat and child anchor logistics, his wife vetoed the LX:
  “She said, we are not under any circumstances getting this car. So I think we’re 50/50.” – Doug (27:04)
• Issues with Dealerships:
  Stories of haggling, price drops, and unresponsive Lexus dealers.
• Family Hauler Dilemmas:
  Doug still wants something three-row, capable, and subtle (not “look Republican”), but options are thin. Advice from “the car mom” was to try a Defender 130; Doug is skeptical.

8. Coinbase NSX Auction – 320,000 Mile One-Owner Honda NSX

(33:07 – 38:33)

• Coinbase Promotion:
  Partnership with crypto exchange Coinbase: listing a 320k-mile, one-owner NSX for auction, payable in USDC.
• Durability & Maintenance:
  “No other exotic could do this kind of miles and stay in this kind of shape… proving the NSX myth.” – Doug (34:43)
• A Honda Legend:
  The NSX has normal wear for its age, no accidents, full records, and offers a unique “driver’s car” experience.
• Speculation on Value:
  “We have no comps… No NSX has ever come up with miles like this. … someone who buys it who wants a driver is going to get really, really, really agreeable.” – Doug (38:33)

9. Project Cars: Multipla, SLR, R63, and More

(41:50 – 49:42)

• Fiat Multipla “Adventure,” Leaks, and Antagonistic Looks:
  Filippo reminisces about his Italian car past, says Multipla is “the least antagonistic car. … you have to be nice to your neighbors in a Multipla.” (44:04)
• Nick’s Car Buying Philosophy:
  Nick cycles through oddball project cars, now considering SRT10 RAM, E55 wagon (manual swap dream), chasing an R63, even a high-mile Maybach 57.
• Used Tires Saga:
  Nick obsessed with finding used all-terrain tires for his Range Rover P38.
• Accounting Jokes:
  The team riffs on how to categorize car losses and fantasy profits—with escalating bets and trash talk.

10. Cars & Bids Market Update

(51:09 – 58:33)

• Maserati Quattroporte Market:
  Old-gen Quattroportes with V8s now $12–30k, interesting and “menacing” presence, but Ghiblis are still looked down upon.
• Audi R8 Gated “Plus” Sells for $261k:
  “If you think the R8 is going up in value, this car leads the chart. Like, this is the king R8.” – Doug (56:32)
  • Only a handful of these special, late first-gen V10 manual R8s exist.
  • Speculation: Only previous R8 owners would pay to upgrade to such a unicorn.

11. Audience Q&A Highlights

(58:34 – End)

• Why Are Land Cruisers Way Pricier Than Sequoias?
  Consensus: Land Cruiser name & global rep, slightly better hardware spec. But first-gen Sequoias are underrated future classics. “Everybody: these first-gen Sequoias just, they can run and run and run and run.” – Doug (64:41)
• Why No VR6 Volkswagen Reviews?
  Doug’s take: the VR6 is “just a V6,” but admits to loving oddball variants and is still hunting for a stock blue R32.
• Volvo XC90s as “Cheap, Rich-Looking” Sleepers:
  Nick: “I can buy one of these for less than I lost on the Arnage.”
• Cars & Bids Logo Redesign:
  Filippo explains the refresh: “It had been five years. We wanted to update things a little bit and we felt like that better reflected our brand.” (72:00)
• Will EVs Ever Be True Enthusiast Classics?
  Doug: “No, EVs can never become enthusiast classics.” (73:54)
  Filippo pushes back: maybe time or the right car will change that, but for now, nothing rises to “icon” status like ICE cars.

Notable Quotes

• On ZR1X Performance:
  “It gets to be such small numbers that it just doesn’t even make sense anymore.” – Nick (00:26)
• On Tokyo Auto Salon:
  “We … no longer support the Tokyo Auto Salon. We don’t believe in it. … We will never talk about your dud of a show ever again.” – Doug (07:41)
• On the All-EV M3:
  “If this becomes the only M3, then everything I’ve ever said about the current M3 will come true, which is that it was the last and best and someday we will look back at those grilles and love them.” – Doug (14:31)
• On FBI BMWs:
  “You can’t kill an LS, but a BMW motor… just make it go 2,000 miles without a service… It’s the B58, man.” – Nick (11:25–11:38)
• On Manual Transmission Take Rate:
  “If you offer manual, more than half the time people take it.” – Nick (25:33)
• On Project Car Accounting:
  “You can’t pull Manny Kosh on me… Selling any mega church torches?” – Doug (61:44)
• On EV Enthusiast Cars:
  “No, EVs can never become enthusiast classics.” – Doug (73:54)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |------------------------------------------------------|-------------------| | Corvette ZR1X Performance Breakdown | 00:09 – 06:10 | | Tokyo Auto Salon Disappointments | 06:10 – 08:51 | | FBI Armored BMW Debate | 08:55 – 12:09 | | BMW M3 Electric Reveal | 13:16 – 17:54 | | Stellantis Kills Plug-In Hybrids | 19:21 – 21:12 | | Manual Transmission Take Rate | 21:29 – 26:07 | | Doug's Family Hauler Dilemma & "Car Mom" Critique | 26:07 – 31:32 | | 320k-Mile NSX x Coinbase Promotion | 33:07 – 38:33 | | Project Car Updates (Multipla, SLR, R63, etc) | 41:50 – 49:42 | | Market Report: Maserati Quattroporte, Audi R8 | 51:09 – 58:33 | | Audience Q&A (Land Cruiser vs Sequoia, etc.) | 58:34 – End |

Closing Thoughts

With honest opinions, offbeat humor, and deep car expertise, Doug and friends give listeners an entertaining and comprehensive snapshot of the current (and future) auto landscape. This episode is packed with car gossip, market advice, and debate—plus plenty of tips for buyers and project car masochists. If you love cars, you’ll laugh, learn, and come away with a few more strong opinions.