THIS CAR POD! EP93 – Chinese Cars Coming to USA! Filippo Bought a Porsche!

Podcast Summary – January 9, 2026 | Host: Doug DeMuro | With: Filippo & Kenan

Episode Overview

In this packed episode, Doug DeMuro and co-hosts Filippo and Kenan dive into a slew of hot automotive topics: Filippo’s big Porsche purchase, the arrival of Chinese cars in the U.S., major car market news, and a raft of enthusiast updates and Q&A. It’s classic THIS CAR POD!—fast-paced, irreverent, and insightful—with colorful banter and deep car-nerd knowledge.

Filippo Bought a Rare Porsche 997 Targa 4S ([00:09]–[10:32])

Key Points

• Filippo’s new car: A rare 997.2 Porsche Targa 4S, black, 90,000 miles, manual transmission, recently purchased from a meticulous owner in Madison, Wisconsin.
• Specs and rarity: Basalt Black, BBS LM wheels (OE wheels also included). Manual Targa 4S models are especially scarce; less than 1,500 of this variant were ever made globally.
• Ownership experience:
  • Filippo is new to 911 ownership and feels exhilarated by the car.
  • Appreciates the 997.2's improvements over earlier models, calling it “delightful to drive and use without being like a precious car. You can just use it and drive it.” ([02:29])
• Community inside-jokes: Filippo admits to past frugality, now “lifestyle creep has really taken over.” Doug and Kenan roast (and celebrate) his transformation into a true Porsche guy.
• Market trivia: The Targa 4S was so rare even many Porsche dealers in its era never saw one on allocation.

Notable Quotes

• “It is a 997.2 Targa 4S. It's a wide body car. Yeah.” —Filippo ([00:21])
• "It's such a good car. I get the 997 love." —Filippo ([02:22])
• “There was a time when we did this podcast where I was worried that none of us would ever buy a car... And then we all did.” —Doug ([10:40])

Chinese Cars (and Tech Partnerships) Coming to the U.S. ([11:08]–[16:45])

Key Points

• Chinese brands (BYD, Geely, Zeekr) eye U.S. market:
  • Companies are planning U.S. entry, leveraging multinational factories to potentially sidestep certain tariff barriers.
  • Geely already has a U.S. presence via Volvo's factory in South Carolina.
  • Mexican-assembled Chinese cars already sell (e.g., MG-branded EVs) and Lotus, Buick, Polestar, and others offer Chinese-made models in North America.
• Tariffs and hurdles:
  • Panel discusses the complexity of U.S. import tariffs, regulations on Chinese tech (like chips), and possible political headwinds due to anti-China sentiment.
• Historical parallels:
  • Comparison drawn to the Japanese and Korean automotive invasions, noting the U.S. public’s slow warming to foreign automakers.

Notable Quotes

• “You could build that [a factory]. I think a long weekend with a couple cold ones, you and me could put together at least a small factory.” —Doug, on automaker 'end runs' around tariffs ([12:43])
• "They've hinted at they're going to find a way around the tariffs...they're going to release a plan in two to three years for when they'll be in the U.S." —Filippo ([12:35])

Sony & Honda’s Afila Car Launch ([18:21]–[22:48])

Key Points

• New joint venture: Sony and Honda are launching Afila, an EV brand, starting with a $90k sedan to be sold, at first, only in California (direct sales, likely at malls).
• Branding missteps: Panel pokes fun at the car’s tagline—“Autonomous. Sound. Visual.”—calling it nonsense and deriding the Afila name.
• Market skepticism: Afila’s 300-mile range is seen as subpar versus competitors like the Lucid Air; hosts believe range is a real market differentiator, though Doug is less convinced.

Notable Quotes

• “Autonomous. Sound. Visual. Boy. That wasn't run by anyone.” —Doug ([20:05])
• “Afila is the stupidest name I've ever heard in my life.” —Doug ([22:48])

U.S. Performance Market News: TRX, Charger V8, Subaru STI ([23:33]–[29:50])

Key Points

• The Ram TRX truck returns: With 777-hp supercharged Hemi V8; panel is thrilled but notes the price now starts at over $102k, still undercutting Ford's Raptor R.
• Dodge Charger gets a V8 after all: Despite initial all-EV plans, the new Charger will have a V8 option as well as six-cylinder, reversing earlier announcements.
• Subaru STI rumors: Subaru will announce something STI-related at the Tokyo Auto Salon; possibility it’s just an appearance package, but hosts express hope for a new performance model.

Notable Quotes

• “The TRX is back. But not only is it back, it’s back with a serious engine.” —Kenan ([23:36])
• “If they come with a full line of six cylinder V8s, four doors, special editions, they did it again with another great car.” —Doug ([27:04])

End-of-Year Market Results ([31:45]–[36:03])

Key Points

• Overall U.S. new car sales up 2% in 2025.
• EVs struggle: Market share dropped to 6.6% vs 11.2% a year before; EV tax incentives expired in October, dampening sales.
• Hybrids surge: Especially at Toyota and Honda—50% of Toyotas sold were hybrids in 2025.
• Buyers shift: Consumers gravitate towards lower trim, less expensive models; high-end/over-spec cars are sitting on lots longer.
• Kia & Hyundai continue to outperform, outpacing industry growth.

Notable Quotes

• “So it’s interesting because the implication here is that auto industry is actually relatively healthy. Sales were actually up, which was a surprise.” —Doug ([34:22])

Arizona “Autobahn” Proposal ([36:34]–[41:02])

Key Points

• Legislation proposes unrestricted speeds in rural Arizona ("reasonable and prudent" standard) on long, empty highways.
• Realistic expectations are tempered—panel expects (at most) test programs or limited interstate stretches.
• Comparison to Montana's previous experiment with no daytime speed limit, and practical discussion on American driving behavior.

Notable Quotes

• “No one's in like in the middle of nowhere with a Ferrari ready to go 150... they're going to go what they feel comfortable.” —Doug ([39:30])

“Talk Cars” Segment: Personal Fleet Updates ([41:37]–[58:59])

Key Points

• Doug is “back on cars”:
  • Eyeing an LX700h Overtrail and a W210 E55 wagon, plus a wild (pipe-dream) interest in the De Tomaso P72 supercar.
  • “My sports cars have three pedals and my SUVs have three lockers.” —Doug ([42:58])
• Kenan’s Mercedes SL65 update: Recently serviced (overspend, as usual). He's debating selling it to get a Gen 1 Viper (“I will commit to getting a Viper in this calendar year, 2026.” —Kenan, [54:43]).
• Filippo’s projects: Will appear at the Avant Pit Stop event during Arizona Car Week, then retrieving a classic 1973 Ford F250 (debates DIY towing to save costs, in classic Filippo style).

Market Report ([61:11]–[66:54])

Key Points

• Insane LX470 Auction:
  • 2003 Lexus LX470 with 583 miles sold for $67k—low for such mileage but “not actual mileage” Arizona title, repaint, and reupholstered interior created a dice roll for buyers.
  • Extensive panel debate over legitimacy and best use-case for such a “new old” Land Cruiser.
• Matt Farah's NSX-T Sale:
  • Sold for $167,510—right in line with comps for late-model, manual NSXs in good colors and condition.
  • “NSX market is surprisingly well-defined.” —Filippo ([67:35])

Q&A Segment ([68:13]–[85:18])

Highlights

• Doug’s brief foray into house reviews: They performed well, but Doug didn’t want a travel-heavy lifestyle. Suggests "house reviews" as a billion-dollar YouTube idea for anyone willing to travel ([69:01]).
• Delta Integrale love/hate: Unbeatable hot hatch, impossible to service in San Diego (“You want to go on Lancia Facebook pages to try to find parts and deal with Italians?” —Doug, [72:17]).
• CVT transmissions: Underappreciated for their efficiency and performance in daily-driving applications, despite enthusiast disdain ([78:51]).
• Best depreciated luxury EV buy? Panel splits: Filippo likes Lucid Air for range and comfort, Doug sides with Taycan for drive quality, Kenan prefers the look of Audi E-Tron GT ([81:01]).
• Travel-for-review dream cars: Kenan—McLaren F1 or 250 GTO; Filippo—Fiat Panda 4x4, Piaggio Ape, “three towns over”; Doug—long list, refuses to choose ([84:25]).

Notable Banter & Memorable Moments

• “Autonomous. Sound. Visual.”—The panel widely mocks this as the worst tagline ever ([19:49]).
• Filippo’s hot dog challenge: He’ll buy a hot dog (with toppings!) for anyone who shows up to the Avant event in Mesa, AZ with the coolest car ([57:13]).**
• Doug on rare Porsche ownership as a recession indicator: “This is a recession indicator. The market’s doing great.” ([09:32])

Timestamps – Quick Reference

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------|---------------| | Filippo’s Porsche | 00:09–10:32 | | Chinese Cars to USA | 11:08–16:45 | | Afila (Sony-Honda EV) | 18:21–22:48 | | TRX, Charger, Subaru STI | 23:33–29:50 | | Market Recap | 31:45–36:03 | | AZ Autobahn Proposal | 36:34–41:02 | | Talk Cars Updates | 41:37–58:59 | | Market Report | 61:11–66:54 | | Q&A | 68:13–85:18 |

Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, detail-rich.
• Expert but accessible—hosts use their own purchase and ownership stories as teaching tools.
• Lots of inside jokes, ribbing, and authentic camaraderie throughout.
• Frequent attributions to each other's quirks (esp. Filippo’s frugality, Kenan’s maintenance obsessions, Doug’s buying habits).

For First-Time Listeners

THIS CAR POD! EP93 delivers a perfect blend of breaking industry news, car buying adventures, market insight, and unapologetic banter. If you missed the episode, use this summary as both cheat sheet and entertainment—the conversations are timeless for any car enthusiast, and the laughs are just as valuable as the stories.