THIS CAR POD! with Doug DeMuro & Friends!

EP85: EV Sales Crash! Doug's Carrera GT Breaks Down, Jeeps Are Catching Fire!
Release Date: November 7, 2025

EPISODE OVERVIEW

This lively episode features Doug DeMuro, Kenan Rolson, and Nick, with Filippo absent ("gallivanting" as the others joke). The trio covers a wide array of hot automotive topics: Kenan’s major car purchase (and new YouTube channel), the crash in EV sales post-tax incentives, Jeep’s fire-prone plug-in hybrids, SEMA show highlights, Saleen’s crowdsourced supercar, the Las Vegas concours and Veyron gathering, and ongoing car ownership misadventures—including Doug’s Carrera GT woes. The episode finishes with market insights, Q&A, and takes on the best cars for a "raw" driving experience.

HIGHLIGHTS & KEY DISCUSSION POINTS

1. Kenan Buys an SL65 AMG (00:25–06:33)

• Kenan's Big News: He bought an alabaster white 2007 Mercedes SL65 AMG (R230), “the big boy” with a 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 and a Renntech tune (~735hp, 826 lb-ft).
  • Quote, Kenan (01:03): “I have always wanted one of these cars.”
  • Car found via podcast connections; now has own YouTube channel: Kenan Rolson.
  • Nick laments Kenan’s shift from “Anti Mod” to a modded monster—“more HP and torque than my SLR and paid less!” (01:35)
• Reliability Concerns: 72,300 miles, but Kenan is confident—stack of service records, previous owner was an engine engineer with lots of documented work.
• Comparison to SLR (05:25):
  • SLR seen as having “extra presence.”
  • Real-world: “On the highway together… both have laid into it and it’s pretty even.” —Kenan (06:06)
• Teasing Doug: Group jokes Doug still hasn't bought the iconic 993 Turbo he’s been after.
• Kenan’s Content: First video up, group pledges to subscribe/support.

2. SEMA Show & Toyota’s Scion Resurrected (07:06–09:49)

• Highlights:
  • SEMA in progress; Toyota unveils “Scion 01”—a side-by-side made from Tacoma parts, with “Scion” branding.
  • Commentary on the increasingly wild, tasteless SEMA builds.
  • Quote, Nick (09:01): “It’s become a total circus, as you would expect.”
  • None of the trio have been to SEMA; not “Vegas people,” nor eager for “aftermarket headlight solution” pitches.

3. EV Sales Crash After Tax Incentives Expire (09:49–12:04)

• Major Declines:
  • Ioniq 6 “down 52%,” Prologue “down 80%” (10:24)
    • Quote, Doug (10:26): “80% decline. It’s a complete disaster.”
  • Subaru Solterra: sold 13 units nationwide in October (from ~800/month); “inventory will never move.”
• Market Perspective:
  • Big incentives “robbed Peter to pay Paul.”
  • Jaguar in trouble for betting the brand on EVs; group agrees they should “be very worried.”
  • Memorable Joke: “If you’re watching this podcast in 2063, you can still get a ’25 Solterra on the lot.” —Doug (11:40)

4. Honda Passport/Off-Road Model Rumors (12:04–14:24)

• **Honda finally getting serious about an off-road model.”
• Company is “conservative, slow moving”—always waits until the market is absolutely proven.
  • Quote, Doug (13:06): “They’re just afraid.”
• Group jokes about lackluster TrailSport trims: “It’s a mildly lifted Pilot…actually, I don’t think it’s even lifted.” —Doug (14:11)

5. Porsche Patents ‘Tunnel Mode’ (15:57–17:28)

• Porsche to automate enthusiast tunnel rituals: Sensors will drop a gear, lower windows, adjust heat for better sound; even alerts convertible owners.
  • “They’re gonna offer it for EVs too—give you more EV noise before a tunnel.” —Kenan (16:38)
• The group banters about their own tunnel traditions (Nick yells “fire in the hole!”).
  • “As a quirk and feature guy, I love this stuff.” —Doug (17:24)

6. Saleen’s Crowdsourcing Supercar Design (18:39–22:14)

• Saleen S1-1 Concept: At LeMay Museum, public votes on styling features.
• Cynicism over company’s health: “It’s gotten a little sad... fundraising from owners, China deal gone wrong.”
  • Memorable moment: “They’ll get a bunch of trolley stuff, like name it Boaty McBoatface.” —Doug (22:05)
• General hope that Saleen survives and does a GAS supercar, not EV.

7. Jeep Plug-In Hybrids: Fire Risk Recall (22:17–25:08)

• Jeep recalls 320k+ 4xe plug-in hybrids—advises owners to park outside due to fire risk: “Anytime a plug-in EV… don’t park it indoors, remember the bolts?”
  • Only 19 incidents/1 injury, but perception problem for already struggling Jeep/Grand Cherokee 4xe.
  • Doug: “I wish I had a new Grand Cherokee... but I was worried it’d strand me, which I still think is true.” (24:10)
• Group discusses reliability of 4-doors vs. 2-doors; “Two-doors can strand you… four-doors, it’s gotta be reliable.” —Doug (24:35)

8. RAM SRT Comeback (25:51–28:29)

• RAM will revive SRT models: no V10, but “SRT-10” branding and two new models coming in next 90 days. Street truck, not off-road TRX; Hellcat engine expected.
• Nick: “Did you see there’s going to be a Ram SUV? Like a Ramcharger style, 2028.” (27:06)
• Banter about product repositioning, failures (Wagoneer, Theranos as a punchline).

9. Las Vegas Concours: Veyron Gathering (28:32–30:39)

• Biggest Veyron gathering yet: 14 Veyrons, record sale at $2.04mil, exotics like Reventon and Veneno.
• “It’s like a Plymouth Prowler gathering, just… $2 million.” —Doug (29:50)
• Controversy: Veneno dubbed by Doug as “the ugliest car ever made” (29:04), to group disagreement.

10. Renault’s Electric Twingo Revival (32:35–33:32)

• Cute, retro EV Twingo concept for Europe only.
• Comparison to VW Beetle; group notes fondness for classic Twingos in Europe.
• “If EVs are gonna succeed, something like [Twingo EV] could work as just a commuter.”

AUDIENCE Q&A — Notable Answers & Moments (63:15–88:59)

• Kenan’s E39 M5 Budget: Still under $1,500 so far, not counting a gift card from friends.
• Car Financing vs. Paying Cash: Doug advocates for financing at low rates only if you could’ve paid cash anyway; smart investing wins long term.
  • “If you get a sufficiently low interest rate… and invest the rest, you will end up ahead.” —Doug (78:53)
• Raw Experience Cars Under $30k: Group recommends Lotus Esprit V8, Pantera, Gen 1 Viper, Shelby Cobra replicas, and Termi Cobras for “Countach-like” X-factor.
• Worst Generation Downgrades: E38 to E65 BMW 7-Series; Honda C2 to C3 Corvette; C63 AMG V8 to hybrid 4-cyl.

QUOTEBOARD (Time-stamped)

"80% decline. It's a complete disaster."
— Doug (10:26), on Honda Prologue EV sales after tax credits ended

"I have always wanted one of these cars."
— Kenan (01:03), on the SL65 AMG

"It's as if Jeep wasn't having enough problems... now they're saying you can't park [a 4xe] in your garage."
— Doug (22:48)

"Two-doors can strand you… four-doors, it's gotta be reliable. That's my rule now."
— Doug (24:35)

"They’ll get a bunch of trolley stuff, like name it Boaty McBoatface."
— Doug (22:05), on Saleen’s crowdsourcing their supercar design

"The dream of when you're young versus the reality… the clothes of the boy don't fit the man."
— Kenan (45:51), ruminating on car collecting vs. adulthood

"It looks like a Pontiac Aztek."
— Doug (54:59), comparing Urus to a meme car

"I listen to more music than anyone."
— Doug (83:32), on Spotify Wrapped (and Night Traveler as his favorite band)

TIMESTAMPS FOR IMPORTANT SEGMENTS

| Segment | Start | End | |-------------------------------------------------|--------|---------| | Kenan Buys SL65 + YouTube News | 00:25 | 06:33 | | SEMA, Scion 01, SEMA Antics | 07:06 | 09:49 | | EV Sales Crash Discussion | 09:49 | 12:04 | | Honda “Off-Roader” Discussions | 12:04 | 14:24 | | Porsche “Tunnel Mode” Patent | 15:57 | 17:28 | | Saleen’s Crowdsourced Supercar | 18:39 | 22:14 | | Jeep Plug-in Recall / Reliability Debate | 22:17 | 25:08 | | RAM SRT & Street Truck Return | 25:51 | 28:29 | | Las Vegas Concours, Veyron Gathering | 28:32 | 30:39 | | Renault Twingo EV Revival | 32:35 | 33:32 | | Doug's Carrera GT & Countach Breakdowns | 43:30 | 47:10 | | Q&A (Raw Experience / Money-shifting/Finance) | 63:15 | 88:59 |

MEMORABLE & FUNNY MOMENTS

• Kenan’s Car Buying Antics: Finally purchasing after constant teasing from listeners and co-hosts—“the commenters have been way more brutal, but here it is.” (04:24)
• Nick yelling "fire in the hole!" before tunnel blasts. (17:28)
• Doug’s admission of musical obsessiveness and public Taylor Swift karaoke. (85:13)
• Disputing internet car reliability:
  • “Anyone who said they just blew a 5-year-old TTRS engine didn’t money shift it? Trust me, they money-shifted it.” —Doug (76:05)
• Las Vegas concours parallel: “It’s like a Plymouth Prowler gathering… just, you know, $2 million.” —Doug (29:50)
• Saleen crowd design risks: “They’re gonna get a bunch of trolley stuff.” —Doug (22:05)

OVERALL TONE

Fast-paced, candid, banter-heavy, with a mix of deep car enthusiast analysis and playful, self-deprecating humor. The hosts poke fun at themselves (and each other), share real-world experiences, and offer both market perspective and practical ownership tips.

CLOSING

"Go to Kenan's YouTube channel… I haven't seen the video yet. I'm incredibly excited."
"We're a Mercedes-Benz group now. We've all got Mercedes-Benz!" —Group

And with that, the trio signs off, promising more news, drama, and "degeneracy" next week—hopefully with fewer breakdowns and perhaps even Filippo back from his latest “gallivant.”