THIS CAR POD! with Doug DeMuro & Friends

Episode: Is the Car Market Cooling? Doug Wants to Buy Another Car?!
Date: September 26, 2025
Host: Doug DeMuro
Guests: Kenan, Nick ("Crazy Nick")

Overview

In this wide-ranging episode, Doug DeMuro and his friends delve into the recent twists in their ever-evolving car collections, poke fun at internet car culture, and break down the latest happenings in the automotive industry. Central topics include Doug's rumored "car purchase," his Porsche 993 Turbo dream, strange imports like the Fiat Multipla and Audi A2, Porsche’s decision to slow EV development, and a close look at the classic car market. The trio also field listener questions, share personal car mishaps, and debate which car personalities they’d replace themselves with on the pod.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Doug and the Audi A2 "Purchase" (01:09–05:45)

• The team jokes about Doug breaking his rule and "buying" a quirky Audi A2, which was actually acquired by Cars & Bids, not Doug personally.
  • Doug: “I didn’t pay for it. I’m not on the title. I don’t plan to drive it again. I’m not storing it at my home.” (01:30)
• Nick and Kenan tease Doug about clickbait YouTube titling:
  • Nick: “What’s the title of that YouTube video? 'I bought a car.' I’m going to be printing that thumbnail, framing it...” (01:53)
• Paperwork snafus are recounted, with everyone blaming each other.
• Doug admits he is seriously considering pursuing a Porsche 993 Turbo in Arena Red—but only if it literally falls into his lap.

2. The Pursuit of a Porsche 993 Turbo (03:03–05:53)

• Doug details his specific dream spec: Arena Red, stock US ride, mid-mileage, no mods.
  • Doug: “If a dealer out there is trying to unload an Arena 993 Turbo, ship it to us—I’ll pay for it. But it has to get here. I have to do nothing.” (04:32)
• Discussion about sky-high valuations ($200–$250k), rarity, and Doug’s self-awareness that he’s unlikely to actually chase one down.
  • Kenan: “I’ll bet if it came up, you still wouldn’t buy it. The market would value it too much.” (04:21)
  • Doug: “I am not willing to do the leg...I don’t want to do it. So I openly admit that.” (04:27)

3. Quirky Car Cornucopia: Fiat Multipla & Audi A2 (06:03–08:43)

• The office is filled with unusual imports (Fiat Multipla, A2).
• Doug explains why the Multipla is "exciting and weird," compared to the more conventional A2.
  • Doug: “A car that looks interesting, like the A2 and the A-class, isn’t enough...the Multipla is more than just looks interesting. It, like, is interesting and weird.” (07:15)
• The Multipla’s fishbowl driving dynamics, low visibility, and the anxiety of driving it unplated are discussed with much humor.
  • Nick: “Every time a cop goes behind you, you get this adrenaline rush...” (07:51)
  • Doug: “The problem with that car is...the windows are so big...if you start turning around looking, it’s clear that, like, you’re trying to hide something.” (08:13)

4. Automotive Industry News Roundup

Porsche’s EV Backtrack & Market Reaction (09:09–12:59)

• Porsche decides to slow its EV rollout, keep gasoline cars (911, Boxster, Cayman) into the 2030s.
  • Kenan: “Porsche’s stock fell on Monday by 7%. And also Volkswagen Group...also fell by 7%.” (09:34)
  • Doug (on the reasoning): “By retooling their strategy, it’s going to have an effect on earnings...they’re going to have to spend money they weren’t planning on spending.” (09:59)
• Discussion on ICE sports cars for enthusiasts and why Porsche’s pivot is a smart move.
  • Nick: “The last companies that should electrify are sports car makers.” (13:32)

Broader EV Market & Used Car Values (12:34–15:56)

• Talks about tax credits ending, EV adoption stalling, and the shift in consumer sentiment.
  • Doug: “The world seems to have shifted away a little bit from EVs in recent years. It’ll shift back one day.” (12:34)

Bentley & Rolls-Royce: Luxury EVs (17:56–20:17)

• Bentley’s new electric SUV is spotted in testing; Rolls-Royce Spectre selling better than expected.
  • Kenan: “EVs, particularly in the luxury space, make a ton of sense because they weigh a lot anyway...electric just gives that to you and it’s silent.” (18:17)
  • Doug: “I don’t think this is a terrible expensive car...people seem to be into them.” (19:25)

Aspark Owl: Supercar Vaporware (20:26–22:34)

• The team mocks the Aspark Owl electric supercar’s “reveal”:
  • Nick (sarcastically): “It’s got 1211 bajillion horsepower, 0 to 60 in negative 14 seconds.” (20:42)
  • Doug: “By God, I can’t wait to not see any of these. Just like I’ve not seen any of the coupes.” (21:06)

Nissan Sentra, McLaren Expansion, and Future Oddities (23:08–27:24)

• New Nissan Sentra press launch declined by Doug—“unless...it was happening at my neighbor’s house, I wouldn’t attend it.” (23:10)
• McLaren planning a model beyond supercars, possibly with input from Chinese EV maker Nio. The team speculates (shooting brake? SUV?).
  • Doug: “If McLaren did a manual shooting brake...I would still not be into it, but I would be kind of.” (24:58)

5. Listener Questions & Q&A Highlights (59:13–81:56)

What Car Screams ‘I Know Nothing About Cars’? (60:01–62:31)

• Kenan: “Usually if it’s new and flashy and someone says the model before the brand...you don’t know anything about it.”
• Doug: “Any brand new Maserati is a person who thinks they are a car enthusiast and, like, thinks other people will perceive them as such. But a real car enthusiast looks at them and is like, no.” (62:08)
• Also discussed: McLaren GT, Honda Prologue.

Holy Trinity of Car Podcasters/YouTubers (64:05–66:12)

• Kenan: “There’s a specific group of three...the Top Gear trio. Anytime three people are on camera...they are who they get compared to.” (64:24)
• Nick: “Rich Rebuilds...I think he’s the funniest. Or Alex from Legit Street Cars—he’s the most knowledgeable.” (65:51)

Cars They Grew Up Around (67:00–73:31)

• Nick humorously outs himself as having a very bougie, boat-filled childhood (“Do you count ice boats?”), while Doug and Kenan recount their upbringing among humble base trims and minivans.
  • Doug: “My entire life...our family car was a 1993 Isuzu Rodeo with a manual transmission, steel wheels, and that was our family car.” (69:58)
  • Kenan: “Ford Probe...Windstars...my dad had a Ford Taurus, then a Mercury Sable, and then Subarus.” (70:50)

Would You Daily Your Prized Possession? (74:42–76:48)

• Would you accept a pristine F40 for weekends if others daily-drove—and abused—your cherished car as a daily?
  • Kenan: “I think, but then I could really one up both of you and show up everywhere in an F40.” (75:59)
  • Doug: “People are going to lick the car. You get an F40 for five years.” (76:18)

Is the Market Cooling? (75:52–77:53)

• Doug debunks the myth that no-sales mean a cooling market: “No, the sale rate is the same...I don’t think the market is cooling.” (76:07)

Supercar Brands Going ‘Downmarket’ (77:54–80:48)

• Will Pagani, Koenigsegg, Bugatti follow Ferrari/Lambo to affordable models?
  • Doug: “I wouldn’t be entirely stunned if you saw a million dollar Koenigsegg...that was a lot more gettable for a lot of people.” (78:55)

6. Car Market Deep Dive & Collector Picks (47:21–59:13)

B5 Audi RS4 & Rising Imports (47:29–52:44)

• B5 RS4 Avants are now 25 years old—hitting US markets as legal imports. Much discussion about reliability, value, Cosworth-tuned engines.
  • Doug: “Truly one of the great driving experiences my entire life...I got in this car and it was like, it all came down.” (50:07)
• Values discussed; predictions that prices may cool as supply increases.

BMW’s Italian M3 (53:07–55:57)

• The BMW 320is (“Italian M3”) with the S14 M engine is now demanding serious money.
  • Kenan: “It’s more, if you know you know, among BMW set...if you show up in this, you’re legit.” (55:29)

Gen 3 Viper: Best Value Supercar? (56:00–59:10)

• Gen 3 Vipers highlighted as a performance bargain—$30–45k for V10 power and classic brute-force American style.
  • Nick: “I just look at the number and I look at the picture and I say bye.” (56:13)
  • Doug: “It is a lot of car for the money.” (57:37)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Doug: “If a dealer out there is trying to unload an Arena 993 Turbo, ship it to us—I’ll pay for it. But it has to get here and I have to do nothing.” (04:32)
• Kenan: “Porsche’s stock fell on Monday by 7%. Tough day to be Porsche.” (09:34)
• Nick: “Every time a cop goes behind you [in the Multipla], you get this adrenaline rush...” (07:51)
• Doug (about the Aspark Owl): “I can’t wait to not see any of these. Just like I’ve not seen any of the coupes.” (21:06)
• Kenan (on who screams novice enthusiast): “Usually if it’s new and flashy and someone says the model before the brand, you don’t know anything about it.” (60:25)
• Nick (on the Viper): “30s for a car that looks like that with a V10 with 500 horsepower—I really don’t need to say much else.” (56:13)
• Doug (on car upbringing): “My entire life...our family car was a 1993 Isuzu Rodeo...our car. That was it.” (69:58)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Audi A2 “purchase”/993 Turbo itch: 01:09–05:53
• Fiat Multipla & A2: weird car driving: 06:03–08:43
• Porsche doubles down on ICE: 09:09–12:59
• EV market trends & Porsche stock: 12:34–15:56
• Bentley/daimler luxury EVs: 17:56–20:17
• Aspark Owl roast: 20:26–22:34
• McLaren/Chinese EV rumor/Shooting brake wishes: 23:08–27:24
• Personal car horror stories (Bentley, Multipla, Range Rover): 33:32–41:49
• Classic market (RS4, Italian M3, E30): 47:21–55:57
• Gen 3 Viper values: 56:00–59:10
• Q&A (car knowledge, who replaces the trio, childhood cars): 59:13–73:31

Tone & Atmosphere

• Conversational, bantering, and frequently tongue-in-cheek
• Doug is self-deprecating and candid about his “buying” habits and audience misconceptions
• The trio keeps industry talk approachable, mixing serious insights with irreverent humor and vivid personal stories

In Summary

This episode exemplifies why fans love THIS CAR POD: geeky car talk without the ego, plenty of self-roasting, and honest, sometimes nostalgic insight into both obscure and headline-grabbing cars, from the practicality of imported “fishbowl” Fiats to the unattainability of rare Porsche turbos. The automotive market may not be cooling just yet, but Doug’s enthusiasm for hunting the “right” car certainly hasn’t, even if it takes a bit of creative storytelling (and some title shuffling) to get there!