Saying Goodbye to Filippo. THIS CAR POD! EP129
Doug DeMuro · 2026-09-18
💡 Quick Take
1. Do not buy the Porsche 993 Twin Turbo at this price range if you expect a modern track experience, as the speaker notes buyers often mistakenly expect supercar-level performance rather than a comfortable cruiser.
2. Avoid keeping too many project or broken cars at once, as the speaker admits having multiple non-functional vehicles leaves you with nothing reliable to drive.
3. Don't buy the McLaren Artura new, as a troubled launch and quality rumors severely hurt buyer confidence and residual values.
4. Buy the Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid if you want class-leading EV range, but be prepared for steep early depreciation typical of luxury tech.
5. Wait to buy used Tesla Model 3s and Plaids as their secondary market prices have plummeted dramatically, making them a cheap alternative if you want one.
6. Don't buy a Land Rover and Stellantis joint-venture pickup truck without expecting reliability and development nightmares.
7. Buy the C7 Corvette ZR1 manual if you want one of the last great front-engine supercars, though explosive appreciation past current highs is not guaranteed.
📊 Detailed Explanation
The speaker discusses parting ways with his Arena Red Porsche 993 Twin Turbo after one year of ownership and 3,200 miles driven. He warns prospective buyers that the 993 Turbo is frequently misunderstood; people mistake it for a modern track-focused GT3 rather than what it actually is—a comfortable, high-speed grand tourer with an exceptional manual shifter and bottom-hinged pedals. Despite sinking substantial money into service and loving the car's aesthetic, he sold it to pivot into a Toyota Supra Mk V so he could more easily transport his growing kids in a two-door sports car that fits daily driving duties better.
The conversation turns heavily toward garage management and vehicle fleet rationalization. The speaker and his co-hosts joke about their chaotic car collections, noting the perils of lifestyle creep and owning multiple broken or project vehicles—ranging from non-functional manual shifters to cars waiting on parts. The speaker reflects on how buying the right spec and color (like his press-colored 993) versus bargain-hunting can heavily dictate your ownership experience, though he cautions that soaring collector pricing on iconic manual specifications often prices out casual enthusiasts.
Several upcoming and struggling exotic models are evaluated, notably the McLaren Artura. The speakers label its market introduction an unmitigated disaster due to early production delays, stop-sells, and quality control rumors that thoroughly depressed buyer confidence. With used 720S models offering better performance and presence for similar money, the Artura sits awkwardly in the middle. However, they note that a more powerful V6 twin-turbo hybrid replacement code-named P34 is on the way, potentially offering a 200-horsepower bump to fix previous shortcomings.
Volvo's plug-in hybrid lineup receives high praise regarding powertrain updates. The speakers highlight that the updated XC90 and XC60 plug-ins now boast nearly double their previous EV range—jumping into the low-seventy-mile range on pure electricity. They argue this makes daily commuting practical solely on battery power, though they acknowledge the heavy initial depreciation hit that luxury hybrid buyers traditionally absorb compared to leasing.
Tesla's used market values and upcoming vaporware are heavily criticized. The hosts marvel at how cheap used Model S Plaids and early Model 3s have become on auction sites, joking that they serve as the ultimate cheap-flex vehicles for younger buyers despite notorious driver reputations. Meanwhile, they dismiss Tesla's decade-long delays on the second-generation Roadster as vaporware, noting that Tesla already outperformed its 0-60 metrics with the Model S Plaid long ago.
Looking at truck partnerships and domestic oddities, the speakers mock rumors of an upcoming Land Rover and Stellantis joint-venture Defender pickup truck, predicting absolute mechanical disaster from combining two notoriously troubled corporate entities. They contrast this with historic design achievements by Tom Gale, who designed iconic trucks like the Dodge Dakota alongside the Lamborghini Diablo, before closing with market analysis on spiking values for clean manual sports sedans like the Audi RS4 B7 and Aston Martin DB9 manuals.
🎯 Automotive Expert Opinion
As an automotive expert, the discussions in this podcast highlight the fascinating divide between emotional enthusiast ownership and harsh market realities. The speaker's candid admission about losing six-figure sums on mis-specced collector cars underscores a vital lesson: buying the correct, factory-designated launch color and highly desired specification is often a superior financial store of value than trying to save money on a compromised trim, even if the upfront capital requirement is staggering.
The critique of modern exotic and startup vehicles—ranging from McLaren's stumbling Artura rollout to Tesla's perpetual Roadster delays—reinforces foundational automotive truths. Brand pedigree, engineering execution, and early consumer confidence cannot be faked with flashy marketing or unfulfilled performance metrics. When manufacturers stumble out of the gate with quality control issues, secondary market values crater instantly, punishing early adopters severely.
On the other hand, the market resilience of analog driver's cars—such as manual-transmission Aston Martin DB9s, B7 Audi RS4s, and low-slung front-engine Corvettes—proves that enthusiasts are actively hoarding the last generation of pure, mechanical internal-combustion machines. As automakers push aggressively toward electrification and software-defined mobility, these analog touchpoints are enjoying a well-deserved renaissance driven by nostalgia and genuine mechanical engagement.
Ultimately, prospective buyers should heed the underlying wisdom of the hosts' chaotic garage experiments: maintaining a manageable fleet of reliable, well-sorted vehicles yields far more driving satisfaction than hoarding broken projects or stretching finances for status symbols. Whether choosing a practical family hauler or a weekend toy, understanding the true cost of ownership—depreciation, maintenance, and usability—remains the ultimate key to automotive happiness.
Kanal: Doug DeMuro