The Tesla Roadster and Elon Musk. THIS CAR POD! EP134
Doug DeMuro · 2026-10-23
💡 Quick Take
1. Don't place a deposit on the Tesla Roadster expecting cold-gas thrusters or flying capability.
2. Avoid buying the Mercedes-AMG GT SUV at launch; wait for steep depreciation and heavy lease incentives.
3. Buy a second-generation Volkswagen Touareg gas model around $7,000 for budget luxury, but skip the diesel.
4. Don't buy an $8,000 first-generation Porsche Cayenne because inevitable repair bills will rapidly ruin you.
5. Buy a manual Ferrari 550 Maranello now before rising market values push every example over $250,000.
📊 Detailed Explanation
Tesla showed off a wild Roadster launch with thrusters and upside-down stunts. Doug and Zack Klapman admit the spectacle was brilliant marketing. However, Doug warns buyers against giving Tesla deposit money. The fine print does not guarantee the car will ever exist. Zack points out that almost every high-dollar electric supercar has failed on the market. Rimac struggles to shift Neveras, the Pininfarina Battista languishes, and used BMW i8s sit at $28,000. Doug expects a production car by 2028. It will lack jet thrusters and will likely serve only as a small-batch tech toy for rich loyalists.
Porsche revealed the Mission S concept on the exact same day. Doug expects this mid-engine hybrid will cost between $600,000 and $800,000. Zack feels annoyed that Porsche keeps chasing ultra-wealthy buyers while pricing base 911s at $150,000. Doug suspects Porsche hit a ceiling with high-end 911 specials like the GT3 RS and S/T. Buyers want flashy status symbols to replace hypercars like the Revuelto or SF90. Both hosts wish Porsche would build a naturally aspirated manual version instead of an automatic hybrid, but regulations make that dream nearly impossible.
Mercedes revealed its upcoming AMG GT SUV electric crossover with up to 1,053 horsepower. Zack hates the styling and compares the front clip to upside-down Maserati headlights from 2008. He would rather buy a Porsche Macan. Doug laughs that buyers will wait a year for zero percent financing and massive discounts. They also covered Mercedes charging customers extra to pipe V8 engine noises through the stereo instead of base V6 sounds. Zack likes the nostalgia cosplay, while Doug jokes that aftermarket tuners will quickly sell downloadable sound files through the diagnostic port.
Doug tries desperately to convince Zack to buy a second-generation Volkswagen Touareg as a daily driver. Clean examples trade regularly on auction sites for only $7,000. Doug explains that the disastrous reputation of the fragile first-generation Touareg unfairly deflated values for the far better second-generation model. Zack remains unconvinced. High-mileage diesel Touaregs suffer from ruinously expensive fuel injectors, and door weather seals trap water. Zack currently drives a high-mileage E46 BMW M3 and refuses to trade one fussy German electrical system for another.
Kenon shared his recent experience driving a gated manual Ferrari 550 Maranello. He decided it is the ultimate sports car. The car stays subtle, avoids loud badges, and lets the naturally aspirated V12 engine shine. Zack and Doug agree, though values are rising fast. Decent driver-quality cars jumped from $80,000 up to $150,000, while prime US-spec examples easily bring $240,000. Doug thinks $250,000 is steep, but Kenon argues imported European models still offer the last reasonable entry point into front-engine manual Ferraris.
The hosts closed by answering listener questions about reliable beaters and classic events. Doug recently sold his personal 2005 Ford GT at Willow Springs for $540,000. Both Doug and Zack praise it as the greatest American performance car ever built due to its easy clutch and light steering. When asked about ideal daily drivers, both hosts recommend the 100-series Toyota Land Cruiser with the bulletproof 4.7-liter V8. Doug tells buyers to inspect the frame thoroughly and avoid salt-belt cars with structural rust.
🎯 Automotive Expert Opinion
Doug and Zack correctly see through the theater of the Tesla Roadster reveal. Flashy stunts with rocket thrusters create viral internet impressions, but they do not solve fundamental manufacturing and business hurdles. Electric supercars lack the visceral sound and emotional drama that keep high-end buyers engaged. As Rimac and Lotus have learned, multi-million-dollar EV halo cars sit unsold on showroom floors. Putting non-refundable cash down on unproven delivery dates remains a poor financial gamble.
Porsche's strategy with the Mission S shows a clear retreat from entry-level enthusiast cars. Moving upmarket to battle Ferrari and Lamborghini with $700,000 hybrid flagships generates fat profit margins. Yet it risks alienating the passionate grassroots base that built the brand. An automatic hybrid powertrain might deliver blistering track numbers, but real collectors still pay massive premiums for pure analog manuals. Porsche risks creating another depreciating tech showcase like the SF90 if it ignores that purist core.
Doug's recommendation of the second-generation Volkswagen Touareg is a fun bargain hunter argument, but Zack's skepticism is the wiser move. A $7,000 luxury SUV sounds great until a complex German air suspension system or wiring module fails. Even if the drivetrain survives, failing door drainage seals and aging German wiring make it a risky choice for someone wanting stress-free commuting. Budget luxury cars are only cheap on the day you buy them.
If you want to spend smart enthusiast money today, Kenon's focus on the Ferrari 550 Maranello and the praise for the 100-series Land Cruiser are spot on. Analog manual V12 Ferraris represent a closed chapter in automotive history, making clean examples rock-solid holds. For daily duties, skip the depreciated European SUVs and hunt down an unmolested Land Cruiser from a warm, dry climate. It offers legendary build quality without the electrical heartbreak.
Kanal: Doug DeMuro