S3 MAG recently featured Jzilla's new team cars - a MK7 GTI and a VW Beetle. So James Marcellana & I got no to discuss that, and ended up getting into 'the emotion' behind cars/driving, and how that's a driving force (no pun intended) in what draws us to certain cars. Connection > perfection.

So in this podcast, we talk with Chris from E3 Spark Plugs. Chris is a huge Toyota fan, so we discuss the current 'energy' in the Toyota lineup (GR & TRD models), plus their courage to speak-out against all the recent misinformation surrounding the EV push. We also discuss Chris's role in E3 Spark Plugs.... and spark plug 'myths & truths' in general.

Restriction is dumb… just do better. You wouldn’t go to the North Pole without a jacket right? So why do some of y’all go out & drive with no skills I swear & barely a pulse? And then try to make laws that slow everybody else down?

Today we talk to Kevin Ornelas about how his Honda got so stinkin’ fast.

We discuss culture trends of building a car for social media vs. building a car to truly drive and enjoy.

In this episode, we discuss what car we would buy for $15k! What would you do?

Welcome our buddy Hunter Rollins while we play "What do we get?" In this episode we'll look at the best cars (in our opinion) that can be had for $10k. What do you think is the best car you can buy for $10 grand?

Today we welcome our friend Shocker Joe to discuss what car do we get for $5k?

Now that the decision has been made to axe the sport compact segment of Ford's US offerings... what should we do with 'Ford Attack'?

Today we discuss the 'Race to the Bottom' that is plaguing the sport compact / tuner aftermarket industry and culture.

We're in the flaccid age of the crossover right now. What can we do to turn it around?? Is there hope for the future of sports cars?

The boy's sit down with long time friend Gregg Bucell to talk cars, GridLife, KoruWorks, and reminisce on good times.

The guys discuss cars that are really being over looked in today's car society.

Maybe you’ve heard the phrase ‘perfectly imperfect’… but that’s been swimming in my head a lot lately. Try this: Try pulling little moments out of your life, and take the time to realize how perfect ‘imperfect’ can actually be. And also… how boring, disconnected, sanitized, & short-sizzling ‘perfection’ can be honestly. Perfection isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be, so don’t always hold ‘perfection’ in such high regard. Is it INTERESTING… that’s the real question? Does it DRAW YOU IN? Is it MEMORABLE? From modern jet skis to modern cars & modern mountain bikes (and a thousand other things), our consumer-culture thrives on selling you the next bigger/better thing. But a lot of times it’s stealing really valuable moments (and intangibles) from our lives… and robbing us of connection, engagement, and fulfillment. Enjoy the cast! It might start off a little slow but we get there lol.

Wooley and Mike share their initial thoughts the day of Ford Motor Co. announcing it is removal of 95% of the car's in its lineup, including S3's favorite ST line.

Well we're trying the 'podcast' thing out a lil bit, so we figured we'd start by telling the story of S3 Magazine from the beginning... from 2006-on.

Ford CEO, Jim Farley, is saying that Americans need to adopt a more positive mindset for smaller cars. He's saying this with EVs in mind of course... as electric vehicles are more viable in smaller packages. But a lot of car enthusiasts find his statement super-ironic & slightly-irritating, since it was FORD who killed all their small fun cars (minus the Mustang) just a few short years ago...

If you DON'T like electric vehicles, you should drive the Genesis GV60. Because here’s the thing: I don’t like EVs either. At least I was pretty convinced I didn’t. But the driving experience of the Genesis GV60 is good enough to make me realize, it’s actually not 'the concept' of an electric vehicle that I don’t like. Rather, it’s 'what they’ve come to represent' over the last few years. And as astute & honest car enthusiasts, we have to be able to separate 'the car' from its stigma and/or its politics. Politics & preconceived notions aside… The Genesis GV60 is a great option, IF it fits your lifestyle requirements. Maybe it does; maybe it doesn’t; maybe it's best YOU get to decide & not the government. But also maybe you’re digging your heels in to make a point… and maybe cheating yourself out of something cool in the process. Maybe not lol. I can’t speak to the GV60’s value, resale value, or future obsolescence… you also gotta slide that scale on your own. But I can say, with the right approach, the Genesis GV60 could make a great addition to a lot of car lovers’ garages. Not as a replacement to their beloved sports cars and/or 4x4s of yesteryear… but as an addition to them. I’ll be honest, the Genesis GV60 has opened my eyes to some misapplied hate I had for electric vehicles. That doesn’t make all the valid EV criticisms all-the-sudden untrue. But it DOES make some of them perhaps unfair. If you’re in the market, not just for an EV, but for a new car (daily) in general. Check all your preconceived notions at the door of a Genesis dealership, and experience what the GV60 has to offer with no strings attached. Whether or not it ends up being your cup of tea, it’s something worth experiencing.

Is was another epic Riverside Meet in Chattanooga. Car enthusiasts come from all over the country for this event. The event is very thoughtfully organized, and very well executed. But this year after the event, the COPS made their presence felt. Was it deserved?

We have guest, Nick Caloroso on the podcast. Nick works in the aftermarket industry, volunteers with SEMA, and has a very soulful/astute way of looking at cars. Yet - Nick manages to keep optimistic hopes for the automotive future. So we dive into that & discuss current automotive trends/designs, EVs & their impact, glory cars of yesteryear, and SEMA's role in protecting the future of car culture. (As in... are they up to the task?)

In episode 103 of the S3 MAGAZINE podcast, we talk about the magic of golden era Hondas. And when we say 'golden era'... we're referring to roughly the late 80s, through the 90s. At that time, Honda packed a ton of punch. They were innovating spirited-driving assets like VTEC! And they were bringing it to the people affordably! It all helped to create a new generation of hot-rodder & driving enthusiast. The podcast was spawned off a feature we did on Brand Elste's purple EK Civic coupe with a Domani front end, and a clean B16 bay. It had us feeling very nostalgic. Check out that feature here: https://s3mag.com/b16-comeback-the-go... And/or be sure to get the FREE S3 MAGAZINE app for related content!

Topic of discussion for this podcast: The 2023 SEMA Show. We discuss positives, negatives, previous years, and a little bit of 'the state of the industry'. How significant manufactures have fallen out of the show. How The SEMA Show is growing & trying to adapt post-covid. Sema Fest (which is SEMA's new music festival). As well as SEMA's efforts to protect the automotive aftermarket politically. For similar, regular content... •please get the FREE S3 MAGAZINE APP• or follow us on the other socials.

Ben Battles came on the podcast to discuss... •The state of Georgia cracking down on JDM cars. Specifically, kei cars & trucks. And gov't overreaching to the point of revoking current titles & registrations (IE: stripping tags & titles on already registered vehicles). •Slammedenuff Gatlinburg. One of the most anticipated (stance) events of the year had some controversial judging.

Me & Frankie Corndoggs had lunch last week. Ironically... hotdogs. Well, I had hotdogs & he had a salad. Anyway Frankie got all worked-up about how he missed having a shitbox rowdy hatchback. The kind that was FUN-pegged the second you pulled out of the driveway. They kind that doesn't try to fit in, or care WTF anybody else thinks. Or base its value in specs & numbers. Just pure driving fun/thrill. A jet ski on pavement. Call it a midlife crisis, or call it midlife clarity & wisdom... which is it?

We FINALLY get with James from Jzilla Track Days. Topics of discussion: 1) Breaking down those 'walls of intimidation' that come with signing-up for your first track day. Jzilla 'gets it'. And they've created a welcoming & affordable atmosphere where drivers can progress and have fun (at any level). 2) The car industry & car culture in general. Ya know? What's it gonna take for the modern auto industry to start prioritizing 'sensations & soul & engagement' in new cars again. Or - has the modern car industry applianced & priced itself to the point of no return? •Get the free S3 Magazine app• // s3mag.com

Legacy car manufactures have been in an all-out race to go EV, but have they all been racing for just 10% of the market? Have EVs hit a ceiling? This EV transition isn’t naturally consumer-driven. Instead, it’s largely government-forced. And therein lies the problem. You are forcing/squeezing people to buy something that many of them don’t want… at a price they can’t easily afford. For a product that in many ways, is less convenient & more restricted. It’s not a super-attractive option for most. But having said that… IT SEEMS ABOUT 10% OF THE U.S. POPULATION ARE WILLING ‘EARLY EV ADOPTERS’. That means – about 10% of the people like the tech, they think it’s cool stuff, and they don’t mind paying more to be on the frontend of it. They’re also more patient with EV charging infrastructure, recalls, ownership hiccups, obsolescence, etc. And that’s all totally fine & good. BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A CEILING AT ABOUT 10%… And it’s a ceiling that’s apparently caught legacy car manufacturers by surprise. They’re having a tough time breaking through the 10% barrier… as evidenced by EVs stacking up at dealerships. See – for the pasts few years, car makers have been racing to build EVs. And racing & racing & racing. Talking-up the millions of EVs they’re gonna be making within a couple years… perhaps never looking up to read the room. All we heard as marketing victims, was how much “demand’ there was. Soooo much demand for EVs… because a gaggle of people put an hundred-dollar refundable deposit on an EV truck a few years ago. Electric vehicles have been the biggest hype-train to happen to automobiles… since automobiles. EVs have had more than their fair share of growing pains, recalls, delays, broken promises, deceptions, and inventory shortages. And now that production is finally stabilizing & EVs are finally starting to come through the pipeline… they’re stacking-up unsold at dealerships. It illustrates that maybe… THE EARLY ADOPTERS HAVE ADOPTED… And the rest of the people… just don’t want it. And they won’t… until all the uncertainties have been ironed out. The masses are not necessarily resistant to EVs, they’re just not gonna be on board until it makes sense. For them, they’re reasonably skeptical. And yes, EVs have become blatantly politically manipulated under a false illusion of ‘sustainability’… so that has caused some added resistance & backlash. PEOPLE WANT TO SEE HOW THIS FAD SHAKES OUT… Yeah we’ve all heard that “EVs are the future.” They’ve said that many, many times. But despite the repetitive sales pitch, the masses need to see significant improvements in infrastructure, as well as vehicle cost reductions & improvements in overall capability. To break past the 10% ceiling, EVs have to evolve to a point where they’re cost effective, easy & quick to charge, non-restrictive, and safe. It needs to make sense. And it needs to not be forced. Put it this way: If EVs were truly a better option, wouldn’t people flock to buy them even without government incentives or mandates? I’m not saying it won’t get there… but it’s not there yet. And it’s not yet suited for the person who’s not willing to adjust their lifestyle. AS ILLUSTRATED BY OUR FORD ARTICLE LAST WEEK… Perhaps manufactures are starting to come out of their “we’re not gonna listen to our customers” coma & realize that it doesn’t necessarily have to be “full-scale” anything. We don’t all live the same lifestyle, or live in the same environments, or have the same requirements in a vehicle. And if you really want what’s best for the planet, if that’s your main issue behind all this, then I’d suggest removing some politicians first… as that’s where your real threat is.

"Efficiency" has consumed the automotive industry. Perhaps "brainwashed" is a better word. And while efficiency an important measurable & should certainly be the driving-force of SOME models... it doesn't have to be the primary regulating factor in ALL models. So while we all want an efficient vehicle... what's it costing us? And why is there little-to-no tolerance for some common-sense compromise & simplification??

Now that supply chains are getting back to normal, EVs are starting to stack-up at dealership lots. That's not a great look... considering how much they told us demand & orders for these EVs was off-the-charts. Pay attention to 'the narrative' vs 'the reality' here. And get ready for some backpedaling, incentives, (dare I say fuel price manipulation), and hold-pattens during election years. •Get the FREE S3 MAGAZINE app• ...& keep tabs on all this crazy sh¡t

The Nissan Z is a genuinely exciting new sports car, but that doesn’t matter if the car is not accessible. Nissan Z sales are alarmingly low. The Z has been out for a year now, and total US sales in the first quarter of 2023 were just 466. The Z is not supposed to be an ultra-exclusive sports car. It’s supposed to be a fun & viable alternative to that. Nissan is, of course, still blaming Corona & chip/parts shortages. But Nissan also sighted a couple of other reasons. Coming as no shock to me at this point, they have to do with 1) Automation. And 2) Sustainability. THE PLANT THAT MAKES THE NISSAN Z… Is located in Tochigi, Japan. And at that plant, Nissan has implemented some new automated manufacturing techniques with less human interference. But more on that in a minute. Because additionally… IN ATTEMPTS TO KISS THE WORLD’S ENLIGHTENED A$$… Nissan has implemented a more sustainable paint process on the Nissan Z. The new process uses a lower temperature to cure the paint, in theory saving precious energy (all while they transition to energy-sucking EVs). The paint process also uses more environmentally-friendly chemicals in the paint itself. Which is a nice touch… IF the paint doesn’t come out looking like sh¡t. SO CIRCLING BACK TO THE AUTOMATION… The non-human machines on the assembly & quality-control lines can read paint to down to a third of a millimeter. Impressive. But since the paint is not great, the machines keep rejecting it. IT SEEMS THAT NISSAN HAS IMPLEMENTED PRODUCTION METHODS… That are in fact 'restricting production'. And that has yielded very low inventory on new Nissan Zs. Therefore… the prices on new Zs are gouged. Additionally, kinks in production no doubt wastes energy… so arguably on that front, the world is no better off. It’s the literal opposite of sustainable. The only measurable difference is – you don’t have a Z yet. And if you do… you probably spent $20,000-$30,000 more than its worth. While probably not getting the color you wanted. But have faith, because you’ll likely be repainting it in 7 years when the clear coat lifts from the roof, spoiler, and hood. Because having to paint it twice saves energy & the environment for sure. WE’RE BEING MISLED, MISMANAGED, & MISGOVERNED… And completely tangled in a web of sustainability delusions. The result is: A higher price on a lesser product with more delays (let that sink in). And they’re urging you to accept this nonsense for the sake of “the environment”?! At a point, that narrative starts to get exhausting & hypocritical. Of course it goes without saying, we all want clean air for our future. But we need the world economy to be able to function within those margins. And we need common sense to step in. Stop moving the damn goalposts around based on virtue signaling. •Get the FREE S3 MAGAZINE APP... with no dealer markups• ;)

I saw a meme that got me a little triggered. I mean, while I can certainly appreciate some of the truth to it... I also think "you can't have it both ways". Fact - your parents and grandparents were not driving around in cars that practically drove themselves - with infotainment screens & bluetooth & navigation & backup cameras & auto-everything with auto/dual climate & remote start & turbochargers & traction control & 400+hp with 10-speeds & 12-way electronically adjustable seats that warm your buns, etc. Also - the government largely stayed out of their damn way & didn't over-regulate every industry... running up the cost & unnecessarily overcomplicating products. Our elders lived a simpler, more affordable life. Today - we have the option to complicate ours. We're practically funneled into it. And often times, we jump at that option... so long as we think we can manage the monthly payments. •Get the FREE S3 MAGAZINE APP•

Here’s our 2-cents on the whole Chelsea Denofa vs Stuke drama from Formula D New Jersey. Personally – I LOVE the fact that Chelsea went off. And I DON’T think he owes anyone an apology… if he doesn’t mean it. Now let me be clear: I don’t have a dog in this fight, I wasn’t in the driver’s seat, and I’m not taking sides. But if you’re not up on the situation, it basically went down like this. https://www.tiktok.com/@builttoboost/... Chelsea Denofa had a missing hood pin, causing the front/right corner of his hood to flop around a little bit on his run with Stuke. The Stuke team protested Chelsea’s win, saying that the flopping hood was a distraction. Again – not taking sides, but also not sure how you can protest that a flopping hood was a distraction when your whole damn bumper flew off. FD called a redo of the run in protest, where Chelsea won & Stuke hit the wall. Chelsea ended up confronting the Stuke team in the pits, calling them pussies amongst other things. Here, see for yourself… NOW I KNOW THE PROPER THING TO SAY IS… Chelsea Denofa should have taken the high road & addressed the situation behind closed doors. That he drives for one of the top teams in Formula D… and represents top-tier companies like Ford, RTR, Pennzoil, Nitto, Monster, etc. Monday morning quarterbacks will add – Denofa’s behavior did not represent his sponsors or the sport favorably. I SAY… THE HELL IT DIDN’T! That was the realest, most authentic thing I’ve seen in motorsports in quite some time. I’m not saying that Formula D should be WWE wrestling (or whatever the hell it’s called where they throw the chairs). But yeah – I don’t want the Candy Land version of motorsports either. This is a high-adrenaline, fast, intense sport… with litter margin for error. Don’t censor that. MOTORSPORTS IN GENERAL HAS BEEN LOSING ENERGY OVER THE DECADES. WHY? Partly because: Drivers have all become corporate faces. Race car drivers used to pop-off at the mouth on occasion. They were competitive, arrogant, passionate, & hard to wrangle… with just enough charm to pull it off. But then corporations got involved and wanted to brand them. And in doing so, race car drivers have become soft-d!ck spokespeople. Think of old NASCAR versus modern NASCAR. Sure – there’s a time to keep your cool. And for Chelsea Denofa, this wasn’t one of those times. I’m fine with that lol. Let ’em settle it at the next round.

Rivian announced the switch to Tesla's NACS charging connectors. So now Rivian, along with Ford & GM, are about to start using Tesla superchargers. I think we can pretty much call the game for Tesla's NACS at this point, as they are truly becoming 'the standard'. Toyota is continuing to push hard for their GR line in 2024. They're bringing a TRUENO Edition GR86, the GR Corolla is coming out in vibrant Blue Flame, and Toyota's bringing us a limited 45th Anniversary Edition of the GR Supra. Last but not least, a diesel truck rolls coal on a Tesla driver, and of course he got it on video & went to social media to cry about it. Soooo we discuss.

We discuss the week's automotive news. •Akio Toyoda stays on board •Land Cruiser returns to USA •GM will switch to Tesla's NACS charging connectors •If the future is in fact EV, we need to start thinking SMALL All of these articles are on our site (s3mag.com), as well as some killer cars features this week. Please check that out! And you can also get the S3 Magazine APP for free, available for Apple & Android devices!

Influential ultra-progressive investors of Toyota are now calling to remove Akio Toyoda from the board entirely at Toyota’s June 14 shareholder meeting. Akio stepped down as CEO on April 1st of this year (replaced by Koji Sato from Lexus), but Akio still remained on the board. AKIO TOYODA IS VIRTUALLY THE ONLY AUTOMOTIVE LEADER… With the courage to express his concerns about diving head-first into full-scale EV adoption. And whether or not you personally agree with him… really isn’t the point. The point is: we deserve to hear the experts. Akio is presenting facts. But the people who pull the strings don’t care about facts. In fact… they’re silencing them. AKIO TOYOTA HAS A LIFETIME OF COLLECTED KNOWLEDGE & WISDOM ABOUT THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY & MANUFACTURING CARS. He was born into the Toyota family, and he has led Toyota first-hand. I would bet – the investors now calling for his resignation have no idea (and absolutely don’t care) what a 4AGE, AW11, or AE86 is. The point is: They don’t know the brand, and they are not investing into the best future for Toyota. They’re investing into the best future that backs their other investments. For illustration – if I were one of these investors, & I happened to ALSO be even more heavily invested in cobalt & lithium mining… it would be in my best interest to silence anyone who was not 100% promoting the EV agenda. The wealth & influence is almost unfathomable. And if Akio and/or Toyota is a casualty… so be it. These investors are using their power to silence Akio Toyoda… in order to continue stacking the deck in their favor. And to keep all the useful idiots (like you & me) misinformed & compliant. IT’S BEEN SAID MANY TIMES, AND IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING: We need to be listening to the smartest people in the room when it comes to a strategy for EV adoption. Akio Toyoda has earned the platform to speak… and it would behoove everyone to listen. Why are other automotive leaders not speaking? As a society, we should not put all of our eggs in one basket & silence anyone who points out a flaw in the basket. We’re past that point, it’s not necessary, and the automotive industry has options. Who decided EVs are the best & only way forward… and everything else gets shelved without consideration? TOYOTA IS THE COMPANY THAT PIONEERED HYBRID VEHICLES, REMEMBER? BEFORE IT WAS “COOL”. Toyota has put more than 23 million hybrids, plug-ins, and full EVs on the road. More than every other company combined. Most of those were under the leadership of Akio Toyoda. So this call for resignation is NOT about Toyota’s failure to be progressive & innovative & sustainable & green. No – this is about powerful people silencing a voice of wisdom that is questioning the agenda. It exemplifies everything that is wrong with publicly traded companies. And it’s made the automotive industry incredibly vulnerable to manipulation. •Get the free S3 Magazine app•

Wooley drives a Genesis EV press car for a week & it changes his opinions/perspectives a little bit?!! Also - we share some data on 'EV battery failures' now that early EVs like the Nissan Leaf & Tesla Model S pass their 10th birthday. We also briefly hit on the righteous new 2024 Toyota Tacoma.... and talk about another questionable engine failure in a new Toyota GR86.... as well as its denied warranty claim. Is it time that the Toyota GR86 gets a Toyota engine?

Jeepin' Bubba from Black Bear Off-Road (and also a contributor w/ S3) talks about their first SEMA build... and what it took to get a vehicle to The SEMA Show. You can also check out the feature & photos of this Jeep at S3 Mag.

The Rimac Nevera (an EV hypercar) breaks 23 dang speed/performance records in a single day. Very impressive... but also uninspiring. As my old-school buddy put it "If you're breaking records, it need to be dangerous." Meanwhile Rimac's damn test driver was eating an ice cream cone. ALSO - Toyota drops more knowledge & foresight to the automotive industry. Please check out s3mag.com for automotive news, culture, features, etc. And/Or •Get the free S3 MAGAZINE app• It's free, it's opinionated, and it's good for your health.

Pricing for the new Acura Integra Type S ('DE5' ITS) came out at $51,995. And though we're not surprised... that does hurt our feelings a little bit. Plus - the dealership markups are already in full effect... •Download the free S3 MAGAZINE app• ...and stay up-to-date on car culture news.

Yeah yeah - Riverside is 'just another car show', so what's all the fuss about??? Well... we talk about that. The guest is Ben Battles, and you'll be able to see his photos/coverage on s3mag.com tonight (we'll link you here when it drops).

The WRC (World Rally Championship) is set to make a potential return to the US as soon as 2024. This would mark the 1st time the WRC has been involved in the US in 35 years. And Rally USA’s recent demonstration event in Chattanooga was aimed squarely at the WRC to show them – WE WANT THIS! See the full article on S3 Magazine here: https://s3mag.com/rally-usa-brings-ra... •And please check out S3 Magazine's FREE app•

Mike was ranting to me that "the daily COVID excuses" are wearing real thin on him. And as he said this, I was literally having a similar thought that: All these dealer markups & 'shortages' have just absolutely WRECKED the automotive industry for buyers. Especially enthusiast buyers. Me personally - I'd much rather go buy a used car that's fair & convenient to purchase..... than get bent-over on one of these new cars with dealer markups. It's past time to stop making COVID excuses... stop being off-putting... and START putting the customer first again. •Check out our FREE app• (S3 MAGAZINE)

We've begun to see a trend in the data: Where our car enthusiast friends who bought Teslas out of curiosity for ownership experience a few years ago... are getting left a little unfulfilled in the long run, once the honeymoon phase is over. •check out our feee app• for Apple & Android. Called: S3 MAGAZINE

Man do I need a C5 Corvette ! ? That's both a question AND a declaration lol. Problem is, I've already got way too many cars (a normal person would say)... I don't need it. But when it comes to cars, I'm kinda like Sarah McLachlan is with dogs/cats, and I wanna give them ALL homes... in & around my yard lol. Logic has no place here... yet... there are actually some pretty compelling arguments for why I should get a C5. And why you should too. •CHECK OUT OUR FREE APP• (S3 MAGAZINE) ! IT'S FULL OF AWESOME CAR-CULTURE STUFF !

We did a throwback on S3 (•check out our free app• S3 MAGAZINE), to a feature we ran on cover 12 years ago. It stirred-up a bunch of nostalgia for the car scene circa 2011, so we decided to talk about how we picked those feature/cover cars back in the day... and 'what it takes' to get your car featured in general.

Motor Trend Group/Discovery shut down the iconic 'Four Wheeler' mag... and Jeepin Bubba wanted to talk/vent about that 'cause it punched him right in the gut. The roles were reversed a lil bit for this podcast... meaning that Mike & I didn't know exactly what we were gonna be talking about. So hell, it quickly flowed into a conversation about 'media in general' these days.... and whether or not 'the current state of it' is good for the health and/or strength of the automotive culture. •Jeepin Bubba runs an off-road/overland shop in Buford, GA called Black Bear Off-Road. He's also a contributor to S3 Magazine, and does his own Youtube videos as well. Bubba organizes a lot of trail rides here in the N. GA area (for any experience level). He's all about spreading the outdoor love, and getting people from all walks of life to experience the off-road side of car culture. Feel free to hit him up at info@blackbearoff-road for any questions, advice, mod-paths, etc. And... it doesn't just have to be a Jeep either lol. Bring your Yotas, Broncos, Samurais, Subarus, whatever! And shoot if you've read this far, •PLEASE check out or free app•. Available for Apple or Android under the name S3 MAGAZINE.

2 Views Jan 25 2023 Tesla has aggressively dropped prices since the first of the year. We talk about the ripple effects it will have on the auto industry. •CHECK OUT OUR FREE APP• (S3 MAGAZINE)

Here’s a quick breakdown of the new VW-owned Scout Motors brand. The SUV is the Traveler, and the pickup is the Terra. VW is bringing Scout back as EV-only. The new Scout has no lineage-connection to its past other than name, design, & nostalgia. But off-roaders should appreciate VW’s effort of body-on-frame construction, mechanical front & rear lockers, and a solid rear axle. Additionally, the Traveler & Terra will support large 35” tires from the factory & come with 1-foot of ground clearance. And – they’re intended to be able to wade through 3-feet of water. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but there’s little argument that Scout & Volkswagen nailed the design. But alas…

(This is an excerpt from our article on S3mag.com. Please get the FREE S3 Magazine app for our voice on car culture.)

THE CORVETTE WAS ALREADY A SPORTS CAR FOR OLD FARTS.. (that doesn't stop me from wanting one) So Chevy went & made a Corvette for even older farts with the E-Ray? Reading between the lines, GM gets a lot of old guys who want to spend as much money as possible on a new Corvette. And up until this point, that’s led them straight into a badass, uncomfortable, RWD Z06 or ZR1 that wants to vaporize you. But most old-timers don’t have the heart for that kind of monster on their daily trip to wherever they go for eggs, crispy bacon, and black coffee in the morning. So Chevy decided to offer these geezers an equally expensive Corvette, but with more civility. Still bonkers-fast when you put the pedal down, but a lot more predictable with all-wheel-drive. Give ‘em something they can handle, while still taking all their money, and while implementing some new ‘electrified tech’ into a flagship performance model. Basically… an Audi jk. It’s actually kind of brilliant. THE THEORY BEHIND THE CORVETTE E-RAY… Is to use a hybrid system to power the front wheels, while letting the C8’s mid-engine V8 power the rear wheels. And then give it a really cringy name & embroider it all over dad hats & floor mats. But here’s the good part: The battery in the E-Ray is tiny. It only weighs about 100lbs, and can recharge itself almost instantly, either with power from regenerative braking, or power created from the V8. Chevy says, “It’s all about power in, power out.” Meaning, the battery doesn’t need to be big, because it doesn’t store power. It’s essentially just a hot-potato to grab & release that extra 160hp to the front wheels. With the additional 160hp, the E-Ray generates a total of 655hp, making an AWD Corvette missile that absolutely rips off the line & sticks in corners. So bottom line: It gives gramps the ultimate acceleration he paid for… while hopefully keeping him between the ditches. I will say, even though the E-Ray doesn’t tickle my britches personally – it is encouraging to see GM implement EV tech in a performance-oriented way. And to do so with a smaller, lighter battery approach. It points to a more cost-effective, sustainable middle-ground for future models perhaps. A way to do more with less – GM is thinking like racers here. In other words, not like they were thinking when they built the 9,000lb Hummer EV with a 3,000lb battery. EVEN THOUGH THE E-RAY IS IMPRESSIVE FROM AN ENGINEERING STANDPOINT… Is it what the Corvette nation really wanted? Chevy promised a sub-$60,000 price on the C8. They lied. Now it’s been 3-4 years, and you still don’t really see Corvettes at dealerships, or even on the road too much. Not like you did with previous generations. The Corvette was always America’s sports car. And now Chevy builds an E-Ray at over 100k? Who is this for exactly? It seems like Corvette is straying off-course from its fanbase. There were only about 34,000 Corvettes sold last year. Maybe that’s because Corvette buyers want an iconic ground-pounder. I think most of them want a sense of performance purity, not hybrid technology. But what do I know? Maybe Chevrolet sees a customer that I don’t.

AS A WHOLE, the auto industry has gotten really generic, numb, dumb, autonomous, disengaging, sanitized, boring, forgettable, gimmicky, etc, etc. If you love to drive, & you love connecting to the moment... it's irritating to say the least. BUT.... glass-half-full... I'll be darn if there's not some really good driver's cars WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS that have been slipping into the lineups... one at a time. We've been hearing about 'em trickle in. But dang - step back for a second, and there's now at least a dozen viable, potent, and (theoretically) affordable driver's cars with manual transmission to choose from. The driver's market is actually getting strong again! In this podcast, we go through some of the new cars that we think deserve some credit & attention.

Mike knows a little bit about financial matters, so I kinda wanted to get his opinion on what the stock market is saying about Carvana & Tesla these days. How did Carvana get in this situation? Has Elon Musk's attention shifted away from Tesla to Twitter? And/or... is Tesla losing their sweet-spot now that the EV market has exploded & every other car manufacturer is competing for battery resources?