Full Throttle Talk

Is Ferrari saving the manual transmission—or just creating an expensive illusion?

This week on Full Throttle Talk, Blair Smith and Shinoo dive into Ferrari's controversial new simulated manual gearbox and debate whether modern sports cars are losing the emotional connection that made enthusiasts fall in love with driving.

They also discuss:

If you love sports cars, manual transmissions, Porsche, Ferrari, Lotus, McLaren, or simply the joy of driving, this episode is for you.

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This week on Full Throttle Talk, Blair and Shinoo record in person from Southern California — and the episode goes from weird car news to full-blown driving obsession fast.

Blair gets behind the wheel of the Dragon Spider, a 2,000-pound analog weapon with Corvette power and zero interest in being polite. Shinoo gives an update on the 996 RR, including the reactions from the PCA crowd, the bedliner front end, the wheel setup, and a surprise run through Ortega Highway.

Then the guys dive into the latest headlines: the next Mazda Miata possibly becoming the last gas-powered Miata, Lamborghini’s hybrid Urus, Slate truck preorder drama, and the Corvette story that changes the value conversation completely — a base Stingray that can reportedly hit 200 MPH for around $74,000.

From there, it’s auction madness: a manual F10 BMW M5 for $28,000, the real cost of owning old German performance cars, and an E46 M3 slicktop selling for serious money.

Plus, Blair and Shinoo get into the 911 debate, but not like collectors comparing garage jewelry — they talk about which cars actually deliver the experience, the sound, the fear, and the feel.

And finally: are car people too defensive when someone criticizes their car?

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This week on Full Throttle Talk, Blair and Shinoo get into the real cost of chasing performance—and where the smart automotive buys may still be hiding.

Blair compares a manual BMW 335 xDrive with an E90 M3 DCT in his search for a daily driver, while Shanu returns from the Hocking Hills Road Rally with thoughts on the Lotus Emira V6 versus the Turbo.

They also break down Porsche’s simulated EV shifting, the ZR1X Corvette’s Pikes Peak run, Polestar’s uncertain U.S. future, the Slate EV truck, and the possibility of a Porsche 911 GT4 road car.

Then it is time for auction watch: a low-mile 991.1 GT3, a surprisingly affordable $44K manual 911 Carrera, and a heavily optioned BMW M2 that became a lesson in depreciation.

Finally, they react to Everyday Driver’s review of Blair’s 111RS Lotus Elise and answer a listener question: What is the most expensive automotive mistake you have made?

Get out and drive your cars.

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BMW's upcoming electric M3 has everyone talking—and it leads to a bigger question: are modern performance cars actually better than the classics?

This week, the Full Throttle Talk crew discusses BMW's Neue Klasse M3, why older BMWs still make incredible daily drivers, the overlooked Jaguar F-Type, Ariel Atom market values, Formula 1, Lotus adventures, Callaway Cars, and the OEM wheels that changed automotive design.

Whether you're into classic analog machines or the latest EV performance cars, this episode has something for every enthusiast.

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What separates a great driver’s car from just another fast car?

Aerospace engineer Derek joins Blair and Shinoo for a fascinating discussion on the science of driver engagement. From fighter jets and flight controls to Miatas, Lotus sports cars, Toyotas, and EVs, the conversation explores why feedback, communication, and feel matter more than horsepower.

Plus:

If you care about the emotional side of driving, this episode is for you.

Blair accidentally started a Porsche civil war.

After last week's comments about the Porsche Cayman GT4's long gearing, the internet fired back. In this episode, Blair and Shinoo read the comments, respond to the criticism, and dive into a bigger conversation about what makes a great driver's car.

Along the way, Blair test drives a C8 Stingray, C8 Z06, Audi E-Tron GT, GR86, Miata Club, BMW Z3M Roadster, and more while searching for a replacement daily driver. The result? Some surprising opinions about EVs, manual transmissions, and why the Corvette Z06 may be one of the best performance bargains on the market.

They also discuss:

Is the Corvette Z06 really better than cars costing significantly more? And are enthusiasts too loyal to brands?

Listen and decide for yourself.

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Ferrari just revealed the Luce, its first EV, and the reaction was not exactly quiet. Blair and Shinoo break down why the design, price point, and Ferrari badge have created so much controversy — and whether this is a bold move or a massive miss.

They also cover the new Lotus Emira 420, the reality of softening new car sales, Shinoo’s latest shop updates, including the supercharged Corvette E-Ray and 996RR progress, plus a deep dive into what it was really like taking the BAC Mono and Drakan Spyder to Jay Leno’s Garage.

And in this week’s “This or That,” the guys ask the obvious question: if you had around $750,000 to spend, would you really buy Ferrari’s EV… or build a much better garage?

Topics include:

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BMW may have finally built a modern enthusiast car worth caring about.

In this episode, the Full Throttle Talk crew breaks down the new manual-only rear-wheel-drive BMW M3 CS, why modern sports cars feel increasingly disconnected, and how manufacturers may finally be waking up to what drivers actually want.

They also debate the Porsche GT4 gearing controversy, Audi R8 vs Lamborghini Gallardo, Nissan’s surprisingly good new Z NISMO, analog GT3 race cars, and why race cars rarely make good road cars.

Plus plenty of real-world shop stories, driving impressions, and enthusiast chaos along the way.

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This week on Full Throttle Talk, Blair Smith and Shinoo Mapleton go deep into Porsche’s most exclusive world: VIP customers, Special Wishes, Sonderwunsch builds, Paint to Sample, and one-off factory projects.

The episode also covers the Singer Turbo Study, why some high-end restomods barely get driven, the risks of shipping valuable cars, Lotus’ return to ICE and hybrid powertrains, and why the future of enthusiast cars may be less about horsepower — and more about feel.

Guest Derek joins the show to share his story from wrenching on an MGB as a kid to helping shape some truly wild Porsche builds, including a Dakar, ST, 918 recommissioning project, and more.

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This week on Full Throttle Talk, Blair and Shinoo dive into one of the biggest enthusiast stories of the year: Formula 1 moving back toward V8 engines.

The guys also debate the rising hype around Porsche 964 values, compare the driving experience of a Lotus Elise 111R vs a real 964 RS, discuss Nürburgring record runs from Volkswagen and Zinger, and break down why lightweight sports cars still deliver the most emotional driving experience.

Other topics include:

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