Is the 2019 Volkswagen Golf R a hot hatch, or a 'stealth executive car?' Will Sami tolerate Benjamin's unabashed use of marketing speak to describe the turbocharged, all-wheel drive Golf, or will it end their friendship forever? Will Sami's time in the 2019 Subaru BRZ Raiu Edition make him paint his own BRZ 'Cool Khaki Grey?' The answers to these questions, plus a Porsche book giveaway and fun listener feedback on this week's episode.

Links:

• 2019 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R REVIEW: HOT HATCH OR SLEEPER AGENT?

How strong is the charisma of Steve McQueen that Ford is still making Bullitt Mustang tribute cars 50 years after the movie debuted? Sami dives deep into the 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt and comes away impressed with its mix of style and performance. After a detour into the weird world of movie tie-in cars, Benjamin continues the discussion with the 2020 BMW M340i xDrive, the fastest non-M3 version of the 3 Series sedan ever built. Don't even bother trying to re-read that sentence. Finally, the pair answer a question from a listener about how each of them got started in the automotive writing business.

Is the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo worth of the 1LE road racing package? Benjamin spends a week with the entry-level car to find out. Meanwhile, Sami pits the 2019 Ford Ranger against the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 in a mid-size pickup battle that may have a surprising winner.

Is the world ready for a version of the Nissan GT-R that costs over $200,000? Guest Chad Kirchner explains why the NISMO makes sense - and who it makes sense to - after driving the automaker's most expensive sports car to date. Benjamin relates his experiences with the 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550, the first re-design of the boxy G-Class in decades, and argues with Sami about whether it truly has a place in this world. Finally, the three engage in a spirited debate about where, exactly, the 2019 Jeep Gladiator fits in the existing mid-size pickup truck hierarchy.

Links:

• 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550 Review

When a Japanese company pays for a Germany automaker to build its flagship sports car, and then lets it sell a more powerful roadster version of its own, Benjamin is there to try to make sense of it all. The 2020 BMW Z4 M40i turns out to be more impressive than inspected after a week together on the road. Sami follows up with a comparison test between the 2019 Toyota Corolla sedan versus the 2019 Hyundai Elantra sedan. Has Toyota finally caught up to its Korean rival?

Links:

• 2020 BMW Z4 Review

Benjamin's love for the BMW M850i is no secret - but when the roof gets sliced off, will his heart stay true? A week in the 2019 BMW M850i Cabriolet has a surprise ending that leaves Sami shocked. The pair then go on to discuss Sami's time in the 2019 Honda Passport, and debate whether anyone is really heading down to their local Honda dealer to pick up an off-road capable SUV.

What's it like to sample a fleet of museum-quality Lexus classics? Sami finds out after spending a few days in Costa Rica with the original LS, RX, SC, and more. He also pilots the refreshed 2020 Lexus RX and makes the startling discovery that its infotainment system might actually now be on par with the rest of its luxury rivals. Benjamin, on the other hand, is filled with anguish and despair after enduring hundreds of miles behind the wheel of a rental Fiat 500X while driving through the French countryside.

It's a battle of the turbocharged V6 engines as Sami discovers something old and something new while comparing the 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class against the 2019 Audi A6. Benjamin discovers that a week with an old friend leaves him feeling more sad than energized after driving the DSG-equipped 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI Rabbit edition. Has the Veloster N broken his brain?

Do you need an SUV that can bounce itself out of the snow or mud? Sami tries to answer that question, and more, with his in-depth review of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class. Meanwhile, Benjamin counters with the one Ford Mustang model the pair had yet to drive: the GT Performance Pack 1.

Is the Autostadt the German Disneyworld for Volkswagen fans? After spending a day there, Benjamin certainly thinks so, and he goes into detail about VW's unusual theme park for gearheads. He also gets some wheel time with the 2019 Volkswagen Arteon. Sami continues his campaign for Korean supremacy as he is wow by his experience with the 2020 Kia Telluride full-size SUV.

Links:

• A Visual Tour of VW’s Autostadt, an Amusement Park for Car Nerds