Skip to content

Unlikely Tow Vehicle; Kona Review; McLaren's Money Problems

The Smoking Tire

Hosted by Matt Farah

1h 40m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.

This episode of The Smoking Tire Podcast features a wide-ranging conversation about automotive journalism output, exotic car market valuations, and potential tow vehicle options for a new enclosed race trailer. The hosts discuss McLaren's ongoing financial needs and production shifts, compare the driving experience of luxury SUVs like the Bentley Benteke and Aston Martin DBX, and review the 2026 Hyundai Kona Limited. Later, they field listener questions covering topics such as spice blends, dead car brands, group drive etiquette on mountain passes, oil recommendations, and the future of flat-plane crank V8 engines in Mustangs.

  • When towing an enclosed single-car trailer over mountain passes, a large heavy-duty truck may not be necessary if you choose an aerodynamic euro-style hauler designed for regular SUVs. 23:37
  • Setting clear safety standards and rules before a group drive prevents dangerous driving behaviors like crossing double yellow lines and preserves friendships. 1:13:31
  • Using manufacturer-recommended oil serves as a reliable baseline for proper engine maintenance even if high-performance synthetic alternatives exist. 1:32:42

Chapters

  1. 0:00
    Podcast Intro and Sponsorships

    Hosts open the show, introduce Avance, Ethos, Align Footwear, and other sponsors while setting the episode’s tone.

  2. 1:00
    Hyundai Kona Review Begins

    Matt and Zach dive into the 2026 Hyundai Kona, covering its design, powertrain, interior, and value proposition.

  3. 8:00
    Prius Performance vs. Kona Efficiency

    The duo compares the Prius’s quick acceleration and fuel economy to the Kona’s lower power but better overall efficiency.

  4. 15:00
    Tow Trailer and Vehicle Selection Process

    Matt explains his search for a tow vehicle that can haul a special trailer, discussing options like the Cayenne Hybrid, Taycan, and Benteke.

  5. 34:13
    Kona Color and Design Critique

    They dissect the Kona’s high‑lighter yellow/green paint, interior layout, and unique styling choices, offering subjective opinions.

  6. 44:26
    Wrap‑Up and Final Thoughts on Kona

    The hosts conclude the episode with final verdicts on the Kona, future EV considerations, and a teaser for the next episode’s topics.

  7. 50:31
    Elantra Troubles and Upcoming Road Events

    The hosts discuss a stalled Elantra and preview upcoming New England and SoCal road events, sharing travel plans and event details.

  8. 54:29
    Tactile Turn Pens and Patreon Promotion

    They showcase limited-edition brass pens from Tactile Turn, talk about their scarcity, and promote their Patreon for exclusive content.

  9. 56:06
    Kona Ownership and Daily Car Debate

    A debate over whether to buy a daily car versus using the Kona, touching on personal habits and car ownership responsibilities.

  10. 1:00:00
    Dealer License Drama and Compliance Issues

    Discussion of a dealer's surprise inspection, the importance of signage, and the broader regulatory environment for car dealerships.

  11. 1:22:36
    Episode Wrap‑Up and Patreon Call‑to‑Action

    Hosts thank listeners, recap the episode, and encourage support through Patreon and future show announcements.

  12. 1:25:36
    Car Performance Metrics: 0‑60 vs 5‑60

    Exploration of acceleration metrics, how 5‑60 better reflects real‑world driving, and the relevance of launch performance.

Highlights

  • 11:03

    McLaren's Capital Injection Paradoxinsight

    The hosts discuss how McLaren keeps requiring major capital injections despite building some of the best supercars ever made and running a successful Formula 1 team.

  • 20:40

    Exotic Rental Car Price Indicatorsdata

    The hosts note that exotic rental car companies illustrate market demand, with customers willing to pay around $2,500 daily for a Lamborghini or Ferrari compared to $1,500 for an Aston Martin or Bentley.

  • 21:02

    Aston Martin vs Bentley GT Preferencedebate

    The hosts debate the choice between the Aston Martin DB12 and the Bentley GT, with both eventually favoring the Bentley for its grand touring capabilities.

  • 23:49

    Searching for an Unlikely Tow Vehiclestory

    The host explains the search for a used vehicle to tow an incoming Brian James enclosed single-car trailer, debating between a CPO Cayenne Hybrid and a high-mileage Bentayga W12.

  • 34:58

    2026 Hyundai Kona Limited Reviewinsight

    The hosts review the 2026 Hyundai Kona Limited in highlighter yellow, noting its 1.6-liter turbo engine, 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, 190 horsepower, and comfortable interior appointments.

  • 47:14

    Taycan Repair Bill Jumps After 72 Daysstory

    The host reveals that his Porsche Taycan repair took 72 days and the final bill pushed past $40,000 after a broken backup camera was discovered at the very last minute.

  • 56:06

    Restraint Versus Buying a Daily Driverinsight

    The guest explains his monk-like restraint in avoiding purchasing a dedicated daily driver, opting instead to borrow his wife's appliance car and walk to his office.

Quotes

  • “The Prius isn't bad. It's pretty quick, right?”
    Matt Farah · 36:06
  • “The tech, the comfort, all of that stuff. But even with gas prices the way they are right now, you'd have to drive the Kona for like, what did I say? Four years before it starts to even out.”
    Unnamed speaker · 44:48
  • “That's pretty, that's a lot better than I expected. Wow.”
    Unnamed speaker · 57:41
  • “That that's also what basically everybody should, what you should do with like all the automatic gearbox turbo Supras.”
    Matt Farah · 59:37
  • “The other super secret Carl Ruiz method that I don't like to talk about too much because it'll fucking get out there and people will know is onion juice.”
    Matt Farah · 1:05:04
  • “You can bring back Saleen if you want to.”
    Unnamed speaker · 1:08:19
  • “They go, I need to change my oil. Hey, that's what I should buy, Castrol 1050. And then that's just what they buy.”
    Matt Farah · 1:32:53
  • Avance 0:00–1:00
  • Align Footwear 13:19–15:21
  • Ethos 29:08–31:31
  • Blue Chugold 1:19:07–1:19:14

About this episode

Matt Farah and Zack Klapman review the 2026 Hyundai Kona; is a used Bentley a good tow vehicle; McLaren is offering a crazy deal on its hybrids; the Taycan is FINALLY back from its extensive repairs. Patreon questions include: Which car brands should come back? How to handle a friend that drives like an a****** Is 5-60MPH better than 0-60MPH? Car brands and "special oil": brand deal or real science? Vin Anatra's dealer problem GM's new GIANT DIESEL ENGINE Favorite weird car quirk Mid-market watches going away? Spice blends your kitchen needs And more! Recorded October 6, 2026 Avants https://avants.com/tst use code TST for 10% off your membership! Align Shoes Get 20% off your first pair with code “TIRE” at checkout at https://www.alignshoe.com. Promotion valid for 20% off one pair of full-priced footwear with code TIRE. Offer not valid for items on sale. DeleteMe Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to www.joindeleteme.com/tire and use promo code TIRE at checkout. Quince Find your next fall favorites at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to https://Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Ethos Get your free quote at https://ETHOS.com/tire Truewerk Go to https://truewerk.com/tire and use code tire to get 15% off your first order. TRUEWERK, Built Like It Matters. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Show starts 02:00 Return plate or no? 03:20 Montana loophole news 11:00 What's been happening 11:56 Our new giveaway car 21:55 Zack is a champion 33:13 Quick Takes: Cars of PCTOY 2026 01:21:00 Time to Drive info 01:23:09 Patreon questions begin Use Off The Record! and ALWAYS fight your tickets! For a 10% discount on your first case go to https://www.offtherecord.com/TST Want your question answered? Want to watch the live stream, get ad-free podcasts, or exclusive podcasts? Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thesmokingtirepodcast Instagram: https://www. Instagram.com/thesmokingtire https://www. Instagram.com/therealzackklapman

Transcript

0:00
1:40:12

17,786 words · 2 speakers

Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

Topics

  • Bentley
  • Maverick
  • Road and Track
  • Porsche
  • Taycan
  • Elantra
  • Subaru
  • Tactile Turn
  • Chuckwalla
  • Palm Springs

Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated