Doubleclutch.ca Podcast

In the studio on an unusually warm night in February, we talk about how jealous we are of those that have their toys out. Cars we touch on include the Tesla Model X P100D, the Ford Expedition, Chrysler Pacifica, Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro, Acura RLX Sport-Hybrid. Jerry and Louis are back from Vietnam and talk about the oodles of cool things they saw there, and we learn what Kevin's infamous passengers thought of the Subaru Crosstrek and Impreza. 

In the spirit of the Canadian International Auto Show opening this week, we discovered that we have a history of past auto show programs and new vehicle brochures in shelves right here in our studio! Adi and Jerry have guests Shari Prymak (ReadySetDrive.ca) and Nick Tragianis (Driving.ca) in house, and we geek out about cars so obscure that most of you may have forgotten they exist! Tune in and see what we're up to!

Sitting around the round table talking about the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which is new. Adi has just returned from the first drive, and we contrast it with the Hyundai IONIQ PHEV that Kevin just took on a quick jaunt to Buffalo. Louis has the BMW X3 M40i that sounds ridiculously good, but the guys complain about how the sounds are too fake-sounding. Tune in!

An extremely late night podcast where we're effectively half asleep, we quickly recap the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Significant unveils include the 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt,  Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Avalon, Mercedes-AMG CLS 53, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, and many more. Oh yeah, we also talk about the Hyundai Elantra Sport that Adi is testing and really likes. 

Our first episode of 2018 involves us talking about our Editor's Pick awards of the past year. We also talk about Jerry's experience in Spain with the 2019 Volvo XC40, Adi driving a DIESEL-powered Honda Fit, and Louis hooning around Los Angeles in the Honda Civic Si. Relevant vehicles in the holiday garage include the Range Rover Velar, VW Golf R in TNT Orange, and the #HighMileClub Lexus LS400's first track day. Oh yeah, and Kevin the sports car and track day fanatic drives a Ram 1500.

In the studio for a quick take, reminiscing on the likes of the Kia Amanti and others. We've driven quite a few new vehicles, including the V6-powered Toyota Camry, a rarity in the segment now. We briefly touch on Honda's LaneWatch technology and whether or not it's still relevant, and we also have a talk on winter tire selection. Stay tuned for some really cool cars coming up very soon! 

We drive the Genesis G80 with the 5.0L V8 engine, and it's simply delicious, so we spend many minutes talking about how wonderful it is. Also in the garage are cars like the Alfa Romeo Giulia, which is pretty good in some ways, and questionable in others. We take a short road trip in a 2018 BMW X1, test the BMW 530e PHEV Hybrid, and the Volvo S90 long-wheelbase. 

Since it's Episode 39, we thought it'd be interesting to bring up how Thomas is trying to get Adi to buy an E39 BMW (bad idea!) and replace his Volvo 240. Adi is just back from the Kia Stinger GT launch, and has a lot to say about it. Kevin and Adi battle out their opinions on the 2018 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 and the Q60 Coupe. We dabble on other things like three-speed automatic Corollas, a potential forthcoming Mazdaspeed6, and the Toyota Yaris. 

We have two guests in the studio today; Nikolas and Lawrence from Saké Clan, a great local Toronto area car community that thrives off being different from the norm. We touch on JDM cars, Lawrence's Subaru Impreza, and what we all hope to buy next in our stables. We talk about the BMW M240i and how it has evolved from its predecessors, and this brings Nikolas to talk about his history with the E36 3-series chassis. Tune in!

In this episode we explain the intentions of our 1999 Lexus LS400 project, and why we really bought it. We've also just returned from the racetrack where we've tested a number of cars, including but not limited to the Nissan GT-R, Toyota C-HR, Civic Type R, BMW M550i, and more. Adi complains about the seat configuration process in the Honda Odyssey, Kevin geeks out about the hybrid system in the MINI Countryman S plug-in hybrid, and we put 1,500km on an Acura MDX Sport Hybrid loaded to the gills with passengers as well as luggage. Listen in! 

We're in the studio today after an oddly tiring day, talking about some pretty important cars. In big news, Adi has bought a new daily driver and tells us about the adventures the team faced trying to acquire and register it. Zack was in the Nissan Qashqai, and Jerry was in the Jeep Wrangler Chief. Adi spent some time with the updated Subaru Legacy 3.6R, which somehow was his first time with a 3.6L Subaru. We briefly revisit the Corvette Grand Sport and talk about the end of our motorsports season with the Mazda MX-5 RF and Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. 

In this episode we talk about some heavy artillery in the garage, which includes the Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge and the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport. Kevin happens to have Mazda's first offering of the CX-3 with a six-speed manual transmission, and has just returned the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT. Amidst all of this American freedom and HEMI exhaust noise is talk about a track day Louis and Kevin did, and Adi's experience at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park with the 2018 Subaru WRX RS and WRX STi. Tune in!

In the studio talking about the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, Land Rover Discovery, and an $80,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee that's essentially more expensive than the Discovery. We also banter about minivans as usual, along with some speak about the Honda Civic Si sedan and why it's better than a Volkswagen GTI. Lastly, we touch on why crossovers aren't really a "must-have" for young families - expertise from four unmarried guys with no actual kids.

We're in the studio talking about the Hyundai Elantra GT, which is apparently known as European Kimchi. We also touch on cars like the udpated 2018 Subaru WRX STi, Honda Civic Si, BMW 440i Coupe, and the Volvo V90. Jerry is also just back from the first drive event for the all-new 2018 Toyota Camry, which now has 300 horsepower and a segment-leading hybrid model. 

Literally immediately off the plane from the 2018 Ford F-150 drive, we touch on the new powertrains offered on North America's best-selling truck. In the garage is the 2017 Honda Civic Type R, Volvo V90 R-Design, and 2018 Nissan 370Z; which we compare extensively to the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ. Our newest writer, Kevin Wong, has driven the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Sport with the six-speed manual, and has a ton of input to offer about it. Adi is back from a long road trip with a new Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum, and Jerry has just taken to the racetrack with the Cadillac CTS-V and ATS-V. Tons going on here, tune in! 

Wherein we complain about everything related to the Campagna Motors T-Rex, and how it's neither a car nor a bike. It's absurd, but you'll have to listen in to find out why. We also drive the sublime new Lexus LC 500 and two very similar yet different Dodge Challengers, both with V8 engines and manual transmissions. Chad drives a Volkswagen e-Golf and a Yukon Denali, while Louis takes a 2018 Subaru Forester XT Limited away for a cottage weekend. 

Lots and lots to talk about this week, including the guy who says Teslas suck because he wore out his tires. We've been driving the Nissan 370Z NISMO, Audi S4, Toyota 4Runner, Volkswagen e-Golf, and the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible. We also touch on the Honda Civic Type R and discuss driving it on the track. We have recurring guest Kevin Wong in our new studio, and we indulge in miscellaneous banter about some off topic stuff. 

We've recorded a quickie episode in the midst of FIVE first drives. Adi just got back from driving the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT and Elantra GT Sport, as well as the 2017 Nissan Qashqai. Louis is back from Colorado where he a) fought altitude sickness and b) drove the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan. In the garage have been some cars including the 2018 Genesis G80 Sport, the Audi A4 and some miscellaneous stuff we forget to touch on. We preview the Alfa Romeo Giulia with a four-leaf clover on the fender, and Jerry talks about his time autocrossing our Mazda MX-5 RF. Somewhere amidst all of this, we talk about the Ford Aerostar? 

We're introduced onto the podcast this week by Captain Chad of DoubleClutch.ca Airlines, who has been driving the Volkswagen Jetta GLI. We discuss in detail whether or not the car is worth the price it commands, and we also touch on some other machines. In the garage lately are a BMW M3 Competition Package, Genesis G80 Sport, Range Rover Sport Td6, the Nissan Sentra NISMO, and the Ford Mustang GT Convertible. New unveils we touch on include the BMW 6-series GranTurismo (yes, that's a thing now) and the McLaren 570S Spider. 

We're in the studio having just returned from the first drive of the 2018 Honda Odyssey in Prince Edward Island. Cars parked out front are the 2018 BMW M550i, Audi S3 quattro, Hyundai IONIQ, and the Kia Niro. Our news editor Peter is also in studio with us, as we touch on the differences between the Audi S3 and TTS, the Odyssey versus its other minivan comparos, and we nerd out about tires after a track day with our Mazda MX-5 RF Sport. Stop in!