Why Cars Now Cost $50K (And What’s Coming Next)

Inside Porsche Special Wishes, Singer Turbos & The Return of Analog Driving

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. Subscribe to the Full Throttle Talk newsletter: fullthrottletalk.com

Formula 1’s V8 Return, Porsche 964 Debate & Why Lightweight Cars Still Win

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: * Future ICE engine development from Lotus, Renault & Geely * Ferrari 308 GT4 vs Acura NSX vs Porsche 964 * Everyday Driver Elise comparison shoot * Corvette C8 track-day consumable costs * When it’s finally time to sell a car you love Subscribe to the Full Throttle Talk newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories, driving impressions, and enthusiast content: fullthrottletalk.com

Why Cars Now Cost $50K (And What’s Coming Next)

The automotive world is changing faster than most people realize — and not all of it is good for drivers. In this episode of Full Throttle Talk, we break down what’s really happening behind the scenes: • Why naturally aspirated engines may be disappearing • How government regulations are reshaping the industry • Why new cars are now averaging $50,000+ • The growing influence of China on global car production • And what all of this means for enthusiasts We also get into real-world driving experiences, underrated cars, and why analog driving might be more valuable than ever. If you care about where cars are heading — and what’s worth buying now — this episode is for you. 👉 More content: fullthrottletalk.com

Slow Car Fast vs. Fast Car Slow: GT3s, Miatas, Manuals & Overrated Icons

Blair Smith and Shinoo Mapleton tackle one of the best enthusiast debates: is it more fun to drive a slow car fast or a fast car slow? After Blair spends time in a 992.2 GT3 and Shinoo pushes a Miata through technical canyon roads, they compare modern speed, refinement, NVH, driver involvement, and why some cars feel thrilling while others feel too isolated. They also cover manual transmission take rates, Ferrari’s expensive EV plans, Morgan’s new Super Sport 400, and a few “overrated” cars that might upset Porsche, BMW, and GT-R fans.

Porsche GT3SC, Mustang GTD Ring Domination & The Death of the Manual Transmission

This week on Full Throttle Talk, we break down one of the biggest weeks in automotive news. Porsche has officially unveiled the GT3SC, raising questions about what defines a true GT3. At the same time, Ford’s Mustang GTD is putting down blistering Nürburgring lap times, outperforming expectations and shaking up the performance hierarchy. We also explore a deeper question: are we living in the peak era of performance cars—or watching the beginning of the end? In this episode: * Porsche GT3SC: Brilliant or unnecessary? * Mustang GTD vs Corvette ZR1X: What really matters—power or engineering? * BMW’s next generation strategy and the future of enthusiast cars * The uncomfortable truth about manual transmissions disappearing * “Ugly but lovable” cars that still win enthusiasts over Plus, we answer a listener question about whether the shift away from manuals is driven by data—or a misunderstanding of today’s buyers. If you care about driving, this episode is for you.