The Carmudgeon Show

On this episode of The Carmudgeon Show, it’s a showdown between the NA2 Acura NSX and the Ferrari F355 - both of-the-period rivals in the late ‘90s to early ‘00s, now analog sports car classics in 2026. Although seemingly quite different at first, both cars have much more in common than you might expect. But which one is better?

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As both the 355 and NSX have benefitted from a major popularity boost in recent years, both cars have earned their way into enthusiasts’ hearts - and wallets - with 90th percentile examples selling well above $150,000.

But alas, this wouldn’t be The Carmudgeon Show without pulling apart all the flaws with these mid-engined contemporary classics. While both cars do a lot well - particularly in the induction noise department - numb steering, lackluster interior materials, and pricey timing belt services are some of the many points to be picked apart by Jason and Derek. And how do they compare against the 993 Porsche 911, and modern-day sports cars like the Lotus Evora and Emira?

Alas, there can only be one winner. And maybe it’s not the one you’re expecting…
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This week, we discuss some of the most insane auctions of recent times - and why everyone is scratching their heads at the results.

The Bachman Collection, consisting of 48 Ferraris, just sold for over $114 million dollars and consisted of some of the most controversial specs ever produced. Ok, maybe we’re being kind - many of these specs were just downright UGLY. But that didn’t stop bidders from paying well above top dollar - with highlights including a 2003 Ferrari Enzo that sold for $17.875M, a  1995 Ferrari F50 that sold for $12.21M, and a 2017 LaFerrari Aperta which sold for $11M. Many cars sold for more than twice their previous records, including two Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradales that collectively fetched over $3M. 

Derek and Jason discuss what this might mean for the collector car market overall, and whether or not these results are an indicator for where Ferrari values are headed in comparison to Lamborghini, Porsche and other brands.

All this and more on this week’s episode of The Carmudgeon Show.
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The last few years have been a rollercoaster for wagon fans in the US and around the world - we’ve gained some and lost many more. But could the tides be changing? Tailgates opening to new beginnings?

We dive into the origins of the station wagon to find out...

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Both fans of the station wagon, Jason and Derek discuss their personal origin stories with wagons. Jason’s begins with a 1975 Chevrolet Impala Wagon that he grew up in the back of - which spurs a conversation around 1970s and 80s American station wagons from the GM clamshell tailgate, the Buick Estate Wagon and Roadmaster, to the rare Cadillac Castilian.

Derek discusses growing up in the ‘90s (1890s, of course) - while his family cars were convertibles and sedans, the school run was enveloped in Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable wagons, Volvo 240 and 740, Mercedes 300TE and E320, E34 BMW 5 series, and Audi 5000 and 200 Avants. Exploring how many consider wagons to be uncool or frumpy, he explores the advent of new at the time SUV offerings starting in the same time period, like the Ford Explorer and Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee.

Jason and Derek then explore what has become of the wagon market and why- noting the recent departure of the Volvo V90 and V60. Many wagons have inflated greatly in cost, ending up under or over-contented due to lower demand and cost of federalization - a trend explored via the Acura TSX Wagon and Jaguar XF Sportbrake. The classification of wagons has also changed over the years, now grouping CUVs like the new Subaru Outback and Buick Envista that have no business being classified as a wagon. Favorite niche wagons are also discussed, like the Volkswagen Passat W8 4Motion 6 Speed, the euro-only Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG, and modified variants of BMW wagons like the E46 Touring with ZHP drivetrain.

All this and more, on this week’s episode of The Carmudgeon Show.
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The day has come… Jason’s VR6 swap on his Mk3 Volkswagen Cabrio is finally on the road!

….well, sort of. With some frustrating snafus along the way, there’s still plenty of work left to be done. But not enough to prevent a first shakedown (and burnout, of course) from happening with the existing stock 12-valve VR6 before it gets replaced by a built motor from Techtonics Tuning.

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Derek and Jason begin today’s episode with a recap of the swap progress so far - in a matter of weeks, Jason’s 1996 Volkswagen Cabrio went from being gutless, to gutted, to glorious - receiving not just an engine swap, but also a full subframe and suspension swap from a VR6 Jetta as well. To top it off, Jason mounted period correct BBS RX multi-piece wheels that really tie everything in together. If Volkswagen had made a true Mk3 GTI Cabriolet, this is about as close as you could get!

After discussing hours and dollars spent on the project, Derek circles back on other cars that sound better or worse than a VR6. The Ferrari 512BB comes to mind, even being a Bosch CIS-equipped car. Amongst other CIS cars, Jason also discusses the rich induction sounds of his other cars - including his Mercedes-Benz 2.3-16 Cosworth and Mk1 Volkswagen Cabriolet. And of course, it’s not a Carmudgeon Show without critically blasting other lesser-sounding cars - in this case, the S14 in the E30 BMW M3 and all Nissan VQ engines.

Was all the fuss worth it? You’ll have to watch (or listen) and find out!
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2026 has begun - and we’ve already had a healthy mix of highs and lows. But Carmudgeonation carries on, this week bringing along some pretty heavy metal that ISN’T an IROC-Z Camaro - rather, the 1974 Porsche Carrera RSR IROC.

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Jason is nearing the finish line on his MK3 VW Cabrio VR6 swap - with much of the car torn apart and roughly put back together again, he discovers a fatal engine flaw that will put him back quite some time. While the VR6 runs, a bastardized time-sert has cracked the head - pushing Jason to make the decision to go big and begin the process of a full Techtonics VR6 engine build.

But not all in the land of 6 cylinders is lost. Derek and Jason kick off the new year by driving an iconic race car that happens to be road-legal - the 1974 Porsche Carrera RSR IROC. A car they both agree, is perhaps the most extreme 911 either of them has ever driven.

The story goes - in October of 1973, Roger Penske took delivery 15 of special 1974 cars in Riverside California, which had been built to his order. He acquired the cars to participate in the first ever International Race of Champions (IROC), which was actually a series of four races, three at Riverside in late October and the final race at Daytona in February of 1974. The cars would be driven by a dozen of the best racing drivers in the world, hailing from different racing disciplines including Indy, Can-Am, NASCAR, and Formula 1. In the hands of George Follmer and Mark Donahue at Riverside International Raceway, this particular car won twice - more than any other of the 15 cars it competed against.

All this and more, on this week’s episode of The Carmudgeon Show.
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