# Drive Thru News #71 - Is car culture as we know it... Dead?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/break-fix-the-motorsports-vehicle-enthusiast-variety-show-379180/drive-thru-news-71-is-car-culture-as-we-know-it-dead
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/break-fix-the-motorsports-vehicle-enthusiast-variety-show-379180/drive-thru-news-71-is-car-culture-as-we-know-it-dead.md
Podcast: [BREAK/FIX the Motorsports & Vehicle Enthusiast Variety Show](https://stenobird.com/podcast/break-fix-the-motorsports-vehicle-enthusiast-variety-show-379180)
Published: 2026-08-25T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.gtmotorsports.org/b-f-the-drive-thru-71
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/9ti3m5dikhp2v982/gtm_breakfix_episode-S7DT71.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/break-fix-the-motorsports-vehicle-enthusiast-variety-show-379180/episodes/drive-thru-news-71-is-car-culture-as-we-know-it-dead
Duration seconds: 5810

## Resource

Break/Fix’s Drive Thru News #71 debates whether car culture is dying, citing fewer young drivers, cars becoming appliance-like (EVs, driver aids, subscriptions), the decline of manuals, and a “sweet spot” around 2008 for tech that didn’t interfere with driving; we also discuss parts scarcity for older cars and concerns about increasing regulation and tracking. Headlines include Ford’s rumored Mach-4 sedan and naming controversies, Honda pausing manual Civic Si/Integra for emissions certification, Ferrari’s polarizing ”Luce” meeting sales targets via a $40M charity auction, a luxury/hypercar market slump, Volkswagen transmission reset quirks and rumored lineup cuts, Stellantis’ Charger Sixpack branding, Maserati wanting V8/manuals despite weak demand, GM’s CEO gets a dig on its oversized vehicles, a $64K limited GR Corolla, Subaru app-based remote start fees, and upcoming cars like the Rivian R3X and VW-owned Scout. Other segments cover lost-and-found car oddities, dealership misconduct, viral driving fails, and a trackside update: their endurance race car runs again, aiming for Summit Point and possibly Road Atlanta, while Brad faces upcoming surgery.

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## Transcript

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