Collecting Addicts Episode 32: Favourite Tunnel, F1 is Back & Jaguar's Brand Equity

[@bmxaf]

Love Neil's "custard test" PH t-shirt.. He has a truly great cap or tee on every week. These things do not go un-noticed.. Cheers chaps..

[@applejuice5272]

- Ferrari F50 with a can of baked beans on the spoiler - Rover 75 V8 with a bottle of steak sauce stood atop the engine - Jason Plato holding up a tub of custard powder

[@DRRCreations]

Please, please, please can you guys organize a road trip all together! In separate cars or shared, either I imagine would end up with a hilarious video! It'd be so fun to see you guys in a Top Gear style trip 👌😀

[@GordDiv]

Happy to contemplate a road trip but, please God, do not emulate Clarkson in any fashion. Harry Metcalf is the model

[@DRRCreations]

@@GordDiv I recon that they'd have such a great dynamic between the group that there won't have been anything like it before so you wouldn't have to worry about a Clarkson copy.......................although Chris Harris waking up and shouting COOPER! Has definitely gone through my mind 😆😆😆

[@juanpablodelgado2227]

Agreed!

[@iainearth7208]

This would make great viewing guys

[@stephenwooliscroft4887]

This is real chemistry and certainly for me Top Gear is a thing of the past. I was a big fan of Chris H before he joined TG and I’m really glad he’s back on KZbin with these chaps. Love it.

[@JohnFromAccounting]

Cheers to Mr Lovett for talking about our Melbourne tunnel. It's such an easy and affordable solution, and driving through the tunnel is relaxing. You don't need to think too much.

[@elricker]

This has become my favorite car podcast. You gents have great chemistry and it's a pleasure listening to your discussions.

[@allin1productions123]

Fred Again selection is spot on. Listening to it right now, while taking my Formula 4 monocoque on a 10hr haul to Houston.

[@GrahamsGarage]

These things make my la traffic commute feel like teleporting. I can’t remember the last time I was a little disappointed to see a youtube video was “only an hour”. Best stuff on the internet!

[@micard_yannick]

Hi guys! Been watching this podcast since almost the first episodes, and thank you. I'm going through a reawakening of my petrol head! Since april, I have driven a Ferrari 430 on the track, went to Monaco for a weekend (it was two weeks before the GP so the stands were already there, which lead me to go for a beautiful jog in the early hours of the morning through the track), went to Modena and Maranello, went to see a brilliant race in the Nurburgring and finally did my proper first road trip between Portugal and Germany. For all of this, I'm very thankful to you lot! Cheers

[@M16xblowDRO]

South Lake Tahoe coming from west from Nevada opens up to Lake Tahoe, one of then best exits ever

[@benbostock]

The Pajero Evolution does exist. One of the men in orange at Pembrey Circuit had one 😍

[@jamieboyd448]

I go through the hindhead tunnel every so often. I slow down to 50 in my V8 BMW and floor it up to 70, slow down and then kickdown again. It’s the best!

[@TheFirstTry]

I thought that todays 2 car garage is so relatable ....until that Alfa as practical 4 door came along. 😂

[@hondansx1000]

Had a 3hr drive from Telford to Kings Lynn today...thank you lads for providing much needed entertainment during the journey. I think Jaguar needs to build a little electric sports car in the vein of the C/D-type, a big comfy and stylish saloon like a modern Mk.2 and a big coupe to rival the Conti GT and BMW 8 series like a modern day XJS.

[@ZondaF355]

Mr. Harris, long, long time viewer and faithful fan of yours speaking here from the US of A. All the way back to Drivers Republic days, hilarious by the way...having said that you should never have to worry about being "cancelled" for simply speaking. You are forever a fixture in the automotive community whether you want to embrace that or not. It pains me to see you feeling awkward regarding these so called "controversial" topics of our time. In reality these really arent controversial topics to the 99.999% of the population that would follow and listen to you. You keep being yourself thats what we love and respect about you to begin with. The trick that this tiny confused minority, that Mr. Hamilton apparently counts himself part of, dont want you to know is that once someone speaks their mind and that reflects the large majority of those living on this round rock that person then becomes immune to being cancelled. We still have freedom of press and you should never be afraid to fully exercise it no matter how seemingly awkward. The 99.9% MUST never give in to feeling awkward about the .0001%'s awkward issues. We shouldnt be bullied by their highly confused state of affairs.

[@ichiban8558]

Neil Clifford should be Jaguar's creative director. MG in Thailand is now challenging Ford ffs. 20 year old Thai kids all want an MG.

[@richardmurphy8010]

Best thing on KZbin at the moment - rather watch this than Schmee any day

[@Vampirebear13]

It's taken 32 episodes to realize this but Neil Clifford looks like he could be Mike Essa's (Formula Drift Champion & current mechanic for Daily Driven Exotics) Dad 🙂 Another great episode guys & I so look forward to these.

[@f1ells849]

You’ve combined two people there. Neil Clifford and Chris Cooper. Which do you mean?

[@Vampirebear13]

@@f1ells849 Oops yes, I'll edit it but Neil Clifford is whom I meant.

[@johncoat4593]

My favourite tunnel has to be the tiny one that goes under the Goodwood circuit, as if you’re driving though it…ahead of you is a very day indeed!

[@alexfulton375]

I work at WAE on the same site as Williams F1, there is a lot of activity around facilities going on. They need more heads of departments to ease the pressure on Vowles though

[@PCarDriver87]

I love when you guys drink lmao. You guys should do an episode where you're all at a pub.

[@drivingnirvana5164]

Regarding brand equity: - we are a big generation that grew up aspiring to own the most beautiful sedan Jaguar XJ. - we now have money but Jag needs to have the products Only bought one Jaguar in my life, the new XF Estate back in 2017 when we needed a family hauler: drove there in a BMW 3 serie: Loved the look of the car, interior looked ok in pictures but was quite crap, started the diesel that was recommended when i ordered, then touched controls….thought it was shit, drove it 10 meters back into the showroom and put it up for sale and went away in my 3 series to Mercedes dealer and bought a C63s. Couple a years later I took my Panamera to look at the new XJ, really wanted a Jag but luckily this time I didn’t buy it up front. Love the styling and presence but bloody hell for a premium price you better not make a Kia feel like premium 🙈. Still want a Jag but they need to make a great car!!

[@daveblack1000]

should be showing up at the motorist not caffine and machine in the two car garage.

[@juanpablodelgado2227]

My favorite hour of the week 👌🏼

[@synthnseq]

Right, you didn’t ask but these are my thoughts. The Collecting Cars ‘Sensible’ Road Trip Podcast. You are each driving your car of choice for the trip, collecting each other at different points in the country until the full team is assembled. The premise is then that you take a spirited road trip to a predetermined destination, enjoying the roads and experience on the way. On arrival you then commandeer the corner of an appropriate campsite or similar establishment and do your podcast recording, while reflecting on the drive up. HOWEVER you must all have go-pros or similar in the cab pointed at your faces, so we can enjoy seeing the results of (‘perhaps’) some over exuberance and each of your individual experiences of the anticipation of impending doom. Steps must be taken not incriminate yourselves, of course. Further, there should be beer and barbecue to further the enjoyment of the trip and ultimately you all share your personal preferences for the various parts of the trip - roads, scenery, overtaking opportunities etc. Caravans etc should be left at home. Please consider weapons of choice, so as not to put your friends at a disadvantage. Could be a fun variation. PS when do we see the next episode of Project Minky: The Integrale?

[@sevencs186]

I think the best measure of Jaguar’s current brand equity is how many times a modern one has ended up in a Two Car Garage. I’m hard pressed to think of a single time one has beaten a Mercedes or Porsche in the minds of addicts.

[@stuartsmith5308]

What's the tightest tunnel you have been in ?

[@dannyd7714]

Magnificent

[@stevencahill3628]

chris, get a battery charger! or atleast start with a full battery? love the banter, dont much like chris hurrying up the others because of his battery life. not the first time its happened.

[@fencingboy101]

love the podcast as always but i really dislike the new intro. i feel like it sets the wrong vibe for the podcast. the flash forwards montage with the cool guitar riffs feels like a big budget TV show for a podcast who's appeal is that it's just a down to earth discussion among friends.

[@Petrospect]

it's giving 00s discovery channel indeed

[@r.hagenau3541]

Jaguar over the last 20 years killed what was good about the cars, while retaining what was at best mediocre. And the cars had elements of genius mixed with elements of "they can't be serious to release this to the public". But it's wrong to say "the brand has no equity left". Because the brand is strong and people love it. What is right is that it would take another 10 years and some serious money to get them to where Audi is. And that money might never be recovered, taking into account where the whole car market looks to be heading. @ tunnels: Those in the Val Canale between Udine and the Austrian border, going north late at night when there is basically no traffic, and one can go way way way over speed limit through these perfectly built and lighted Italian autobahn tunnels. Hypnotic.

[@JohnFromAccounting]

James Vowles says 5 year plans are pointless, because you can't plan progress beyond 3 years. He is very realistic and knows the right areas to spend money to make the team better as a whole. I think Williams will be a midfield team by the time we get the 2026 regulations.

[@paulleggett9735]

I think Mr Clifford means the 156 .

[@gordonsimpson3235]

I think that JLR have been so busy 'milking' the Land Rover/Range Rover brand (which is 'of our time'), that they have totally taken their eye off the Jaguar 'Ball' I hate EV's with a passion, but the i-Pace was ahead of the curve when launched. They have done nothing with it and allowed it to wither and die, and also allowed woeful quality control to undermine the product again - same issue at Land Rover. I also believe that there is plenty of equity in the Jaguar name....whether it is suitable today for mass production - I am not sure. Future models harking back to styling cues from the days of glory will not keep a modern motor company afloat today. The numbers would be too small. We don't want another MG farce, utilising a famous sporting badge to pedal crappy chinese SUV's.

[@mgbv8man2]

As a wonderfully opinionated bunch maybe you could answer a style question that is bugging me? Volvo PV544 WITH or WITHOUT bumpers?

[@IOWPCV]

What is Chris Harris sitting in / on whilst quaffing beer ? 😂

[@nickhaw3528]

And only a hour long, not the sort of thing we've come to expect!

[@tomphillips6867]

CUSTARD!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@MM-xr6tz]

If Jerry McPoloneck can not re-imagine Jaguar then he is to blame for it's sad demise. He is simply not good enough and it's as simple as that.

[@kevingolden5675]

Coop needs to give up the TVR nonsense he's going to get a lot of people hurt 😂😂😂

[@kellarcheron6675]

I almost made it through an entire episode without giving you guys a hard time, and then I hear about a 28 year old who has been saving for 5 years. That has to be the most straight edge, try hard, societal sheep I have ever heard of. Is he saving for WWIII, the next pandemic, or something else on the apocalyptic horizon? Brilliant choices for the two car garage, but such a sheep would have atrocious taste. Save Jaguar, it's a global legend, my grandfather still has the red XK140 he bought as a young airline pilot

[@thomasbarton795]

In terms of F1 and MotoGP etc, I am starting to think there should be a rule where any one person can only be contracted to a certain manufacturer/team for a maximum of 4/5 years.. Maybe that would bring a bit more interest to the sport rather than it being same person/ same car year on year and also could well make the racing more competitive.. Thoughts?

[@JB-rp6it]

No

[@studiolezard]

Wasn't it Lewis Hamilton who shamed his nephew because he wanted to wear a dress. "Dresses are for girls". I'm paraphrasing, of course.

[@JB-rp6it]

Lewis wears dresses

[@srodber915]

Gerry McGovern so obviously not the man for the JLR job….too obsessed with his own image and not the enormity of the Jaguar brand that dwarfs him

[@JS-hq4gj]

Really interesting to listen to, but it would be even better if their wasn't such bad language used.

[@Light_Industry]

True, the language is fucking appalling

[@acemcgraw1]

Disappointing to hear Manish have a go at Lewis Hamilton for his comments about pronouns. Do you really think Lewis gets to choose which quotes are taken up by the international media? It do you think that, maybe, those that don't like Lewis having a view on anything outside of motor racing choose this quote to enrage daily fail readers across the globe so they can shout at LH for only taking about pc nonsense all the time...

[@MikeSmith-wb4dm]

What about the Goodwood Tunnel?! Short enough for Mr. Harris, berry-rich enough for Mr. Cooper, and the promise of something fantastic on the other side.

[@gordonsimpson3235]

Great pick.....this crossed my mind too.

[@DrMillerfan]

Love Chris’s comment “ if you have a partner that whines about your cars, take them to a boat show!” Fantastic!! 😂

[@petehampton6051]

Slightly different take on my favourite tunnel. For me it has to be the Channel Tunnel as this is both the gateway to family hols but also for my brother and I to get to the Nordschleife for the tourist days & Spa for track days, some of my most memorable motoring moments.

[@edwardlovett9288]

That's a very good call!

[@royd72]

Great episode, loved this!!! Collecting Cars can you give the North West some love, massive car scene, not everyone can get to Bicester x

[@ryand4089]

this is quite possibly the worlds best podacst

[@andrewhurstcars]

Turning Ferrari around is a 10-year project, Schumacher style recruiting all the top staff, and Lewis hasn’t got enough time left in F1 for that.

[@_MasterP]

It just gets better and better, love it. Was Chris hosting from the back of a pickup truck? 😎

[@grumpytorque8905]

Neil Clifford to run Jaguar!! The man with the vision and the eye for design to turn it around

[@gavinmckee588]

Look forward to this every week!!!! Proper laugh out loud moments every episode 😂 Great work gents, thank you 😊

[@kedgeuk]

Knowing someone who had for many years until recently worked in the JLR design studio, earlier this year he mentioned the direction Jaguar were looking to go with the super high premium 6 figure cars they’re looking to start making. In the same conversation he also mentioned how they regularity binned what they thought were great sporty designs building in the sporting heritage, all the senior management wanted to make were saloons to keep the older gentlemen happy whom they considered to be their target market.

[@ZondaF355]

Mr. Coopers analysis on tunnel acoustics is spot on. I can say that a F355 with Tubi at 8500 on the tach during a 3-4 shift is monumental in every tunnel design that Ive tried. Some better than others as Chris said and it does seem to depend on RPM range and engine size. Smaller bore and higher rpm seeming to be more musical in general. Always thankful to hear others who are afflicted as I.

[@pistonburner6448]

Maybe Lewis Hamilton has already given us overwhelming evidence every single year and pretty much every time he opens his mouth that the's a total cnut.

[@gordonsimpson3235]

Neil knocked it out of the park with Simple Minds - Don't you (Forget about me) !!

[@gordonsimpson3235]

I used to adore the Revival...I was a GRRC member from the start, but the crowds have become too large spoiling the experience. I handed my membership in and now watch it online with no crowds or queuing.

[@lordnovember5688]

If Neil's feeling generous, I'd think we'd all quite like to see a Chris Harris Drives on that V6 Mx5! Especially considering Chris is famously NOT a Miata fan..

[@benpenagonzales6014]

I’ve had two XK8. The second was so rusty I hurriedly took off the 20” BBS wheels which are still in my garage just in case. There’s something about an old Jag that just makes you feel special

[@Wakandapapi]

@03:00 Chris Harris with the prophetic insight “that means of course, he’s going to be wearing a red suit”

[@townsjim]

I have to disagree with you guys, Hamilton will be leaving Mercedes at the end of this season, the energy coming from him and Toto Wolff has been "off" this season and I think there's been a big fall out behind the scenes. It feels similar to when he left McLaren, everyone at the team had an air of resignation during that final season.

[@karvanznlife9227]

This is the new topgear nothing touches these guys what a perfect mix of shite and brilliance

[@drippincolors]

My favourite tunnel has to be the D2202 (red rock road) in the south of France. Where the road splits when one lane carves through the rock into a single lane and the oncoming lane hugs the outside of the cliff face. Fantastic!

[@gordonsimpson3235]

I see that Chris H is at the Bowgie overlooking Crantock. (We are next door at Holywell.). There are worse places to run a live podcast from 😎 Probably drinking Rattler!

[@davewilshere]

Euro tunnel north bound…it means I’m coming home and leaving France.

[@RobMorris-j9u]

Neil mentioned his Alfasud. Can we hear more about it. I was also an owner of one around the same time.

[@darrenkilby5007]

Excellent guys, sort your battery situation out harris

[@mar7pinheiro]

Jag deserves better

[@miked6505]

you guys should teach toe and roll

[@elcasho]

I love Neils rant

[@gordonsimpson3235]

I think Neil meant the 156 Alfa Romeo - he mentioned the hidden rear door handles. Pedant of the week award?

[@albertperks3476]

A few things: 1) Can I suggest ‘Collecting Cars’ branded pipes straight neck please 2) the Ainsley Top tunnel that passes under the M62 towards Halifax it’s a an engineering marvel 3) can you do a feature on Neil’s V6 Mx5 once it’s built? Thanks great episode.

[@cowanscott9047]

THE No.1 automotive podcast... period

[@panher]

I wonder if the bikes hanging behind Neil every leave their place to get used.

[@kevincoombs7348]

Highlight of September for me and a date I organise our holidays around is the Autumn Classics at Castle Combe. Mr Masons 250GTO is often the highlight, but watching Blakeney Edwards hustle his chain drive Frazier Nash around, often in pouring rain , comes a close second.

[@Juiceian100]

See you there on the 23rd.

[@ianfranks3571]

As a fellow old man who dibbles on about cars, this is my favourite time of the week, thanks chaps! Could I just suggest that you occasionally choose a jazz track for your music? There are some belters out there for driving to.

[@diegoaponte8512]

This has easily made the top of my automotive podcast list

[@kevingolden5675]

The longest tunnel is the best. The tunnel in Dublin used to be good before they put speed cameras in. I used to open both windows and smash my wee type r through it..... Great noise 💚😍👍

[@Milkydrummer]

Great episode chaps.

[@jeremyparsons5379]

Bloody awesome, week after week 🎉

[@borrego9241]

Memorable Songs on the road . . At the beginning of the 70's I was 15, driving a year-old Triumph TR6 solo from Reno, Nevada to Southern California via hwy 395. It was barely spring. Dropping down through Mammoth lakes, California at daybreak, I had James Taylor's 'Circle Round The Sun' playing on the custom 'Quadrasonic' 8-Track. Snow sparkled everywhere, the top was down, heater blasting, and I felt like I was the only car on the road for miles. I'll never forget that song, or the velvety lullaby of that Triumph straight-six.

[@markstevens426]

Love the whole Collecting Addicts series. My first watch when I finish work on Friday here in Singapore. Watched every one & I drive a Jag XK and have a 1965 Series 1. However, I don't think you guys hit the spot exactly about the Jag brand. The successful brands today, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW etc have made consistently great cars over decades. Buyers believe in them, trust them. Jaguar did not. They got stuck in a world of no investment, various owners who didn't care, just milked the brand and became irrelevant. If Geely or someone bought it and nurtured it, as Chris H said, maybe, just maybe if they made cars that people desire with a passion, perform, are reliable and make sense, as with Volvo then perhaps there's life in the old cat after all.

[@jonathanadams8940]

Stating that Jaguar has zero brand equity can understandably cause offence to many given Jaguar’s heritage (indeed a faux pa). In context, however Jaguar various owners (Ford in particular) tried to take it in the direction of Mercedes and BMW producing a variety of high volume vehicles with a premium brand, with no real connection with its heritage, a high end sports saloons and a high end 2 door sports GT (and racing derivatives). I can see the temptation too, Jaguar’s historical rival Aston Martin has struggled to be profitable and for a while had to be a kit car builder of other manufacturers components to balance the books. A more diplomatic approach would have stated that the strategy over past 25 years had diluted the brand’s core ethos and that a return to fewer high-end (and high margin) models would return the Jaguar brand to a premium status. A conundrum for JLR, other premium brands such as Porsche saved their lower volume sport cars with clear heritage (911 & Boxster) by producing SUVs on VW platforms. In ditching the current line-up in 2025 and taking Jaguar new direction, let’s hope they produce cars that are worthy of Brown’s Lane heritage.

[@MoparTechWill]

Id 100% agree that Jaguar is a name thats dead in the water. Agreed and granted, they have an amazing back catalogue with tons of motorsport heritage. But in the modern age and referring to their current range, they inspire absolutely no passion. To anyone who isn’t an enthusiast the name means nothing anymore, as opposed to BMW, Mercedes, Audi, etc. which people know are something special.

[@chrishawkins4342]

Tend to think Jaguar really only need two cars centred around the leaping Jaguar emblem and the red jaguar word emblem. A new XJS (nobody makes a car like that) and a new XK8/R/Lightweight E-type, leave the SUV’s to Land Rover

[@8cervezas648]

As cars get more slippery, lower, more estate-like. Should that not be Jag’s domain? The Germans are growing the performance wagon market. Piggy back the trend.

[@sevenphotographical]

Jaguars problem Is that there is no “Britishness” left in it, It’s just a badge, Porsche is quintessentially German, Ferrari is at it’s heart Italian, Hague is just a dead brand name stuck on to dull cars.

[@phil4193]

Why is is that English people have such a difficult time pronouncing "Mitsubishi"? "Mitsoobooshi"? LOL

[@sunilsolanki]

Absolutely great chat... Have to unfortunately disagree with Neil on the JLR question. While we are all passionate about the historical Jags, but they have been lost for the last few decades. Which is a true shame. Manish hit the nail on the head. You need a leader who understands the British nature of the brand and really pushes that.

[@timburton1080]

Interested that the official series 420R aren't HnT, maybe they don't feel they need to with the sequential and slicks. Certainly need to when on the Toyos!

[@philmonk8422]

Manish wins the music.......... Could Neil introduce me to V6 155 sellers for 5k

[@dane_76]

Was Chris talking from the back of a pick up?😂

[@gordonsimpson3235]

It did look like it....or one of those Kawasaki Mules with the plastic buck!

[@martynrobertson8528]

Also Jaguar invented the disk brake and made it the difference on the track, giving Jaguar a huge competitive advantage🦁

[@MrNovo19]

Keep up the good work guys. Love listening to the best podcast there is. On No 32 now, long may it last.

[@Mike-bd3yp]

456 manual for sale at iconic auctioneers (silverstone auctions) Manish. Pull the trigger.

[@robiulahmed]

Surely, that’s Jaguar’s Ratners moment.

[@Andy_ATB]

F1 is the least interesting motorsport series around; there's far better series to talk about.....

[@drivingnirvana5164]

Fully agree with Harris on aukustiks in tunnels

[@opbk88]

Need to get Harris half-cut and live from the back of a pickup again 😂 good form!