The Car Podcast with Chris Harris and Friends Episode 10: Tax Discs, City Cars and Worst Facelifts

[@jono6379]

I got a 2 car garage question for you guys. You have 100K to buy one of your fellow podcasters 2 cars that are very much not them and something they would never consider buying but something that once lived with and driven they will grow to love greatly.

[@zn9861]

Great!

[@happystreamsstuff]

this HAS to be the next question!

[@davidhamilton1981]

Great question!

[@js00065]

Great idea!

[@jono6379]

@@js00065 thank you. They answer it on this week's pod if you haven't watched it yet

[@georgesj9536]

Chris Cooper is why hiring a consultancy firm is so expensive: instead of just answering the question. Let me first (on your dime) figure out the origin of this question, then think about how it would be the other way around and eventually rotate back and give a short easy answer for the original question. Love it.

[@davidhamilton1981]

I'm glad you asked this question.. .

[@MyAntony1985]

And all his documentation is mounted on perspex lol

[@gregrolfe3505]

The quality of his contribution is inversely proportionate to the amount he contributes

[@georgesj9536]

@@gregrolfe3505 okay downer

[@jjohnbowie]

Afternoon from my pizza delivery job in Australia listening to listen while in my 95 ek4 honda civic

[@EPLPST]

Listening in my 93 eh9 honda civic over here!

[@jamalkherry5296]

Is that thing as good on the nose as their reputation says?

[@chrisball1992]

1) This is therapy for me 2) You chaps are poetic petrolhead geniuses 3) Everything that comes out of Neil’s mouth is pure gold

[@johnboardman5602]

Especially 3) :)

[@paulhaselton]

I love the chaos of this podcast @25:20 Manish to Chris H: "You can always mute yourself...?" Chris H *shouting*: "THE AUDI R8!!!"

[@thebaboon2773]

7 days on and I’m still not over Neil suggesting a size 45 is a large shoe.

[@davidthegolfer]

As a 47/48 I laughed.

[@Hagenmeister]

As a 41 i don't 😅

[@johnboardman5602]

Wel he should know, he sells enough?

[@WiresWackyfan]

Hi guys, thanks Mr Harris for choosing my 2CG this week. I have to admit to letting out a girly squeal when you started reading it. I forgot to mention that the £70k was for a company car and wasn’t your money, but hey ho 🤷‍♂️ I loved the manipulation of funds. My two cars that I had in mind were the Hyundai Ionic 5N because you still need fun even if you have to have an EV. My plaything would be a 1992 GMC Typhoon which I found on eBay for under £20k. It has four seats and room for the dog too, oh and 0-60 in around 5 seconds. Thanks again and can’t wait for next week. 👍

[@jurisbriedis]

I absolutely love you guys!!! Such a great hour of motoring banter each week - can't wait for the next episode. Keep up the fantastic entertainment.

[@whoopwhoop-my8vq]

Gents, I must say I absolutely loved this episode. Just got back from driving from Caffeine and Machine - The Hill and C&M The Hut (Portsmouth way) with our group Petroleum Spirit. You rounded the day off perfectly.

[@HawkMillFarm]

It's been a shit week with the budget but you guys take us to a better happy memorable place. Thank you one and all.

[@GazMoby]

I didn't know Manish knew Luca and Bernie. Amazing 😂

[@wharris123184]

Luca was on the old Collecting Cars podcast when Manish was visiting him at his home.

[@mattslip179]

Seeing as he's making documentaries about both, it makes sense. All covered on previous eps

[@bimmerhause7798]

8 in the morning just got in my E36 328i 30 years old having a drive to relax my mind Thank you so much you have no idea how much I needed this ❤

[@panher]

You can't just not talk about one of the best f1 drives you've ever seen!

[@mybnr34]

Unbelievable that they're not talking about it ! Unless it involves Lando lol.

[@jonathanvg1647]

Is the British bias maybe real then…?🤫

[@_MasterP]

The long admiration waits until next week boys

[@devd6373]

said theyll discuss it next week

[@Lukey-jy4ez]

@@jonathanvg1647of course it is. Like here in Belgium, Max max max… it’s just normal

[@markaldridge2531]

Tax discs, absolutely miss them. Still have the last tax disc bought in the window of my Saab NG900 with has just returned to the road since it was laid up in 2015. Quincy Jones, git to be Donna Summer 'State of Independence' Find the video of rhe backing singers on that track - basically everybody from soul music at that time! Thank you chaps for making my day again.

[@italsounds001]

I have to say, I love Chris Cooper’s long form answers, insights and stories (and your reactions), it wouldn’t be the same without 😆 But I also love my 1275GT clubman frontend ✌️

[@johnboardman5602]

Got to love a 1275 Clubman. Loved mine. Rolled it through a ditch in a snowstorm late one evening about 40 years ago. Got more for it in parts than I paid for the thing. Youth - wasted on the young!

[@_MasterP]

After Chris H's cpmment on the first moonwalk.. youl'll find an amazing black man called Bill Hailey actually did it in 1955... and tax disks were pretty but a fking pain in the ass. Love the pod as Always!

[@SteveCox-g5r]

Hearing about what Neil Clifford has got up to lately in cars, is always great! This time, it was bloody hilarious!!😂

[@tommogun3]

This podcast has the perfect mix of mates chatting and I know I could listen and talk to each one of you all bloody day ! ❤

[@Dandadadan83]

Worst facelift for me is Maserati 3200gt to 4200...boomerang lights gone 😢 Love the pod fellas 🎉

[@weaksignal8009]

Hear the story with Luca, Stephenson, and Giugiaro regarding that change?

[@WiresWackyfan]

The Maserati wasn’t a facelift as such but more like an arselift gone wrong. Could be the automotive equivalent to embarrassing bodies.

[@Dandadadan83]

​@weaksignal8009 nope I'll look it up thanks.

[@Kamavagadoo]

This podcast always reminds me why I love cars. I’ve paused half way through as I’ve been inspired to temporarily insure my son for my GR Yaris so that he can drive us up to Caffeine and Machine for a fry up. BTW I coveted the tax disc holder on my friend’s BMW 1602 when I was young. It was a permanent, shield-shaped sticker which held the tax disc and the upper portion stated ‘The Ultimate Driving Machine’.

[@martynpotter21]

Appreciate the love for Quincy Jones (and Michael Jackson of course)

[@DaDa-David]

GOOD FACELIFT - BMW e23 7 Series from 82/83 - just all that was needed.

[@Redmi-j4i]

Working in my garage on my VW T1 bus with the "company" of the boys. This morning couldnt be better. Hello to all of you from Slovenia 🇸🇮

[@matthewcoward5933]

I’m too young for tax discs but it was the ultimate honour when my dad finally let me have a go at getting the disc out of the paper.

[@MikeOttati]

Always my favorite podcast of the week. Oh and shameless plug, my 6.9 is live at no reserve on bring a trailer! Chris go bid!

[@Boxer4ever]

Early bird boys?

[@Miggy2j]

🫡

[@alexanderdt5992]

Great podcast! I do hope you will find some time to discuss the Brazilian GP in the next one, one of the great races in F1 history (independent of driver preference).

[@spilot1016]

Agreed. Puts Schumi's 1996 Barcelona... or that Magni Cour one to shame. Best one I've ever seen since 1992....

[@eastbaystreet1242]

Yes, Manish! I had two 512TRs (different years) and refused to move to the LM.

[@mountain_walker]

I do think the 996 will go up in value over time, it's starting to look really, really good.

[@tonytcook]

i love this podcast!

[@79blustone]

The week isn't complete without listening to you guys. 🎉

[@DaDa-David]

YES Mr Clifford - that thing of just checking out other peoples tax discs!

[@robstevens6590]

Mr Cooper is bang on ..... To me, an old car without Tax Discs is missing a huge part of its identity. Great topic Gentlemen.....

[@Hagenmeister]

Hearing Manish take care of the A4 is lovely

[@Goonermac82]

Great episode , I’m 42 this year and only had a few years of collecting tax discs from the post office , but wow even the memories brought back to me today of the nervous feeling trying to scam the post office as my insurance had ran out the day before and I’m awaiting a new cover note in the post 😂😂

[@krabo83]

seriously, no segment about that amazing interlagos GP?! please don't tell me it's because max spanked lando...

[@matheusazevedo2535]

They must have recorded this podcast before the Brazilian GP.

[@tstret3104]

Why would it be because of that? If anything they’re more likely to be critical towards Lando then they are towards Max

[@mybnr34]

I thought the same thing! Unbelievable that they're not talking about it ! Unless it involves Lando lol.

[@Joseandresyanes]

@@matheusazevedo2535at one point Neil says “more red flags than this weekends gp” or something like that when they are speaking about what they did on cars last week. They saw it

[@_MasterP]

The long admiration waits until next week boys...

[@49tkscott]

Fantastic weekly edition. Thank you gents.

[@kubilovecars]

Its a therapy for me 🙏you are amazing guys..I wait whole week for a new episode to come like i did for peaky plinders😂..2 car garage…lets keep it simple..no budget..best FWD and RWD cars off all time ..both for daily use and can have fun with it

[@andrewwarr2050]

Song - You have bought the Dream car (Wet black 911 Turbo S), you are picking it up from the dealer; what is the track that you select to drive out of the dealership (with the window down)

[@elliotprice3436]

Neil is so right about the gen 1 996, the 98 Le Mans car had those headlamps and the GT1 road car! Bolster the values Neil, it’s finally time for the 996!

[@Shinigami920]

Loading this podcast early on a Friday hits harder than the nostalgia of a hot cuppa on a dark morning before school

[@tonyf4303]

The Ferret is more LM-002 than Purosangue ;)

[@eastbaystreet1242]

"Proper Rockford Files car". Brilliant. James Garner would have been great on this pod.

[@marcoscastro9321]

Here is one thing for you guys to discuss: why are there some many ways - depending on car brand - to turn on and off high-beam? Why in some marques the front wiper is turned on pushing the stalk down, while on others it's pushing up? Why don't they make it all the same everywear so it is easier to jump from one car to the other without having to endure these nuisances?

[@legendstrading9493]

Hello from Zurich At 43:50 the Microlino is electric and actually Swiss (same company as the Micro Scooter) while they‘re assembled by a partner in Torino (IT). Anyway, thanks for the weekly car therapy!

[@matthewyoung3942]

Having just left the old car dealer job after nearly 20 years I have to tell you the best and most joyous tax disc related moment was bringing a part exchange in that had a current tax disc but that had been written out in a normal pen and not the proper indelible ink pen. This meant although the tax disc was valid the ink would have faded so the registration number wasn't eligible meaning it was fair game to be slotted into the windscreen of any old smoker with fuel in that had been part exchanged by a more savvy buyer who requested to cash them back in 👌🏻

[@JamesDare-w9l]

Best episode yet and I'm only half way through

[@JimPakeman]

You are back!! Brilliant

[@urbanstrencan]

Just laughed all the way up to the end 😂😂😂. The best city car is Rezvani bullet proof SUV 😅😅😅

[@edmontontangobar4991]

City Car, if it's Edmonton, Canada, it's a Ford 150, everyone already has one here.

[@KirkLazurus]

Really like this new software to record the podcast. Better video quality.

[@squidwardshouse2475]

I strongly agree with Neil about the 996 headlights. Old ones are better!

[@Harry_Halsey]

Week 10 and I just updated the "The Car Podcast with Chris Harris and Friends- MUSIC" I made on the famous music streaming site beginning with a S. I will continue to update this each week with the awesome song choices for the soundtrack of our drives.

[@Skornogr4phy]

I actually shouted outloud on my commute to Bristol airport listening to this. When the worst facelift was mentioned I immediately thought of the Multipla. They took a divisive but innovative car and turned it into the most uninteresting design known to mankind. Say what you will about "ugly" cars but we remember them unlike all the other invisible ones that fell by the wayside

[@ianstravels]

Loving the podcast chaps, you guys are great! Have any of you bumped into a metalic bumper ? I have a question for you to discuss - Most painful metallic bumper you've ever been into . Me? A Ford Capri Ghia, in the dead of night, after a country wedding. Even drunk, it really hurt ! Just on the shin bone! Anyone else got some comparisons? You knew it was a solid car!

[@endlessrage4062]

Worst facelift? Manish, “Ferrari 512 headlights were ugly…” Ford Scorpio, “Hold my beer….” 🤣 Love you guys and the podcast so much. In fear of sounding like a broken record, this is my weekly highlight that I await with antici………………………pation. 🙏🏻

[@CaterhamMatt]

Best one yet, thanks chaps

[@jameswoodcock343]

My 996 has made an appearance in the pod! R450 HMV I am honoured

[@JamesDare-w9l]

With that baseball cap, jacket and moustache I was expecting dogging in what I did in cars this week. My hero

[@NineHellHeaven]

I suffer a similar affliction of a very grey beard with a dark moustache. As the beard is almost invisible, on work video calls I have been described as a Mexican bandit.

[@billdexhart5179]

Is there a new playlist being composed on the songs? Would love to have it. Thanks!

[@andrewtrimble1095]

I've kept my AA tax disc holder with a half moon back, easy to slip tax disc into, took it from car to car for yrs.

[@jameswingrove7421]

For the facelifts, one of the worst ones for me was the Firebird/TransAm when the ‘74 model came out. The ‘73 model was to my eyes, beautiful. The ‘74 has such an awkward front end.

[@Cloxxki]

Model S facelift has made it a lot better IMO. Latest version is also a lot more energy efficient, could be 15% or better for range with the body alone, never mind modern aero wheels that aren't ugly and do help. For the kind of driving a large saloon is designed to do, a huge difference.

[@elcasho]

Good episode. RIP Quincy Jones

[@VDHandcrafted]

I took my 924S to pub for lunch this week and saw the leaves as well 😊. Also conscious we wont have many more opportunities to drive BTS. 🚗

[@1REDARROWS]

I asked chatGPT to write a 2CG scenario, here is what it spat out. Scenario: “Mad Scientist’s 2-Car Garage” Budget: $150,000 total (but creative stretching is encouraged). Conditions: 1. Car 1: The Experiment Gone Right • A car that represents cutting-edge technology or engineering genius. • Must include some form of alternative propulsion (e.g., electric, hybrid, hydrogen, rotary, or even steam-powered). • Bonus points if it’s obscure, experimental, or ahead of its time when it launched. 2. Car 2: The Retro Oddball • A car that looks like it’s from another planet or another era-something visually unique that sparks conversations wherever it goes. • Must have been manufactured before 1990. • Extra credit if it’s rare, impractical, or requires a ton of patience to own. Rules: • Both cars must be road-legal. • You must justify how these two vehicles could theoretically coexist in your life without making you go insane (e.g., maintaining the retro car or explaining why you’d drive an experimental vehicle). • Bonus challenge: One car must be from a manufacturer that no longer exists. feel free to join the reddit. www.reddit.com/r/ChrisHarrisOnCars/

[@mikeflanagan522]

Neil Clifford’s segment on tax disc is every person in the Isle of Man 🇮🇲 at the post office 😂 (Yep we still have them!)

[@NineHellHeaven]

I have a BMW i3s. I bought it as a runabout and to reduce mileage on my 911. If I can get the keys from my wife, I use it for almost everything and it has become my favourite car. I even sold the 911. For Neil, later models have Carplay pre-installed. Get an i3s, not the regular i3. Don't get the ReX version, get a 120Ah long range version.

[@liamgell]

My wife spat her drink all over her desk at “pure egg sandwich”

[@danielshinerock1526]

EV Tesla Model S 2019 24k. Or a secondhand Audi E Tron. The Audi may suffer from Tech issues. Worth the challenge. Mordern classic 500SEC 10k. That is what I paid for mine. Plus a Nissan 240z. A lot of money left if I leave out The Audi. Or buy all 4 for 100k. Oh I am only allowed to have two cars. Nevermind.

[@jamalkherry5296]

Chaps? City cars and nobody mentioned a single kei car? Suzuki Cappuccino all the way!

[@johnnyboyj1929]

Autozam

[@matthewbourner5242]

Listening from my 1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500 on the way home from work (bluetooth speaker of course) 😂

[@Rakan1st]

Topic suggestion: Favorite/ Best looking Cars with side exhausts

[@dawnjohn64]

Algorithm bought me here Chris...loved your vid with joe rogan..

[@jackytwickx5330]

We don't mention that idiot here, this is a decent country

[@TheBucketOfTruth]

E90 BMW 3 Series is one of the hall of fame facelift improvements. Some models do it better than others. I'd say the previous gen S Class facelift was not quite so great. Sometimes when they are trying to put styling elements on the old car from the upcoming replacement to bridge the gap those do not work so well. But often facelifts are flattering. Like the example I gave. Or the L405 Range Rover where it actually looks quite a bit more modern and better than the launch car even if it's doing design bridging. Worst facelift that came to mind for me was the Chevrolet Camaro from 2019 which was so ugly it looks as though they changed it again a year later.

[@bloggers4755]

Listening to your ramblings about the good old days of tax discs got me thinking, it seeks like forever ago hgv's were taxed according to the number of axles and also any tax disc was ok if you were trucking abroad 😁 also at one point i had a unit that was only taxed plg for use in the UK without a trailer, so i'd drive to the port on a Sunday evening and pick my trailer up and get on the ferry and do the reverse when I shipped back to blighty (most of the time) 😊 also if the boss was desperate usually late on Friday eve or Saturday am you'd have a unit taxed 3×2 axles and have to do a run with a 3 axle trailer making it 3×3 (naughty naughty)

[@martijndegroot8727]

Regarding worst facelifts: I always liked the original Mercedes CLS shape (C219), very simple, elegant and pure. Then they released the next-gen C218 with lines and creases everywhere...

[@CB21001]

As you said, the next-gen was by definition not a facelift of the original CLS. Also, the original CLS just looked like an E Class that had melted

[@davepgt3]

Just bought the Prodrive book, that will make a great present.

[@AliRouseRacing]

Microlino is a Swiss car designed in Zurich by the micro scooter company, about 5km from my apartment...

[@DaDa-David]

I still remember seeing cars with 'tax in the post' in the windscreen! "Not JUST on Del Boys Reliant Supervan!

[@ia6718]

Just picturing Chris cooper doing the thriller moves after 4 wines

[@Mykelking16]

Greetings everyone. Hope its a good weekend for all.

[@paulhancock]

While definitely not the worst, Chris makes a good point about the R8 being a bad facelift. The original was a stunning piece of car design, looked like something from a sci-fi movie, had amazing marketing with Tony Stark in the Avengers, fantastic TV ads, and we thought we'd finally got a proper 911 rival for the new era... And then they gave it a bad facelift when they released the V10, got rid of the side 'blades' which were a key design feature... And then the whole car just went nowhere, we never really got a proper MKII and it just aged out and got left behind. Maybe VAG's accountants just decided not to cannibalise Lambo and 911 sales and let it die, but it's a real shame and wasted potential either way.

[@muthukumaranc]

Please never change Mr. Chris Cooper 😂

[@MostlyAboutDriving]

Worst facelifts: MGB in the 70s for the American market. Hyundai Coupe S1 to S2. Pug 406 to 407. Discovery 4 to 5. There's plenty more, but they're the ones that really stick in my mind.

[@writeStevie]

Disco 4 to 5 is not a facelift, its a different car/platform.

[@MostlyAboutDriving]

@@writeStevie So's the Pug 406 to 407, if we're being pedantic.

[@writeStevie]

@@MostlyAboutDriving 406 to 406 facelift was bad enough

[@CB21001]

You just listed a whole load of new generations, not facelifts. All of those other than the MGB were not facelifts lol. Although Disco 4 to 5 has to be the mayor of the hall of fame in design downgrades.

[@Games_and_Music]

2CG is always tricky, as i am quite indecisive, if money wasn't an issue then a round belly Countach will be in it 100%, add an early gen Diablo to finish it off. But, depending on how practical i'd need to be in the city, with a budget of about 70K, i might go for an early gen high mile NSX and early gen Smart fortwo, not the newer boxy type mentioned in the podcast. But i guess an EV was part of the question, i think i might go for a second hand Honda e, i like the interior, one of the few times where i don't mind screens as much. Or, early gen Viper (RT/10) with a Honda e. Worst facelift, i'm not sure if i can really come up with one, but i've sure seen some disappointing ones. As a teen in the 90s, i kinda liked the Opel Tigra and Ford Puma, but that Puma reboot looks like a Nintendo 64 rendition of the original one. The original had peculiar shapes, but the new one lacks any character, where is the fancy backside, the large window and lip, it just became another generic crossover. The 4th gen Honda Prelude to the 5th gen, ironically i think they should've used the back lights of the 5th gen on the 4th and it wouold be greater, then i realized that that would make it pretty much like a Honda Integra Type R. Apparently there's a new Prelude coming, which looks heinous. I prefer the 5th gen Toyota Celica over the 6th gen, not to mention the terrible 7th gen.

[@youremostwelcome]

I met one of the Ferrari development drivers for the Purosandwich. He told me that during the development of it, he was test driving one through the hills of Modena one day (at a fair rate of knots), and as a corner of significant departure from his current trajectory approached, he hit the brake pedal- which went to the floor. As such, he ended up in a very confused local’s kitchen (after penetrating a not-insignificant stone wall of said kitchen). I assumed this story was a little bit of Italian ‘creative license’ embellishing on a little near miss after some brake fade… until he showed me the recently replaced wall. I’m sure they’ve fixed the brake issue now, though…

[@eastbaystreet1242]

I'm sure they offered him lunch and some wine to calm his nerves. I had a race in Italy and picked my car up from the Ferrari factory after they had tuned it. Later that day my F1 World Champion friend took my girlfriend on a ride through those wonderful twisties. She arrived home quite excited. I was the beneficiary of her great joy. Italy can be so beautiful and romantic... ahhh.

[@same687]

28:23 406 facelift !!! i thought it looked great 😂😂 !!! as a kid born in the early 90's , , , my car aspirations were dads brewery rep company cars !! he was passionate about them all and that's what gave me my love of cars !!! 90's bruton , we saw bangers and old money mercedes !! ,,,, facelift 406 , passat , vectra , focus estate , e46 318i ( managers car ) , , , these new cars looked great in that world and at the time , always seemed like big advancements 🙂🙂

[@danielshinerock1526]

Chris choice of electric car good. The Merc he choose. Upgrade to 450 SEL 6.9. You do not need it. However you have to have one!

[@garethjones9450]

Loving the rear view of the f40 neil maybe its need a mate to share the garage with how epic would an early testarossa single A pillar door mirror look next to the F40

[@WAFFLNATORE]

What interiors, or car colour combos do you associate with a certain brand? Even when you see it on another car. For example, E46 cars with the Grey on caramel interior. My S60R is E46 spec, Gray on Atacama, Everytime I look at it I think E46 M3

[@Littlegreenlightweight]

I knew someone who always got one that expired in March and he'd then change the 03 to 08 with some felt tips and so he got 5 months for free! 😅

[@akadanielmaia]

2 CC I believe F1 drivers as well as their team marketing lack car guy spirit and creativity so your job is to pick cars for you garage. 1. Would need to from your team sponsor brand which happens to be either Mercedes or Renault but because you’re cool it should be one that is not in production anymore. 2. A fuck you car that breaks the sponsor rule and it’s a F1 drivers budget knowing they either live in Monaco or Switzerland and definitely do not pay taxes

[@JamesDare-w9l]

My dad was a ferret commander and it's the perfect answer

[@jonathanblease244]

Love the pod. Can you get on Teams instead? Definitely helps with talking over each other / not hearing one another 👍

[@alan_tait]

Saab 95 Dame Edna headlight chrome glasses win the worst facelift

[@G55STEYR]

Love the W116, my first car, but it needs a V8. 280E is better suited to the W123. AMG made the 6.9 develop 375hp with some cams, that would be cool to recreate.

[@superkjell]

EV: Alpine A290, classic: I really like the Alfa Spider suggestion

[@eastbaystreet1242]

Yes, Chris Cooper: "facelifts are driven by commercial desperation". That's why I will never sell my pre-facelift AMG S63, which has the same grille design/DNA as every Merc cabriolet ever before it.

[@Rlee571]

As a classic mini clubman owner I’m devastated that you all dislike it 😂. I’ve always loved the Clubman over the round nose