What actually makes a car brand "cool"? Is it the racing heritage, the design, the movie appearances, or just the vibe and culture it carries? In this episode of Cool Cars with Chris, I’m joined once again by Courage, and we’re diving deep into what defines a cool car brand — and why some automakers have built a cult following while others are still trying to find their identity.

We break down iconic brands like Ferrari, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Audi, Cadillac, Volkswagen, and even Hyundai, and explore how things like rally racing, GT championships, and pop culture moments shape a brand’s reputation.

We also talk about:

• The impact of cars in movies and TV (like Fast & Furious, Knight Rider, Gone in 60 Seconds)

• Why racing versions of production cars boost brand credibility

• How brands like Hyundai N and Audi earned street cred

• The difference between car enthusiast culture vs. brand snobbery

• Why every car can be cool if it connects with the driver

Whether you're into JDM legends, Euro tuners, or American muscle, this episode has something for every gearhead and casual car fan alike.

🔍 Highlights & Key Questions:

• What really makes a car brand cool in the eyes of enthusiasts?

• How do racing history and motorsports affect brand image?

• Why did cars like the Mitsubishi Evo and Subaru WRX become cult classics?

• Is Hyundai finally a “cool brand” thanks to the N division and TCR racing?

• Do movies make or break a car’s cultural impact?

• • Why gear matters: Ferrari merch, brand swag, and the status behind logos

  
  

  🌐 Visit:
  🎯 CoolCarsWithChris.com for more episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and guest features.

  
  

  00:00 – 🎙️ Intro: What Makes a Car Brand Cool?

  00:21 – 👋 Welcome Back Courage!

  01:00 – 🏷️ The Influence of Car Branding

  01:59 – 📺 TV & Movie Cars: KIT from Knight Rider

  02:50 – 🚗 Real-Life Replicas & Car Museums

  03:48 – 🧠 The Brand Persona Debate

  04:47 – 🌀 Audi’s Evolution to Cool

  05:54 – 🔷 Cadillac’s Design Shift

  07:06 – 💼 Mercedes & the Question of Sportiness

  07:40 – 🔥 Volkswagen’s Rise with Hot Hatches

  09:26 – 🏁 Why Racing Makes Brands Cool

  10:13 – 🧢 Ferrari Swag & Motorsport Prestige

  11:29 – 🌍 Rally Cars: Subaru, Hyundai & Ford

  12:32 – 💨 Mitsubishi Evo’s Peak Era

  15:34 – 📉 The 90s Front-Wheel Drive Tuner Boom

  17:03 – 💵 Modern Compact Cars vs. 90s Pricing

  18:12 – 🎯 Classic vs. Modern Cool Car Brands

  19:52 – 🏎️ Hyundai N and TCR Racing

  20:22 – 🎬 Pop Culture & the “Movie Effect”

  21:10 – 🎥 Gone in 60 Seconds & Eleanor’s Impact

  23:13 – 🎭 Movie Nerds vs. Car Nerds

  24:01 – 🏎️ The Fast and Furious Effect

  25:06 – 🔧 The Reality of Working on Cars

  26:25 – 🚫 No Car Brand Shame: Respect All Builds

  27:00 – 👟 Vans vs. Louis Vuitton Debate

  28:15 – 📖 Why Personal Car Stories Matter

  29:10 – 🕰️ Nostalgia & the 300ZX

  30:29 – 🔚 Final Thoughts: Look Back at Your Car

  30:51 – 🌐 Outro & Website Plug

  Cool cars, car culture, car enthusiast, car podcast, car talk, auto culture, racing heritage, motorsport history, track day cars, GT cars, rally legends, race on Sunday sell on Monday, fast and furious cars, movie cars, Knight Rider, Gone in 60 Seconds, pop culture cars, tuner culture, import scene, JDM life, Mitsubishi Evo, Subaru WRX, Hyundai N, Audi R8, classic vs modern cars

  
  

  #CoolCars #CarCulture #MotorsportHistory #MovieCars #CarPodcast

  
  

Hey, let’s face it — nobody ever said “Cool minivan,” right?

But you don’t need Lamborghini money to roll up in something that turns heads. In this solo episode of Cool Cars with Chris, I’m giving you 7 of the coolest used cars you can buy in 2025 for under $20,000 — and I’m not talking about boring commuter boxes.

These are the kinds of cars that make strangers say, “Now that’s a cool ride.”

Whether you're into American muscle, sleek Japanese coupes, or refined daily drivers with serious street cred, this list hits all the marks: looks, performance, reliability, and wow factor — without blowing your entire savings account.

We’re covering everything from Chevy Corvette C5s to Mustang GTs, Dodge Challengers, Toyota 86/Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ, and even a Nissan 370Z (yes, I owned one — and I’ve got stories). Plus, I’ll break down the pros, cons, hidden gotchas, and what to look for when buying each one used.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What makes a car truly cool in 2025

• My top 7 picks for used cool cars under $20K

• Real-world buying advice (from someone who’s owned a few of these)

• What to look out for: clutches, carfax reports, sketchy mods & more

• • Why you don’t need a Hellcat to get noticed

  
  

  Featured Cars:

  • Chevrolet Corvette C5 (1997–2004)

  • Scion FR-S / Toyota 86 / Subaru BRZ (2017–2020)

  • Infiniti G37 Coupe (2009–2013)

  • Chevrolet Camaro (2010–2015)

  • Dodge Challenger (2015–2018)

  • Ford Mustang GT (2011–2014)

• • Nissan 370Z (2009–2020)

  
  

  🚘 Perfect For:

  • Car lovers on a budget

  • First-time buyers who still want performance

  • People who want cool daily drivers without a car payment

• • Anyone searching best used sports cars 2025, cool cars under 20k, or affordable cars that don’t suck

  
  

  👉 CoolCarsWithChris.com – Show archives, Social Media, Videos, and more!

  
  

  00:00 – 🏁 Intro: Why Cool Cars Don’t Need to Be Expensive

  01:33 – 🤔 What Makes a Car “Cool” in 2025?

  03:36 – 💸 Can You Really Get a Head-Turner for Under $20K?

  04:08 – #7: 🦅 Chevrolet Corvette C5 (1997–2004)

  09:13 – 🔧 C5 Corvette: What to Watch Out for When Buying Used

  09:27 – #6: 🌀 Scion FR-S / Toyota 86 / Subaru BRZ (2017–2020)

  15:51 – 🚗 Why the FR-S Platform Is a Budget Performance Gem

  16:15 – #5: 🎩 Infiniti G37 Coupe (2009–2013) – Grown-Up Power

  22:00 – 🧰 G37 Buying Tips – What to Check & What to Avoid

  23:10 – #4: 🐝 Chevrolet Camaro (2010–2015) – Bumblebee Vibes

  28:03 – 😬 Camaro Cons: Poor Visibility & Cheap Interior?

  29:24 – #3: 💪 Dodge Challenger (2015–2018) – Retro Muscle

  34:13 – 🛑 Watch for Ex-Rental Damage & Big Maintenance Costs

  35:17 – #2: 🐎 Ford Mustang GT (2011–2014) – Pure Pony Power

  41:52 – ⚠️ Mustang Warnings: Insurance, Mods & Clutches

  42:04 – #1: 🥇 Nissan 370Z (2009–2020) – My Personal Pick

  49:07 – 🔍 What to Inspect Before Buying a Used 370Z

  52:08 – 🎉 Final Thoughts & How to Get in Touch

  Cool cars, used cars under 20k, best used cars 2025, affordable sports cars, cheap cool cars, budget car build, car buying tips, car podcast, auto enthusiast, fast cars for cheap, car guy life, muscle cars under 20k, first car ideas, used sports cars, car culture 2025, car reviews 2025, fun cars for less, best cars under 20k, car shopping 2025, gearhead approved, cool car club, project car goals, fast and affordable cars, cars that turn heads, Cool Cars with Chris

  #CoolCars #UsedCarsUnder20k #AffordableSportsCars #CarBuyingTips #FastCarsCheap

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

Are EVs actually cool… or just overhyped appliances with torque?

In this episode of Cool Cars with Chris, I sit down with my good friend Courage (yes, that’s his real name — we get into it) to talk all things EV in 2025. From Tesla drag strip dominance to battery drama, we unpack the truth behind electric vehicles today.

We cover the real pros and cons of EV ownership, including:

• 🔋 Battery life and charging cycles

• 🏁 The insane speed of even the “boring” EVs

• 📉 Range anxiety and road trip nightmares

• ☀️ My dream for solar-powered hoods (Tesla, call me)

  
  

  And yes — we count down the Top 10 Best-Selling EVs in the U.S. for 2025. Some will surprise you. Some will offend your car guy soul. Some… are Teslas (duh).

  🚗 Topics We Hit:

  • EV vs gas car convenience in real life

  • What makes an EV fun (or not)

  • The F-150 Lightning's party trick that might backfire

• Courage’s EV rental experience (spoiler: range anxiety is real)

  The EV we’d actually buy (if we had to)

• 
  

  Whether you're team gas, team electric, or just here for the jokes — this episode has something for every kind of car fan.
  👂Hit play and let’s get into it.

  
  

  Cool Cars with Chris

  
  

  00:00 – 🎙️ Intro: Are EVs even cool?

  00:27 – 🧔🏾‍♂️ Courage is back! Name origin + childhood stories

  02:18 – 🧔🏾‍♂️ Why Courage thinks his name helped him stand out

  03:18 – ⚡ EVs in 2025: Hype or hassle?

  04:12 – 🏁 Drag racing Teslas and EV performance

  05:20 – 🎧 The hidden costs of making EV batteries

  06:50 – 🔋 Battery tech, charging cycles & the recycling problem

  08:02 – 🎧 How long do EV batteries really last?

  10:35 – ⚡ Why charging to 100% is bad for EVs

  12:11 – 🚙 F-150 Lightning and power backup features

  13:45 – 🎧 EV vs gas car convenience

  14:33 – 📉 “Range anxiety” is real

  15:17 – 🚗 Courage’s Tesla rental story

  16:07 – ⚡ EV driving feel & one-pedal braking

  18:09 – ⚡ Are EVs fun to drive?

  20:00 – 📉 Long drives & charging station gaps

  21:53 – 🎧 EV road trip planning headaches

  22:38 – ☀️ Chris’s dream: Solar panels that actually charge your EV

  23:47 – 🔄 Range extenders and hybrid tech explained

  25:13 – 🔄 Are hybrids actually the best of both worlds?

  26:47 – 🔊 Fake engine noise on EVs – cool or cringe?

  27:54 – 🚨 PSA: Stop parking your Tesla at gas pumps

  28:40 – 🎧 What car guys *really* hate about EVs

  30:14 – 🏙️ EVs for city driving vs long hauls

  31:28 – 💡 Grid strain, infrastructure, and the future of EVs

  31:41 – ⚡ Top 10 Best-Selling EVs of 2025 (countdown starts!)

  33:35 – 🛻 Tesla Cybertruck – hate it or love it?

  34:56 – 🇰🇷 Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the performance EV scene

  38:07 – 🐎 Is the Mustang Mach-E a real Mustang?

  39:26 – 🇺🇸 Chevy’s SUV-heavy EV lineup

  41:52 – 🚗 Tesla takes the crown: Model Y & Model 3

  44:14 – ✅ Wrap-up: Would we buy an EV right now?

  
  

  #ElectricVehicles #CoolCarsPodcast #CarPodcast #EVPodcast #AutoTalks #EVs2025 #ElectricCars2025 #TopEVs #EVTrends #BestEVs #EVPerformance #EVBatteries #RangeAnxiety #BatteryTech #EVCharging #TeslaModelY #Model3 #Cybertruck #FordLightning #MustangMachE #PodcastEpisode #NewPodcastDrop #CarTalks #PodcastForCarLovers #CarGuysUnite