Episodios

  • Why Lexus Built A Fake Manual EV (And What It Exposes)
    Apr 11 2026

    Lexus gave a luxury EV 408 hp and a fake 8-speed manual gearbox. But the software transmission exposes a much bigger reality about the 2026 Lexus RZ 550e F SPORT. Pro driver Brian Makse skips the standard review to diagnose the real owner intel Lexus won't put in a brochure. We break down the documented problem where the Digital Key’s Bluetooth polling drains the 12-volt battery while the car sits. Plus, why you need to budget over $2,000 CAD for new Dunlop SP Sport Maxx EV tires before you even hit 25,000 km. Has Lexus built the ultimate enthusiast EV, or just an expensive side quest?

    // THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY JULE ENERGY

    Learn more at Julepower.com and tell 'em I sent ya!

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    // MY AMAZON STORE with my favorite things for drivers https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-4cc174af (this is an affiliate link)

    /// MERCH Pick up some sweet merch in our store! https://brian-makse-shop.fourthwall.com

    /// SOCIAL

    YouTube: http://youtube.com/@brianmakse

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    About Brian: http://makse.com/about


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    13 m
  • Is The 2026 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek Just Off Road Cosplay?
    Apr 5 2026

    Nissan put Falken Wild Peak all-terrain tires and a tubular roof rack on a family crossover powered by a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission. In this review, we diagnose the 2026 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek to see if the added unsprung weight ruins the on road chassis balance, or if the powertrain can actually handle the traction demands of a trail.

    We test the 201 hp VC-Turbo, evaluate the off road tuned dampers, and dig deep into the owner forums to uncover the 5,000 mile maintenance rule and engine bearing recalls that Nissan isn't advertising. At $33,990, does the Rock Creek offer genuine trail capability to rival the Subaru Forester Wilderness and Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road, or is it just an appearance package with a 3 mpg efficiency penalty?

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    // MY AMAZON STORE with my favorite things for drivers https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-4cc174af (this is an affiliate link)

    /// MERCH Pick up some sweet merch in our store! https://brian-makse-shop.fourthwall.com

    /// SOCIAL

    YouTube: http://youtube.com/@brianmakse

    Instagram: http://Instagram.com/BrianMakse

    Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BrianMakse

    Facebook: http://Facebook.com/BrianMakseOfficial"

    Link In My Bio: https://makse.com/linkinbio/

    /// MORE

    About Brian: http://makse.com/about


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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    16 m
  • Toyota's 2026 Corolla FX: Brilliant Chassis, Wrong Gearbox
    Apr 4 2026

    Toyota built exactly 1,600 units of the 2026 Corolla Hatchback FX Edition for the US market. It wears the aggressive 18-inch gloss white wheels, black vented sport wing, and heavily bolstered sport touring seats of a genuine hot hatch. But underneath the heritage badges, it runs the standard 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine and a CVT. We evaluate whether this limited-run package is a cynical cosmetic exercise or if the underlying SE chassis genuinely supports the aesthetic.

    In this dynamic review, we diagnose the limit handling, examine the surprisingly late ABS intervention, and test the chassis balance under trail braking. We also break down the specific shift logic Toyota engineered into the CVT's manual mode, and evaluate the very real ride-quality penalty that comes with the low-profile tires mandated by the FX appearance package.

    If you are expecting the compliant ride of a standard Corolla SE, the FX Edition's firm damping and aggressive seat bolstering will be a shock. We cover the mechanical realities you need to understand before buying a car based purely on its stance.

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    // MY AMAZON STORE with my favorite things for drivers https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-4cc174af (this is an affiliate link)

    /// MERCH Pick up some sweet merch in our store! https://brian-makse-shop.fourthwall.com

    /// SOCIAL

    YouTube: http://youtube.com/@brianmakse

    Instagram: http://Instagram.com/BrianMakse

    Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BrianMakse

    Facebook: http://Facebook.com/MakseAttack

    Link In My Bio: https://makse.com/linkinbio/

    /// MORE

    About Brian: http://makse.com/about


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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    14 m
  • Is the 2026 Lexus RX 450h+ Worth $75,000?
    Mar 29 2026

    Lexus is asking over $75,000 for an SUV with a 4-cylinder engine and a CVT. On paper, the 2026 Lexus RX 450h+ seems like a massive compromise compared to the RX 500h. But after pushing this 304 horsepower PHEV to the limit, the engineering reveals a very different truth about its chassis dynamics.

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    // MY AMAZON STORE with my favorite things for drivers https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-4cc174af (this is an affiliate link)

    /// MERCH Pick up some sweet merch in our store! https://brian-makse-shop.fourthwall.com

    /// SOCIAL

    YouTube: http://youtube.com/@brianmakse

    Instagram: http://Instagram.com/BrianMakse

    Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BrianMakse

    Facebook: http://Facebook.com/MakseAttack

    Link In My Bio: https://makse.com/linkinbio/

    /// MORE

    About Brian: http://makse.com/about


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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    14 m
  • The Best EV You Can’t Buy: 2026 Kia EV4
    Mar 28 2026

    Kia has built a dedicated electric sedan starting at $38,995 with 552 km of range and a chassis that actually handles, but they aren't selling it in the USA. In this review, we diagnose the 2026 Kia EV4 GT-Line Limited to see if its lower center of gravity and E-GMP architecture make it the superior choice over the Tesla Model 3.

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    // MY AMAZON STORE with my favorite things for drivers https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-4cc174af (this is an affiliate link)

    /// MERCH Pick up some sweet merch in our store! https://brian-makse-shop.fourthwall.com

    /// SOCIAL

    YouTube: http://youtube.com/@brianmakse

    Instagram: http://Instagram.com/BrianMakse

    Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BrianMakse

    Facebook: http://Facebook.com/MakseAttack

    Link In My Bio: https://makse.com/linkinbio/

    /// MORE

    About Brian: http://makse.com/about


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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    13 m
  • Should You Buy the 2026 BMW X3 M50? What the Spec Sheet Won't Tell You
    Mar 22 2026

    BMW wants you to believe the 2026 X3 M50 is the ultimate zero compromise machine. But when you bolt 21 inch wheels, an M Sport differential, and aggressive damping to a 4,500 pound crossover, does it ruin the daily commute? We put the 393-horsepower engine and its chassis to the test to find out.

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    // MY AMAZON STORE with my favorite things for drivers https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-4cc174af (this is an affiliate link)

    /// MERCH Pick up some sweet merch in our store! https://brian-makse-shop.fourthwall.com

    /// SOCIAL

    YouTube: http://youtube.com/@brianmakse

    Instagram: http://Instagram.com/BrianMakse

    Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BrianMakse

    Facebook: http://Facebook.com/MakseAttack

    Link In My Bio: https://makse.com/linkinbio/

    /// MORE

    About Brian: http://makse.com/about

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    16 m
  • The 2026 Nissan Leaf Ignores Every EV Trend (And It Works)
    Mar 21 2026

    If you’re looking for a spaceship on wheels or a budget sports car, keep walking. The 2026 Nissan Leaf SV+ aggressively ignores almost every modern EV trend. And that might be the smartest thing Nissan could have done.

    We put the $34,230 Nissan Leaf SV+ to the test to evaluate its real world driving dynamics, interior ergonomics, and why its structural solidity makes it one of the most honest commuter tools on the market. Plus, we dive into the owner forums to uncover the truth about its dual-port charging, real world range, and the infamous 12V battery issue.

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    // MY AMAZON STORE with my favorite things for drivers https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-4cc174af (this is an affiliate link)

    /// MERCH Pick up some sweet merch in our store! https://brian-makse-shop.fourthwall.com

    /// SOCIAL

    YouTube: http://youtube.com/@brianmakse

    Instagram: http://Instagram.com/BrianMakse

    Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BrianMakse

    Facebook: http://Facebook.com/MakseAttack

    Link In My Bio: https://makse.com/linkinbio/

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    About Brian: http://makse.com/about


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    12 m
  • The bZ4X is Dead. Is the 2026 Toyota bZ Actually Good?
    Mar 15 2026

    For 3 years, buying a Toyota EV meant living in a charging infrastructure nightmare. But for 2026, they quietly dropped the "4X" from the name and added a native NACS port right into the sheet metal. Did borrowing Elon Musk's plug actually fix this car or is it a band aid for something else?

    In this review of the 2026 Toyota bZ Limited AWD, we test the dual electric motors, independent eAxles, and X-MODE traction systems. We look at why the chassis rides better than a Tesla Model Y, but suffers from completely numb steering. Plus, we dive into real owner intel to expose the truth about winter range reduction (up to 50% some say) and the hidden fast charging throttle that limits you to 13 kW after 2 or 3 recent fast charges.

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    // MY AMAZON STORE with my favorite things for drivers https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-4cc174af (this is an affiliate link)

    /// MERCH Pick up some sweet merch in our store! https://brian-makse-shop.fourthwall.com

    /// SOCIAL

    YouTube: http://youtube.com/@brianmakse

    Instagram: http://Instagram.com/BrianMakse

    Twitter: http://Twitter.com/BrianMakse

    Facebook: http://Facebook.com/MakseAttack

    Link In My Bio: https://makse.com/linkinbio/

    /// MORE

    About Brian: http://makse.com/about


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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    13 m