The Cars Got Faster — But Did Driving Get Worse? | The Analog Debate

Modern performance cars are quicker, smarter, and more capable than ever. So why do so many enthusiasts feel like something’s missing? In this episode of Full Throttle Talk, we dive into one of the most important conversations in modern car culture: Have we optimized performance so much… that we’ve optimized away emotion? Drive-by-wire. Brake-by-wire. Electronic steering. Software-shaped torque and sound. At what point did cars stop being machines we operate — and start becoming systems that manage the experience for us? We welcome Blair Smith as the newest voice on Full Throttle Talk and are joined by Shinoo Mapleton to explore: • What “analog” really means • Whether lightweight engineering is nostalgia — or philosophy • If software enhances engagement or simulates it • And whether modern performance cars feel alive… or engineered From Ariel Atom and Caterham Seven to Lotus Elise, GR86, and Alpine A110 — we examine the machines still fighting for mechanical honesty in a software-defined world. If you care not just about how fast a car is — but how it makes you feel — this conversation is for you. 📬 Join the Full Throttle Talk Newsletter Get deeper discussions, behind-the-scenes insights, and future episode updates: 👉 FullThrottleTalk.com