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Smith and Sniff
Smith and Sniff

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Podcast 113 - Manta, Manta

Jonny discovers a new genre of German cinema and Richard has been inundated with hill parking advice. Also in this episode, countries where the moustache is acceptable, Tom Selleck's control of a tank slapper, passing your driving test in extreme conditions, men who wear shorts a bit too much, Skoda Estelle versus Lancia Delta S4, a Reliant Kitten in the neighbourhood, travelling back in time to save the Metro 6R4, bad stereo volume controls, the sound of spoken German, mountain climbing in Crocs and an expensive watch, the Jet Towel action movie, flatulent econometers and quoting builder central locking, getting money back on car insurance, barricading in old Defenders, commuting in a hot air balloons, the sadness of The Littlest Hobo, and an e-Up update.

Podcast 113 - Manta, Manta

Comments

Re pop out rear windows, as much as they are generally for entry level stuff my e56 m3 (peak car arguably) has leccy pop outs, and i quite enjoy driving with the front windows cracked and rear pop out open a touch - can't be open past the rear window trim. For aesthetic purposes

Calum Blaik

I took my motorbike test on a very hot day in May 2008, in full leathers and protective gear. The examiner normally rides along on a bike and communicates with a one way radio the instructions. My examiners bike was in for a service so he was in a car, with air con. He kept reminding me of this all the way round the test, more so when we got stuck in traffic and I was astride a hot engine in full sun! Thankfully I passed but getting the leathers off when I got home is a different story...

Nick Higgins

Going on about Land Rover and blocking them in I use my 2013 Passat Estate. Also what email address can I send you a picture of my father's sales invoice for his 1971 ford cortina brand new (he found it while tidying up.) Its quite interesting

iain leake

This is a fine tribute to mantas everywhere - featuring a B2 gen example in hand painted acid green. And a moustache. https://youtu.be/hRqAOyXL15Q

Sergey Baskakov

My daughter passed he driving test last year in our F150 in -35 with ice and snow everywhere! I’ve never ever been so proud!

Michael k-b

Not the hot/cold extremes you discussed on the podcast, but I had my driving test during a thunderstorm and biblical rain in 1994; What's the problem, I hear you ask? Well the thunderstorm had knocked out the power in central Grantham at the time, so all of the traffic lights were out and the traffic at major junctions on the test route was chaotic. How I managed to pass I shall never know, maybe the tester was feeling sympathetic!!

Chris Cholmeley

Retropower cars have done a few Manta's they are doing a five speed conversion on a rather clean original one at the mo https://youtu.be/7t2hTeRIL7c?t=289

Stephen Voss

To be read in the style of Alan Partridge " Oi Porter STOP GETTING Cyril's car wrong" you stated that the orange got stuck under the brake pedal of his manta but in a previous episode you said it was his mk1 scirocco. Or are you saying his had an unfortunate incident twice with a escaped orange?

Russ Hill

Do they let you turn off comments for a post? Maybe you could disable the comments on one post, and everyone would migrate to the other.

Mark Pelto

Did my Driver's test in A 81 VW bus... The parallel park part was a bear.

david marden

Was this also recorded in the new office shed? I can hear the birds in the background. It's brilliant, I listen to the podcast in a small windowless laboratory every Monday so the link to the outdoors is a pleasant addition.

Ryan Beveridge

I passed my U.K. driving test in July 1976, yes the hot summer! In an Austin 1300 two door!!

Steve Morton

Ref the Smiths econo gauge, would you notice a farty sound from a leaky meter if you were driving a beetle? (one massive endless farty sound).

Mike Taylor

I await pictures of the high performance Ralliart variant of the Mitsubishi Jet Towel. Complete with double the power, extra ducts, flames that spit out of it on overrun and a propensity to get stolen and smashed through the windows of branches of Currys.

Rup (FastAsFunk)

I worked in Germany from the late 90's to about 2010. The Mantamann was always associated in Germany with the Ruhrgebiet, the towns around Dortmund, a bit like how Fawds are associated with Essex. The last time I visited was in 2006 - it really was always noticeable that there were a lot of men who seemed to model themselves on Rudi Voller in the 1990 World Cup with Curly Perm and 'tache before facial hair became fashionable. Unfortunately the haircuts seemed to outlive the cars as I didn't spot many, even then.

Tom Carter

I haven't even told you about Cyril's mate with the Matra Murena...

Smith and Sniff

I'd love to combine the pod audio file and the show notes into one thing to streamline the comments but Patreon doesn't like such things. R

Smith and Sniff

Hi, reporting live from the U-Bahn in Munich. Unfortunately the lack of mustaches means that the face brush is phased out in Germany too. Btw, you might want to take a look at the Dutch film New Kids. Loads of mullets and a green kitted out manta.

Sander Hop

The børning films are intentionally silly car themed comedy. Btw børning is pronounced very similar to how you pronounce burning.

Robin Johnsen

I remember idly wondering why American cars in TV shows would twitch forward as the driver stopped and immediately got out. Of course, they’re just ramming it into park without the handbrake.

Jim Galbraith

= „Vorne kurz, hinten lang“ (Short in front, back long).

#lescolsdesalpes

The guy in the first minute would have been the prototype „Mantafahrer“. This spiffing men‘s style required not only the moustache but also the appropriate hair cut, a „Vokuhila“

#lescolsdesalpes

The moustache is no more that big in Germany since the mid 90s as everywhere. BUT have a look at this documentary from the very early 1990s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eLG_pzplnnY

#lescolsdesalpes

Yep I've been know to comment on them as well

Nigel Hancock

Don't worry Rich as a bit of a S&S geek I have listened to all the podcasts on a rolling system & as I worked all the way through the pandemic with a 40 min commute each way I've listened to each many times. Hope your enjoying Bath traffic, famously often worse than London!

Nigel Hancock

Good to hear the e-Up is doing well with the range. My Soul EV got charged to 100% last night and is now showing 314 miles as opposed to the 280 official range. It seems pretty accurate too as after my usual mixed driving for work of 120-200 miles in a day the remaining range plus the mileage done is usually 305-325. Switching the air con on makes a big difference to the expected range but doesn’t seem to make that much difference to the actual range. Not a Manta but when I was young, there was an older couple who had the garage opposite ours who had a Mk1 Capri (this would have been late 70s/early 80s).

Stephen Archer

And another on the YouTube videos that they provide links to.

Firstdan2000

Honestly the most bonkers episode description yet. I'm calling in sick just to listen to this one. OTSOT, I just drove out of the quaint Brontë-centric village of Haworth and commented to the family, "imagine trying to pass your test round here!?!" There's a crossroads on a 1 in 5 hill. You read that right. The smell of rotten fish from angry clutches must be unbearable.

Das Herbert

Passed my driving test in strong winds and persistent snow back during “the beast from the east”. The instructor gave me the option to wait for another test but being an impatient 18 year old meant that was never an option. One hairy journey around a roundabout (mostly sideways and flapping my hands at the wheel as if I was disregarding an insect) and about 13 uses of the ABS later and I passed with a couple of minors.

M JD

I suppose a manta driver is comarable to chav boy racers...

Sean Hamerton

Manta Manta Trailer - https://youtu.be/fG1EAwxZEtk

Martin Dickinson

I passed my test in diesel Mk6 Fiesta, no adverse weather but I did have to deal with reversing around a corner where a bin lorry was waiting to come out. I think he needed me out of the way but all I could do was stare at the driver as he waved at me, until he got the idea and reversed back down the road. Very stressful. Then I sat at a green light that was invisible due to the sun and got a ton of side-eye from the examiner. Still passed easily.

Matt Tester

Oh gosh, have I told this story before? I think maybe the oranges were the cause of the wall crash, you're right. And then he hit another car for a different ridiculous reason, though not because he tried to capture and transport a live badger. That's a separate tale for another time. R

Smith and Sniff

https://youtu.be/bnHWdGP2ikQ Original Magnum start, don’t remember this music! BTW, shorts 365 day a year, drive MX-5 and I own a welder, ‘coz manly. I also eat raw porridge with my bare hands, so there.

Neil Holmes

From the description, this one will be legendary! I'll save it for tomorrow's commute.

Alejo Rossia

Had to restrain myself from taking a photo of a trio of Mitsubishi Jet Towels in M&S earlier like some weird perv

Vincent Grey

I'm a tall man who went from a Manta GTE to a MKII Scirocco. Also your story of Cyril has changed as originally he crashed into a wall?

Nigel Hancock

Yep I passed my test just before Christmas 1982 in the snow, driving a 2 year old Metro that had already lots of kit not working including the fuel gauge. It was in Bristol but as it was before the 90's was synchronized with the rest of the world

Nigel Hancock

Just realised we have 2 sets of patron comments one on this page and another on the show notes page

Nigel Hancock

I haven't listened to this episode yet so I'm stupid for commenting. However, I really hope the excellent rendition of Jungle Bill by Yello is mentioned if Manta Manta is being talked about

Stuart Richards

Perfect timing! I’v literally just collected what is going to be our new family campervan, and am about to drive it 250 miles back to cornwall… now I can listen to you guys on my way!

Adam


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