Driver's Republic Podcast

Sad news this week as the man behind the Mazda MX-5, Tom Matano passes away. Paddy has had a good experience with the Ford Puma Gen-E this week doing his usual Dublin-Cork-Dublin road trip. Should a dealer ever be bringing your car home at night when it's in for work?And Mark has another expensive week keeping a near 20 year old Porsche 911 on the road! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In DRP this week, Mark has been driving the new Volvo EX90, what did he think of it?Paddy can't help his commute from Dublin to Cork but he attempts it in a Citroen eC3 - how many times did he have to stop to charge?!Can you make enough money being a YouTube car reviewer in Ireland and should you get started at it? Paddy picks Mark's brain on this one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paddy and Mark have been to IAA in Munich where they discuss an array of cars from Volkswagen, Hyundai, XPeng, Leapmotor, BMW, BYD and many, many more. We have a number of guests from the event too but most notably VW's Head Of Design, Andreas Mindt who sits down with the lads for an extended chat about his life, career and his early years cutting his teeth in car design with a family background in the field.Thanks for listening and don't forget to leave us a review!Brought to you by DoneDeal Motors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss the newly unveiled Volkswagen T-Roc and explore the futuristic new Hyundai Ioniq 9. Ever wondered what it’s really like to camp with a Tesla? Mark has been testing out the Model Y Long Range and the useful camp mode.We reflect on the sobering reality of road safety with RTE’s Anatomy of a Car Crash, examining the devastating aftermath of fatal collisions and what it means for drivers today. To round things off, we’re joined by Colin Sheridan, MD of Citroën Ireland for an exclusive chat about the new affordable  eC3 electrification, and what’s next for Irish motorists.Brought to you by DoneDeal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natisha Chatton, a UK-based YouTube motoring journalist known for her channel AutoSocial UK, navigates the complex landscape of automotive journalism. She discusses the rising trend of motoring brands paying for editorial space, raising questions about ethics and transparency in the industry. The hosts also dive into the implications of this shift on content creation and authenticity. Alongside Natisha's insights, they touch on the current struggles of legacy car manufacturers adapting to electric vehicles amid economic pressures.

Nadia has become a familiar face in motoring in Ireland. Whether it's her TikTok clips, her huge Instagram following or her regular appearances on both Irish TV & radio in relation to all things car news. She has also attracted some criticism for refusing to accept trade ins or retailing any electric cars despite 2025 being one of the better years for Irish EV sales. In this episode, Paddy and Mark visit Nadia in her new showroom in Ashford, Co. Wicklow and ask her all the questions people want to ask! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Of course, Paddy and Mark chat about the news this week including the latest SIMI sales figures, what they're both driving and all the other things two lads chat about BUT we also jump inside a new Leapmotor C10 EV ahead of its official launch in September in Ireland and we chat extensively to one of the key members of the team behind the launch of yet another Chinese manufactured car in Ireland, Stephen McGrath. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big shifts and bold plans in the motoring world.Renault’s CEO makes a surprise exit, while BYD slows EV production in China. We put the all-new Dacia Bigster head-to-head with a four-year-old Skoda Kodiaq at a similar price point—what offers better value? Plus, exclusive insights into Mazda Ireland’s roadmap, including three brand-new models set to arrive in 2026.We also dive into whether buying a used car from a dealer franchise really gives you better warranty protection—and of course, we couldn’t ignore that week Elon Musk and Tesla have had, as RoboTaxi plans hit another bump in the road.Sponsored by DoneDeal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Driver’s Republic: We’re recording from the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser! Paddy’s back from a UK classic car auction, Mark just returned from Iceland testing the Ford Ranger PHEV, and a surprise listener gatecrashes the show.Plus, we chat with Giovanny Arroba, VP of Nissan Design Europe, about the bold new 2025 Nissan Leaf and how it’s ready to compete with the best in the EV world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, we dive into the big reveal of the all-new Alpine A290, launched at Mondello – and yes, it’s as exciting as it sounds.🚗 Paddy shares his first impressions after getting behind the wheel of the VW ID.3 GTX – does it live up to the GTX badge?🚙 Mark is driving the 2025 facelifted Suzuki Vitara and has been jet-setting between Prague and London to check out two major launches: the new Skoda Elroq RS, and a very hush-hush look at the next-gen Nissan Leaf (spoilers strictly embargoed until next week!).🎧 Our special guest is Martin Cardiff, Head of Sales at VW Passenger Cars. Martin brings a wealth of experience from his days in Skoda's factory to shaping VW’s product and planning strategy today. From trim and spec decisions, to price points, to what car colours Irish buyers really want, Martin lifts the curtain on how carmakers tailor their offerings for specific markets. It’s a fascinating listen for anyone curious about what really goes on inside the automotive “chocolate factory.”Don’t miss this one – it’s packed with insight, first drives, and a look into how the cars we see on the road come to life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.