“Where horsepower meets conversation”
By Tim, Paul, Dave and Casey · December 11, 2025
🎧 Checkout our latest podcast!
Hi {{First Name|fellow gearheads}}! 👋
This week on Full Throttle Talk, we went deep into the world of Alpina — arguably BMW’s most misunderstood offshoot brand.
🔧 What We Did in Cars This Week
Tim: All-Alfa Day; Giulia Quadrifoglio tire upgrade inbound — Pirelli PZeros → Michelin Pilot Sport.
Paul: GT3 reunion after 4 months; Toys-for-Tots + Blimp runs.
Casey: Photo shoots, listings, GT3, Turbo S, Carrera 3.2, 944… and space rentals. T-shirt prototype incoming.
David: Porsche toy drive doubleheader in the 3RS.
🎉 BIRTHDAY SHOUTOUT:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANNE!
Join us in wishing a huge happy birthday to Anne, our Director of Marketing & Technology — the engine quietly powering so much of what we do here at FTT.
From keeping our brand sharp to making sure our tech doesn’t spontaneously combust (most days), Anne is the reason this whole machine runs smoothly.
Thanks for everything you do, Anne — enjoy the ride today. 🥳🚗✨
📰 Automotive News
Toyota GR GT — 641hp, RWD, twin-turbo V8, 199mph target, NO EV/HYBRID B.S.
Are we entering the post-EV era?
Synthetic fuel + ICE revival incoming?
If China dominates EVs, is the battle already over?
The “Microcar Revolution” — Will kei-style driver’s cars have a U.S. moment?
Streaming Wars — Tanner Foust + Emilia Hartford launch Driven (rumors swirl… TBD).
Gymkhana + Hagerty Bull Market — MK3 GTI VR6 shows up strong.
POP QUIZ
Will ICE cars bounce back, or is this the last hurrah?
🔍 Deep Dive: Alpina
Forget the misconceptions:
Alpina = Bentley of BMW
Cross-continent comfort > lap time bragging rights
Sub-$100k values mean massive upside potential
Typewriter company → Weber carb kits → Touring Car dominance → VIN-recognized manufacturer (1983)
Z8 Alpina? Market loves them.
Manual V8 touring wagons? Unicorns.
🎮 This or That: Build the Perfect 2-Car Alpina Garage
Rules:
No budget. No duplicates. Daily + Weekend. Two winners:
🔥 Best single pick
🔥 Best 2-car pairing
Tim:
Daily: E21 Alpina B6 2.8
Weekend: Alpina Roadster V8 (Z8-based)
Paul:
Weekend: E30 Alpina B6 3.5S
Daily: Alpina B10 4.6 Touring
Casey:
Weekend: ’72 Alpina A4S (2002-based)
Daily: Alpina B10 V8 Wagon (Aaron Miller’s, manual swapped)
David:
Likely:
Daily: E38 Alpina B12 V12
Weekend: Alpina B3 Touring
FTT Sticker to the winner. Bragging rights eternal.
💬 Listener Comments + Questions
We read them. We respond. We riff.
❤️ A Quick Thank You
We see the downloads, the reposts, the messages, the newsletter replies… and it means the world.
We do this with you — not at you.
Submit your newsletter ideas + articles. DM us on IG.
– Tim, Paul, Dave & Casey
🏁 The Full Throttle Talk Team
💬 Join the Conversation
Got thoughts on today’s topic? We’d love to hear them. Just hit reply or share your thoughts inside our private Facebook group.
👉 Click below to join our private Facebook group and share your take with fellow gearheads. It’s where the real debates (and laughs) happen after the show.
🏁 The Perfect Alpina Two-Car Garage
By Tim Harris · December 11, 2025
A topic of banter on this week's FTT was what is the perfect 2 car garage when the cars both have to be BMW Alpinas.
One is a daily and the other is the weekend fun car....where was my response.
Why the B6 2.8 and Alpina Roadster V8 Are the Ultimate Pair
Most “dream garage” conversations turn into predictable recitals of the greatest hits: GT3s, Ferraris, Aventadors, insert-new-YouTube-review-hype-here.
But when you grow up in this hobby, taste evolves. You stop chasing badge prestige, and you start chasing experience.
And that’s where Alpina comes to life.
Alpina doesn’t build cars for attention.
They build cars for people who want to drive.
So here’s my version of the perfect Alpina two-car garage — one you drive daily, and one that turns weekends into a ritual instead of just time off from work.
🚗 Daily Driver: Alpina B6 2.8 (E21)
Most people assume a daily Alpina has to be modern and luxurious. They treat “daily” as a synonym for “appliance.”
The E21 Alpina B6 2.8 laughs at that.
This car is:
Light
Analog
Torquey
Balanced
Sharper than you think
It's the perfect daily because it's usable without being boring, and rare without being precious.
This is the car you want to drive every day.
Not the one you’re forced to drive because it has Bluetooth and cupholders.
The B6 2.8 turns “going to breakfast” into a mini event.
And that’s how a daily should feel.
🧬 Weekend Car: Alpina Roadster V8 (Z8)
If the B6 2.8 sparks joy…
…the Alpina Roadster V8 lights a fire.
This is the “grown-man” weekend car — one you buy when you’ve outgrown proving anything to anyone.
It delivers:
Grace
Presence
Torque
Beauty
And that magical time-slowing sensation only great analog cars have
You don’t hop in this car to “drive.”
You take a breath, you settle in, and you experience it.
It’s subtle in all the right ways.
It’s dramatic in the places that matter.
And unlike modern theater cars, it’s dignified.
It’s timeless.
It’s art.
🧩 Why This Pairing Is Perfect
Because they don’t overlap.
One is:
Analog, compact, eager
A tactile daily driver
The other is:
Graceful, emotional, powerful
A sculpture on wheels
Both share Alpina DNA.
Both prioritize usable torque over peaky drama.
Both will appreciate, not depreciate.
But they give you two distinct emotional profiles — every single week.
📌 Daily Joy + Weekend Magic
That’s the Alpina ideal.
The B6 2.8 makes everyday errands meaningful.
The Roadster V8 makes weekends unforgettable.
This is what happens when taste replaces status.
When you select cars for the way they make you feel, not for the badge they wear.
🎙️ Your Turn
If money was no object, how would you spec your Alpina garage?
Hit reply or drop a comment:
1 Daily Alpina + 1 Weekend Alpina — What are you picking?
We'll feature the best in our next episode of Full Throttle Talk.
— Tim Harris
|
📣 Submit Your Questions
💬 Want your question featured on the next show? DM us on Instagram or reply to this newsletter.
🧠 Got an article or market take? Send it in—we’ll feature our favorites in an upcoming issue.
