When Supercars Meet Martial Arts: The Real Truth About McLaren Ownership and Getting Choked Out on Camera

By Shift Talkers Podcast | Episode 20

The Episode Nobody Expected

What happens when you combine a jiu-jitsu black belt, a 1,003-horsepower McLaren 720S, and a podcast host willing to get choked unconscious on camera? You get Episode 20 of Shift Talkers, our most viral and unforgettable episode to date.

Marcos, affectionately dubbed "The Mexican Batman" by our hosts, made his highly anticipated return to the show. And this time, he brought more than just automotive wisdom. He brought a demonstration that left Franco temporarily unconscious and the internet absolutely buzzing.

But beyond the viral moment, this episode delivered something rare in the automotive podcast space: authentic, unfiltered conversations about real supercar ownership, the costs nobody talks about, and the community that makes car culture worth being part of.

The Moment That Broke the Internet: A Professional Choke-Out

Let's address the elephant in the room. Yes, Franco actually got choked out by a professional jiu-jitsu black belt on camera. And no, it wasn't scripted drama for views.

Marcos, who fights crime by day and dominates on the jiu-jitsu mat by night, demonstrated a textbook blood choke technique. Within seconds, Franco's legs gave out, his hand dropped, and he was completely unconscious. The entire moment was captured on multiple cameras, showing the exact progression from consciousness to lights out.

"It literally felt like I was being put to sleep for surgery," Franco explained after waking up. "I thought my neck would hurt, but it didn't. Things just started getting dark, and that was it."

The demonstration wasn't just shock value. It highlighted the precision and control required in martial arts, the trust between friends, and the kind of authentic, unscripted content that makes Shift Talkers different from every other automotive podcast out there.

The Science Behind the Technique: Marcos explained that a blood choke works by restricting blood flow to the brain through the carotid arteries, not by cutting off breathing. This is why Franco could breathe the entire time but still lost consciousness within seconds. The safety protocols were clear: hand up to monitor consciousness, slow application, and immediate release upon detecting unconsciousness.

Real McLaren Ownership: 30,000 Miles of Truth

While the choke-out made headlines, the real gold in this episode came from Marcos's unfiltered perspective on McLaren ownership. Unlike the typical supercar owner who keeps their exotic locked in a climate-controlled garage, Marcos has driven his McLaren 720S over 30,000 miles through 47 states and multiple Canadian provinces.

The Miles Nobody Believes

"I've driven through snowstorms, sandstorms, windstorms, and hail," Marcos revealed. "I hit a legitimate snowstorm driving from Vegas to LA. I passed nine cars stuck on the side of the road while I was in a McLaren."

This isn't the typical supercar ownership story. Most McLaren owners baby their cars, rarely driving them and certainly never taking them through harsh weather conditions. Marcos has proven that with proper driving skills and maintenance, a McLaren can be a legitimate daily driver.

His approach challenges every stereotype about exotic car ownership:

• Not garage queens: His car sees real weather and real miles
• Not unreliable: With proper maintenance, modern McLarens are dependable
• Not impractical: He drove through a snowstorm while others in regular cars were stuck

The Power Numbers That Matter

Marcos's McLaren 720S isn't just a showpiece. It's a properly built machine making 1,003 wheel horsepower on E85 fuel. But getting there required smart modifications and learning from expensive mistakes:

What Works:

• Stage 3 tune by M Engineering
• 3.5-inch downpipes (upgraded from 3-inch OEM)
• Custom stainless steel exhaust (not titanium)
• Proper safety protocols in the tune
• E85 fuel for maximum power

What Doesn't Work:

• Titanium exhausts on McLarens (he's blown two of them)
• Cheap tuning without safety measures
• Ignoring maintenance schedules
• Treating it like a garage queen

The titanium exhaust lesson alone cost thousands. "Mine gets super hot. It was hitting 1,800 degrees intermittently and crystallized the heat wrap. It was literally cracking like a cracker," Marcos explained. He switched to thick stainless steel and hasn't had issues since.

The Great Supercar Debate: What Actually Qualifies?

One of the episode's most engaging segments came when the hosts debated what actually qualifies as a supercar. The conversation revealed deeper truths about automotive culture, brand perception, and what makes a car truly special.

The Audi R8 Controversy

Franco's Position: The R8 is absolutely a supercar. It has a mid-engine layout, exotic looks, supercar performance, and an exotic price tag. When an R8 and a Lamborghini Huracan pull up to a car meet, they get equal attention.

Marcos's Counter: "It's still an Audi. When I had my RS7, I didn't think it was a supercar. No little kid is saying, 'I want to grow up and own an R8.'"

This debate touches on something fundamental in car culture: the difference between specifications and perception. The R8 shares a platform and engine with the Huracan, but does the badge matter? According to Marcos, absolutely.

The Corvette Question

The conversation got even spicier when discussing the Corvette ZR1:

Marcos: "It's a Chevy. No little kids are dreaming about owning a Corvette."

Franco: "Unless their dad's a Corvette guy."

Marcos: "Then they're autistic."

While controversial, this exchange highlights a real division in car culture between technical performance and aspirational appeal. The ZR1 might out-perform many supercars on paper, but does it capture imaginations the same way?

The Lexus LFA Reality Check

Even the legendary Lexus LFA came under scrutiny. Despite its $400,000 original price tag and current values exceeding $1 million, Marcos doesn't consider it a supercar:

"It's not a supercar, it's an expensive Lexus. It turned into an expensive Lexus. It makes 552 horsepower. My RS7 made 691 to the wheels on just stage one."

The point isn't to diminish the LFA's engineering achievement but to question what we're actually paying for in the exotic car market. Is it performance, sound, exclusivity, or brand cache?

Budget Mods vs. Premium Parts: A Real-World Test

Franco brought a refreshing perspective to the modification discussion. Instead of throwing money at the most expensive parts, he deliberately chose budget-friendly options for his Audi RS3:

Franco's Approach:

• ECS Tuning intake: $800 (vs. Eventuri at $2,500)
• Budget downpipes with quality welds
• Unitronic ECU tune (reputable but not boutique)
• Stock exhaust retained temporarily

His Philosophy: "I'm proving you can go for cheaper parts and not have to spend what all these car companies charge. You could buy a whole motorcycle with what some of these parts cost."

Marcos challenged this approach, particularly regarding the intake: "The Eventuri on my RS7 increased airflow by 90 percent. That's why I went from 581 crank horsepower to 691 wheel horsepower with just ECU and intake."

But Franco's counterpoint resonated: "It's the same diameter as the Eventuri. What's different? It's a different type of carbon fiber? How does that make the air flow better?"

This debate represents a larger conversation in the enthusiast community about diminishing returns. At what point does brand prestige outweigh actual performance gains?

The Dark Side: Automotive Scams and Horror Stories

Not all the episode's content was fun and games. The hosts shared legitimate horror stories about bad mechanics and industry scams.

The Course Automotive Nightmare

Marcos and Ferlan recounted their experience with Course Automotive in Orlando, a shop they now publicly warn people away from:

What Happened:

• Paid for a brand new door
• Shop used Bondo instead of replacing it
• Owner forged Marcos's signature on insurance documents
• Took extensive online pressure to get refunds
• Multiple customers reported similar experiences

"He's messed up so many people's cars," Ferlan explained. "There's a European auto specialist here that won't work with him anymore because he couldn't pay his bills and was using multiple credit cards."

This segment served as a reminder that even in the enthusiast community, scams exist. The hosts emphasized the importance of:

• Researching shops thoroughly
• Getting recommendations from trusted sources
• Documenting everything
• Being willing to walk away from bad situations

The Learning Experience: When Good Shops Make Mistakes

Franco shared a more nuanced story about a shop that made errors installing his downpipe but handled the situation professionally:

The Problem:

• O2 sensor spacer installed on wrong bung
• Car wouldn't idle and died shortly after leaving the shop
• Lost ECU coding due to improper installation procedure

The Resolution:

• Shop immediately took responsibility
• Towed the car to Audi for recoding
• Offered to pay for everything
• Didn't charge Franco for the labor

Franco chose to split the recoding cost despite the shop offering to cover it entirely: "It was his fault, but he made it right. He's not an Audi specialist, and it was a learning experience for both of us."

This story highlighted an important principle: it's not whether mistakes happen, but how they're handled that defines a business.

Rally Culture and the Alaska Dream

Beyond individual car ownership, the episode explored the broader rally culture and community that connects enthusiasts across the country.

The Miles That Define a Car

Marcos's most ambitious trip? He's planning to drive his McLaren to Alaska:

"It's 3,600 miles to Seattle, then another 2,600 to Alaska. That's 6,000 miles round trip. It would take about two weeks because we stop in different cities along the way."

His wife thinks he's crazy. Most McLaren owners would never consider it. But for Marcos, this is what car ownership means: experiences, adventures, and memories that matter more than resale value.

The Gold Rush Rally

Looking ahead, Marcos is planning to participate in Gold Rush Rally, which runs from Nashville to Vegas through South Dakota:

The Route:

• Nashville to Indianapolis
• Indianapolis to Minneapolis
• Minneapolis to Milwaukee
• Milwaukee to Deadwood
• Deadwood to Jackson Hole
• Jackson Hole to Salt Lake City
• Salt Lake City to Vegas

"Windows up, no music, no sunglasses," Marcos explained his rally philosophy. "I need to hear everything. I know my car so well that if something sounds wrong, I know immediately."

This approach to rallies demonstrates the deep connection between driver and machine that separates true enthusiasts from casual owners.

The Real Cost of Exotic Ownership

One of the episode's most valuable segments covered the financial realities of supercar ownership that nobody talks about on social media.

Financing vs. Paying Cash

Marcos challenged conventional wisdom about exotic car purchases:

His Strategy:

• Financed $185,000 (after $55,000 down payment)
• Five-year term at low interest rate
• Gap insurance for total protection
• Locked in rate before increases

His Reasoning: "When you pay cash for a vehicle and get in a wreck, you only get what they want to give you. With financing and gap insurance, I'm protected no matter what. If something happens, I'm not out any money except the payments I made."

This approach contradicts the typical "pay cash for depreciating assets" advice, but Marcos's logic is sound for high-value vehicles with proper insurance.

The Maintenance Reality

Real exotic ownership costs include:

• Fuel pump failures during road trips
• Multiple exhaust replacements
• Regular tune adjustments and monitoring
• Tire replacement from aggressive driving
• Wrap changes and cosmetic updates

Marcos wraps his car in custom designs regularly, with a new wrap planned for December after returning from Japan. He's already on his third wrap since owning the car.

Community Over Competition: The Heart of Car Culture

Perhaps the most lasting theme from this episode was the importance of genuine relationships in the automotive community.

Why Marcos Drove Two Hours for a Podcast

"Ferlan came to Bradenton to watch me race twice," Marcos explained. "When his art was displayed, we drove through the rain to support him. That's what friends do."

This reciprocity and genuine friendship shines through in every episode of Shift Talkers. Unlike polished, corporate automotive content, this podcast feels like hanging out with friends who genuinely like and support each other.

The Car Meet Reality Check

Franco shared an interesting observation from a recent car meet where his Audi RS3 got more attention than his friend Mario's orange Lamborghini Huracan:

"Everyone crowded my car. They were asking to look inside. They ignored his Huracan completely."

Marcos offered perspective: "The younger crowd will go to my wife's TTRS over my McLaren all the time. Huracans are oversaturated. You don't see a lot of RS3s."

This observation reveals an important truth: in car culture, rarity and unique builds sometimes trump pure exotics, especially among younger enthusiasts who value individuality.

Technical Deep Dives Worth Noting

Throughout the episode, several technical discussions provided real value for enthusiasts:

Exhaust Material Science

The titanium vs. stainless steel debate revealed important truths:

• Titanium doesn't expand and contract like stainless steel
• McLarens run extremely hot (1,800+ degrees)
• Multiple titanium exhausts failed on Marcos's car
• Stainless steel is more reliable for high-heat applications
• Bigger diameter pipes reduce backpressure and heat

Tuning Safety Protocols

Marcos emphasized the importance of safety features in performance tunes:

• Knock detection with automatic limp mode
• Fuel ratio monitoring
• Duty cycle limits on fuel pumps
• Ten-second safety lockouts when issues detected
• Multiple map options for different conditions

These features saved his engine when a fuel pump started failing during a trip.

Brake Dust and Wheel Maintenance

A practical tip for anyone considering white wheels:

• Ceramic brakes produce minimal dust
• Standard brakes create significant brake dust
• Powder coating with gloss finish helps cleaning
• Ceramic coating on wheels is essential
• White wheels require more maintenance without ceramic brakes

The Philosophy of Use vs. Investment

Perhaps the most profound theme running through the episode was the question: are exotic cars meant to be driven or preserved?

The Traditional Approach

Most supercar owners:

• Keep miles under 1,000 per year
• Store in climate-controlled garages
• Avoid weather, road trips, and daily use
• View the car as an investment
• Rarely attend events or rallies

The Marcos Approach

Marcos represents a different philosophy:

• Over 30,000 miles in three years
• Daily driver when not traveling
• Driven through every climate condition
• Multiple cross-country trips
• Regular rally participation
• Zero concern about resale value

"No one buys a McLaren GT as an asset unless it's a P1, Senna, or Elva," Marcos stated. "I bought it to drive it. I bought it to enjoy it. There's no reason to get rid of it."

This approach challenges the entire exotic car investment narrative that dominates social media. While a Ford GT or McLaren P1 might appreciate, most supercars are depreciating assets regardless of miles. So why not actually enjoy them?

Key Takeaways for Enthusiasts

On Car Modification:

1. Choose reputable tuners with safety protocols
2. Don't assume expensive parts are always better
3. Research material science (titanium isn't always best)
4. Document everything when working with shops
5. Proper installation matters more than part cost

On Exotic Ownership:

1. Modern supercars can be daily driven
2. Financing with proper insurance can be smarter than cash
3. Maintenance costs are significant but manageable
4. Community and experiences matter more than resale value
5. Don't baby your car if you want to actually enjoy it

On Car Culture:

1. Authenticity resonates more than perfection
2. Unique builds can attract more attention than exotics
3. Relationships matter more than status
4. Support your friends' endeavors
5. Drive your cars, make memories, live life

On Content Creation:

1. Unscripted moments create viral content
2. Genuine relationships show through on camera
3. Controversial opinions spark engagement
4. Educational content mixed with entertainment works
5. Taking risks leads to memorable episodes

Why This Episode Matters

In an automotive content landscape dominated by perfectly scripted reviews, sponsored content, and aspirational lifestyle posts, Shift Talkers Episode 20 stands out for its raw authenticity.

Franco actually got choked unconscious on camera. No cuts, no edits, just a genuine moment between friends that happened to be captured. The car discussions weren't rehearsed talking points but real debates between enthusiasts with different perspectives.

Marcos didn't show up to promote a product or build a brand. He drove two hours to hang out with friends who supported him at his races and art shows. That reciprocity and genuine friendship is increasingly rare in content creation.

The episode also challenged dominant narratives in car culture:

• Supercars can be daily driven
• Expensive parts aren't always better
• Community matters more than clout
• Experiences beat resale value
• Authenticity resonates with audiences

What's Next for Shift Talkers

The podcast continues to grow organically, with fans approaching Ferlan at gyms, airports, and car meets. Despite having relatively modest subscriber counts, the show's impact extends beyond numbers.

"Someone came up to me and said, 'The podcast is entertaining, but that guy Franco is kind of a jerk,'" Ferlan shared. "And I said, 'He is a jerk, but he's a lovable jerk. That's who he is.'"

This self-awareness and willingness to be imperfect is exactly what makes the show work. Shift Talkers isn't trying to be the most polished automotive podcast. It's just three friends talking about cars, life, and occasionally getting choked unconscious.

Future episodes promise more unscripted moments, controversial debates, interesting guests, and the kind of authentic content that can't be manufactured or scripted. And hopefully, more demonstrations that don't involve anyone losing consciousness.

Final Thoughts: The Mexican Batman Legacy

Marcos earned his "Mexican Batman" nickname for fighting crime by day and dominating on the jiu-jitsu mat by night. But after this episode, the legend grows.

He's the guy who:

• Drives his McLaren through snowstorms
• Has choked out a podcast host on camera
• Puts 30,000+ miles on a supercar
• Plans to drive to Alaska in an exotic
• Wraps his car in custom designs every few months
• Proves supercars aren't garage queens

Whether you agree with his opinion on what qualifies as a supercar, his approach to car modification, or his willingness to finance exotics, you can't question his commitment to actually living the automotive lifestyle.

As the episode wrapped up, Franco summarized it perfectly: "When you make a mistake, it's inevitable, but it's how you handle that situation that really shows the type of company that you are."

That philosophy applies to businesses, content creators, and life in general. Shift Talkers isn't perfect. The audio sometimes gets rough. The topics wander. One host literally got choked unconscious. But the authenticity, the genuine friendships, and the willingness to take risks make it special.

Subscribe to Shift Talkers for more unfiltered automotive content, controversial debates, and the kind of genuine conversations you won't find anywhere else. Just maybe don't volunteer to get choked out.

Connect With Shift Talkers

Website: www.shifttalkerspodcast.com
Instagram: @shift.talkers
TikTok: @shift.talkers

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