Who Is Spike Feresten And Why You Should Watch Him Play Porsche “MatchMaker”?

Spike Feresten might just be the most well connected car guy you’ve never heard of. That’s about to change. If you don’t know Spike’s name (yet), chances are you know his work. He’s an Emmy nominated comedian/writer with credits that include David Letterman, The Simpsons and Seinfeld (the Soup Nazi episode to be specific) who’s been matching Hollywood’s A-listers with their perfect car for years. In his new show on Esquire, Car Matchmaker, he’s taking that same expertise to the masses and this week’s episode is all about Porsche. You can watch it this Tuesday, the 16th of December, on the Esquire Network.

10 Questions With Spike Feresten

1. You’re friends with the most well known Porsche collector on the planet, Jerry Seinfeld. How has that friendship influenced your relationship with cars?

David Letterman let me drive his 356 SC in the early ’90s. That was the first Porsche I had ever driven. I was blown away by its simplicity. An instant fan. Dave encouraged me to get rid of the Maserati Bi Turbo I was blasting around NYC and get an old 911 so I did. A ’74 Sepia brown/brown int 911 with 200k miles on it. Best $6k I’ve ever spent. Believe it or not, it was in the shop less than the Maserati!

Later, when I went to Seinfeld, he saw the car and took me under his wing. He said, “First, you are going to sell that piece of shit. Wrong year, wrong color.” From that moment on he’s been teaching me about the brand, the best years, the rare models. I’ve met a lot of influential people in the Porsche community through Jerry that really enriches the ownership experience for me.

2. What does being a “car guy” mean to you?

For me it’s a biological urge, possibly an unhealthy obsession with 4-wheeled machines. I sit squarely in the driver category. I prefer the open road to museums and concourse events. The best part of my week, is the driving with friends or family part. Pair with the right car, I’m totally relaxed and happy.

3.What makes you an authority or “car guy” capable of matching up people with the right car?

Experience. Like a lot of us, I’ve owned a lot of cars over my lifetime. And If I haven’t owned it, someone I know has. Over the years I’ve gotten many happy phone calls from people I’ve helped. Friends, family, neighbors, my agent and the girl who cuts my wife’s hair to name a few. I’m just the neighborhood car guy except my neighborhood is available in 75 Million homes across the country! Oh and I’m lucky now and again with the comedy part of the show.

4. What was your first car?

I was a junior in high school in Massachusetts and my dad bought me and my brother a 1971 Ford Torino 500 to share. My brother wrapped it around a telephone pole two weeks later. Much to my dismay, he walked away without any injuries.

5. What was your first Porsche?

The ’74 911. But my first new Porsche and new car was the Boxster. JS and I picked them up at Circle Porsche at the same time and drove them back to the studio. Along the way people kept asking us what they were and which end was the front and which was the back. Super memorable drive for me.

6. What cars do you own now?

For Porsches, I have a ’58 Speedster Silver/Blk; ’68 911L Lightweight Factory Trans Am Race Car Polo red/black and a ’07 GT3RS white/blk. I am also deeply in love with my 1971 Land Rover Series 2A and my Ferrari 365 GTC/4. Life in the hangar is pretty good right now.

7. What’s on your Porsche wish list?

I’m really into the brand new 2015 Boxster GTS. The not-yet-announced 991 GT3RS will be a killer, and for old stuff a ’73 or ’74 Street legal RSR would be a dream come true, but honestly a solid, low mileage 356 to run errands in would be just fine. Non-metallic blues and greys to the front of the line.

8. Where did the idea for Car Matchmaker come from? Were you influenced by CCGC or the Marriage Ref (I know it’s not about cars, but it’s kind of the same idea of settling a dispute)?

A producer friend of mine I helped with a car suggested it. She even came up with the title during the first phone call. Sometimes these shows just cruise onto the air. I’ve been very fortunate with this one. It’s a dream job that I don’t take for granted.

9. Why should Porsche fans watch Car Matchmaker?

If you can’t support one of your own, then who are you going to support, the ladies on The View?

10. What should we have asked you that we didn’t?

When is the show on?

He has a valid point there. With that in mind…

When And Where To Watch Car MatchMaker With Spike Feresten

• Car Matchmaker airs on Tuesdays at 9/8c
• This Tuesday, the 16th of December, is Porsche themed as Spike works to match his friend Scott with the Porsche of his dreams.
• If you’re not sure where Esquire Network is in your channel line-up, you can find it here.
• In case we didn’t give you enough info on the show, it has its own website.

Take A Look At Spike’s Growing Porsche Collection

1968 Porsche 911L

1958 Porsche Speedster

2007 Porsche GT3 RS

1973 Porsche 911 RS

Other Porsche Blog Posts You Will Enjoy
Jerry Seinfeld Drives a “Dead Guy’s” ’73 911 RS Through NYC with Seth Meyers
Watch And Listen To Porsche Sound Nacht 2014
New Porsche Based Show Coming to SPEED TV

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