LIVE THIS WEEKEND! Big Labor Day SALES! Plus 2024 Ford Lightning Flash, 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Sport and 2024 Toyota Corolla Hatchback Nightshade Edition Test Drives

August 29, 2024

We are coming to you early this week due to the upcoming holiday, however, I will be LIVE with you this weekend in case you need me for advice on this BIG holiday buying weekend. In just two days, we will turn the calendar to September and then Monday brings Labor Day, a day to celebrate the achievements of American workers. I’m not sure how much people actually celebrate workers, but it is a freebie day off, right? However you spend it, I hope you enjoy it! Perhaps you should spend this extra time car shopping? I explain below why from now until Tuesday night is the best time we’ve seen to buy in several years!

Also below, J.D. Power did its annual study of in-car technology, a joy or an irritant to many people, and once again, Hyundai and Genesis did extremely well! Remember the new VW Microbus they’ve been teasing us with for SEVEN YEARS now? It is finally coming and we have pricing and EV range for you below. Did VW screw around and miss the EV craze? We’ll see. If you are traveling for Labor Day, we have the travel forecast for you below, along with a list of the top 10 safest vehicles for families. At Mecum Monterrey a couple weeks ago, a GT40 sold for over 7.8 million dollars, WOW!

Special guest this Saturday! At 9:35 AM on the WBAP show, and at 11:35 AM Central/9:35 Pacific on the nationally syndicated show, we welcome Mr. John Kraman from Mecum Auto Auctions. John is the spokesperson for Mecum, but you probably know him best as the TV analyst during the Mecum Auctions broadcasts on MotorTrend and MotorTrend+. John and I will discuss Mecum Dallas, coming next week. The featured auction in Dallas is the Kelsey Collection, featuring 56 amazing vehicles from the Paul Kelsey Museum. Find out more in the article below.

Don’t miss Kim Komando’s very useful Tips of the Week. She had a lot of really great ones this week, and as always, I encourage you to subscribe to her terrific and very useful newsletter that you’ll get seven days a week.

In advice today, I help you understand start/stop systems, something you’ll find on most new vehicles today, and something many (especially yours truly) hate. I have everything you need to know in this week’s advice column.

In reviews, I have the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning Flash, a new version of America’s #1 selling electric truck, and I review the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Sport, and you know how much I love Subarus! Our Amy Plemons gives you a full review of the 2024 Toyota Corolla Hatchback Nightshade Edition.

We have another True Story from a Former Car Dealer below. This is a series of 40 stories written by me, and we’re down to just six more after today. Today, #34 is titled: Spiffs. If you don’t know what a spiff is, in the car business, it is “cash in fist” for doing something like selling a car or getting a perfect customer survey back from the factory. What you may not know about your favorite Car Pro is I have a bit of jokester in me! I always loved pulling something on somebody, and in this episode, I got one of my top salespeople and I got him good!

Plus, lots of other information you will enjoy, including our videos of the week we talk about on the air all the time! If you have never been to our FAQ page, take a minute and peruse the categories, something there will interest you for sure:

You’ll find the following stories and more info as you scroll down the newsletter:

We so appreciate all of you who take this newsletter and listen to the show every week. We know that without you, there is no Car Pro Radio Show. So always let us know when we can help you. If you have not been there lately, take a look at our website, www.carpro.com, it changes all the time!

Have a terrific week. See you on the radio!

Labor Day is traditionally one of the best weekends of the year for car buyers. This year, the outlook for car buyers is extremely favorable with the best factory incentives we’ve seen in years, and a lot of eager Car Pro Show dealers that have way too much new vehicle inventory. Used cars are once again becoming short in supply, which means trade values are climbing, at least for now.

You have nothing to lose to look at numbers with one of my friends at a Car Pro approved dealer. Lease deals are suddenly back, which is great news if you like to lease or if you have a lease ending between now and the end of this year.

The cherry on top of the cake is the dealers will have until September 3^rd to report sales. That is also when the current incentives will end, so the push will go on the entire weekend.

You know I always shoot you straight. I’ve often told listeners NOT to buy, to stay put, and not do anything. It is equally as important that I tell you when it is a good time to shop. Timing from now until Tuesday night is phenomenal, so if you can, shop before then, I think you’ll be really pleased.

Find a CarPro here →

Mecum Dallas 2024 is coming up next week! Don’t miss my interview this Saturday with John Kraman from Mecum Auctions.

John is the spokesperson for Mecum Auctions and the TV analyst and commentator of the Mecum Auctions on MotorTrend and MotorTrend+. John and I will discuss next week’s Mecum Dallas Auction featuring the amazing Kelsey Collection from the Paul Kelsey Museum.

You can preview the entire collection that will be sold in Dallas here and read more about Mecum Dallas 2024 here.

Top 10 Cities Where Auto Loan Delinquency Is Decreasing The Most & Least

In a follow up to last week's advice column, I wanted to share some info from WalletHub regarding auto loan delinquencies. Last week's advice was about what to do if you can't afford your car payment. In it, I urged you to do what you can to make your car payments and seek help right away if you are experiencing financial hardship. Falling behind even a few payments can lead to repossession, something you do not want.

Now, WalletHub's new study gives us an insightful look at auto loan deficiency in America. Never good to see your hometown on the bad side of a list about places where people are behind on their auto loans, but here I am, #98 (Garland, TX) out of 100. At least we are in good company.

The FINAL COUNTDOWN on the CarPro.com | Vehicle for Good partnership sweepstakes: the 'Porsche with a Purpose' campaign ROCKS ON with THE CARPRO EXCLUSIVE OFFER! Just $25 now gets you 3,000 entries!!! But there’s only 1000 of these exclusive chances available so don’t miss out!!!

By entering, you can help beat homelessness and win a 2024 Porsche 718 Cayman or $70,000 in cash. This Arctic Gray beauty is valued at $124,000, but you can choose $70,000 in cash if you prefer.

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Your participation benefits 'When We Love,' a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting youth, single-parent families, and veterans in overcoming homelessness.

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Besides the Car Pro Show and our weekly newsletter, my other favorite radio show and newsletter is Kim Komando’s. We are on many of the same radio stations across America. She does for her listeners and newsletter subscribers exactly what I endeavor to do: Give you useful information to keep you up to date on the latest in cars, only she does it with technology and there is nobody who does it better. Not sure how she puts out a top-notch newsletter seven days a week, but she does.

Here are some various tips & information I picked up from Kim’s newsletter this week I hope you find as useful as I did:

$2.4 to $15 million: Cost for your very own apartment on a luxury yacht that travels the world. Luxury liner “The World” will never call itself a cruise ship, trust me. It’s made up of 165 privately owned apartments, ranging in size from 290-square-foot studios to a 3,240-square-foot four-bedroom pad. Would you live on this?
After my Volvo broke, I was Saabing: Cybercriminals leaked 240GB of Toyota customer info on a hacking forum. The stolen data includes emails, passwords, contracts and financial details. Toyota says they’ve reached out to those impacted. No word on how many folks that is.
Old electronics lying around? Costco’s revamped trade-in program lets you swap them for a store gift card, no membership needed. The trade-in values aren’t small potatoes, either; you can get up to $1,080 for an old laptop! Go to this portal for a quote. If you’re cool with their offer, the shipping’s free and you’ll have your money in under three weeks. PSA: Amazon has a trade-in program, too, so compare both to see which gives you the better price.
No one reads the terms and conditions: There’s a free resource that does it for you. Terms of Service; Didn’t Read is a website and a browser add-on that summarizes the key points before you hit “Agree.”
Soap-erstar: Jessica Serfaty of “Days of Our Lives” fame discovered a hidden tracker in her Range Rover. Her iPhone tipped her off about an Apple AirTag nearby that was news to her. She called the cops because, you know, stalker vibes, but they couldn’t find it. Here’s help if you get an alert like this.
Houston, pass the popcorn: NASA's free streaming app, NASA+, is awesome. Watch it for free on NASA’s website or download the app on your phone, TV or favorite streaming device. All programs are family-friendly and adfree.

A few years ago, I started writing a series of True Stories From A Former Car Dealer. Over 40 weeks, I wrote about experiences I had from my days as a dealership owner. Some will make you laugh, others will make you cry. The reaction was beyond my wildest expectations.

For our new subscribers, and for those of you who may have missed one or perhaps simply forgot the details, we’ll bring these to you in the order they were written.

In this episode, I tell you about bonuses paid at car dealerships, usually in cash, and something most salespeople live for. It is a real motivator and I enjoyed spending the money when I owned dealerships. I also had a bit of a mean streak in me and loved playing jokes on people. Wait until you read what I did to one of my top salespeople!

Read True Stories #34 →

If you are searching for a particular new or used vehicle, we can help you! The best news is, if you use CarPro to search, when you find the car of your dreams it will be at a CarPro approved dealership.

Best of all, it’s simple to use. Choose new, used, or certified. You can select the make and model, or find a price range you are looking at. Choose the number of miles you are willing to travel and enter your zip code.

From there, you can look through all your matches, knowing you are shopping at a dealership I have handpicked that adheres to the high standards I require.

Start your search on the front page of CarPro.com. If you don't find the car of your dreams, check back regularly.

Watch this 2-minute video and you’ll see security video of an all-electric Mercedes-Benz that had been sitting in an apartment parking garage, explode for no reason. The end result: 140 vehicles destroyed or damaged, and 23 residents of the apartment complex above the garage were treated for smoke inhalation. The cause of the explosion remains a mystery.

Do you like a cup of coffee or two in the morning? Do you like your coffee black? Does it occasionally have a little bit of a bitter taste? Well, here’s your solution to the bitterness. Add a pinch of sea salt to your cup of Joe. It sounds crazy but it works for all flavors of coffee. I didn’t believe it when a friend told me about it---but it worked for me and this video will tell you why it will work for you, too!

You have 5 hours to call the show! From 9AM- 2PM Central, 7AM-Noon Pacific, and 10 AM to 3 PM Eastern, the phone numbers are:

DFW Show: 9 AM to 11 AM Central, 1 (800) 288-9227
National Show: 11 AM to 2 PM Central, 1 (800) 926-7777

Add the numbers to your cell phone; you never know when you are going to need straight talk and honest answers about everything automotive.

So, what is the CarPro Radio Show?

Confused about the car buying process? Worried you won’t get a fair deal? Wondering about which vehicle is best for you? Then tune in to the Car Pro Radio Show every week where Jerry Reynolds and Kevin McCarthy will guide you through the car-buying process with confidence.

No matter where you listen to the show or which station you listen to, you have five hours to call in and ask your questions. We take calls every Saturday from 9 AM-2 PM Central time, 7 AM to Noon Pacific. The phone number is different the first two hours, then changes, so keep that in mind.

We would love to help you in any way possible! Keep in mind, we don’t take mechanical questions, but everything else is great!

The Car Pro Radio Show is heard every weekend all over the United States, and every weekend we deliver straight talk and honest answers about everything automotive. We would greatly appreciate it if you would take a moment and tell a friend about the show.

new-markets-canva-pro-jan-11

This week, we welcome KXRA Newstalk Radio Alexandria, MN to the Car Pro Show family! You tune in on Sunday 3-6pm and 9p to Midnight CST on 1490 AM/100.3 FM/105.7 FM.

We've also recently welcomed these new markets:

KTLR 890 AM/103.7 FM Oklahoma City: Sunday 4-5pm CT (replay)
The Mountain WSYY 1240 AM/ 102.5 FM Millinocket, ME:

Saturday 9AM- 12PM PT
KUFO: Portland, Oregon: Saturday 9AM- 12PM PT
Nevada Talk Network - THE Rural News Source: KELY 1230am/98.5fm, Ely; KPVM-TV 25.7, Pahrump, KAVB 98.7 FM, Hawthorne, KPKK 101.1 FM, Amargosa Valley, NV, KDJJ 94.1 FM, Fernley-Fallon all three hours live 9AM- 12PM PT
KFIR 720 AM, Sweet Home, Oregon: Sunday 4PM - 7PM PT (replay)
KBAR 1230 AM, Burley, Idaho: Saturday 6PM – 9PM MT (replay)
KACT 1360 AM, Andrews, Texas: Saturdays 7PM – 10PM CT (replay)
WDOC 1310 AM, Prestonsburg, Kentucky: Time TBD
KLXX 1270 AM, Bismarck, North Dakota: Sunday 10PM – Midnight CT (replay)

Most of our listeners tell us that they never thought they would look forward to a show about cars. You may have friends or relatives who feel the same way in the cities below, please make them aware.

Here are the DFW markets the show airs in, times, and stations, and don't forget you can now listen to WBAP on the FM dial at 93.3 FM!

Dallas, TX: WBAP 820 AM/93.3 FM/99.5 HD 2, Saturday 9am to 11am Central
Dallas, TX: KRLD 1080 AM, Saturday 2pm to 4pm Central (replay)
Granbury, TX: KPIR 1420 AM, Saturday 11am to 2pm Central

WBAP DFW Podcast Here →
FOR ALL OTHER MARKETS, CLICK HERE→

End of the Month & Big Labor Day Sales!

Mecum Dallas 2024: Special Guest This Saturday!

Straight Talk And Honest Answers

U.S. Auto Market

Win A Porsche Exclusive Offer! 3,000 Entries for $25!

On The Road: Test Drives

New for 2024, the Flash Package is a great value and addition to the lineup!

Just a great SUV for a very long list of reasons!

The Nightshade Edition adds great style to the fun-to-drive Corolla Hatchback.

Bumper to Bumper

Mecum Dallas 2024 Is Next Week!

GT40 Sold For Over $7.8 Million at Mecum Monterey.

Road Trips Will Cost You Less At The Pump This Labor Day

Top 10 Safest Vehicles For Families

VW Finally Prices I.D. BUZZ Electric Minibus

Sneak Peak: Los Angeles Auto Show

J.D. Power Tech Survey: Genesis, Hyundai #1

The GV70 is also a category winner.

Weekly Recalls

Check Out Our Newsletter Archive Page!

True Stories From A Former Car Dealer

Our Factory Incentive Guide

Miss the Show? Catch Our Podcast!

Sell Your Car Through GiveMeTheVin!

Exclusive Approved Products & Services

FAQ: Research Your Questions Before You Shop

Our FAQ page offers answers to questions CarPro Show host Jerry Reynolds is asked most frequently.

Searching for a New or Used Vehicle?

Classic Car Contest: Win An AutoHeatShield!

Videos of the Week

Subscribe to the Free DFW Newsletter

CarPro Guide To Online Car Buying

Buying a vehicle online has never been easier.Our step-by-step guide will help you buy a car from the comfort of your living room, starting with selecting your CarPro Friend.

On The Air

Where To Find Us

Closing Message From Jerry Reynolds