The Most Powerful Corvette Ever! Plus, 20 Best-Selling SUVs, and 2024 INFINITI QX55, 2025 Toyota Camry and 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Test Drives

August 2, 2024

We turned the page yesterday to the 8^th month of the year, and for all of us in Texas, typically the hottest month of the year. Wherever you live, I hope the weather is agreeable to you. We have lots of good info for you today, so scroll through to the bottom to make sure you don’t miss something that might be useful to you, and as always, feel free to forward the email to anyone who might be helped by it.

We start today with the top 20 best-selling SUVs of all sizes in the first half of 2024. It was a huge reveal last Thursday when we got details on the most powerful Corvette ever, the 1,064-horse ZR1, and we have all the info for you below, including a review of it by our friend Joe Raiti. In a comprehensive study, people are turning to older used cars to try to save some money in these inflationary times we are in.

We also have the J.D. Power APEAL study, one of my favorites of the year. As predicted, Toyota is replacing over 100,000 engines in the Tundra and Lexus LX, good for them! That is putting the customer first. I have details of the refreshed 2025 Honda Odyssey minivan, the Lexus ES 350 Black Line returns for 2025, and OMG you’ve got to check out the Cadillac Sollei convertible concept car. Join me in hoping this one comes to market.

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 tackle the topic of understanding factory warranties. I'll do my best to simplify a complex process.

In reviews, I have the beautiful 2024 Infiniti QX55 Sensory SUV. Our Amy Plemons gives you full reviews of the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club roadster, and the 2025 Toyota Camry XLE hybrid sedan.

We have another True Story from a Former Car Dealer below. This is a series of 40 stories written by me. Today, #30 is titled: Ford Direct. This is the story of when I was Ford National Dealer Council Chairman and we set out to do something that had never been done before: a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and the Ford Dealers. It was a massive 50 million dollar undertaking but we pulled it off, probably due to a chance cocktail I had with the Ford CEO in Hawaii.

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!

Behold the most powerful Corvette ever! The new ZR1. Powered by a V8, it delivers jaw-dropping performance specs including 1,064 horsepower.

Our friend Joe Raiti, who was on the Car Pro Show earlier this year, has already gotten to review it and yes, I am jealous. You can watch Joe's review here→

Order books aren't open yet and we don't have official pricing yet, but we do know it will be available as a coupe or convertible when it heads into production in 2025 at GM's Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky.

Read All The ZR1 Details!→

THE NEXT CARPRO | VEHICLE FOR GOOD SWEEPSTAKES is officially on! We're calling this one the “PORSCHE WITH A PURPOSE” campaign. Here are some of the highlights:

HELP BEAT HOMELESSNESS and enter for your chance to WIN A 2024 PORSCHE 718 CAYMAN OR $70K CASH!
Promotion runs for 10 weeks -ENDING SEPTEMBER 12TH
MSRP IS $124,000 FOR THIS ARCTIC GRAY BEAUTY!
OR… The winner can TAKE $70,000 IN CASH INSTEAD!
ALL ENTRIES ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE!

The non-profit beneficiary is an organization called “WHEN WE LOVE” -- serving youth, single parent families and veterans experiencing and recovering from homelessness. “WHEN WE LOVE” HELPS PEOPLE BEAT HOMELESSNESS!

CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW AND START DOING SOME GOOD WHILE EARNING A CHANCE TO WIN A BRAND-SPANKING-NEW PORSCHE – OR… SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CASH!

DISCLAIMER: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Sweepstakes open to U.S. residents 18+. Ends 9/12/24. Void where prohibited. For Official Rules visit www.VehicleforGood.com. Sponsor: Vehicle for Good Inc.

When it comes to keeping your vehicle in tip-top shape, one aspect that can sometimes be forgotten is its headlights. Unless they've gone out, you may not ever think about them. However, foggy headlights, typically a problem for older model vehicles, can be a real issue when it comes to safety. That fogginess is actually oxidation from the build-up of UV light, chemicals and debris over time. The good news is there are several do-it-yourself ways you can clean them.

Progressive Insurance shares headlight cleaning tips here →

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:

Don’t buy pills on eBay: Some SKALD diet pills on the platform tested positive for meth in a random drug screening. Watch out for brands like PhenQ, Govvi WOW! and Phentamene XT, too; they could be fake or tainted with banned ingredients that cause heart attacks … or worse. Talk to your doc instead.
More eyes in the sky: Crime-fighting police drones will soon take over for first responders in Arizona. If a Flock camera detects a stolen vehicle, an officer can send a drone to tail the car in less than 90 seconds. It’s safer than a high-speed chase on the highway, and there’s nowhere to hide.
Flying cars are taking off: Minnesota just passed a new “Jetsons law” to regulate airplane-to-car hybrids. Starting Aug. 1, you can fly (and drive) them on highways there, but you can’t take off directly from the road. Oh, and you have a tail number instead of a license plate!
Free money waiting for you: You put money in and you should get money out. The National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits helps you find money being held from prior employers.
Your iPhone doesn’t come with a manual: But that doesn’t mean a manual doesn’t exist. You can find ‘em here for everything from the OG iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Just pick the model to see the user guide, repair manual or device info. You’re welcome.

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 the time when I was the Ford National Dealer Council Chairman and one of our members got an idea for a new Internet site to sell cars. This was at a time when people were just starting to look online for information. It was a major undertaking that involved 50 million dollars and it needed joint approval from Ford Motor Company and Ford dealers all across America. Something like this had never been done before, or since. You can read this amazing story here:

Read True Stories #30 →

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.

A few weeks ago, Arkansas police were in pursuit of a Ford Mustang. One of the troopers had a REALLY fast car, passing all the other police cruisers. You can see his speed on the screen reaching over 140 miles per hour. He did a pit maneuver on the Mustang at over 100 miles per hour, something I’ve never seen before. This under 3-minute video will keep you on the edge of your seat!

This short video will capture two things I absolutely hate: Tailgaters and someone driving slow in the left lane. There is Karma in play here, I'm just not sure which deserves it more!

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→

Meet The Most Powerful 'Vette In History!

U.S. Auto Sales

Mid-Year Sales: Top 20 Best-Selling SUVs Of All Sizes

People Are Turning To Older Cars To Save Money

Report: 5-Year Significant Shifts In Auto Industry

Straight Talk And Honest Answers

WIN A PORSCHE! Help Beat HOMELESSNESS!

Toyota To Replace 102,000 Toyota/Lexus Engines

Check Out Our Newsletter Archive Page!

Foggy Headlights? Tips On How To Clean Them

On The Road: Test Drives

If you're looking for a mix of an SUV and sedan, Jerry says this is one to consider.

The exclusively hybrid all-new Camry is destined for success.

The Club's Brembo BBS Recaro package is a must!

Bumper to Bumper

Wow! Check Out The Cadillac SOLLEI Convertible

Join Jerry in hoping this concept makes it into production!

Honda Refreshes 2025 Odyssey Minivan

Lexus ES 350 Black Line Edition Returns For 2025

Sammy Hagar Is Selling His 2015 LaFerrari

Current Gas Price Trends As Of 7/25/24

2024 J.D Power APEAL Study Results

Porsche tops premium brands for the eighth time in a decade.

Weekly Recalls

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