Why December Is The Best Time to Buy! Commentary: Stellantis CEO Resigns, Plus 2025 Audi RS 6 Avant Performance and 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate Test Drives

December 6, 2024

From all of us at the Car Pro Show, we hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends and gave pause to those who were not at your table enjoying a terrific meal this year. If you were missing someone you loved this year, be sure to grab a Kleenex and watch this year’s Chevrolet Christmas commercial, titled The Sanctuary. I have it for you below.

Here we are! It’s December and the best month of the year to grab a great deal on a new vehicle. There are several articles below that you should read carefully if you are in the vehicle market. Time is running out for the self-employed and business owners to get a HUGE Tax Code 179 write-off. If you are thinking about an electric or hybrid car, the Federal Tax Rebates of up to $7,500 are currently ending on December 31^st this year. In my advice column below, I tell you WHY December is the best month to buy or lease, in case you are wondering. The Stellantis CEO has “resigned” and I have some thoughts on what needs to be done in another Car Pro Commentary that you’ll find below.

I have November auto sales for you from the car companies that report monthly. Also, which vehicles have the highest rates of DUIs? I have that for you below. The J.D. Power Residual Value Awards are something you want to pay attention to, this the best predictor of resale values in the future. Which is the best when it comes to Certified Pre-Owned programs? I have that for you, too!

If you don’t have your family Christmas tree yet, we have tips on how to safely get it home. Does the used car you are thinking of buying have a “clean” title, and just what does that mean? You’ll find that below. It is my favorite time of year: The Subaru Share the Love event is going on, and if you watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, you might have noticed Ram Trucks had a starring role, details are below.

Be sure to check out our all new Car Pro Merchandise and don’t miss Kim Komando’s Tech Tips and other info she has for you this week. Remember, too, the factory incentives are moving all around right now. You can see what they are on the car you are eying in our Incentive Guide below.

In reviews, I have the amazing 2025 Audi RS 6 Avant station wagon with over 600 horses and an almost $150,000 window sticker. I also review for you the top-of-the-line 2025 GMC 1500 Denali Ultimate pickup truck. Our Amy Plemons reviews the sporty 2025 Honda Civic Si HPT.

Plus, a TON of other information and news you will enjoy, including my video 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:

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!

I suggested a couple of weeks ago in this newsletter that if you had thoughts of getting an electric vehicle or a hybrid to take advantage of the $7,500 Federal Tax Rebate that you had better do it quickly. Incoming President Donald Trump has signaled he will do away with the rebates once he is sworn into office.

Since this is the best time of year to get a new vehicle, I thought we should remind you of which vehicles qualify for the rebates, and which ones qualify for partial rebates. One major thing that has changed since the inception of the program, is that if you qualify, you can get the money at the time of purchase and use it for a down payment. Any of our Car Pro approved dealers can get the money for you up front and be reimbursed by the government.

California buyers may get a reprieve. Governor Gavin Newsom says he will replace the credits if Mr. Trump repeals them. The Governor said in a statement: “We’re not turning back on a clean transportation future — we’re going to make it more affordable for people to drive vehicles that don’t pollute.” The Governor did not say how he would fund the huge amount of money, and he will have to get passage from the California legislature.

No matter what the Trump administration does, the current rules are only in effect until December 31, 2024.

Click Here For IRS Guidance and a List of Eligible Vehicles→

I've written and talked a lot about car titles over the years. A car's title is an important piece of paper that shows ownership of a vehicle. You don't ever want to lose it or go to trade in your vehicle without one. I share my advice on the topic here.

Unfortunately, we do not have uniform car titles in the United States, although I have pushed for this for many years. As I mentioned on the show this past weekend, this is something I intend to address with the incoming Presidential administration.

While a car title seems simple, not all are created equal. Clean Titles, Clear Titles, Salvage or Branded Titles, well, you get the picture. Here's a great in-depth article I found about car titles and it's one every car buyer should read.

Read the iSeeCars article →

The good folks at Chevrolet get me every single year with their Christmas commercials. For some reason, this one got to me more than usual. This Texan, a former cop known to never back down from a fight, had tears in my eyes as I watched this wonderfully-done masterpiece.

I urge you to take five minutes and watch this moving video. I would also encourage you to send it to anyone who might get some enjoyment out of it. Watch as a father and son come together on the bench of their family’s 1978 Chevy Silverado C10 to look back on their shared past and how it continues to drive them forward. It is appropriately titled “The Sanctuary.”

If you ever lost someone you love, if you have wonderful memories of your grandfather, this will probably get to you, too. When people look at you funny, blame it on allergies.

Watch the Video→

According to the Real Christmas Tree Board (RCTB), here's when people buy their tree:

"Pre-Season Achievers" (before Thanksgiving) – 14%
"Black Friday Checklisters" (during the weekend after Thanksgiving) – 33%
"Seasonal Purists" (first week of December) – 33%
"Mid-Decemberists" (second week of December) – 16%
"Treecrastinators" (third week of December) – 3%
"Christmas Eve Traditionalists" (on Christmas Eve) – 1%

These American Automobile Association safety tips will help you get your tree home safely.

I'm a big fan of consumer-technology advice guru Kim Komando. She also has her own radio show and we're on many of the sase 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. Here

new-kim-kommando-graphi

"Man cave on wheels": That’s how Steven Shao described his Cybertruck in a viral Facebook post. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Cybertrucks turn heads, and that’s the point. The dentist says “loneliness” drove him to drop $100,000 on the over-the-top vehicle no one can ignore. Over 40 other owners commented they felt the same, which explains so much …
Give your printer some love: Soak a piece of paper with rubbing alcohol (not too much and leave the edges dry), and run that through your printer’s roller. It’ll clean it right up.
1,000-plus fake news sites tied to China that were just blocked by Google. The Glassbridge network was trying to pass off communist propaganda as “journalism.” One firm ran over 600 sites. The real question: Why did it take Google this long to spot and remove them?
All I want for Christmas is a capybara: No, not me! The semiaquatic rodents that live up to 12 years and weigh up to 150 pounds have stolen the internet’s heart with viral videos. In a Reddit post, a 24-year-old brother asked if he was a jerk for thinking it’s just a TikTok phase his 16-year-old sister will grow out of. Spoiler: She will.
Synced your phone to a rental car? Wipe your data so the next driver doesn't get your texts. On the car’s infotainment system, go to Settings and look for a factory reset option. Every car’s system is different, so check the manual or ask the rental company if you can’t find it.
Need to fill your tank? The free Upside app gives you cash back on gas, groceries and dining out. I got $10 back on groceries and $0.55 back on every gallon of gas. Download Upside* and use promo code Kim to get an extra $0.25 back for every gallon on your first tank of gas. Heck yeah.

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.

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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.

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KQEW 102.3 FM in Fordyce, Arkansas
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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.

National Show Radio Schedule→

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Dallas, TX: WBAP 820 AM/93.3 FM/99.5 HD 2, Saturday 9am to 11am Central
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LINKS:

WBAP Podcast→

December Car Buying Guide

CarPro Advice: December Is The Month To Buy

Tax Code 179 Deadline Is Dec. 31st!

Get All The Factory Holiday Incentives

U.S. Auto Sales

Toyota Tops November U.S Auto Sales

Last Call For Federal EV, Hybrid Tax Credits!

Commentary: Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares Is Gone

What Is A Clean Car Title & How To Check It

Hats Off To Chevrolet For Doing This Commercial

Our Annual Holiday Gift Guide

Classic Ford Bronco Sweepstakes Ends Dec. 18th!

Getting Your Christmas Tree Home Safely

On The Road: Test Drives

2025 Audi RS 6 Avant Performance

The stunning 2025 Audi RS 6 Avant will forever change the way you think about station wagons!

2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate

The 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate doesn't disappoint on luxury! But should you go V8 or Duramax Diesel?

2025 Honda Civic Si HPT

Manual fans only! The enhanced for 2025 Civic Si HPT is exclusively available with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Bumper to Bumper

The Best Certified Pre-Owned Awards

Surprise! Which Cars Have The Highest DUI Rate?

2025 J.D. Power Resale Value Awards

Ram Trucks Star In Thanksgiving Parade

It's Subaru's 2024 Share The Love Event

NHTSA Finalizes 5-Star Rating Updates

Weekly Recalls

Kim Komando's Useful Tips of the Week

Check Out Our Newsletter Archive Page!

It's Here! The CarPro Merchandise Shop!

Subscribe to the free DFW Newsletter

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FAQ: Research Your Questions Before You Shop

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

Classic Car Contest: Win An AutoHeatShield!

Jerry's Video of the Week

Searching for a New or Used Vehicle?

On the Air

Exclusive Approved Products & Services

Where to Find Us

Closing Message From Jerry Reynolds

CarPro Advice:
December Is The Month To Buy