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Starting off the show, Co-founder of Cartender, and Freelance Automotive Journalist for CarGurus, Boston Globe, and U.S. News & World Report, George Kennedy III, gives us his review of the Dodge Duragno and the new Uconnect 5. If you want space, functionality, and power, the Dodge Durango is for you. Up next, Executive Editor of Autotrader, Brian Moody, discusses Autotrader’s Dealer Home Services, gives us a list of the best cars for 2020 graduates, and fills us in on used performance cars for under $20,000. Then, we chat with Executive Publisher for Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, and Dealer.com, Karl Brauer, about Elon Musk’s defiant opening of his Tesla factory. We also talk about how Cox Automotive is using their power to help dealerships out in these trying times, the fact that consumers are looking to buy cars again, and what the automotive industry is doing to keep up during the pandemic. Closing out the show, Director Emeritus of the Petersen Automotive Museum, Dick Messer, recalls how Amelia Island Concours just barely got their event off before the COVID-19 lockdown took full effect. We also hear about how the Indianapolis 500 was canceled for the first time since World War 2. Dick was a young boy at this time, and he gives us his account of the cancelation in 1942 and its return in 1946. Tune in for more automotive news!
·[00:00:00] Dodge Durango Has Space and Power
·[00:06:37] Be Aware of Your Limitations
·[00:12:30] Uconnect 5 Ups the Ante on Infotainment
·[00:19:51] Autotrader’s Dealer Home Services
·[00:28:06] Best Cars for 2020 Graduates
·[00:35:52] Used Performance Cars Under $20k
·[00:42:13] Musk Makes Stand, Tesla Opens Back Up
·[00:48:59] The Power of Cox Automotive
·[00:54:45] Consumers Looking to Buy Cars Again
·[01:02:05] Alan’s Collection, and Virtual Reveals
·[01:11:44] Concours, Indy500, and COVID-19
·[01:18:06] The Last Time Indy500 Was Canceled
[00:00:00] Dodge Durango Has Space and Power
Usually, you have to sacrifice trunk space and functionality when you want a fast, fun car; but that’s not always the case. Co-founder of Cartender, and Freelance Automotive Journalist for CarGurus, Boston Globe, and U.S. News & World Report, George Kennedy III, gives us his review of the Dodge Durango. This beast has plenty of space, functionality, and power with it’s massive 392 HP V8 engine. Are you ready to step inside an SUV that can do 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds?
[00:06:37] Be Aware of Your Limitations
Co-founder of Cartender, and Freelance Automotive Journalist for CarGurus, Boston Globe, and U.S. News & World Report, George Kennedy III, continues his review of the Dodge Durango. The next generation of Dodge’s flagship SUV might be just around the corner and they will probably be updating the dated interior. Changing gears, we warn that powerful cars are becoming more affordable and it is important that people know how to handle the increased power. If people aren’t aware of their limitations, or think they’re better drivers than they actually are, they could get hurt. Be sure to stay safe on the road!
[00:12:30] Uconnect 5 Ups the Ante on Infotainment
Infotainment systems are more than just stereos, now they’re connected to every part of the car. Co-founder of Cartender, and Freelance Automotive Journalist for CarGurus, Boston Globe, and U.S. News & World Report, George Kennedy III, discusses how despite the fact that infotainment systems have become so important, manufacturers can still easily mess up their implementation and design. Some have slow response times, horrible interfaces, or they just don’t work intuitively, but Dodge’s system is one of the best in the industry. They (and the rest of FCA) have been working with Uconnect for a number of years, and have recently released Uconnect 5, which brings features like over-the-air updates and wireless Apple CarPlay; these features were previously only found in Tesla or BMW. Tune in to learn more.
[00:19:51] Autotrader’s Dealer Home Services
Executive Editor of Autotrader, Brian Moody, chats about Autotrader’s Dealer Home Services, and how it could affect the sales of cars. Dealer Home Services can help you find the right car online in a matter of minutes. There are options to filter search results and find cars with a walk around or other advertising material, so you can get a good look at your car before you buy. Will this tool help dealers sell more cars online?
[00:28:06] Best Cars for 2020 Graduates
Now that the class of 2020 is graduating, what cars should they be looking into buying? Autotrader Executive Editor, Brian Moody, gives us a list of cars starting with 2011 Chevrolet Volt. The Volt is a nice, reliable plug-in hybrid car, and fresh graduates can pick one up for just under $10,000. Next on the list is the 2012-2017 Fiat 500; a fun little zippy car, with more to it than meets the eye. The 2015-2017 Ford Mustang may sound like an extravagant vehicle, but it’s actually a lot more affordable than people might think. Snag a Mustang for just under $20,000 and drive away in style. Tune in to hear more cars for graduates.
[00:35:52] Used Performance Cars Under $20k
If you want to get a performance car but don’t want to chop off an arm and a leg in the process, Executive Editor for Autotrader, Brian Moody, has a list for you. On this list are the best performance cars for under $20,000 on Autotrader. We start off with the 2015 Volkswagen GTI, a great car you can still get it in a manual that packs a punch. Next up, the 2015 Honda Civic SI can come in at a little over $20,000, but the price can be offset by getting a hold of an older model year. We also discuss the Fiat 500 Abarth, Ford Focus, and the cult classics the 2015 Subaru WRX, and Subaru BRZ. Tune in to learn more about these amazing, affordable performance cars.
[00:42:13] Musk Makes Stand, Tesla Opens Back Up
There’s no question that the coronavirus pandemic has been tough on businesses. Executive Publisher for Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, and Dealer.com, Karl Brauer, reports that Elon Musk opened a Tesla Factory to start building cars recently, against the Governor’s suggestions and orders. Musk also claimed in a Tweet that his factory is private property, private business, and is not open to the public. Musk also challenged local government, telling them to arrest him if they want, and that he can be found working on the assembly line with his workers.
[00:48:59] The Power of Cox Automotive
As we all know, Karl Brauer is involved with a few entities in the Cox Automotive family, as Executive Publisher for Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, and Dealer.com. This gives him a unique window into the automotive industry and its inner workings and valuations. We also learn that due to the inherent power that linking the 25 different automotive businesses that make Cox Automotive up, they were able to help save the car industry with their online car shopping tools. Tune in to learn more.
[00:54:45] Consumers Looking to Buy Cars Again
When the pandemic hit, Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book saw a massive decrease in their site traffic. This told Executive Publisher, Karl Brauer, that people just weren’t interested in buying cars at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but at the start of April they saw a shift. Now their site traffic is higher than what it was pre-pandemic! Alan shares a couple of stories about selling automobiles, highlighting the fact that people are hungry to buy right now! Tune in for more.
[01:02:05] Alan’s Collection, and Virtual Reveals
Alan reflects on his car collection and how much he loves it in this time of limited press car exposure. Usually, Alan and other journalists would be reviewing multiple cars a week, but it is not so anymore. Kelley Blue Book, Autotrader, and Dealer.com Executive Publisher, Karl Brauer, explains how car companies have been handling car reveals in the era of social distancing, in the virtual world. Tune in to learn more.
[01:11:44] Concours, Indy500, and COVID-19
It’s a tough time to be in charge of big social events and gatherings. Director Emeritus of the Petersen Automotive Museum, Dick Messer, explains how Amelia Island Concours was able to narrowly escape all hell breaking loose in March and successfully have a show. Everyone else hasn’t been so lucky, though, as we’re seeing the Indianapolis 500 canceled for the first time in a very long time, as well as the Pebble Beach and Monterey Car Week events. COVID-19 has been devastating for many in the car industry.
[01:18:06] The Last Time Indy500 Was Canceled
The Indianapolis 500 has been canceled this year in response to the coronavirus, and that has only ever happened for one other event in history. Director Emeritus of the Petersen Automotive Museum, Dick Messer, recalls faint memories of the 1942 Indianapolis 500 cancelling due to World War 2 really kicking in. The race didn’t return until 1946, after the war was over, but Dick still remembers listening to that broadcast of the Indianapolis 500 on the radio. Explore the evolution and history of the Indianapolis 500 over the years with Dick Messer.
Explore More with Helpful Links:
·Contributor: George Kennedy III | Co-founder, Cartender | Freelance Automotive Journalist, CarGurus/ Boston Globe/ U.S. News and World Report
·Contributor: Brian Moody | Executive Editor, Autorader
·Contributor: Karl Brauer | Executive Publisher, Kelley Blue Book/ Autotrader/ Dealer.com
·Contributor: Dick Messer | Retired Classic Car Expert
Vehicles discussed this episode:
·Dodge Challenger
·Dodge Demon
·Dodge Durango
·Hyundai Kona
·Fiat 500
·Chevrolet Volt
·Ford Mustang
·Volkswagen GTI
·Honda Civic SI
·Fiat 500 Abarth
·Ford Focus
·Subaru WRX
·Subaru BRZ
·2002 Thunderbird
·2020 Toyota Supra
Our Sponsors & Supported Charities:
·Foundation of Human Understanding
***
This episode was produced by Entertainment Right Now (ERN). If you found value in this episode, and you’d like to hear more, please consider leaving us a review on iTunes and be sure to subscribe to our podcast so you don’t miss a beat. Your feedback helps us to reach more enthusiasts around the world! If you have a question you’d like us to answer, please leave a comment below or e-mail us at info@ernlive.com.
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