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Kicking off the show, Autotrader Executive Editor, Brian Moody, chats about a few of the good things to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the best family sedans under $5,000, and certified pre-owned programs. Then, we chat with Automotive Journalist and Voice of Reason, BJ Killeen, about the new 2020 Volkswagen Atlas and technology in cars. Changing gears, Gas Monkey Garage Owner and Fast N’ Loud Star, Richard Rawlings, discusses what the Gas Monkey Garage and Fast N’ Loud crew have been up to during the pandemic. We also found out about Richard’s amazing farm purchase that came with a monstrously huge collection of cars and automobile memorabilia. Closing out the show, Cartender Co-Founder and Freelance Automotive Journalist for CarGurus, Boston Globe, and U.S. News & World Report, George Kennedy III, gives his review of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe and tells us how his company, Cartender, is working to improve the marketing of dealerships across the country by giving them the tools to more effectively communicate with their customers. Tune in to get the latest automotive news, reviews, and shenanigans. 

·[00:00:00] COVID-19 Has Caused a Few Good Changes

·[00:06:08] The Best Family Sedans Under $5,000

·[00:12:30] What are Certified Pre-Owned Programs?

·[00:19:51] Charm and Virtual Indestructibility

·[00:24:45] Volkswagens New and Improved Atlas

·[00:35:52] How Will Technology in Cars Hold up?

·[00:42:13] What’s Gas Monkey Up To During COVID-19?

·[00:47:52] Richard Bought a Farm Filled with Cars?

·[00:54:44] Richard Rawlings Has A Question for You

·[01:02:05] How Does Cartender Help Dealerships?

·[01:08:51] 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

·[01:18:06] Mercedes GLC Coupe and Toyota Supra

[00:00:00] COVID-19 Has Caused a Few Good Changes

Yes, COVID-19 is bad and has caused some damage, but what about the things it improved? Autotrader Executive Editor, Brian Moody, says a lot of businesses have had to adapt due to COVID-19, and that might not be such a bad thing. Restaurants have made it easier than ever for us to order and pick up food, and you can now buy cars online. This is a huge deal, a lot of customers hate going to dealerships and deal with the salesmen looking to pressure you into a purchase that might be a little bit out of your range. Are you happy that online car purchasing has become more normalized?

[00:06:08] The Best Family Sedans Under $5,000

Are you in dire need of a family commuter car that won’t cost an arm and a leg? Autotrader Executive Editor, Brian Moody gives us a list of family sedans that won’t break the bank. On Brian’s list are the 2010 Hyundai Elantra, 2008 Subaru Legacy, 2008 Mazda 6, and 2008-2010 Ford Fusion. These are all great cars but Brian says that if he was going to buy a car it would be a 2008-2010 Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, or Nissan Altima. Tune in to find out what differentiates these picks from the pack. 

[00:12:30] What are Certified Pre Owned Programs?

You’ve probably heard or read the words “Certified Pre Owned Vehicle” when shopping for a car online, but what exactly does this term mean? Autotrader Executive Editor, Brian Moody, explains that a certified pre owned vehicle is a lightly used car with less than 60,000 miles, usually newer than five years old, inspected and upgraded by the manufacturer, and sold with a warranty. There are other benefits to buying certified pre owned as well, but Alan has the perfect story to get the point across. Find out more about why certified pre owned vehicles and warranties are must haves for used car shoppers.

[00:19:51] Charm and Virtual Indestructibility

What makes an iconic vehicle… iconic? Autotrader Executive Editor, Brain Moody, has a theory about this. Well, actually he stole the theory from one of the writers at Autotrader, Andrew Gantz. If you look through the years at some of the vehicles that were iconic, like the 1957 Chevy, 1965 Mustang, or the 1984-2004 Jeep Cherokee, two words stand out – charm and indestructibility. Looking at all of this, Brian (and Andrew), think the next iconic vehicle from the modern era will be the Nissan Frontier prick-up truck. Do you think the Nissan Frontier will be considered ‘iconic’ when the new model comes out in 2021?

[00:24:45] Volkswagens New and Improved Atlas

Automotive Journalist and Voice of Reason, BJ Killeen, has been driving the new Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Volkswagen was able to make the Atlas shorter without changing the wheelbase; and they turned it into a five-seater! The Volkswagen Atlas is a pretty big SUV but it gets that extra space without feeling imposing. The powertrain ads even more life to this already enjoyable vehicle, and its two engine options are a nice touch. Choose between a two liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that can put out 235 HP and a VR6 engine producing 276 hp. The Atlas isn’t all sunshine and butterflies and BJ did have an issue with its tire noise and complete lack of navigation for the price point; also, the voice activation told BJ to quiet down. Tune in for more!

[00:35:52] How Will Technology in Cars Hold up?

Every year more tech is shoved into the car market whether its stereo systems, drivers assistance etc. Will the tech now hold up better than it did for cars from the early 2000’s. Alan’s dad had a convertible Mercedes and it is a very mechanical car. The car is only worth 5-6 thousand dollars and it costs about that much to fix the broken roof. Voice of Reason, Automotive Journalist, BJ Killeen says that the tech that’s being put into these cars is taking away drivers control of the car with all the drivers assists.

[00:42:13] What’s Gas Monkey Up To During COVID-19?

Gas Monkey Garage Owner and Fast N’ Loud Star, Richard Rawlings, joins us to share what Gas Monkey has been up to during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gas Monkey is listing all of their spare parts around their shop for sale online to help people stuck at home finish their projects. Fast n Loud just finished filming another season just in time, barely beating the COVID-19 outbreak. Tune in to stay up to date with Richard and the Gas Monkey crew!

[00:47:52] Richard Bought a Farm Filled with Cars?

Gas Monkey Garage Owner and Fast N’ Loud Star, Richard Rawlings, bought a farm with a massive collection of vehicles. The farm Richard bought contains within 200+ bikes and around 130 cars of every genre! There is more to the farm as well, including a lot of automotive memorabilia. Richard says there are probably 6,000-7,000 items that will be auctioned off. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the date of the auction event has been pushed back multiple times. Tune in to learn more about this amazing find.

[00:54:44] Richard Rawlings Has A Question for you

Gas Monkey Garage Owner and Fast N’ Loud Star, Richard Rawlings, is always looking for cars and you can help! Richard wants to know where the listeners from this show like to find their cars; you can shoot him an email at info@gasmonkeygarage.com. Richard points out that most of the cars for sale on Facebook, eBay, Craigslist, and the like are consignment cars. Richard says that one out of every seven or eight cars you see is actually for sale by the owner. Consignment cars aren’t good for markets because they inflate the value of cars that aren’t worth what they are listed for. Can you answer Richard’s question?

[01:02:05] How Does Cartender Help Dealerships?

In a quickly changing world, it takes nimble companies that are able to respond quickly to changing market conditions to survive. That’s why Co-Founder, George Kennedy III, is excited for his company, Cartender, and what they can do for dealerships across the country right now. Until recently, car dealership online marketing was atrocious, but George and his buddy, Colin Davidson, decided to help dealerships understand how to create better, more consumer oriented content to drive sales on and off their lots. Tune in for more on exactly what Cartender is, and how they’ve been able to change the industry. 

[01:08:51] 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

The first time Freelance Automotive Journalist for CarGurus, Boston Globe, and U.S. News & World Report, George Kennedy III, saw the new 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe he wasn’t a fan. After getting to ride in it and really study the body lines, it all clicked – George is a fan now. One thing he’s still not a fan of is the use of the word ‘coupe’, as this is a four door, SUV/Crossover styled vehicle with a fastback. The interior is comfortable, and the engineering is as you would expect from Mercedes, as is the price. This compact fast back sport crossover starts at $50,000, and as George tested it, comes in at $62,000.

[01:18:06] Mercedes GLC Coupe and Toyota Supra

As far as interiors go, Mercedes-Benz has been hitting on all cylinders! Freelance Automotive Journalist for CarGurus, Boston Globe, and U.S. News & World Report, George Kennedy III, wraps up his review of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe, stating that the interior feels warm and inviting in comparison to other luxury manufacturers’ cold and mechanical feel. George fills us in on the pros and cons of the GLC Coupe’s driving systems and why this crossover has a little something for everyone. We wrap up the show as Alan gives us his review of the 2020 Toyota Supra; he only has one complaint on an otherwise amazing vehicle!

Explore More with Helpful Links:

·Contributor: Brian Moody | Executive Editor, Autorader

·Contributor: BJ Killeen | Automotive Journalist, Voice of Reason

·Contributor: George Kennedy III | Co-founder, Cartender | Freelance Automotive Journalist, CarGurus/ Boston Globe/ U.S. News and World Report

·Special Guest: Richard Rawlings | Owner/Star, Gas Monkey Garage/ Fast N’ Loud

Credits

Host: Alan Taylor
Producer: Dave Milligan
Audio Engineer: Dave Milligan
Copy Editor: Cody Castleberry 
Copy Editor: Caleb Hayward
Contributor: Brian Moody
Contributor: BJ Killeen
Contributor: George Kennedy III
Special Guest: Richard Rawlings

Our Sponsors & Supported Charities:

·Austin Hatcher Foundation

·Brembo

·Dodge

·Foundation of Human Understanding

·Shell

·Subaru

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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.