In Wheel Time Podcast: Your Go-To Automotive Talk Show May 14, 2024

A Granddaughter's Guide to Buying the Perfect Ride

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Kia Stinger

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Welcome to another In Wheel Time podcast, a 30-minute mini version of the In Wheel Time Car Show that airs live every Saturday morning 8 to 11 am, central.

More details Welcome to the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show.

Ahead, a 16-year-old's first car purchase with Alberto Alfonso at Emmons Motorplex, yep, along with Grandpa Jeff, and it's going to be a good section of this show and we hope that you'll stay with us.

Jeff has this week's racing calendar.

Mr Mars reviews the 2024 Ford Mustang GT.

Howdy Along with Mike out of this world.

Mark who's over there.

Who's over here right now Fiddling with something we always need more.

Jeff Zekin, I'm Don Armstrong, so glad that you could join us on this Saturday morning for the In Real Time Car Talk Show, although we were a bit tardy to class this morning because of internet problems and Mr Mars is still working on stuff I can tell because of the hammering over here.

But in the sawing and the swearing, but in the meantime and in between time, we had a young lady get her first car a couple of weeks ago and we thought it would be a really good time for us to find out what it's like to buy a used car these days.

And not only that, but your first car and your first car.

Yeah.

Well, what do you go through that?

Well, I did all mine on my own, but I was working for a car dealership that had a absolutely worthless Corvair that didn't run and I bought, I snatched that one up.

You've had two.

Well, let's not even go there for the second one, but the first one was something and it got me into cars.

So there you go.

And that's just, ladies and gentlemen.

This is my granddaughter Kylie.

Kylie is a high school student, 16 years old, needs a car for summer work and all that.

I'll let her take over the majority of the conversation, but it was a process.

So just shut up and let her go.

There you go.

How was it she went?

Oh my.

God, what am I going to do?

What am I going to say?

It was well.

It was interesting because I feel like it wasn't like it got done like pretty quickly.

Yeah, it was quick.

Did you think that it wasn't going to go as quickly?

I thought it would go a little bit slower than that.

Like it was going to take all day or something.

Well, no, because the way my mom was talking about it she's like, oh well, there's a chance you might not get it, and I'm like, okay, well, you think that she sounds just?

like her mother when she said that yeah, I know.

I'm like you think that, but okay, grandma's thinking we're gonna get it today.

So and that was the whole point.

It was Kylie, the Future owner, but it was her mother and her grandmother.

So that's scarier.

Yeah, it's very scary.

Were you there?

They said, yeah, I was there.

I was just there to support.

I took pictures and support and shook hands and kissed babies I normally do and then let them go through the process because I didn't want to be either a thorn in it or, you know, I didn't want to voice an opinion, like you normally are Right.

So I let them go through it and that's what they did and it worked out.

So who was?

the lead in this purchase.

Actually the three of them, All three.

Both the grandma, the mom and kylie.

So they had they had me look on um online first and see like oh, is there any cars that you want?

And I was like, well, I first saw the chevy equinox and then I was like okay, and it was like really cheap as a 2012 chevy, chevy equinox.

And we get there and we're like we don't like this one as much.

Well, when you say too little cheap, what was the price range?

It was around $12,000.

It was about $13,000, because it was $12,999.

Yeah, yeah.

And so what was it that you didn't like about it?

The pickup speed.

It was sluggish.

Yeah, you had to really step on the gas to get it to go.

And then, what year was it?

2012.

A 12?

Yeah, okay.

But it had 43,000 miles on it.

Okay, well, it's not too bad.

It's not bad, yeah, for that old of a car, yeah, and so then, what so?

you found, so you didn't like the Equinox.

Yeah, we looked online again, like at the dealership, and we saw this Ford Escape.

My bad, yeah the Escape, escape, escape.

And so we wanted to try that one out and he was like, oh, I didn't know you wanted to go smaller.

And he was like, oh, I didn't know you wanted to go smaller.

And I was like, well, yeah, but I don't want like a super four-door, what is it?

Sedan?

Yeah.

Yeah, I didn't want a sedan.

So I was like, yeah, let's look at that one.

He went on that one.

So I have to interrupt.

So you were actually looking for an SUV.

Yeah, I didn't want a sedan.

Why?

I just like being a little bit higher up off the ground.

I didn't want yeah, because you're not a tall person and you like sitting up and being in command well, that's understandable.

It's safety too.

Well that.

But I wouldn't imagine that she probably thought of that, but I would like to think about safety, no but you know, you kind of take that for granted these days that most cars are pretty safe as far as cars are concerned in general.

But no, I have known several people that will buy a certain SUV because it sits up off the ground and they can see Right and it's important.

Plus, you're now up there with the majority of America in an SUV.

Yeah, okay, I got it.

Yeah, so you drove this thing and what did you think?

I liked it way better than the Chevy Equinox, did you yeah?

I think that's interesting.

And what year is this one?

2014.

And it had 32,000 miles on it, so less miles.

Less miles.

And you're newer Two years, newer One year.

Newer One year.

Two.

Okay, is it two years?

Yeah, oh, okay, that's right, yep.

So then we drove that one.

It was like maybe $1,000 more.

Yeah.

But the Chevy Equinox needed new tires.

So we were like we don't really want to buy new tires and the Ford Escape already had like new tires on it.

Gotcha yeah.

Well, I got to see it and I have to tell you, as as I told you in person, I was really impressed how clean it was.

But you were saying, jeff, that it was a program car.

Yeah, I looked it up because we did the carfax and, uh, it started out being a company car on the east side of houston, probably for an oil firm or something or whatever.

And then it was sold, sold to an individual up in Shreveport, louisiana, and it was kept there for a couple of years and then ended up with Emmons, so low miles.

There was nothing detrimental on the car, never been wrecked, never been wrecked.

There is an open campaign on it for a sensor, a fuel sensor, but she's going to get that taken care of before summer and the door latch and there's a door latch issue but Ford's got to look at that.

So they're minor.

With respect to it doesn't have to be in the shop for weeks and weeks and weeks for parts, but it will have to be there a couple of days.

So we understand that's going to be there through the middle of the week.

That way she can use it on weekends when she works and does her other things for what kids do.

So that's coming up in the next week or so We'll get that done for her, gotcha.

So let's talk about the car buying experience itself.

And, mr Mars, I don't see our salesperson there, is it?

so that he's on there.

No that's Okay.

Well, let's just talk about it without him.

Then, if he's not there, let's talk about the car buying experience.

So this was down at Emmons Motors and you know we have a relationship with Wally through Emmons Motors and great guys, drag racers, and the dad started that business down there decades ago and they have a beautiful dealership.

It's a used car lot, but you would swear up and down you were going to a new car dealer.

Yeah, we showed some pictures of it, absolutely.

Yeah, it's very upscale, very nice, and they sell a lot of cars there for multiple reasons.

But they don't sell junk, they sell reliable cars there and if they're not reliable, or at least in their opinion are reliable and in good shape, then they're not going to sell them, they're going to pass on them.

Well, david's bought several cars from them, david has bought several cars from them and they're they're friends of the shows and they we don't ask for any discounts, we don't ask for any special favors, but and they don't advertise with us.

So we have no skin in the game, right, and I wanted to make that clear that there's no discount, nothing.

And we talked about that here for Kylie, you know, because we knew that she was getting involved in that and we discussed that we wanted to maybe do something for the show, Got a hold of Gary and Gary said, yeah, we'll work with you, We'll get you somebody.

I said get us a salesperson that will walk us through the process, not beat us up like car people generally try to do, and it's for a first-time car buyer, and we'll do something on the show with it.

So he called me back a couple days later and says, yeah, go with this and we'll see you down there.

So who did you talk to?

We talked to Alberto and that was her sales guide for this.

Now, I'm not saying he's the best, you know, he was just that he had the opportunity to do this for us.

So we appreciate him.

I'm sorry he's not on, but he was going to be with us today as well.

You know he went through each step.

You know if there was a delay in something, he would explain it and asked if we were or she particularly was interested in other models and other makes, other colors and things.

And we truly thought maybe if they didn't have something, it would be a week or so before he would find something Right.

But it turned out they had the good selection and it worked out for her, so you're happy, right.

Yeah, I love it.

Okay, good.

It's very clean.

It's a white escape.

Is it a blue or gray interior?

Gray, gray interior that looks like it's brand new.

The whole car does.

My jaw dropped when I saw it and it was uh, it was even under the hood.

Yeah, generally you have an odor if somebody had smoked in it or, you know, had food in it or something the pets or something?

Yeah, exactly, but none of that yeah, none of that at all.

Yeah, super clean car.

Have you washed it by yourself yet?

I need to.

Yeah.

It's dirty.

Yeah Well, yeah Well, um, you know, uh, you, we, we have somebody that is that expert in washing cars, and that'd be John Gray.

We just had him on.

So if you want to see how cars are detailed, he's the guy that's detailed.

he's the guy the way to go.

Yeah, he's used to detailing the, like he said, the high-end portion, that and and putting you know nose bras on it or wraps or whatever the case may be.

Um, if you get a chance next saturday when we're on remote, you need to come there where's that uh?

beltway 8 between uh airport and well, basically just south of us, 59 southwest freeway and uh, you take the first exit going south on the beltway and it's right there and uh, yeah, you'll be.

You'll be surprised.

We need to indulge you in that.

We do because, um, it gives you an idea of what it means to have a high-end car.

These, these people have high-end cars.

Most of them are new, but they are already into taking care of it before they actually start putting miles on it.

It makes a huge difference and to see these cars, you're going to go, wow, and it's a big Porsche event.

You ever been inside of a Porsche?

Well, let's see.

We're trying to.

We're trying to edumatate you.

She's had this car like not even a month.

Well, I know You're already flipping it, I know.

Well, we're not flipping it.

All I'm doing is trying to show her the finer things.

When it comes to there you go yeah.

Something's going on over here, I see.

He's fixed it.

Is it working?

Something is Something's working, apparently, but at any rate so.

Do you have any plans for it?

I mean, you want to put wheels on it, you want to lower it, tub it out Don don don.

We're not going to lower it.

Do what?

We're not going to lower it.

Okay, let's just go for washing it Okay.

Okay, well, I'm thinking that perhaps maybe somewhere down the road we can put some 20s on it or something.

Tub it out.

Well, I don't know about tub it out, but wheels and tires are easy.

Yeah, so there's that, but I think right now it's just taking care of what you got.

Yeah, yeah, experience that.

And you know your grandmother apparently is a very good car washer, yeah.

She is.

I'm trying to get her to wash my car.

She said no no, no, but she could got.

She could sit back to drink a lemonade and say that and do this and do that.

She's good at that, you would know.

Yeah, well, she taught you how to vacuum, didn't she?

Yeah, many times, yeah.

But whether or not he'll do it or not, that's another thing.

So what was your, what was your take on the whole buying experience?

Did anything really kind of surprise you?

I think it was a lot quicker than what, like a normal experience would be.

It was a little under three hours.

Because we were only there for we got there at what like two and we left there at 4.30?

Nice, well, that's good.

Did anything besides the time involved?

Did anything surprise you?

But did you look at other cars?

I mean, you had one that you didn't like and then, you immediately went to the second one.

I only looked at two cars.

You only looked at two cars.

Well because you obviously had your mindset on an SUV and you went in there with a budget in mind, which is important, and I would recommend anybody do that.

Yeah, and grandma kind of stretched the budget a little bit.

But Well, yeah, exactly, but that's all right.

So they got the car and who drove it home?

I did, you did, you did, were you up on the wheel like this no, I actually got my license the same day too.

Yeah.

So I got my license and then we went too, but you had your learner's permit for a while, for about a year.

Yeah, so you've been driving for a year.

Yeah, yeah, which is the way to do it.

So who's been your main educator in driving, grandma?

Yeah.

I didn't really drive with my mom.

I think she was afraid.

I don't drive with your mom.

She was afraid I've seen your mother drive.

Actually I'm more afraid of her driving, it's okay.

You know she's watching this.

She learned from Grandma, so that oh Lord, yeah, well, there's that.

They probably were both watching it and saying yeah.

So if you had it to do all over again, would you do anything different?

Okay, let me put it this way the next time you buy a car, are you taking somebody with you?

Do you think that you can do it on your own?

I can't do it on my own.

Why not, because I would probably mess something up.

Yeah, you always take somebody with you.

There could be questions that you might not think of.

Well, we wanted him to go because we wanted him to look at the car before we bought it, so we did want his input on it.

Yeah, if Grandma and Mom looked at it, they were going to be like we don't know what we're looking at.

So has your best friend been in the car with you in it?

She has.

What does she think?

She likes it.

Does she have a car?

She does have a car.

What does she have?

Hyundai?

or something.

It's a Hyundai A sedan, small sedan.

It's a small sedan.

It's smaller than mine, so does she like?

Like yours better than hers, probably.

Probably she didn't say it Sell it to her.

I'm not going to sell it to her, 25 grand she can have it.

That's more than what her car, what she paid for her car.

Yeah.

Yeah, but she bought hers brand new oh.

Brand new.

Yeah Well, that must be nice.

Mm-hmm, do the other kids in your age group getting their driver's license?

Are they getting cars?

Now they are, everybody's getting the car, so where do you fit in all of that?

Is everybody getting new cars?

No, I feel like most of the time like it.

It's like a newer year, but it's not brand new.

Got you so a few years old.

Yeah, two years is.

Yours is perfect, yours is a you.

Yours is that good slot of year.

Absolutely.

The car is in good shape, low miles been taken care of, and you just have to continue that.

That's what it is.

Yeah Well, my Katie, who has her 31st birthday coming up.

I bought her the same car when she turned 16.

So you can do the math on that.

So she's had the car all this time.

Now every fender on it has been mashed at a time or two.

We want to talk about that.

I haven't hit anything yet.

Well, that's good.

Let's keep it that way.

But Katie's car you wouldn't know that it's been hit.

It's been fixed and repaired and that sort of stuff, but it still runs with 180,000 miles on it.

What?

car does she have?

She has a 2007 Ford Focus with a five-speed manual transmission and crank windows.

No internet, no Bluetooth.

No, no, none of that.

No, Did you get yours working.

It's back in the analog world.

I can't understand you, are you back with us now?

He's analoging.

Let me turn your microphone on.

Please turn me on.

There you go.

Are we back online and all that stuff?

Smoking talking to George.

Our guest didn't come in.

Yeah, but I just heard from him he apologized that he couldn't make it.

Well, he's probably still in the car.

He apologized that he couldn't make it.

Well, he's probably selling a car.

He's probably in a meeting or something Whatever the case may be Because it was a touch and go.

He said 9 o'clock would be good, but he may have to sell a car or two.

Well yeah, business is business.

I mean, he's calling from work, Absolutely.

Well, I think it's pretty exciting.

And she drove here.

How many miles is it here?

15 miles From her?

house.

Yeah, probably about that.

Maybe 10, something like that, 10, 12.

Well, thank you very much for coming by.

We have, mike, if you would, we have a parting gift for you.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, this is kind of like a game show yeah.

We don't have to stick my hand in a box and just feel around and guess what it is?

No, because Suze will probably lick your fingers.

Well, not only that, but I'm thinking more along the lines of the scary part where you put your hand in the box and it's brains or something.

Look at that.

This jug of juice here is from Don directly.

Bug remover.

No, it's for your windshield washer fluid Windshield washer.

Fluid Windshield washer.

And then Grandpa bought you an auto safety kit.

Yep, nice.

Jumper cables, batteries.

This actually comes with the year of roadside assistance.

I have the receipt.

You've got to figure something out online if you need it.

I know you've got AAA but this is for an additional coverage thing.

That's good, yeah, and it's good that you got it here.

My granddaughter's got it under the Christmas tree and they were not impressed, sure.

So, kylie, thank you for coming, thank you, you're more than welcome to stay, but we've got other sections of the show we've got to get on with.

Yeah, I think it's great that you share that.

I hope to someday be able to help my granddaughters do the same thing.

Very good.

You will, mike, not a problem, and Tom's got a grandson coming along and congratulations on your new ride.

All right, all right, we're going to take a quick break here on the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show.

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About this episode

A 16-year-old shares her experience of buying her first car with the help of her grandfather and mother. The discussion highlights the challenges and decisions involved in selecting a vehicle, including preferences for SUVs over sedans and the importance of budget. They explore the process at Emmons Motorplex, where they ultimately choose a 2014 Ford Escape over a 2012 Chevy Equinox. The episode also touches on the emotional aspects of car buying and the significance of family support during the experience.

Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet Corvair Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet Equinox Dodge Challenger Ford Escape Ford Mustang GTD Kia Stinger

Original notes

Buckle up for a heartwarming family affair as Jeff's granddaughter, Kylie, takes the wheel on her first car-buying adventure at Emmons Motorplex. Join us as we navigate the twists and turns of choosing between a Chevy Equinox and a Ford Escape, and discover why an SUV trumped a sedan for Kylie's maiden voyage. Her story is a roadmap for any first-time buyer, laced with excitement, practical considerations, and a touch of family humor. Plus, get a glimpse of the racing week ahead and prepare for a revved-up review of the powerful 2024 Ford Mustang GT from our resident expert, Mr. Marrs.

The rubber hits the road in this episode as we cruise through the car-buying experience at Emmons Motors, where the no-stress atmosphere and Alberto's expertise put Kylie in the driver's seat of a like-new Ford Escape. Ready for the long haul, we chat about the lasting impact of thoughtful car-related gifts and share personal tales that'll make you chuckle and nod in agreement. As we cross the finish line, don't miss hands-on thoughts on the Mustang GT, a herald of pure adrenaline, and our open invitation to fellow car lovers for the upcoming Tailpipes and Tacos event—an occasion not to be missed.

Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!

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