A new way to get your teen driver on the safe, smart and confident track (and it even works for old folks)
About this episode
Lenny Lawson and the host pitch a free, 50-page “teen driving experience” guide focused on getting new drivers safe, smart, and confident—covering basics like jump-starting, brake system concepts, tire checks, what to do in accidents, and how to handle being pulled over or avoiding road rage. The conversation also shifts to EV reality (charging reliability, Tesla Supercharger adapters, and pricing incentives), plus dealer-disruption drama with the Scout EV going direct-to-consumer. They wrap with warnings about negative equity from long pandemic auto loans and quick advice on when trading makes sense.
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Gateway Ford
"Starts at 6 p.m., goes to 8 p.m. here at my dealership, Gateway Ford and Gateway Nissan in Greenville, Tennessee, and we've come up with this beautiful guidebook that follows everything we're going to be talking about."
Gateway Ford is mentioned as one of the dealership locations hosting the teen driving event. Dealership-hosted events often tie into sales and service education, which can influence how buyers and families approach vehicle purchasing and maintenance.
Gateway Nissan
"Starts at 6 p.m., goes to 8 p.m. here at my dealership, Gateway Ford and Gateway Nissan in Greenville, Tennessee, and we've come up with this beautiful guidebook that follows everything we're going to be talking about."
Gateway Nissan is mentioned alongside Gateway Ford as a host dealership for the teen driving event. Being at a Nissan dealership can also mean the materials and examples may include Nissan-specific models and service practices.
road rage
"Like what to do in the event of an accident, how to avoid road rage incidents, there's ... Most common accident causes, how to avoid, like I say, road rage."
Road rage is when someone drives aggressively because they’re angry at other drivers. It can make situations dangerous fast, so the goal is to stay calm and avoid escalating conflicts.
“Road rage” refers to aggressive or hostile driving behavior toward other road users. The episode frames it as a preventable risk factor for accidents and emphasizes de-escalation and calm decision-making.
roadside emergencies
"What are the most common roadside emergencies and how to handle those? It's good stuff, especially for a teenager."
Roadside emergencies are problems that happen while you’re driving—like your car breaking down. The goal is to know what to do right away so you stay safe.
“Roadside emergencies” are situations where a vehicle becomes unsafe or inoperable while away from home (like breakdowns or battery issues). The episode focuses on recognizing problems early and handling them safely until help arrives.
spare tire
"For example, does it even have a spare tire? Most people don't even look."
A spare tire is the backup tire you use if one of your tires goes flat. Before you need it, you should check whether your car actually has one and what kind it is.
A spare tire is the backup wheel used if your main tire is damaged or goes flat. Many modern cars include a full-size spare, a compact “donut,” or sometimes only a tire-inflation kit—so it’s important to know what yours has.
jumper cables
"This is how you hook up jumper cables. This is how you check to see if your tires are too old."
Jumper cables are used to jump-start a car with a dead battery by connecting it to another vehicle’s battery. Proper connection order and safety precautions help prevent sparks and electrical damage.
P 225 75 or 17
"This is how you check to see if your tires are too old. This is what P 225 75 or 17 means on the side of the tire."
That string is a tire size code. It encodes the tire’s width, aspect ratio, and wheel diameter so you can match the correct tire for your vehicle and avoid fitment/safety issues.
Nissan Aria
"I've got one EV left. It's a Nissan Aria. It's all wheel drive dual motor."
The Nissan Ariya is an all-electric SUV, meaning it runs on electricity instead of gasoline. The podcast says it’s all-wheel drive with two electric motors, which helps the car put power to the road more effectively. It’s mentioned as one of the host’s electric vehicles.
The Nissan Ariya is an all-electric crossover SUV, and the podcast specifically mentions an all-wheel-drive dual-motor setup. It’s being discussed as the remaining EV in the host’s lineup, which highlights its role as a modern electric option. The dual-motor AWD configuration is notable because it’s designed to provide traction and responsive driving.
Tesla adapter
"So I decided to help sell this Aria. I'd spend about two hundred dollars for a Tesla adapter. So now if somebody buys this Aria, then I'll give them the adapter and they can go to a reliable Tesla supercharger like at a Bucke's."
A “Tesla adapter” is used to let an EV connect to Tesla charging hardware (commonly Tesla Superchargers) when the car’s charging port or connector type doesn’t match directly. The speaker is using this as a workaround to access more reliable fast charging.
Tesla supercharger
"So now if somebody buys this Aria, then I'll give them the adapter and they can go to a reliable Tesla supercharger like at a Bucke's."
Tesla Superchargers are Tesla’s fast charging stations. The host is saying they’re dependable and much quicker than what they have nearby.
Tesla Superchargers are Tesla’s fast-charging network designed for quicker EV charging than typical public chargers. In this segment, the speaker treats them as “reliable” and a solution to the slow/limited charging options in their area.
excess EV inventory
"So Trump got rid of the EV tax credit and that stuck a lot of dealers with some excess EV inventory..."
Excess EV inventory means dealers have too many electric cars sitting on the lot. If fewer people want to buy right now, dealers lower prices to sell them.
“Excess EV inventory” means dealers have more electric vehicles on hand than they can sell at normal prices. When incentives like tax credits change, demand can drop and dealers may need to discount cars to clear stock.
Charge Point
"And you'll be able to charge it not only at Charge Point chargers and all the other brands of chargers that are out there that most of them work."
ChargePoint is a company that runs public electric car charging stations. If your EV can use their network, you can charge in more places without guessing.
ChargePoint is a major network of public EV charging stations. When a car or charging app supports ChargePoint, it can make finding and paying for chargers easier.
Ford lightning pickup truck
"My nephew, Max, went to one with his Ford lightning pickup truck, which is an electric F-150."
The Ford F-150 Lightning is an all-electric pickup truck. Instead of buying gas, you charge it—how fast and how much it costs depends on the charger.
The Ford F-150 Lightning is Ford’s electric version of the popular F-150 pickup. It’s a battery-electric truck, so charging time and cost depend on charger power and the battery’s state of charge.
EV
"Well, it's cheaper than a tank of gas, but it's not free. The cheapest way to fill up your EV is at your house,"
EV means electric vehicle. Instead of using gasoline, it runs on electricity stored in a battery.
EV stands for electric vehicle, meaning the car is powered by an electric motor and a battery. Charging costs and speed depend on the charger type and electricity pricing.
Nissan Leaf
"for longer than anybody else has ever heard of the Nissan Leaf. L-E-A-F. Yeah, it's been around a long time."
The Nissan Leaf is a long-running electric car from Nissan. The early versions had shorter range, but later models improved a lot.
The Nissan Leaf is one of the earliest widely sold modern mass-market EVs. The speaker references its early range and how the technology has improved over time.
range
"I remember when they first came out, they had like 75 miles of range. So it was a novelty."
Range is how far an EV can drive on a full charge under specified conditions. It’s a key buying metric and has improved significantly as battery technology and efficiency improved.
electricity rates
"Now you're talking, but that electricity, it's not going to be free. Everybody thought, oh, it's an EV. It's I can drive for free."
Charging an EV costs money because you pay for electricity. The price you pay depends on your local utility rates.
EV “fuel cost” depends on electricity price, which varies by utility and location. The host’s point is that charging isn’t free—your cost is driven by electricity rates set by regulators and utilities.
15 to $20,000 discount
"come see me or go to any dealer that still has some in stock and insist on at least a 15 to $20,000 discount."
They’re telling people to negotiate for a big price cut. The idea is that if a dealer has lots of EVs sitting around, you may be able to get a better deal.
This is an “out-the-door” style negotiation point: the speaker suggests pushing for a large discount off the vehicle’s price. For buyers, it underscores that EV pricing may be negotiable depending on inventory and incentives.
break your arm
"But be careful. Get ready to pay it because they might just, as we say in the car business, break your arm. That means get you to sign the paperwork."
It’s a saying meaning the dealer may pressure you hard to sign papers. They’re warning you to be careful and not get rushed into a deal.
“Break your arm” is a car-dealer slang metaphor meaning strong-arm tactics to get you to sign paperwork. It’s not a literal automotive term, but it’s relevant to the buying process and negotiating pressure.
Kia Soul
"But yeah, the Kia Soul, it came out in 2010 with a starting price just over $13,000. Remember those days? ... Well, you know how long ago it was."
The Kia Soul is a compact, boxy car that started around 2010. The point here is that it was affordable, but it still attracted a lot of fans.
The Kia Soul is a small, boxy crossover/hatchback that debuted for the 2010 model year. In this segment, the host highlights its low starting price and how it built a loyal, passionate customer base over time.
Mini Cooper
"But like the original Volkswagen Beetle, the Morris Minor, the modern Mini Cooper, I should say, the Soul had a passionate following."
The Mini Cooper is a small car with a lot of fans. The host is saying the Kia Soul pulled off something similar—people really cared about it.
The Mini Cooper is a compact car known for its distinctive identity and strong owner loyalty. The host groups it with the Beetle and Morris Minor to argue that the Kia Soul achieved a similar “cult” style following for an entry-level vehicle.
entry level vehicle
"And it was a pretty rare achievement for the entry level vehicle. Kind of reminds me, what was that little, that little Chrysler product?"
“Entry level” just means the cheaper, basic version of a car. The host is saying the Soul was affordable, but people still really loved it.
An “entry level vehicle” is the most affordable trim/segment of a brand—typically the base model aimed at first-time buyers. The host is emphasizing that the Soul was able to create a strong following despite being positioned as an affordable option.
Chrysler PT Cruiser
"Kind of reminds me, what was that little, that little Chrysler product? Oh yeah, the PT Cruiser. Remember that?"
The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a retro-styled compact car introduced in the early 2000s. The host compares it to the Kia Soul to illustrate how certain “quirky” designs can still sell well and attract devoted buyers.
Chevrolet HHR
"And then Chevrolet said, okay, will up the ante with something called the HHR."
The Chevrolet HHR is a retro-styled car. The host is saying Chevrolet tried to compete with other popular, quirky designs by offering the HHR.
The Chevrolet HHR (a retro-styled wagon/hatch) was introduced as a response to competitors with similar appeal, like the PT Cruiser. In this segment, it’s mentioned as Chevrolet “upping the ante” after seeing strong sales from rival models.
Volkswagen dealers
"Oh, yeah, I saw this Volkswagen dealers are on the rampage."
The host is talking about Volkswagen dealerships and how aggressively they’re acting. It’s more about the business side of buying than about how the cars work.
This refers to Volkswagen dealerships and their sales behavior, described here as “on the rampage.” It’s a commentary on dealer activity/marketing rather than a technical vehicle detail.
bench seat option
"[1005.6s] They have a truck version. [1007.4s] They have an SUV version. [1008.7s] What I really like is they're bringing back the bench seat option."
A bench seat is one long seat instead of separate seats. It can let you sit more people across the front and often feels more old-school and roomy.
A bench seat is a single wide seat that can accommodate multiple passengers across the front (often 2–3 people depending on design). The episode highlights it as a “back in the sixties and seventies” feature, implying a more social, flexible seating layout compared with modern individual bucket seats.
full retail, maybe over retail
"I feel for you because you probably paid what, full retail, maybe over retail for the vehicle, paid nothing down because the pandemic was going on..."
Paying “over retail” means the transaction price is above the typical MSRP/retail benchmark, often due to high demand or limited inventory. The segment uses this to explain why buyers ended up with loans that were hard to unwind later.
negative equity
"According to who is this automotive news, negative equity reaches new heights. What is negative equity? That's when you owe more on your vehicle than its actual cash value."
Negative equity means your car is worth less than what you still owe on the loan. So when you try to trade it in, the numbers don’t work in your favor.
Negative equity (often called being “upside down”) means you owe more on the loan than the car is worth in cash value. This makes trading in or selling difficult because the payoff amount can exceed what the buyer will pay for the vehicle.
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