CAR KEYS Apr 27, 2026

Car Keys with Robin Leech and Jay de Marcken – April 27, 2026

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30:15

Part

new tires

“New tires” just means the tires were replaced. Tires strongly affect how smooth the ride feels and how well the car sticks to the road. If the car is in the shop for tires, you often need a loaner.

Brand

They’re talking about Stellantis, the big company that owns several car brands. The host is saying the dealer they use is part of that group, which is why they got a Dodge loaner. It helps explain why different brands show up at the same dealership network.

Car

Dodge Hornet

The Dodge Hornet is a small SUV/crossover that Dodge tried selling for a short time. The host is talking about how it was priced, marketed, and then taken back off the market. They also mention getting to drive a higher trim called the GT.

Term

GT model

“GT model” means a nicer/sportier version of the car compared to the standard one. The host is saying they finally got to drive that sportier trim. Different trims can change how the car drives and feels.

Concept

suspension is taught but not rough

This describes suspension tuning: “taught” typically means firm control and less body movement, while “not rough” suggests the ride is still compliant over bumps. Together, it’s a balance between handling stability and comfort. Listeners may benefit from understanding how spring/damper tuning and tire choice affect this feel.

Term

turbocharged

“Turbocharged” means the engine has a device that forces extra air into it. That helps the car make more power, often making it feel quicker. The host is saying the turbo power contributes to how the car drives.

Term

four-cylinder engine

A four-cylinder engine is an engine with four moving pistons. It’s often chosen to save fuel, and in this case the speaker says it’s surprisingly strong.

Term

zero to sixty sprint

“Zero to sixty” means how fast a car can go from stopped to 60 mph. People use it to compare how quickly different cars feel like they accelerate.

Term

firm suspension

A firm suspension means the car doesn’t “float” much over bumps. It can feel more controlled in corners, but it may feel less comfortable on rough roads.

Term

subcompact

“Subcompact” means a smaller SUV size. It usually drives more easily in traffic and parking, but it may not have as much space as bigger SUVs.

Car

Honda Hrv

The Honda HR-V is a small SUV. It’s smaller than the CR-V, so it’s usually easier to park and drive day to day.

Car

Honda Crv

The Honda CR-V is a bigger SUV than the HR-V. They’re both crossovers, but the CR-V is usually roomier.

Car

Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is usually a regular car, but the speaker is talking about it being used for a smaller SUV-style vehicle. The idea is that Toyota is trying to sell a crossover in the Corolla name.

Concept

tariffs

Tariffs are extra taxes on imported products. If cars are imported, tariffs can make them more expensive to sell, which can affect whether a model stays on the market.

Concept

25% unimported vehicles from Europe

The speaker is talking about a 25% tax on certain cars coming from Europe. That kind of tax can raise the price of the car and hurt sales.

Car

Jeep Cherokee

The Jeep Cherokee is a Jeep SUV. The speaker says Jeep stopped making it, so you’d expect dealers to sell something else instead—but they didn’t.

Car

Chevy Bolt

The Chevy Bolt is an electric car made by Chevrolet. When it first came out, dealers often didn’t have many on display, so it was harder for shoppers to see and consider it.

Concept

dealer promotion and showroom visibility

The main point is that if a dealer doesn’t put the car where people can see it and doesn’t advertise it, fewer people will notice it and buy it. Visibility matters a lot for sales.

Car

Dodge Durango

The Dodge Durango is a Dodge SUV, usually with room for more than just two people. The hosts are using it to show what kinds of Dodge vehicles dealers actually keep on hand.

Car

Jeep Wrangler

The Jeep Wrangler is Jeep’s iconic off-road SUV, known for its removable doors and roof and its strong brand identity. The hosts use it as an example of a model that dealers stock heavily because it matches what Jeep buyers expect.

Car

Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is Jeep’s mainstream SUV that blends everyday comfort with off-road capability. The hosts mention it alongside the Wrangler to illustrate which Jeep models dealers prioritize because they’re strong brand fits.

Car

Audi Q5

The Audi Q5 is a popular luxury SUV. They mention it to show that the Jeep Grand Cherokee is competing with well-known SUVs in the same general class.

Car

BMW X5

The BMW X5 is a bigger luxury SUV. They mention it to show the Jeep Grand Cherokee is being compared to well-known luxury SUVs people might consider instead.

Car

BMW X3

The BMW X3 is a compact luxury SUV and a common competitor in the same shopping set as other mid-size SUVs. The hosts use it as a reference point for how the Jeep Grand Cherokee stacks up in perceived value and capability.

Term

Incentive

An incentive is a deal that lowers the price or helps with financing. They’re saying there may not be a big promotion at the dealership, but there is some discount and financing help if you look online.

Term

financing

Financing refers to how a buyer pays for the vehicle over time, typically through a loan with an interest rate and term length. The host mentions that the incentive includes financing that could be “interesting,” implying the deal may depend on credit and loan terms.

Concept

soft version of the old Cherokee

They mean the newer Cherokee feels more like a comfort SUV than a rugged, outdoors-focused one. Even if ads suggest it can do the same things, the newer one may not have the practical gear/features you’d use.

Term

CVT type transmission

A CVT is a transmission that doesn’t use set gears. Instead, it smoothly changes ratios, which can feel different than a normal automatic—sometimes less “grabby” when you need power right now.

Concept

camping features

They’re talking about whether the SUV has the useful stuff you’d want for camping. The point is that the newer Cherokee doesn’t offer those same camping-friendly features, even on the higher trims.

Brand

GM

GM stands for General Motors, a large American car maker. They mention it to compare how big legacy brands’ dealer networks are versus other automakers.

Brand

Hyundai

Hyundai is a car brand that sells a lot of vehicles in the U.S. They’re saying Hyundai may have fewer dealers than Jeep/Dodge, but it still sells more cars.

Concept

electric cars

They’re talking about electric cars and whether companies are still fully committed to them. The point is that some brands are slowing down or changing plans, while others keep selling electric or electrified options.

Brand

Kia

Kia is another car brand in the Hyundai group. They mention Kia as part of the comparison showing other brands are continuing to offer electric or electrified cars.

Concept

Electric vehicle sales

They’re talking about how many electric cars people are actually buying. If those sales aren’t as high as expected, car companies may pause or delay new EV projects.

Car

Ford F150 Lightening

The Ford F-150 Lightning is a pickup truck that runs on electricity instead of gasoline. It’s meant to keep the usefulness of a truck while using an EV powertrain. The podcast mentions it in terms of how Ford is talking about it and positioning it to customers.

Brand

Stellantis

Stellantis is a big company that makes lots of car brands. If Stellantis is struggling with sales, it can impact specific brands like Jeep and the models they sell.

Concept

miserable gas mileage

They’re saying these SUVs don’t get good fuel economy. If a car uses a lot of gas, people may hesitate to buy it or it may sit longer on lots.

Term

miles per gallon

Miles per gallon (MPG) tells you how efficiently a car uses fuel. Higher MPG usually means you spend less on gas, which is why the hosts connect MPG to rising fuel costs.

Term

ground clearance

Ground clearance is how much space the car has between the bottom and the road. More ground clearance helps the vehicle avoid hitting obstacles when driving off-road.

Car

Ford Bronco

The Ford Bronco is another SUV aimed at people who want a rugged, off-road capable vehicle. The hosts mention it because it competes with Jeep’s Wrangler for the same kind of buyer.

Concept

body-on-frame

Body-on-frame means the car has a separate “truck-like” frame underneath, and the body bolts to it. It’s often used on rugged SUVs because it can handle rough use, but it can be heavier and less efficient.

Car

Toyota Land Cruiser

The Toyota Land Cruiser is known for being very tough and capable off-road. The hosts bring it up to show that people are still buying rugged, truck-based SUVs in big numbers.

Topic

SUV sales competition (Land Cruiser vs Wrangler/Bronco)

They’re debating which popular SUVs will sell the most and why. It’s mostly about Toyota versus Jeep and Ford in the rugged SUV segment.

Car

Boulder Hyundai Bolder

The “Boulder” is a concept vehicle shown by Hyundai at the New York Auto Show. A concept car is not always a car you can buy right away—it’s more like a preview of ideas. The podcast mentions it because it can show where the company might be heading.

Brand

BYD

BYD is a car company from China. The hosts are pointing out that BYD is selling a lot of cars in Europe, which challenges the idea that Americans won’t buy Chinese brands.

Concept

barriers

“Barriers” here refers to obstacles that make it harder for certain cars—specifically Chinese cars—to sell in the U.S. These can include tariffs, regulations, and other market-access hurdles. The hosts frame them as part of why Chinese brands face a tougher path than they do in Europe.

Concept

protectionist

Protectionist means trying to protect local companies from foreign competition. In the past, some people didn’t want Japanese cars coming into the U.S., and the hosts compare that to today’s concerns about Chinese cars.

Concept

EV sales up

“EV sales up” means more electric cars are being sold. The hosts are using this to show that at least some automakers are doing better than people assume.

Concept

vehicles in stock

The hosts suggest that EV sales may be affected by inventory availability—if dealers don’t have the right vehicles on the lot, customers can’t easily test or buy them. This frames sales performance as partly dependent on supply and dealer stocking decisions.

Topic

dealers rant

They’re about to talk about how car dealerships work and whether the sales process is outdated. The hosts imply it affects how people buy cars.

Concept

summer car

A “summer car” is a vehicle you primarily use during warm-weather months—often because it’s a convertible or sports car that’s less practical year-round. The hosts suggest that if you can store it and only drive it seasonally, you may find better deals on used examples.

Concept

used cars deals vs new-car pricing

They’re basically saying: you can often get the same fun from a used car for much less than buying new. The savings can be big, especially for cars that aren’t driven year-round.

Car

Mazda MX-5 / Miata

The Mazda Miata is a small two-seat convertible that’s famous for being a blast to drive. It’s often a good used-car deal because you can buy one without paying “new car” money.

Term

rusting away

“Rusting away” refers to corrosion that occurs when a car sits unused for long periods, especially outdoors. For convertibles and sports cars, rust can become a major ownership issue because it can affect structural areas and body panels.

Car

Ford Mustang

This is a Ford Mustang GT with a convertible top. The point here is that you can enjoy a more powerful, fun car in the summer without paying full new-car pricing if you buy used.

Car

Mercedes SL

Mercedes SL is a luxury convertible/roadster model line from Mercedes-Benz. The hosts are saying older SLs can be a smart used-car choice if you want the style and comfort without paying for a brand-new car.

Concept

buy a good used one

They’re basically saying: don’t feel like you have to buy the newest car. If you buy a good used one—especially from someone selling it or a dealer taking it in trade—you can usually get a better deal.

Car

Toyota Priuses

The hosts specifically call out Toyota Prius hybrids as a strong used-car option for people who want affordable transportation. They also mention early generations (“first” and “second gen”) as especially good deals, emphasizing value and practicality rather than performance.

Concept

hybrids

They’re pointing out that a Prius is a hybrid, not a pure electric car. A hybrid uses gas plus an electric system to help it get better fuel economy.

Term

double yellow line

Double yellow lines are usually there to warn you not to pass. They’re often used in spots where visibility or road conditions make passing risky.

Concept

wheelies

A wheelie is when you accelerate so hard that the front wheels come up. It’s usually a sign of too much power for the available grip.

Term

rubber burning

When tires spin or get too hot, they can leave black streaks on the road. That’s a sign the tires are losing grip and wearing quickly.

Concept

tire wear from burnout/traction loss

If tires are spinning and dragging on the road, they wear out faster. It can also make the car less grippy and potentially damage the tires.

Term

front brakes

When you brake, most of the stopping force goes to the front wheels. If you’re constantly braking hard, the front brake parts wear out sooner.

Concept

weight transfer during braking

When you slow down, the car’s weight shifts forward. That makes the front brakes do more of the work.

Topic

keeping our aisles peeled / passing cyclists safely

They’re basically saying: watch out for cyclists and be careful when you pass them. Good driving means staying alert and leaving extra room.

Term

four feet

When you pass a cyclist, you’re supposed to leave extra room—often described as about four feet—so they have space to stay steady and you don’t clip them.

Concept

flashing lights front and rear

Flashing lights on a bicycle improve conspicuity, especially in daylight glare or low-visibility conditions. Front and rear lights help drivers judge distance and direction, reducing the chance of late detection.

Concept

iridescent piece of clothing

Bright or reflective clothing can make you easier to see at night or in bad light. It bounces light back toward drivers, so they notice you sooner.

LIVE

He is Robin Leach. He is Jada Markin. This is Car Keys.

Good morning to our listeners for this week's show on Car Keys with Jada Markin and Robin Leach.

I was going to start the show because I've recently been dealing with a week full of car servicing for

vehicles that all seem to come

In alignment with the need for or the suggested need for servicing in one in the same week

I finished or I started my week. We are dealing with jeeps and

I had to leave one of the jeeps at the dealer for new tires and various other things that are needing to be done and got a loaner from the

Stalantis dealer in Tarrington where I do my services and it happened to be a

Vehicle that was briefly on the market here under the Stalantis name or under the Dodge name called a Dodge Hornet

It did not survive two years of marketing. It's been off the market

currently because allegedly due to tariff

costs increasing the

The the original sticker price in the start out in the very low 30s and and

Didn't get much out of the mid 30s

For a vehicle that I panned when I first discussed it on this show a couple of years ago

much because the ones I saw weren't an ugly color and

To I didn't really get to drive the GT model which I now had the chance to drive

Why my Jeep was at service and I will say

That that is a car that could be a lot of fun. I'm not particularly

Intrigued by its external look. It doesn't really have the look of a car that

Drop ended up or ends up driving in a very very suitable fashion

And I think is very well planted on the road

The suspension is taught but not rough

the power of the

turbocharged

Hurricane four-cylinder engine

sensational and

Would put a lot of other cars

To shame in terms of a zero to sixty sprint I think the price was extreme

Extremely desirable. I got the moroni sticker out of a glove compartment and I think that what I drove was approximately

37,500 for absolutely everything

Technology-wise in the car that beats many of the lower levels of some of our US cars

Not to be necessarily gone through in the show, but the drill I love that car so much

I thought about seeing if I could get the dealer to maybe let me purchase it after they took

Jay

Happy to Jay hold it be very happy to buy it. Hold it. They probably well, but that hasn't been done yet

They have three of them in and they're all GT models and they are the one I drove had only

16,000 miles on it and I was very impressed with the drive train

aspect and the driving capability and feel of this car

So that is it on that note and Jay will carry on because he wants to talk about Salantis

Well, no, I'm going to talk about your the

Dodge Hornet first and that when you seemed so enthusiastic the other day

About it. I you know did a little reading because we we knew about the car and like you mentioned it

Came in it and it's gone

and

And the reviews in the press are actually right on on on par with with what you describe. It's zippy

It's fun to drive

The press people have said it, you know, it's a very firm suspension

And and it's a small SUV, right? It's what we call a subcompact

So it compares to a Honda HRV not the CRV, but the smaller model and

What I think Toyota has branded as a Corolla now a Corolla little SUV also smaller than a RAF for

you know that

There is room for that for a vehicle that size in the market and you wonder why

wasn't

Jeep Dodge

Why were Jeep Dodge dealers not able to sell it? Well

It seems like the car was overpriced when it got on the market, but you know, they were willing to discount them. I'm sure

the reason for it being

Taken off the market the excuse of the tariffs is is you know, it's in part true

But I think the decision had been made before the tariffs came out

25% unimported vehicles from Europe

and

That was just the fact that the car was just not selling period and I thought okay

So why you know my thought processes? Why is that car not selling when at the same time?

Jeep started

Stopped producing the Jeep Cherokee. So you would think that dealers who had those cars on the lots would would have been able to

You know replace Jeep Cherokee sales with Dodge Hornet sales

Well, evidently that didn't happen. So

It's just to me. It's just mind-boggling

That they have not sold any more of those cars and unlike you. I don't think the car is unattractive

I think it has it's a it's a different look

For sure. It's a little rounded

But it just sales just never took off

And I think a lot of that has to do with what dealers are putting on their lots and we've talked about this before

if you recall years ago, we had gone to a

GM dealership and and

Had tested the first

Chevy Bolt when it had just come out and the only example of the car

They had was parked way in the back of the lot behind the SUVs and the pickup trucks

And so I think if dealers are not going to promote a vehicle

They're just not going to sell

And it's that simple and and if you look at what?

One of the local dealers here has in stock right now, and this is a

Jeep Dodge dealership and and I was thinking okay, what do they have in stock?

What are they selling as far as brands? Well, they sell Jeep and they sell Dodge and

They and Chrysler and they had one Chrysler minivan in stock because Chrysler only has one model

five Dodge

Vehicles in stock right now, and they're all Durango's no chargers

No, I don't know what what else Dodge actually makes obviously no Hornets because they're no new Hornets anymore

And then 84 jeeps and out of the jeeps that I think like about

50 of the vehicles are Wranglers and Grand Cherokees, which are actually really good

Models for for the brand right I mean the Wrangler is the definition of and is the image of the

Jeep brand and the Grand Cherokee is really a really good SUV and compares well compared to you know

Audi Q5 BMW X3s and X5s and and the likes

But but again if you don't have the vehicles if you're not promoting the vehicles

You're just not gonna sell them. Okay, Jay. I want to jump in because you're right on spot if we're talking about the same dealership

I've been there quite often is in the last seven days from this show and

They have five of the new Cherokees in stock. There's not one on the showroom floor

Not one that I have seen has disappeared from the stock that's sitting parked out in back

I drove one of them because I did a test drive on the one

on the one I talked about in an earlier show and

It's still sitting there unsold

So and I've been by two other Jeep dealers and I cannot see any of the new Cherokees

Sitting out in front of them

So what do these dealers think when they've got these vehicles that they've got to try and sell?

Why salesperson told me that there's no

Incentive yet out of there. Well, there is an incentive if you look at it on and online is a thousand dollars off and there's maybe

Some financing that might be interesting

But the fact of the matter is there is not one that you can see for

For Jeep recognition

People like you and I that should be where it should be if they want to try to sell this newer vehicle

Which is a soft version of the old Cherokee? I want to

probably I want to say it that way because I think it's a nice design

I think it rides nicely the drivetrain which I panned initially because it it only has a CVT type transmission

No geared no direct gears

And I don't like that for Jeep. What does that make it sound like it's tough to go ready to go off-road?

Well, the publicity online is yes, it can do all this stuff that the old Cherokee is concerned. That's not what they say

That's what they're inferring or implying

But to be it if you were going to take the new Cherokee camping versus the old Cherokee, which I'm holding on to

Mine has things that I would be using in the campground

That the Jeep new Cherokee doesn't have now does it not well

It doesn't have it and it's not even available in an upper level

Not in the four levels. So

Let's go beyond the Jeep charity say the marketing is very uneven in the slantest world of what's going on. Well, you know

That is a new vehicle. Maybe and I think you know, maybe production is not quite up to speed the vehicle

We're not available. All right, and all the dealers have got them sitting parked out in back of three that I checked

And they all had three or more five is not many. Yes

My my my bigger my bigger concern for

You know

Well, Stalantis and the American legacy manufacturers like Ford and GM

They have the biggest dealer networks, right? I looked a little bit correct there. They're like 2400

Jeep Dodge dealers

And 27 2800 Ford and GM dealers

each

And when you compare to Hyundai for instance, they have a total I think of 800 dealers

Mm-hmm, and yet they sell

Way more vehicles than Jeep and Dodge

Well, you're touching on what what I think we are both agree in agreement is that there's something wrong with

or something not really correct going on with the the

The marketing of American vehicles or the designs or the bringing out of new vehicles, you know, the the American

manufacturers work have been quick to

Distance themselves from continuing

Production of all electric vehicles as and yet Hyundai and Kia and Toyota

And all the other along that along and keeping stuff

Vehicles like that available and there's a headline in this week's automotive news says crossover heavy brands rethink

decisions to sideline

Electric cars

Maybe yeah, yeah

Here's the thing European manufacturers took a big hit with the

Electric vehicle sales, right? We know they they didn't take off as expected. We know the EU is is

Softening up on on

Implementing, you know, they're all EV sales by 30 20 35 or so

But yet EV sales are increasing around the world except here in the US. Correct. And and so I

Just think it's short

Short-sight

thinking to pull away from

EV development and look at GM right now GM is pausing the

Replacement for the air. They're very very large

Electric vehicles that you know the same platform that powers the Hummer

the Cadillac

Escalade IQ or whatever it's called

And the and the Eric and the big pickup truck

And they're put saying oh, we're pausing. We're not abandoning it, you know

But but but they're they're tip-toeing and and Ford has pulled away from from the f-150 lightening the message

They are sending to customers is like, we're not sure about this. We're not really going to invest in it

So what do people do? Well, if they really want electric vehicles and if that market does slowly

Pick up they go elsewhere

They're gonna go elsewhere and and and

Vehicles are there elsewhere. That's they are and the more and more are coming

the the new three series electric from BMW is apparently gonna be a great vehicle the first reviews on the

2027 C class Mercedes, which is all electric is it rides like an S class and it has a performance of an AMG

You know sports car the sports division of Mercedes and yet it's just a regular run-of-the-mill

Mercedes C class

So I think the change is coming. So, you know back to Stellantis

You you just look at the note the sales numbers and and they're and they're they're really not good

and I know they replace their CEO because

You know, they they blame Carlos to virus for for running

You know the the brand the Jeep

Into the ground into the ground, but I think the problems were there before and I think the problems are still there

And if you look at at good vehicles in their niche like like the Wrangler. Well, the Wrangler

that you know the Ford Bronco sells almost as well as as the Wrangler, so I

Think that segment of the market has grown and and so gee well

Open up the door for Ford to to to come in with the Bronco and I think last year sales

We're pretty even the date. There's more Wrangler sales than

Broncos we have a new we have a new problem with the Bronco Wrangler pickup truck

Issue and that is the problem and I think some people are having recognition

Let me just continue a minute before you could we come back to you Jay and this I just did our perusal of Ford dealers

between Tarrington and Brookfield and

They are

laden and

Millerton they're loading up Broncos are loading up in their lots

Wranglers are omnipresent in the in the front of several Jeep dealerships as the front line of vehicles that you can only see

Because there's so many lined up. You can't see behind them to see what else is there on my drive between

New Canaan and and Sharon

And I think it has to do with the fact that this these particular lines of vehicles get

miserable gas mileage and

maybe they're saturating the

energetic Jeep

Backers that just want to have it as a as a visual evidence of a rugged vehicle that can go anywhere, which is sort of true

But they don't get good mileage and then now with the gas right now as we are you doing our shows hovering between

$4 a gallon up and

It's just when you have a 15 gallon tank and you have a car that gets 15 to 20 miles a gallon

And you're having to put $80 worth of fuel in if it's empty not quite that for those tank sizes

You know, it's suddenly hitting our pocket books and my Jeep's the Cherokees the old ones and the new ones get

You know between 27 and 40 miles per gallon

And they can do I think my attitude about the old the Cherokees that I have so I can do

90% of what a Jeep Wrangler could do limited only by ground clearance and not as rugged Robin Robin

No, that is a mood point people buying Jeep Wranglers. Okay. What Jeep Cherokees? Okay

CRVs or

Forebunders

Also, they don't realize yeah, they want the rugged look over the practicality of my level of Jeep

That I just said can do probably 90% but I they don't go off-road

So here's a bigger problem even for these these these very specific

Market, you know for for these rugged vehicles now GM is considering and it's not they're gonna do it

There's no doubt in my mind is gonna come out with

GMC Jimmy which makes total sense. They have the platform right?

I probably their mid-size pickup truck and they're gonna slap an SUV body on that and so there's gonna be another vehicle

Yeah competing with both the Bronco and the Wrangler correct

But but the bigger picture is and and some of these body-on-frame vehicles are

Becoming increasingly popular look at Toyota with the new Land Cruiser and the forerunner. So last year

and I

Hope I'm correct with these numbers. I don't think I'm far off Toyota sold

I think about 60,000 new Land Cruisers and about the same number of forerunners

I think a fewer forerunners, but I think the new forerunner came out later in the year

So it caught up later in the year and this year is probably gonna outsell the Land Cruiser

But those are two body-on-framed

SUVs that we do see a lot here. I mean we see some and and

They are popular vehicles and they're selling in numbers that come and tickle

Both the Wrangler and the Bronco well add to that that you know

We saw we all saw the Hyundai bolder concept at the New York Auto show

You know that vehicle is gonna come out. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind, right?

Yeah, and and there is no reason if Hyundai is able to outsell

the price or Jeep

in all of their other offerings with one third of the dealers that that that

Stalantis has in the country

There's no doubt in my mind that that vehicle is gonna sell in numbers and again chip away at the sales of

Jeep

Wranglers right so one day the market for those vehicle just you know Peters for whenever people, you know get back to their senses

And you know eventually they will or not I think we get back to the earlier comment about

What are the these?

Non-American manufacturers doing that the American manufacturers aren't to try to keep their momentum going in there in the Americans and the sales

versus what's happening with the

Imports long-term planning long-term planning, but long-range patience as well

Earlier, you know the American group don't seem to have a lot of patience

They if they can't

They're selling lines running at a certain numerical level

They think it's that they better get rid of the of the vehicle that's on that line and try to figure out what else you get

To up their sales. Okay, so this this oh, we will never you know Americans will never buy Chinese cars, right?

Oh, no, no, I okay. Hold on. Hold on. Let me go. Let me let me finish my thought here

Okay, look at at what BYD is doing in Europe

They are becoming one of the the best-selling vehicles bar none. They are emerging especially in the UK, but

You know in all of Europe BYD is increasing sales. I forget the percentages, but I mean leaps and bounds

Right. I'm moving forward. I agree. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. So here in the US. We have all sorts of barriers

When it comes to Chinese cars, but go back 50 years

Oh, you know when Toyota started selling cars in this country

People were very

protectionist and you know, we did not want to see the invasion of Japanese cars in America

That was not gonna happen. They went to the Korean car manufacturer and then and then came the Korean

the Hyundai group okay a group right up and and we all laugh back in the 80s and 90s at the

The Hyundai which what what was the model? I mean

Remember the model, but they were all basic real basic small cars and here we are Toyota

I mean Toyota is one of the biggest manufacturers in the on the planet

They make the best vehicles or some of the best vehicles. They are number one two

On sales charts for every segment of the market that they they are including the electric guys is the headline

I have in front of me to Toyota bucks the trend of declining February EV numbers meaning their EV sales are up

And why aren't the Americans is it because they're just taking them off the market?

So they don't have them as you say they don't have the right vehicles in stock to for anybody to look at

People when they want to buy cars are not very patient about how long it takes them to want to buy something when you agree

Jay, there's that I think the whole the whole

Sales model is just antiquated and I don't want to go on a rant on on dealers

Well, we can discuss but we don't certainly don't have time now

So we I think we can revisit all these. I mean there's

Brands that are up and coming and and there are certainly nice vehicles, you know with all of these

Good, yeah, so a quick note here a summer is coming is right around the corner, right?

Sports cars and convertibles, okay

We want to go into vehicles that we don't use year-round and and so, you know, I've been reading art

Obviously, I have my thoughts you have yours you have you you have

you know

Sports cars that are soon to qualify as antiques, right?

You have a sports car. You have a convertible sports car. I got a van. Yeah, well not a sports

No, I'm talking about a sports car. Yeah, and

You're right. So if you I mean

Yes, go and buy a new one if you can afford to have a you know a summer car sitting in and not not driving it year-round

Or you can drive it year-round, but there are deals to be made out there. There's some great

Used cars that the Mazda Miata and all of its generation has always been a great both sports car and convertible

I remember when I bought mine 25 years ago, so this was the early 2000s

all of a sudden everybody in town was buying a little $5,000 Miata and

And I have friends who still have theirs. I do too, but it's sitting in a parking lot outside

In rust waiting

Russing away, I'm afraid. Yes. I need to do something about that. But there but there are other there are other cars

That can be good deals

And like you have a Mustang, you know GT convertible. Yeah

That could be a fun summer car

I mean, I'm sure if you tried to sell it today, you wouldn't get all that much money

So you can go out and buy one for you know not by not paying $60,000 for a new one and still have fun for

You know the summer months

Mercedes convertibles even the SL sports car comes to mind you can get a 20 year old, you know

2003-2004-2005 Mercedes SL with a hardtop convertible

For, you know, $20,000 or less and day in day out. They're beautiful cars

That they're fast. They're comfortable

They're probably not cheap to operate, but you're not gonna run the 20 or 30,000 miles a year

So if those are good choices in my opinion

Okay, I think I think those are that's a good comment to make

We've all talked about how if you don't have to have the newest latest and most modern

Model of a car that you might be interested in having as a driver's car

That's exactly the way to go go go find a good used one sitting around either through private

People who are trying to sell it because they don't need it anymore or the dealers that might have taken it in a trade-in for something new

As we've said about the electric car world

That's the only way we I think anybody should right now buy an electric car not buy a new because

the used car the used

Vehicle values are are

Much better and the electric cars are basically good, you know, the batteries last long time

They don't need as much maintenance, which is a very big plus in my mind

and

You can get a good car for I think the used Toyota Priuses are probably a very good buy for people who don't have the money to buy a

New one and or a you know an upper-level car. So there it is

Yeah, the first gen first second gen of Toyota Priuses are actually good deals not electric cars are hybrids

But they if you need cheap wheels, it's certainly something to look at

Before we wind up this show get pulled off the air here

Going into summer months

Kids are gonna be on the streets

soon

Popping wheelies on the double yellow line on Main Street. So I don't understand that to jump in on this comment

I've seen more rubber

evidence of rubber burning or

Around our roads this spring that I can recall seeing any other spring not that I remember

Numerically what I see here on this front. I do not know why people do that

because it's been a long winter people are getting out and

You know, I don't know. I don't know either

You know, how many thousand miles of where do you take off when you leave a patch of?

Rubber taking leaving, you know a stoplight or a stop sign. So I do recall

I think it must be in the Guinness Book of Records. There was what this goes back 10 15 years ago

There for those of us who know to conic road in outside of saw out of Salisbury going towards cannon

there was a

dual

Continuous rubber mark that was I think a mile and a half long

I don't know that you do that that long

But yeah, I know I think I know which one you're talking about because I I'm sure I observed it and wondered how they could do that that long

For those of you who have the vehicles anything over a quarter of a mile

too long

Yeah, not not good for your tires

Not good for your brakes because obviously you're using the front brakes to to slow the vehicle down

Not to be recommended by any strength, I don't know why we're even talking about this

You brought it up. No, not well. Yeah, I know I did but I started the car this

part of the conversation talking about kids being on the road and and

Just let's keep our aisles peeled and let's remember that, you know, when you pass a cyclist

You are allowed and actually kind of

It's kind of a rule if not the law that you have to leave them four feet

So you can go over a double yellow line to go around a bicycle

That's never coming at you on the other direction at the same time

Well, if somebody's coming at you what I got to slow down and go by them carefully. Yeah. Yeah, so

That's my say I must say to add to this

You've got a visual problem developing with the greening of our countryside in that it's harder to see some of these

Bicyclists and not to mention pedestrians who aren't wearing very bright colored clothing that jumps out at you before you

Before you get in their vicinity and have to watch out about not hitting them

Yeah, if you're riding a bike get those flashing lights front and rear

It's just I would say wear an iridescent

Piece of clothing somehow too because all that can help you survive

Our roads and our country roads around our listening corner

Harkies with Robin Leach and J. DeMarken is produced at the facilities of WHDD

91.9 FM Robin Hood radio comm sharing Connecticut

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30:15

Car Keys with Robin Leech and Jay de Marcken – April 27, 2026

25% unimported vehicles from Europe

SUV sales competition (Land Cruiser vs Wrangler/Bronco)

dealers rant

used cars deals vs new-car pricing

weight transfer during braking

About this episode