Episode 3 - RideWithYusuf - Behind The Scenes In A Used Car Dealership
About this episode
Yusuf shares his journey from food reviews to becoming a successful used car dealer, emphasizing the importance of transparency in the automotive industry. He discusses the challenges of running an independent dealership, the impact of social media on car sales, and the need for honest communication with customers. The conversation also touches on the evolving landscape of electric vehicles and the psychological aspects of car buying. Yusuf's insights reveal how personal experiences shape his approach to sales and customer relationships.
Welcome to The Doug Horner Show, an original series spotlighting timely, relevant dialogue across customer experience, agent performance, dealership culture, and innovation in retail automotive.
Hosted by Doug Horner, General Sales Manager at Mercedes-Benz of North Olmsted and a rising voice in automotive social media, this new podcast brings a transparent, high-energy perspective to dealership operations, leadership, and digital engagement.
Known online as @BenzsandBowties, he has amassed 450K+ followers and 25MM+ viewers monthly across his channels where he often blends humor into content resonating with agents, operators, and customers alike with authenticity and real-world dealership insights.
"We all are consuming social media all day long every day,” Horner shared in a recent Car Dealership Guy interview. “If everyone is doing this all day long, then that's where we need to be.”
The Doug Horner Show dives into what drives dealership success today through candid conversations with respected industry leaders, performance coaches and digital creators shaping modern automotive culture.
Episode 3 - , I sit down with Yusuf Benallal better known as Ride With Yusuf. Yusuf started reviewing little known food spots online before transitioning to car sales and even owning a car dealership, filming his interactions with clients and day to day responsibilities in the dealership. He talks about that journey and what he's learned about the car business and the mindset of car buyers.
About Doug Horner
Doug Horner is General Sales Manager at luxury dealership, Mercedes-Benz North Olmsted, and the creator of @BenzsandBowties, a brand centered on real dealership culture and leadership perspective, and the joy of the work, as an auto industry influencer.
About CallRevu
CallRevu is the leading communication intelligence platform built for automotive retail—empowering dealerships to take control of every conversation, from the first ring to the final result. Our holistic solution combines an automotive-specific hosted phone system, call monitoring, performance training, and reputation management–fueled by AI-powered analytics that turn every customer interaction into actional intelligence. Founded in a dealership in 2008, CallRevu was created by the industry, for the industry to drive revenue, improve performance, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Learn more at www.CallRevu.com
Honda Tecra
"I was definitely into like, you know, back then, there were like Hondas and Tecra on the on the civics."
The Honda Tecra is a small SUV that looks like a car but has a higher seat and more space inside. It was made in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The Honda Tecra is a compact crossover SUV produced by Honda from 1998 to 2005. It blends car-like handling with the higher stance of an SUV.
Honda Civic
"I was definitely into like, you know, back then, there were like Hondas and Tecra on the on the civics."
The Honda Civic is a small car that many people use for everyday driving. It’s famous for being dependable and not using too much gas.
The Honda Civic is a compact car that has been produced since 1972, known for its reliability and fuel efficiency. It comes in various body styles such as sedan, coupe, and hatchback.
Mercedes CLA 250
"[508.0s] I mean, it's actually funny. It was a Mercedes. It was funny. It was a Mercedes. And I think this one of the videos, maybe you probably followed me on. It's crazy. It was two years ago. It was a CLA 250 or something."
The CLA 250 is a small, stylish car from Mercedes‑Benz that comes with a four‑engine and looks like a sporty sedan.
The Mercedes‑Benz CLA 250 is a compact luxury sedan from the CLA‑Class line, featuring a turbocharged four‑cylinder engine and sleek coupe‑like styling.
Mercedes-Benz
"For, I guess for me and many other independent dealers are meeting potatoes is the vehicle itself. It's not so much the add-ons and, you know, the fees and all the back end and you guys get that participation from, you know, Mercedes-Benz financial and other banks..."
Mercedes-Benz makes fancy cars that many people like to buy. They’re known for being safe, comfortable, and a bit pricey.
Mercedes-Benz is a German luxury automotive manufacturer known for its high-quality vehicles, advanced technology, and strong brand reputation.
Toyota Highlander
"I pay 80 grand for a Toyota Highlander. What? The dealership did that."
The Toyota Highlander is a popular family SUV that can seat up to eight people. It’s known for being reliable and comfortable, with a hybrid version that uses less gas.
The Toyota Highlander is a midsize crossover SUV produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota. It offers three rows of seating and is known for its practicality, reliability, and available hybrid powertrain.
EV vehicle
""the Mercedes Lawson incentive saying, you know what, I'm going to give you $30,000 on this EV vehicle,""
An EV is a car that runs on electricity stored in batteries, so it doesn’t use gas and produces no exhaust fumes.
An EV vehicle is an electric‑powered car that uses batteries and electric motors instead of a gasoline engine. It typically offers lower operating costs and zero tailpipe emissions.
warranty
""The warranties aren't explained correctly. There's an aggregate payout. You paid 10 grand for warranty. It only covers 20 grand.""
A warranty is a promise that the car’s maker will fix or replace parts that break within a set time, so you don’t have to pay for those repairs yourself.
A warranty is a guarantee from the manufacturer or dealer that certain parts will be repaired or replaced if they fail within a specified period or mileage. It protects buyers from unexpected repair costs.
aggregate payout
""There's an aggregate payout. You paid 10 grand for warranty. It only covers 20 grand.""
Aggregate payout is the biggest total amount a warranty can pay for repairs. Once you hit that limit, you’ll have to cover any extra costs yourself.
Aggregate payout refers to the total maximum amount a warranty will pay out over its entire duration. It caps how much the insurer or manufacturer will cover.
interest
""how much interest will I pay on this vehicle or what's the depreciation schedule on a Mercedes GOB?""
Interest is the extra money you pay to a lender for borrowing cash to buy a car. It’s added on top of the car’s price.
Interest is the cost of borrowing money to purchase a vehicle, expressed as a percentage of the loan amount. It adds to the total amount you pay over time.
depreciation schedule
""how much interest will I pay on this vehicle or what's the depreciation schedule on a Mercedes GOB?""
Depreciation schedule shows how much a car will lose value each year. Knowing this helps you plan how long to keep the car before selling or trading it.
A depreciation schedule outlines how a vehicle’s value is expected to decline over time, usually expressed as a percentage each year. It helps buyers estimate future resale value.
EVs
"[3288.3s] I just I'm curious everyone's opinion on on EVs you know because that was such a hotly it was so politicized for so long"
EVs are cars that run on electric batteries instead of gasoline, so they don’t pollute the air with exhaust.
EVs, or electric vehicles, run on electricity stored in batteries and produce no tail‑pipe emissions, offering a cleaner alternative to gasoline cars.
electrification
"[3314.2s] with electrification what do you think that does for the future of EVs"
Electrification means cars are moving from gasoline engines to electric motors or a mix of both, which helps reduce pollution and dependence on oil.
Electrification refers to the shift from internal combustion engines to electric or hybrid powertrains in vehicles, driven by environmental concerns and technological advances.
hybrid
"[3326.0s] I've always had my money on hybrid I think you know Toyota Honda"
A hybrid car uses both a gasoline engine and an electric motor, so it can run on gas, electricity, or both to save fuel.
A hybrid vehicle combines an internal combustion engine with one or more electric motors to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
EV technology
"[3332.7s] I think that the EV technology has made hybrid technology a lot more efficient"
EV technology is the set of parts that let a car run on electricity, like batteries and electric motors.
EV technology encompasses the components and systems that enable electric vehicles, such as battery packs, electric motors, power electronics, and charging infrastructure.
electric range
"[3339.2s] um I think capable to have a longer electric range and my EV fan"
Electric range is how far a car can go on battery power alone before it needs to plug in or use gasoline.
Electric range refers to the distance a vehicle can travel using only its electric power before needing to recharge or switch to gasoline.
Porsche Taycan
"until I drove the Porsche Taycan"
The Taycan is like a super-fast electric version of a Porsche sports car, with very quick acceleration and smooth handling.
The Porsche Taycan is a high-performance all-electric sports sedan produced by German automaker Porsche.
EV
"these last six months um I'm definitely getting a lot more uh EV um sales"
An EV is a car that uses electricity instead of gasoline, so it has no exhaust and can be charged at home or stations.
EV stands for Electric Vehicle, a car that runs entirely on electric power stored in batteries.
Tesla
"[3427.3s] people literally you know um I have uh I used to like reviews that but I got Tesla I have"
Tesla makes cars that run on electricity instead of gasoline. They are known for their high-tech features and fast acceleration.
Tesla, Inc. is an American electric vehicle and clean energy company founded by Elon Musk and others.
BMW
"[3432.1s] you know this BMW have this I don't want any Tesla's like why"
BMW makes cars that are often sporty and upscale. They offer both gasoline and electric models.
BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke) is a German luxury automaker known for performance and engineering.
Bentley
"[3569.2s] Doug like you can post a video about a vehicle like for instance I post a video about the Bentley [3573.9s] that I did with 89,000 miles right"
Bentley makes fancy cars that are very expensive and have a lot of luxury features. They’re known for being smooth, fast, and having very comfortable interiors.
Bentley is a British luxury automobile manufacturer known for its high‑performance, hand‑crafted vehicles such as the Continental GT and Flying Spur. The brand emphasizes opulent interiors, powerful engines, and a heritage of racing success.
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