{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Jake Schnatter Reveals How He Buys Cars, Lamborghini Crash Story, & Influencer Hacks","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/jake-schnatter-reveals-how-he-buys-cars-lamborghini-crash-story-influencer-hacks","audioUrl":"https://audio4.redcircle.com/episodes/5f167525-7e8d-4893-bbb3-30f4287f6555/stream.mp3","description":"In todays episode Jake Schnatter breaks down how he buys cars, the truth behind his Lamborghini crash, and the car influencer hacks that helped him build his brand.Jake Schnatter Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jake.schnatter00:00 Intro04:00 How Jake Schnatter Started His YouTube Channel12:06 When Jake Schnatter Took YouTube Seriously12:50 Working as a Server Before YouTube Success16:44 Biggest Tip Jake Schnatter Learned as a Server17:46 Lessons From Serving That Helped Grow His YouTube Channel19:10 How Jake Schnatter Quit His Job to Go Full Time22:04 Buying a Lamborghini at 23 and Its Impact on Views23:33 Best Advice for New Automotive YouTubers25:42 How Jake Schnatter Gets Brand Deals27:53 How Jake Schnatter’s Dad Helped His Journey29:00 Reacting to Videos Made About Him30:56 Why Jake Schnatter Posts on Multiple Platforms31:50 Jake Schnatter’s Main Source of Income33:17 Jake Schnatter’s Thoughts on Audi vs BMW34:52 Why the BMW F82 M4 Is His Favorite Car36:39 Inside the BMW Community37:45 Why Jake Schnatter Loves His F82 M438:54 Plans to Buy an E92 M339:42 E92 M3 vs F82 M4 Comparison40:18 Jake Schnatter’s Lamborghini Plans41:06 Does Jake Schnatter Build Cars for Views42:38 Lamborghini Huracán Crash Story46:10 How Jake Schnatter Afforded His Lamborghini47:17 How Much His Lamborghini Huracán Cost49:18 How Much Jake Schnatter Paid for His House50:39 Dodge Viper Traction Control Explained52:16 Why Dodge Viper Aero Kits Are So Expensive53:09 Real Cost of Owning a Dodge Viper56:16 Future Plans for His Dodge Viper58:27 Why Jake Schnatter Started Car Giveaways01:01:42 Are Car Giveaways Legit01:04:38 Thoughts on Bimmer Invasion01:06:10 Why Jake Schnatter Chose a Ferrari F12 Over an 81201:09:59 Ferrari F12 vs 812 Parts Compatibility01:12:23 Ferrari Banning Customers Explained01:14:44 Jake Schnatter’s Ferrari Budget01:16:17 Should You Start an LLC as a Content CreatorFOLLOW STREET ALPHA PODCAST ON:INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/streetalphapodcastTIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@streetalphapodcastAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy"},"annotations":[{"startTime":28.5,"endTime":49.6,"type":"concept","title":"social media growth","url":"/glossary/social-media-growth","quote":"it was a little hectic yeah it was hectic and honestly at the time from last year to now I keep telling you you've grown like a ton on social media yeah so we'll talk about what like influenced the growth and how you were able to get from a year ago to now","canonicalId":"concept:social-media-growth","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The conversation ties Jake’s car-content performance to “social media growth,” implying that consistency and content planning affect audience size. In car influencer circles, growth often comes from repeatable formats, better pacing, and knowing what to film in each setting.","simplifiedExplanation":"They’re talking about how Jake got more followers over time. It sounds like being consistent and planning what to film made him feel calmer and more confident, which can help his content do better."}},{"startTime":176.5,"endTime":194.0,"type":"concept","title":"YouTube","url":"/glossary/youtube","quote":"So, in the early days, before you obviously started YouTube, you were from what I learned is a hard worker, right? ... the theme park one you see park yeah okay so what inspired you to kind of make a shift from working a job to wanting to start a YouTube channel and have you know cars involved","canonicalId":"concept:youtube","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"YouTube is a video platform where creators build an audience by posting regular content. In car culture, it’s often how enthusiasts document builds, reviews, and buying stories to grow followers and credibility.","simplifiedExplanation":"YouTube is a website/app for posting videos. A lot of car people use it to show what they drive, how they buy cars, and what they’re working on."}},{"startTime":208.441,"endTime":211.945,"type":"car","title":"Audi A6","url":"/cars/audi/a6","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Audi_A6_Allroad_Quattro_C8_1X7A0301.jpg","quote":"[208.4s] [SPEAKER_02]: Um, I, first start out with Audi A6.\n[212.6s] [SPEAKER_02]: Okay.","canonicalId":"car:audi:a6","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The Audi A6 is a midsize luxury sedan that’s often used as a “daily driver” platform. In this episode, it’s the first car the speaker mentions owning, setting the stage for how they got into car ownership and modifications.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Audi A6 is a luxury car model from Audi. It’s the first car the speaker talks about having, before they get into the details of what they owned next.","imageAttribution":"Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":224.2,"endTime":228.3,"type":"concept","title":"aftermarket parts to modify","url":"/glossary/aftermarket-parts-to-modify","quote":"[224.2s] [SPEAKER_02]: So like there wasn't a lot of parts to like modify them with and everything like that.\n[228.3s] [SPEAKER_02]: And, um, [SPEAKER_02]: When I picked that car up, I just tore my meniscus because I didn't track in high school.","canonicalId":"concept:aftermarket-parts-to-modify","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The speaker is talking about how enthusiast cars tend to have more aftermarket support—meaning more companies make upgrades like intakes, exhausts, suspension, and tuning solutions. When a car is less popular with enthusiasts, it can be harder (and more expensive) to find parts that fit well or perform as expected.","simplifiedExplanation":"They’re saying some cars have lots of upgrade parts available, while others don’t. If a car isn’t popular with car fans, it can be harder to find modifications that work."}},{"startTime":453.5,"endTime":463.5,"type":"car","title":"Audi S4","url":"/cars/audi/s4","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/AUDI_S4_%28B9%29_China.jpg","quote":"[448.4s] [SPEAKER_02]: And also doing the piece of job in the moving company.\n[453.5s] [SPEAKER_02]: And yeah, I was doing everything because I really want to get an Audi S4, which was like 20,000, which was 20,000 dollars instead of like 10,000 dollars in the A6.","canonicalId":"car:audi:s4","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The Audi S4 is a performance-focused version of the Audi A4, typically powered by a turbocharged V6 in many model years. It’s popular with enthusiasts because it offers a balance of daily-drivability and upgrade potential. In this segment, it’s the car the speaker is saving for and later modifies.","simplifiedExplanation":"An Audi S4 is a sportier Audi than the regular A4. People like it because it’s fast enough to be fun, but still works as a normal car. Here, the speaker says they wanted one and started spending money to get it.","imageAttribution":"Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":487.4,"endTime":497.5,"type":"brand","title":"TJ Hunt","url":"/glossary/tj-hunt","quote":"[482.4s] [SPEAKER_02]: Not back then.\n[483.3s] [SPEAKER_02]: But like, that's when he was popping off on TikTok.\n[487.4s] [SPEAKER_02]: That's when he was like doing it.\n[487.4s] [SPEAKER_02]: And so I saw him, I saw a few other people, and then of course, the usual YouTubers, TJ Hunt, Adam Elsey, all those guys doing YouTube.","canonicalId":"brand:tj-hunt","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"TJ Hunt is a well-known automotive YouTuber associated with car builds and drifting/enthusiast culture. Mentions like this matter because these creators helped popularize the “build and document it” approach that many modern car influencers follow. In this segment, he’s grouped with other YouTubers the speaker watched.","simplifiedExplanation":"TJ Hunt is a popular car YouTuber. People watch his videos because he shows car builds and the lifestyle around them. The speaker is saying they were inspired by YouTubers like him."}},{"startTime":521.5,"endTime":524.9,"type":"term","title":"TikTok","url":"/glossary/tiktok","quote":"So that's how it kind of started where I grabbed my TikTok. That was all this like, cringey like funny videos and turn it in the car stuff.","canonicalId":"term:tiktok","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"TikTok is a short-form video platform the speaker used to promote their car content. For car enthusiasts, it’s often used to reach local and niche audiences quickly through algorithm-driven discovery.","simplifiedExplanation":"TikTok is an app where people post short videos. The speaker used it to get more people to see their car."}},{"startTime":559.2,"endTime":572.0,"type":"term","title":"wrapped","url":"/glossary/wrapped","quote":"Yeah, I had a YouTube video on it too, but Alex Troy wrapped his 720, the year before, and then it was like 13 days before Christmas, and nobody was really doing it that next year, and Alex Troy weighed into the day off to post his video.","canonicalId":"term:wrapped","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Wrapped” in car context usually means applying a vinyl wrap to change the car’s appearance or protect paint. Wraps are common for show builds and influencer content because they’re visually dramatic and can be removed later.","simplifiedExplanation":"“Wrapped” usually means putting a vinyl film on the car’s body to change the look. People do it for style and for photos/videos."}},{"startTime":576.5,"endTime":584.7,"type":"concept","title":"16 million views","url":"/glossary/16-million-views","quote":"So I did it and it got like over 16 million views and I made $8,000 on TikTok.","canonicalId":"concept:16-million-views","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“16 million views” is a key social-media metric that indicates how widely the car content was distributed. In influencer economics, view counts often correlate with ad revenue, brand deals, and platform monetization.","simplifiedExplanation":"They’re saying the video got a huge number of views. More views usually means more money and more people seeing the car."}},{"startTime":1602.5,"endTime":1628.3,"type":"concept","title":"brand deals","url":"/glossary/brand-deals","quote":"[1596.6s] [SPEAKER_02]: This is my demographic.\n[1602.5s] [SPEAKER_02]: That's what lands brand deals.\n[1605.5s] [SPEAKER_02]: Outreach is a big thing.","canonicalId":"concept:brand-deals","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Brand deals” are paid partnerships where a company pays a creator to promote its products or services. In automotive content, brands often target creators whose audience matches the product’s buyer profile, and outreach can be as simple as sending parts or making an offer.","simplifiedExplanation":"A “brand deal” is when a company pays a content creator to talk about their product. For car channels, it’s usually because the creator’s viewers are the kind of people who would buy car parts."}},{"startTime":1605.5,"endTime":1628.3,"type":"concept","title":"outreach","url":"/glossary/outreach","quote":"[1605.5s] [SPEAKER_02]: Outreach is a big thing.\n[1607.4s] [SPEAKER_02]: I don't really do a lot of outreach, [SPEAKER_02]: Well, I'll reach with like car parts.\n[1613.9s] [SPEAKER_02]: Yes.","canonicalId":"concept:outreach","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.88,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"In influencer marketing, “outreach” means proactively contacting brands or companies to propose collaborations. The speaker contrasts doing outreach versus receiving inbound emails, which affects how quickly partnerships happen.","simplifiedExplanation":"“Outreach” here means reaching out to companies to try to work with them. It’s basically the creator doing the contacting instead of waiting for companies to contact them."}},{"startTime":1957.2,"endTime":1964.3,"type":"term","title":"maintenance","url":"/glossary/maintenance","quote":"Yeah, right? So there was some video that you posted about maintenance on it Right and and honestly outies are pretty expensive.","canonicalId":"term:maintenance","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.88,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Maintenance is the routine work needed to keep a car running well—things like scheduled services, wear-item replacements, and inspections. The speaker specifically references posting a video about maintenance on their Audi S4, suggesting they’re talking about real ownership upkeep rather than just performance.","simplifiedExplanation":"Maintenance is the regular upkeep that keeps a car healthy, like oil changes and replacing worn parts. They’re saying they shared what they learned from maintaining their Audi S4."}},{"startTime":1975.6,"endTime":1976.7,"type":"concept","title":"daily drivers","url":"/glossary/daily-drivers","quote":"The they're amazing daily drivers for sure. Okay.","canonicalId":"concept:daily-drivers","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A “daily driver” is a vehicle you use regularly for everyday commuting and errands. The speaker is positioning Audi as a practical, comfortable choice for that role rather than a purely weekend-performance car.","simplifiedExplanation":"A “daily driver” is the car you use most days for normal life—work, errands, and commuting. The speaker is saying Audi works well for that."}},{"startTime":1991.6,"endTime":1998.7,"type":"brand","title":"porches","url":"/glossary/porches","quote":"Like with with with BMW's like porches like all these other cars. The driving experience with those is way more sporty...","canonicalId":"brand:porches","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Porches” is a reference to Porsche as a brand (transcript likely means Porsche). The speaker groups Porsche with BMW as brands that feel more engaging and sporty than Audi, and they also mention looks as part of the appeal.","simplifiedExplanation":"Porsche is a performance car brand. The speaker is saying Porsche feels more exciting to drive and looks better to them compared with Audi."}},{"startTime":2400.7,"endTime":2404.2,"type":"term","title":"front lip","url":"/glossary/front-lip","quote":"You know, like everybody puts a front lip on their car, everybody puts a wing on their car. So what I do is what I feel like the normal person would do...","canonicalId":"term:front-lip","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A front lip is a small aerodynamic add-on at the bottom edge of the front bumper. It’s commonly used to change the car’s look and can slightly improve airflow, but it’s mostly a visual mod for many owners."}},{"startTime":2767.9,"endTime":2778.1,"type":"concept","title":"IRS","url":"/glossary/irs","quote":"I can write off my cars to an extent, but it's way easier to write off the her account that way because it's the least, just the IRS understands it better.","canonicalId":"concept:irs","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) is the U.S. federal agency that administers tax law. The speaker is arguing that the IRS treats this setup more favorably and that it’s still not fully understood."}},{"startTime":2798.4,"endTime":2867.1,"type":"concept","title":"lease","url":"/glossary/lease","quote":"[2798.4s] [SPEAKER_02]: So the car was $196,000 and I put down 40, but within that 40, it was the first payment last payment the lease start up fee and we got other fees associated and stuff like that all that sales tax start up all that kind of stuff so at the end of it, it was only probably like 20k and equity.\n[2821.2s] [SPEAKER_02]: Okay, but yeah, 20 25 maybe 30.","canonicalId":"concept:lease","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A lease is a financing structure where you pay to use the car for a set term, then return it (or buy it later for a negotiated amount). The speaker breaks down how the down payment, first/last payment, lease start-up fees, and sales tax all affect the effective cost and monthly payment.","simplifiedExplanation":"A lease is like renting a car for a few years with monthly payments. You usually put money down, pay some fees up front, and then you give the car back at the end unless you buy it."}},{"startTime":2856.5,"endTime":2867.1,"type":"concept","title":"credit score","url":"/glossary/credit-score","quote":"[2856.5s] [SPEAKER_02]: And I was like, okay, and if you have a good credit score at the time, I had a 750 now I have over 800, but it was like super easy.\n[2863.5s] [SPEAKER_01]: So as long as you got all your stuff in order, you can definitely go out there if you're making money, of course.","canonicalId":"concept:credit-score","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A credit score is a numerical rating of your creditworthiness based on payment history and debt. The speaker says having a strong credit score (they mention 750 and then 800+) makes approval easier for leasing a supercar.","simplifiedExplanation":"Your credit score is a number that shows lenders how reliably you pay bills. A higher score usually helps you get approved and sometimes gets you better terms."}},{"startTime":2902.1,"endTime":2915.2,"type":"term","title":"monthly payment","url":"/glossary/monthly-payment","quote":"[2895.4s] [SPEAKER_01]: I feel like I have one of the good or ones So and on one night, so with that money that you put down everything what was a monthly payment for it?\n[2902.1s] [SPEAKER_02]: 3200 I think 3200.\n[2903.6s] [SPEAKER_01]: Okay, so right around anything or in that territory of how much it costs is like $3,000 roughly from 100 and 100 plus actually.","canonicalId":"term:monthly-payment","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Monthly payment is the recurring amount you pay each month under a lease or loan. The speaker estimates the Lamborghini lease payment around the low-$3,000 range, emphasizing how monthly cost can be compared to other big expenses like a mortgage.","simplifiedExplanation":"Your monthly payment is what you pay every month to keep the car. They’re saying the payment for this kind of supercar lease can be around a few thousand dollars."}},{"startTime":3083.1,"endTime":3114.2,"type":"term","title":"wing","url":"/glossary/wing","quote":"...he was telling me that the kits on it to style it, like the wing, the front lip, all that stuff is like $20,000 or something like that...","canonicalId":"term:wing","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A wing is an aerodynamic add-on mounted to the trunk or rear to improve downforce and stability at speed. In this segment, they compare different wing types and note how much the aftermarket wing costs.","simplifiedExplanation":"A wing is a spoiler that helps the car stay planted at speed. They’re talking about different wing options and the price."}},{"startTime":3114.2,"endTime":3116.8,"type":"term","title":"aftermarket one","url":"/glossary/aftermarket-one","quote":"Is it, is it, is it the aftermarket one? Yep.","canonicalId":"term:aftermarket-one","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"An aftermarket part is made by a company other than the original manufacturer and is sold as an upgrade or replacement. Here, they’re confirming the wing is an aftermarket version rather than a factory-specific piece."}},{"startTime":3332.1,"endTime":3342.5,"type":"part","title":"coil overs","url":"/glossary/coilovers","quote":"Okay, so how much are you into that car now total probably 95 95 and is there any of your future mods that you're gonna keep you know Yeah, so coil overs. [3341.0s] [SPEAKER_02]: I bought those for 4k.","canonicalId":"part:coil-overs","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Coilovers are adjustable suspension components that combine a spring and shock absorber, often allowing ride-height and damping changes. The speaker says they bought coilovers for $4k, implying a planned suspension upgrade after the purchase."}},{"startTime":3472.8,"endTime":3483.6,"type":"concept","title":"giveaways","url":"/glossary/giveaways","quote":"So what made you get into giveaways? ... So did you feel like, you know, you were going to jump on the bandwagon or did you have a different vision for it?","canonicalId":"concept:giveaways","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"In car/influencer marketing, “giveaways” are promotions where followers can enter to win a vehicle (or other big prize). The episode frames them as a way to grow brand awareness while still selling merch to fans.","simplifiedExplanation":"A giveaway is when someone offers a prize—here, a car—to people who support them. It’s usually meant to get more attention and reward fans at the same time."}},{"startTime":4065.1,"endTime":4067.1,"type":"part","title":"lowering springs","url":"/glossary/lowering-springs","quote":"I got lowering springs for it. I got all the carbon bits coming for it.","canonicalId":"part:lowering-springs","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Lowering springs are aftermarket springs that reduce ride height. On a Lamborghini, they’re often chosen to improve stance and reduce body roll, but they can also affect ride quality and alignment needs.","simplifiedExplanation":"Lowering springs make the car sit lower. That can look better and feel more planted, but it may ride harsher and require alignment."}},{"startTime":4085.1,"endTime":4090.5,"type":"concept","title":"OEM ones","url":"/glossary/oem-ones","quote":"But that's what I really but it's really hard to find a set OEM ones.","canonicalId":"concept:oem-ones","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“OEM ones” means original equipment manufacturer seats—factory parts rather than aftermarket. The speaker highlights that OEM carbon bucket seats are difficult to find, which affects cost, availability, and fitment."}},{"startTime":4098.5,"endTime":4113.8,"type":"term","title":"limited run body kit","url":"/glossary/limited-run-body-kit","quote":"And the sad part is the end largo is a limited run body kit that they make.\n\nSo for the F12, I believe that only made 10.","canonicalId":"term:limited-run-body-kit","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.88,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A limited run body kit is produced in a small quantity, often making the original parts more collectible. Here, the host contrasts the original limited-run “Largo” kit with replicas, implying that replicas won’t carry the same value.","simplifiedExplanation":"A limited run body kit means only a small number were made. That usually makes the real original kit more valuable than a replica."}},{"startTime":4113.8,"endTime":4116.5,"type":"term","title":"replica","url":"/glossary/replica","quote":"So if you're going to get an end largo kit, it's going to be a replica.\n\nIt won't be that real one.","canonicalId":"term:replica","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A replica is a copy of an original aftermarket part or kit, made to look similar but not produced in the original limited quantity. The speaker emphasizes that if you buy an “End Largo” kit, it’s likely a replica rather than the original."}},{"startTime":4297.1,"endTime":4302.751,"type":"brand","title":"Ferrari","url":"/glossary/ferrari","quote":"Now are you modding that card based off of like, [SPEAKER_01]: because Ferrari has this thing where you can't do certain things with their cars.","canonicalId":"brand:ferrari","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Ferrari is the Italian supercar manufacturer known for strict control over how cars are serviced and modified. In the episode, the speaker references Ferrari’s approach to limiting certain modifications, which can affect warranty coverage and what aftermarket changes are practical."}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Street Alpha","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/jake-schnatter-reveals-how-he-buys-cars-lamborghini-crash-story-influencer-hacks/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}