Ram, Dodge & GMC Can't Sell ANYTHING | Big TROUBLE | Episode 1037

Carvana is an online used-car retailer that sells vehicles through a digital shopping experience and delivers cars to customers. In the context of this episode, it’s being used as an example of a “too easy” buying process that may hide issues behind the scenes.

CarEdge.com is presented as the sponsor and the platform behind the hosts’ car buying service. It’s positioned as a way to compare offers and negotiate with dealers to reduce stress for buyers.

Dealer outreach refers to contacting multiple dealerships to request pricing and availability. In a buying service context, this helps gather comparable offers so buyers can negotiate from real numbers rather than guesswork.

GMC is General Motors’ brand that sells trucks and SUVs. The hosts are using GMC as one of the brands most exposed to higher fuel costs because many of its mainstream vehicles are not as fuel-efficient as smaller cars.

Ram is a Chrysler/Dodge-era truck brand focused heavily on pickups. In this segment, the hosts connect Ram’s customer base to rising fuel costs because many Ram models are trucks/SUVs that can be expensive to run when gas prices jump.

Fuel economy is how efficiently a vehicle uses fuel, usually expressed as miles per gallon (MPG). The hosts use it to explain why higher gas prices translate into “hundreds of dollars more” per month for less fuel-efficient vehicles.

“Dodge Ram” refers to the Ram pickup lineup, which is known for full-size truck capability and a wide range of configurations. It’s commonly discussed in automotive podcasts because trucks are bought for work and towing, so buyers care about durability, power, and how the truck holds up over time. The mention in the episode sounds like the hosts are talking about the brand lineup and how these vehicles are positioned.

Miles per gallon (MPG) is a common measure of fuel economy, split into city and highway ratings. The hosts cite city MPG and highway MPG to argue that the discussed Hemi V8 setup isn’t especially efficient.

“Sitting on inventory” means dealers have more vehicles on their lots than they can sell quickly. When demand drops or financing terms change, excess inventory can lead to discounting, incentives, and pressure on dealer profitability—especially near quarter-end.

The Ram 1500 is Ram’s full-size pickup truck and one of the brand’s main volume sellers. When gas prices rise or demand shifts, trucks like the 1500 are often hit because they’re expensive to fuel and commonly bought based on monthly affordability.

Gas prices influence consumer budgeting and perceived operating costs, which can shift demand away from trucks. In sales discussions, rising gas prices are often used to explain slower showroom traffic and more aggressive discounting.

A discount is the price reduction a dealer or manufacturer offers to move inventory. In a slow market, discounts can become the main lever to attract buyers, especially when inventory is aging.

EVs (electric vehicles) are being used as a comparison point for consumer search behavior. The speaker suggests that when gas prices rise, more people consider EVs instead of traditional gas trucks.

A buyer’s market means there are more vehicles available than shoppers who want to buy them, so sellers may need to offer better pricing or incentives. It’s the opposite of a seller’s market, where low supply and high demand push prices up.

Depreciation is how much a vehicle’s value drops over time. The speaker notes that many buyers don’t account for depreciation in their monthly budget, even though it affects long-term cost of ownership.

“72 months” is a common auto-loan term length (about six years). Longer terms can lower the monthly payment, but they can also increase total interest paid over the life of the loan.

Automobile insurance is a recurring monthly cost that varies by driver, vehicle, location, and coverage level. The segment uses it to illustrate how buyers bundle multiple fixed costs into a monthly budget.

“15,000 miles a year” is an annual usage assumption used to estimate fuel spending. It matters because higher mileage increases variable costs, making fuel-price changes hit harder for frequent drivers.

“Days on the market” measures how long a vehicle sits unsold after it’s listed. Longer time on the lot often signals weak demand and can lead to price cuts or incentives to move inventory.

“Leftover” vehicles are unsold inventory from a previous model year. Dealers often discount these cars more aggressively because they need to clear space and meet sales targets before the new model year arrives.

The Great Recession was a major economic downturn that made consumers more cautious about big purchases like cars. The episode uses it to explain why dealers had to make incentives and pricing more aggressive to overcome buyer fear.

Kia is a mass-market automaker that’s been trying to reposition itself higher in the market with more premium designs, features, and pricing. The segment ties Kia’s strategy to the idea that moving up-market can work only up to a point before sales suffer.

“Dealer lots” are the physical inventory areas where dealerships display and store vehicles for sale. When the speaker says the “27s are already on dealer lots,” they’re emphasizing that new model-year inventory is arriving while older inventory may still be unsold.

“Days on lot” is how long a vehicle sits unsold at the dealership. The speaker notes it’s been there 46 days, which supports the argument that the car is effectively being sold like a used unit even though it’s labeled “new.”

The idea of regionalized pricing is that the same vehicle can have different prices depending on where you live. Local supply, demand, taxes, dealer competition, and incentives can all vary by region, so a “good deal” online may not match what you’ll pay locally.