The value of being nice is far greater than the cost of being an A__.
About this episode
Lenny Lawson shares an emotional story about helping an 87-year-old friend sell his vintage cars, including a Ferrari and a 1965 Alfa Romeo Spider 1600 Veloce, using Bring a Trailer and a ton of photos. The episode then pivots to a debate on customer service: why being polite and constructive beats yelling or one-star rants. He recounts a real complaint at his Gateway dealerships, explains warranty vs. time coverage, diagnostic fees, and technical service bulletins, and argues that respectful communication helps get repairs solved faster.
Email Lennie at [email protected]
Ferrari 365
"It's I would say between half a million and $750,000. Not sure what the market is on a 365 like that. But anyway, the garage next to it, there was a 1965 Alfa Romeo, Julia, let's say make it all names right, Julia, Spider, 1600, Veloce."
They mention a Ferrari 365, which is a classic Ferrari model. Classic Ferraris can be worth a lot, but the exact value depends on the specific version and how well it’s been kept.
“Ferrari 365” refers to the Ferrari 365 family of V12 grand tourers. Values can vary widely based on exact body style, condition, originality, and documentation, which is why the speaker is unsure about the market for “a 365 like that.”
Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider 1600 Veloce
"But anyway, the garage next to it, there was a 1965 Alfa Romeo, Julia, let's say make it all names right, Julia, Spider, 1600, Veloce. And I'm not really sure what Veloce mean."
They’re talking about a 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider 1600 Veloce. It’s a classic open-top Alfa, and the “Veloce” part basically signals a sportier version.
This is a specific classic Alfa Romeo: a 1965 Giulia Spider 1600 Veloce. The “Veloce” trim is associated with a more performance-oriented setup, and “Spider” indicates the open-top body style, which affects desirability and pricing.
bringatrailer.com
"And he wants me to sell it for him, which I'm more than happy to do. I'm going to sell it on bringitrailer.com because it involves a lot of work. I probably took a hundred pictures, shot several videos."
They plan to sell the car on Bring a Trailer, a website that auctions enthusiast cars. It usually takes a lot of photos and videos because buyers expect detailed listings.
Bring a Trailer (BaT) is an online auction platform focused on enthusiast cars. Selling on BaT typically means listing with lots of photos and videos, and the audience is more likely to understand the car’s details, which can help with pricing.
prepping a listing with lots of photos and videos
"I'm going to sell it on bringitrailer.com because it involves a lot of work. I probably took a hundred pictures, shot several videos. He sat in a chair there in a lawn chair and watched me taking all these pictures."
The speaker describes the effort required to prepare an online auction listing: taking many photos, shooting videos, and documenting the car thoroughly. For enthusiast platforms, this “presentation” can directly affect buyer confidence and final sale price.
clutch in
"You know, because I didn't have to clutch in good enough. But I had a nice little drive."
On a manual car, you press the clutch pedal to “disconnect” the engine from the gearbox. That makes it easier to change gears without damaging anything or grinding.
“Clutch in” means pressing the clutch pedal to disengage the engine from the transmission. In a manual transmission car, you clutch in to shift gears smoothly and avoid grinding the gears.
underbody
"I've got to somehow arrange to either send a trailer down there to pick up the car and bring it up here so I can get pictures of the underbody and do a little bit more research on the car"
The underbody is the underside of the car, including areas like the floorpan, frame rails, and suspension mounting points. Photos of the underbody matter because they can reveal rust, damage, and signs of prior repairs that aren’t visible from the exterior.
put it up on the lift
"or just take it, maybe I'll call a dealership down in Lenore City and see if they'll let me put it up on the lift, you know, so that I can look at pictures and don't have to haul it all the way to Greenville"
Putting a car on a lift allows a closer inspection of the undercarriage, suspension, brakes, and any potential leaks. It’s a common step during pre-sale research because it can uncover issues that are hard to see on the ground.
Ford
"The name of my Ford dealership and Nissan dealership in Greenville, Tennessee is Gateway Ford and Gateway Nissan."
Ford is a car company. A “Ford dealership” is a store that sells and services Ford cars.
Ford is a major U.S. automaker with a large dealer network. In dealership discussions like this, “Ford dealership” typically means the franchise service and sales operation for Ford vehicles.
Nissan
"The name of my Ford dealership and Nissan dealership in Greenville, Tennessee is Gateway Ford and Gateway Nissan."
Nissan is a car company. A “Nissan dealership” is where you buy and get service for Nissan vehicles.
Nissan is a major automaker with its own dealer network and brand-specific service departments. Mentioning a “Nissan dealership” signals the speaker is talking about how that specific franchise handles sales and service.
warranty
"And it was under warranty, and now it's not. It's two years out of warranty. And so he made an appointment, brought it into the dealership, wanted to get it checked out."
A warranty is coverage that helps pay for repairs for a limited time. When it runs out, you usually have to pay for repairs yourself.
A vehicle warranty is the manufacturer’s promise to cover certain repairs for a set period or mileage. Once the warranty expires, the owner typically pays out of pocket for repairs.
diagnostic fee
"We charge a diagnostic fee. It's one hour of labor. And so we did an analysis on this vehicle."
A diagnostic fee is the charge for the shop to look at your car and figure out what’s causing the problem. Even if you don’t end up doing repairs there, they still spend time testing it.
A diagnostic fee is what a dealership charges to inspect a vehicle and determine what’s wrong. It typically covers technician time and initial testing, even if the final repair cost is separate.
service advisor
"Sorry, the service advisor. I went and talked to the service advisor who spoke to the gentleman."
A service advisor is the dealership employee who interfaces with customers, writes up the complaint, and coordinates with the technicians. They’re essentially the communication bridge between the customer and the mechanic, translating symptoms into a work order.
Toyota
"downloading a fix from the internet, from Ford or Toyota or Nissan, whatever brand of vehicle that you have."
Toyota is the car brand. They tell dealers exactly how to fix certain problems, and sometimes that includes updating the car’s computer.
Toyota, like other automakers, publishes official repair procedures and software/calibration updates for specific issues. Dealers are expected to follow these steps to get paid correctly and to ensure the repair is done the right way.
TSB or technical service bulletin
"repair procedure is dictated on something called a TSB or technical service bulletin. And so we have to follow that precisely, or if we spend $3,000..."
A TSB is like the manufacturer’s “how to fix this problem” guide for a specific issue. Dealers use it so repairs are done the way the automaker expects.
A TSB (technical service bulletin) is an official document from the automaker describing known problems and the recommended repair procedure. It often specifies exact steps, including whether to update software, replace parts, or perform specific diagnostics.
software update
"And that procedure may involve downloading a software update, sending you home. And then the problem reoccurs, sometimes that fixes it, but the problem reoccurs, you come back."
A software update is a change to the car’s computer instructions. It can fix problems without replacing hardware first.
A software update is a manufacturer-provided change to the car’s control software/calibration. In modern vehicles, updates can resolve issues that would otherwise lead to repeated part replacements.
recalls
"I saw where Honda recalling 440,000 Honda Odyssey's... They're just having a lot of recalls and just different issues."
A recall is a manufacturer-led action to correct a defect that could affect safety or compliance, often involving a specific repair or software update. Large numbers of recalls can be a sign of systemic quality issues, and they also affect owner experience and resale value.
Honda
"I saw where Honda recalling 440,000 Honda Odyssey's... A lot of quality issues, their EV program failed miserably."
Honda is the car brand in this story. The host is saying Honda is dealing with more problems than usual and that their electric-vehicle plans haven’t gone well.
Honda is the automaker being discussed, specifically in terms of its current quality and product strategy. The host links Honda’s brand reputation to recall frequency and to how well (or poorly) its newer EV efforts are performing.
dealership
"But don't always blame the dealership... You're going to have to go to the dealership. And that's a dealership service is, yes, it's slightly more expensive because they use original equipment parts."
A dealership is the official service center for your car brand. It can cost more, but they usually know the car best and may have the right parts and diagnostic tools.
A dealership service department is the brand’s own repair network, typically using brand-specific tools, procedures, and parts. They’re often more expensive, but they can be better for complex diagnostics, warranty work, and repairs that require exact factory specifications.
independent shop
"...taking it to a quick loop place or to an independent shop, sometimes that's not going to be the answer. You're going to have to go to the dealership."
An independent shop is a regular repair garage that isn’t the car brand’s dealership. They can sometimes fix things faster or for less money, but for some problems you may still need the dealership.
An independent shop is a non-dealership repair facility that works on many makes and models. They can often be cheaper and more flexible than a dealership, but for certain warranty, diagnostic, or brand-specific issues, the dealership may still be the best route.
original equipment parts
"...it's slightly more expensive because they use original equipment parts."
Original equipment parts are the same kind of parts your car manufacturer designed for the vehicle. They usually fit correctly and match the specs, even if they cost more than aftermarket parts.
Original equipment parts (often called OEM parts) are made to the manufacturer’s specifications and are the same type used when the vehicle was built. Using OEM parts can improve fitment and compatibility, which matters for safety-critical systems and brand-specific repair procedures.
aftermarket parts
"They don't use aftermarket parts. And when you look at like a Chevrolet or a General Motors alternator versus something you would get from O'Reilly's or advanced auto parts, there's a big difference in cost."
Aftermarket parts are replacements made by other companies, not the car’s original maker. They can be cheaper, but the quality and fit can vary by brand.
Aftermarket parts are components made by companies other than the vehicle’s original manufacturer. The episode contrasts them with OEM-style parts, highlighting how aftermarket sourcing can change both part cost and sometimes repair approach.
General Motors
"And when you look at like a Chevrolet or a General Motors alternator versus something you would get from O'Reilly's or advanced auto parts, there's a big difference in cost."
General Motors (GM) is the parent company behind brands like Chevrolet. The episode references a “GM alternator” to compare OEM-style pricing versus aftermarket pricing at parts retailers.
Chevrolet
"And when you look at like a Chevrolet or a General Motors alternator versus something you would get from O'Reilly's or advanced auto parts, there's a big difference in cost."
Chevrolet is a car brand owned by General Motors. The host is using it as an example of how parts for certain brands can be priced differently depending on where you buy them.
Chevrolet is a major brand under General Motors (GM). In the context of the episode, it’s used to illustrate that OEM (manufacturer) parts and components can cost more than aftermarket equivalents.
O'Reilly's
"versus something you would get from O'Reilly's or advanced auto parts, there's a big difference in cost."
O’Reilly’s is a store where you can buy car parts. In this episode, it’s used to show that parts bought at retail can cost less than parts sourced through dealerships.
O’Reilly Auto Parts is a major retail supplier of automotive parts and accessories. The host uses it as an example of where you might buy aftermarket components, which can differ in price from OEM-style parts.
advanced auto parts
"versus something you would get from O'Reilly's or advanced auto parts, there's a big difference in cost."
Advance Auto Parts is another place people buy car parts. The point here is that retail aftermarket parts can be cheaper than what you’d pay through a dealership.
Advance Auto Parts is another large automotive parts retailer. The episode groups it with O’Reilly’s to illustrate typical aftermarket pricing versus dealership/OEM pricing.
service manager
"And say, is your service manager here? I want to tell him what a great job you've done. I'll tell you what, that service advisor will greatly appreciate that. And he'll find that service manager as quickly as he can."
The service manager is the person in charge of the service department. If you’re happy with the work (or need help), they’re the one who can make sure it gets handled.
A service manager oversees the shop’s service department, including staffing, quality control, and customer satisfaction. The episode suggests asking for the service manager if you want to share feedback or address concerns.
transmission
"I mean, you have to replace the transmission basically with either a factory new one or a re-manufactured transmission from Ford."
The transmission is what helps the car shift gears and send power to the wheels. If it breaks, the repair can cost a lot because it’s a major component.
The transmission is the drivetrain component that transfers engine power to the wheels and manages gear changes. When a transmission needs replacement, it’s often one of the most expensive repairs on a modern car.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.