My Car Guru Podcast
My Car Guru...Lennie Lawson
Updated 2 days agoLennie Lawson is a 48-year veteran of the auto industry, a current new car dealer, motivational speaker, and financial coach. He’s a straight shooter who tells it like it is—no fluff, no sales pitch.If you’re buying, trading, servicing, repairing, or just trying to avoid an expensive mistake, My Car Guru gives you the insider knowledge most dealers would rather you didn’t have. Lennie pulls back the curtain on the car business and gives you practical advice to improve your Car-Life—and maybe your Financial-Life too.Whether you’re curious about industry trends, need help navigating repairs, or just want a dose of good old-fashioned common sense, this is the podcast that cuts through the noise. No gimmicks—just real talk from someone who’s been in the trenches for over four decades.
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Episodes (577)
I'm looking for some free money from the Government...and I think I'm onto something
Send us a textFree money is good, especially when there are no strings attached. It's out there, but you have to do the research to find it. Email Lennie at [email protected]
If you don't want to go in debt on a car for 6 to 10 years, there is an alternative
Send us a textNew cars and trucks are ridiculously expensive, and finding a creative way to get one is going to become more and more important in the future. I have an idea....open your mind to leasing...it may just be the future of car buying.Email Lennie at [email protected]
There could be a mistake on your car title that could be a BIG PROBLEM
Send us a textAlong with an important car title warning, I dive into the things that retail buyers crave and the things they detest. If you own a small business, or know someone who does, you might want to listen and pass it on........It would be your good deed for the day.Email Lennie at [email protected]
Vintage car auctions are not for the faint of heart...or for those who are "light in the wallet"
Send us a textI am back....back from the Amelia Island Concours d Elegance (a big ass car show) and the Gooding vintage car auction, where they sold a grand total of $72 million worth of cars....two of which were purchased by me. Come on....ride with meEmail Lennie at [email protected]
"BEE ALERT...ARRIVE UNHURT".....how to see "the scam" before you are "the victim"
Send us a textWe used to see this sign on the interstate....BEE ALERT, ARRIVE UNHURT.....My son actually thought there were bee hives that we needed to avoid. It was really just a call to stay on your toes....something that I had to do the other day when I received a cashiers check for an item I was selling....it was a strange experience and a fake check. But the good news.... I suspected it from the beginning.Listen and learn how to keep from getting scammedEmail Lennie at [email protected]
If you're thinking about buying a classic car to restore....DON'T!!!
Send us a text99.9% of the classic cars that I have bought (and that is well into the hundreds at this point) were from owners who never got a around to finishing them. The reasons: lack of time, lack of money and lack of total commitment to the project.It's so exciting..... at the beginning, and then reality sets in. Listen to a few great examples and solid advice from someone who has "been there and done that" more times than even he can count.Email Lennie at [email protected]
Things every car buyer should, or should not do, after they buy their new car
Send us a textWhen you get a new car, you should want to protect it, and most people do just that until the NEW wears off. However, there are some solutions.....there are a few things you can do to help preserve the resale value of your car even if you become negligent in your responsibilities of ownership.Listen to this episode to educate yourself and your loved ones on the subject of "asset protection" (the asset being your car)Email Lennie at [email protected]
How to find enough money and save enough money to pay for a Hawaiian Cruise for 2
Send us a textThere's just something wonderful and mysterious about "found money"....it's money that you once had but lost or forgot about, or money that you never had, but luckily found.... and then there's money that you asked for (like a discount) and only got BECAUSE you asked for it.This episode is all about "found money" and how to get more of it by simply askingEmail Lennie at [email protected]
You can get more of what you want when you AREN'T AN ASS
Send us a textEveryone screws up...we forget to do "this or that". But somethings "this or that" can cost thousands and a lot of heart ache.When it happens to your car, it can make you CarLife a whole lot more difficult.Here is how you handle it when things go wrong.Email Lennie at [email protected]
Miscellaneous automotive observations, controversies and chastisements
Send us a textI just have a lot on my mind, and in this episode, it just comes out of me.Email Lennie at [email protected]
Be on guard.....a crook wants your private information and a car salesman may be an accomplice
Send us a textI almost bought a 4 foot tall pink flamingo the other day. It was made of metal and could be used as a great prank for my friend's and neighbor's front yards. I didn't, however, because I just knew someone would steal it.Someone wants to steal something from you that is a lot more valuable that a 4 foot tall pink flamingo, and it is....your Social Security number and date of birth. When you buy a car, they ask you for this info and a whole lot more. In this episode, I tell you when and how to give it and when to tell them to stick it. Email Lennie at [email protected]
A Confessional: I just drove 300 miles without touching the steering wheel
Send us a textI have never been a fan of automated driving. I did not trust the technology or the software engineer who programmed it.....I do now. I drove over 300 miles this past weekend, and other than a few minor adjustments, I never touched the steering wheel. That was a revelation for me......and quite fun!Come ride along and I'll tell you about my experience and what you can expect from self-driving technology in the future.Email Lennie at [email protected]
Expectations, Reality and the Moments of Truth that make or break a business
Send us a textWhen we go into a business, like a restaurant or a car dealership, we have expectations.....they are either exceeded, met or we end up disappointed. Many businesses are clueless as to why customers defect....it's because they fail at certain points on the transaction....I call them "Moments OF Truth". Listen and learn how to be a "helpful" customer and a better business owner, whichever the case may be.Email Lennie at [email protected]
Should you buy a "certified used car?" ....Only if you like POM
Send us a textPeace Of Mind: it's a wonderful thing to have, but sometimes, you simply have to pay for it. Certified used cars and trucks provide used car buyers with peace of mind, but you have to make sure exactly WHO is certifying it, what benefits come with certification and how much extra is it going to cost.Listen and learn why buying a Certified Used Car may be your best decision.Email Lennie at [email protected]
"I was in a fender bender and now my insurance company wants to total my car!"
Send us a textIt happens....you wreck your car, and even though it seems like a minor repair, your insurance company wants to total your car rather than pay to have it fixed. Unfortunately for you, you owe more on your car than the insurance company is willing to pay.This scenario is very common today because cars have become so expensive to repair. One thing every car owner needs to do is read and understand the limits of their insurance policy and consider buying GAP Insurance to protect against financial loss. Listen to this episode and learn why.Email Lennie at [email protected]
The most classic (and meaningful) cars of all time....and a few duds
Send us a textI'm a car guy. I live and breathe CARS. Especially old ones. I love the history of the automobile because it is so intertwined with the history and growth of our great country. So what are the the greatest and most influential cars of the last 100 years?Listen and find out.Email Lennie at [email protected]
You have a new teen driver....now what?
Send us a textIt's a scary moment....the moment your teen driver takes off on their first solo drive. I remember that feeling and I also remember everything that led up to that moment.Too many parents give their kids what they want...and when the teenager is getting their first car, getting what they want may be the biggest mistake you ever make. Email Lennie at [email protected]
Why do you have bad credit? Ask your mother.....but I can help you fix it.
Send us a textIn this episode, I reveal an amazing discovery of mine and an amazing cure for your troublesome credit issues (assuming you have some)Email Lennie at [email protected]
Back to Basics: things that can get YOU and YOUR CAR in trouble
Send us a textWe all ignore signs...stop signs, yield signs, billboard signs...there are simply too many signs to keep up with. However, there are signs, signals and warnings you must heed when your car is "talking" to you.In this "Back to the Basics" episode, the GURU covers the key things you can do to stay out of trouble with your budget and your car.Email Lennie at [email protected]
Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing to do
Send us a textWhen we get taken advantage of by a business, or when things just don't go right, we want them to fix it. Sometimes they can't give us exactly what we expect, but they have to do something if they expect us to ever come back. Some business owners just don't get that concept."Don't tell me what you can't do...tell me what you will do"--that has always been my philosophy when dealing with customers. If you own a business and deal with the public, this podcast is for you and your teamEmail Lennie at [email protected]
"The rebates went up by $2000 two days after I bought my truck...and I'm pissed off"
Send us a textThere are a lot of misconceptions about how rebates and incentives on new vehicles work. When the rebates come out, or simply increase, folks who bought just before the increase will often go ballistic and spew all kinds of hate toward the salesman or dealer.Don't blame the dealer...and this episode will tell you why and other ways to protect your pocketbook when buying a new vehicle.Email Lennie at [email protected]
I loved my mechanic, but he got arrested! Now what?
Send us a textMost people just don't know who to trust when it comes to car repair. If they've had a good experience with a mechanic, then they typically stick with them. The problem is that many mechanics move around a lot...from business to business. They are chasing a larger paycheck like most folks these days. So how do you know where you should go to get your car repaired?Listen and learn from a Car GuruEmail Lennie at [email protected]
"Ma'am, your car looks rougher than a night in jail, but your kids sure are well behaved"
Send us a textWe always want to be nice...but sometimes its hard.Why don't folks take care of their stuff? Is it just the "throw-away, disposable mentality" that exists in society today? Maybe so....but your car is an ASSET, not a blender or a rechargeable power tool....so don't treat it like one. ASSETS are things that, if taken care off, can actually retain value, and in some cases, increase in value, but not if you don't do your part.Email Lennie at [email protected]
I am the "barometer" of the economy...at least in the grocery store
Send us a textI must admit ( and I'm not bragging) that I can be a popular guy in the grocery store. There's a simple reason for this popularity.... a lot of people in my small town know that I am a car dealer and if you want to know how the economy is....ask a car dealer.I also get asked a lot of the same questions over and over again...especially when it comes to how to take care of a car. It's not rocket science, but it must be to a lot of folks. So, in this episode, I review the most common questions once and for all (probably not) I guess that's one reason that I exist.Email Lennie at [email protected]
My first car was a Chevy Vega....and you thought you had it bad
Send us a textIn this episode, learn about some of the most famous car brands that are no more...and why. I love cars, but I didn't love the Vega or the Pinto, and especially not the Gremlin or the Pacer. Most of us can look back and name cars we didn't like (or were ashamed to be seen in)...like a Pontiac Aztec. Oh well, live moves on. While these brands are no longer with us, they did leave a mark and the auto industry learned many lessons from them. RIPEmail Lennie at [email protected]