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)
Answers to common car questions that start with WHEN, WHAT AND HOW?
Send us a text"When should I trade cars?""When is the best time of year to buy a new car?""How often should I change my oil or have a front-end alignment?""How can you tell if a salesman or mechanic is lying to you?"These are just a few of the many car-related questions I get asked quite often, either through emails and text messages from listeners to the "MyCarGuru" daily radio show, or out in the showroom of my new car dealership. In this episode, I answer some recent, and common questions from the mailbox that might just be the same question you would ask, if you only knew someone who would answer themhonestly.....and now you do.Email Lennie at [email protected]
Avoid car title and ownership nightmares with these helpful CAR GURU tips
Send us a textI've seen too many people lose lots of money because they did not understand how to properly handle these car titling scenarios:1. You bought a car but the title still shows a lien (a loan against it)2. You lost the original title and need a new one3. You sold a car several years ago and now you are being sued because it was involved in a serious accident4. You gave a car to a relative and now they are stuck paying sales tax5. You traded your car at a dealership with a lien, but it never got paid off....oh my!All of these scenarios are possible and avoidable if you have the right information and take the right action...and you will have it in 23 minutes or less if you listen up...and it's my pleasure......Lennie Lawson, The CAR GURUEmail Lennie at [email protected]
Critical items that everyone should have in their car at all times...and yes...it includes duct tape
Send us a textQuite frankly, there are a lot of things I see in peoples cars (since I do own and operate a car dealership) that I wish I could UN-SEE....but it seems that the "erase feature" in my brain only works on things I am supposed to remember.That being said, there are several very important items that everyone who owns and operates a car should remember to have in their car at all times....and especially with a few items for when the temperatures drop.In this podcast, we go over that list and review some important skills that every car owner should have.Email Lennie at [email protected]
The 5 questions you should NEVER answer
Send us a textMost salespeople at car dealerships are well-trained. They know what questions to ask in order to maximize two things: the NUMBER of cars they sell AND the PROFIT they make on each one.If you are car shopping at a very aggressive, high pressure dealership and you answer any of these five questions in the wrong way, you will end up paying too much for the car....guaranteed. In this episode, Lennie lets listeners in on the secret (but effective) tactics that many unscrupulous salespeople use to close more deals and make more money when they aren't entitled to either. Email Lennie at [email protected]
This is why I thank God everyday for the opportunity He gives me to help others.
Send us a textI'll admit it....I have a relatively small platform to do my thing as a CAR GURU. I have a new car dealership with 65 employees, a radio show that reaches several thousand folks a day and a podcast that reaches out even further. But I learned a long time ago the value and importance of "helping just one".......If I can help just one person with a financial decision, one person with a life decision or one person just looking for comfort or some positivity in their life, then that is what I am called to do.In this episode, I give a recent example of a car buyer who bought from a dealer in a nearby town and had a severe case of buyers remorse....and for good reason. I also wanted to reflect on a few examples of how we, as Christian business owners and influencers, can use our "platform", whatever size it is, to do something good for others.Email Lennie at [email protected]
To TINT or not to TINT, that is the question.....
Send us a textI'll admit it....I've never had the windows tinted on any car I have ever owned. What the factory does has always been enough for me. Plus, If I need to flip somebody off, I want them to be able to see me do it. (just kidding)The truth is.... I'm old and in the minority on this issue...and thank goodness.Window tinting is a hot and growing business and definitely has value to the folks who can't live without it. Quite frankly, there's a lot more upside than downside, and in this episode, I do my best to shed some extra light through those deeply tinted (and probably illegal) windows out there.Email Lennie at [email protected]
Those who don't appreciate history, ARE HISTORY!
Send us a textThis podcast is a reflection of the past.I just saw a name on Facebook that I haven't seen in 50 years. He was one of my brother's best friends, so I had to reach out to him and get reacquainted. I do that periodically...reach back in time to get reacquainted with history, including the car business.We have come a long way since Henry and his Model T (models A through Z were failures) and thank goodness our past was full of inventors, engineers and business-minded folks who were always working to make the automobiles we drive perform better, be more reliable and keep us safer.....it's just when the government gets involved that things have gone a little sideways.Maybe can learn a lesson or two from our past....if we take the time to study it. Email Lennie at [email protected]
How to become a HERO with a LEGO car and a child
Send us a textOur time is the most precious gift we can give to someone else. Spending time with my grandchildren can often be exasperating, but when we work on a project together and actually build something, a connection is formed that can last a lifetime....that's why I got into building LEGO cars.In addition to this familia advice, I talk about how car-tech may be making our car-life more complicated and how to navigate around a pushy car salesman....all that and more just for you.Email Lennie at [email protected]
The Car Guru Top 10.....the BEST to drive and BEST just to look at
Send us a textWe know, "opinions are like a_____, everyone has one", but in this episode, Lennie digs deep into automotive history and his driving experiences to pick his 10BEST vehicles to drive....(and he's driven them all).....And, as bonus offer, he includes the 10BEST vehicles of all time just to sit and look at. If you love cars, check out his list and then let him know what you think and what your favorites are. Email lennie at [email protected] Email Lennie at [email protected]
"The car wreck ended my sons life, but epilepsy killed him"
Send us a textOn January 18, 2011, our lives changed forever. My son, Leonard Blaine Lawson, Jr. (Blaine), was killed in a car accident. He was 27 years young.Nothing in life has impacted me or my family more than that loss, but our mission as a family has always been to seek a ways to use our tragedy to help others....doing so was part of our healing process.Blaine had epilepsy, and in this story about a vibrant, loving, athletic, handsome young man, I want to encourage people to look at epilepsy for what it really is and what it can do to child, a teenager, a young man and the family who loved him.Email Lennie at [email protected]
The three biggest mistakes car owners make (well...maybe 3 1/2)
Send us a textIn this episode, Lennie gives money saving advice to car owners....including when they get the "warranty offer of a lifetime" in the mail. In addition, Lennie has narrowed down some key habits of car owners that cost them the most money on maintenance and repairs.Call this the "car-savings account" episode, because it will save you thousands if you listen, and change your habitsEmail Lennie at [email protected]
Should you pull out of the stock market and buy the old car of your dreams?
Send us a textThe short answer to that question is "maybe", but probably not. Especially if the car requires restoration. The truth is, most restoration intentions are never fulfilled. Life gets in the way and most well intentioned "restorers" never really have the stamina to make it to the finish line....plus they usually run out of money first.In this episode, Lennie offers some "not-so-common" sense on buying old cars, whether doing it for an investment, to make a quick buck or just for nostalgia sake. Anyone of those reasons may be valid, but you have to be careful....and let logic override your emotion.PS. We all struggle with that...Email Lennie at [email protected]
"Tommy Boy" is not the president of Ford Motor Company...but his first cousin is
Send us a textIt's true....the actor who portrayed Tommy Boy, a Chippendale's Dancer and Matt Foley (who lived in a van down by the river) on Saturday Night Live IS NOT the CEO of Ford...No, Chris Farley is not...but his cousin Jim Farley is. (You could win a trivia quiz with that little tidbit). In this episode, Lennie discusses even more relevant trivia and provides insight on getting a good deal on a car when good deals are few and far between. "Sometimes, asking for a discount is a waste of breath, but throwing the salesman a "curve ball" in the form of a unique request may get you some freebies you weren't expecting". Listen and learn from a genuine Car Guru.Email Lennie at [email protected]
Have more fun....increase your carbon footprint GUILT FREE!
Send us a textThe liberal media machine loves to talk about "carbon footprints" these days. I guess a good definition for a "carbon footprint" would be the amount of carbon dioxide you emit, and carbon-based fuels you burn, while doing what you do....like driving a car, heating your home or flying your private jet to Monaco.I'm NOT going to do my share when it comes to carbon emissions, and I'm not sorry about it. I probably only have about 20-25 more decent years on this planet, and beyond that, I've got no real affinity for icebergs or polar bears. So, I'm going to drive my Porsche too fast, go to car races, turn the heat up and sell as many diesel Ford trucks as I can. --Lennie does rant some about the aforementioned environmental dilemma, but he also talks about the importance of research when buying anything expensive, like a car or a 37' Motor Home.Email Lennie at [email protected]
Getting "cancelled" is a good thing, especially when it puts money in your pocket
Send us a text"There's oil and gas in them there hills"...at least that's what my daddy told me when he instructed me to start paying property taxes on 1200 acres of land in West Virginia. Apparently, his relatives sold the land but kept the mineral rights, and maybe, just maybe, the gusher will happen."In the mean time, there's a lot of real money sitting out there that is yours to claim...but only if you remember to claim it".In this episode, Lennie explains cancellations of after-sale products and how to get money back when you trade cars.This is why its important to have a CAR GURU on your side.Email Lennie at [email protected]
"Honey...what's that noise coming from my rear end?"...."Dear, please rephrase that question"
Send us a textAll jokes aside, your ears are your best defense against a major automotive repair bill, but if you are not listening, your next call could be to the towing company. In the episode, Lennie discusses two money saving, and "car-life" enhancing strategies for every car owner:1. How to listen to your car AND common things to listen for in order to prevent huge repair bills....and as a special bonus.....2. How to make sure you get superior service when you wreck your car...from the insurance company and the repair shop.Listen, learn and saveEmail Lennie at [email protected]
"Glamping" at Margaritaville
Send us a textIn this episode, Lennie and the family are headed to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee to go "Glamping".....better known as Glamorous Camping. The Margaritaville RV Resort is his destination, but he wants to be safe and get to watch Tennessee beat Florida.......So, towing considerations are on his mind as well as answering some serious questions from car buyers about avoiding some common car buying mistakes. It's five o'clock somewhere....so listen in and enjoy riding with Lennie, The Car GURUEmail Lennie at [email protected]
"Yes...I know my nose is running, but I don't have Covid!"
Send us a textI wasn't feeling well. I had a slight cough, body aches and the sniffles...."Have you had a covid test?", the strange lady in the elevator asked as she looked at me with disdain. "No, I have not....have you?", I replied, slightly insulted by the questionShe replied, "NO! I'm not the one coughing in the elevator..."Maybe someday, we won't have to deal with this crap, and a cold will just be...a cold, but in the mean time, we just have to deal with it. In this episode, a slightly under-the-weather Car Guru is headed to the car auction to attempt to compete with the power of the internet. Buying cars today is as hard (and expensive) on the car dealer as it is on the consumer.Email Lennie at [email protected]
Convicted felons need not apply
Send us a textJust like any business, the auto business requires certain fundamental skills, knowledge and experience in order for a dealer to be successful....and liking cars is not one of them. Some of the most successful car dealers in the country could care less about cars. They care about people (customers and employees), they know what it takes to make a business successful and they have the capital ($$$$$) to fund the operations...and it takes a lot of capital.In this episode, Lennie talks about the auto industry, what it takes to be a new car dealer (no convicted felons) and the power of "the factory" over what goes on at your local, neighborhood car dealership.Email Lennie at [email protected]
Living with loss: Loss of mind, loss of money and loss in general
Send us a text"One day I figured something out. After suffering through everything from minor setbacks to the loss of a child, I came to the conclusion that a big part of living is learning to live with loss""We lose our youth. Some of us lose our cognitive abilities, some find ingenious ways to throw away money and lose homes, cars, investments, and ultimately, their lifestyle""Life is about loss...AND....about how to overcome loss and keep on moving forward". --Lennie LawsonIn this episode, Lennie talks about how things are changing faster than any human can keep up with....and that "keeping up" is often a waste of time and energy. Your Car-Life can be made a lot easier (and a lot less costly) if you follow some simple guidelines. These guidelines apply to life and to our financial health...we just need to empower them to keep us "between the lines" and out of the ditch.Email Lennie at [email protected]
The Great Deception: "I'm so sorry about my deceptive advertising....but at least it worked"
Send us a text"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive"...Sir Walter Scott.Traditional dealer advertising is loaded with half-truths and outright falsehoods. Unfortunately, these practices have endured because they work. The most important thing a buyer can do is to not fall for the wrong things....fall for a beautiful car that fits your lifestyle AND NOT for a false promise. In this episode, Lennie lays out the most frequently used "deceptive phrases", what they really mean and how they can be used to take advantage of a novice car buyer.Listen and pass it on.Email Lennie at [email protected]
Here is my 100%, GUARANTEED STRATEGY to never pay too much for a new car
Send us a textEthics matter...but they don't to a lot of people in the car business, especially the ones in the high pressure sales departments at a lot of dealerships today. There is a strategy that will defeat even the worst "bandits" in our industry.In this priceless episode, The Car Guru explains how to WIN in the negotiation game and keep the wolves at bay. Some (not all) just want your money and their commission and could care less if they ever see you again.....many hope they won't.The average person spends $750,000 in their lifetime on automotive related products. If you want to spend less...listen and learn.Email Lennie at [email protected]
The Myth of Excellence....and why it's OK not to be great at everything
Send us a textI read a book several years ago titled "The Myth of Excellence" written by Fred Crawford and Ryan Mathews. At that time, I was struggling during a difficult period in the car business and was trying to figure out how I could change my business plan to differentiate it from my competitors. Everyone advertised "price, price, price" and the customers just weren't responding. This book opened my eyes to perspectives and possibilities that I had never considered...that I didn't have to compete just on price. Yes....I had to offer competitive pricing, but I could also focus on other things that my potential customers could relate to and appreciate. I could give them other reasons to choose me!In this episode, I want to encourage all business owners to make a decision....When you look at the attributes of Price, Product, Service, Access and Experience, which one is your most important business attribute? Which one is second?....and while all of them matter, which ones could you afford to be at least better than average at?....Because the truth is, you can't (and don't need to) be great at everything.Lennie Lawson...businessman (and Car Guru)Email Lennie at [email protected]
The best sale I ever made was not to my girlfriend......
Send us a textLennie has sold a lot of cars.....well over 75,000 over his career as a car dealer. Most of his sales were to strangers, who later became friends and repeat customers. But none of that would have happened if he had taken a lot of shortcuts, not been reliable and/or not bothered to follow-up when he had a new opportunity.The number one reason salespeople fail is because they fail to follow-up. The number two reason is because they see sales as a "part-time job" and refuse to take it seriously. In this episode, Lennie talks about his biggest sale ever to a man he has never met face to face. It is a lesson in salesmanship and relationships...which go hand in hand in a successful sales career. Email Lennie at [email protected]
Crow is a meal best eaten in public
Send us a text"Occasionally, I am wrong....but, I am a big boy and I am willing to eat my crow in public.""I thought Ford was out to get their dealers and turn them into dinosaurs.""But...I was wrong, and it took an incredible experience in Las Vegas to find out the truth."----Lennie Lawson, The Car GuruIn this episode, Lennie talks about the future of the car business and the truth about electric vehicle adoption and what will happen to the internal combustion engine....and when.Email Lennie at [email protected]