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What’s Next For The Houston Auto Show And Local Dealers · In Wheel Time Podcast

• 0:05
  Don Armstrong: From our dual city studios in Texas, USA, it's the In Wheel Time Car Talk Show.
• 0:10
  Don Armstrong: Just ahead, Rochelle Salinas from the Houston Automobile Dealers Association and the latest from the Houston Dealers.
• 0:16
  Don Armstrong: How are sales?
• 0:17
  Don Armstrong: How are things going?
• 0:18
  Don Armstrong: How are you feeling?
• 0:20
  Don Armstrong: Ask this question.
• 0:21
  Don Armstrong: Plus, yeah.
• 0:23
  Don Armstrong: Plus, Jeff has six SUVs you need to be a leary of.
• 0:27
  Don Armstrong: Mr.
• 0:28
  Don Armstrong: Mars has this week's driving destinations.
• 0:30
  Don Armstrong: Howdy.
• 0:32
  Don Armstrong: Along with Mike Out of This World Mars, there he is.
• 0:35
  Don Armstrong: Over there.
• 0:35
  Don Armstrong: We always need more Jeff Seeking.
• 0:37
  Don Armstrong: Over here, Chief Engineer, David Ainsley.
• 0:40
  Don Armstrong: I'm Don Armstrong.
• 0:41
  Don Armstrong: So glad that you could join us on this Saturday for our live show.
• 0:44
  Don Armstrong: And uh if you're watching, listening on a podcast, we thank you very much for that as well.
• 0:50
  Don Armstrong: Vice President of the Houston Automobile Dealers Association with a dealer update, it's Rochelle Salinas.
• 0:56
  Don Armstrong: Oh my gosh, I haven't seen you since January.
• 0:59
  Don Armstrong: January.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_00: It has been a little while.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_00: Good to see you guys.
• 1:03
  Don Armstrong: It's good to see you too.
• 1:04
  Don Armstrong: I know this is your favorite and most wonderful car talk show, and you love being on with us.
• 1:10
  Don Armstrong: There's no doubt about it.
• 1:11
  Don Armstrong: You've said those kudos many times before, and I'm going to reiterate them.
• 1:16
  Don Armstrong: By the way, I want you to know that I have I saw a video of you with somebody else doing a was it a car review?
• 1:24
  Don Armstrong: Yes, it was a car review.
• 1:26
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 1:27
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 1:27
  Don Armstrong: So what was that about?
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: You know, we're trying to up our game on our social media on the Houston Auto Show page.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: And so we're getting a little creative.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: And we had come across some other funny reels that we wanted to replicate, and that that was one we did.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_00: So it's a whole joke about if the salesman's not available and someone else has to fill in, you know, what are they going to make up a lot of cars?
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_00: And it it came out, and you know, we shot that in one take.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: And Jamie, who was in the video with me, when I asked her what RHO means, we had not planned that.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: And she was said, real hot one.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_00: And it was so perfect.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: I was laughing.
• 2:04
  Don Armstrong: Oh my God.
• 2:05
  Don Armstrong: Well, what a what a great hey, quick thinking.
• 2:08
  Don Armstrong: Youth has everything to do.
• 2:10
  Don Armstrong: Yes.
• 2:11
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it was good.
• 2:13
  Don Armstrong: So, how have things been since the Houston Auto Show?
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: You know, we have been trucking along.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: Things are going really good.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_00: We're excited and very early in planning for this year already, actually.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: And so we just had a meeting with our automotive excellence um alliance.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: And in that group, we are 20 shows from around the country that are collaborating together to improve and enhance auto shows, our transparency with the OEMs and exhibitors, and to partner in some exhibits so that we can enhance what we're doing at all of our events.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_00: And just got back from that like two weeks ago.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: So some exciting things to come for all of our auto shows across the country that are you know working together to bring back the manufacturers.
• 2:58
  Don Armstrong: And uh, well, listen, uh, congratulations if I haven't said it already.
• 3:03
  Don Armstrong: It was a great show this year um out there at uh what is it now?
• 3:08
  Don Armstrong: Reliant, the Reliance NRG Center, whatever you want to call it, whatever name it is this week.
• 3:14
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, this week.
• 3:15
  Don Armstrong: But um, it was a great show and great attendance, uh, especially that Saturday that we were there.
• 3:20
  Don Armstrong: We had a hard time getting out of there, fighting the crowds to get all get the get to the emergency exit.
• 3:25
  Don Armstrong: It was funny.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that was definitely our busiest day.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_00: It was a good year.
• 3:29
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, well, I'm glad I'm glad because uh, you know, people in Houston, Texas love cars.
• 3:35
  Don Armstrong: And even if they're not in the market to buy one at that moment, want to go see what is the latest.
• 3:41
  Don Armstrong: You know, for my generation, it was always in October that the dealers would hide the brand new cars that were coming in.
• 3:49
  Don Armstrong: And it was a big reveal when they would put them in.
• 3:51
  Don Armstrong: Everybody would get in the car and go to all the different dealers and get all the brochures.
• 3:55
  Don Armstrong: Now you've got it all in one place, it makes it so much easier.
• 3:59
  Don Armstrong: And uh I always loved to go to those things.
• 4:02
  Don Armstrong: Not that I certainly was at any age to buy a new car.
• 4:05
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, but uh there were lots of us that did that, and you know it's funny, uh, now that I think about it, you've got a lot of teenagers that are into cars that will go to the show, and we kind of like bypass them, but they really are the next generation that's gonna be buying the cars.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_00: And I mean that's part of why we try to make it a whole family atmosphere at the Houston Auto Show.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_00: And this year we're actually going to incorporate two new theme kind of days to our event.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: So Friday is gonna be military and first responders day, and it's not just a day of discounts, we will have a day of full programming of activities.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_00: So opening the show with a special presentation of the Star Spangled Banner, and then we'll have some programming throughout.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_00: We've already worked with some local officials to bring in some special exhibits of vehicles and first responder vehicles and such on display, and there'll be some different um like exhibits in that whole area.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_00: So we're creating that, and then we're also adding on Sunday a family day, and so there'll be some special packages for families and activities for kids and bringing in some kind of new elements to up the experience overall.
• 5:19
  Don Armstrong: I'm thinking a rock and roll band, or maybe maybe we could have a build-a-bear there or something, something like that.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, well, I'm looking at some Lego partners and maybe some Hot Wheel partners.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_00: We've got some things in the works, but it's early, early planning.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_00: And then also, we're gonna partner this year with the boat show officially on the VIP night as well.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: So we're working on a really cool theme to bring both events together and open up the whole show for that VIP night and kind of bring it, re-revamp it, and bring it back to a really big, uh, exciting VIP night.
• 5:55
  Don Armstrong: Sounds like fun.
• 5:55
  Don Armstrong: How are the dealers doing?
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: Dealers are are doing all right.
• 5:59
  SPEAKER_00: We had a good first quarter, and second quarter has been down a little bit on sales, but I think with all we have going on in the economy and inflation and interest rates, that you know, it's sales have slowed a little bit, but I think you know, they're all anticipating coming back um in the summer with some additional sales.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_00: I also, you know, just read about some new vehicle releases and things coming out.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_00: So I think I think the summer will look good for everybody.
• 6:23
  Don Armstrong: Well, let's uh we have to talk about EVs and you know, with the now uh defunct$7,500 uh rebate uh that doesn't exist anymore.
• 6:34
  Don Armstrong: That hurt.
• 6:35
  Don Armstrong: And the fact that uh infrastructure I think hurt and uh the car manufacturers themselves, they went all in and got EVs everywhere, and nobody's buying them.
• 6:46
  Don Armstrong: Infrastructure here in Houston is poor to say the least, because I had to deal with that myself.
• 6:52
  Don Armstrong: Um I've learned to overcome it though, uh, and that is a 110-volt outlet in the garage, and I just drag the orange extension cord out there.
• 7:01
  Don Armstrong: It takes forever to charge it, but at least I got that part of it down.
• 7:05
  Don Armstrong: And they've got a new charging station that is a total rip-off out there by Hobby Airport.
• 7:10
  Don Armstrong: Uh, it doesn't make any difference how long you have it plugged in for, it's$35 flat fee.
• 7:15
  Don Armstrong: Friends, that is just so wrong on every level.
• 7:19
  Don Armstrong: But whatever, it's handy.
• 7:22
  Don Armstrong: If hey, you know, if you're getting a pinch, there's at least I got a uh a pinch place to go, you know.
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_00: There you go.
• 7:29
  Don Armstrong: Because before that, I had to drive over to Pasadena to find a hidden EV fast charging station behind a bank drive-thru.
• 7:38
  Don Armstrong: Crazy.
• 7:39
  Don Armstrong: So I guess they're kind of getting behind a chop shop.
• 7:42
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, there and I know that Shell has put up a couple um EV charging kind of lots uh around the city, too.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_00: And so they're trying the infrastructure is just slow.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: And I I know you've heard me speak on this before is that the government wanted to shape shift culture and it with the EV mandates, but you can't shift culture like that.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_00: That has to happen organically, and I think they're feeling the repercussions from that.
• 8:06
  Don Armstrong: So EV said, not only that, you're talking about Houston, Texas, for gosh sakes.
• 8:10
  Don Armstrong: We like our cars, and gas is cheap, and there's a gas station on every corner.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_00: And we like our road trips, and EV road trips are not easy.
• 8:19
  Don Armstrong: But I will say this: I have become a huge fan of hybrids.
• 8:25
  Don Armstrong: I think that's the way to go.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_00: Always.
• 8:28
  Don Armstrong: Have you driven any?
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I've I've driven a couple, and I mean it really is the way the way to go.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_00: It's the happy medium.
• 8:36
  Don Armstrong: Yeah.
• 8:36
  Don Armstrong: 30 miles per gallon on most of the ones that I drive now on average, and that's what I get.
• 8:42
  Don Armstrong: There's no fooling around with that sort of thing.
• 8:44
  Don Armstrong: I'm driving now a gasoline motor that gets 17 miles per gallon.
• 8:48
  Don Armstrong: Uh no, and not at the price of gas.
• 8:51
  Don Armstrong: I understand that that's going to be coming down, but it's not gonna, it's not gonna come down as fast as it went up.
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_00: Right, right.
• 8:57
  Mike Marrs: Yeah.
• 8:57
  Mike Marrs: And you talk about city dwellers like my wife, there's very few days she drives over 30 miles in a day.
• 9:04
  Mike Marrs: Most of her trips are two miles, three miles, and that's it.
• 9:07
  Mike Marrs: So, you know, she could literally go a month without burning any gas.
• 9:12
  Jeff Dziekan: Back back to the show for a minute.
• 9:14
  Jeff Dziekan: Are you still gonna combine with the uh the boats?
• 9:16
  Jeff Dziekan: These are gonna be auto-botive still.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, this is um will be our fifth year for twenty in 2027 to be the auto-botive show.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_00: So half the show is the boat show, half the show is the auto show.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_00: Also working on a really special exhibit um that is gonna be a tow and go kind of lifestyle type exhibit.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_00: So, what you'll be able to see there is learning towing 101, how to backup the car, what the technology is like today, how to hitch the tow, uh, the trailer.
• 9:42
  SPEAKER_00: But then also we'll have on display, you know, various towing capacity vehicles with their towing items.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_00: So an SUV with a small camper or a jet ski, a big truck with a horse trailer, or a trailer with flares on the back, or a boat.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_00: All of that is going to kind of be on display.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_00: And then, God willing, and and financial support will also create a towing course that people can practice and use these this new towing technology that's out on all these vehicles.
• 10:09
  Don Armstrong: You know, all I all I can think of is Rochelle, is is and I'm sure that you've seen them online, these races at uh, you know, uh three-quarter mile dirt tracks, yeah.
• 10:20
  Don Armstrong: Where they where they where they're yeah, where they've got some old boat trailer in it, and it's a race.
• 10:26
  Don Armstrong: And so they race the car and the towed trailer around the track, and it's absolutely hysterical.
• 10:32
  Don Armstrong: There is trash everywhere.
• 10:35
  Don Armstrong: The boats are destroyed.
• 10:36
  Don Armstrong: It is so much it's so much fun.
• 10:40
  Don Armstrong: We need to somehow incorporate that into this.
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_00: That sounds dangerous.
• 10:44
  Jeff Dziekan: It does.
• 10:45
  Jeff Dziekan: There's also one where the there's a uh like a tow truck pulling a trailer, an empty trailer, and the cars behind it are racing to get on the trailer.
• 10:53
  Jeff Dziekan: Whoever gets on the trailer just wins.
• 10:55
  Jeff Dziekan: It was hilarious.
• 10:56
  Jeff Dziekan: One one one thing for me, uh but the manufacturers at the show, I think, and I've we've given a lot of suggestions to her, and she's taken none of them.
• 11:04
  Jeff Dziekan: Um have each manufacturer give away a car.
• 11:10
  Jeff Dziekan: I think that's a great idea.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_00: It isn't it to be like a$100,000 car.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_00: Like I said, we're already planning on a lot of things early this year, but I don't want to say too much because you know, some some ideas just don't become reality each time.
• 11:30
  SPEAKER_00: So, yes, there is a potential that we're working on a car giveaway this year, too.
• 11:34
  Jeff Dziekan: Wow.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_00: We're we're busy.
• 11:38
  SPEAKER_00: And and and when we're not doing the auto show, we just wrapped up our scholarship program at HADA and gave them gave about 90 different scholarships out um to dealership employees and their children all across the city.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_00: And then we're working on our big student technician competition that comes up in November, where we pair high school students with dealerships to mentor, and then they all compete and have to debug a vehicle to win scholarships, uh, cash, tools, prizes in advance to the North Texas competition.
• 12:07
  SPEAKER_00: Where last year our Houston team beat uh 65 North Texas teams, and I was very proud of that.
• 12:14
  Don Armstrong: See, there you go.
• 12:15
  Don Armstrong: It's kind of like the Scots playing uh FIFA uh football.
• 12:19
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, I got it.
• 12:20
  Don Armstrong: Uh go Scots.
• 12:22
  Don Armstrong: I mean, they sold out every every pub in Boston, and they had no beer in Boston when the Scots get emergency deliveries, yeah.
• 12:31
  Don Armstrong: Emergency deliveries.
• 12:32
  Don Armstrong: Did you see that?
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_00: No, but I was almost late to today's interview because I was at the march for the Netherlands bus uh route.
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_00: The big orange bus?
• 12:42
  Don Armstrong: The big orange bus.
• 12:44
  Don Armstrong: Well, I'll tell you what, it's it's brought a uh a gift to me because obviously Armstrong Scotland it's one and the same.
• 12:51
  Jeff Dziekan: He's actually wearing a kilt right now.
• 12:53
  Don Armstrong: I am, I am wearing my kilt, and uh it's great.
• 12:56
  Don Armstrong: And I've never known so much freedom in my life, but uh that's another subject for another day.
• 13:02
  Don Armstrong: Um tune in after midnight.
• 13:06
  Don Armstrong: It's the it's the off-air show and tune in after midnight.
• 13:10
  Don Armstrong: Um all right, so let's talk back again uh with the dealers.
• 13:15
  Don Armstrong: Um, you know, there's there's a push, I think, uh a foot where you know dealerships have a generally speaking, have a very uh impressive service department.
• 13:30
  Don Armstrong: And service is a big part of every dealership as far as I am concerned.
• 13:34
  Don Armstrong: Absolutely.
• 13:35
  Don Armstrong: And I I know that uh dealerships are in transition as well as the entire auto industry, and uh trying to keep up with the Joneses with the latest technology coming from the manufacturers.
• 13:46
  Don Armstrong: I'm now driving a uh Jeep Grand Cherokee, a beautiful vehicle, but the technology on the infotainment system has completely changed for Stellantis.
• 13:57
  Don Armstrong: And that in itself is an educational opportunity right there because I I I'm having to I'm struggling through it because of the new technology in the infotainment system.
• 14:07
  Don Armstrong: And you know, prior to this, with the new uh infotainment system that they've got in in the Stellantis cars, um, it was easy to use.
• 14:17
  Don Armstrong: It's still easy to appoint, but there's just more stuff in it.
• 14:21
  Don Armstrong: And and um, you know, I can only imagine what's going on at the dealerships trying to keep everybody trained up.
• 14:28
  Don Armstrong: How are things going in that regard?
• 14:30
  Don Armstrong: Because I know with the dealers, you hear all everything.
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I there's each manufacturer operates a bit differently in that, but all of them have some sort of training that they put their staff through when it's time to to launch a new product or or to reveal it in the dealership so as that it's for sale.
• 14:49
  SPEAKER_00: And so they even have product specialists that come in and train the sales people on all of it, and then usually they've got at least one or two sales staff that is what they call their in their product specialist.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_00: And when you go in and buy a dealership and pick up or buy a car from the dealership and pick it up, they'll have that product specialist come and give you a lesson on all the technology and features in the vehicle.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_00: So when you buy it, you might be like, Oh, yeah, I like that, I like this.
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_00: And then you sit down and you really learn it with that product specialist.
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_00: That's when you go home and go, Oh wow, this car had so much more than I thought it did.
• 15:23
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, and and that's I guess it's what I'm I'm saying to you is the fact that you know, I get a new car every week of some sort different.
• 15:30
  Don Armstrong: And um, some of them, the learning curve is a lot stiffer than other ones.
• 15:35
  SPEAKER_00: Um, take it over to the dealership and tell them to show you how it is.
• 15:39
  Don Armstrong: Yes, I thought too.
• 15:40
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, well, there is that, but I will tell you this that Land Rover, Range Rover, absolutely stunningly beautiful, but my God, the infotainment system and trying to understand all the different pages.
• 15:53
  Don Armstrong: And I can only imagine here's Don Armstrong going down the freeway at 70, 75 miles an hour, trying to change the radio station, and I've got it on climate control.
• 16:03
  SPEAKER_00: You're showing your age, Don.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_00: You're showing your age.
• 16:06
  Don Armstrong: I know, I am.
• 16:06
  Don Armstrong: It's the kilt.
• 16:08
  Don Armstrong: It's the kilt this morning.
• 16:09
  Don Armstrong: That's what it is.
• 16:12
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, Rochelle, it's always great to talk to you.
• 16:14
  Don Armstrong: Thanks so much for joining us.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_00: A pleasure.
• 16:16
  SPEAKER_00: I can't wait to catch up more when we've got things even further solidified for the auto show.
• 16:20
  Don Armstrong: And I'm gonna try this year to make the preview party.
• 16:23
  Don Armstrong: I haven't been in a couple of years, and I'm I'm we've missed you.
• 16:27
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, I bet.
• 16:28
  Don Armstrong: Like a sore toe.
• 16:30
  Don Armstrong: But I can like uh like I said, uh, I'm looking forward to it and working with you again and and getting folks out there to the car show.
• 16:38
  Don Armstrong: We appreciate you.
• 16:39
  Don Armstrong: Take care of yourself.
• 16:40
  Don Armstrong: Thank you very much.
• 16:41
  Don Armstrong: We'll talk to you again soon.
• 16:42
  Don Armstrong: You bet.
• 16:42
  Don Armstrong: All right, Rochelle Selena, vice uh Selena's uh with the uh Houston Automobile Dealers Association.
• 16:48
  Don Armstrong: All right, just ahead.
• 16:49
  Don Armstrong: Jeff's Car Culture, the lemon list of six SUVs you may want to avoid.
• 16:53
  Don Armstrong: And Mars has his driving destinations feature this week, Hidden Dirt in Hidden Houston.
• 17:01
  Don Armstrong: After this break, when the N-Wheel Time Car Talk Show continues.
• 17:04
  Don Armstrong: Stay with us.
• 17:06
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  Don Armstrong: Loopy tortilla.
• 18:00
  Don Armstrong: Eats pretty good.
• 18:06
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• 18:11
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• 18:16
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• 18:26
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• 18:32
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• 18:36
  Don Armstrong: Invite you to join us 10 to noon Central Time every Saturday for our live show about all things automotive.
• 18:41
  Don Armstrong: It's a fun ride.
• 18:42
  Don Armstrong: And you'll get story ideas for this summer's vacation trip to see Aunt Mary.
• 18:48
  Don Armstrong: Or Aunt Martha.
• 18:49
  Don Armstrong: Or Martha.
• 18:50
  Jeff Dziekan: If she's not injured anymore.
• 18:53
  Don Armstrong: She's the next door neighbor.
• 18:54
  Don Armstrong: Oh Martha.
• 18:56
  Don Armstrong: Like Gladys.
• 18:57
  Don Armstrong: Like Gladys.
• 18:58
  Don Armstrong: Okay.
• 18:59
  Don Armstrong: Well, Gladys, I think, lived across the street.
• 19:00
  Don Armstrong: I kind of mixed up.
• 19:03
  Don Armstrong: All right.
• 19:03
  Don Armstrong: Um time now for Jeff's Car Culture.
• 19:06
  Don Armstrong: This week's six SUV lemons.
• 19:10
  Jeff Dziekan: They're calling them lemons.
• 19:11
  Jeff Dziekan: They're just giving you a forewarning to watch out.
• 19:14
  Jeff Dziekan: So experts tend to flag certain SUVs as risky when they share three consistent warning signs that's an impact overall on the ownership experience.
• 19:22
  Jeff Dziekan: One of them is mechanical reliability, leaning concerns, particularly in vehicles prone to engine stalling, erratic transmissions, or a glitchy infotainment system like Donna's been talking about.
• 19:32
  Jeff Dziekan: So here we go.
• 19:33
  Jeff Dziekan: Take the first one, Mike.
• 19:35
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh the Volkswagen TOUS, often flagged by experts of a mixed mechanical and safety concerns that can impact everyday driving.
• 19:42
  Jeff Dziekan: Some owners have reported sudden power loss at high speeds.
• 19:46
  Jeff Dziekan: Serious issues can create dangerous situations on the road.
• 19:49
  Jeff Dziekan: Taken together, these issues can make the TOUS of vehicle buyers uh worse experienced and want to approach with certain cautions, especially when considering long-term reliability and overall safety.
• 20:01
  Jeff Dziekan: So be careful of that one.
• 20:02
  Jeff Dziekan: The next one is the Chevy Equinox.
• 20:04
  Jeff Dziekan: It raises two key concerns for buyers mechanical reliability again and long-term value.
• 20:10
  Jeff Dziekan: Reports point to issues such as excessive oil consumption and reoccurring fuel system problems, both of which can drive up maintenance costs over time.
• 20:18
  Jeff Dziekan: On financial side, the equinox also faces steep depreciation.
• 20:22
  Jeff Dziekan: Estimates suggest that a 2026 model could lose 52% of its value within five years.
• 20:28
  Jeff Dziekan: Oh my gosh.
• 20:28
  Jeff Dziekan: That's a lot.
• 20:30
  Jeff Dziekan: The next one, Mike, is a Nissan rogue.
• 20:32
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh I don't have a lot of passion for this vehicle.
• 20:34
  Jeff Dziekan: I've got personal issues with it, but despite its modern styling and advanced technical features, it is drawing increasingly scrutin increased scrutiny from the experts.
• 20:43
  Jeff Dziekan: It's a three-cylinder engine, is under investigation, filing reports of bearing failures, raises concerns about long-term durability.
• 20:51
  Jeff Dziekan: The models continuously variable transmission also adds those worries as well.
• 20:57
  Jeff Dziekan: Given its history and premature failures that can be costly to fix or replace.
• 21:02
  Jeff Dziekan: In some cases, repair bills can run into several thousand dollars, significantly increasing its ownership costs.
• 21:09
  Jeff Dziekan: On the next one, number four, we have a Ford Explorer.
• 21:13
  Jeff Dziekan: It remains a popular SUV, but experts caution that ongoing transmission issues continue to affect its reliability.
• 21:20
  Jeff Dziekan: Drivers have reported harsh shifting, jerking, inconsistent performance.
• 21:24
  Jeff Dziekan: We have that every day.
• 21:26
  Jeff Dziekan: Problems can be reduced both comfort and uh confidence behind the wheel.
• 21:32
  Jeff Dziekan: Beyond the drivetrain, the explorer's uh driver assistance systems can also uh show uneven performance in real-world conditions.
• 21:40
  Jeff Dziekan: That's inconsistency across both mechanical and technical features adds a layer of uncertainty for the owners.
• 21:48
  Jeff Dziekan: Then we have the Jeep Cherokee, it's often talked about, it's often singled out by experts as one of the most concerning SUVs, largely due to the volume and seriousness of reported issues.
• 21:58
  Jeff Dziekan: Among the most alarming are Sudden losses of engine power and unpredictable transmission behavior, both of which can create safety risks in everyday driving.
• 22:07
  Jeff Dziekan: These reoccurring problems have led uh some analysts, uh some analysts I should say, to rank it among the vehicles to avoid in 2026.
• 22:16
  Jeff Dziekan: While the modern model still benefits from strong brand appeal, the buildup of reliability concerns has weighed heavily on its reputation.
• 22:23
  Jeff Dziekan: And lastly, the Infinity QX 80 is often cited as a luxury SUV, but may not hold its value over time.
• 22:33
  Jeff Dziekan: Experts point to a steep depreciation as a major drawback for this vehicle.
• 22:37
  Jeff Dziekan: Projections suggest that they lose up to 60 69% of its value within five years, leaving owners a significantly lower resale price.
• 22:46
  Jeff Dziekan: So be careful of that one as well.
• 22:47
  Jeff Dziekan: If you're looking for a car to you know keep the value, that's not one of them.
• 22:53
  Jeff Dziekan: There we go.
• 22:54
  Jeff Dziekan: That's quite a list.
• 22:55
  Jeff Dziekan: Back to you.
• 22:56
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, those are pretty popular vehicles.
• 22:58
  Don Armstrong: Yes, they are.
• 22:59
  Jeff Dziekan: They also have a uh lemon list of pre-owned vehicles.
• 23:02
  Jeff Dziekan: I was gonna get into that, but maybe maybe next week.
• 23:05
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, could be by the way.
• 23:07
  Don Armstrong: Uh we're taking the July 4th off with a live show, and we're going to have a repeat and uh a show, and uh Mars is gonna dress it up and make it fun and exciting.
• 23:18
  Don Armstrong: Cologne on it and makeup, some cologne on it.
• 23:22
  Don Armstrong: So some brute or English leather.
• 23:26
  Don Armstrong: English leather, yeah.
• 23:27
  Don Armstrong: There's that.
• 23:28
  Jeff Dziekan: I got a lot of uh just off topic.
• 23:30
  Jeff Dziekan: When you walk into a a restaurant or a store or something, and and you you have uh an aroma and it reminds you of uh what does that smell like?
• 23:37
  Jeff Dziekan: And it smells like English leather or brewed or something like that.
• 23:40
  Don Armstrong: Canoe canoe.
• 23:40
  Don Armstrong: Canoe canoe.
• 23:42
  Don Armstrong: Do you canoe?
• 23:43
  Jeff Dziekan: It had a flag on it.
• 23:44
  Jeff Dziekan: The canoe had a flag on it.
• 23:46
  Jeff Dziekan: And you know you can find those old scents at Walgreens.
• 23:49
  Jeff Dziekan: Well, there's also a sh a store in the mall.
• 23:51
  Jeff Dziekan: I haven't been there.
• 23:51
  Jeff Dziekan: Remember, I got you some for Christmas like 10 years ago or something like that.
• 23:54
  Jeff Dziekan: Oh my god, yeah.
• 23:55
  Jeff Dziekan: Uh we still have I'm still a specialty store that sells it, and they're quite expensive now.
• 24:00
  Don Armstrong: Yeah, well, the ones at Walgreens are not anyway.
• 24:03
  Don Armstrong: All right, time now for Mr.
• 24:04
  Don Armstrong: Mars driving destinations.
• 24:06
  Don Armstrong: This week it's Hidden Dirt in Hidden Houston.
• 24:10
  Mike Marrs: So I thought about how occasionally you want to get out and you want to go off-roading, you might want to be uh uh uh ride a four-wheeler, you can't ride three-wheelers anymore, or even the side-by-sides, but you don't want to own one.
• 24:22
  Mike Marrs: You don't have a place for it, or it just has a lot of maintenance to it.
• 24:26
  Mike Marrs: So these places uh we got five places here around the Houston area that you can go, and most of them you can rent a vehicle that you can ride.
• 24:34
  Mike Marrs: Now we're gonna start with number one is Extreme Off-Road Park and Beach.
• 24:38
  Mike Marrs: Now, this is up in Crosby.
• 24:39
  Mike Marrs: Now it's just outside of Houston, and it's really the best known off-road destination in southeast Texas, all the way over on my side of the world.
• 24:47
  Mike Marrs: Everybody knows about this place.
• 24:48
  Mike Marrs: 1,600 acres of trails that go through the mud, uh sand, wooden train, water crossings, and it's all part of the San Cacinto River Valley.
• 24:59
  Mike Marrs: Now you can get beginner-friendly routes just like uh snow skiing.
• 25:03
  Mike Marrs: You got easy, you got beginner, and then you got the ones that are really hard.
• 25:06
  Mike Marrs: They have camping, you can get cabins.
• 25:09
  Mike Marrs: There's a few food vendors there if you are going to stay there all day or all weekend.
• 25:14
  Mike Marrs: And uh you can get to the river, and it makes it pretty much anything you want to do in the off-road part of the world.
• 25:20
  Mike Marrs: And there's several rental operators on side.
• 25:23
  Mike Marrs: So you can actually reserve an ATV or a side-by-side so that you don't have to bring your own.
• 25:28
  Mike Marrs: You don't have to clean it up either after you leave.
• 25:30
  Mike Marrs: You just can go out there and utilize uh their vehicles out there in that territory and get your off-road fixed.
• 25:37
  Mike Marrs: Now, the second one that we wanted to look at was Creekside Off-Road Ranch.
• 25:42
  Mike Marrs: Now, this is up in Splendor.
• 25:44
  Mike Marrs: It's about 45 minutes northeast of Houston, a little bit further out.
• 25:47
  Mike Marrs: It's on 400 acres, includes creek crossings, got wooded trails, lots of sand, got some hill climbs, and some mud pits.
• 25:55
  Mike Marrs: Now, it's particularly appealing for families because you know, with newer riders, they they got their trails that are maintained.
• 26:01
  Mike Marrs: They maintain them a little bit wider and it's a little bit more family friendly.
• 26:05
  Mike Marrs: It's not quite so hardcore.
• 26:06
  Mike Marrs: Got plenty of camping, RV hookups, so you can spend the week, spend the weekend, whatever you need to do.
• 26:12
  Mike Marrs: And there are rental operators nearby that make it easy to get the kind of vehicle that you want to utilize and learn how to take some of these riding opportunities.
• 26:22
  Mike Marrs: The third one is the unlimited off-road park up in Conroe.
• 26:27
  Mike Marrs: Now, this is situated in Conroe's just north of Houston, and it caters to ATVs and dirt bikes, and side-by-sides, and four-wheel drive vehicles.
• 26:37
  Mike Marrs: So you get a mixture of easy trails, mud sections, got a little bit of beach-style riding areas with some sand on them.
• 26:43
  Mike Marrs: And of course, they've got some challenging obstacles set up for experienced riders.
• 26:48
  Mike Marrs: Unlike some of the smaller parks uh that are kind of like a this is more like a full-day destination that you can go to.
• 26:55
  Mike Marrs: It's not necessarily for the long term, but you can get rental RVs on it.
• 27:00
  Mike Marrs: I mean, uh ATVs that are on site, so it makes it a lot easier.
• 27:02
  Mike Marrs: Again, if you don't have that off-road equipment and you want to go out and ride an ATV, then here's your opportunity to go out and get some experience and work with some other people that are kind of in the same level that you are as far as riding experience goes.
• 27:18
  Mike Marrs: This next one, number four, is I found this really interesting.
• 27:22
  Mike Marrs: It's H Town AT Rentals at HTX Adventure Park.
• 27:28
  Mike Marrs: Now, this operation specializes in guided ATV experiences.
• 27:34
  Mike Marrs: Now, this isn't just the traditional admission parks where you go out and you got all these acres.
• 27:38
  Mike Marrs: You go out there, here's the trails, take off and go.
• 27:41
  Mike Marrs: Now, up in Crosby, you get you got access to a lot of extensive trail systems.
• 27:46
  Mike Marrs: They got a thousand acres, but uh they are guided.
• 27:51
  Mike Marrs: AT the kind of like ATV tours.
• 27:54
  Mike Marrs: You got Honda, Rancher ATVs, you got a lot of safety equipment, but you're guided to go through the trails through the mud and the forest section and a lot of the open area riders.
• 28:02
  Mike Marrs: So this is a great place to go for beginners, particularly maybe if you want you got your date, first time uh you've taken her out on the off-road and you want to get some experience at it, do something different.
• 28:13
  Mike Marrs: Here you go.
• 28:14
  Mike Marrs: Great for family visitors.
• 28:15
  Don Armstrong: And she's all dressed up to go to the symphony.
• 28:18
  Mike Marrs: Yes, yes.
• 28:18
  Mike Marrs: So, you know, now you turn that white dress into a brown dress because of all the mud.
• 28:22
  Mike Marrs: Yeah, you want to go get buried.
• 28:24
  Mike Marrs: They have all the machines and they have guides that are all included, so it's a great way if you're new or you're just really uh trying to get somebody new into it.
• 28:33
  Mike Marrs: Now, the last one we want to talk about is Crosby ATV rental.
• 28:36
  Mike Marrs: Now, this is uh again at the extreme off-road part, but they don't have their own equipment.
• 28:42
  Mike Marrs: And this rental operation provides all the equipment for you.
• 28:46
  Mike Marrs: So if you're one of those people, again, back to I don't have the ATV, I don't have a place to put it, I don't have a trailer to put it in to haul it off up there.
• 28:54
  Mike Marrs: I'm gonna go up there though, every once in a while, every quarter or once a month.
• 28:58
  Mike Marrs: I can go up there and rent it and have all the off-road fun that I would like.
• 29:02
  Mike Marrs: So these are just some places around the Houston area that you can go and find some time to play in the dirt.
• 29:08
  Mike Marrs: Hidden dirt.
• 29:08
  Mike Marrs: Yep.
• 29:09
  Don Armstrong: In hidden Houston.
• 29:10
  Don Armstrong: Thank you, sir.
• 29:10
  Don Armstrong: Summertime.
• 29:11
  Don Armstrong: In real time car talk continues right after this quick break.
• 29:14
  Don Armstrong: Stay with us.
• 29:18
  Don Armstrong: Your car is a direct reflection of you, so don't be satisfied with color fade or a dingy dull appearance.
• 29:24
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• 29:27
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• 29:30
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• 29:54
  Don Armstrong: John will help you understand the many options and pricing right on the spot.
• 29:57
  Don Armstrong: He's your guy to have your ride looking its best and protected too.
• 30:01
  Don Armstrong: See the state-of-the-art shop yourself, free tours anytime.
• 30:04
  Don Armstrong: Gulf Coast Auto Shield is easy to get to, located just south of the Southwest Freeway on the Sam Houston Parkway.
• 30:10
  Don Armstrong: Gulf Coast Auto Shield, full-service luxury car care today and online at gcautoshield.com.
• 30:17
  Don Armstrong: Gift giving should be meaningful, and we have an idea: a hand-painted custom illustration of your car from one of the nation's leading artists.
• 30:25
  Don Armstrong: Now you can get one or a car show poster customized for you, a friend, or a loved one.
• 30:30
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• 30:33
  Don Armstrong: No matter what the day, birthday, anniversary, or any day, an autographics custom illustration adds an extra touch of class to any home.
• 30:40
  Don Armstrong: Call Bill today, 832-922-0963.
• 30:44
  Don Armstrong: That's 832-922-0963.
• 30:49
  Don Armstrong: That's it for this podcast episode of the In Wheel Time Car Show.
• 30:53
  Don Armstrong: I'm Don Armstrong, inviting you to join us for our live show every Saturday morning on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and our InWheelTime.com website.
• 31:03
  Don Armstrong: Podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartPodcast, Podcast Addict, TuneIn, Pandora, and Amazon Music.
• 31:11
  Don Armstrong: Keep listening, and we'll see you soon.