Labor Day Sales! A Personal Plea To Watch Out For First Responders, Lexus and Subaru Top Customer Satisfaction, Plus 2025 Audi SQ8, 2025 Subaru WRX tS and 2025 Toyota Tundra TRD Rally Test Drives

August 28, 2025

Dear Car Pro Family,

We are coming to you early since many of you will be off tomorrow when you normally get this, so HAPPY Labor Day weekend boys and girls! Yes, we are LIVE on your radio, computer, and smart device this weekend for the last big push of summer car sales. Those who can take advantage of this holiday sales weekend are going to get a great deal at their nearest Car Pro Certified Dealer. In our lead story today, I explain it all!

But wait! There’s so much more! Such as a new survey on customer satisfaction that is led by Subaru & Lexus, and a J.D. Power survey about vehicle technology and what actual owners think about the tech in their car. AAA takes a look at self-driving systems, and automakers may have found a way to offset the cost of tariffs, courtesy of the EPA. For you Audi lovers, I’ve got details on the entire 2026 lineup including prices, and check out the 2026 Nissan Leaf EV that has a starting price of under $30 grand.

Kim Komando has some very useful information for you today, and don’t miss Kim’s Fun Quiz, the answer is at the very bottom of this newsletter (I got one right!), along with my closing message which further addresses the upcoming holiday and the dangers of driving distracted and driving after a few drinks. I have a whole new batch of Quick Shift stories for you today, and don’t forget to go shopping in the Car Pro Merch shop, lots of good stuff there. Get caught up on the tariff news, too, and some examples of how the tariffs will affect prices of the 2026 model vehicles.

In car reviews, I have the drop-dead gorgeous 2025 Audi SQ8 luxurious and fast SUV. I also have a little hot rod Subaru, the 2025 WRX tS. In our third test drive, Amy Plemons gives you a full and complete review of the 2025 Toyota Tundra TRD Rally CrewMax, a new package and it’s a beauty! My advice column this week talks about emergency vehicles on the side of road, the dangers of that, and what the law says about it.

If you have never read my True Stories from a Former Car Dealer series, may I suggest you do so? People have loved this for a lot of years now. You’ll learn more about me than you probably want to know, you’ll roar with laughter at some, and you’ll likely get a tear in your eyes on others. They are all right here, 40 of them, carefully written by yours truly.

If you haven’t perused my FAQ page, please do. There are likely multiple articles you can use, every one of them written by me.

All of our other regular features are below including the Classic Car Contest, our radio station listings, how to connect with us on Facebook and call the show to talk directly to me, and much, much, more.

We very much appreciate you being part of the newsletter family. Without you, there is no Car Pro Show. Let us know how we can help you, and if you haven’t been to our website lately, check it out at CarPro.com. It changes daily.

Have a terrific week. See you on the radio!

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Labor Day is traditionally one of the best weekends of the year for car buyers. This year, the outlook for car buyers is extremely favorable for a couple of reasons. Just in the last week, we’ve seen a jump in incentives with the push to move the 2025s and remaining 2024s. If you look at Tariff Talk today, you’ll see evidence that the 2026 models are going to jump in price due to tariffs.

If you missed the 2025 Tax Code 179 update last week, check it out in the next story because there are probably savings to be had for you. Whether it is a full write-off in 2025, bonus depreciation, or writing off interest charges on your 2025 taxes, shopping while the inventory levels are high makes a lot of sense. If you need to order a vehicle, now is the time to do so to make sure it arrives in calendar year 2025.

If you have a trade-in, I cannot stress enough the used car market is sky high, but every car will drop in value in the next few weeks, as 2023 models become 3-years old, 2022s become 4-years old, even 2024s become 2-years old, etc. This happens every year in early to mid-September.

If you’ve toyed with an electric car, you are on the clock to get the $7,500 in federal rebates, it is the final 30 days for that.

You have nothing to lose to look at numbers with one of my friends at a Car Pro approved dealer. Lease deals are suddenly back, which is great news if you like to lease or if you have a lease ending between now and the end of this year.

The cherry on top of the cake is the dealers will have until September 2nd to report sales. That is also when the current incentives will end, so the push will go on the entire weekend and through Tuesday night. I see incentives dropping after that.

You know I always shoot you straight. I’ve often told listeners NOT to buy, to stay put, and not do anything. It is equally as important that I tell you when it is a good time to shop. Timing from now until Tuesday night is phenomenal, so if you can, shop before then, I think you’ll be really pleased.

Find a Certified Car Pro Dealer

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL CARPRO SHOW LISTENERS FROM
JERRY REYNOLDS, THE CAR PRO

Friends, we have been publishing the latest rules and eligible vehicles list for Tax Code 179 for over a decade. I encourage you to reach out to one of our Certified Car Pro Dealers at a CarPro approved dealership. They will help you figure out how to get the eligible vehicle you want. Note: Many automobile buyers will now be eligible to write the interest off on car loans, as a result of the “big beautiful bill” signed into law this July. The details of the rules are at the link below along with the latest on Tax Code 179.

2025 Tax Guide and List of Eligible Tax Code 179 Vehicles →

CarPro Advice:
Reminder - Watch Out For Our First Responders

His name was Ronnie Lerma, he served as a police officer in my hometown, Garland, TX. Ronnie was a mountain of a man with a gentle spirit. I had met Ronnie several times at the dealership I owned at the time. I have always been a proud supporter of our first responders. On September 21, 1998, Ronnie stopped a vehicle on I-635 for speeding. As he reached for his ticket book from his motorcycle, he was struck by a van and killed. Ronnie was 39 and left behind a wife and two children.

As we head into Labor Day weekend, expect to see an increased police presence on our roadways. Please help spread the word that not only is moving over and slowing down the right thing to do, it can keep you from facing manslaughter charges, and it is the law.

We are celebrating Labor Day Weekend with a special entry deal in our 2025 Ford Maverick plus $5K cash sweepstakes!

Select entries to win are 50% off! This sweepstakes helps raise money for Light Up To Live, a nonprofit that supports veterans.

ENTER NOW

It's LAST CALL for our 2025 Chevy Trax + $5K cash sweepstakes!

The sweepstakes ends Friday, September 5th, at 5PM Central. This sweepstakes helps veterans by raising money for the Michael Berry Foundation & Camp Hope nonprofits. Enter to win below!

ENTER NOW

Besides the Car Pro Show and our weekly newsletter, my other favorite radio show and newsletter is Kim Komando’s. We're on many of the same radio stations across America. She does for her listeners and newsletter subscribers exactly what I endeavor to do: Give you useful information to keep you up to date on the latest in cars, only she does it with technology and there is nobody who does it better. Not sure how she puts out a top-notch newsletter seven days a week, but she does.

Kim’s Quiz:

You know that feeling when you hold something and instantly think, This feels right? That’s pretty much what Steve Jobs was chasing when dreaming up the first iPod. But it wasn’t turtleneck visionary vibes, he had an actual item in mind. Something sleek and pocket-size.

So, what everyday object sparked Jobs’ vision for the iPod? Was it a: A) pack of cigarettes, B) stack of four Pop-Tarts, C) block of cheese or D) cassette case? Answer after the closing message below.

From this week’s Kim Komando newsletters:

Uninsurable metal box: Tesla’s stainless steel Cybertruck is apparently too weird to insure. Geico and Hanover are pulling out, citing plummeting sales (just 4,306 sold last quarter) and high repair costs. The truck’s low production and high drama have made it a financial Bermuda Triangle.
Update your Apple gear ASAP: Apple dropped an emergency patch for iPhones, iPads and Macs after hackers were caught exploiting a nasty flaw. The trick? Sending a booby-trapped image via text or email that lets them break in and run malicious code. Go to Settings > General > Software Update now.
$12.99 per month. That’s the new price of Apple TV+, up from $9.99. If you’re already subscribed, you’ll see the price change 30 days after your next renewal date. Some good news? Yearly TV+ subscriptions and the Apple One services bundle aren’t changing. At least not yet. Enjoy it while it lasts.
T-Mobile caught creeping: T-Mobile got slammed with a $92M fine for selling real-time location data without consent. Their legal defense? Basically “We did it, but like, who’s counting?” Judges were not amused. The FCC calls it a massive privacy failure. Verizon and AT&T (pending cases for $104.2M in fines) better start sweating, this was just round one.
Hurl of fame: As everyone becomes a passenger in autonomous vehicles, motion sickness is the next billion-dollar problem. From predictive buzz seats to cars that gently tilt your body during turns, engineers are working overtime (paywall link) to keep your breakfast down while your car drives itself. The goal? Making you queasy-free before 2030.
Buying a new computer? Know the specs you need. For basic browsing and streaming, look for at least a dual-core 2.0 GHz processor, 4-8 GB of RAM and an SSD for quick loading. For heavier stuff like gaming or video editing, get a recent multi-core 3.0 GHz+ CPU, a dedicated graphics card and 16 GB+ RAM. Click here for 20 laptop and desktops I trust. You’re welcome.

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Photo Credit: Mecum Auctions, Inc.

We have had a lot of fun with our classic car contest on the Car Pro Show Facebook page. We post the photo of a classic vehicle every Saturday morning and invite people to guess the year, make, and model. The prize: an AutoHeatShield. Official contest rules →

This 1972 Ford Mustang Convertible goes on the block at Mecum's Indy Fall Special on Saturday October, 4th.

Our Facebook winner this week, and winner of an AutoHeatShield, is:

CarPro listeners receive a 10% AutoHeatShield discount with the code "CarPro10".
Visit AutoHeatShield here →

If you are searching for a particular new or used vehicle, we can help you! The best news is, if you use CarPro to search, when you find the car of your dreams it will be at a CarPro approved dealership.

Our search feature is simple to use. Choose new, used, or certified. You can select the make and model, or find a price range you are looking at. Choose the number of miles you are willing to travel and enter your zip code. From there, you can look through all your matches, knowing you are shopping at a dealership I have handpicked that adheres to the high standards I require.

Start your search on the front page of CarPro.com. If you don't find the car of your dreams, check back regularly.

have 5 hours to call the show! From 9AM- 2PM Central, 7AM-Noon Pacific, and 10 AM to 3 PM Eastern, the phone numbers are:

DFW Show: 9 AM to 11 AM Central,
- 1 (800) 288-9227
National Show: 11 AM to 2 PM Central,
- 1 (800) 926-7777

Add the numbers to your cell phone; you never know when you are going to need straight talk and honest answers about everything automotive.

So, what is the CarPro Radio Show?

Confused about the car buying process? Worried you won’t get a fair deal? Wondering about which vehicle is best for you? Then tune in to the CarPro Radio Show every week where Jerry Reynolds and Todd Chambless will guide you through the car-buying process with confidence.

No matter where you listen to the show or which station you listen to, you have five hours to call in and ask your questions. We take calls every Saturday from 9 AM-2 PM Central time, 7 AM to Noon Pacific. The phone number is different the first two hours, then changes, so keep that in mind.

We would love to help you in any way possible! Keep in mind, we don’t take mechanical questions, but everything else is great!

The Car Pro Radio Show is heard every weekend all over the United States, and every weekend we deliver straight talk and honest answers about everything automotive. We would greatly appreciate it if you would take a moment and tell a friend about the show.

Most of our listeners tell us that they never thought they would look forward to a show about cars. You may have friends or relatives who feel the same way in the cities below, please make them aware.

Here are the DFW markets the show airs in, times, and stations, and don't forget you can now listen to WBAP on the FM dial at 93.3 FM!

Dallas, TX: WBAP 820 AM/93.3 FM/99.5 HD 2, Saturday 9am to 11am Central
Dallas, TX: KRLD 1080 AM, Saturday 2pm to 4pm Central (replay)
Granbury, TX: KPIR 1420 AM, Saturday 11am to 2pm Central
Listen to the WBAP Podcast (up every Tuesday)→

Today I wrote my advice column about the slow down or pull over law, and how we need to be careful when emergency vehicles are on the side of the road. I started off talking about my friend Ronnie Lerma, a great police officer in my hometown who was senselessly killed on the side of a highway I travel every single day. It didn’t need to happen; Gena didn’t need to become a widow, and the children didn’t need to be without their father.

Bad things happen in the blink of an eye when you are behind the wheel of a car. More and more, we have things that distract us. You just heard that text tone and you are itching to see who it is. The podcast you are listening to is boring, so you look for another one. The coffee you are sipping spills a drop on your shirt, and you want to get a wet wipe and get it off before it stains. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is it takes your attention off the road and in a split second of inattention you have a wreck. If you are lucky, there is only vehicle damage. If not, you or an innocent person become another statistic.

Here we are coming up on a holiday weekend again. Many people will have three or even four days off in a row. You celebrate with family or friends and when it comes time to get behind the wheel of your car, you convince yourself you are OK to drive, even though you’ve had several drinks. You get home, like you have before many times, and maybe you will again, but each time you drive after drinking, the odds are better that your luck is going to run out. You can only tempt fate for so long.

The cost of a drunk driving charge is huge. The fines, the jail time, the cost of your insurance if you can even get it. Does your employer find out and fire you? Worse, did you hurt or kill an innocent person and now you are facing time in jail? Is it worth it?

Imagine for a moment the person or persons you love most, whoever it is. Visualize them getting that phone call that you were killed in a car accident. Imagine the look on their face as they go to the funeral home, numb, to plan your funeral. Can you see it? Let that thought sink into your brain every time you’ve had something to drink and get behind the wheel. Don’t become a statistic.

Sorry to lay this on you, I just want you to be able to read this newsletter next week, and I don’t want to lose a listener. So be careful this holiday weekend, stay safe, enjoy, get rest, and spend time with loved ones and friends. Happy Labor Day weekend.

HUGE Labor Day Sales & The End of The Month

What's New For Tax Code 179 and More!

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL CARPRO SHOW LISTENERS FROM JERRY REYNOLDS, THE CAR PRO

U.S. Auto Tariff Insights

Tariff Talk: Audi, Buick Hike Prices

Relaxed EPA Rules May Help Automakers Offset Tariffs

Ho-Hum - Hertz Teams Up With Amazon To Sell Cars

Straight Talk and Honest Answers

CarPro Advice: Reminder - Watch Out For Our First Responders

Labor Day Sweepstakes Savings!

We are celebrating Labor Day Weekend with a special entry deal in our 2025 Ford Maverick plus $5K cash sweepstakes!

It's LAST CALL for our 2025 Chevy Trax + $5K cash sweepstakes!

On The Road: Test Drives

2025 Audi SQ8 Prestige

2025 Subaru WRX tS

2025 Toyota Tundra TRD Rally CrewMax

Quick Shifts

Each week I bring you the top stories in the auto industry along with my commentary or sometimes amusing thoughts about the craziness that goes on in the world of cars.

Bumper to Bumper: Industry News

Lexus & Subaru Top Satisfaction Survey

All-New Nissan LEAF Starts Under $30K

2026 Audi Lineup Adds Free Maintenance

Free Advice: Don't Run From The Dubai Police

AAA Study On Self-Driving Systems

Weekly Recalls

Our Incentives Guide

Kim Komando's Quiz and Other Info

Check Out Our Newsletter Archive Page!

Classic Car Contest: Win An AutoHeatShield!

Exclusive Approved Products & Services

It's Here! The CarPro Merchandise Shop!

Subscribe to the free DFW Newsletter

Miss the Show? Catch Our Podcast!

Searching For A New Or Used Vehicle?

FAQ: Research Your Questions Before You Shop

You Have 5 Hours To Call The Show!

Where to Find Us

My Must-See Video Of The Week!

Todd's Video of the Week!

Closing Message From Jerry Reynolds

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL CARPRO SHOW LISTENERS FROM
JERRY REYNOLDS, THE CAR PRO

CarPro Advice:
Reminder - Watch Out For Our First Responders