Special Guest On Saturday's Show! Best Vehicles For Teens, Ram 1500 Express Returns, Tariff Headlines, Plus 2025 Chrysler Pacifica and 2025 Toyota Corolla Test Drives

May 16, 2025

Dear CarPro Family,

We’ve crossed into the second half of May, and next week when we come to you, we’ll be in the Memorial Day weekend. This month is shaping up to be an excellent time to get a new ride and May is likely your last hurrah as far as beating tariff-induced price increases. It’s the best of both worlds right now: Normal prices with good incentives, and trade values dramatically rising.

We start today with the 20 most and least expensive cars to drive, a comprehensive study you’ll want to look at. I have the latest tariff news, and my Quick Shifts column, where this week you’ll learn that the Secret Service is learning to drive stick shift cars, Jeep ducking is a thing, the California DMV is mighty mad at people registering their cars out of state, and a luxury car theft ring has been busted in New York. Don’t miss my fun look at these stories.

We tell you about some new vehicles for 2026, including the Ram 1500 Express pickup, the Toyota Corolla Hatchback FX, the Corvette gets a new interior for 2026, and Mitsubishi is getting into the electric car business, a little late in my opinion. Don’t miss Kim Komando’s Tech Tips and other useful info from the Queen of all things digital. In advice today, I have tips for those who decided it was time to get that sports car you’ve always wanted as you go through your second childhood.

In car reviews, I took one for the team, and spent a week with the 2025 Chrysler Pacifica minivan instead of pawning it off on Amy. Speaking of, our Amy Plemons gives you a full and complete review of the 2025 Toyota Corolla FX Special Edition.

Plus, lots of other information you will likely enjoy, including my video of the week which is always one of the most clicked on items in the newsletter. 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.

Check the recall section to see if you may need to take action on your vehicle. Miss a radio show? Below we tell you how to get the podcast, and if you missed a newsletter, we tell you how to find the archive page where you can see the last 10 editions. The incentives have gone up lately, but our Incentive Guide is always 100% up to date.

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!

In the morning at 9:35 Central on the DFW Car Pro Show, then again at 11:35 on the nationally syndicated show, we welcome Jennifer Morrison, the Director of Vehicle Safety Strategy at Mazda North America. With a focus on overseeing the development of crash avoidance technology in vehicles, she’s determined to help improve roadway safety one car at a time. Before working for Mazda, Ms. Morrison spent over 15 years at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigating highway crashes as an Investigator-in-Charge and a safety advocate.

As you know, teen driver safety has been a passion of mine for many years. May is National Youth Safety Traffic Month, and I want to get Jennifer’s thoughts on how parents can encourage teens to practice safe driving, as well as the role of safety technology, and some of the data we have seen regarding driving safety in recent years. Finally, I want to know also what features Mazda offers to help teen drivers stay safe.

The 100 Deadly Days of Summer starts soon. If you are not familiar with what that is, read this and share it with any teen driver’s parents.

Please invite the parents, grandparents, and any teen drivers you know to join us for this enlightening look at teen driver safety.

Nissan is reportedly considering shifting Sentra production from Mexico to Mississippi.
Photo: Nissan.

The U.S. auto industry remains in a state of flux as the federal government’s tariff measures continue to ripple through global supply chains and domestic production lines. The 25% tariff on imported vehicles and non-USMCA auto parts remains in effect, placing pressure on both foreign automakers and U.S.-based companies that rely heavily on overseas components. Parts and vehicles that comply with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement are exempt, but compliance has proven to be a logistical and financial hurdle for many.

In other news, here is a synopsis of excerpts & headlines that caught my attention this week:

Click here for Tariff Talk →

This test simulates you in the driver's seat of a car. You're driving down a road, when you see a big red hand flash in front of you. You have to put on the brakes.

Then, the Reaction Time Test tells you how old you are, when it comes to driving.

The test is based on reaction times of 2,000 people ages 18 and over. The Reaction Time Test plotted their reaction times by age; it matches your reaction time to those averages.

Some of their results may surprise you. The Reaction Time Test found that left-handed people and men have slightly better reaction times than the average person.

To take the test, click here.

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.

Here are some interesting things I found this week in Kim’s Newsletter

Wrong number scams: It starts with a random text like “Emily from the gym?” You reply “wrong number.” But instead of leaving you alone, they get friendly, pull on your heartstrings, then pitch an investment scam. Blame AI. It’s now easier to craft messages that feel personal. If you get one, don’t reply. Just block the number.
Owned an iPhone or iPad between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024? You might be eligible for part of a $95 million settlement. Why? A lawsuit says Siri recorded private convos by accident. Oopsie. If you got an email or think it happened to you, submit your claim by July 2. You can file for up to five devices and get up to $20 each.
Every map lies: We live on a globe (sorry, flat-Earthers), so 2D maps can distort how big countries really are. The True Size Of lets you see how they actually compare to each other. Just type a state or country in the search bar, then click and drag it around the map. Neat!
Real estate’s shady practice: Some agents are using secret signals to keep commissions high. Sellers used to pay 5% to 6%, split between both agents. But starting Aug. 17, they’ll be banned from discussing commission splits in home listings. The work-around? Hidden clues, like three cookies in a photo to hint at a 3% cut.
Best day to book a flight? Do it on a Tuesday. Google says it can save you 13% to 20%. Want the cheapest deal? Book about 38 days out for domestic trips or 50 to 100 days for international. And if you can handle a layover, even better. Those flights are usually 25% cheaper than going direct. You and that neck pillow got this.
Rides for Grandma: This is a great idea! Lyft Silver may be rolling out in your city this week. There’s bigger text in the app for older adults to read, simpler navigation and priority rides with cars that are easy to get in and out of. The best part? Real people answering customer service calls. Open the app > tap You > turn on Lyft Silver to get going.

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)→

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, something like this comes along. The California Highway Patrol had a vehicle pulled over near Los Angeles and an obviously disturbed male jumps in the cruiser and takes off and the chase is on. The FOX 11 chopper is keeping up with the black & white, giving us a closeup of the perp driving, when suddenly the door opens and he BAILS OUT at around 50 miles-per-hour! He lives, was arrested, and I’m betting was very sore for a while. This is 3 minutes of craziness!

Special Guest On The Show Tomorrow!

Tariff Talk: The Latest

U.S. Auto Market

20 Least and 20 Most Expensive Cars To Drive

Straight Talk and Honest Answers

Advice: Are You Ready For That First Sports Car?

Highboy For Heroes Sweepstakes!

On The Road: Test Drives

2025 Chrysler Pacifica Limited

2025 Toyota Corolla FX Special Edition

REVIEW REWIND: 2025 Mazda CX-70 PHEV

A welcome addition to the Mazda lineup with everything you could possibly want in a luxury SUV.

REVIEW REWIND: 2025 Toyota Sequoia 1794 Edition

The first-ever Sequoia 1794 Edition.

Bumper to Bumper: Industry News

The 2026 Ram 1500 Express Is Back

The entry-level pickup starts from roughly $45K.

Survey: Americans Love To Camp In Vehicles

2026 Kia Sportage Starts From $28,690

Check Out The Hot 2026 Corolla Hatchback FX

10 Bad Habits For Your Car

Toyota Financial Services Launches IG Page

Mitsubishi Enters The Electric Vehicle Fray

2026 Corvette Gets New Interior

Weekly Recalls

Our Incentive Guide

Just For Fun: How Old Are Your Reaction Times?

Kim Komando's Useful Tips of the Week

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

Jerry's Must-See Video Of The Week!

Closing Message From Jerry Reynolds