Ask a Car Dealer

Do you remember your first car? Whether it was a sleek Ford Mustang or an old beat-up pick-up truck, chances are there's something about that first vehicle that makes you feel nostalgic. Maybe it was the smell of fresh leather or having 10% of your paycheck go into repairs. Either way, it's completely possible your first vehicle is somewhere still out there and not in a junkyard. Ok, maybe not your exact vehicle but the same make, model, year, trim, a possibly color. Todd gentry, General Sales Manager at Gary Crossley Ford in Kansas CIty explains in this episode that your local franchise dealer just might be able to track that vehicle down for you. All you have to do is ask. 

Gary Crossley Ford General Sales Manager Todd Gentry answers questions in this episode that cover:

Discussing everything a car shopper needs to know about the "Aftermarket" world in this episode. Todd Gentry, and Gary Crossley Ford's aftermarket market manager Nick Sherman break down the world of window tint, wheels, lift kits, paint protection, and the hundreds of other "aftermarket" options. 

Zack Smith, Service Manager for Gary Crossley Ford steps in for the vacationing Todd Gentry and we discuss the ends and outs of a franchise dealership's service department.

- What is the difference between a Technician and a Mechanic?

- What is a dealership's fixed operations (fixed-ops) department?

- What is the difference between Quick Lane and a Service Department?  

- Can you take any brand of vehicle to a Ford or other different franchises' service department?

- What is a Service Advisor?

General Manager of the TDR Auto Plaza, Jamie Tuff, joins the episode as he and Todd Gentry discuss the differences between a franchise car dealership and an independent used car dealership. 

Questions and topics in this episode include:

- What part of the month is the best time to buy a vehicle from a dealership?

- What part of the year is the best time to buy a vehicle from a dealership? 

- Do new vehicles depreciate once they've been bought, if so, how much?

- What process should a used car/trade in go through before being sold at a dealership? 

Questions for our car dealer answered in this episode include:

-  Buying vs Leasing, What's the difference and why don't people in the midwest lease vehicles like people on the east and west coast do? 

- What is a car dealership "Lot Party"?

Questions this episode: 

What makes a customer subprime? 

What is the difference between a buy here pay here dealership and a regular car dealership? 

What's the right amount of money someone should pay as a down payment? 

Why is a down payment important in buying a car? 

When should you let the dealer know you have a trade-in?

Can you trade-in anything to a car dealership when making a deal on buying a car? 

How much money do franchise dealerships make on selling brand new vehicles? 

Do you have a question for our car dealer? Email [email protected]

Welcome to the first episode of Ask a Car Dealer. In this episode, we meet Todd Gentry, the General Sales Manager of Gary Crossley Ford located just outside Kansas City, MO. Questions for our car dealer this week include:

Why do car dealership lots look empty? Where are all the cars?

Why do car dealers call customers "Ups"?

What's the advantage of ordering a new vehicle compared to picking one off the dealership's lot? 

Why don't customers get the same amount of money for their trade from the dealership as they would if they privately sold it themselves on Craigslist, the newspaper, or Facebook Marketplace?