The Straight Shift with The Car Chick

In this second of three episodes of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks all about the reality of owning an"electrified" vehicle - hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs). What are the costs of owning an electric car? Are electric cars cheaper to maintain? The Car Chick addresses these common questions and more to help you decide if an electric (or electrified) vehicle is right for you!

In this episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks gives you practical strategies for people who need to buy a car quickly during the current inventory shortage.

In this episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks about why that new car you are buying may not have all of the features and options you are expecting. Yep, the chip shortage is forcing automakers to skimp on features in order to make more cars. What is your new car missing?!?

In this first of three episodes of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks all about "electrified" vehicles - hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs). She revisits some high school physics to teach you the new vocabulary needed to understand the technology of electric vehicles and translates those nerdy terms into language that car shoppers can easily understand.

In this episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks (ok, rants) about why the government-regulated vehicle crash tests don't apply to women and, in fact, the majority of the US population. She talks about the what actually happens in a car crash, how men's and women's bodies react very differently, and how a decades-old data bias is proving fatal to women drivers and passengers.

In this episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks about why holiday car shopping in 2021 will be extra challenging this year due to the low inventory levels, high prices, and a new rule the leasing companies have implemented that makes it much harder to get out of your lease! But don't fret! The Car Chick gives you 6 tips for navigating this challenging car market, so you can get a car by the end of the year.

In this episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks about some of the exciting new and redesigned cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans for 2022. Including the 2022 Honda Civic, 2022 Hyundai Tucson, 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid, 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid, 2022 Nissan Pathfinder, 2022 Infiniti QX60 and QX55, 2022 Acura MDX and MDX Type S, 2022 Jeep Wagoneer and 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, 2022 Volkswagen Taos, 2022 Kia Carnival, 2022 Chevy Bolt EV and 2022 GMC Hummer EV.

In this episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick takes first time car buyers through a step-by-step process, from picking the right car to negotiating the deal without paying too much for extra junk they don't need!

In this episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks about the massive shortage of both new and used cars across the US and the world in 2021. Why are there so few cars on dealer lots? When will more cars be available? Is it better or worse for pickup trucks and SUVs? What are the best strategies for people who want to buy a car and still get a good deal in 2021?

In this episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks about the affect of the current, global shortage of computer chips on the automotive industry. How much will this hurt new car production? How will it affect people who plan to buy new cars in 2021? Why is there a shortage of computer chips in the first place?!?

In this episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks about the right (and wrong) way to buy a car long distance, including how to buy a new or used car from a dealer out of state as well as how to buy a car from a private party. She also covers how to identify scams and fake car ads on Facebook Marketplace and whether to use an escrow service to facilitate the transaction.

In Part 2 of this two part episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks about how to find a good, trustworthy mechanic and shop to service and repair your vehicle. She talks about the benefits of using an ASE certified or manufacturer certified mechanic as well as the pros and cons of taking your car to a dealership versus an independent shop.

In this 2 part episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks about how to find a good, trustworthy mechanic. Part 1 talks about what is wrong with the retail automotive service industry that makes finding a good mechanics so darned difficult in the first place.

In this episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks holiday car shopping deals, incentives and strategies - 2020 style! Is the end of the year still a good time to buy a new car? How has the global COVID-19 pandemic affected the new car market and the traditional end-of-year deals? How should your car buying strategy change for 2020? The Car Chick will tell you what to realistically expect and how to still get a great deal on a new car (while staying safe) this 2020 holiday season.

In this episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks with special guest, Jordan Huibers of Stacauto, about a new way to test drive cars without the hassle and pressure of a pushy sales person. Stacauto is a cool, new technology platform that allows car shoppers to schedule a contactless test drive of new and used vehicles! Learn more about Stacauto at www.Stacauto.com (This podcast is NOT sponsored in any way by Stacauto or any car dealership. I just think it's cool!)

In this episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks with special guest, Lindsey Easterling of Easterling Family Law, about the most common problems people encounter during and after a divorce. Who gets the cars in a divorce? What if you can't afford the car payments? How do you preserve your credit? How do you get the car retitled in your name? What should you do about insurance? Tune in to learn how to protect yourself and your car during a divorce. Learn more about Lindsey at www.EasterlingFamilyLaw.com

In this episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks about how to save money when ordering a car. Most dealers say you have to pay full sticker price if you order a car - not true! The Car Chick gives away her secrets on how to negotiate the price, even if you custom order a car, so you can still get a great deal.

In this episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks about how to name your car, and WHY you even should. She shares the long history of naming vehicles, as well as her personal reasons for why everyone should name their car. She also shares her personal methodology for deciding on the perfect name for your car that she has used to name her cars, like Maggie!

In this episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick talks about 7 new vehicles (all SUVs) making their debut for the 2021 model year, including the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime, the 2021 Toyota Venza, the 2021 Kia Seltos, the 2021 Genesis GV80, the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer and the 2021 Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport.

In this episode of "The Straight Shift", The Car Chick discusses 5 of her biggest car shopping pet peeves that will cost you valuable time and money. If these things annoy HER, you know they will drive you crazy. Worse, they can cost you to lose thousands of dollars when buying a car. So tune in to learn how to avoid these car shopping frustrations!