Women Buying Cars | How to buy a car as a woman in a male-dominated industry.

Meredith Reynolds
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Car-buying tips for women from a woman. Meredith was a teacher and now co-owns a used car dealership in Kansas City with her husband. She uses her love for teaching to help women navigate the car-buying process. Let her empower you to buy a car with confidence. 

  1. MAY 19

    Subaru: The Good and Bad

    Text me your episode idea or comment! Subaru: The Good, The Bad, and Why Owners Stay Loyal Host Meredith Reynolds explains why Subaru is a best-seller on her lot, noting her perspective is based on vehicles at least five years old. She highlights Subaru’s strong customer loyalty and marketing built around an outdoorsy, dog-loving “granola” identity, especially for the Outback, Crosstrek, and Forester, while noting models like the Legacy and WRX/Impreza don’t fit that image as neatly. Key benefits include standard all-wheel drive, safety-focused design and long-running safety tech, good gas mileage, long life and reliability, lower used prices than comparable Honda/Toyota, roomy cargo space, and less reliance on touchscreens in older models. Downsides include road noise, basic interiors and limited luxury, sluggish acceleration in common models, potential CVT concerns, and possible head gasket issues, with warranties as an option. 00:00 Subaru Loyalty Intro 00:20 Show And Host Setup 00:50 Used Car Dealer Perspective 01:25 Why Subaru Fans Love It 01:56 Marketing And Brand Image 04:35 Models And Stereotypes 05:29 What Subaru Does Well 06:03 Safety Visibility Features 07:48 Value Tech And Space 09:44 Downsides Road Noise 10:48 Interior Comfort And Power 12:26 CVT And Head Gaskets 13:29 Final Verdict And Wrap #carshopping #carbuying #subaru  Check out our inventory: www.reynoldsautomotivekc.com www.youtube.com/@ReynoldsAutomotiveKC www.facebook.com/ReynoldsAutomotiveKC www.instagram.com/women_buying_cars Email me: meredith@reynoldsautomotivekc.com

    14 min

  2. MAY 1

    The Good and Bad of Hondas

    Text me your episode idea or comment! Email me: meredith@reynoldsautomotivekc.com The Good and Bad of Honda: Reliability, Value, and Common Tradeoffs Host Meredith Reynolds of Kansas City launches a “Good and Bad” series with Honda, drawing on 12 years of selling mostly 5–15-year-old vehicles. She says Hondas are practical, highly reliable, often reach 200,000–300,000 miles with proper maintenance, cost about $420 per year in maintenance on average, are generally cheaper than Toyota, and hold value well; she highlights popular models including the Odyssey, CR-V, Pilot, Accord, and Civic, with strong fuel economy from many four-cylinder options. Downsides include conservative, “boring” interiors and styling, higher prices than some brands, and limited power. She flags concerns with 1.5L turbo engines and notes V6 Honda/Acura timing belts require costly replacement around 100,000–120,000 miles. 00:00 Odyssey Loyalty Story 00:41 Show Intro and Series Setup 02:18 Honda Strengths Overview 02:41 Longevity and Reliability 04:56 Value and Top Models 06:56 Why Hondas Feel Boring 09:14 Price and Power Tradeoffs 10:47 Known Engine Red Flags 12:09 Timing Belt Cost Reality 13:39 Who Should Buy Honda Check out our inventory: www.reynoldsautomotivekc.com www.youtube.com/@ReynoldsAutomotiveKC www.facebook.com/ReynoldsAutomotiveKC www.instagram.com/women_buying_cars Email me: meredith@reynoldsautomotivekc.com

    14 min

  3. APR 9

    3 Ways the War in Iran Affects Car Prices

    Text me your episode idea or comment! How the War in Iran Could Impact Car Prices Host Meredith Reynolds, a former teacher and an owner of Reynolds Automotive in Kansas City, explains how the war in Iran could affect car prices and the car market through three factors: oil prices, access to semiconductor chips, and interest rates. She says higher oil and gas prices raise shipping costs for vehicles and parts and can increase repair costs as fuel and jet fuel prices rise, eventually pushing up consumer prices. She also warns supply disruptions of key inputs like helium from the Middle East could trigger another semiconductor chip shortage, impacting car and technology production. In her “Cars I Love” segment, she recommends the Toyota Hybrid Highlander for its fuel economy, features, and safety ratings. 00:00 Welcome and Mission 01:00 Why Iran War Impacts Cars 01:24 Oil and Shipping Costs 03:31 Parts and Repair Price Ripple 04:45 Chip Supply Risk Returns 07:40 Cars I Love Hybrid Highlander 10:47 Interest Rates and Loans 11:41 Wrap Up and Call to Action Check out our inventory: www.reynoldsautomotivekc.com www.youtube.com/@ReynoldsAutomotiveKC www.facebook.com/ReynoldsAutomotiveKC www.instagram.com/women_buying_cars Email me: meredith@reynoldsautomotivekc.com

    12 min

  4. MAR 17

    Repo vs Voluntary Repo

    Text me your episode idea or comment! Voluntary Repo vs Repossession: What Really Happens to Your Credit and Options to Avoid It Host Meredith Reynolds of Women Buying Cars tells the truth about a voluntary car repossession or surrender.  00:52 Show Introduction 01:37 Dealership Horror Story 04:11 Repo vs Surrender 04:23 How Repos Work 05:58 Voluntary Repo Reality 06:48 Credit Report Impact 09:20 Why Banks Lose Money 12:32 Score Drop Fallout 15:07 Avoiding Repossession 15:45 Sell or Refinance Options 17:55 Rebuild Your Credit 19:13 Final Recap and Outro #carbuyingtips #carbuying #usedcars #buyingacar #repo #volutnaryrepo #voluntarysurrender #kansascity #reynoldsautomotive Check out our inventory: www.reynoldsautomotivekc.com www.youtube.com/@ReynoldsAutomotiveKC www.facebook.com/ReynoldsAutomotiveKC www.instagram.com/women_buying_cars Email me: meredith@reynoldsautomotivekc.com

    21 min

  5. MAR 3

    What NOT to Say at the Dealership

    Text me your episode idea or comment! Don’t Tell the Dealer Your Monthly Payment: Negotiate the Out-the-Door Price Host Meredith Reynolds of the Women Buying Cars podcast explains the one thing not to tell a car salesperson: your desired monthly payment, because dealers can hit that number by extending the loan term, increasing total interest, manipulating trade-in value, or even raising the interest rate. She advises focusing instead on negotiating the out-the-door price with itemized fees, researching fair pricing using sources like Edmonds and CarGurus (not Kelley Blue Book in Kansas City), and negotiating trade-in value separately. Meredith recommends using payment calculators ahead of time, choosing the shortest loan term you can afford (ideally not over five years), asking to see total interest over the life of the loan and any early payoff penalties, and getting pre-approved financing from your own bank. She also highlights the 2024 Buick Envista as a compact crossover with strong safety features and good fuel economy. 00:00 Dealership Info Trap 01:01 Stop Sharing Payments 02:26 Negotiate Out The Door 02:56 Research Real Pricing 04:07 Calculator Before You Go 04:55 Watch For Add Ons 05:45 Trade In Separately 07:34 Favorite Car Buick 10:13 Loan Term Dangers 12:21 Rate Markup Games 14:25 Pre Approval Strategy 15:33 Recap And Closing Check out our inventory: www.reynoldsautomotivekc.com www.youtube.com/@ReynoldsAutomotiveKC www.facebook.com/ReynoldsAutomotiveKC www.instagram.com/women_buying_cars Email me: meredith@reynoldsautomotivekc.com

    18 min

  6. FEB 16

    Tire Care

    Text me your episode idea or comment! Make Your Tires Last Longer with the PETRA Method (Pressure, Tread, Rotation, Alignment)  Meredith explains how to extend tire life using her PETRA acronym: Pressure, Tread, Rotation, and Alignment. She covers how to find and check correct tire pressure (PSI), what the legal minimum for tire tread is and how to check it, and why tires need rotating. balancing, and alignment. The episode includes a “Cars I Love” segment highlighting the Mazda CX-5 as a sporty two-row SUV comparable in size to the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. 00:00 Why Tires Wear Out (and How Petra Will Save You Money) 00:31 Meet Meredith + What PETRA Stands For 01:51 P = Pressure: TPMS Lights, PSI, and Finding the Right Number 04:47 Seasonal Pressure Changes: Winter Drop, Summer Overinflation 07:00 T = Tread: Legal Limits, Penny Test, and Wear Bars 08:51 Tire Age Matters: Reading the DOT Date Code 10:44 Cars I Love: Mazda CX-5 Quick Review 13:04 R = Rotation & Balance: When to Do It and Why It Helps 14:27 A = Alignment: Signs You’re Off + Pothole Damage 15:22 Spare Tires vs Run-Flats: Don’t Get Caught Unprepared 16:39 PETRA Recap + Final Tips, Reviews, and Sign-Off Check out our inventory: www.reynoldsautomotivekc.com www.youtube.com/@ReynoldsAutomotiveKC www.facebook.com/ReynoldsAutomotiveKC www.instagram.com/women_buying_cars Email me: meredith@reynoldsautomotivekc.com

    18 min

  7. JAN 24

    8 Things to Check DURING the Test Drive

    Text me your episode idea or comment! Essential Tips for a Successful Car Test Drive Meredith Reynolds, a former teacher turned used car dealer, shares her expert advice on the key elements to look for during a test drive. She emphasizes the importance of never skipping a test drive and outlines eight crucial aspects to pay attention to. Meredith also discusses her experiences as a woman in the car dealership industry and reviews the features of the Subaru Ascent, a three-row SUV. The episode aims to empower women to confidently navigate car purchases and ensure they make informed decisions during test drives. 00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Test Drives 00:38 Host Introduction and Personal Stories 03:21 Pre-Test Drive Tips Recap 03:35 Test Drive Tips: What to Look For 09:40 Car Spotlight: Subaru Ascent 12:32 Final Test Drive Tips and Conclusion #carshopping #usedcar #subaru #womeninsales #womencardealer #kansascity #kc #howtobuyacar Check out our inventory: www.reynoldsautomotivekc.com www.youtube.com/@ReynoldsAutomotiveKC www.facebook.com/ReynoldsAutomotiveKC www.instagram.com/women_buying_cars Email me: meredith@reynoldsautomotivekc.com

    16 min

  8. JAN 10

    10 Things to Check Before the Test Drive

    Text me your episode idea or comment! 10 Essential Tips for Women Before Test Driving a Car In this episode of 'Women Buying Cars,' host Meredith Reynolds, a former teacher turned used car dealer, shares 10 crucial things to look out for before taking a car for a test drive. Meredith emphasizes the importance of inspecting the car's exterior for imperfections, checking tire tread using a penny, and ensuring the battery is not older than four years. She also advises evaluating comfort, visibility, and functionality of controls and features such as radios, windows, and seat adjustability. Meredith discusses considerations like ease of entry and the importance of checking for any warning lights or unpleasant odors. Additionally, she introduces a segment about cars she loves, highlighting the Kia Telluride for its aesthetics, functionality, and luxury at a reasonable price. As season two kicks off, Meredith encourages listeners to make and stick to their resolutions, sharing her own experience with avoiding doomscrolling. Tune in for these valuable tips and more to empower yourself in the car buying process. 00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome 01:15 New Year's Resolutions and Personal Insights 04:07 Pre-Test Drive Checklist Overview 04:33 Inspecting the Car Exterior 06:23 Checking the Tires 07:04 Under the Hood Inspection 07:32 Interior Comfort and Visibility 10:03 Special Segment: Cars I Love - Kia Telluride 13:38 Testing Car Features and Electronics 16:13 Ease of Access and Warning Lights 18:09 Final Checks and Conclusion Check out our inventory: www.reynoldsautomotivekc.com www.youtube.com/@ReynoldsAutomotiveKC www.facebook.com/ReynoldsAutomotiveKC www.instagram.com/women_buying_cars Email me: meredith@reynoldsautomotivekc.com

    19 min
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5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Car-buying tips for women from a woman. Meredith was a teacher and now co-owns a used car dealership in Kansas City with her husband. She uses her love for teaching to help women navigate the car-buying process. Let her empower you to buy a car with confidence. 

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