"Changing Times" With Dr Mary Byrne & Lynn Morris Join Guest Aaron Swanson From Springfield Kia Springfield Nissan

"Changing Times" With Dr Mary Byrne & Lynn Morris Join Guest Aaron Swanson From Springfield Kia Springfield NissanThe episode features guest Aaron Swanson, the General Sales Manager for Springfield Kia and Springfield Nissan, for a discussion primarily focused on the auto industry, the dealership, and car buying advice.The hosts celebrate the show's 256th episode and welcome Aaron Swanson, who immediately discusses his dealership's recent recognition:Top Dealer Award: Both Springfield Kia and Springfield Nissan locations won the "Top 150 Dealers to Work For in America" award from Automotive News [05:35].Employee Focus: This recognition is based on a detailed questionnaire about employee benefits, time off, and on-site activities, followed by an anonymous survey of full-time staff, demonstrating that employees "love where they work" [06:23, 07:39].Customer Service Philosophy: The team focuses on customer-driven processes and building relationships, noting that people often visit the dealership during high-emotion times, such as after an accident or due to family growth [09:18].Expansion: The Kia facility is undergoing major construction to more than double the showroom size, which will improve the customer experience by allowing people to complete all service check-in inside a climate-controlled area [13:13, 14:02].Swanson and Morris offer advice for current and future car buyers, highlighting the best deals available:2025 Model Incentives: It is a "fantastic time" to purchase, as the dealership still has over 200 Model Year 2025 vehicles remaining. These models are eligible for favorable incentives, including low financing offers such as 0% APR and terms as long as seven years [15:01, 15:32].Vehicle Recommendations by Age:Older Drivers: Popular choices are the Kia Sarrento and Nissan Murano, which offer high-level comfort, ease of entry/exit, and advanced technology like the full surround view camera [17:09, 18:50].Younger Drivers: Budget-conscious buyers have options with Nissan offering seven models under $30,000. Entry-level cars like the Nissan Versa, Nissan Kicks, Kia K4, and Kia Soul are available for under $25,000 [19:55, 20:37].The conversation stresses that modern car safety is focused on avoiding accidents in the first place, and they recommend a specific type of used car for peace of mind.Active Safety Technology: Today's safety features are designed for the car to absorb the impact and to actively prevent collisions. Features include emergency stopping ability, blind spot cameras, and lane keep assist, which automatically steers the car back into its lane if you drift [22:01, 25:38].Certified Pre-Owned (CPO): For used car buyers, CPO vehicles are recommended as they undergo a rigorous 150-point inspection and any necessary maintenance is performed before the sale [31:04, 32:45]. Purchasing CPO also preserves and can even extend the factory warranty, offering significant peace of mind [31:52].Model Anomaly: Swanson notes that the highly anticipated redesign of the Kia Telluride will jump from the 2025 model year directly to a 2027 model (skipping the 2026), with orders starting to be accepted as early as November 1st [35:31, 37:29].Dealership Recognition and CultureCar Buying Advice and IncentivesSafety and Pre-Owned Vehicles