The Straight Shift with The Car Chick

Flock Cameras: Crime-Fighting Tool or Big Brother With a Solar Panel?

Those little solar-powered Flock cameras are popping up everywhere, and depending on whom you ask, they're either an incredibly powerful crime-fighting tool or a ter

Would You Pay $4,500 to Avoid a Car Dealership?

Would you pay thousands more for a new car just to avoid the traditional dealership experience? Carvana is now selling brand-new Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles,

Distracted Driving Isn't What You Think It Is

Distracted driving isn't just texting, eating, or screwing around with your touchscreen. After The Car Chick got a ticket for running a red light she didn't eve

What’s the Most Reliable Car? You’re Asking the Wrong Question

Everyone wants to know which car is the most reliable. But what if that's actually the wrong question? In this episode of The Straight Shift, The Car Chick takes a

The New Cold War: Why Your Car Is Caught in the Middle

Episode Summary Could your car become a battlefield in the New Cold War? It sounds like the plot of a spy thriller, but it's actually one of the biggest stories qu

Will Your Next Car Be a Blank Slate?

Electric vehicles were supposed to make cars more affordable. So why does the average EV now cost well over $50,000? Enter Slate Auto, a brand-new American startup that&

The FTC Is Finally Cracking Down on Dealer Pricing Bullshittery

Think hidden fees, fake discounts, rebate games, mandatory add-ons, and vehicles advertised at prices you can't actually get are just part of buying a car? The FTC

How Global Chaos Ends Up in Your Driveway

Summary After a three-month hiatus, The Car Chick® is back — and apparently while she was gone, the global economy decided to completely lose its damn mind. In this come

Life Update + The Straight Shift Podcast Pause

We're pumping the brakes on The Straight Shift podcast for a little while, but that doesn't mean you can't still receive important automotive industry upda

Your Car Is Becoming a Subscription — What You Need to Know Before You Buy

SUMMARY Cars are no longer just mechanical machines — they are rolling software platforms. In this episode of The Straight Shift, The Car Chick® breaks down the growing

LEASE-END LIES: How to Get the Equity Out of Your Leased Car

Summary In this episode of The Straight Shift, The Car Chick® discusses the intricacies of car leasing, particularly focusing on what to do at the end of a lease. She sh

Do You Really Need AWD? The Winter Driving Myth Most Car Buyers Believe

Summary In this episode of The Straight Shift, The Car Chick® discusses the importance of understanding different drivetrains, particularly in the context of winter driv

Can You Really Buy a Car on Amazon?

Summary Amazon Autos promises to make buying a car as easy as clicking “Buy Now.” But is it actually easier — and more importantly, is it better for car buyers? In this

The State of the Car Buyer in 2026 - Why Buying a Car Still Feels Risky

Summary In this episode, The Car Chick® discusses the current state of the automotive industry as we enter 2026, reflecting on the challenges faced in 2025, including ec

Why Cars Are Like Guns — And Why That Should Change How You Drive

Summary In this final episode of 2025, The Car Chick® takes a more personal turn—sharing how recent firearms training led to a powerful realization about driving safety.

2025 Charlotte Auto Show: The Best, Worst, and WTF Cars You Need to Know About

Summary In this episode of The Straight Shift, The Car Chick® shares her experiences and insights from the 2025 Charlotte International Auto Show. She discusses the late

How to Order a New Car (When the Dealer Says You Can’t)

Part 2 of the “How to Order a New Car” crossover with A Girl’s Guide to Cars SUMMARY This episode picks up where Part 1 of our crossover with Scotty Reiss left off. On

Forbidden Fruit: The Cool European Cars America Can’t Have (and Why)

Episode Summary Ever wandered through a European parking lot and thought, “Why don’t we get cars like that in America?” In this episode of The Straight Shift, The Car C

Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road: My Wild UK Adventure

Summary In this episode, The Car Chick® shares her experiences driving in the UK, highlighting the challenges and joys of navigating on the left side of the road for the

Classic Cars 101: What to Know Before You Buy Your Dream Ride

Summary In this episode of The Straight Shift, The Car Chick® and Rudy Samsel, founder of Guys With Rides, delve into the world of classic cars, discussing the emotional