Adrian Gonzalez - Adrian the Car Guy

10/23/2026

Our service techs at Payne Edinburg CDJR think selling cars is the easy job. Their reasoning: nobody's happy when their car breaks down, but everyone's excited to buy one. So they're going to swap places, put on a suit and run the store for a day. Stay tuned. What do you think is harder, sales or service?

10/23/2026

What do car salespeople actually wish you knew before you walk in?

On this episode of The Smoke Break, Hector sat down with two of our salespeople, Miguel Orta and Sam the Ham, with Kirby and me jumping in:
- A Kelley Blue Book value is an estimate, not a guaranteed offer. Think of it like Credit Karma: a starting point.
- You often can't stack a special finance rate and a rebate. It's usually one or the other.
- Every $10,000 you finance adds roughly $200 a month, depending on rate and term.
- If you traded six months ago, your next payment won't look like your last one. Negative equity follows you.
- If you can, cover your taxes with your down payment.
- The good salespeople aren't pushy. They guide you to what fits your budget.

Full episode: https://youtu.be/w15gILmwnu8

Also on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

What's one thing you wish a salesperson had told you? Tell us in the comments.

Avoid common car buying mistakes by learning the inside secrets of ...

10/23/2026

Buying your first car? One of the questions we hear most at Payne Edinburg CDJR is whether we have a first-time buyer program. We don't run one ourselves, but some of the lenders we work with do. Steady, provable income and the right vehicle, often in the $20,000 to $30,000 range, go a long way, and rebates on some new models can be applied toward your down payment. Approval always depends on the lender, but our team will do the work to find the right fit. What's your first-time buyer question?

10/22/2026

What I expect from every salesperson at Payne Edinburg CDJR: be on time, own your results, know your inventory, follow up with every customer, encourage the new people, and take care of customers long after the sale. That last one is the job. If that sounds like you, I'm still hiring. Comment SALES and I'll message you.

10/21/2026

Saturday at Payne Edinburg CDJR: a full showroom late in the afternoon, deals on the board, and a customer who told our salesman, "I don't want to save money, I want to pay more." He wanted the Ram 1500 Laramie, not the Lone Star, and he knew it. On Saturdays we stay until the last customer leaves. What time do you usually shop for a car?

10/21/2026

Thank you to every family who came out to Jeep-O-Ween at Payne Edinburg CDJR. The kids costume contest was the highlight, and the crowd picked the winner with their cheers. Which costume would you have voted for? Comment the number. Parents, feel free to tag yourselves so you can share it.

10/21/2026

Every morning at Payne Edinburg CDJR, there's $200 waiting for the first new car sold, the first used car sold, the last new car of the day and the most deals. Today Lori and Roy split the first deal, and Roy gave Lori his half. That's the kind of team you want working on your next car. Would you have kept your half?

10/21/2026

Jeep-O-Ween was packed and the energy was unreal! 🎃
Decorated Jeeps, costumes, Trunk or Treat, and the whole Jeep family showed up big. Thank you to everyone who came out and made it such a fun afternoon — we appreciate you! 👻

10/20/2026

Time for a confession from your local car guy: I've never changed my own oil, never changed a tire, and never cut my own lawn. I don't even own a hammer. So you can imagine how my first oil change with our techs at Payne Edinburg CDJR started. Good thing they do this every day. What's something you've never done yourself?

10/20/2026

One of the most common questions I get: "Can I get approved with my credit?" The honest answer is that lenders look at more than your score. I've seen 500 scores approved and 700s declined because of late car payments or maxed-out cards. If your credit is rough, steady provable income, a valid license and about 10% down give you the best shot at a car that helps you rebuild. No one can promise an approval, but at Payne Edinburg CDJR we'll always tell you where you stand. What's your biggest credit question?