The Engagement Edge

“Text smarter. Sell faster.”

About The Engagement Edge

The Engagement Edge is the official blog of Cars Buy Text, where we share strategies, insights, and real-world success stories on how SMS is transforming automotive retail. Since 2013, we’ve helped dealerships nationwide generate over 1 million customer engagements from platforms like AutoTrader, Cars.com, and CarGurus — turning everyday ads into powerful text-driven sales channels.

Our mission is simple: help dealerships meet buyers where they are and close more deals through faster, smarter communication. Here you’ll find best practices, case studies, and actionable tips to keep your store ahead of the curve in today’s digital-first marketplace.

Because at the end of the day, customers don’t want to wait on hold or send emails into the void. They want answers now — and texting delivers.

  • Text Drive Sales:A few of the comments that stood out to us yesterday:

    “The original owner of this Maserati was Stan Nowak, more famous as one of the earliest of the Ferrari historians here in the States. He told me decades ago he took delivery in West Nyak but sold it just a few months later to raise money for an early Ferrari that had recently been uncovered.

    He told me to keep an eye out for it and said it would be easy to find by the chassis number “502.”

    He passed away not long thereafter and I never did track it down until about ten years ago when I…”

    18

    Symbolic_International commented on 53-Years-Owned 1969 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Project

    “Literally the perfect Jeep to ‘bomb’ around in. The detail-overload here is fabulous!

    To paraphrase Forrest Gump, Life is like Bring A Trailer. You never know what you’re gonna find.

    WOW.”

    10

    CarDogThreePedals commented on Aircraft-Themed Willys-Style “Warbird Jeep” Custom

    “I am beyond excited. My dad owned a 1974 TR6 in this same color when I was a kid. I learned to drive on it. It is going to a good home.”

    10

    c0mbe commented on One-Family-Owned 1974 Triumph TR6 List Yours With Us- Carsbuytext.com
    http://dlvr.it/TQn9Jd

  • Text Drive Sales:A few of the comments that stood out to us yesterday:

    “I’ve been looking for a bus like this for Rachael for many years. We are gonna make it stock height and beautiful.”

    21

    Mr.OGPaint commented on No Reserve: 1963 Volkswagen Type 2 11-Window Microbus Project

    “AMX’s and Javelins are the most underrated Muscle cars. Never understood that. They are so awesome! Too bad AMC always struggled with the big 3. Imagine if there was a AMX made today. GLWTA. Beautiful car! Great color combo and always loved the Rear spoiler option.”

    13

    johnnyvett commented on 1969 AMC AMX 390 4-Speed

    “@PDXBryan this one blows my SOHCs off.

    I’ve only once seen a cammer swap as nice as this and it was supposedly done by KK as an experimental along with one they build as a mid-engine Boss 9 (both fastback Mustangs).

    What’s so clever about this is you’d never expect it. The level of street sleeper, slack jaw, dumbdoundery here is off the charts. Roll up in this anywhere and get affirming nods, then open the hood and prepare for the cult of engine worship to begin their drooling genuflections.…”

    12

    Raffi commented on 427 SOHC “Cammer”-Powered 1959 Ford Thunderbird Coupe 3-Speed

    “340 vs 383 the 340 wins. Not only in a straight line but especially on a winding road. The small block with the well designed chassis corners like a sports car. To be fair, these days the restrictive 383 exhaust can be relieved with contemporary under-chassis headers and the big block can be as light as a small block with aluminum heads, intake and water pump housing. Throw in a stroker crank for 500ci and it will get interesting.

    But for stock vintage examples I think it’s no contest. If…”

    8

    Valiantjim commented on 1969 Dodge Dart GTS List Yours With Us- Carsbuytext.com
    http://dlvr.it/TQlyLS

  • Text Drive Sales:A few of the comments that stood out to us yesterday:

    “This car appears to be the very car that AK built for road racing, then retired it for show car duty. I was hired by Hooters at the start of the 92 season to take the car to many of the Hooters restaurants for display. I also make several commercials driving the car at different racetracks, and some were televised on national tv that year. I have such fond memories of the years working for Hooters and with Alan at many of his appearances at the restaurants. I continued on with Hooters in a…”

    11

    Chevyguy77 commented on No Reserve: 1992 Ford Thunderbird NASCAR Race Car

    “I have not seen one of these in many, many years. That’s the great thing about BaT. You get to see cars that you have long forgotten about.”

    9

    JohnF1966 commented on No Reserve: 1978 Plymouth Sapporo

    “Ford used the turbo fours in the mid-80’s to position themselves for higher gas prices. Fantastic, future-focused cars like the Mustang SVO, Merkur XR4Ti, Thunderbird Turbo Coupe…and then gas prices fell and the Mustang GT became the star. The SVO has one of the most unique (and short-lived, and polarizing) front end designs in Mustang history. This is a great example and should be fun to watch!”

    6

    lpethick commented on 24k-Mile 1986 Ford Mustang SVO List Yours With Us- Carsbuytext.com
    http://dlvr.it/TQkmhz

  • Text Drive Sales:A few of the comments that stood out to us yesterday:

    “Take that front light bar off and scenes from Laurel and Hardy movies come immediately to mind. Nothing left but a pile of Model T parts. The bar holds the entire car together.

    I can find black touch up paint, it’s the alligator finish that’s difficult to achieve. Apparently it needs 100 years to set up.”

    14

    tpahjim commented on No Reserve: 1924 Ford Model T Coupe

    “What an amazing cover photo”

    10

    Hisham850 commented on No Reserve: 1988 Toyota Celica All-Trac Turbo

    “My first landcruiser had 370,000 miles on it. Cannot wait to drive the wheels off of this one”

    7

    LC1961 commented on No Reserve: 402k-Mile 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser UZJ100 List Yours With Us- Carsbuytext.com
    http://dlvr.it/TQjYr6

  • Text Drive Sales:A few of the comments that stood out to us yesterday:

    “Anybody who ticks both “429 Cobra Jet” and “Woodgrain appliqué” on the option sheet is the kind of person I want to know.”

    21

    beardedelephant commented on 1971 Ford Ranchero Squire 429 Cobra Jet

    “Been a car guy for 70 years. Everything from a ‘31 Chevy sedan to an F40. Last spring I stopped in for a visit at our new local McLaren store for a look around. I’d read a lot about issues with the earlier cars but those were mostly software related. Anyway, given my advanced age I decided to get one before I roll over for the last time. So I bought a new GTS to add to my modest stable. Never have had any trouble whatsoever. I drive it a couple times a week and it stays on the maintainer…”

    16

    Fuelieguy commented on 1,200-Mile 2022 McLaren 765LT Spider

    “Faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death. – HST”

    13

    MajorMindup commented on Ex-Hunter S. Thompson 1972 Husqvarna 360C Enduro List Yours With Us- Carsbuytext.com
    http://dlvr.it/TQhTr9

  • Text Drive Sales:A few of the comments that stood out to us yesterday:

    “Drove this beast yesterday and I am so excited to park it next to my e91 325xi modified to a 330xi 6-speed!”

    9

    M.sport commented on M54B30-Powered 2003 BMW 325xi Sport Wagon 6-Speed

    “Alfredo’s Foreign Cars in Larchmont, NY never closed. I bought many Alfas from that dealership from the 1960’s on, the most recent my ’23 Stelvio. During the period when Alfa temporarily stopped selling in cars in the USA, Alfredo’s was the one of the few dealers that maintained its official Alfa Romeo dealer parts and service.”

    10

    urz14me commented on One-Owner 1974 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000

    “This story is so special to me as Peter Herke was my father. I miss him everyday. Thank you Steve for your kind words and bringing the car back to life. I look forward to flying out west to see it in it’s inaugural race.”

    8

    smdickey commented on BaT Auction Success Story: Ex-Peter Herke BMW Racer Prepares to Get Back on Track List Yours With Us- Carsbuytext.com
    http://dlvr.it/TQglRd

  • Text Drive Sales:A few of the comments that stood out to us yesterday:

    “I’m so psyched. I had a 72S that burned in the LA fires. Insurance paid and now I’m getting the color I always wanted. Thanks everyone!”

    35

    pvlas commented on 1972 Porsche 911T Coupe 5-Speed

    “What a wonderful surprise to see John’s Outlaw 356 here on BaT!

    I met John at Amelia Island when he brought the car to the Concours Show.

    He was spending time with my old pal, Jean Jennings (Jean Knows Cars) whom I had met years earlier at the Hilton Head Concours Show when we spent the day together with Jay Ward (Pixar)

    What a great memory…

    This example is obviously one of the best builds I have ever seen and my best to John and all the folks who made it possible.

    Best of luck with…”

    14

    jimgraydesigns commented on John Oates’ 1960 Porsche 356B Emory Special Cabriolet

    “1st real job at the age of 15 in North Hollywood CA was pumping gas at the Texaco station. Sky Chief (the premium blend) was 29.9¢ per gallon, and I’d check your oil and tire pressure and clean your windshield, if you wanted. I still remember the guy in the ‘56 Chevy that let me struggle for a while trying to find the gas cap. He finally laughed and told me to try opening the driver’s side tail light. Good times.”

    10

    bew3 commented on Texaco Service Station Replica w/ Pumps & Memorabilia List Yours With Us- Carsbuytext.com
    http://dlvr.it/TQfs6N

  • Text Drive Sales:A few of the comments that stood out to us yesterday:

    “My dad bought a new 406 w/3x2s in early ‘63. Ford introduced the 427 fastback “legend” as a 63 1/2 model. My dad blew up his 406 and Ford replaced it with a 427 shortblock…under warranty. He will be 85 next week. This one would be a great birthday present!”

    16

    Danphipps commented on 1963 Ford Galaxie Fastback 390 4-Speed

    “There are few things that could improve Fort Stockton. This Texaco station would be one of those. One morning it could simply appear, as if the town had been holding its breath for eighty years and finally exhaled in porcelain enamel and red stars.

    It isn’t a working gas station, not really. Nobody’s pumping Sky Chief into a ’57 Ford Sunliner or wiping windshields with a rag that’s seen seven administrations. It’s a shrine. A perfectly scaled, lovingly obsessive recreation, right…”

    26

    CaptainMyCaptain commented on Texaco Service Station Replica w/ Pumps & Memorabilia

    “With the recent unveiling of the Dark Horse SC, it only cements that the GT350/R is the last of its breed. Naturally aspirated, special engine (high revving flat plane crank) with a high quality Tremec transmission. The car has already reached legendary status, often compared with a Porsche GT3. The sound is intoxicating, especially north of 6,000 rpms.”

    8

    MillerMustang commented on No Reserve: 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R List Yours With Us- Carsbuytext.com
    http://dlvr.it/TQdspP

  • Text Drive Sales:A few of the comments that stood out to us yesterday:

    “Congrats @Wob and @DFWcarandtoymuseum

    You got yourself a Pizza history…”

    21

    3Pedalonly commented on Ex–Domino’s Pizza 1985 Tritan A2 #1 of 10

    “To the best of my knowledge all the Super Sprints received 5 speed transmissions. I’ve even worked on a Tipo 4 5 speed gearbox. My own 1954 CSS 01770, still has it’s 5 speed column shift. The shift pattern is no different than a floor shifter, pull the shifter towards you and up for first and down for second and so on. I’ve owned this car since 1976.”

    8

    1900CSS commented on 1957 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint by Touring

    “It was around 1987. Dad was driving junior high car crazed me in the family sedan, to I think an orthodontic appointment, which we were running late for. He was going 80-85 down a country two lane highway. All of a sudden, we see a 928 coming up fast. He flies by us like we were standing still. About 3 minutes later we pass the 928 on the side of the road with a highway patrolman behind him. My dad knew the owner, and later on he said he was clocked at 140 since he was able to brake for a…”

    7

    Route66 commented on 28-Years-Family-Owned 1988 Porsche 928 S4 List Yours With Us- Carsbuytext.com
    http://dlvr.it/TQcdB0

  • Text Drive Sales:A few of the comments that stood out to us yesterday:

    “Absolutely wild that this is an original owner car. I have to imagine that it’s very difficult to part with it after all of this time. Best of luck with the sale, it’s beautiful, and clearly has been loved.”

    18

    OvenRude commented on Original-Owner 1996 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Coupe 6-Speed

    “I wake up today a little sad knowing that I have to part ways with my old girl. But I’m also excited knowing that someone out there is going to be able to take her in, put her to work and enjoy everything she has to offer.”

    12

    Willwya23 commented on No Reserve: 37-Years-Owned 1965 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe

    “Absolutely gorgeous car. This auction will provide some needed distraction in between shoveling and the playoff games. :). GLWA”

    9

    MarkDK commented on 2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R M-Spec Nür

    “43 years of ownership is amazing. And the tii looks like a really nice survivor. What a cool old bimmer.”

    8

    PontiacNut commented on 43-Years-Owned 1973 BMW 2002tii List Yours With Us- Carsbuytext.com
    http://dlvr.it/TQZQlQ

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