General Automotive Reviews

Having read extensively in the past about both Ford Motor Company and General Motors, I was very interested in getting to know the other member of the "Big Three" (sadly, today we can only talk about the remaining two after Chrysler's incompetent Bob Eaton surrendered the company to Daimler Benz).

Although the book is centered in Walter P. Chrysler the author finds it hard not to get carried away by much more imposing personalities in the early automotive business, mainly Henry Ford and William C. Durant (founder of GM). They are mentioned 52 and 53 times respectively.

Both Ford and Durant are much more interesting personalities than Chrysler himself and if not for anything else, the book is worth the read just to get to know Mr. Durant. The reason he is much less known today than his other two competitors is that he resisted the temptation to change General Motors name to Durant Motors (he could have done it but decided the GM trademark was too valuable), later in his life he did found a company called Durant Motors but it didn't survive long. If there is an epic to be told about the automotive industry in the USA it is Durant's: he founded General Motors, was ousted from the company, founded Chevrolet, bought his way back to GM control, was ousted again, founded Durant Motors, lost everything after the crash of 1929 and if not for the monetary help his friends (including Walter Chrysler) gave him at the end of his life he would have lived his last days in abject poverty.

Walter Chrysler actually made his reputation and original fortune working for William Durant at General Motors' Buick division and after he quit the corporation eventually assembled the Chrysler Corporation (mainly from Maxwell Motors and the Dodge Brothers enterprises). It was a great accomplishment in itself as he started very late (too late thought many) to matter much, and yet he climbed to the third place in sales and eventually to the second place (outranking Ford Motor from 1936 to 1951). Sure, GM (through Alfred Sloan leadership) outclassed both of them and by such a wide margin that (until very recent times) there was absolutely no comparison between the leader and the other two.

An interesting fact mentioned in the book is that the Chrysler Building at New York was NOT built by the Chrysler Corporation, but by Walter Chrysler himself so he could give it to his children. At the time it was completed, it was the tallest building in the world.

The scope of Curcio's book is very wide and you end learning many things from the first years of automotive history. In other words, it is much more than Walter Chrysler's biography. I fully recommend it.

Chrysler : The Life and Times of an Automotive Genius is an entertaining, engaging biography of a man and his times. So much more than a dry biography of one of the major figures of the automotive industry, this book by Vincent Curcio provides fascinating insight into American industrial life in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Walter Chrysler was the quintessential "working man," a railroad (and later automobile industry) mechanic by trade who first mastered himself, then proceeded to lead others in the burgeoning automobile industry. His early years in the railroad industry and his transition from mechanic to leader are nicely chronicled along with the development of American transportation history. Mr. Curcio lucidly explains the evolution of modern manufacturing and the integral parts played by seemingly (taken on their own) inconsequential methods and practices.

While not as well known as a man (although the car and skyscraper are certainly famous), Chrysler embodied the American entrepreneurial spirit as deeply as any other leader of the auto industry. He was willing to take unusual risks, some resulting in relative failure (the Airflow), but all transforming the nature of the industry. He was not an early pioneer, first joining Buick in 1912. However, he completely understood design, engineering and manufacturing techniques. Perhaps more importantly, his ego was of a different mold. He was not afraid to accept the ideas or contributions of his employees. Chrysler made decisions perceived as unusual. For example, he built the graceful, elegant art-deco Chrysler Building, headquartering the company in New York at a time, its silhouette dominating the skyline of yesteryear. He experimented with unconventional auto designs, unafraid to introduce concepts into full production. Yet for all of this, Chrysler remained an enigma, certainly less famous than Ford or GM's myriad of leaders.

Mr. Curcio writes in a unique style, reminiscent of biographies penned in the early 20th century. His prose is fluid, yet the use of oft-archaic language transports the reader into a different era. The book is a real pleasure and there are a number of photographs inspersed throughout the text. HOWEVER, the primary problem with the book is the lack of proper editing and documentation of research in the later chapters. For example, there are numerous typographical errors and poorly constructed sentences. The last few chapters detract from an otherwise fine narrative. One glaring inconsistency is a mention of Chrysler's conversation with Wilbur Wright in Dayton Ohio when he was developing the Chrysler Airflow. That conversation must have been "via seance" as Wilbur Wright died in 1912.

Even with the above, I'd recommend the book from the standpoint of biography as well as overall automotive history (as well as industrial history in general).

Stop whatever you're doing. Take a week off from work and read this book! Rarely is a massive biography a pleasure to read. Usually, even the most critically acclaimed biographies are long on tedious detail and short on page-turning storytelling and exquisite style. Vincent Curcio's biography of automotive pioneer Walter Chrysler is the exception to all these norms. Fascinating, impeccably written and completely engrossing, this sweeping tale is more than just a biography. True to its title, it is also a panoramic view of Walter Chrysler's times. Don't be put off by the length, even though index and all, it is 699 pages long. Even if you don't think you're interested in the automotive industry, read this book anyway. We [...] join the ranks of critics and industry insiders who've praised it and promises you will not be able to put it down.

Theres no doubt that the late Ayrton Senna was the greatest F1 racer of all time, to be matched only by Jim Clark, Fangio, Stewart, and to a lesser extent Schumacher. Mr Hilton, does an excellent job in covering one of the worlds greatest athletes from his early childhood days, karting to his final race and tragic end at Imola 1 May 1994. The book has many nice photos of Senna in action. This is a must have for any racing fan. This is a tribute to Brazils national hero and king of modern era of Formula One. Long live Ayrton Senna..Sempre Senna!

I have studied at the Colegio Rio Branco, during the same time as Ayrton's, and all of us who met him at that time remember him as being a very quiet and nice guy, already a big name in kart racing in Brazil. He indeed was an introspective young man, but was not a bad student at all. The initial chapters of this very good book made me remember our old times at high school, and the author did a very good job in describing the psychological profile of the young genious Senna. This book also recounts nice anecdotes about his life after he'd moved to England, all the way up to becoming the greatest grand prix driver ever. From this book we all can see that the man was not only a great F1 driver, but also an exceptional human being, who left us all too early. A very enjoyable reading.

Great book with lots of information that every Senna fan will like. Many good quality photos and interesting well developed story. It covers all personal performance of the driver including comments from people that he knew, he raced agains ant ppl he worked with. A must have for every single Ayrton Senna fan. I'm really happy that I bought it.

Not an accurate account of how this occurred, badly mangled.

Michael Daly's review of this book (see below) is driven by his irrational hatred of Jeff Gordon. This book has way more to do with Japanese business methods than Rick Hendrick. Unfortunately, Daly cannot see the forest for the trees. Do yourself a favor. Read the book and not Daly's comments thereto. The former is much more enlightening.

Arrogance and Accords is engaging, well written and at times very funny. The mainstream media missed this compelling corruption tale even though it was the biggest story in the auto industry during the 1990s.

Steve Lynch brings the sordid story to life, using his own experiences along with evidence and depositions provided by the Justice Department. I was on the "fringe" of the scandal and thought I knew the whole story from industry publications but Lynch brings to the table much more information than I ever imagined.

The reason that so much money passed hands is pretty simple - Honda cars were in high demand and dealers greased the palms of American Honda executives to get more vehicles. The real story here is not how it happened but how it all unraveled: a mixture of inept lawyers, an aggressive US Attorney, the often-unheard whistleblowers, and Honda's Japanese managers who did not want to put a stop to the corruption. The second half of the book reads like a true crime novel but it was all true.

Lynch could be a comedy writer. My favorite examples of his humor was his shots at some of the small towns key to the scandal - Conway, Arkansas, Santa Paula, California and Concord, New Hampshire - which were hysterical.

This past year, Honda paid out over $500 million to dealers who sued over the scandal, claiming they were denied vehicles in favor of corrupt dealers. I'm sure we have not heard the end of it....

Why is it that people are so dependent on their cars? Why have all other forms of transportation been neglected? Does this dependency on cars lead to anything damaging and if so, how can that be changed? Alvord attends to these issues in her book and she suggests that the dependency should just be abandoned.

Katie Alvord begins her book with by explaining what divorcing your car means. She compares the relationship people have with cars to marriages and divorcing a car is much like divorcing a spouse. Then, she describes how this marriage or dependency between people and cars was formed, starting from when the car was introduced into society and finishing with the conditions of the present. In the next section of the book, Alvord discusses reasons why we should divorce our cars. That is, why we should consider trying to live a car-lite or even car-free life. In the final section of her book, she goes into detail on how living a car-lite or car-free life is possible. She addresses how individuals, communities, and societies can accomplish the goal of becoming car-free.

The main argument that Alvord makes is that anyone and everyone can go car-free or at least car-lite and they should in order to improve the condition of this world. This can be done by using other modes of transportation such as walking, biking, buses, trains, or car-share programs. She suggests that people gradually move in to a car-free lifestyle by first trying a car-lite lifestyle. This consists of using the car less or as little as possible, maybe for long trips only. Alvord even states that going car-free may not be possible for some so a car-lite lifestyle is the best idea in those situations which might include people living in rural areas. Alvord backs up her car-free argument by providing multiple reasons as to why people should use cars less. They cause overcrowded streets, health problems, indirect and direct pollution, and they are very expensive.

Divorce Your Car is a very good and convincing book. It not only makes and case for abandoning cars but it explains how this can be done. Alvord addresses each issue of her car-free idea in depth. She gives the reader history, evidence, and the how to. Another very impressive aspect of the book is that it is not preachy or condescending. It simply tells you the facts and what your options are. In approaching the argument this way, I think more people will be open to the idea of attempting a car-free or car-lite lifestyle.

Katie Alvord, the author of Divorce your Car states that the intention of the this book is to demonstrate both the pressing need to drive less and the many opportunities we have to do so. The book is set up into three parts. The first part attempts to explore some of the factors that explain how we as a society have become so dependent on automobiles. The second part gives reasons why the separation from the vehicle is so important. The third part closes the book illustrating some of the possible alternatives to being so car dependent.
The first part the author described how factors such as government policy, industry practices, and mass media have turned the automobile from a "how-to" technology into a "have-to" technology. A quote from the book to sum up the trend automobiles have taken is from the British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith in 1907 when he referred to automobiles as, "a luxury which is apt to degenerate into a nuisance."
I totally agree here with how she explained how that exact thing happened. When automobiles were first introduced they were seen as the invention for freedom. They led to huge advancements in labor force and manufacturing. The huge surge in automobile interest was not encouraged just by the usefulness of it alone. At the time cars were marketed as the great escape, a tool to gain freedom. They weren't however the only form of transportation. There were non-internal combustion engines providing transportation. These forms were soon eradicated by the automobile industry. The government did also use city planning to create freeways and a car in every garage and gas burning busses replaced systems of streets and the electric railcars. These structural changes now made it easier to move around, but only if you have a car.
The second part was very predictable. It does hit on several levels though. It goes over the negative environmental aspects from all the cars driving at once. The smog and global warming issues were her main topics. Alvord then brings up several other aspects such as the oil industry and their tendency for spills, and the cost of gas to the individual driver. This choice of topics is very persuasive. Its focuses on the manufacture, the facilitating industry, drivers in general, and then drivers individually. This leaves nothing out. It hits the driver on all levels.
The third part generally goes over the positive side of divorcing your car. In a generally overweight society obsessed with dieting starting off by giving the positives of exercising more. Then the author gives an optimistic answer to several problems stating that if you can't stop using the car for good you can do it in steps.
Overall I think that the book was well written and interesting. It describes the problem from beginning to possible solution. As being without a car for the last couple of months I can see some of the benefits but I am not sold on the idea of going without for good. Unless society in general changes its just easier to own a car. The one issue not brought up was time. Driving saves time period. Traffic jams do take up time but the busses will have to go through the same jams. I have so little free time between school, work and homework that the 20 minutes or so driving saves just going back and forth to the grocery, outweighs the negative aspects for right now.

In the book, Divorce Your Car!, Katie Alvord talks about how our increased auto-dependence has led many of us to give up alternate modes of transportation. She stresses that a car is like a marriage; once you have one, you feel obligated to use it. Not only are cars useful and convenient (as in we can go almost anywhere within a shorter amount of time), they also provide psychological benefits. Cars are status symbols, and in many ways, they outwardly reflect our wealth and personalities. However, this does not mean that cars should consume our lives. In fact, a car being referred to as a marriage is not necessarily a good thing. In the US, 50% of marriages end in divorce. Marriages can go wrong for several reasons, and this is why Katie Alvord compares a car to marriage.
Driving a car can obviously be very beneficial, but at the same time, it can also be very destructive. The worst part is that cars kill thousands of people each year, many of them children. Secondly, the environment is becoming more polluted, leading to global warming. But besides the physical effects, driving can be emotionally draining as well. As more and more people use cars, traffic and congestion is becoming a huge problem. Driving can be a very frustrating experience, mainly during rush hour and when there are road constructions. If people spend too much time cooped up in a car, their frustration and anger may come out while they are driving. Therefore, these negative effects along with others, are what made Katie Alvord decide to divorce her car.
It is clear throughout the book that Katie Alvord is in favor of divorcing a car. She constantly argues that the negative effects of driving outweigh the positive effects. Divorce Your Car! is thus a guide to help people find alternate ways to get places. These alternate modes of transportation such as walking, biking, and using trains and buses, will then effectively reduce our auto-dependence. It is evident that the author put a lot of time and effort into writing this book. I really enjoyed Divorce Your Car! because I also feel that people unnecessarily use their cars at times. I have to admit that I drive to save time, even if the place I'm going to is only a 10-minute walk. But there are many reasons why I have to drive, one being that places are so far away from each other. I am willing though to change my ways and get some exercise in the process. Katie Alvord does a great job in convincing readers that "divorcing a car can be fun, healthy, money-saving, and helpful to the planet" (Alvord, back cover). I find this book to be incredibly useful and I'm sure that others will feel the same.

i need mor information about marine diesl engine to study and take expariance

With this book aboard plus Peter Compton's "Marine Diesel Engines" and your engine manual you can cruise with an easy mind. The first two books explain all aspects of diesel function as well as define any problem you may have, with diagrams, explanations, and tips to cope. Calder also has photographs. The engine manual shows you how this relates to your particular engine.

As a new boatowner knowing next to nothing about engines this book has helped me identify key parts of my own engine and explain what their functions are. The book provides clear troubleshooting procedures (hope I will not need those since I intend to follow the suggested maintenance procedures instead) and information on how to diagnose different symptoms.

The book is covering basic engine parts, more in depth explanations of engine parts, fuel system, how to troubleshoot start problems, diagnosing different sounds and symptoms, maintenance and repair procedures (probably more than most of us will want to perform ourselves - like opening up cylinders and decarbonizing the engine). I especially liked the chapter about engine selection and installation which discussed various aspects of hull, engine, exhaust and transmission fittings.

Illustrations are good and applicable accross engine brands. Warning: The book kept me awake several nights because I had to check things the very next day after reading a chapter.

Being a two-time Corvette owner, I anxiously awaited the publication of this book, and had my copy on pre-order with a local bookstore. I had it read in under a week. I was not disappointed. Rather I was quite surprised.

"ACAR" is the story of the Fifth Generation of Chevrolet's Corvette, nicknamed C5. The author was given access to behind-the-scenes meetings during the entire development of the C5, albeit under gag orders until publication and until the C5 actually made production. In fact, James had access to parts of GM that some VP's couldn't even get to.

The book is a great read. The C5 was nearly cancelled on several occasions, mainly due to money problems with a struggling GM. You learn about GM culture, especially in management, that helped cause many of these problems. You learn a lot about what it takes anybody to create a new car. And you learn the dedication of a few engineers and managers who risked careers to keep the project going.

This is a great book. In depth, behind the scenes, look at how the C5 became America's greatest sports car. The author walks you through the politics at GM and how they shaped the debate inside. Great tidbits about the advanced technology like the special frame the C5 has, and the endless battle to shave off even a few ounces. Project management, corporate politics and intrigue; bone jarring horsepower, blind passion for America's sports car and more. This book should be boring but I couldn't put it down.

Even though I don't own a C5 (yet) it was very interesting to see how the C5 was born from the C4 (which I own) and many of it's short commings were over come. The bureaucracy that exist in large corporations as well, was exposed.
Had it not been for dedicated employees this icon may have faded from American history.
Excellent reading for any Corvette lover or just plain car buff.

The book contains useful information drawn from experience. Good pictures. Not really a "Sandrail" book. Very good advice given by the author when talking about the engine. Would have liked to see more engine diagrams. The book is a bit dated-1983.

This is an excellent book for first time builders and as a reference book for the more experienced. What made it so valuable to me is that Jeff explains the cost effective way to build buggies and baja bugs. No flashy boulevard queens here, just real world functional stuff. All the complicated aspects are explained. So read it, think about it, then go back and read it again. I have built two cars, a baja and a class 1/2 1600 and I still refer back to it for the detail technical facts. The only reason that I would not rate this book a 5 star is that I would like to see more information on none VW engines and the newer A-arm suspension cars.

I was very glad to find this book. It is straight forward and full of photographs look at how to beef-up a VW based bug or buggy. There are tons of tricks ad tips in here that aren't HIGH DOLLAR jobs. Simple and easy things to do during your build up that will save you hours trying to go back and fix things later. It should be called How to do it right the First time! It is one of few auto books with real knowledge in it that skips the technical jargon and flashy billet parts and suggests things that will work!

You will be pleased with it wether you are building a Baja, Street Bug, Rail Buggy or Dune Buggy. The air cooled VW motor still rules an always will!

I have both a late model Turbo and looking for a 993 Supercup. The technical specs are good but the book jumps around in the model years. It is very funny to see Corvette wheels in a Porsche book. There are also too many high dollar advertising plugs. If you use Andial or Promotive to build you an engine-it's gonna cost you 30K. How's that for advise!!

A mostly great book, with a substantive review of the history of 'real' 911s, a huge amount of sound advice on maintenance and overhauling, detailed pictures of such arcana as variants of cylinder heads over the years, and practical, experienced advice on how to proceed if you are really determined to screw up your 911 by modifying it. The book is flawed only by being written from a "California" point of view, meaning lots of pictures of slantnoses and whatnot and too much encouragement to those who think badly-engineered aftermarket parts will actually "improve" on Porsche's incredible design. Still, if you have an air-cooled 911, and you have *any* inclination at all to work on it yourself, you need this book.

Bruce's grasp of the intricacies of the 911 engine is excellent. This book is one of the best sources of information regarding the 911, and should be a staple in any owner's collection. The book focuses on the history of the 911 engine from a technical perspective, and then talks about performance modifications that can be performed on your car. The focus is the engine, with a lesser focus on the rest of the car's subsystems. The book's one drawback is the layout - the pictures don't match the text on the pages, and the index is just about useless. The book takes on more of an overview of the performance upgrade process with very little how-to focus. It's a great reference for learning about the modifications that you would want your mechanic or engine rebuilder to perform. Bruce's knowledge and integrity in his recommendations are also well respected in the Porsche industry.

BECOMING LEAN
Probably one of the better "lean" production books, because most books will tell you what lean production is. We have all heard the buzzwords, kaizen, quality circles, empowerment, kanban, benchmarking. but one is still left with their peculiar situation. There is always the thought that this particular company or industry is does not lend itself to lean production and is the exception to the rule. "Becoming Lean" is the account of some diverse companies on the road to lean production. The attempt of make each company fit a certain production model and achieve its goal. I recommend this book for teaching by example, instead of dealing with just theory.

This is the real stuff - not academic theory but real examples of "lean" written by the people that made it happen. The concluding chapter on "what we have learned about becoming lean" pulls it all together in a neat package. This is a must read for anyone who enjoyed Womack's book on "Lean Thinking". We have applied these learnings at this company with great results.

This book covers a number of great insights into the journey to leanness. It has the unique angle of having its case studies written by the people from the companies profiled in the studies. This gives a first hand review of the accomplishments and roadblocks that are part of becoming lean by those that went through them. Becoming Lean also gives accounts from people with personal experience from working for Toyota while they transplanted to North America to how the Japanese school system compares to and contrasts from the American school systems. In general, this book gives an excellent understanding that only a first-hand account can do. If you want to learn what it means to become lean this book is a must and should be used as a reference book while going through the lean transformation!