General Automotive Reviews

Very nice book! If you own or planning to own, you may not miss it!!

If looks can be deceiving, this book certainly characterizes that concept. Beneath its humble glossy cover (reminds me of a high school textbook) is everything you've EVER wanted to know about one of the best little targa-tops every created. This book includes a complete history of the X1/9, good (though limited) information on maintenance and repair, and lists of clubs and parts suppliers. It is thoroughly well-written and as far as I'm concerned, sets the standard for all the Fiat books out there. If you own, plan to own or even like to look at the Fiat/Bertone X1/9, you owe it to yourself to get this book!

Most sections are the same in content, they tell you how to take it out and put it back. None tell you how to check it, or even test the system. The details on replacement are great. I know there are a million ways to test parts, but a general overview of how to test them would be extremely useful. I replaced the sending unit 3x's because I didn't know you COULD test it.

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This book examines the existing transportation delema that we face, with the ever bourgening automobile mode of travel. The Future of sustainable Transportation is possible with new technologies, and is outlined in this book. A must read if you are worried about the tons of pollutants that you as an individual are pumping into the atmosphere

This book is a must read for anyone interested in electric vehicles and their possible role in the future of the United States transportation industry. Sperling's writing style is clear and easy to understand, and his ideas are well-developed and soundly grounded in science. This book makes an excellent resource for students writing on electric vehicles (the main reason I picked it up) or anyone simply interested in electric vehicles as an alternative form of transportation for themselves or their community. After reading, the reader is thoroughly convinced that the development and promotion of electric vehicles are necessary if we are to avert the impending ecological disaster caused by polluted air and the looming gas crunch.

Though I've just begun reading this book and am only a third of the way through, I'm quite impressed with the depth of information relayed by the author. The straightforward, easy-going manner in which the information is delivered is VERY helpful, seems to cover everything in great detail, and yet remains an easy read. This is a great 'beginner' book for a novice like myself, and I imagine it could probably still teach a seasoned pro quite a bit.

My one major complaint (as mentioned by the previous reviewer) is the fact that there are not enough color images. Considering the topic being discussed, it would have been nice to see more examples of different artists works and styles. I guess this small problem can be easily remedied by supplimenting the purchase of this book with the purchase of a couple of colorful magazines.

This paperback was very informative as to step-by-step techniques, equipment needed, procedures and safety requirements. Alot has changed since I stopped painting motorcycles over 20 years ago - primarily the paint chemistries, time and temperature constraints, toxicities and the resulting increase in safety requirements - all of which are covered pretty well. Exact paint parameters were not covered as each manufacturer has their own stipulations. Repairs, basic frame molding techniques, engine painting and multiple-color layers were also covered in easy to follow steps., focusing on the actual processes. It does not cover how to build a paintbooth, figuring that you have already created a dust-free place to work. My only criticism is that there were not enough color photographs showing the step-by-step progression from the first color-coat to the finish clear-coats - especially for the multiple-layered jobs. This book brought me up to date from the old "fill the garage with paint clouds" days!

I just spent over $2.00 a gallon on gas this weekend and with my long work commute it is very important for me to get the most gas mileage for my money. After reading this book, I used tip #100 and immediately got more miles per tank. This book was easy and fun to read and certainly pays for itself.

Joe Stronsick is a leading expert on fuel economy. In How To Get Up To $7 Worth Of Free Gas Every Time You Fill Up, he provides the consumer with a practical book of "tips" and insider information that will literally pay for itself. Stronsick's advice for reducing fuel costs include a simple step you can do to your tires, what gasoline, oil, and spark plug you should really buy, and car product scams that should be avoided like a plague on your wallet. How To Get Up To $7 Worth Of Free Gas Every Time You Fill Up is a "must" for anyone who has a car, but doesn't have money to burn!

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This isn't a how-to manual because it doesn't go into repair and restoration enough to get your hands greasy. What this book IS, is a wonderful guide of what accessory/part is appropriate for each year BMW motorcycle. The photos are extensive and very educational in leading you to a complete vintage BMW with accessories appropriate for the year of your bike. The author, Roland Slabon, is president of the Vintage BMW Owners, Ltd club world-wide and editor of the club newsletter.

In short, the idea of writing this book was an excellent one. The book's potential is tremendous. However, rating it fairly is a more difficult matter. On the positive side, the writing style is very friendly, engaging and clear; a few of the author's personal experiences are peppered throughout - a big plus. The topics include: driving, most if not all of the various systems in cars, as well as the road-tire interface. It even covers car racing and theories of traffic congestion. A lot of interesting, indeed fascinating, information is presented. On the negative side, however, although some items are discussed clearly and as thoroughly as one might expect in such a book, other items are briefly glossed over while some seem to come to an abrupt end. The physics in each case is discussed to correspondingly varying degrees. Some equations are incorrect due to errors in subscripts and some graphs' axes are mislabeled, i.e., editorial mistakes requiring more careful editing. Some equations are magically presented out of thin air, while the derivations of others are are briefly discussed before presenting them. I would hope that, in the future, a second edition of this book would appear in which the various shortcomings would be corrected and additional material added to even out the physics, the various explanations and include a few formula derivations (or recommend references if the derivations are too involved). In other words, perhaps 50 to 100 additional pages may be appropriate. Should such a second edition of this book appear, I would be among the first to get a copy. As it stands, it is valuable reading for any driver; however, a revised edition, as discussed above, could satisfy the needs of the more scientifically curious as well. I am giving the book as much as four stars mainly because of its concept, its tremendous potential, its excellent writing style and the interesting information that it contains. An appropriate second edition would earn an easy five stars.

Barry Parker's book The Isaac Newton School of Driving is one of the few whose underlying message transcends the scope of the subject matter. Like the tale of the sorcerer's apprentice who remembers the charm for hauling water from a nearby river into his master's bathtub, but has forgotten the magic words to timely stem the flood, so could Parker's writings be taken as the reminder of not to make the road of technological achievements into a one way street.
In the fairy tale, only the timely interfering of his master saves the apprentice from drowning in the waters he himself has conjured, and us from missing out on his story altogether. Likewise, Parker shows us the way to upgrade our consumer knowledge into solid know how.
Sorcerers haven't made it into our times, but we, their apprentices, are blooming. We know all the charms that transmute our former hand-tools into vacuum cleaners, television sets, and self-propelled vehicles, to name only a few. But did we follow up in learning the "undo" commands?
The abundance and sophistication of technological contraptions within reach of our pocket books calls for an understanding of not alone what they do, but principally how they do it, and reading instruction sheets alone will not help.
The Isaac Newton School of Driving opens up with a crash course on the physical principles of maneuvering animated objects, vulgo automobiles. We recall the basics of the four-stroke engine, the machine some of us remember as the light-weight primary mover which made aviation possible.
While the Carnot Cycle is introduced as the thermodynamic principle behind it all, a glimpse at the Wankel rotary engine and the Volkswagen W engine conclude the introductory chapters. What follows are easily understandable presentations of a car's electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic elements. Of special interest are the author's applications of probability calculus, Mandelbrot's theory of chaos, and the Complexity Theory, on the flow of traffic and the preconditions on traffic congestion.
We cannot thank authors like Barry Parker enough for their efforts to open peoples' eyes to the underlying principles of those engineering wonders we take for granted, and in particular the ones we operate on our daily trips to the office.

Good reference on Jaguar history from Swallow sidecars to present. Many black and white illustrations.

This is a top-notch automotive history. It details the company from its start, but rather than following along model by model, it tells the story of the people. It offers much greater insight into the people behind the cars than any other book on the subject. It's a little short on facts and figures, however, so you're best going somewhere else for that

At first glance an excellent review of these cars. 33 photos of detail useful to modellers. Chapter 2 - "Construction of the Tub" has 40 pages of text and photos on the mechanicals.

Although Lotus had many successes in sports, touring, and formula cars prior to their first World Championship, it was the Lotus 25 and its evolution the Lotus 33 that vaulted Lotus, its founder Colin Chapman, and it's primary pilot Jim Clark into the motor racing world's pinnacle. Tipler's Lotus 25 & 33 is an effort at documenting these designs in total much as Oliver's tome on the Lotus 49 did. Like Oliver's book there are clearly holes in the story as the main protagonists, namely Chapman and Clark are no longer with us. But those remaining have given Tipler a wealth of information on the cars from concept through design and production to their competition history. This has been attempted before in Bamsey's Lotus 25 Climax FWMV A Technical Appraisal. Tipler's work is more complete, much better organized, and also includes information on other design derivatives such as the Lotus 29, 34, and 38 Indy cars, the Lotus 27 Formula Junior, and Lotus 32, 35, and 48 Formula 2 cars.

While not obviously designed as a book with two parts, there are essentially two halves to the work. The first half is Foreworded by Trevor Taylor, who as the number two driver to Clark probably logged more miles behind the wheel of these designs than anyone else. His introduction is followed by the events leading up to the design, then the origins of the concept and then the design itself. The descriptions are quite complete and the reader is left with a good understanding of the inner workings of the car and Team Lotus for that matter. In the second half the racing history of all of the chassis are delineated in a prose manner. This follows the usual boring pattern of who drove which chassis in which race that is so prevalent in books of this ilk. But to spice up the text there are enough anecdotes of the behind the scene happenings to make it an interesting read. Though many of them have already been ingrained firmly into Lotus lore, there are several first hand accounts by Tipler's sources that had not been included in the historical record.

Despite any minor shortcomings Lotus 25 & 33 is a worthy addition to the motor racing library and should be of interest not only to the Lotus enthusiast, but also those interested in Formula 1 history and racing car design.

The 1970 Dodge Coronet Super Bee in the book that has the Superbird wing on the back is not a stock car, that makes people think that Dodge made that car in 1970.

This book is packed full of valuable information, and lots of great photos. Absolutely mesmerizing and incredibly well-written. It covers the complete muscle car years...from 1961-1974. Over 200 pages of small blocks to big blocks. A must have for any GM, Ford, and Mopar lover...and all the in between. If you don't purchase this book...you will forever wish you had.