General Automotive Reviews

The person who buys this book thinks it is good for ALL Suzuki Swifts.......that's not true. I own a Suzuki Swift Gti 1.3 4 cylinder DOHC, and this book tells almost NOTHING about it, just some references here and there, it may be good for a 1.0 liter, 3 cylinder Swift (although I doubt it)....money thrown to the waste basket!

I wrote my first review 5 months ago. During that time I have gotten 5 emails- about one every month or so asking "How do you rate this book?" I've had 5 months to rely on this book- and its saved me 400 bucks. Someone sent me an email quesiton to me tonight and I delted it by accident (I'm on my laptop and it just got connected to the net ok?) and so I'm writing here to help out the guy who emailed me with a quesiton about a 1994 Swift 1.3 liter Lsi. Yes you need this book- you just don't know that yet. The rest of you- yes, if you have a suzuki you need this book. OK, its 9 PM and its bedtime. Good luck everyone!- Larry Trail, Port Orchard, WA

Wonderful book, and is totally complete. But,,,Both Haynes and Chiltons should be ashamed of the incredably piss poor way they've sat with they're thumbs up there asses on these cars. Look- The Offical Suzuki Books are like 250 bucks each, and one is sheet metal, one is mechanical and the 3rd is electrical. Supposedly Chiltons and Haynes puts out the book 3 years after a car is made so do it yourselfers have this information. Well I have a 1995 Suzuki Swift,,,,and I waited,,,,and waited,,,,and waited,,,,and wrote a few letters. Then finally, 7 years after my Suzuki was built they publish the book? Well if anyone from Haynes or Chiltons is reading this- first off tens of thousands of people depended on you for this information. You screwed them over- I'm very disappointed in the publishers. Next time I buy a car- I'll simply order the manuals from the factory as a condition of the sale and cut both Chiltons and Haynes out of the money loop. Any Questions? Email me at Larry2001t@yahoo.com

I was disappointed in this report. In looking for a used car, my primary interests are safety, reliability, initial cost, maintenance cost, insurance cost and probability of theft. While this report provided good information on reliability and initial cost, the profiles contained no information about crash tests, insurance costs, or probability of theft. The report indicated that its own crash tests were conducted, but they were not presented. Safety information included only a section listing important safety items (such as air bags, anti-lock brakes) and a report of same in each car profile. The report gave two web sites that could be visited for crash test information and I visited those web sites. The result is that I've spent hours on the web and am compiling my own information from the web, this report and other sources in order to get all of the information I need. If you just want information about reliability and price, this is your book. If you want comprehensive information, maybe there is a better book somewhere. . . I haven't found it.

As usual, Consumer Reports does an excellant job of providing information about used cars. Unlike the Consumer Guide on used cars, Consumer Reports accepts no funding from car manufacturers. Consumer Reports gives a non-biased, excellant source of information. We have already bought one car according to their suggestions and the car has been the best car we have ever had!

The new CR guide, like the CR's other releases, is a very useful car guide, aimed not only for car lovers - but to nearly anyone who has anything to do with cars.

When I look for a used car, the main issue for me is Reliability. Almost anything I need to know about it is in that guide. A great tool I had last year - when I bought a car - was the beautiful CR 1998 guide. This one is even better. With history about the car makers and a short review about each model - I have more than I need to know.

And there is more. As a car owner, I fully respect the CR's tips about maintaining the car. Words about tires, breaks, safety features etc. are completing the bargain.

A recommended magazine for car lovers, and a great tool for the rest.

If you're looking for vintage car ads, pass this by. The reproduction quality is very poor. Many of the ads were cropped badly, and much of the text is not readable. It's obvious that many of these must be amateur scans of magazine ads and not the original source material. I'd love to see a professional-quality re-work of this subject matter.

This is a terrific resource for illustrators, writers or anyone interested in 50s cars, design or culture. The color reproductions of the car ads are a real treasure -- the layouts, typefaces, symbols, cultural themes and color schemes are invaluable sources of information about 50s social history, values and imagery. And if you love the cars, it's even better! Chronicle Books does a nice job with books like this -- and at a very good price.

THIS BOOK WAS A TOTAL HIT, IT TOOK ME BACK TO A TIME LONG AGO. BUT NOT FAR FROM MY HEART. TO A KINDER GENTLER PLACE OF CHROME PERSONALITY, AND WHERE EACH PERSON THAT PULLED UP TO YOUR HOUSE CAR WOULD SCREAM THERE OWN PERSONALLITY.EACH PICTURE TOOK ME BACK TO WHEN I WAS A KID SITTING AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE WITH MY DAD AND I WOULD HEAR HIM SAY !" HEY MARK LOOK AT THIS BEAUTY" AND THEN HE WOULD SHOW ME THE PICTURES. AS YOU CAN TELL CARS ARE MY PASSION. CARS FROM THE 50'S WERE ART. BEAUTIFUL DETROIT IRON. MULTI-COLORED. BEHEMOUTH ROLLING BARGE'S WITH FENDER SKIRTED, WIDEWHITES..AND OFCOURSE CRUISE-O-MATIC.....WOOOOO WOOOOOO.. MOVE OVER RALPH NADER.... WHEN YOU LIVE IN BUFFALO N.Y. AND YOUR WINTERS ARE LONG, COLD, AND DEEP IN SNOW YOU LOOK FORWARD TO SPRING. BUT UNTIL THEN I'VE GOT MY CRUISE-O-MATIC AUTOMOBILE ADVERTISING OF THE 50'S BY NONE OTHER THAN YASUTOSHI IKUTA. JOB WELL DONE.....WELL IT'S TIME FOR WINTER....MY WIFE TELLS ME I LOVE MY CARS MORE THAN HER??????? I BETTER LEAVE THAT 1 ALONE. HAPPY MOTORING MARK MARINACCIO BUFFALO, N.Y

Not the most detailed book.
(Get Fabulous Firebird for that)

But for some good color pictures and brief explainations
its fine.

A little short on first generation.

A good book. Excellent pictures and lots of lesser known facts, etc. I would have rated it 5 stars, but the book seemed to lack a certain sense of organization. It would give the horsepower numbers for one year, but not another. There were essentially no tables of data about horsepower or available options and the years. I would buy "The Firebird Redbook" if I was going to need this for buying a used Firebird, however this book is excellent if you want a good overview of the entire story of the Trans Am.

This book is a wonderful resource to have on hand. I reccomend that any collectors, enthusiasts,or restoration specialists purchase this book.

Not only does it include high-quality photos on every trim-line available (including Esprit,Firehawk,GTA,& Formula), but also details, through the text, many of the lesser known options. Some of the earlier paint options are also detailed, with color-photos. I have never seen such a well organized publication, which focuses on differences in the model through both year & trim line. This reference also includes information on why the changes were made.

For the enthusiast, there are enough pictures to make you want to purchase an additional book, just to hang up all the photos.

Those interested in restoring their vehicle to its original glory can use the full color photos as a guide to interior fabrics, striping options, and proper decal/emblem placement.

The hobbyist should find the original ads, sales history, specs, and introduction section of the book offers a unique new look at the history of these cars.

Anyone who is interested in purchasing a Pontiac Firebird or Trans Am should also purchase this book, as it is an excellent resource to what is available in the used car market.

This book, unlike most Firebird books on the market, focuses on the theme & flavor of the car, the concept,if you will, rather than the numbers. This book gives the reader a sense of what a Firebird really stands for-more than just your average sportscar, this car has a unique place in Pontiac's history, and has influenced the car-buying market since its introduction. This book helps the reader to understand why.

Jeg anbefaler alle til å ta en titt på noen bilder av Ford Sierra Cosworth som ligger inne på internett. Hvis du ikke vet hvordan en Cosworth ser ut, bør du virkelig finne det ut. Du kan glede deg. Jeg elsker Ford Sierra RS Cosworth.... (Sorry, det er bare norsker som kan lese dette, jeg gidder ikke å skrive på engelsk. Det er for slitsomt.....HeHe) Silje:-)

Jag kan oxå läsa detta och jag är SVENSK, i övrigt håller verkligen med dig...

FORD RULES (specially cosworth)

A good overview of the range of Cosworth Sierras, with some excellent photography and pithy comments. Like the bit about the future of the brand, too

A must buy if you are looking to purchase a post-war Triumph. The book really cuts to the chase and tells it up front. It is a good resource for distinguishing the differences in model years and what things to look for in each.

The book is a little hard to take as a Triumph enthusiast when he cuts up certain models. "The TR6... was old when it was new... the design was ancient, the car got lousy gas mileage... it was never bolted together properly" Hey!!! That's my baby.

Just don't let this book scare you away from owning a Triumph altogether. As the author states "All Triumphs are a good value". I personally would just say it with more enthusiasm

Great information for the enthusiast or shopper. The rating system for ability to match or beat the market trends is a good indicator of how much flexibility there may be in the price if you're shopping.

Overall, a decent book, but the author seems to go out of his way to emphasize the TR7's troubles. Although it's true that the 7 will not likely be an collector, it is a great value in an open top car, and has always been underrated. That he derides the model is probably not such a bad thing, as this will help keep prices down for those of us "in the know". One aspect he neglects is the ease of converting the TR7 to a TR8 via an engine swap, making the car a poor man's cobra (ok, almost) for the masses. Forget matching-numbers purism in this car, it's for driving. Other than that, his advice on selecting a TR7 is fairly well founded.

The book is well written, and covers the subject matter well enough. However, the book focuses almost exclusively on UK and European model cars. Only a few pages and two pictures are on U.S. domestic models. (Both pictures commented on how certain aspects of the American versions made them unattractive!) Since the technical specifications, performance, options, and even trim packages on the U.S. Federal models are generally different from the U.K. and European models, the book is not all that useful for us Yankees. Most of the book is black and white, with a few color pages.

The book is a good value though. So if you own a Non-Fedral model ("grey market" in the U.S.), or are running out of books to buy on SL's, it is worth buying.

It says it right on the cover: "Osprey Expert Histories." And that's what this is. There's great info on the history of these cars, with insights on how they evolved technically and stylistically, and how their marketing changed over the years. The typeface is a little on the large side, but that just means there are more pages to print photos on: Virtually every page has at least one. I would say this book is a good value.

Note that this is not a buyer's guide; there are no side-by-side charts of features and horsepower and units sold, and no commentary on what to look out for.

Also note that its coverage is limited to the pagoda (1960s) and W107 cars (70s-80s). There are a couple of pages on the early 300SL, and none on the new (post-W107) styles of SL/SLK.

The coverage here is of the 230sl through later 107 cars. Very little is included on the original 300SL, subsequent roadster and 190SL but these are better covered in texts devoted to this period in MB history. The reviewed and photographically documented cars are higher performance european models without the bastardized DOT additions such as cheapo sidemarkers, funky looking bumpers, and performance robbing and ineffective emission controls. The majority of model changes and options available are clearly called out. There are also a few shots of proper SL interiors the way the Mercedes designers intended them. This book would be helpful to readers trying to decide on which model Sl they might seek to purchase as well as those deciding the path they want to take in a proper restoration of their vehicle.

Mick Doohan first and foremost is one of the most accomplished GP500 racers in all of history, his stat's. and dominance in the sport easily convey this. However, what his fans want to know most is what makes Mick really tick and what were his thoughts on specific instances and circumstances. While this is done in the book, it's only on a surface level, and the book really seems to be more of a story told to us by the author, not by Mick himself. The best part of the book is the relationship that Mick was able to establish w/ Eddie Lawson, and his thoughts after his surgery. The book is nice, the pictures are excellent, but I would only buy it second hand. I give it three stars for the pictures and Doohan history that shed fine details on what most of his fans already knew before buying the book, but overall well done and a decent Sunday read.

This is a nice book about Mick Doohan, a man, who is arguably the greatest motorcycle Grand Prix racer ever. Unfortunately there is very little of interest about the man himself aside from his incredible talent and psychological make-up. One stands in awe at his ability to overcome serious injury and return to complete domination. The reader does get an overwhelming sense of just how much better Doohan was than his competition. Oxley does a nice job covering Doohan's career and early beginnings and the photographs are excellent. I would have liked to read more detail and even more quotes and thoughts from his peers and competitors. The paragraphs about his and Max Biaggi's jibes and digs throughout the '98 season are the best in the book. Now that Doohan has retired, after winning an incredible 5 world championships in a row this book is well worth having in your collection.

Mick Doohan is arguably the best GP500 rider and this book has so many details about his success, particularly his come-back after the accident in Assen Holland which almost ended his chance of ever walking again let alone riding a motorbike. The photos are exceptionally good.

I was born in South Bend and my neighbors and relatives worked at Studebaker. This book is an excellent portrait of a company sliding inexorably downhill. Some of the factors that killed Studebaker were internal (labor relations, high unit costs, lack of due diligence about the company's condition in the Packard merger) and some were external (George Romney's refusal to form a fourth major out of American Motors). Discussed in detail are the beautiful cars Studebaker built and their skill in managing the difficult transition from wagonmakers to automakers. (Lincoln rode in a Studebaker carriage to Ford's theater) Bonsall doesn't hesitate to point out the flaws and missteps Studebaker made, though. This book is an affectionate portrait of an American company that was part of the landscape for a century and has now vanished without a trace. Recommended.

"More Than They Promised" was an excellent read. It detailed the entire history of Studebaker from its beginnings as wagon makers to its entry into the manufacture of automobiles.

Particularly interesting was the postwar era, especially after the disasterous merger with Packard. It SHOULD have worked, but in reality it was a total failure. The Sherwood Egbert era was very well detailed with his last-ditch efforts to save the automobile operations of what had by then become a conglomerate. At the time of their death, cars were but a small part of the empire.

I am fascinated by the Studebaker story, although I was only 8 years old when the last Studebaker was produced. I have often wondered what would have happened had they survived. Would they have survived the increasingly oppressive government safety and emission requirements? Would they have survived the fuel crises of '73 and '79?

I have had the pleasure of visiting the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, IN. Having seen these beautiful cars, particularly the "Loewy coupes" of 1953-55, I couldn't help but draw the conclusion that Studebaker was too far ahead of their customers.

Even if you are not a "car geek" as I am, you would likely enjoy reading "More Than They Promised".

awesome cronological of a great car company that should still be producing cars today

I received my copy of The Rv Handbook recently from a used book dealer. It arrived quickly and was in very good condition.

It is too bad that the book itself was such a disappointment. Mr. Estes spends more than half of the book talking about engines, Motor Homes only stuff and vehicles that pull the RV's. He barely touched on the things I was interested in, namely things like the RV systems, troubleshooting, RV setup in a dry camp. Mr. Estes also went into great detail about the battery and how it works. I am not interested in the details of how it works, only how to hook it up without a manual. From the reviews I read on your site, I was led to believe that the book would provide more basic info for all RVers. I guess that what I am looking for is a book such as "I BOUGHT A USED RV- NOW WHAT?"

This book is an excellent reference. The author covers many topics in this book: The basics of rving, with information on waste systems, outfitting the rig, towing, setting up camp, leaving camp; improving fuel economy and performance; troubleshooting rv engines; rv electronic systems; weight, handling, and safety; tire care; selecting a tow vehicle; towing safety, and much, much more. The level of detail in this book was not covered in any of the other books we read. In addition, the author puts helpful checklists into the book as well: 'Used-Vehicle Evaluation Checklist'; 'Dinghy Towing Inspection Checklist'; 'A Propane System Checklist'; basic rv equipment lists; 'Return-Trip Checklist' and many more checklists. The information in this book is VERY helpful and VERY necessary for a first timer. This author not only wants to make you knowledgeable; he wants to make you SAFE, too.

Thanks to the author for an easy to read book on all the important points.

This revised edition contains a wealtlh (with a capital W) of extremely useful information on the care and feeding of most (if not all) major systems and appliances founds in today's RV.

If you've ever wondered just how the heck does that RV refrigerator work with either Propane or electrical power, or why it needs to be kept level, this book will explain it.

It covers maintaining a Satellite dish or amplified TV antenna, Solar panels for charging batteries, motorhome leveling jack systems, rubber roofs, generators, awnings, etc, etc.

If it's bolted on or in your RV, or being towed, this book will likely cover it.

As a new RV owner, the detailed and comprehensive information contained in this book will do much towards keeping me out of serious trouble.

The book is written at just the right level to be easily understood by most who will use it, not filled with "techno-babble" that only a fully trained mechanic can understand. Many photo's and schematic diagrams are included as well.

Whether I'm out on the road, or just in the driveway getting ready for that next great "road warrior" trip, this excellent book with not stray too far from me. The information it contains is far too valuable and useful to be without it.