Deanna Sclar

I know basically nothing about cars. Didn't even get my license until I was 26. So I'm trying to learn, finally. I got this and one other book out of the library. Of the two, I liked this one better. Clear explanations, helpful pictures. I was able to check almost all the basic stuff under the hood of my truck, which made me feel really handy! (Also, I figured out that I was very low on coolant, and was able to top it off. Go me.) Never did finish it, for various reasons, but I think I want show more my own copy. show less

I skimmed it at the bookstore and ended up standing there for a couple hours. Written by a female mechanic, exhaustive compendium on what to look out for in the process of buying a car. Valuable advice and information for someone (me) who knows not-much about cars and dealers.

I like this. If you feel like the car salesman is getting something over on you, this is the book for you. Taking this book seriously means making good buying decisions, and on purchases as large as cars, the ability to make good decisions is enormously empowering.

I came across this book thirty years ago at the house of a friend, long before the Dummies series of books existed. I liked the concept, and when the Dummies series of books came out, I wondered about this book. Now this book has become part of the Dummies series. I am happy to say that my copy is pre-series - blue, hardcover, with a dust jacket - although I bought it after the series came into existence, having found it (the book, not the series) at some library or yard sale. But I keep show more wondering about what happened behind the scenes. Did somebody come across Auto Repair For Dummies, think: "What a great idea for a series of books!" and go from there? Or was it that the Dummies series got started, and then the Dummies people learned about this book and decided they had better bring it into the fold? Inquiring minds want to know. show less