About this title: In today's uncertain economy, more car buyers are turning to the used car market. Based on the results of unbiased tests and surveys conducted by Consumer Reports, the guide evaluates fuel economy, performance level, repair record, and overall quality of hundreds of 1984-1989 cars, with detailed reports on 1987-1989 models. Ratings charts, tables, index.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 239 p. Contains: Illustrations. Consumer Reports Used Car Buying Guide. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Consumer Reports
Date Published: 2004-03-16
ISBN-13:9780890439852ISBN:0890439850
Description: New. May have sticker from store that was bought out on cover, very minimal shelf wear. May have a remainder mark. Daily shipping, large selection! ! ! read more
Description: Very Good. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Acceptable. Former Library book. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Consumer Reports
Date Published: 2003-03-01
ISBN-13:9780890439746ISBN:0890439745
Description: Very good. Very minimal damage to the cover (no holes or tears, only minimal scuff marks), in some instances dust jackets are not included, no missing pages, minimal to no highlighting/under. read more
Description: Good. Minimal damage to cover and binding. Pages show light use. With pride from Motor City. All books guaranteed. Best Service, Best Prices. read more
Description: Good. Light shelving wear with minimal damage to cover and bindings. Pages show minor use. Help save a tree. Buy all your used books from Green Earth Books. Read. Recycle and Reuse! read more
"It has great information about specific makes/models/years of used cars to buy. It doesn't have very much general information about buying a used car. I am glad I consulted it though."
"i just finished a lengthy car purchase, and I have to say that this book was indispensable for me. There are approximately 250 different car models on the US market at any one time, even more when you include the different trim lines. If you are like me, and are not a car nut, this book is great for getting you pointed in the right direction. Each model is given a half-page to strut its stuff. CR provides a picure, a comprehensive list of reliability ratings, and the prices for each model year. This last one is important if you want to avoid excessive depreciation. You can actually pinpoint the years when a particular model declined precipitiously in value (usually when the car is about 3 years old. it happens to them all!).
The used car guide has its own peculiar fascinations. It lists cars that have been discontinued (including the Chevy Camero, which I did not realize was gone). It also list some Plymouths and (sniff) some Oldsmobiles produced in the waning years of those once ubiquitous brands. It also notes the passing of the big 2-door coupe from the marketplace, a sad development for someone whose high school car was a '76 Olds Omega.
The real value of this book is that it makes you focus on the quality of the cars as consumer products, rather than as extesnions of their styling, or their image (not that those aspects aren't important). This results in some surprises. For example, Buicks are highly regarded for their reliability and quality. You would never learn this from Buick's absurd commercials. However, CR convinced me to go out an test drive some Buicks, and I found them to be excellent. I could say the same for Lincolns. More surprising is CR's tracing of the long decline in quality at Mercedes, a development that many of my car sachems have also noted. I know that these are performance cars. but even their electrical systems are dinged as unreliable. This is amazing to me, as I remember when Mercedes ads in the 70's emphasized the fact that their cars could last for 300,000 miles or more, which seemed miraculous at the time.
The best thing about this book is its no-nonsense quality. If the car is unreliable CR will tell you how, and for what years. In another way it's also non-judgmental; it treats every car the same. A mini-van or SUV will be reviewed in the same sober tones as a Porche or Jaguar. If all you can afford is a chevy Cobalt, then CR will tell you about its attributes without making you feel like a loser. If you want attitude, you are better off sticking with "Car & Driver.""
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