5 comments about Volkswagen Jetta, Golf, GTI: 1993-1999 Cabrio: 1995-2002 Service Manual.

1. I have the Haynes Manual for my MkIII Golf and it had some holes. This manual answers all the questions I had. It's the book to have if you are wrenching your own VW. It isn't without it's thin spots, but all in all, it's invaluable.



2. This manual is FAR better then any other manual out there. It goes into depth. IF you own one of these cars, its be far, very worth the investment.
   
   However, some of the repairs may be above your head if you never turned a wrench before. Still, even if you dont fix the car much yourself, or it came without an owners guide, its a very good book to have.
   
   It can make needed repairs much more clear to understand.



3. The Bentley model is good, but not quite great. It shows very detailed exploded views of all systems on the car, and has torque settings for every single nut and bolt on the car. It lacks a few component processes that could be easily separated from another component's instructions (e.g. Separate procedure for removing the cooling fan housing, rather than consider it inseparable from the radiator).
   
   This is an excellent service manual for the shade mechanic, but having either a Hayes or Chilton manual to supplement this would be an excellent idea.



4. Not much to say other than that these manuals are indispensible if you're planning on doing work on your Jetta.
   Other than the factory manuals these are the standard. In fact, I believe some auto companies pay Bentley to develop the factory manuals, they're that good.



5. It would be nice to be able to review this book, but it has been OVER two months, and AMAZON HAS NOT SHIPPED MY MANUAL AND HAS GIVEN NO ESTIMATE OF SHIPPING DATE!!!

5 comments about Volkswagen Vanagon Official Factory Repair Manual 1980-1991 Including Diesel Syncro and Camper (Volkswagen).

1. this book is quite interesting : you can find information that you cannot find anywhere else. nevertheless, it is not really a bible since some explanation are not enough detailled & the black & white pictures are not always very accurate.
   I think you'll not use 50% of the book depending of your vanagon type & age
   It is good to have this book if you can afford it since you'll always use it one day or another.



2. I bought my vanagon new in El Paso, Tx and have been at the mercy of dealers and their mechanics ever since. This has allowed me to repair at least some of the simpler things and understand a whole lot more about some of the others. I have had to shuffle around in the book a bit because it covers a lot more than my van but everything that I've looked for has been there. Great for the shade tree mechanic!



3. I found this manual after my sister asked me to order it for her from the manufacturer. Well, I decided to browse around a little and found that, yet again, Amazon delivered the goods so to speak. Needless to say, it was considerably cheaper. The end result - brother-in-law said it is perfect for his needs as he usually does a lot of the work on their VW van himself, but occasionally gets stumped. This manual fills in a lot of the gaps. Those are his comments as I know zip about anything mechanical.



4. This manual has ben a great help when working on my vanagon.one of the bast repair manuals that I have used.



5. In Vanagon circles, this is known as the " Bentley Bible ". If you plan on doing any work on your Vanagon. even simple maintenance, this manual is a must have.

5 comments about Four-Stroke Performance Tuning 3rd ed: A practical guide.

1. Prior reading the book for the first time, you won't even imagine the treasure hiding inside it. The author is undoubtedly a very experienced engine builder and after reading the book you could assume that he is a very successful one. But the most wonderful thing is that the author has tried to contain all of his experience into this book. While you read the book you will realize that you are actually in a situation of accumulating some experience. This is a bit exaggerated, as it is well known that hands-on experience cannot compare to any book, but you will feel that the author is providing you with some invaluable tips and facts.
   The author is sticking to the facts as derived from his own experience. Facts that might be a bit out of the common sense and common knowledge which sometimes states that "BIGGER IS BETTER".
   I am not giving the 5-star rating just because the carburetor chapter gets quite a large part of the book and also because at some points the author should give some more information and practical step-by-step procedures and tips, like for example in the cylinder head porting chapter where i would like to read more things from such an experienced builder.
   If the author decide for the next edition to discard the carburetor chapter and try to extend every chapter with a lot more information and step-by step procedures then certainly this book is going to become an encyclopedia of four stroke engine tuning bringing any other similar book completely out of the game.



2. The only reason this book doesnt get 5 stars from me is because Mr. Bell doesnt go as in depth as I would have liked in the street use engines,this book is about more serious race machines than about street motors. What this book does cover however is covered very very well and I am really glad I got this book. the gains on my engine were notable to say the least.



3. The information in this book goes above and beyond what most others do.
   I have read it twice and am reading it for the third time. I highly recomend it.



4. This is definately one of his best. Even if you own the 2nd edition like i do, you will still find this latest edition a must have. Although it has similar contents and lay out as it's predecessor there is alot more info as well as extra topics included giving even better value for money than before.



5. This is the best book you can buy for 4 stroke tuning. I have read it 3 times to try and assimilate all the information. If you want to modify an 4 stroke engine, this is the best starting point you can get. Well written, easy to follow and very practical. I have many other tuning books, but this is by far the best. Has up to date information. The megaphone exhaust design is missing in the latest book, so try and get an older copy if you are working on a single cylinder motorcycle engine.

5 comments about RV Electrical Systems: A Basic Guide to Troubleshooting, Repairing and Improvement.

1. Bought book to help plan an RV electrical system upgrade and it more than met my expectations. Found the book fairly easy to understand with a wealth of specific information about the "whys" and "wherefores" of wire, fuses, circuits, batteries, battery charging, electrical loads, etc. Author also includes a wealth of technical info for tech types who want greater detail.



2. This will teach most (non-electrician by trade) people many useful things that will make their trips more enjoyable.(reduce operator error).



3. The book is wonderful and easy to follow with good illustrations and photographs. It covers pretty much the gammut of electrical items found on an RV -- way more than I will probably need, but its good to know it's all there. The book was purchased used and the description stated in excellent condition, but when it arrived, it was not what I would call excellent -- dog eared pages and warped pages- like the top end of the pages had gotten wet. It is still very readable and usable, but I strongly disagree with the booksellers rating of its quality.



4. This is a highly detailed book on RV Electrical Systems. If you are a little bit of a tec head this book may be for you.



5. This publication provides a good overall view. Unfortunately for my situation it did not address my power converter problem. Like most publications out there it concentrates more on the self contained RV or what I would call a Motor Home not the towable. I suspect this is due in part to the commonality of parts and variations in dealer provided options. It dosen't really explain how to test the converter/charger so for DIY it falls short.

2 comments about Inside IMSA's Legendary GTP Race Cars: The Prototype Experience.

1. A great reference for fans of mid-80's IMSA prototype racers. The most informative book I've ever seen on these cars. Great pictures and reference for model builders.



2. After all these years, somebody has written an extensive history of the IMSA GTP car. Highly readable and very informative. Even for those who don't understand the technology or the engineering involved, it's still a good read; the illustrations help at least somewhat.
   
   My only complaint is that there is no history of the cars in competition, no won-loss record, no roster of teams and drivers who campaigned each car.
   
   Other than that it's great value for the money

5 comments about The Unfair Advantage.

1. There are very few motorsports books extant that can be called true classics or world-changers. This is one of them, and it's one of the best on top of that. Mark Donahue was an extrordinary individual, not only a blindingly fast driver, but also a talented, disciplined, and most importantly, curious engineer.
   
   To have the virtues of both top-level driver and top-level engineer embodied in the same person is a very rare combination. To have been present - indeed, to be one of the driving forces behind - a revolution within a sport and an industry is even rarer. To have this person write about his experiences while busy changing the world is precious beyond price.
   
   To put it simply, you cannot be a student of the profession of motor racing without reading this book.
   
   I offer this as evidence: while I am by no means an autograph hound, I do, from time to time, have occasion to encounter people within the motorsports family whom I admire enough to want to collect an autograph from. I use my copy of The Unfair Advantage as my autograph storage device. Putting this book in front of people like Jackie Stewart, Carroll Shelby, and Carroll Smith results in a shock of recognition, followed by praise for the author. What greater endorsement could you want?



2. This book is easily one of the best narratives about racing I've ever come across. It is a personal and honest account of the late Mark Donahue's racing career from his impromptu start to the zenith of his career in Formula 1, Indy Racing, and Can Am to his retirement.
   
   Anyone who races or aspires to race will delight in his firsthand recollections of his racing exploits and his perspective on one of the great programs in motorsport history (the Can Am Porsche 917).
   
   Highly recommended.



3. I saw this book last weekend at a Vintage Race being held ther by HSR-West and figured it would be a great collectos item. But it is a lot more than that; it is a real insight to the trials and tribulations of racing and race car development. Donohue comes out as a very humble driver and he is not afraid to admit his mistakes and that of the team. This is a book that you don;t to put down but you also don;t want to be finished with it. I did see Mark Donohue at one of the Riverside Trans-Ams in 1968. I was always wondering what really happened at the end of the 69 season to make Penske swith to that AMC junk and now I know.. Do not miss this book.



4. If you are a fan of Mark Donohue, or a racing fan from the era of the CanAm series, I believe you will enjoy this biography. It has enlightened me to the complications and hardships in preparing and maintaining a proper race care. There is much insight into the business side off the sport as well, and demonstrates Roger Penske's determination and acuity in running a top flight team.



5. Donohue's very enjoyable autobiography goes into considerable detail about his racing career while understandably ignoring his personal life. His descriptions of the early days, when engine dynos were uncommon, and suspension setup was by guess and by God, are eye-opening.
   
   It would have been nice to have some more technical details, but as he points out, they are a part of his team's "Unfair Advantage".

4 comments about Hydraulics and Pneumatics: A Technicians and Engineers Guide.

1. Working as a practicing engineer for a major US airline, I found this book a very useful introduction to hydraulics & pneumatics. Using this book, I was able to take systems on our airplanes (such as rudder control units and thrust reverser controllers) and write schematics of them using the hydraulic & pneumatic notation. I found the chapter on process control pneumatics to be quite useful in troubleshooting & understanding these systems. While I use this information on aircraft systems, the book is directed to hydraulic & pneumatics in ALL industries and no reference is made to hardware as installed in aircraft applications. Check valves, relief valves, accumulators, pilot valves and sequencing valves are well explained to the layman. The author does a great job explaining the dynamics of cylinders and valves with lots of timing diagrams and schematics. Pick this book up if you want to come up to speed quickly on hydraulics and pneumatics.



2. This is a good book if u want a brief description on how hydraulic or pneumatic works. I have read the book and now have a better knowledge of hydraulics. The book is small and sometimes u find yourself flipping back and forth to see the illustrations. Might have been better to fit the drawing on the same page as the description. But I thats just my opinion.



3. It teaches the most necessesary practical sections needed to understand the issue.



4. This book will provide the reader with a basic working knowledge of hydraulic and pneumatic systems. It is not structured like a text book in that it does not give problems to work on at the end of each chapter. It makes use of numerous illustrations to accompany the explanations and provides the reader with a working knowledge on the function each component in a hydraulic or pneumatic system satisfies.

1 comments about The Art of BMW: 85 Years of Motorcycling Excellence.

1. This book is a must have for any gear head, motorcycle fan, or fan of beautiful engineering. The art in this book is simply incredible, and even the most die hard fan will find out something they did not know.
   I originally purchased this book intending it to be a gift, but have enjoyed it so much that I refuse to give this one away! Ordering more to give as gifts to friends and family!
   I cannot recommend this item highly enough. Way beyond my expectations!

4 comments about How-to-Restore Your Chevrolet Pickup (Motorbooks Workshop).

1. A Great starting point if you want to see whether or not you're cut out to do a full restoration or a rebuild of an older Chevy pickup. Things I liked about this book: It gives you a pretty thorough picture of what you're in for. Spells out what you'll need (shop tools) and the steps and time you'll need to do a good job. It also provides a list of where you can go for shop manuals and other technical references. Things I didn't like about this book: Black and white photography...



2. I have had this book for several years and go back to it often to motivate and inform me on the restoration of my '52. They tend to favor the Advance Design series trucks, but there are commonalities for all year trucks. I really found useful the chapters on how to disasemble and clean. The book was full of helpful tips and ideas. Home brew degreaser, metal cleaning and rust memoval/repair tips, etc. The book was fairly well written and easy to understand without being simple or condesending. There are good pictures that help illustrate what you are reading about. I highly reccomend this book.



3. I bought this book as a gift for my husband to match his purchase of a 1953 1 ton Chevy pickup. Moose as we have named him is in totally original condition (including the paint). My husband has rodded vehicles several times over the years, but we want to keep as much of Moose original as feasible. This book has already been read cover to cover (twice) and several pages have been dog earred. It is especially complete on the era which includes 1953, and that of course is what we are working with. I would have to say later years may be disappointed, but it is still quite good at offering more than one option for "how-to" restore the major components. This is not really a book for hot rodders, but if you want to learn the history or restore this is a good purchase. I'd love to see a more recent edition.



4. It has good tips for all aspects of the restore/rebuild job. Not the only book you will need though. you will also need a shop manual, because this book doesnt go that in depth.

5 comments about High-Performance Jeep Cherokee XJ Builder's Guide 1984-2001 (S-A Design) (S-a Design).

1. There is alot of good information in this book, it reads more like a magazine article though. It illustrates what is possible with enough money and time well enough.



2. I purchased this book and have found the advise in it to be sound. I would recommend this book to anyone who is considering the build up of his Jeep Cherokee (XJ). There is an appendix in the back with a list of on-line wholesalers that is worth having. I also recommend joining NAXJA as this (Jeep Cherokee only) on line community is very helpful in assisting you on what to do, how to do it, and were to get it.



3. If you are thinking of building your Cherokee, this guide is essential. It plans out options, steps and plenty of excellent photographs. This guide will make you an informed purchaser of aftermarket parts for your XJ.



4. I should have bought this book a long time ago. This book is an awesome primer for modifying your XJ. I have spent countless hours searching and reading forums online for much of the information contained in this book. Eric Zappe knows his stuff, explains things in very straight-forward terminology, and seperates fact from his opinion. The profiles of other people's Jeeps are pretty sweet too.
   
   Buy it, you won't regret it.



5. Now this is a terrific book, doesn't make the novice look stupid and has great advice. I only intend to lift my Jeep 3 inches and put the largest stock tires and wheels on it and maybe a little armor, but everywhere I turned, everyone was willing to sell me any crap a sucker would buy. This book straightened me out. I'm no rock crawler, I just need a machine I can safely use in the deserts for prospecting and Rock-hounding. I travel alone mostly and the danger is ever present and with this book, I now feel capable of venturing out safely and returning home the same way. The bare minimum you need is what I'm after and this book explains it to a T! I found out I have a very capable Jeep that is very economical to alter for a little more ruggedness, without breaking the bank. His listing of websites and recommendations is worth the price alone. While I'll never tred the Rubicon, I will feel more confident of exploring my hobby areas after reading this book. No matter your level, if you are thinking of using your Jeep for more than shopping at Wally World, I heartily recommend this book.