Getting the Best Price on a Used Car: Buying a Car Guide

This author has the education and experience to hand out some advice you might not know even after a lifetime of buying used cars. Well worth the time and investment. Would like to add my 2 cents: Unlike the author, I have found that the single best determination of potential used car quality and reliability (other than the manufacturer) is low miles. Low miles lead to less worn out parts. Low miles cars, in my opinion, tend to be driven gentler, by older, more caring drivers. Also, how the owner maintained the interior of the car is vital. Pigs tend to not care for their cars, or themselves, IMO. Dealers tend to do a crappy job of cleaning/detailing an interior, and if you look fairly closely, you can see how the car was really maintained. These two life-lessons have served me very well with the exception of purchases from 2 US car manufacturers, who lacked quality control at the time. Good luck and never pay retail!

The materials in the is book we're poorly organized and presented. Many times throughout the book the author completely failed to convey her meaning, forcing the reader to wonder what it was she was trying to say. No value in this book.

The book is very short, but does contain some useful information for anyone without much car buying experience. Also a good read before making any car purchase, although no great secrets are revealed. The tone is old time schoolmarm and no bs. Pay attention or Lynette will smack you with a ruler! I don't agree with some of her points, but would still say this little book is worth reading.

The author speaks with the authority of experience and provides an outstanding how-to that includes sources of auto performance and reliability ratings; selecting desirable models; dealing with used car dealers and salespeople; buying from owners; tricks that sellers play; and factors to consider on whether to buy cars new or used.

There is some very good information and opinions in this book, such as why high mileage should not be a concern, and why it does no good to have a mechanic okay the car before you commit to buy it. However, some of the writing is very confusing and I had no idea what the author was getting at. The first chapter in particular was a head scratcher regarding how excited we get about buying a new car. I thought this book was about buying a used car. And the topic is better left to an expert in psychology; the author's muddled attempt just left me wondering "what's your point?" There are similar moments of "huh?" throughout. The author obviously knows a lot about cars and the car buying process and expresses herself well most of the time. But the several lapses in clarity definitely detract from the whole.

Great advice for car buying, covers each step and all the most important things to think about. I'll be reading this on a few times as I continue to look for a car.

Helpful info on how to proceed at the dealer. The early parts of the book felt like filler. Overall, though, a helpful book for the price.

Good information. Lots of valuable tips. Book did seem to end abruptly. I wish there was more. Not bad. 4 stars.