Best Buys in Used Cars, 4th Ed. (Paperback)

by Jim Mateja (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Buying a used car is like wading through a mine field. In this new expanded Fourth Edition, auto expert Jim Mateja provides almost foolproof guidelines for a used car purchase. He brings his buying tips up to date to include the most recent batch of used cars. Read by millions across the country in his nationally syndicated column, Mateja simplifies and translates the mumbo-jumbo of used car dealers. He gives good, solid advice that helps buyers avoid getting ripped off.

Product Details

• Paperback: 238 pages
• Publisher: Bonus Books; 4 edition (October 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566251710
• ISBN-13: 978-1566251716
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,694,994 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide for first time used car buyers, August 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Best Buys in Used Cars (Paperback)

This book, although 4 years old now, is a wonderful guide forthose of us who know next to nothing about cars. It provides greatgeneral rules to follow when judging cars, along with a list of known "lemon" cars and a list of "cream puffs" (cars that are worth a look no matter what year). There is an incredibly detailed chapter on inspecting a used car, whether you are buying from a dealer or a private owner. I learned more about cars from this one book than I have in my 32 years on this planet. I know what to look for in tire wear, spark plug wear, and fluid levels. I avoided a $1200 mistake by knowing that transmission fluid is supposed to be bright pink or red, and if it's brown or black that you are looking at an abused transmission. I almost bought a 1994 Nissan Maxima from a private owner trying to pull one over on an unsuspecting female that he thought knew nothing. The book also tells you how to take care of your purchase, how often to change fluids and filters, and what to look for in a mechanic. This book is a true bargain.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Published in 1995 - useless now, October 23, 2002

By	P. J. Statts (Richmond, VA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I flipped through this book when I was in local bookstore recently. TRASH. Don't waste your money. I've never been very fond of Jim Mateja's review style (he writes a nationally syndicated newspaper column on cars), but you'd think he'd at least have the decency to update his used car guide so that it would actually be useful in 2002. The book was written 7 years ago, and you're not going to find any recent, relevant info on the current used car market here. Jim spends a lot of time talking about late-'80s automobiles, which may have made good used cars in 1995, but are little more than old junkers now. Do YOU think that an '87 Oldsmobile would make a great choice for a used car? Right, but Jim sure does. You'll find everything you need for buying a used car on the 'net now anyway. Avoid this book and keep your cash in your pocket.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Title is totally misleading. SAVE YOUR MONEY, July 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Best Buys in Used Cars (Paperback)

While there are some good generalized thoughts in here, I could not hardly be more disappointed. I bought this book because I wanted to find the best buys in a used car, TODAY. All I got were speculations about 1995 cars (new at the time) and some examples of 1989 car changes. I want evaluations based upon models experience in the real world. This book is useless to me. It should not have been titled "Best Buys in Used Cars".