TTP article index>> Transportation - Getting More and Paying Less Drive The Best For The Price How To Buy A Used Automobile Sport-Utility Vehicle, Or Minivan And Save Money by Kyle Busch Review written by Corinna Fritz This book impressed me with its thorough and balanced approach to buying a car. More importantly, the book impressed my husband who is an ASE certified mechanic. He assures me that this is a great book for the rest of us who have an average knowledge of mechanics. The author, Kyle Busch is uniquely suited to writing this book. At fifteen years of age he obtained his first car and developed an avid interest in vehicles, which led him to gain 24 years of experience in the matter of buying used cars. He first earned a bachelor's degree in economics, and later a master's degree in counseling. The book is very well thought out and organized. It begins by introducing a list of questions to ask yourself that will help you narrow down or open up your list of vehicles that would be suitable to your overall needs in transportation. Once you have decided on the basic type of vehicle you need, its time to hit the books. Resources are suggested for educating yourself on finding a vehicle's value, overall performance, customer satisfaction and safety statistics. Busch also gives a mini course on the basic economics that effect car prices wherein many interesting, little known facts are pointed out. Later on, strategies are given for reducing the price of a vehicle even further. Next comes the actual legwork of finding a vehicle. Different resources for used vehicles are discussed along with the pros and cons of each. Of course finding a vehicle is just the beginning of it. Included in chapter 2 are a dozen questions intended to use to grill a sales person. After the victim is charred to perfection and served up on a platter, the actual physical inspection of the vehicle should begin. Busch guides the reader through his systematic, thorough, hands-on, step-by-step approach to inside and outside vehicle inspection, including where and how to test-drive. This is where the book gets kind of technical, but certainly not boring. As a matter of fact, the book starts to read like a good mystery at this point. Exposed are many telltale signs that can be a warning to the attentive buyer that the vehicle has been glossed over or that a seller could be withholding vital information. There's a lot to remember, but fortunately it is conveniently found in the form of a detailed, reproducible "Used Vehicle Comparison Checklist." Even better than the checklists are the instructions to using the checklist to do an all points cross reference that will help you determine if certain things don't add up. After you have weeded out the lemons from your own mechanical checklist, the time-honored tradition of hiring a mechanic is not overlooked. As a matter of fact, a definition of what his role should be is given. My absolute favorite part of this book is what I call the learning of "self-defense against aggressive dealerships." In this area, we are given the secrets to staying in control of the buying process despite the highly aggressive sales tactics employed by dealership salespeople. When it comes to making a deal, some suave negotiating skills are illuminated, which will keep the buyer in control of the situation. Complimenting the self-defense section is advice that will help make sure that your financing won't bleed you dry over time. Last but certainly not least is the section on selling your used car. Busch shows us that there are many strategies to make the process as quick and painless as possible. The recurring theme to this book seems to be that knowledge is power, use it wisely. We are reminded to exercise patience and self control, and that it pays to do the math. This book is a lot like frozen orange juice in the fact that it has a high concentration of valuable information packed into slightly under 100 pages. I'm glad I was introduced to this book, and I will definitely be recommending it to friends. I'm sure we'll get our money's worth out of this book, and save a bunch more to boot. Kyle Busch, is the author of the new book: Drive the Best for the Price: How to Buy a Used Automobile, Sport-Utility Vehicle, or Minivan and Save Money. email:kbusch@velocity.net TTP article index>> News I Health I Wellness I Exercise I Profiles I Business I Links I Women ROCK! Product Review I To the Point I Contact I Home Created by: Art Street Design Studio. © Concerning Women Communications, Inc. all rights reserved.