Small Wonder The Amazing Story of the Volkswagen Beetle
April 15, 2009 by Car Care · Leave a Comment
Small Wonder The Amazing Story of the Volkswagen Beetle
First published in 1965, “Small Wonder: The Amazing Story of the Volkswagen Beetle” is the most successful book of all time on the Beetle. Originally selling over 1.2 million copies, “Small Wonder” is often quoted as the source by many subsequent histories. Now, Bentley Publishers is releasing this new edition, with new foreword by the author, in honor of the new Beetle and the renewed interest in the original Beetle.
Given complete access to Volkswagen archives in both Germany and the U.S. at the time of writing, author Walter Henry Nelson gives a highly detailed account of the Beetle’s development and success. Nelson gives many behind-the-scenes details and glimpses into the people who shaped the company, providing a rich picture of how and why Volkswagen and the Beetle evolved as they did.
Filled with numerous personal tributes and valuable insights, “Small Wonder” provides the reader with a better understanding of the Beetle’s “cult car” status.
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars Too corporate
I loved Volkswagens ever since I was a lad of twelve, and so had a natural interest in this book. It starts off well enough - the story about the car’s development in Nazi Germany was fascinating - but I soon tired of the excessively corporate style in the later years (details about various VW executives and their industrial philosophies) and didn’t bother to finish it.
They used to give these out when you bought a Bug in the 1960’s.
2 Stars “Small Wonder”
“Small Wonder” Review
The book “Small Wonder” was a very descriptive book about how the Volkswagen car as we know it today came about. It started when Ferdinand Porsche designed the “peoples car.” When the car first came into production people didn’t want such a different looking car. Some people thought it was ugly. There were a couple of different prototypes for the first VW car. A few were not excepted. The one that finally made it was different then the other ones because it had a window in back and a little different front end.
The cars were tested day after day. The cars were run until they didn’t run any more. They kept running the cars until every problem was fixed. There were a lot of problems with the cars. Some were more serious then others. VW came out with 5 different cars first. They were the k, s, ss, ssk, sskl. . They were less powerful then most cars today . although smaller cars today have around the same amount of horse power and the cars are lighter.
I personaly do not like the book because of how detailed it is . If it was less detailed and more of a story then it would be more of what I like to read. If you like books that are really detailed and have a lot of facts then this is a good book for you. Also if you would like to know the history of the Volkswagen then it is also a good book for that.
5 Stars Extremely insightful on a car that shaped the industry.
Just what I was looking for, and then some. This book starts at the very beggining, with the Beetle’s mentor and VW’s founder Dr. Porsche. (Did you know he was Czeck?)
It follow’s the company’s history (which is to say, the car’s history) with just the right amount of coverage to its amazing journey from WWII to the car’s EOP (end of production) in Puebla, Mexico. The cronology of this book is excellent. Worthdly of a movie script, this book is extremely enganging. As you read its history, names like Ford, Peugeot, Renault amongst others keep poping up narrating each one’s influence on the company’s history. (Did you know H. Ford II was offered the factory, for free?)
The only thing that I’d wish from this book was to have the author do either a follow up or a revised update. This book finishes with the beetle’s last production car, but the company has certantly not. I wish I could get more info from the company’s developement from that point forward, including the launch of the new beetle among other superb new VWs…
5 Stars Small Wonder- Great result
On of the world`s most informative and well resourced books on the VW history.Gives an insight to the early vehicle development,political hurdles that had to be overcome as well as the generic industrial resistence that was present.H.Nelson, a gifted author,not only writes about the “first row” people but also about production personnel and production techniques.
Sales and marketing development & especially how the U.S. market was won not only fascinates the VW buff but everyone who ever had anything to do with the automotive industry.
5 Stars The amazing story of the VW is still applicable in 2001
In 1969, after I had purchased a new VW, the dealer sent me “Small Wonder” by Walter Nelson. I have just finished reading this book once again, 22 years later, and the book is as applicable in todays society as it was back when it was first published. This book is not only about the Volkswagon car. It contains a good deal of history surrounding pre-war Germany, the rise of Hitler to power, WWII, and reconstruction of the bombed out factory with American assitance following the war. Any person considering a sales career should read and study this book.
Super Cars Featuring the Stories of the Amazing Super Cars Story Press out Models Featuring the Stories of the Amazing Super Cars Story Press out Models
April 15, 2009 by Car Care · Leave a Comment
Auto Repair For Dummies For Dummies Computer Tech
April 15, 2009 by Car Care · Leave a Comment
Auto Repair For Dummies For Dummies Computer Tech
The top-selling auto repair guide–400,000 copies sold–now extensively reorganized and updated
Forty-eight percent of U.S. households perform at least some automobile maintenance on their own, with women now accounting for one third of this $34 billion automotive do-it-yourself market. For new or would-be do-it-yourself mechanics, this illustrated how-to guide has long been a must and now it’s even better. A complete reorganization now puts relevant repair and maintenance information directly after each automotive system overview, making it much easier to find hands-on fix-it instructions. Author Deanna Sclar has updated systems and repair information throughout, eliminating discussions of carburetors and adding coverage of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles. She’s also revised schedules for tune-ups and oil changes, included driving tips that can save on maintenance and repair costs, and added new advice on troubleshooting problems and determining when to call in a professional mechanic. For anyone who wants to save money on car repairs and maintenance, this book is the place to start.
Deanna Sclar (Long Beach, CA), an acclaimed auto repair expert and consumer advocate, has contributed to the Los Angeles Times and has been interviewed on the Today show, NBC Nightly News, and other television programs.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Great book for the novice
The best thing about this book is that it explains the basics about how cars operate in a thorough manner. So if you have no knowledge about how a car works then its a great book for you. I learned a lot from reading this book, even if you don’t plan on working on your car it will help you understand what needs to be done and make sure the mechanic is treating you fairly
4 Stars good, practical book
The book is a basic, logical approach auto repair book, with a lot of good helpful information and hints to go about taking care of your car. Will it make you a professional mechanic? well, it will give you enough confidence to do a lot of maintenance on your cars and wonder why you ever paid 300 dollars to have a tune up and alternator put in your car when you realize that you can buy a good rebuilt alternator for 25 dollars and doing your own tune up will total much less than 300, not to mention the fact that you will get the satisfaction of doing it yourself and learning as you do it.
It is my experience (and I’m sure a lot of folks can relate) that there is almost not a bad book if you put the time and effort to get what you need to accomplish something. If you don’t use the book for the intended purpose, then no good will come out of buying it. Get a sandwich instead.
4 Stars Great Basic Book
This was just what I was looking for - as a gift for an 18 year old grandson. He was thrilled — it is basic enough, without sounding “condescending”. Lots of good illustrations and definitions.
5 Stars auto repair for dummies
It is a really good book for those who know nothing about a car. The book was in great condition and the seller is great.
4 Stars Where I started
This book is one of the most important I have read in a long time. I really had a positive experience with it.
My wife started staying home to raise our growing family and I have had to find ways to save money and make it on one salary. The breaks were going on my car and I did NOT want to put the bill on my credit card.
A guy at Church told me that disk brakes were easy. I should do them myself. I bought this book, looked on-line for vehicle specific directions (Auto Zone has a GREAT website), bought a ratchet set and got to work.
My friend was right. I replaced brakes and rotors and bought tools and books at it cost me less than it would have cost at a facility to get the brakes and rotors done for me. Plus, I was equipped to do it again and again.
This brings me to my first criticism of this book. She doesn’t recommend you do your own brakes; even disks. That is NONSENSE. I am deducting one star for this.
Anyway, what reading the book did give me was a pretty good knowledge of how a car worked.
Her directions on how to change oil are excellent. In my own learning curve, I did brakes before I changed oil. You should DEFINITELY change the oil and do the air filter first to build your confidence and see if you enjoy working on the car to begin with.
After doing my own brakes with success, doing my own oil, changing my air filter, and changing the PCV (EASY) I was HOOKED. My car was handling better than it had when I first bought it and I felt like the man!
Then, the check engine light came on on my mom’s 2001 Suburu Forrester. The car was idling very roughly and even blowing some white smoke.
The car’s warranty had JUST expired. To make matters worse, I had read online that the car was prone to head gasket problems, and when I plugged the symptoms and make and model into google I came up with a ton of very bad scenarios.
So, I drove her car down to Auto Zone and had them check the engine with the computer. This is a FREE service (go AUTO ZONE!) The guy at Auto Zone said the computer told him the problem was in cylinder three. I asked if this meant a possible head gasket problem and he shook his head and said, “Look; do cheap work first to eliminate simple possible causes. Only move on to the expensive fussy stuff AFTER you check the cheap and obvious. For now, change the plugs and wires and see what happens.”
I had never done this before on any vehicle.
In the interim I bought the service manual for my mother’s car, and found it VERY helpful, BUT, the directions on how to change plugs and wires are so thorough in this book that I barely needed the manual.
So, I got out my new ratchet set and got to work. With the help of this EXCELLENT book the work was doable if not easy. (Luckily my set came with a NICE spark plug socket!)
I got the job done, and at the same time did an oil change and checked the PCV. I unplugged and removed the battery to reset the computer (to get rid of the check engine light) and to help me get at the plugs (its a little tight in there).
Once the job was finished (it took me about 2 hours…. first timer!) I had mom take it out for a test drive.
She said it hadn’t run better… ever.
The idle was smooth, all the roughness had disappeared. When I “read” the spark plugs (this book makes it EASY as there is a detailed guide on how to read plugs in the spark plugs chapter) it became clear that because mom only does short mileage runs in town for low mileage the plug in that third cylinder had become carbon fouled. The plugs were all fouled to some extent, but the one in the third cylinder was NASTY.
By now you can see what this book has done for me.
The author takes time to avoid potential law suits. She doesn’t recommend you do your own shocks and struts (you can hurt yourself and need a strut compressor… you can get one here at Amazon) she doesn’t recommend you do your own brakes (why?) she doesn’t cover a lot of stuff.
BUT, if you read the book you will get a real good idea of how stuff works, get good advice about purchasing tools, learn that you can and should do your own oil, your own plugs, your own basic preventive maintenance, and you will learn how to speak to your mechanic in an educated manner.
I have gone a little crazy. I got the service manuals for every vehicle in the household and have read them for fun. I have done plugs, wires, brakes, pcv’s, oil changes, chasis lubes on all the vehicles, and am about to do shocks and struts on one. I keep getting calls from the dealer saying (on my car with 100,000 miles and no warrantee) to bring it in for scheduled maintenance. Sorry buddy! My Chilton’s manual has a more aggressive preventive maintenance schedule and I do all the work myself. I will keep the at least $300.00 bucks you would charge thank you. I have saved 1000s of dollars since I read this book.
I’ve also had FUN.
Well worth the purchase.
Miles of Smiles 101 Great Car Games and Activities
April 15, 2009 by Car Care · Leave a Comment
Miles of Smiles 101 Great Car Games and Activities
Please add “Revised in 2002″ in the “Product Details” section since we did a revision at that time but maintained the same
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Great book!
I pulled this book out when things were degrading during our 3000+ mile road trip this summer. I chose a game, everyone played and had fun. The games are simple to learn, also indexed according to age group - which helped find an appropriate game quickly. When spending so much time in the car, you need many different “tools” to make it through. This is a great one!
4 Stars Lots of activities
This was a great book, we have used it on 2 long trips so far and love it. There are tongue twisters, jokes, and lots of activities for everyone to participate in. A great buy!!
5 Stars it’s all about the journey there!
I’ve seen those ads for minivans with little monitors for passengers in the back seats to watch movies. Frankly, the idea of appals me! Don’t our children also need a vacation from TV & movies? How much real life are they missing? How dull will our children’s brains become, being force-fed with endless artificial stories?
“Are we there yet?” is a question rarely asked when you bring MILES OF SMILES along on your journeys. It is a good book for travellers, chock-a-block with things to do with eyes & brains. Thinking on the move, exercising the brain cells, learning to wrap the tongue around strange words, thinking inside the head, rather than passively, staring into space as someone else’s ideas reel into the mind.
In my childhood, the only way we went on vacations was by family car. My mother was the driver, with my father navigating. To retain his sanity, he invented all sorts of brain teasing games. So, I was thrilled when I came upon Carole Terwilliger Meyers’ handy little book MILES OF SMILES. It’s perfect for a glove compartment or a seat pocket. I have, however, played many of these games with my kids on busses, trains, even ‘planes.
MILES OF SMILES is a book that will let you think, use your brain, get to know your family. It has a whole slew of new games to play, which can be adapted to any age passengers. In the Introduction, Carole Terwilliger Meyers even gives parents a clue as to how to entice teenagers into the games.
Pick up a couple of copies of MILES OF SMILES - just in case you lose the first!
Subaru Legacy and Forester 2000 06 Chiltons Total Car Care Repair Manuals
April 15, 2009 by Car Care · Leave a Comment
Subaru Legacy and Forester 2000 06 Chiltons Total Car Care Repair Manuals
Total Car Care is the most complete, step-by-step automotive repair manual you’ll ever use. All repair procedures are supported by detailed specifications, exploded views, and photographs. From the simplest repair procedure to the most complex, trust Chilton’s Total Car Care to give you everything you need to do the job. Save time and money by doing it yourself, with the confidence only a Chilton Repair Manual can provide.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Awesome!
My mom owns a 2001 Forrester and the check engine light came on. The car was idling very roughly and even blowing some white smoke.
The car’s warranty had JUST expired. To make matters worse, I had read online that the car was prone to head gasket problems, and when I plugged the symptoms and make and model into google I came up with a ton of very bad scenarios.
My wife has started staying home with our kids, and we are on one salary. I’ve had to learn how to get by on less QUICK. Very recently I got a tool set and started changing my own oil and doing my own breaks (saving a TON). I read a great book called: Auto Repair For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) and had learned how to do breaks online on my own vehicle (Auto Repair for Dummies doesn’t show you how to do breaks… but does teach you how your brake system works) So, I decided to go a step farther for mom and buy this manual and see just how radical I could get to save her some money. (She is retired and on a fixed income. The dealer she got the car from went out of business… AFTER raking her over the coals on the purchase! I wish she had told me about it before hand!)
So, I drove her car down to Auto Zone and had them check the engine with the computer. This is a FREE service (go AUTO ZONE!) I bought this manual, and I asked the guy at Auto Zone for advice.
He said the computer told him the problem was in cylinder three. I asked if this meant a possible head gasket problem and he shook his head and said, “Look; do cheap work first to eliminate simple possible causes. Only move on to the expensive fussy stuff AFTER you check the cheap and obvious. For now, change the plugs and wires and see what happens.”
I had never done this before on any vehicle. This manual was awesome for vehicle specific advise to get my confidence up. I’ve pretty much read the whole thing and it is remarkable how detailed the instructions are. This manual is AWESOME! Of course, Auto Repair For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) had good instructions too. Between the two sources for learning, I felt plenty confident to do the job.
So, I got out my new ratchet and got to work. With the help of this EXCELLENT book the work was easy.
I got the job done, and at the same time did an oil change and checked the PCV. I unplugged and removed the battery to reset the computer and to help me get at the plugs (its a little tight in there).
Once the job was finished (it took me about 2 hours…. first timer!) I had mom take it out for a test drive.
She said it hadn’t run better… ever.
The idle was smooth, all the roughness had disappeared. When I “read” the spark plugs (this book makes it EASY as there is a full color guide in the back of the manual) it became clear that because mom only does short mileage runs in town for low mileage the plug in that third cylinder had become carbon fouled. The plugs were all fouled to some extent, but the one in the third cylinder was NASTY.
I am now a huge fan of Chilton Manuals (not to mention that guy at Auto Zone who saved my mom more than a $1000.00 and told me how to proceed). I own one of these manuals for every car in our household. We have a van for the wife and kids, and my car, and my mom’s (she now lives with us). I ALWAYS investigate to see if I can get the job done myself first when there is a problem with the cars.
This is a great manual.
2 Stars All models, my foot!!!! No mention of 6 cylinder engines at all.
In my opinion this manual is lame at best and largely useless to me because it does NOT cover all models. I bought it because I have a six cylinder L.L. Bean Outback and have waited 6 years for this to come out, and guess what? There is absolutely no mention of this engine in the manual and this engine has been around since 2000 or 2001. (Apparently I have a top secret engine in my 2002 Outback.) I guess if you have a four banger, it may be alright but I resent being snookered by the deceptive description of the contents. Shame on the author and Chiltons. Pass on this “manual.” Spend your money on the shop manuals from Subaru and get something useable.
4 Stars Pretty good
This manual is significantly better the various other Chilton/Haynes manuals I’ve owned over the years. Usually it doesn’t take long to discover critical information that’s been left out- but I’ve had no such problems with this one. The photos and illustrations are plentiful and helpful.
4 Stars Typical Chilton manual– identical to the Haynes manual
Typical Chilton manual. For basic maintenance, this will help you get the job done. Don’t expect this to be a factory manual.
This book is identical in content (word for word) to the Haynes manual. Their layout is slightly different. Buy one, but not both. Chilton seems to have larger diagrams, Haynes has more efficient print layout. Take your pick.
2 Stars subaru legacy&forester chilton’s
this manual is nothing more than a haynes with different covers! shame on you people!!!! why can’t the repair car manual producers create a decent manual!!!
