Choosing auto repair training materials can feel like a fork in the road: do you want a thick reference textbook, a full video course you can watch, or a focused manufacturer binder from years past? You also have to decide how much to spend, with these four listings ranging from $26.95 to $119.95. The right pick depends on how you learn best, what topic you need to master, and how much condition risk you are willing to accept.
Quick Take
If you want a comprehensive, modern textbook and prefer the lower listed price, go with the $74.99 hardcover copy of *Automotive Technology: A Systems Approach*. If you want a complete video curriculum taught by an ASE Master Technician, the $119.95 *AUTO REPAIR DVDs / ALL 12 VIDEO COURSES* is the only video option here. If you want a budget-focused engine repair course and are comfortable with a well-used physical binder, the $26.95 *GM STG FOLDER-ENGINE REPAIR COURSE* is the cheapest way in.
Listed Price Comparison
| Option | Listed price | Price bar |
|---|---|---|
| Automotive Technology: A Systems Approach (Hardcover) - $95.40 listing | USD 95.40 | |
| Automotive Technology: A Systems Approach (Hardcover) - $74.99 listing | USD 74.99 | |
| AUTO REPAIR DVDs / ALL 12 VIDEO COURSES | USD 119.95 | |
| GM STG FOLDER-ENGINE REPAIR COURSE | USD 26.95 |
Decision Matrix
- Format: The two *Automotive Technology* listings are hardcover textbooks; the *AUTO REPAIR DVDs* set is a DVD-based curriculum; the GM STG item is a used paper binder.
- Content depth: The textbook covers a systems approach to automotive technology across 1728 pages. The DVD set includes 12 video courses with lessons from Jason Varnum, described as an ASE Master Technician with 30 years of repair experience. The GM binder is specifically an engine repair course from General Motors Corporation.
- Price: Listed prices range from $26.95 for the used GM folder to $119.95 for the DVD set. The two textbook listings share the same ISBN and hardcover format, but one is listed at $95.40 and the other at $74.99.
- Condition: The GM folder is the only item explicitly listed as used, with the description noting possible writing, stains, and damage. The DVD set is described as brand new. The two textbook listings carry different condition words in their titles versus attributes, so the safest approach is to treat condition as uncertain for those.
Product Notes
Automotive Technology: A Systems Approach (Hardcover) - $95.40 listing
This hardcover listing by Rob Thompson and Jack Erjavec is part of the MindTap Course List series, with ISBN 9781337794213 and the "Revised" feature noted. It is a serious textbook, running 1728 pages according to the description, and covers automotive technology from a systems perspective. That makes it a solid reference for someone who wants a comprehensive classroom-style text. The limitation is the listed price: at $95.40, it is the second most expensive option here, and the exact same ISBN and hardcover format appears in this lineup at $74.99. If you are comparing purely on listed price, this particular listing is harder to justify unless something about this exact copy matters to you.
Automotive Technology: A Systems Approach (Hardcover) - $74.99 listing
The same *Automotive Technology: A Systems Approach* hardcover, also authored by Rob Thompson and Jack Erjavec, is listed here at $74.99. It shares the ISBN 9781337794213, the MindTap Course List series, and the hardcover format with the higher-priced copy. The description calls it a comprehensive textbook published by Cengage Learning in 2019. For someone who wants the depth of a full textbook, this listing gives you the same underlying content and format for $20.41 less than the other hardcover listing. The limitation is that it is still a textbook, not a video course, so if you learn better from watching someone work through repairs, the DVD set would be a different approach. Given the price overlap, this is the more attractive of the two textbook listings.
AUTO REPAIR DVDs / ALL 12 VIDEO COURSES / AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM
This is the only video-based option in the group. It is a brand-new DVD set that includes all 12 video courses, with lessons described as being taught by Jason Varnum, an ASE Master Technician with advanced-level specialist credentials. The description says he has 30 years of experience and has trained other mechanics to become ASE Master Technicians. The format is DVD, the genre is Educational, and the language is English. The strength here is the video format: you can watch repair demonstrations and explanations rather than reading them. The limitation is the $119.95 listed price, which is the highest in this comparison. It is also a complete curriculum, so if you only need a single engine-repair topic, you may be paying for far more content than you need.
GM STG FOLDER-ENGINE REPAIR COURSE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE TECHNOLOGY -WEBER RONDO 93
This is the budget option and the most specialized. It is a used General Motors Service Technology Group folder for an engine repair course, with part number 16790.00-2A and a date of 03/93 on the item. The description notes it came from a University Bookstore, with writing inside and possible damage such as stains or water damage, so condition is clearly part of the trade-off. The price is just $26.95, making it the lowest listed price in this group. If your focus is specifically engine repair and you want an authentic piece of GM training material from the early 1990s, this binder gives you that without the cost of the DVD set or the modern textbook. The limitation is that it is used and may show wear; the description says you get the item pictured, so you need to be comfortable with that level of uncertainty.
Final Recommendation
- For a comprehensive modern textbook at the lower listed price: Choose the *Automotive Technology: A Systems Approach* hardcover listed at $74.99. It offers the same ISBN and format as the $95.40 textbook listing for a lower price.
- For hands-on visual learning: Choose the *AUTO REPAIR DVDs / ALL 12 VIDEO COURSES* at $119.95 if you want a complete video curriculum and are willing to pay the highest price here.
- For a low-cost, focused engine repair course: Choose the *GM STG FOLDER-ENGINE REPAIR COURSE* at $26.95 if you are comfortable with a used binder and want a specialized topic at the lowest listed price.
- Skip the higher-priced textbook listing unless you specifically want that exact $95.40 copy; the same book is available for less in this lineup.
