Getting ready for an automotive powersports repair course or just want to refresh your understanding of vehicle systems? Tim Gilles' Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair is the hardcover textbook in front of you. The tricky part is that the same hardcover textbook shows up in two different conditions at two different prices. One is listed at $64.99 in Like New condition, the other at $48.21 in Very Good condition. Both carry the same ISBN and the same author, so the content between the covers is essentially identical. The real decision is how much you value a pristine page block versus a lower up-front cost.
Quick verdict
If you want a copy that shows no markings, a firm page block, and unblemished binding, spend $64.99 on the Like New edition. If you're comfortable with minor wear and possible light markings because you're mainly after the text, grab the $48.21 Very Good copy. You'll get the same core content without extra cost for pristine condition.
At a glance
| Copy | Condition | Listed Price | ISBN | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair (MindTap Course List) | Like New | $64.99 | 9781305110595 | Hardcover |
| Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair | Very Good | $48.21 | 9781305110595 | Hardcover |
Where the Like New edition wins
- The page block is described as firm and clean, with straight boards and an unblemished binding.
- It has no markings of any kind, which is a good fit for frequent use or long-term reference.
- The Like New condition makes this a better choice if the book might stay on your shelf for years.
Where the Very Good edition wins
- At $48.21, it's about 26% below the Like New copy's $64.99 price.
- All pages are included and the text is legible, so no content is missing.
- Minor signs of use are a reasonable trade-off for a lower price when you're buying for study and reference.
Product notes
Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair (MindTap Course List) - $64.99
This hardcover from the MindTap Course List line is for someone who wants the book to look as good as the content. The description highlights a firm, clean page block, straight boards, and an unblemished binding, with no markings anywhere in the book. That makes it an easy choice when the textbook will sit on a reference shelf or be handled frequently. At $64.99, it's the pricier of the two copies, and you're paying that extra for a condition that's essentially untouched. If the book is just a working text you'll use for a few months, that pristine presentation may be more than you actually need. Still, for a textbook you'll keep long-term, the Like New condition is the more satisfying route.
Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair - $48.21
This hardcover is described as a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. It may show minor signs of wear, and there could be slight markings or highlighting, but all pages are included and every page of text is legible. If you're buying Automotive Service for the information rather than the appearance, this Very Good copy delivers the same Tim Gilles content at a price that's roughly 26% lower than the Like New listing. The lower price is the biggest reason to pick it, especially if you're picking up the book for course prep or brushing up on service procedures. Just be ready to tolerate a little wear and possibly some pencil or highlighter marks from the previous owner. None of that changes the repair and maintenance guidance you're getting.
Final choice by use case
If you want a reference copy that looks new and gives you a polished experience every time you open it, go with the $64.99 Like New edition. If your priority is keeping money in your pocket and you're fine with a few signs of use, the $48.21 Very Good copy gives you the same textbook at a meaningfully lower price. Both are hardcover editions of the same book by Tim Gilles with the same ISBN, so your real choice comes down to condition versus cost.
