Before you spend money on automotive repair learning materials, settle the bigger question: do you learn by reading or by watching? These two options sit at opposite ends of that line. Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair is a hardcover reference, while Automotive Maintenance with Jason Varnum is a DVD box set. One is a book to keep on the shelf; the other is a video course to play on your screen. Whether you're maintaining your daily driver or getting into automotive and powersports repair, this choice shapes how you'll pick up skills.
Quick verdict
If you prefer a durable, look-it-up reference that covers inspection, maintenance, and repair in one volume, choose the hardcover. If you would rather watch an instructor move through maintenance tasks, choose the DVD. The hardcover gives you broader written coverage; the DVD lets you watch the work happen.
Comparison at a glance
| Feature | Automotive Service | Automotive Maintenance with Jason Varnum |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Hardcover | DVD box set |
| Price | $64.99 | $14.95 |
| Price bar | ||
| Learning style | Read, study, and look up | Watch and follow along |
| Coverage | Inspection, maintenance, and repair | Periodic maintenance |
| Condition | Like New | Brand New |
Where Automotive Service wins
- The book's title makes its scope clear, giving you a wider range of service topics in one place.
- The hardcover has a clean page block, unblemished binding, straight boards, and no markings, making it a sturdy shop reference.
- It's a book, so you can flip to a specific procedure and keep it open while you work.
Where Automotive Maintenance with Jason Varnum wins
- It's a full DVD series that lets you watch a maintenance task from start to finish.
- Jason Varnum is described as an ASE Master Technician and automotive technology instructor, and the lessons focus on practical maintenance.
- The DVD is in English and region-free for worldwide playback, so it's easy to start using immediately.
Product notes
Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair
This hardcover is the kind of reference you keep near your work area. It gives you written explanations for service tasks you can return to whenever you need them. The copy is described with no markings, a firm page block, and straight boards, which matters when you're flipping around a lot. The trade-off is heft: it weighs more than 120 ounces, and at $64.99 it's the higher-priced choice. If you learn best by watching, you'll still want a video companion, but for looking up a procedure mid-job, this book is hard to beat.
Automotive Maintenance with Jason Varnum
This DVD series is the pick if you want to see a master technician work through maintenance steps in order. Jason Varnum is described as an ASE Master Technician with advanced-level specialist credentials and 30 years of repair experience, so the instruction comes from a seasoned automotive technology teacher. The lessons show you how to perform periodic maintenance on a vehicle step by step. You also get a complete series box set, so the whole course is in one package. The limitation is the format: a video is less convenient for quickly checking a specific procedure than a book. If you prefer following along on a screen, this set makes it easy to start.
Final choice by use case
- If you want a comprehensive shop reference: Choose Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair.
- If you want visual guidance on maintenance: Choose Automotive Maintenance with Jason Varnum.
- If you're working on cars or powersports vehicles and need to look something up mid-job: The hardcover is the more practical companion.
- If you're starting out and want to watch a professional demonstrate the task first: The DVD is the more approachable entry point.
