When you are shopping for a repair reference for automotive powersports repair, the same hardcover textbook can show up in different used copies at very different prices. Tim Gilles' Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair is available in two practical forms: the Mindtap Course List Ser. copy for USD 23.90 and the separate Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair hardcover for USD 50.11. Both list the same ISBN (9781305110595), the same hardcover format, and the same author, which makes the purchase decision mostly about condition, price, and presentation.
Quick verdict
The Mindtap Course List copy is the better buy for most readers who want a complete service text without spending the higher amount. It is listed as Very Good, is marked Revised, and shares the same core reference as the more expensive copy. The Automotive Service hardcover has the same author and ISBN, but its condition grade is lower and it costs much more. Unless that separate copy's straightforward title matters to you, the lower-priced Mindtap copy gives you the same book with a better condition grading.
At a glance
| Detail | Mindtap Course List Automotive Service | Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Price | USD 23.90 | USD 50.11 |
| Condition | Very Good | Acceptable |
| Format | Hardcover | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781305110595 | 9781305110595 |
| Author | Tim Gilles | Tim Gilles |
Where the Mindtap Course List copy wins
The lower-priced copy wins on cost and condition. It is marked Revised and comes from Cengage's Mindtap Course List Series. If you are adding a practical shop manual for automotive powersports repair, this is the copy that makes the most financial sense while still delivering the same ISBN and author as the higher-priced version.
Where the Automotive Service hardcover wins
The Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair hardcover is the better fit if you want the plain, unadorned title on your copy and are comfortable with a lower condition grade. It shares the same ISBN and author as the lower-priced copy, and it is still Tim Gilles' automotive service text. The tradeoff is the higher price; the benefit is the straightforward book title without the series prefix.
Product notes
Mindtap Course List Ser.: Automotive Service : Inspection, Maintenance, Repair
For a repair-library copy that costs less, the Mindtap Course List edition is a strong candidate. It is listed as Very Good, which is a more presentable condition than the other copy, and the Revised feature points to the newer version of the 2015 hardcover. The book includes 1,632 pages and comes from Cengage's Mindtap Course List Series, so it fits naturally into a course or training collection. The main limitation is the series-style title: the 'Mindtap Course List Ser.' prefix makes it look like a course text rather than a direct repair manual. Readers who prefer a cleaner title will have to look at the other copy, which costs more and has a lower condition grade.
Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair
If the straightforward book title is what you want, the Automotive Service hardcover delivers that without the Mindtap prefix. It is listed as Acceptable, so it is not for someone who wants a clean shelf copy; there is also a caveat that the stock photo may not match the actual cover. What you do get is the same title and author, plus item details that show the full-size nature of a 123.1-ounce service book. This copy makes sense for a reader who wants 'Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair' printed plainly on the order and who is comfortable with used condition. The main downside is that you are paying the higher price for essentially the same title and author.
Final choice by use case
Choose the Mindtap Course List copy if you want the better condition for the lower price and you do not mind a course-series prefix. Choose the Automotive Service hardcover if you want the plain book title and are willing to accept 'Acceptable' condition and a higher price. For most repair readers, the revised, Very Good, lower-priced copy is the easier decision.
