Choosing automotive repair training comes down to a fork in the road: do you want to watch a technician work through the systems, or do you prefer a textbook you can flip through at your own pace? The four options here cover both paths, from a complete 12-disc video curriculum to a 1961 fundamentals textbook and two Tim Gilles hardcover service texts. Prices span $10.50 to $126.01, so the decision is as much about format as it is about budget.
Quick take: The DVD set is the only video option here. The vintage book is a low-priced classics pick. The two Tim Gilles hardcovers are traditional reference texts; the main differences are condition, page count, and price.
| Product | Price | Price Bar |
|---|---|---|
| AUTO REPAIR DVDs / ALL 12 VIDEO COURSES / AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM | USD 119.95 | |
| Automotive Fundamentals Book 1961 College Course Vintage Book Repair Book Table | USD 10.50 | |
| Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair (MindTap Course List | USD 126.01 | |
| Automotive Service Inspection Maintenance Repair 5th Ed. by Tim Gilles | USD 29.99 |
| Format | Condition | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 12-course DVD set | Brand New | Visual learners who want to work through vehicle subsystems on screen |
| Vintage hardback textbook | Used | Vintage collectors and readers who want a low-cost fundamentals overview |
| Revised hardcover textbook | Good | Students and techs who want a revised hardcover reference covering inspection, maintenance, and repair |
| 5th edition hardcover textbook | Acceptable | Budget-focused readers who want a comprehensive Tim Gilles text when a lower condition is acceptable |
Product Notes
AUTO REPAIR DVDs / ALL 12 VIDEO COURSES / AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM
At $119.95, this course set is the only video option here. It includes all 12 video courses and is Brand New in DVD format. The curriculum is built around an ASE Master Technician with 30 years of repair experience, which makes it a solid pick if you prefer seeing troubleshooting and repairs rather than reading about them. The set covers common problems across different vehicle subsystems, so you can jump to the topic you need. On the flip side, it is a Director's Cut boxed set with a G rating, which may feel like overkill if you only need a quick reference. You are paying for the full video library, not a single topic.
Automotive Fundamentals Book 1961 College Course Vintage Book Repair Book Table
The lowest price in this group is $10.50 for this vintage hardback by Venk and Billiet. Published by the American Technical Society, it comes from a college course and is marked Used. If you want an automotive fundamentals text from the early 1960s, this is the one to grab. The book covers basics in a clear, concise style, and the pages are intact with a tight spine. The trade-off is that it is a vintage hardback with no manufacturer warranty. That makes it more of a collector's or hobbyist's pick than a daily reference for today's shop.
Automotive Service: Inspection, Maintenance, Repair (MindTap Course List
At $126.01, this is the highest price among the four options. It is a revised hardcover edition by Tim Gilles in Good condition, and it carries the same topic focus as the other Tim Gilles title: inspection, maintenance, and repair. The MindTap Course List version suggests it is meant for a structured course environment, and the revised feature distinguishes it from the other Tim Gilles option. If you want a hardcover textbook in better condition and expect to use it for coursework, this is the one to pay up for. The catch is the price: it is noticeably above the other three, so you need to be committed to a detailed textbook rather than a video series or an older edition.
Automotive Service Inspection Maintenance Repair 5th Ed. by Tim Gilles
Priced at $29.99, this 5th edition hardcover by Tim Gilles is the lower-priced route to a full inspection, maintenance, and repair text. The book includes 1,632 pages and is marked Acceptable. That page count gives you a lot of reference material, and the ISBN tells you it is the 5th edition rather than the course-oriented version. If you are checking whether a used textbook can save you money while still offering the same author's approach, this is the one to consider. The trade-off is the Acceptable condition, so you should expect a well-worn copy. It is still a hardcover with no missing pages, but the Acceptable condition means you are not getting the cleaner condition of the other hardcover.
Final Recommendation by Use Case
- If you learn best by watching a technician explain and repair: the 12-course DVD set is your match.
- If you want a low-cost piece of automotive history: the vintage textbook is the play.
- If you want the course-oriented hardcover: the MindTap Course List text is there.
- If you want a full textbook without the higher price: the lower-priced hardcover is the pick.
