First Things First
Even when you first start thinking about replacing your car, the thing that comes to mind is assessing your needs. Then what often happens is that you have a very good idea of what you need and how much you want to pay for it and then after talking with a few dozen sales people, your original intentions are forgotten. There are also a lot of little things that sometimes get overlooked in all the excitement of buying another car. They always seem to become more important later: like, why didn't I think of that?!?

Covered are discussions on the pros and cons of wagons, mini-vans, sedans, convertibles, and even sports-cars, along with a lot of considerations on each that may never even have occurred to you.

Then we go into all those optional extras, which ones are worth having and why, which ones might be more trouble than they're worth, and even some ideas on how you can make some of the options do things most folks have never even thought of. We cover all of the accessories and dispel some of the popular myths about how much they cost to operate, how dependable (or not) they are, and whether or not they're cost-effective.
We'll discuss how your choice of a car affects your insurance costs, the big-car vs. compact debate, and last but certainly not least, whether or not to consider a car with lots of miles on the odometer.

Going In Prepared
This chapter is all about creating confidence in you, the buyer. You'll learn the neat little tricks the salesman has been taught in his intensive training sessions, and once you know them, they become useless to him. You can even turn some of them around to your advantage. Of course, you might get to meet everybody on the staff if you insist on having too much fun with this . . .

These techniques apply at the repair shop as well as at the dealer's, and once you get them down, you might do as some women I've told them to have done. They've told me that they had so much fun with the dealer that they went and saw a few more. Now that's a switch in attitude!

Even the sanest, most rational, most conservative person has difficulty keeping emotions out of the decision to buy a car. Few people can buy a car without visualizing themselves driving up somewhere: "What does this car say about me?"
In this chapter, you'll get a guided tour through the auto-sales business, and I'll be your guide. I'll share with you just a few key examples of the unbelievable things that go on at auto dealers all over the country. Some of these examples are from my own direct experience, some are from dealers' sales conventions, and others are "conquest tales" from other dealers and salesmen.

The reason for introducing you to this total violation of integrity is for only one reason: Once you become aware of this cross-section of scams, you'll instantly recognize the thread that runs through almost all of them. Recognizing that you're being scammed is half the battle. The rest is up to you: Leave!

Also covered are the financial considerations of "going in prepared." Dealers can and do manipulate dollar figures in the sales office, and if you're not prepared before hand, it's just that much easier for them. You'll learn how to get all the financial details clear in your mind before setting foot into a dealer's lair. You'll learn how to be in control of the transaction, from start to finish!

Private-Party Sales
One way to avoid dealer-induced trauma is to buy your car from a private party. This can be a pleasant experience mutually beneficial to both seller and buyer. You can even meet some interesting people! It can also be a real bummer. Here's how to make it work for you.

You'll learn the easy ways to tell the difference between someone who buys and sells cars on the side, and a legitimate person selling his or her own car. You'll learn why the guy who sells cars on the side isn't necessarily a guy to avoid, and how to tell the difference. You'll learn all the right questions to ask, how to do the wheelin' and dealin', and even why it's often to your advantage to buy a car from a woman rather than from a man (but not always!).

Also discussed here, and in the chapter on warranties, are some of the warranty considerations of buying from a private party rather than from a dealer. They might just surprise you, too!

Miles per Gallon vs. Miles per Dollar
Ask several friends what the term "economy car" means and you'll hear mostly about gas mileage. An economy car, by definition, should be economical, right? And "economical" implies that it will cost less to own and operate than one which is less economical. Gas mileage alone is not the answer.

This chapter makes very clear the difference between "miles per gallon," and "miles per dollar." Over the time you own your car, it's the miles per dollar that count, and we'll cover some cost- considerations that might surprise you. Like are small cars necessarily cheaper to operate than bigger ones? Economy cars cheaper than the luxury editions? There are lots of things to consider if budget transportation is your goal, and some of the most obvious are also the least important!

Special Interest Cars
Do you ever dream about owning one of those lovely exotics, like a Jaguar or a Mercedes? Can you see yourself in a really beautiful Alfa Romeo convertible or an MG roadster? How about a like-new ‘65 Mustang, or some other nostalgic jewel?

Well, contrary to a popular myth, you can have your cake and eat it, too! If you've been reading this book and are more-or-less agreeing that the ideas presented make sense, but that this "objective and sensible" approach to car-buying takes out a lot of the fun, read on.

In this chapter, you'll find out how you can own the car of your dreams for less than your neighbors paid for their new disposable econo-car. You'll learn how driving the car of your dreams lets you turn auto-ownership from a bad liability into an attractive investment. You'll learn how and where to find this treasure, how to evaluate it for purchase, and how to keep it young for as long as you choose to own it. If you're one of the lucky women who really likes cars (that means your car is more to you than just transportation), owning a special-interest car is definitely an exciting concept!

The Trade-In
Remember the last time you traded in a car? After you drove off in your new purchase, did you question whether or not you really got a fair deal? Understanding the trade-in game needn't be difficult, although it often seems so. This is a short chapter because it only needs to make one simple point: Don't do it! After you read this, you'll never again be inclined to offer up your car as a trade-in . . . guaranteed!

Dealer Auctions
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Auctions But Didn't Care Enough to Ask, or why should I care? That was the alternate title for this chapter!

It's really simple. The more you expand your how-the-car-selling-business-works consciousness, the less likely you'll be a target for a con-job. Con-jobs are pervasive throughout the car business, and the dealers and their salespeople are pros at this game and much evidence supports the notion that women are favored targets. The more you know about how the game works, the better your position. It's difficult to fool somebody who is well informed!

Although you'll probably never attend a wholesale auto auction, it's to your advantage to know what goes on there and how it fits into the whole picture of retail auto sales. Like, is there any truth to the popular belief that any car coming from an auction is junk? And if not, why would a dealer take a perfectly good car to an auction when he could presumably get more for it from a retail customer? Knowing a little about the hows and whys of dealer auction can be to your distinct advantage in dealing with dealers.

The "Book" and Its Mystery Unraveled
We've all heard of the "blue book," right? Is it really some kind of last-word authority on what a car is really worth? Maybe you remember hearing something like, "Oh yes, and today only, we can allow you the ‘Blue-Book value' on your trade-in." Or perhaps you've heard this one, "Today only, I can let you have this car for only $100 over wholesale book. Now, that's a deal!"

Just what is this "bible" of the used car business? And why should you even care what this infamous book is all about?
What's important is that in car-dealing, a lot of money decisions are based on this book. Dealers and salesmen often use the book's figures to "prove" to their customers the value of both cars they have for sale and those offered in trade. If you need any convincing that your money decisions should never be based on these figures, you definitely want to read this chapter!

Dealers use the "book" to manipulate figures and to justify their prices. There are some slick ways that a dealer can get any kind of figure he needs at the moment from this amazing tool, and it's to your advantage to know how it works. This chapter tells it all!

The FTC Sticker
A few years ago, the Federal Trade Commission, in what they wanted the consumer to believe was an attempt to regulate certain aspects of the auto industry, invented a document known to the public as the "Buyers Guide" and to the trade as the "FTC Sticker." It became law that this document be displayed in a conspicuous manner in all vehicles for sale to the public by dealers. Any violations are punishable by an immediate $10,000 fine per incident.

This chapter explains how the FTC sticker really benefits the dealer and not the customer. You'll learn how to read the sticker and what the notations will mean to you.

Warranties
Did you know that the "warranties" offered by most used-car dealers are big-time moneymaker for them and rarely benefit the customer? This chapter covers the ins and outs of all the different kinds of warranties, how they work, and how to evaluate them. You'll learn why buying a warranty from a used-car dealer is almost always a total waste of money, and why the dealers are so eager to offer them to you.

Insurance
Unfortunately, the insurance business is just about as tricky as the car-business. This chapter gives a few examples of common ways that insurance companies get more from us than they have a right to, and the ways to protect ourselves from their games.

Also discussed are your rights in the event of a claim, and how you can stay in control of any resulting transactions. You'll learn the tricks that the adjusters often use when evaluating the extent of damage from an accident and how you can get a fair settlement. We'll cover collision insurance; how much to buy or if you even need it in the first place. And finally, you'll learn what to do if you get no satisfaction from your insurance company at all.

Financing
This chapter discloses some of the ways that dealers use financing to substantially increase the amount of money they get for their cars. You'll learn why dealer-financing is almost never a good deal, how and why to secure your financing before you even shop for the car, and how to figure what portion of the price of the car is reasonable to finance.

You'll even learn how to get a tax-deductible auto loan! You'll learn why to steer clear of "zero- down" deals, how dealers can offer "1.9%" financing and what these loans really cost you, and you'll even get some examples of how you can finance a car, make payments on it for a year and still owe more than you paid for it! You'll also get some examples of why those "low interest loans" are never a reason to consider a new car.

Planned Obsolescence
A mini-course on planned obsolescence is important to anyone contemplating a newer car. It's even more important to those considering a new car! There's so much flash and hype about what is "new" that the word has lost its meaning, especially in the auto arena. There really isn't much new in cars anymore. Different, yes. New, no.

Understanding how this concept works in the car business can save you many thousands of dollars on the purchase of your next car, and then on for always. It is key to understand that the main reason for "new" is to make whatever you already have seem like second best, and that "new" isn't always better at all. Quite the contrary. This chapter gives you ample evidence to that end, and you'll gain an easy understanding of how it's worked for many years, how it still works so very well, and how it will always be. Knowing these things is an important survival skill when car-shopping!

Check It Out--The Part That Shows
Are you ready to roll up your sleeves now? You've spent a lot of time doing constructive, objective reasoning about cars, right? You've kept in mind the role your emotions will play in the selection of your new (used) car, and you feel comfortable knowing that your decision will be based on good judgment, right?

You've found a car that's just what you've been looking for, so now is the time to make sure that this is also the car you really want: a car that has received proper maintenance and is exactly what it appears to be. You don't want to end up with a carefully disguised lemon.

This chapter and the next one get into some technical stuff that you may or may not want to deal with on your own. This is just the body and interior inspection . . . we're not even going to get our hands dirty yet! None of the techniques described here are beyond what you can handle, if you want to. You just need to pay close attention to some details; you don't have to be an auto- mechanic. If you don't feel up to it, take someone with you who is familiar with cars and how they work. (Not just somebody who says they are, either!)

If you follow the guidelines of this (and the following) chapter when selecting your car, you willget a car that will serve you well for many years. You will end up with a car that's been properly maintained and is everything it appears to be.

Check It Out--Under the Hood and Under the Car
Now comes the part you might wish would simply go away! This chapter presents a very complete mechanical checklist. Most people don't go to this much trouble inspecting a car, and you might not want to, either. But it won't hurt to read through the information just so you'll be familiar with what's here. That way, if you're looking over a car and something isn't right, you'll remember reading about it and can then check further. Also, don't forget to take along the Pocket Check List that comes with the book. It'll guide you through the tests, and then if you need more info, each item is referenced back to the page where it appears in the book.

These two chapters on checking out a car are written assuming that the reader is not a mechanic but that she knows her way around the basics of a car and will seek competent help if it gets over her head!

The Test Drive
This is the fun part. You've looked the car over and you're satisfied that it's good enough to try a test drive. All the outside stuff and the cosmetics checked out OK. This chapter takes you through a thorough test drive that will evaluate all parts and systems of the car in operation. It's thorough but easy and you'll learn a few things about this and any other car in the process. The

Pocket Check List that comes with the book will guide you through every part of the test-drive, and then if you come across something that needs closer attention, the Check List will have a number referring you back to the book on that topic. Also discussed are some techniques to get the salesman or owner to lighten up with the pitch while you're trying to put your attention on the car!

What to Do When It Breaks
Are you aware that many women actually believe that there's some mysterious phenomenon about their gender that precludes their being able to understand anything mechanical? NOT!

If you follow the guidelines in this book, there's not much of a chance that you'll ever need to concern yourself with a car that breaks. Really! Your author has driven more than a million miles in hundreds of different cars, many with hundreds of thousands of miles on them, and to date has never had to walk because of a broken car. Breakdowns are definitely not a normal part of car-ownership!

OK, so something goes wrong, you hear a funny noise, smell a funny smell. What to do now? This chapter stresses preventive maintenance! It stresses getting to know your car; what is normal and what is not. When you hear or feel something that isn't normal, it's your car crying out to you for help! Most people tend to let things like that go. Like, fix it when it breaks. Well, that cry for attention is the time to fix it. Most often, something like that is a really easy fix, but if you let it go, it can get really expensive, not to mention inconvenient.

You'll learn how to evaluate the signs of impending problems and then how to take care of them. Even if you have no desire to learn anything at all about how your car works, you'll learn how to get the fix taken care of properly and reasonably.

You'll discover how to find an honest and competent mechanic (yes, they do exist!), and how to make sure you'll never need "emergency repairs." Most so-called emergency repairs are the direct result of neglect. For example, if you never open your hood and inspect things like fan belts and radiator hoses (or never ask your mechanic to do it) and then one hot summer day an old radiator hose springs a leak, can you really call that an emergency? I'd be more inclined to call it a planned failure. The exact time of failure wasn't planned, but by neglecting something that needed such obvious attention, the failure itself was surely planned. But it will never happen to you!

Keep it Running (Nearly) Forever
To expect our cars to run (nearly) forever, we must give them back something in return. Without a doubt, regular scheduled maintenance is what it takes. Almost any car will make it well over 100,000 miles before needing any major work, and when you follow the guidelines in this book, you'll not buy the exception to this rule.

This chapter is more or less a summary of the periodic maintenance required to keep your car young as long as possible. There are 30,000-mile cars that are worn out, and there are 150,000- mile cars that run and look like new. What's the difference between the two? Care and maintenance. It's always cheaper to do that scheduled maintenance than it is to do the repairs resulting from neglect, and the scheduled maintenance is just that: scheduled. Your schedule. Repairs and breakdowns resulting from neglect rarely happen at convenient times or places.

With a minimum of effort and cost, you can keep your car as dependable as new for many years, and here's how to do it.

Pocket Check List
The Pocket Check List is a folding, pocket-size card that comes with the book, and it is an outline of all the things you need to check when examining a car for possible purchase. It guides you through the inspection process and the test drive, and after each item there's a page number that takes you back to the book if you need additional information. Don't leave home without it!

About the Author
Skip Thomsen, born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, has been a car nut since he was sixteen, and that was a long time ago. Since then, he's owned hundreds of different vehicles and several repair and body shops in both California and Oregon. He was a licensed auto dealer in both states for many years. His shops earned the reputation of doing some of the finest work available. Many of his customers were owners of classic, racing and special-interest autos. His mechanical expertise has served him well in building successful show- and race-cars from the ground up. He believes that contrary to popular myth, mechanical breakdowns are not a fact of life.

Over the years in various auto businesses, Thomsen observed that women are regularly seen as easy victims for every kind of moneymaking scam imaginable. In recent years, "feeling helpless" came up often when listening to women talk about their auto-related dealings.

After his retirement from the auto business in 1989, he started formulating a car book for women who want an excellent car at a reasonable price and who feel uneasy about dealing with dealers, mechanics and others in the trade. With the able help of his six female editors (see "Meet the Editors!"), that book has now been published as "The Intelligent Woman's (Used) Car Book."

Thomsen has successfully self-published two how-to books in other fields and is marketing them through his company, Oregon Wordworks, in Portland, Oregon, and through booksellers all over the country. He has also written numerous magazine articles on various how-to topics, including several on dealing with cars. Reviews of his writing consistently commend him for his ability to make complex topics clear and easy to understand.

Thomsen is considering a future book on buying, owning and enjoying special-interest autos. Covered to some extent in "The Intelligent Woman's (Used) Car Book" (Chapter 5), this exciting field of motoring allows one to drive a luxury dream-car or perhaps an as-new, vintage collectible for less than the price of a new economy car. It also eliminates the huge expense of depreciation, and in the bargain can bring fun back into driving.

Mr. Thomsen is now happily living in rural Hawaii with his fiance, Camille; two cats and his runs-like-new twelve-year-old convertible.

Meet the Editors!
I want to express my appreciation to the six women without whose patient, careful and thorough editing help, The Intelligent Woman's (Used) Car Book would not be. These particular women were selected because of their diverse uses for, interests in and attitudes about their cars, cars in general, and all the things having to do with cars. All of them said they learned a lot from reading the material and all of the material reads a lot better because of their efforts.

Barbara Adams lives in rural Hawaii. Really rural Hawaii. She is a professional bureaucratic problem-solver, mediator and mentor to those in need. She especially likes to see how many miles she can squeeze out of her cars before Hawaii's notorious rust finally claims them. She says that one of the most useful tools to keep in her car at all times is her sense of humor. Her editing contribution was primarily in the areas of content and concepts and was especially valuable because of her expertise in keeping cars like old Pintos with football-sized rust holes running as long as possible.

Gayle Chavez also lives in Hawaii and has for so long that I won't even mention she's a transplant from Southern California. She is thirty-something, has her own business and drives her tiny car a lot. She uses it for business and pleasure, loves it almost as much as her cat, enjoys driving and gives her car impeccable care. She makes sure that it is always serviced on schedule. Any little irregularity is taken care of immediately and her precious car is always spotless. I picked her as an editor because of her enthusiasm about her car, because of the way she takes care of it and not incidently, for her excellent command of English. She has a better-than-average grasp of the basics of both a car and of the human mind (BS in Human Services and graduate work in Psychology), so her suggestions on anything that she found difficult to understand were especially valuable.

Penelope Frey is a mid-thirties computer software instructor and makes her home in Huntington Beach, California. She has a love for classic and special-interest cars, drives a ‘69 Mustang (when she's not riding her Harley) and has a feel for things mechanical. She doesn't like the new cars; she feels they have no style or character any more. She added her own unique insight to the editing procedure and made a lot of valuable corrections and suggestions on how to make the material (especially the technical) as clear as possible.

Carol Kuehn, early fifties, lives in the woods of Northern California. She drives a late-model Jeep 4x4 pickup that she bought new because she wanted to "avoid buying someone else's troubles." (That was before she read this book.) She holds a BA in Psychology from Stanford and is a freelance writer as well as an avid gardener and horticulturalist. She uses her truck for all the associated practical reasons. Carol is a stickler for precise grammar, so we went ‘round and ‘round a few times with some of the liberties I took in keeping the book in a conversational tone. I believe we reached a happy compromise and she finally put away her red pencil. (I think she wore out several.)

Osha Reader, 53, runs a retreat center in the Northern California Sierra. She has two cars, a vintage Porshe that she's owned for nearly thirty years and an Acura (which she bought new before she knew better!). She asked me to add this to her bio: "Like so many other women, I've assumed it was better to shell out ridiculous amounts of money for a new car than to buy a used one that might break down. Skip's book has completely changed this attitude. Now I'm happily anticipating the exciting special-interest cars I can choose from in the future at a fraction of what I've been paying for new ones in the past."
Osha has a Ph.D. in nutrition and a degree in naturopathic medicine. She is a published author and helped polish and edit the final draft of the manuscript.

And then there is my dear friend who chose to remain nameless. She is 42, a recently-retired computer scientist who has lived in Kansas City for the last twenty years. She owns a Honda Accord that she bought new and avoids driving whenever possible. I picked her as an editor for two reasons: her unique attitude about cars in general and about driving in particular and the fact that she has proven herself to be an editing nitpicker without equal. Her editing expertise focused mainly on content and how it was presented. She found (and I subsequently rewrote) every word, phrase and paragraph that she felt, from a woman's point of view, was unclear, ambiguous or worse.

Thank you all,
Skip Thomsen