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Thoughts invited - Haynes Manuals - newer cars

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JPSmit

JPSmit

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I rely on my Haynes and Bentley Manuals for the MG & The Vauxhall.

I have heard that Haynes aren't what they were for newer cars. So, New Beetle/ Kia Soul, is it worth it?

thoughts? experiences?
 
I have purchased some of the later Haynes manuals for newer cars. You are correct that they don't cover 100% of the repair/maintenance like they did for older cars. However, it really isn't possible or practical for a modern car's Haynes manual to be that complete with all the electronics and such. However, if you want to know how to remove and replace parts (trim, suspensions, gearbox...) that is generally still there. They are still helpful, just maybe not to the level we could once expect.
 
I have a Bentley for my 99 VW which I sometimes refer to. More useful is a code reader and the web.
 
JPSmit said:
I rely on my Haynes and Bentley Manuals for the MG & The Vauxhall.
I have heard that Haynes aren't what they were for newer cars. So, New Beetle/ Kia Soul, is it worth it?
thoughts? experiences?
Click to expand...

Never understood the value of the generic section on body-work... making it look easy.
 
I have an OLD manual that shows just how easy it is to take a 1938 Chevrolet they rolled down the side of a mountain and jack the body back square, fix the dents, make it all perfect again.

I have a pile of those specifically generic manuals that are really worthless for a whole lot of things.
Then I have a shelf of factory manuals that give me exactly what I need.

If someone gives me a Haynes, I'll take it for the pile.
If I am going to spend any money at all, it will be a Factory Manual.
 
I just picked up a Haynes manual for the 2015 Nissan Rogue. It seems to be okay and covers just about anything I would do to the vehicle and then some. I picked up mine for about $15 on Amazon. How can you go wrong at that price?

I have the BL manual for the Sprite, and while it has been very useful, there are times it leaves me scratching my head, too.
 
Whenever someone complains about a Haynes manual I flash back to my youth when the most common manuals were from Chiltons and Clymers. Both had their limitations. I forget which of the two used this phrase the most but I found it particularly irritating to be told: "This task is beyond the scope of what can be done by the home mechanic and is best left to the dealer". Hogwash. I don't remember any classic Haynes manuals ever saying that. At the time, Haynes was a Godsend.
 
Bentley manuals seem quite good for today's cars. I've used them for two Audis, a BMW and two VWs.

Honestly, forums like these make manuals less useful... Google what you need to do, and there will be one or two u-tube videos and a few forums with DIYs. And lots of folks around to ask questions about it. (And that is not a complaint. I like being able to find stuff quickly! More importantly, you can find one or two different ways to do things, especially if you do not have car-specific specialized tools at hand.)

The manuals help with nuances, like torque values.
 
Popeye said:
Bentley manuals seem quite good for today's cars. I've used them for two Audis, a BMW and two VWs.

Honestly, forums like these make manuals less useful... Google what you need to do, and there will be one or two u-tube videos and a few forums with DIYs. And lots of folks around to ask questions about it. (And that is not a complaint. I like being able to find stuff quickly! More importantly, you can find one or two different ways to do things, especially if you do not have car-specific specialized tools at hand.)

The manuals help with nuances, like torque values.
Click to expand...

The more I read, the more this is the direction I think I will follow - thanks!
 
TOC said:
If someone gives me a Haynes, I'll take it for the pile.
If I am going to spend any money at all, it will be a Factory Manual.
Click to expand...

Yup-yup! "The horse's mouth." Done that for every car we've owned personally and many more for shop use.

I spent the shekels for the Toyota factory manuals (TWO volumes!) the day after Herself got the thing.
 
Popeye said:
....Honestly, forums like these make manuals less useful... Google what you need to do, and there will be one or two u-tube videos and a few forums with DIYs. And lots of folks around to ask questions about it. (And that is not a complaint. I like being able to find stuff quickly! More importantly, you can find one or two different ways to do things, especially if you do not have car-specific specialized tools at hand.)

The manuals help with nuances, like torque values.
Click to expand...

Had to replace an idler pulley and serpentine belt on the 05 Subaru Outback. The Haynes manual was no help at all; had to go to the web.
 
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