parkers car guide review

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Average Ratings

Value for Money	10/10
Reviewer Rating	7/10
Overall Rating	6.1/10

Not Recommended

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By AWG on 20th Jan 2004

AWG's Ratings

Value for money	10/10
Overall value	7/10
AWG's recommendation

Good Points

Good value for money, good additional articles. Generally an accurate price directive.

Bad Points

Very few bad points, but do I detect bias and a little 'bar room' chat coming in to some mechanical pro's and con's?

General Comments

I've been buying Parker's (occasionally) for around 30 years, and have always found it generally to be correct on m.p.g. figures, although one has to say that "Trade Prices", "Dealer Prices", "Private Good" and "Private Poor" depends very much upon the area in which you live, the time of year (4x4s during the onset of winter/convertibles in Spring)etc. etc.

The edition of Parkers Car Price Guide I refer to at time of posting has a basic car assessor's chart, plus what to look for in cars aged nearly new, five years old, and ten years old. Also excellent, and often humorous, advice on auctions, traders, private sales, haggling over prices, insurance, what to say on the phone, how to place and word an ad. etc. - and all this for just £3.50.

There is also a handy chart on depreciation rates between different marques, i.e. which cars drop in value like a lead weighted balloon and which ones hardly depreciate at all during the first three years. Although here again I think it's fair to point out that when some lead weighted balloons have taken their big tumble they can remarkably level off (yes?).

Now on to those Road Test Verdicts. I see Parkers (as do many motoring journalists) almost trying to 'shelter' certain marques and 'nit pick' at others.

We all know that Japanese makes can be bland and uninspiring. But by and large they are very reliable. This has been the case since those first Datsuns came into the UK (and alongside others completely decimated the UK and USA home products, - with a little help from certain trades unionists in the UK). Yes, we would all like Japanese cars to have more of a character, - but to pick up Mazda on "odd trim damage" is scraping the barrel somewhat! Then there is good old Landrover, ah yes, Solihull could make them with square wheels and the Press would back them!! I am sure anyone reading that Freelanders have "excellent engines" and "good off road ability" will view Parkers comments somewhat tongue in cheek! Anyone logging on to www.carsurvey.com - probably the biggest car consumer site in the world, will soon find themselves at odds with some of Parkers reports. Parkers also make insinuations against the Vauxhall marque in some reports (playing 'follow my leader' with Top Gear are we?)

To summarise, yes, the guide is a good buy, - but regarding reliability reports I'd look elsewhere.

Total Respect: +4