Haynes or Chiltons?

Question

Good day. I have a 97 Neon and with my past vehicles I have always bought Chiltons manuals. However I have been told that Haynes manuals were more useful. What are your opinions between the two and/or which one would you prefer? Thanks in advance!

steve piskor · Accepted Answer

Do`nt waste your money on either of them. I bought the chrysler manual for my99  not cheap at around $100 but its worth every cent. If it helpsyou solve one problem its paid for itself. You get what you pay for.Slaughterhouse wrote:

jdoe · Answer

Sory I've found both to be substandard. Look for the oem factory manuals onebay.Larry

doh · Answer

Buy the factory one, the 2 you are looking at are for every neon fromthe first year they were built to whatever the last date they published,any really useful info will not be there.

Geoff · Answer

True...except you can expect to pay under US$50 for a good, used book from either a used automotive manuals dealer or via Ebay. I just picked up the Chrysler 42LE transmission book for $8 about two weeks ago. I paid $40 for the Caravan FSM, and $30 for the Intrepid FSM. The Intrepid book was actually still in the shrinkwrap.

Haynes and Chilton manuals are worse than no manual at all.

--Geoff

Alex Rodriguez · Answer

Ditto. You will save a lot of time by doing it right the first time and not having to spend time under the car trying to figure out how to pull a part when there is no explanation or picture in the book.

--------------- Alex

Daniel J. Stern · Answer

Neither, they're both garbage. Get the factory manual.  Whether you buyhigh at the dealer or buy low on Ebay, you'll save the entire cost of themanual the first time you use it for *any* task.DS

Matthew S. Whiting · Answer

I prefer the Chrysler factory service manuals.Matt

Bill Putney · Answer

Ditto what everyone else said. Or get a subscription to

formatting link

for your specific vehicle. It has the info. right out of the FSM on-line. $25 for first year, $15/subscription after that (whether a renewal on the one car, or adding a second car to your subscription). You also get the complete TSB's for your vehicle, plus other info.

Bill Putney (to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with "x")

Slaughterhouse · Answer

Thanks everyone! Guess I'll start checking Ebay for factory manuals a littlemore often.

Joe · Answer

They both stink totally. I never buy either of them. Take Steve's advice andget the real thing.

Mike Behnke · Answer

Good for starting the fireplace or camp fire.  Especially after wiping up some spilled flammables with the pages.Slaughterhouse wrote:

Haynes or Chiltons?

Join the Discussion

Didn't find your answer?