Anderson's Performance Handbook in Color?
 

Hey guys. I heard a rumour that Bruce may be considering a third edition of his book, "Porsche 911 Performance Handbook."

Hands down this is a great book, and a staple of any 911 owner's library, along with "101 Projects..." <- shameless plug...

My new engine book is going to be in color and retail for $29.95. The 101 Book is in color and retails for $29.95.

My questions are:

- Do you think that sales of a third edition of Bruce Anderson's book would be higher because of the color, or lower because of the higher price tag.

- Is the Performance Handbook really price-dependent? Or is it such a great wealth of information that a price increase from $21.95 to $29.95 wouldn't make a difference?

- Would you purchase a copy of the new color edition (with new updated information as well, a better layout, and a better index) even though you already have one of the first or second editions?

Please respond, as this information is useful to people in not-so-high places...

:)

-Wayne

if I had some money kicking around I would put my old one in the garage and the color one in my room...

His would help with some more color...as well as an update on engine upgrades that have been found to be successful since the last print...like a formula for a kick ass early motor...SC motor...late motor...

A suggestion for your engine book...a spiral book that opens flat would be a big help...cracking the book spine and trying to hold the book while lying on your back while comparing diagrams of your car and the book is really difficult...

but a spiral book is a much better DIY take it under the car so you can hold it with one hand...while scraping the knuckles of your ither hand....

I think it kinda sorta depends on the person...I'm sure it's different for me than it would for someone who's not a poor college student that's struggling to keep the car on the road. So...here's what I think.

1) I think color versions would make a difference. I'm certain a lot more people out there like looking at 911s in color, especially newer ones. B&W should be kept for old models...a specific Weenie comes to mind. If I had to choose between the color and the B&W version, no doubt I'd buy the color one, even if it's just a few bucks more expensive. With color, cars come alive, and so does wiring. (I bet many of you love the factory color schematics as compared to Haynes/Bentley ones) But would it be higher than before? Only if he has information the water pumper crowd would want.

2) I've never read my 2nd edition from start to finish, so my comments can't be exactly right. I don't find it THAT useful, especially for the CIS guys. For the guys with a steady income, $8 probably isn't much. For the die hard B.A. fans, it's probably nothing. For me, there' not enough information I care about to justify the extra cost...

3) and no, I will not buy the 3rd edition. I already have the 2nd one, and unless it's got this HUGE section on what you can do to CIS cars with dyno printouts, I will not buy it. And even if it did...I'd buy the color engine rebuild book first, as that's more important than extracting a few ponies out of the engine.

Of course...it's all IMHO. It's kinda late, and I'm too lazy to reread what I just typed...it would be interesting to see what others have to say.

The Bentley manual sells at a high price. So I don't think price would be the real issue, more one of new content. All of the books, (esp Bentley), would benefit from more durable covers. Spiral binding would also be nice for manuals/reference works.

Binding
 

Wayne, I second the comment about sprial binding the engine book. I've been considering taking the binding off my "101" and putting the pages in a loose-leaf notebook.

I don't have Bruce's book yet, but wouldn't be dissuaded by the difference between $22 and $30.

Looking forward to your next book!

R.

Wayne, great questions! But Marketing theory would suggest that the answers will be about as meaningful as trying to get head-porting data out of engine builders;) . If anyone asks me if I'll pay more for something the answer is always going to be "no". But being a smart marketer you will already have taken into account that I'll spin my answers that way and adjusted your reasoning accordingly. But being a clever consumer who was trained in marketing, I'll know that you know that I know...:p

Anyhow; Bruce's book is great (even taking into account some humen typos in the 2nd edition that I have) and with the exception of wiring diagrams (which he doesn't have anyhow) I wouldn't receive any new information from a color format. A restoration manual on the other hand (such as the Original Porsche/Ferarri etc series) is a completely different deal. There color is EVERYTHING. Most of the readers of the BBS constitute an "educated" segment who already know the value of Bruces book when they arrive in the store. In other words they will buy the book because everyone here tells them how valuable it is and there is no other book available that will tell them how to "hotrod" a 911 engine. Since their choices are limited, chances are their pricing sensitivity is "inelastic" and will not change appreciably due to a marginal increase in price.

The difference is going to be for the casual purchaser who is brousing the automotive section of Barnes and Noble who sees the book and is comparing it to other books in that section. Often this may be for a gift or as an impulse buy. In this case color could be very meaningful since it will make the book compare well with all of the other color glossies on the shelf. In this case you might want to browse you local Barnes and Noble, Boarders and on-line sites to see how much is being charged for the other partially or totally color books in the section. If your price is competative with theirs, then you won't loose sales due to the lack of color. There is so much color out there that I doubt it will gain additional buyers.

Then you get into the cost trade-off of doing color, break even points. etc. etc. etc. People spend careers studying this stuff and justify their careers on being able to create the answers.

Now if someone would share will me how 2.8 race engines are ported, maybe I'll tell them some ways to make this decision.;)

I would have to say that it is the content that is more important than the appearance.
I have purchased books/manuals based on that alone. I would have to agree that whether it is B.Anderson's (I have the 2nd edition) or Wayne book, or Bentley - this rule applies. Pictures are nice, color and all; but accuracy is the most important. Especially for DIY.
The suggestion of the spiral binding is a good idea - but then it can unravel, or pages tear out.

Wayne, looking forward to your next publication - CONTENT RULES.

Have to agree with Targa88 above that the content is more important than the look. That said, if the new book had more information on the newer cars I would look at buying it. I have had the first edition of Bruce's book for years now and its one of the "Bibles" in our world.

Would love to see him include upgrades like using Boxter brakes and such instead of the 10 year old info like using Wilwood brakes and so on. Updated info on the pre-89 cars as well. We have to have learned more tricks and such on the early (pre-89) cars that could be shared.

Price is not a problem with me as long as the content is accurate and updated. Would buy it in color and pay more or black and white and pay a bit less... content is the deciding factor.

Joe

FYI, for the spiral bound people. Just take the book to any Kinko's and they will cut the binding and drills holes so you can put it in a binder. They did a 700 page medical board review book for around $5.

I personally like the nice binding so I have a nice one for my book shelf and a ratty one in a binder for the garage.

Noel

When (if) the BA book arrives at my local bookstore, I'd flip through it just to see if I "need" it.

Unlikely though, as my 2nd edition BAPH tells me more than I'll ever need to know. I can't ever forsee modifying my SC according to BA specs. I'd rather buy a 993.

The book I *am* interested in is the one Wayne is cooking up.
I'm expecting it to be far more relevant to owners like me.

Working in an engineering environment for my real job, I can truthfully say that accuracy of content is paramount.

I think that black & white doesn't fade as badly as color and can be much sharper in displaying details.

I think that covers for reference manuals that can be cleaned with a solvent are a good thing.

Good luck,
David Duffield

BA's Performance Handbook is a very good book, especially for the money. Likewise, 101 Projects for your Porsche is a very good book for the money. I haven't purchased the Bently SC manual for the simple reason I won't spend $100+ for a book, unless I had a specific reason to use the book and it contained essential info that i could not get anywhere else.

IMO a difference between $21.95 and 29.95 is not significant enough for a make or break deal when it comes to a first time purchaser. Color pictures are always nice, but lets face it, how many different colors are there on the inside of the motor? A clear black & white photo is good enough. This isn't Penthouse.

Faced with the decision to purchase color v. partial color, I would plunk down the extra $8.00 for the color. I won't be going out and buying another one simply for the color photos. The "magic" of the book is not in the photos, but the words.

I think the trend of post is showing how things would break out, actually. New buyers would get the newer edition, previous buyers would only get it if it had new information they found relevant. I like the book and refer to it often, but I wouldn't buy a new edition unless it had new info I was specifically interested in. As someone else pointed out, some of the upgrade info is pretty out-dated and personally I'm not sure Anderson is "with it" enough to really offer advice anymore.

As for the Bentley books and their price - they offer a tremendous amount of info and are second only to the factory service manuals, while staying about 1/5th the price. In fact, Noel just sold me another copy of the Bentley manual <i>and</i> Wayne's book, because I'm off to Kinkos to have them put in binders!

Emanuel

Wayne,

Yes, I will get a third edition of Bruce's book! It will take its' place alongside 1st and 2nd editions ... and first and second versions of his Tech. Notes!

I don't think the price increase will have any affect on sales, but I suspect that the addition of color will help boost sales!

I fail to understand why any 911 owner WOULDN'T have a subscription to <b><i>Excellence,</b></i> and a worn copy of Bruce's book!

But, then I don't understand all of the criticism for his book ... and so little for the overpriced, over-rated, error-prone Bentley books with blatant 'gaps' in coverage of the braking system, CV-joints, ZF limited-slip differential, electrical system troubleshooting, suspension adjustment and maintenance, transaxle data and troubleshooting, bodywork and precautions and techniques for repair of galvanized parts, etc. ... either! At least 10% of Bentley is redundant, superfluous, and legalese that I find extremely irritating!!! I am sure the lawyers out there just love the word games, though! Why nobody complains about missing material found in their editions of aircooled VW manuals, yet deemed <b><i>'beyond the scope of this manual ... ' </i>is ludicrous! Beetle owner/mechanics, with their $40 manuals, get ring & pinion setup data and procedures that 911 owners aren't entitled to ... and replacement procedures for gearset dog teeth that are mentioned prominently at Bentley's website summary of the book ... yet missing from final editions!

Maybe some who rave about Bentley ... just don't have a technical eye ... but, then I have about 20 pages of hand-written notes on Bentley boo-boos!</b>

I make "garage copies" of all the manuals.
Simple photocopy the entire book, punch holes, and put it in a 3-ring binder.
The original copy stays in the house all nice and clean.
Copy laws? These copies are for my use only, not for sale or profit, don't see a problem with that.
Color print - bring it on.

Color, color, color...

Wayne... did you get the pictures I sent you??? (engine rebuild photos?)

Leland, how did you send the pics? Via post or email? I don't think I got them quite yet.

As for the Bentley Manual, Warren, I agree with you. In general, it's good, but I think that there are some mistakes in there that shouldn't be there (good tech review would have been beneficial).

It might be a good thing to post your notes on what you've found in the Bentley Manual - I haven't written the ones I found down. Might be good to post them on the site.

-Wayne

I currently have/use the 2nd edition and find it invaluable. I also have seen the first edition and have found that the differences related only to the newest models.

I would buy a 3rd edition for sure if it provided additional information about the models I own – which it probably would not. The difference in price or color would make little difference. Would I buy a copy to learn more about the 996 variants etc., when I have the 2nd edition? My next $30 for a Porsche book will be your engine rebuild/mod book – color or not!

But I am a Porsche junkie and would buy one sooner or later, probably later.

Price is not a consideration. There is so <u>little</u> available when it comes to 911 tech manuals that whether it were $21 or $39 I'd buy it without hesitation! -- Curt

Wayne,
I sent them to the standard pelican@csi.com address... even talked to Sam on the phone about it...

... hmmm... guess I'll have to try again on monday.