> Haynes is not worth 35 dollars when you can get it
> from busdepot for 25.   At 25 dollars it is useful for
> the beginning mechanic or the mechanic who lacks
> confidence.   Who knows?  when it goes out of print
> you can sell it for more than you paid.   One more
> thing.   it is a hardbound.
>
> http://www.busdepot.com/ASP/SearchProdDesc.cfm?ProdDesc=haynes&B1=Search

Personally, I often find my Haynes manual more useful than my Bentley, even
if not a substitute for it.  Yes, it has less detail and doesn't cover
Westy, Diesel, or Syncro specific stuff.  But it's written for the backyard
mechanic, whereas the Bentley is written for the professional VW mechanic
(which I am not).  Whereas the Bentley is derived from the original VW
dealer technical service manuals, the Haynes was researched by automotive
experts dissassembling and reassembling actual Vanagons.  The result can be
a different take on the same repair.  In some cases, the Bentley has far
more detail, but in other cases it is more complex than it needs to be -
i.e. "use VW special tool number XYZ..." instead of "stick a flat blade
screwdriver in the hole and pry upward."

When I need to do something on my Westy, I always check both manuals before
starting, and sometimes find a helpful tip in one that wasn't mentioned in
the other.  In my opinion, given the hassle of doing a job incorrectly or
the hard way, or the cost of having a garage do it, the $25 spent for the
Haynes (in addition to, not instead of, the Bentley) will pay for itself the
very first time you find something useful in it that the Bentley didn't
mention.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  (215) 234-VWVW
  www.busdepot.com

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