Book Review: Mechanic Shop Femme’s Guide to Car Ownership
Book Title: Mechanic Shop Femme’s Guide to Car Ownership
Author: Chaya Milchtein
Publication Date: April 9, 2024
ISBN: 9780316565523
Pages: 260
Available via Amazon: Mechanic Shop Femme’s Guide to Car Ownership
Car Ownership Can Be Demystified, Mechanic Shop Femme’s Guide to Car Ownership Shows Us How
The automotive industry can seem like a private club with very limited membership and many secret handshakes. Let’s be real. It can be unclear at best and exclusionary at worst. Enter author Chaya Milchtein. An automotive educator with a decade of experience in the industry, Milchtein has built a career helping folks learn the ins and outs of car ownership. Her new book is sure to be an important resource for those in need of an approachable and practical guide to the automotive world.
Milchtein’s mission to provide accessible automotive education for all, regardless of experience, is evident throughout the book, and completely aligned with our own mission here at Car Talk. The opening of the first chapter struck us when she explained that a well-purchased car can be a ticket out of poverty. Car buying doesn’t look the same for everyone. Car Talk celebrates her expanding the discussion to include those that have to work their butts off to buy a car. Milchtein knows how much a reliable car can change a life because she’s felt it firsthand.
Automotive education and advice aside, her story is inspiring. She’s worked hard to get where she is today and is eager to help others. This willingness to help and dedication to inclusion was clearly demonstrated on her recent book tour. Car Talk saw first hand how Chaya and her team made it clear that if an interested attendee wanted to have their book signed, but was immunocompromised and unable to attend public events, a private book signing would be arranged to accommodate their needs. Not your typical book tour offering.
Chapter 1 covers budgeting and research, plus helpful information on financing, leasing, and purchasing from a dealership or private party. Chapter 2 covers buying a car and provides important information and advice on navigating listings from private parties, visiting dealerships, test driving, and inspecting a car's condition. From tire health to inspecting belts, hoses, and fluid levels, Milchtein guides the reader through what to do, what to look for, and how to navigate a pre-purchase inspection with a mechanic.
The guide then progresses through the ownership journey - getting to know your owner’s manual, insurance and warranties, finding a mechanic, and preventative maintenance. Milchein covers brakes, tires, maintenance you should do yourself, and dash lights. She addresses car emergencies, defensive driving, roadside assistance, and when to part ways with a car that’s no longer a fit for you. There is even a section on how to prevent catalytic converter theft and what to do if your car is stolen. These are topics that are often overlooked in automotive guides.
She covers electric vehicles and hybrids in Chapter 12, including making an educated decision about whether they are right for you. This chapter is robust and provides helpful information to address common myths about EVs, such as that they don’t require any maintenance or are expensive to maintain. She addresses infrastructure and the realities of charging a car. “So You Want to Buy an EV” has been part of her extensive class offerings since 2021, so she’s been helping folks navigate these choices for years, and it’s great to see this straightforward overview in her book.
Milchtein concludes the lifecycle of owning a car by discussing selling a car and the pros and cons of selling it yourself or working with a dealership. Again, it’s easy to digest and provides helpful information to get readers started.
“Education is a great equalizer,” writes Milchtein (266), and education is exactly what she provides in Mechanic Shop Femme’s Guide to Car Ownership. If you are a seasoned car owner, this book is likely not for you, and that’s ok. She didn’t write it for you, although you'd probably enjoy the read. She wrote it for the folks that don’t know where to start.
Car Talk had the pleasure of meeting Milchtein in April during her book tour. She’s an incredible person, and it’s a pleasure to spread the word about Mechanic Shop Femme’s Guide to Car Ownership. We hope to see it reach the many hands of those who will benefit from it the most.
