u/carguyfrank

Being upfront, this is my own eBook.

I make automotive content for a living (a YouTube channel and a car research site), and the question I get more than any other is some version of "how do I buy a used car without getting screwed?" So I wrote the whole answer down.

The Used Car Buying Guide is a 40-page PDF, 13 chapters: dealer negotiation scripts you can copy word for word, the vehicle-history and inspection checks that catch a lemon before it's yours, how the financing office actually makes its money, used vs. certified pre-owned math, and a 7-day plan from research to keys in hand. Two printable bonuses too, a script pack and a one-page field checklist.

A few things this sub tends to care about: it's a clean, DRM-free PDF, instant download, yours to keep. Reads in about an hour.

I don't sell cars and I don't work for any dealer, so there's no brand or lot I'm steering you toward. It's $17, and I refund anyone it doesn't help.

Direct link (no referral): https://www.buildpriceoption.com/used-car-buying-guide/

Happy to answer used-car buying questions in the comments, whether or not you grab the guide.

Six engines this year: the 2.7 EcoBoost, the 3.5 PowerBoost hybrid, the 3.5 EcoBoost, the 5.0 V8, and the two Raptor engines. The best one isn't the one with the biggest number. It's the one that matches how you actually use the truck.

Quick heads up that's not on Ford's front page: for 2026 they added a particulate filter to the 3.5L V6, which quietly knocked the 3.5 EcoBoost to 382 hp and the PowerBoost to 420. The sales page still shows the old numbers. The configurator shows the new ones. Same truck, two spec sheets.

The part that actually matters: torque and towing didn't change. So in the real world, you won't feel it.

Full breakdown of all six engines here: https://youtu.be/5nGimA1Toyw

I put together a full 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse trim-level guide and wanted to share it here because I think 2G owners will appreciate the details.

It breaks down the RS, GS, GS Spyder, GS-T, GS-T Spyder, and GSX, including engines, horsepower, drivetrain, MSRP, standard features, paint colors, and which trim makes the most sense today.

I also built it as a hub with related guides on value, reliability, common problems, FWD vs AWD, GSX vs GS-T, and how long these cars last.

Main guide:

https://www.buildpriceoption.com/1999-mitsubishi-eclipse-trim-levels/

The video is embedded in the article too.

Would love to hear from actual Eclipse owners if there’s anything you’d add, correct, or expand. I know the GSX is the legend, but I think the GS-T and GS-T Spyder deserve more attention than they usually get.

I just finished a video breaking down the current Ford model lineup in plain English.

It is not a trim-level deep dive. The goal was to make it easier for car shoppers to understand where each Ford model fits before they start comparing trims, prices, and options.

The video covers the major Ford models, including:

Mustang
Escape
Bronco Sport
Bronco
Explorer
Mustang Mach-E
Expedition
Maverick
Ranger
F-150
Super Duty
F-150 Lightning
Transit
E-Transit
Explorer ST
Bronco Raptor
F-150 Raptor
Ranger Raptor
Mustang GTD

I also included basic powertrain info, like which models are gas, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric, without turning it into a spec-sheet video.

Here’s the video:
https://youtu.be/ugzDR3W7pYU

Hopefully this helps anyone who is shopping Ford and just wants a clear overview of the lineup before getting buried in trims and packages.

I just posted a full breakdown of the 2026 Ford Expedition trim levels and standard features.

I cover the four main trims: Active, Platinum, Tremor, and King Ranch, plus Expedition Max, pricing, towing capability, the high-output EcoBoost in the Tremor, BlueCruise, and the major differences between each trim.

Video here:
https://youtu.be/760pvrJU02M

My take: Platinum seems like the best all-around trim, Tremor is the most interesting one if you want the off-road setup, Active is the value play, and King Ranch is the luxury character trim.

For current Expedition owners or anyone shopping one, which trim would you choose?

I just finished a short video on the Chevrolet Performance 454 HO crate engine and thought some of you might appreciate it.

It covers the actual specs, forged internals, what GM includes, what you still need to finish the package, and how it compares with the ZZ454/440.

I tried to make it useful for someone who’s actually comparing crate engine options, not just repeating brochure fluff.

If anybody here has experience with the 454 HO or the ZZ454/440, I’d be interested in your take.

I tried to keep it focused on the actual differences: engines, horsepower, drivetrain, standard features, MSRP, paint colors, and which trim makes the most sense today.

The GSX is the hero car, but the GS-T and GS-T Spyder are interesting in their own way too.

Video:
https://youtu.be/DAgBTG9Kr6c

Would love to hear from 2G Eclipse owners if there’s anything you’d add or correct.

Put together a video on every 1992 Camaro trim level and wanted to get the 1LE section right, so I went through all 114 pages of the actual GM Order Guide instead of pulling from forums and enthusiast sites.

Two things I didn't realize before:

1. The standard '92 Z28 came with rear drum brakes. 10.5" front rotors, duo-servo drum rear. Only 307 sq. in. of total swept area. The 1LE spec'd 11.86" vented fronts and 11.65" discs on the rear — 462 sq. in. total. That's a 50% increase in braking surface on an already-"performance" car. Makes way more sense now why 1LE cars were such a step up on track.
2. The only items explicitly tied to RPO 1LE in the Order Guide are the brake package and the fog lamp delete. That's it. The aluminum driveshaft, special shocks, performance exhaust — all that stuff came from ordering G92 without A/C ($675 box). 1LE required that combo so you got it all, but technically those aren't "1LE parts." The baffled fuel tank and hi-flow cats people talk about aren't in the Order Guide at all — those came from service bulletins and dealer race-prep literature, which is exactly why 1LE earned the "dealer-hidden" nickname.

Also learned that 589 of the 705 1LE cars for '92 were B4C police package cars that got the 1LE brake hardware. So the "true" civilian Z28 1LE count is way smaller than the 705 number most articles throw around.

Anybody here actually own one, or know of one in the wild? Curious what the real civilian 1LE count works out to.