Editor's Report

Motor, Oct 2004 by Lypen, John

MOTOR'S Source Guide 2005-like the 12 that came before it-is your one-stop source for all the aftermarket industry contacts you need. It's built to be used.

Welcome to MOTOR'S Source Guide 2005-our thirteenth annual directory of the automotive aftermarket, and the industry's only one-stop shopping guide for all of your parts, services and equipment needs. As always, we designed the Guide to be used. And if we did our job well, we think you'll find this about the most tattered magazine in your shop come this time next year.

As is our custom, this special issue starts off with all of your favorite columns. After all, we couldn't expect our loyal readership to get by for a month without Bob Cerullo timeless advice in Trade secrets, Karl Seyfert's insightful Trouble Shooter or the timesaving tips found in Semce Slants. Dan Marinucci, our own "Mr. Foreign Service," and Mark Warren, everyone's favorite wizard of the waveform, round things out with Foreign Service and Driveability Corner, respectively. Next month, our complete editorial package returns, with our annual new-car tech service preview and a close-up look at GM's compression sense ignition system.

If you're a new user of the Source Guide, or simply need a refresher, turn to page 76 and review our step-by-step user's guide. Practice a few lookups and you'll see what a breeze it can be to navigate your way through the Guide.

The Product Listings that begin on page A3, and the Manufacturers Directory that follows, remain the meat-and-potatoes of the Guide. The Directory includes manufacturers and national distributors for more than 500 different aftermarket products organized into almost two dozen categories.

Don't overlook the "B" pages of the Guide, either. There you'll find a supporting east of lists that you'll come to rely on throughout the year. Whether you're looking for a good technical hotline number, evaluating program jobber benefits or trying to track down a part for a Yugo, you'll find the best resources right here in these pages!

If you have access to the Internet, you also have access to the online version of MOTOR'S Source Guide. Stop by our website at www.motor.com for 24-hour access to the same great resources that the printed version offers.

Regardless of whether you prefer the printed or the electronic form, our goal is to make the Source Guide the single most convenient, most complete and most accurate place for all of your automotive shopping needs. If we can do a better job for you, just let us know.

John Lypen

jlypen @motor. com