NADA vs Edmund on used car prices?

Q.While I am looking for a student car on the market, I find that for some models, the price listed on NADA book and Edmund Used Car Guide could be off by as much as $1000(when milage and options are all considered). Does anybody know why this is the case? When negociating, which book should I follow? On a related matter, there was this car owner who didn't want me to test-drive the car citing some insurance reason. It sounded strange to me. How could I make the decision if I don't test-drive it?

A.If you're buying, use the one that lists the lower price. Seriously, you should find out which book your insurance company uses before you buy. If your insurer uses the NADA book (they probably do, for this part of the country) and you pay $1500 over the NADA wholesale price for the car, you'll be out $1500 (plus your deductible) if the car is stolen or totalled right after you buy it. If the car is very appealing and well- maintained, you might want to take that risk, but you should at least know what risk you're taking. You can't. Thank the guy for wasting your time and go look at someone else's car. You should spend at least a half-hour test-driving the car, including some highway time, before you plunk down the money for the mechanic's inspection. Use the test drive to check for problems such as a slipping clutch, transmission problems, thick exhaust, and poor acceleration.

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