[gtivr4]

If you could design the perfect car magazine, what would it cover? Would it be specific about just Volkswagens? Or perhaps European cars in general? Or maybe just a general overview?
Would you want lots of short articles, or a few really in depth articles?
Which is more important? Timeliness of news? Writing? Photography?
What makes you pickup a magazine on the rack?

 

[lip]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (gtivr4)

Good post-made me think for second there, something I don't do.
Writing-First and foremost. And I while I want creative writing especially on reviews of cars that are truly crap, I am more interested in how the car performs. What are the key elements in the driving experience that stand out as being good or bad. I don't really dig on reading about a trip to the Wine Country or to fantasy land, so much as reading about handling characteristics and powertrain strengths and weaknesses.
Pictures are good. However, while a picture might be worth a thousand words, it by no means articulates what I want to know about a car.
More and more, many of the European Magazines are beaming with bright colorful images of the car. However, when you get down to the nitty gritty of the "article" you find nothing but fluff.
I recently read an article which was an attempt to detail the Aston Martin Vantage Vanquish. The article had some of the most beautiful pictures I have seen in some time. The beauty of the car was discussed in great detail, while the driving experience was barely never really covered, other than " this car has the most beautiful sounding motor in a long time"
There's a lot of those Boutique Car mags out there now.



[Modified by lip, 2:53 PM 2-13-2002]

 

[TLP]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (lip)

Well let me ask you something! If you were going to start a magazine on pies, would you cover just cherry? or would you cover pies from just one bakery?
Kinda narrow minded when you look at it this way! I would have a magazine that catters to auto enthusiast of all brands and orgins!

 

[lip]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (TLP)

I just think pictures should be used to help illustrate a particular point. Say if the car has very big brakes and six-piston calipers or a unique underbody tray. Then yeah show a picture.
I believe every genre should be covered. Did I suggest otherwise?
I'm saying I want to read about how the AM performed on normal roads. Can it cut it, are there major weaknesses. If so describe. I want to know about that car, I want to know about the Honda Civic at same time> I just want details
It just seems that when you spend $8bucks on a mag, you are getting a coffee table mag, with very little actual description of the driving experience or performance numbers.




[Modified by lip, 3:02 PM 2-13-2002]

 

[A4Jetta]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (gtivr4)

A great magazine has to consist of:
Excellent writings, even in short preview. Unlike certain magazines that cover only few sentences that copied directly from manufacturers' press release or brochures. All the pros and cons, plus objective (as objective as possible since every journalists have their subjective side).
Technical analysis thoroughout the whole vehicle. The technologies that put through the vehicle have to explain in a cut-off picture. All the datas and figures, fuel economy, space and quality analysis.
If they are conducting comparos, put apple vs apple within the price range or same options. At least make it "tie" if 2 vehicles finished at the same points. Thoroughoutly explained each car's highs and lows. Not just a few B.S. sentences "quoted" from logbooks.

 

[Spiro SU]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (A4Jetta)

Hmmm. This is too difficult to answer.

 

[matt007]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (Spiro SU)

In the magazine, it would gave full-page pics of every car they review. No ads, just an index and pics.
In the CD, they would have long reviews of every car, including: difficult track testing, 0-60/quarter-mile, lateral G testing, comfort features, equipment, engine options, etc.

 

[MisterSack]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (matt007)

they already make mine... CAR

 

[wdegroot]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (MisterSack)

A combination of Grassroots Motorsports and Car would be great. A little less about autocross type stuff, reviews of cars not necissarily sold here, lots and lots of photos would be all id add. of course it'd probably be like 200 pages per issue but id still buy it.

 

[pallison14]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (MisterSack)

You beat me to it. CAR is my favorite magazine by far, although I also really enjoy the cheeky humor in Top Gear.

quote:[HR][/HR]they already make mine... CAR

[HR][/HR]​

 

[Rice_Box[Sentra]]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (pallison14)

I really like EVO. They like to drive and tell the reader about how the car drives, not how many airbags it has. I just wish it was cheaper.

 

[pallison14]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (Rice_Box[Sentra])

Yeah, EVO is great too. I used to buy it monthly as well, but between CAR, EVO and Top Gear, I was spending way too much every month for similar stories (albeit with different perspectives).

quote:[HR][/HR]I really like EVO. They like to drive and tell the reader about how the car drives, not how many airbags it has. I just wish it was cheaper.

[HR][/HR]​

 

[A4Jetta]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (pallison14)

Yep. The cars they review each months are 99% similar except for comparos.

 

[mutcth]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (A4Jetta)

Let's see:
1) I want Grassroots Motorsports coverage of old and classic cars - as well as their "everyman" editorial point of view. (Better editing would help though.)
2) I want the beautiful photos and large layout of the better British magazines - and similar to that of Automobile's new layout.
3) I want complete test results on every car tested - like Car and Driver.
4) I want good writing as well that isn't smart-assed all the time - Automobile is coming close here. (Good-bye Mr. Davis....)
5) I want Peter Egan to write columns and stories about his road trips - I don't think there is a better automotive storyteller in the business.
6) I want them to hire me for $80k as a consultant. Now THAT'S a car magazine!

Tom

 

[Obin Robinson]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (gtivr4)

my perfect car magazine doesn't base everything on zero to sixty and 1/4 mile. they don't tell you how the cars performed on the drag strip and then base everything on how fast a car can accelerate... or it's top speed. the best car mags cover all the aspects of the car and center on the enjoyment found by driving them.
i get about 15 car mags and newsletters a month. the BEST amongst them in my opinion are: Automobile, Autoweek, Road and Track, Excellence, Grassroots Motorsports, and Panorama.
obin

 

[[email protected]]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (gtivr4)

A North American version of CAR with more trucks in it would be pretty damn good. Throw in some GRM-type articles and it would be perfect. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

 

[David Votoupal]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (CanuckPal)

What a magazine needs: a thorough and objevtive analysis of cars currently being produced.

 

[mutcth]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (David Votoupal)

quote:[HR][/HR]What a magazine needs: a thorough and objevtive analysis of cars currently being produced.[HR][/HR]​

Nah - you don't want that. That would be like Consumer Reports, and everyone knows that their staff (especially those engineers) are a bunch of idiots!

Honestly, I'm not even sure I'd want that. Cars have emotion in them, and subjective judgements (made without bias) are plenty valid in this genre.
Tom

 

[David Votoupal]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (mutcth)

What I meant by objective is to refrain from unjustified bashing, i.e. bash a car only when it is genuinely deserved

If you wondered what type of car magazine I'd run, it would be a glamour-oriented performance and classic car thingy

[Modified by David Votoupal, 12:47 AM 2-15-2002]

 

[Obin Robinson]

Re: Your perfect car magazine (David Votoupal)

quote:[HR][/HR]What a magazine needs: a thorough and objevtive analysis of cars currently being produced.[HR][/HR]​

as long as they don't fill it with zero to sixty and quarter-mile crap i'm happy.
obin