Likes and dislikes about auto-mags

[Stradale]

Hi guys and gals, I'm conducting some research and I'd like to have a better understanding of what you like and don't like about car magazines. Not only that, but what you would like to see in an auto publication that you don't see. It could be little as a mosquito bite or even a huge pet peeve, either way don’t feel bashful and the more information the better. All your comments will be put into consideration with the study that I’m performing.

 

[rickysals]

I wish they had better photography and design.

The mainstream mags are relatively boring design/photo wise.

 

[4AU4LIFE]

I hate Automobile magazine. I feel like they are almost completely dedicated to European cars. Not that there is anything wrong with that but I don't live over there and don't really care what they have and we don't.
I don't really care much for the columns that the editors and related writers. I much prefer technical articles, charts, facts and figures.

 

[The Kid]

IMO, Sport Compact Car magazine is possibly the best one out. Car and Driver sucks, Road and Track is only marginally better, and Automobile is nothing special. DuPont registry is another all-time favorite. I used to love Super Street until everycar was stickered up and dedicated to drifting or unavailable for sale here. The chicks were nice. D-sport isnt terrible either.

 

[rickysals]

IMO, Sport Compact Car magazine is possibly the best one out. Car and Driver sucks, Road and Track is only marginally better, and Automobile is nothing special. DuPont registry is another all-time favorite. I used to love Super Street until everycar was stickered up and dedicated to drifting or unavailable for sale here. The chicks were nice. D-sport isnt terrible either.

DuPont is full of ads and has very little substance. SCC is, meh, not bad.

It's funny, most car journalism is relatively poor. I wish someone would come out with a gorgeous, innovative magazine along the lines of R&T, Car&Driver, etc... not a tuner mag... that had great writing, interesting stories, details about up and coming models, and some personal vehicles as well. A complete package of substance and design... would be sex.

 

[comquat1]

IMO, Sport Compact Car magazine is possibly the best one out. Car and Driver sucks, Road and Track is only marginally better, and Automobile is nothing special. DuPont registry is another all-time favorite. I used to love Super Street until everycar was stickered up and dedicated to drifting or unavailable for sale here. The chicks were nice. D-sport isnt terrible either.

I actually think SCC is getting worse. While I like Dave Coleman, I could give up the rest and it appears they have too. I can tell over the last few years it's gotten thinner and thinner every month, there's less content and fewer buildups. With how much they've cut back on paper they could have done two writeups on the buildup cars. I just started getting Modified Magazine and I feel it's what Super Street and SCC were back in the day.

I kinda feel like the main four heirarchy goes as follows:
1. Car and Driver (b/c they've had less turnover in writers)
2. Road and Track and Automobile (slight nod to automobile though for better writers)
3. Motor Trend (b/c they've had too much turnover) - they were better I thought when C. Van Tune was there.

The one thing I really enjoy in automobile that the others don't do is the auction report. I love seeing the older/classic cars that go on the auction block.

 

[NeoNSX]

I get sick of the pornography in car mags. If i wanted porn, i'd buy a porn mag. When i buy a car mag, I want cars. As a result, too much emphasis is put on chicks at the sacrifice of quality car photos.

Some of you will totally disagree with me here, but there you go.

 

[spyderplayer2002]

I don't usually see too many nsx's in magazines. I would LOVE to see a longer than average story on just a stock NSX-R......with lots and lots of photos and stats. I used to read biking magazines a ton, and at the end of every one of them they would have maybe 20 or so pages of just full size photos. I would like to see that in a car magazine of cool cars on cool roads or tracks, that would be nice.

 

[0ctan3]

I wish they had better photography and design.

I think EVO has the best photography, design, and printing... but it's usually hard to find in the US, as well as $$$.

 

[CokerRat]

My main read is C&D, purely for the reason that when they do a comparo, they name the losers. Although they are slipping in that regard and seem more hesitant to really bash on a car. MT and R&T rarely lay out a pecking order and almost never say something sucks.

 

[Pacemaker Kid89]

This is what I think the best idea for a car magazine: When it comes to the comparisons , they should have the winers (in order) overed by some kind of stuck on paper. That would make it more enjoyable to read.

 

[Radical]

I have noticed that car magazines are never very critical of the cars they're testing. They aren't completely positive, but they are nowhere near the level of criticism that is reached by Top Gear. Of course, I'm sure that some cars aren't as bad as Jeremy Clarkson would have us believe, but I'm also sure that some cars aren't as amazing as the editors of magazines like Road & Track would have us believe. I still enjoy reading Road & Track, which I subscribe to, but I am starting to enjoy Top Gear more.

 

[MJK]

#1 No car is ever "bad" at the risk of offending someone or the manufacturer's advertsing dollars. If it sucks, SAY SO.
#2 Maybe I am a cheap ass, but why focus 95% of the magazine on new cars? Aftermarket reviews? Used cars? Tracks? Tires? They are all things automotive enthusiasts care about.

 

[Jin1976]

EVO is definitely my favourite. The review on car is unbiased, sceneries are great and the way the outhor write their experiences inside the car is something like reading a great love novel.:smile: My favourite collection of all time has to be the EVO Ferrari edition (Enzo, GTO, F40 & F50 cover).

I think EVO has the best photography, design, and printing... but it's usually hard to find in the US, as well as $$$.

 

[Juice]

Go to Japan and pick up Generoq, Car Entertainment Magazine. I have often pondered the possibility of profit if I were to translate and rewrite the mag in English for sale in the US. This mag is by far the classiest and well laid out magazine I have EVER picked up. Just the quality of the paper will make you drool, and the photos are top notch.

Designed and priced for a true enthusiast.

 

[rickysals]

Go to Japan and pick up Generoq, Car Entertainment Magazine. I have often pondered the possibility of profit if I were to translate and rewrite the mag in English for sale in the US. This mag is by far the classiest and well laid out magazine I have EVER picked up. Just the quality of the paper will make you drool, and the photos are top notch.

Designed and priced for a true enthusiast.

It'd probably be pricey, and as alot of people know, Americans are so surrounded by bad design, that they wouldn't know good design if it were a $9 magazine in their hand. I'd love for something like it to be available...

but the mear fact that some people buy a Cobalt over a Civic tells you that substance sometimes doesn't matter in this place. Sad really

 

[cmhs75]

my favourite magazines are EVO and Autocar


what you need in a car mag is real criticisem and consistancy of your judgments

 

[nsxsupra]

Likes- almost none, only the occassional decent feature or test drives.

Dislikes- content, price. I mean, don't US publishers read auto magazines from other countries once a while (Japanese or European)?. They should be ashame of themselves. Sometimes one of the Japanese magazines can have whole year worth of content in a single issue compare to US magazine. Most Japanese/European magazines does not show ugly chicks in every issue, waste valueable space.

I still buy US car magazines from time to time, only when they have really special features or test drive reports. Most of times, I can flip through the magazines at news stand in matter of minutes or seconds and not find anything interest me. Japanese or European magazines on the other hand, sometimes give me hour + good content to read.

My favorite magazines are Option 1 and Option 2. They cost only 500yen/$4.5USD, with triple the thickness, better printing quality, better content, etc. The magazine is filled with articles, product test/dyno reviews, useful second hand ads, event date listings, mega car part swap meets. There other great magazines that are dedicated to exotic cars only.

This is scan of my favorite issue of Option magazine from 05:

Second image is 3L NA 360hp NSX with esprite custom intake manifold.
Third image is 425hp 3.5L NSX

 

[Stradale]

Thank you for your input.

 

[gheba_nsx]

I like CAR and EVO, they are an inch above all the other IMHO.

And the photography is always awesome!

 

[NSXLuvr]

Another Vote for Car and Evo.

C&D, R&T or MT are so dull that frequently I forget which one I am reading. I still subscribe to C&D. But I prefer reading Evo and Car at Barnes.