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I've taken CAR since around 1976 - on subscription since 1982 - I decided to quit my sub when it falls due in June. It was costing me 52 quid a year, which isn't a fortune - but its relevance to me and my motoring tastes have waned - the standard of journalism has definitely declined with the odd expletive appearing in text. The writers could be anyone, unlike the halcyon days when the writers, like them or not, most definitely human. Sad day but as they piled up largely unread, it was a waste.
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I came to a similar conclusion with What Car?
It should be renamed "What Company BMW or other German brand at a push ?"
Absolutely no relevance to me as a non-company car driver.
The tests are rubbish, a name appears at the end of each test but the style is identical throughout repeating the same stuff over and over...What I would like to see is the real world consumption they achieve. They must have the data, why not share it ?
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I did the same with Diesel Car magazine a few years ago, it turned into a company car drivers mag and then went all tuning and boy racer. If you can be that with a diesel. :-)
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>> I did the same with Diesel Car magazine a few years ago, it turned into
>> a company car drivers mag and then went all tuning and boy racer. If you
>> can be that with a diesel. :-)
I enjoyed Diesel Car in it's original guise under John Kerswill. Added a bit of off beam stuff as well as just cars; taxis, commercials and even an outdoor bit. Ironically he later admitted this stuff crept in 'cos there wasn't enough 'straight' Diesel Car material.
General motoring stuff from the veteran Stuart Bladon and later Phil Llewelin added to the mix.
Went off (IMO) after he left and it became part of Future.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Mon 16 Jan 12 at 16:41
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I don't see What Car? often, but my son buys it for me when he visits us in Austria where we live. It's OK for light bedtime reading, but I've found several instances where the New Cars A-Z (which is incidentally repeated more or less verbatim every month) conflicts with the comments in the Buyers Guide. And they never mention the road noise in the Octavia that's so onbtrusive....
@gmac, yes, agree about Beemers, I can't remember the last time they criticised one .
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>> I've taken CAR since around 1976 - on subscription since 1982 - I decided to
>> quit my sub when it falls due in June.
Funny you should bring this up because a thread turned up criticising the content of Evo magazine on Pistonheads. Some people were saying it should be renamed 'What Porsche' due to their penchant for the marque, and the number of expensive watch adverts assuming that everyone reading it was a millionaire.
I've read many car magazines in the past starting with Fast Lane, and I'll buy any magazine if it has something that interests me, but the one I keep coming back to is Car Mechanics, because it's relevant to the average punter, and is a mine of information concerning car's weak points/cost of ownership e.t.c.
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Performance Car went when that most excellent writer with the initials JC departed. His only redeeming feature in my book. He was a leaner meaner wordsmith in those days.
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Interesting Rob as I have a similar dilemma.
I have had Auto Express on subscription for a few years, think its £13 a quarter it costs me.
Every week it comes through the letterbox and then gets taken into the loo for some casual reading but either my visits are getting shorter or the amount of reading is !
My wife regularly complains about them piled up and I chuck them out.
Always full of the next 3 series / Mondeo artists impressions, a product test that always corresponds with the winner having a large advert in it and every other edition is a "Special Edition" with things like, this year's top cars, or next year's top cars, or our huge tyre test etc.
With me not getting anew car for a few years I really have no need to be reading it now.... :(
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Bobby, save the £13 a quarter and in a year or three you could get some decent shoes !
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Plenty of quiz material though.....
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>>but the one I keep coming back to is Car Mechanics, because it's relevant to the average punter, and is a mine of information concerning car's weak points/cost of ownership e.t.c.<<
Cor, is that still going? - I never missed one issue of that + Popular Motoring, Practical Motorist for decades,
Also used to read Hot Car + Cars and Car Conversions now n' again ;)
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and I'll buy
>> any magazine if it has something that interests me, but the one I keep coming
>> back to is Car Mechanics, because it's relevant to the average punter, and is a
>> mine of information concerning car's weak points/cost of ownership e.t.c.
>>
+1
Great mag.
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There is only so much to be said about cars. I was bought a TG subscription Christmas before last, the 1st two editions had some novelty value, but after 12 months of contrived comparisons in obscure locations of cars I am unlikely to ever experience, I think I just speed-read half the articles and didn't bother with the rest
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Suprised you lasted with CAR for so long, I gave it up when cropley left back in the late 80s
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I cancelled my Car magazine subscription in 2004 after 25 years. I was doing projects in the car industry at the time and realised that most of the journalists had no real idea about how the industry works. Some of them seemed to have no idea or interest in how the products work either. I remember reading a review of medium sized saloons. It was 6 pages of navel gazing about what image the cars conveyed about the driver and how important this was to the purchasing decision.
At the time I thought it was an age thing, but my parents sent me some of my old Car magazines from the 70s and 80s. Massive difference in the paper quality of course, but the articles were well written in a way that combined insight and entertainment that noone seems to bother with anymore.
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Oh dear.
I gave up when Motor merged with Autocar (IIRC).
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Yep Motor for me many years ago, Car Mechanics for a long time, Diesel Car in its early days, i've looked at a couple of DC's in recent years and can barely recognise the informative and easy to get on with mag that i used to like, pages of ads for tuning chips.
Don't buy any now, mind you don't buy any newspapers (probably 25 years since now) or any mags at all come to think about it.
At one time it was Headlight and Truck magazines too, i doubt HL is still in print and Truck no longer caters for my idea of truck driving.
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Most motoring journalism just makes me angry - especially where the journalist is lazily repeating and re-inforcing earlier myths and misunderstandings.
As I've mentioned before, an honourable exception to this was Car Design and Technology magazine which was all too briefly on the market in 1990 / 1991.
Ben Goldacre's book on bad science explained this phenomenon very well - he argued that the people who tend to write and present in the media are more likely to be trained in the arts rather than in science and technology, and therefore, they do not really understand the material.
One of the happy side effects of a job at the polyversity is access to academic journals, and the archive of the IMechE is a particularly rich resource. Papers from the likes of Maurice Olley, Donald Bastow, Maurice Platt, Peter Newcomb, etc, etc are much easier on my blood pressure!
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There is a new classic car magazine just started here in Germany. Among other things, they reprint original road tests from the 60s and 70s - don't know whether there's a UK car magazine started doing this (yet), but it's quite fascinating. In the last issue there was a reprinted test from 1971 involving a Renault 4 and a VW Beetle 1200. Astonishingly, VW were not only still fitting swing axles to these death traps (handling is referred to in the test as "dangerous"), but offering a 12V electrical system only as an extra cost option - only 3 years before the launch of the Golf!
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I still enjoy Autocar for the comprehensive data and stats they list in their road tests, and the generally well balanced and thorough reviews.
I've come to the end of the road with Evo in recent months. It really does assume its entire readership is loaded, and some of the testers are so far up their own fundament, and portray such a staggering sense of self importance that it beggars belief. They've even gone so far as claim credit for revisions to certain models, claiming it was their words and criticism of certain aspects of a car that forced a rethink from manufacturers.
Oh, and the constant implication that if you don't own / can't afford a Porsche, you really are settling for second best. Very tedious.
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I seem to remember Car & Car Conversions was a good mag.
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It seems to be something that the Germans like to do! I bought a copy of Motorrad Classic in 2000 when on the way back from Finland. Strip-down and description of the Honda RC115 (twin cylinder 50cc racing bike) amongst other good articles. Not sure I can understand all the text, but I get the gist. Must try to get some more of their stuff if indeed they are printing. Is that so, Bagpuss?
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Quite a lot of technical articles in most of the car and bike mags here. The one I referred to is called "Classic Cars". If you want really technical articles about older cars and bikes look for a rag called "Oldtimer Markt".
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Bagpuss - is technical interest derided in Germany in the same ways as people are called geeks here?, or is there more respect generally?
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Having an interest in technical things is considered to be respectable in Germany, rather than immediately having you pigeonholed as someone with no social skills.
I guess it's partly to do with the education system. An "Engineer" here is someone who is at the very least degree qualified, not the guy who comes to fix the boiler. Engineers' salaries here are higher than in the UK, and it's possible to rise to the top in German industry with a technical qualification.
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I cancelled Ride a couple of months ago - that is a good read - the cancellation was tactical as they have class subscription gifts. The only other magazine I take is Motorcycle Sport again ever since the late 70s...but it is a quality product with proper writing skills.
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I'e stopped buying Practical Classics now. I had every copy since no. 1, about 30 yrs ago. When I realised they were just stored and never looked at again, I cancelled my sub.
In fact, I was getting too many old car mags so I ended the lot. Up to now I've bought a Practical Classics when I've seen it but always been disappointed. It's moved on from my interests and I'm not wasting money on a ground up restoration of a 1300 Mk3 Escort or similar. There are never any bits in the spares section for me and only occasionally did a car appear for sale.
If I were to subscribe to one now, I would go for the Automobile.....vintage stuff. I never see it in the shops now so it's probably sub only.
I'll google it in a mo.
I don't bother with any bike ones now either....too much about wheelies, speed and getting your knee down. Not for old Teddy !
Ted
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Just had a look and The Automobile seems to be sub only now. I've printed the form out, £47 for 12 issues....I'll order tomorrow.
Much more to my taste..mostly pre-war but they seem to have been including 50s stuff now.
Ted
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I read Car magazine regularly from 1984 through to about 2000, I fondly remember LJK Setright, George Bishop (when did he ever actually write about cars - except the Citroen he loved IIRC), Phil Llewellyn, Steve Copley and their ilk (even James May - "England Made Me") - great writing and so entertaining. This era passed a long time ago so I stopped reading it, when I was assigned abroad the whole lot went to the dump, I must admit to having leafed through a few back issues in the process, time to move on I guess.
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>> I read Car magazine regularly from 1984 through to about 2000, I fondly remember LJK
>> Setright, George Bishop (when did he ever actually write about cars - except the Citroen
>> he loved IIRC), Phil Llewellyn, Steve Copley and their ilk (even James May - "England
>> Made Me") - great writing and so entertaining. This era passed a long time ago
>> so I stopped reading it,
+1
Loved Bishop's writing
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Phil Llewelyn for me - James May was an intelligently funny writer....sad.
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I used to be a prolific reader of car magazines and a varied selction as well, such as Classic Car, Practical Classics, Auto Express, What Car, Autocar etc... i'd buy one most weeks...and for quite a few years had Jaguar World Monthly on subsription...
...all stopped, apart from the odd Autocar if the index has something I think i'll like.
I do miss my Jag mag, but can't really justify the cost (been tempted a couple of times, it doesn't seem to be in the newsagents much so a subscription would be required in reality).
I think as stated above by Ted, once my era has moved on, I haven't moved on with the mags.
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Car mechanics is a good magazine good read.I used to buy VW magazine .Also once a pile off classic cars magazines at a car boot sale.I gave most of them away no room in the house.
Now taken over by mills and boons the one who must be obeyed..;)
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Spose I'll have to think about getting rid of all me Playboy, Men Only, Knave, Health & Efficiency mags one day,
now I've got the internet, like.
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I'll confess to having a few Mayfair magazines in the loft, originating from the '70s.
SWMBO's granny used to love reading them.
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>>I'll confess to having a few Mayfair magazines in the loft<<
I forgot that one ;)
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I've got a few Mayfairs from the early 70s. Actually, it was quite a good read as well as the visuals. Good write-ups on the Chrysler Airflow and the Spitfire plane in a couple, Good cartoons, not always too smutty.
Now, must sort out me collection of Asian Babe magazine. You probably don't see that too much in your spot, Doggo.
Ted
Ted
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>> Spose I'll have to think about getting rid of all me Playboy, Men Only,
Ah! Fiona Richmond, happy memories. She runs a hotel down in the New Forest now.
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>>Fiona Richmond<<
Yea! - I remember Fiona, we were engaged to be married ya know, almost.
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>>Fiona Richmond<<
I remember seeing her swimming around in a glass tank at the Windmill - not wearing much.
Couldn't act for toffee!
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>>I remember seeing her swimming around in a glass tank at the Windmill - not wearing much<<
Ah! - you've been there as well :D
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I too gave up on Car long ago. Diesel Car too after they sold out to Future. What Car is sooo repetitive, Auto Express too simple (although their equipment/tool tests are sometimes informative). Autocar is the only one I read regularly, but even that has its moments that make me think 'why?' Most of my magazine reading is doen in WHSmiths, which sometimes smells like a toilet.
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Jalopy was good. Real people writing about real motors for real readers.
I don't buy any mags any more, just read my son's MotorSport which still has some class writing between the adverts for stupidly contrived watches.
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>> Most of my magazine reading is doen in
>> WHSmiths, which sometimes smells like a toilet.
Ah yes, the human barrier of men standing at the car section reading. If I fancy a quick flick through I'll pick up a mag and go and stand near an unpopular (but peaceful) shelf - I know how annoying it can be when you're trying to look for something. Or trying to remember not to touch my nose until I've got home and washed hands when there's a snivelling, wretched ape in winter leafing through half a dozen magazines with the occasional virus laden sneeze.
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>> >> Most of my magazine reading is doen in
>> >> WHSmiths, which sometimes smells like a toilet.
>>
Ah, one of my many pet hates. I'm looking to see if a mag is in, usually on the very bottom for my stuff. There's always some turnip stood right at that spot , head buried in this month's ' Very Expensive Ocean Going Yacht ' when you just know his height of transport ambition is the bus !
The ones who read the papers are even worse. Both SWM and I have been known to suggest that the offender actually splashes out and spends 50p !
A little light nudging or accidental foot trampling sometimes moves them on.
Ted
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>>
>> A little light nudging or accidental foot trampling sometimes moves them on.
>>
>> Ted
>>
I'll keep an eye out and be ready to retaliate. You have been warned!! ;-)
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>> I'll keep an eye out and be ready to retaliate. You have been warned!! ;-)
>>
You talk the talk....but do you walk the walk ? :-p
Ted
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I agree with others that Autocar seems to be the best balanced at the moment - which may well be due to the guiding hand of Steve Cropley. Far too many road testers are young men in a hurry who invariably prefer a BMW to an Audi because it's better at being driven to the limnit on twisty B-roads.
Indeed it is - but there's a strong case to be made out for an Audi if your driving style is more relaxed (and if you want it with a 2.0 litre engine, a strong case to be made for Skoda over Audi but that's another debate altogether).
Thanks for reminding me - I must stop my subscription to Diesel Car: (a) it's not really very interesting, and (b) after five diesels in a row my current car (Octavia vRS) is a petrol.
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There's a stall on Loughborough market sells just-out-of-date magazines of all kinds for a pound. I often pick up an Autocar, Classic & Sportscar, Octane, Car Mechanics or FHM/GQ from the current or previous month.
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I've had Autocar every week since 1971, and continue to have the magazine delivered by my local newsagent. I also had Motor every week from 1972 as well - until Motor and Autocar merged.
I did subscribe to Car for a number of years, but gave that up approx five years ago. What Car - again I subscribed to that for a number of years and stopped the subscription in 2010. Have just finished a three issues for £ 1 offer - but won't be renewing my subscription as the magazine isn't different enough from Auto Express. I do subscribe to Auto Express, and see this more mass market publication than Autocar (bit like comparing the Mail to the Telegraph). After subscribing to Top Gear since it came out, I have also just finished a subscription and am in two minds whether or not to renew.
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Blimey, your house has a good selection of motoring magazines!
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>> I've had Autocar every week since 1971,
When you've finished with them, take them to the nearest Doctors surgery waiting room. Better than the usual tosh in there (Hello Magazine, Country Living e.t.c).
:)
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A few years ago I took a car magazine into the waiting room with me. When I saw the doctor, he preceded to snatch the magazine from me, lean back in his chair and outline for the next twenty minutes how he was going to build a kit car in his retirement.
Forgot what I went in there for.
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I used to drop off my old, mostly unread, Readers Digests at the surgery.
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>> I used to drop off my old, mostly unread, Readers Digests at the surgery.
>>
So you're the ******* that leaves that **** in there..........;-)
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Forgot what I went in there for.
Made me laugh corax..:)
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I buy Jaguar World Monthly now and again, mockingly called PlayJag by Mrs K, but availability is a bit irregular.
Called in the newsagent last night to see if they had a copy, but no luck. walked out with a copy of Sporting Gun instead.
A couple of other titles gave me a giggle, one called "Total Carp" which appeared to be a top-shelf magazine for men attracted to fish and rubber trousers. The other was aimed at enthusiasts of old agricultural equipment called something like Classic Tractor.
Must admit I had a quick flick through both of them, hidden inside a copy of Country Life of course.
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>>aimed at enthusiasts of old agricultural equipment called something like Classic Tractor.
I was in Shropshire (Harry Tuffins) and was amazed at the number of magazines available for old tractors, perhaps rich farmers haven't much else to do?
It was near the Welsh border, nothing on sheep. Under-the-counter perhaps, RP?
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was amazed at the number of magazines available for old tractors, perhaps rich farmers haven't much else to do?
Old tractors last decades. Really heavily built and low stressed engines.
You don't need to be rich to buy or run one. Lots around here in the boonies.
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>>Lots around here in the boonies<<
That's a new word (to me) and I live there!
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Interesting word. A shortening of boondocks which American slang for out in the wilds.
"From the Tagalog (Filipino) word "bundok" meaning mountain. "Boondocks" became a part of American vocabulary during the American-Philippine War, during which mountainous terrain afforded the Filipinos a position of strategic advantage in fighting for their country's independence. The boondocks served as a Filipino base of resistance while earning a word in everyday American language synonomous with "hinterlands.""
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Reason I looked it up was because it reminded me of a word we used for an old school bomb site (WW2) where we used to play as kyds 'over the boney'.
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>> Old tractors last decades. Really heavily built and low stressed engines.
>>
>> You don't need to be rich to buy or run one.
You don't know real pleasure until you've driven an old Massey Ferguson :)
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BIL used to design Ford tractors..
They are really for country bumpkins.
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I used to be a fan of the old tractor scene. I've lost interest now.
In fact, I'm an ex-tractor fan !
Geddit ?
I'll get me coat.
Ted
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>> In fact, I'm an ex-tractor fan !
Ex -tractor fans find themselves stuck in the brown stuff and then need someone to pull them out - an extractor.
Last edited by: VxFan on Fri 20 Jan 12 at 10:21
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Well I have a stack of old and very old CAR magazines that I want rid off.
I guess they have little value, if any, in the market place so the first option is in the recycling bin or ???
Perhaps somewhere like nearby Brooklands could sell them or else any other " sensible" suggestion.t
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>> Well I have a stack of old and very old CAR magazines that I want
>> rid off.
>> I guess they have little value, if any, in the market place so the first
>> option is in the recycling bin or ???
>> Perhaps somewhere like nearby Brooklands could sell them or else any other " sensible" suggestion.t
>>
Ebay.
Seriously! A bloke at work recently spent I think he said £12 on an old (car) magazine!
To be honest I can't remember which title, but it had a roadtest on a car he lusts after.
And to think when I left the ex, I burnt all my Motor mag's (1977 to the final edition.......)
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>> Ebay.
+1
Starting at 99p, no reserve, local pick-up only. Someone should at least take them off your hands without you having to post them, and if anyone does want to pay serious money who isn't local, they will contact you about postage.
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>> >> Ebay.
>> Starting at 99p, no reserve, local pick-up only. Someone should at least take them off
>> your hands without you having to post them, and if anyone does want to pay
>> serious money who isn't local, they will contact you about postage.
>>
SWMBO will be pleased :-0
Offer them in batches of 12 ( a years worth ) ?
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>> And to think when I left the ex, I burnt all my Motor mag's (1977
>> to the final edition.......)
>>
I'm sure it was worth it at the time!
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>> >> And to think when I left the ex, I burnt all my Motor mag's
>> (1977
>> >> to the final edition.......)
>> >>
>>
>> I'm sure it was worth it at the time!
>>
I only did it because I had nowhere to store them....
... now I wish I had kept them for what I 'd get for them!
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I binned all my Performance cars and various misc. mags, another purge before moving here. Decided to keep all my back issues of Car, some bound now....and Motorcycle Sport, which is a genuinely good magazine...I really don't know why though !
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I've kept a few oddball ones. I have the full set of 'Restoring Classic Cars'. Only about 12 issues released before they joined up with another classic mag.....Classic & Sports Car, I think.
Old Motor and Vintage Commercial were good. They pre-dated all the glossies apart from Motor Sport. I have one copy of each,,,black and white photos and plenty of interesting text. No adverts. Both finished when the owner , Prince Marshall, died. Anyone remember them ?
I've got some copies of Popular Motoring and Practical Mechanics from the mid-fifties. Some great stuff in them...how to make a box to fit a radio in, how to make and fit screenwashers, etc.
Ted
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A friend sold a load of old rugby programmes to a dealer. Got a few hundred pounds for them.
Enough for a decent dinner for six of us.
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>> >> >> And to think when I left the ex, I burnt all my Motor
>> mag's
>> >> (1977
>> >> >> to the final edition.......)
>> >> >>
>> >>
>> >> I'm sure it was worth it at the time!
>> >>
>> I only did it because I had nowhere to store them....
>> ... now I wish I had kept them for what I 'd get for them!
>>
(I meant I'm sure it was worth leaving the ex at the time!)
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>> (I meant I'm sure it was worth leaving the ex at the time!)
>>
Hmmm... the intervening years have been interesting to say the least.
My life has been a rollercoaster since the breakup, hopefully now (10 years on) things are stabilising....
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>> Ebay
Don't do as I just have, open up Ebay and search for "magazine"!!! Especially not if you have an audience.
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Car Magazine - Not for me any more. - ....
