Calling all motoring hacks

[Partridge]

Thank you for being kind enough to read this message.

 

I've decided to add some road testing of new shite (firstly the MG6) to my CV, but I've got no experience of booking press cars. This won't be at CCB or anywhere similar, it's just me asking nicely if I can have a press car for a day, two days, a week, however long they let me have it.

 

I've written for AROnline a few times and have a four week placement at CCB coming up this year so I'm hoping that will work in my favour.

 

How does it work? Do I need to use my own insurance, organise tempory insurance or will the car company put me on their insurence for a set ammount of time?

 

And will they come to me or will I be expected to come to them to collect the shite?

 

Cheers guys and girls!

[gordonbennet]

I haven't a clue about this, but i'm looking forward to seeing some of your work in print.

 

I suspect future ease of borrowing for test purposes will depend on how much and what you criticise, suspect it will be a fine line to tread.

 

Far too many motoring hacks are reading from the same hymnsheet IMO, i haven't bought a motoring mag for years bar Car Mechanics because of this, and one of Fifth Gear group test thingies finished me forever with populous car programs...the time when they tested several sit up and beg type shite such as Suzuki WagonR and Kia Rio,  hammering these cars round the track presumably trying his best to push the tyres off the rims...utter bollocks.

Meant bugger all, cars of that type were never designed to be driven twat like, their design purpose was entirely different, but the presenters presumably couldn't fathom that bit.

 

I couldn't give a fuck how brilliantly or not something handles the country B road course driven like a twat, 99% of us will never do that, i want to know what its like to live with in the traffic laden pot holed and speed humped third world roads the rest of us inhabit, does it stall every bloody time unless you give it 5000 fuckin rpm and spin the wheels to pull away.

 

I'm hoping your placement works out for you, high time some common bloody sense perspective got put back into testing...at the moment that seems to be the area solely filled by HonestJohn, who to be fair doesn't go into things deeply enough for me probably not enough time, but he stands head and shoulders above the rest.

 

As i said, no bloody use to you at all so forgive this waffle, but all the best with this endeavour.

[Partridge]

Thanks for your encouragement and input, gordonbennet

 

That's actually the idea the have: there's a lot of performance baised writers and magazines out there which don't tell you what a car is like to live with for that 99% of the time. Can you park it at Asda without going from lock to lock about four times and stalling, does it break your spine if run over a twig etc etc. You'd probably like CarBuyer, they do have a bit of performance waffle, but most of it is about what the car is like to actually live with day to day...feel free to waffle, it's good to hear other people's views about what they want from writers

[scruff]

Most stuff comes fully insured on the manufacturer/press office's insurance but beware of small print especially if you are under 25 - you might not be covered and will need to sort your own out BUT only on agreement with said press office.

 

I've always had them delivered either to home or work, trade platers do it usually and they arrive full of fuel. Be nice and give them the plater a lift back to the station even if he doesn't offer - some are told not to ask, I was once told?!

 

From memory of colleagues who've had them, you might have to go to Longbridge to get a MG if they let you have one. Speaking to various press offices a lot of hacks seem to leave them with the fuel light on and full of crap, I don't and I'm sure you wouldn't either, £20 or so left in it helps the plater who has to pick it up out as well.

[Skizzer]

I've nothing useful to say, but good luck with it and don't be shy about posting a link to your work when the time comes.

[Partridge]

Most stuff comes fully insured on the manufacturer/press office's insurance but beware of small print especially if you are under 25 - you might not be covered and will need to sort your own out BUT only on agreement with said press office.

 

I've always had them delivered either to home or work, trade platers do it usually and they arrive full of fuel. Be nice and give them the plater a lift back to the station even if he doesn't offer - some are told not to ask, I was once told?!

 

From memory of colleagues who've had them, you might have to go to Longbridge to get a MG if they let you have one. Speaking to various press offices a lot of hacks seem to leave them with the fuel light on and full of crap, I don't and I'm sure you wouldn't either, £20 or so left in it helps the plater who has to pick it up out as well.

Thanks Scruff, that's very helpful indeed!

[Alfamale]

I used to do the road tests for a local rag a few years ago. Unfortunately many press offices can be a bit sniffy especially when you are new. They usually want to know what you want the car for, what coverage they will get, examples of previous work and in some cases a letter from the editor.

 

To be fair, it does cost them a fortune to shift the cars around the country plus the tank of fuel they don't expect back when it's dropped off! In my experience, Citroen, Mazda, Peugeot and VW were all very accommodating. Forget about Ford, vauxhall and Audi as the couldn't give a toss based on my dealings with them. Jaguar Land Rover were also very generous thinking back.

 

If you haven't already, sign up to newspress as it gives you all the contact details and phone numbers for the various press offices and fleet administrators.

 

Good luck!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Give yourself an identifier over other typical chancer 'journos' from local newspapers by insisting that the press car is fitted with a tow bar and ask if they have a heavy duty rear spring option.

[dieselnutjob]

take a job delivering cars to dealerships and write reviews on them at the same time?

[gordonbennet]

Jeesus no DieselNut.

 

I did a stint on the plates around 1989.

 

Bloody months of hell, thumbing lifts on the side of dual carriageways in the pissing rain and walking bloody miles to get to or from outlying bodyshops, piss ant auctions and snottybloody dealerships, travel expenses not paid so thumbing up to 400 miles one way was the reality, never abloodygain.

 

Plating should carry a gubbermint health warning.

[oman5]

Good luck, I am looking forward to reading your reviews too.

[vulgalour]

I think the reason for reviews of performance this, that and the other is because that's what people want to read about.  Never forget we're the minority here and while we'd be thrilled at the number of different beiges a car is supplied in and the number of option boxes could be unticked while still having a car that could be driven without use of The Force, the money paying general public don't want that sort of thing.

 

Variety is what makes me part with cash for a publication.  If I see a magazine that just has Escort this and Mini that on the cover I don't even pick it up, but stick something a little out of the ordinary on the front and I'll probably part with my hard earned for a read.

 

We're past the point of having to issue warnings against lewd graffiti now, aren't we?

[dollywobbler]

Carbuyer videos do the factual side of things - how much seat space, what it's like to drive on normal roads etc. It doesn't make for thrilling viewing, even when the rather cute Rebecca Jackson is presenting.