New Shite Magazine launched

[Felly Magic]

Too many modermn mags have to do what their advertisers tell them, even if the cars are utter pish. Circulations are pretty low these days, and every penny of advertising cash is needed to keep mags afloat

[Largactil]

I became aware of 'readly' the other week, and I'm halfway through my fortnight's free trial - Pretty good so far.

 

If you're bourgeois enough to own a tablet computer, and average a spend of a tenner a month on mags, it could be worth a look - Obviously it doesn't have every motoring title on it, but CCW / PC / Classic & Sportscar are there, along with the moderns. (Plenty of other mags outside of motoring to read also).

[MarvinsMom]

god that copy of Car magazine takes me back.

 

i have a copy of it in the folder with the service book, and sales brochures for the Mini.

 

as for the new mag, i saw it in Redcar, i didn't buy it and having a look through, it isn't for me. there wasn't anything in it that peeked my interest.

[lincolndanny]

I ordered it, a week later it hadnt arrived. I then paid another £3 when I found it in Tesco. My postal copy arrived the next day.......

 

So for £6 I'm disapointed but for £2.99 its brilliant and I've read it front to back! I cant remember the last time I did that with a mag....Thank you for your hard work! (P.S where on earth did you get the Saxo VTS figures from?!?!?

[andrew e]

Some of my favourite reading back in around 1990 was when all the CAR staffers drove a number of cars back-to-back, each giving their opinion. A bit pointless perhaps but to someone who'd yet to drive most of these cars, really interesting reading. But there were some truly huge characters then, whose words leapt off the page and made these machines come alive.

Yup that's what I bought into, oddly me and the car magazines in general fell out just before the millennium, so actually I have scant information about the "EVO magazine generation" being the "Car magazine generation".

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

Car magazine was a wonderful thing in the 1980s - I gained from reading it tremendously. I learned English from it.  I read it with huge enthusiasm as a teenager - indeed, it was probably the only such thing I was enthusiastic about. I was not a child made for the confines of school.

 

My father generally disapproved of such things as magazines, but after reading Car he thought enough of the writing in it that he actually went out and bought it for me many times. He could see it was about so much more than cars - and the standard of some of the writing in it transcended that of other magazines.

 

I don't think there is a comparable magazine now. I could be wrong since I stopped buying magazines with any regularity over ten years ago. I gave up on them really, they don't hold my interest. 

 

I tried to buy this magazine online tonight overcome by curiosity - to discover it is now sold out. The magazine has captured the imagination of the Piston Heads crowd certainly. It does not surprise me since there is a rich seam of interest in the wide range of older cars which are shunned by the 'mainstream' classic magazines - and a noticeable  waning of interest amongst many PHers in genuinely modern cars. It is not only Autoshiters who see them as white goods.

 

I do suspect the magazine will not cover my taste - but will follow the PH mindset centring on German cars; the fawning over Mercedes there has to be seen to be believed. It is a brave man who tries to set taste rather than to pander to it, especially in a new magazine. Still, without reading it, this is true prejudice in action!

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

Yup that's what I bought into, oddly me and the car magazines in general fell out just before the millennium, so actually I have scant information about the "EVO magazine generation" being the "Car magazine generation".

 

I am very much the same - I have never even read Evo.

[Junkman]

I became aware of 'readly' the other week, and I'm halfway through my fortnight's free trial - Pretty good so far.

 

If you're bourgeois enough to own a tablet computer, and average a spend of a tenner a month on mags, it could be worth a look - Obviously it doesn't have every motoring title on it, but CCW / PC / Classic & Sportscar are there, along with the moderns. (Plenty of other mags outside of motoring to read also).

 

Even this one?

 

 

 

I bet it features a lot of gay and black people.

[UltraWomble]

Hmm, well 10 days now since I ordered a copy and still the local feral cat populous have refused to hand it over. Or possibly the postman is sat somewhere deciding to invest in a Yugo 45....

Im sue I'll enjoy it if it ever turns up.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Even this one?

 

 

 

I bet it features a lot of gay and black people.

Don't be ridiculous, they haven't been able to hunt them since George Snr was voted out.

[UltraWomble]

Ordered a copy online as I cant find a copy locally.

12 days later & I think its safe to say I'm not going to be getting a copy any time soon. I cant remember now whether I paid by paypal or credit card but haven't had any email saying that they couldn't fulfil my order :/

[chaseracer]

There's still a shitload unsold in WHSmith Lichfield if you're down that way...

[willswitchengage]

Haven't seen in our local ASDA or Mozzies, clearly they have sold out very quickly

[NorfolkNWeigh]

12 days later & I think its safe to say I'm not going to be getting a copy any time soon. I cant remember now whether I paid by paypal or credit card but haven't had any email saying that they couldn't fulfil my order :/

I feel guilty now that they sent me one free that I didn't even ask for .

PM me your address and I'll forward it for your perusal.

[Junkman]

There's still a shitload unsold in WHSmith Lichfield if you're down that way...

 

Do you by any chance pass it en route to Derby?

[beko1987]

We popped to the shops whilst seeing swmbos nan earlier to get some food, and I picked a copy up as I saw it and remembered this thread.

 

It has potential, but not enough shite and not enough tinkering. Surely some people on here would be up for a running blog in print.

 

Didnt read it too thoroughly as we were all keeping half an eye on nan to check she wasnt dead, will read it properly over the weekend.

[chaseracer]

Do you by any chance pass it en route to Derby?

 

I'll see what I can do.

[UltraWomble]

OMG

 

Its arrived!!!!

 

and I need the loo, so I expect I'll have a good read whilst I curl one off. Mind you much longer than 15 minutes in there and I start to lose the feeling in  my legs. Mmm, Metro 6R4....

[burraston2006]

I found a copy in Smiths here in Yobville. There were still a few copies left on Thursday. Bought it, popped it into the bathroom for reading, expecting it to  last a few days. Had a dodgy curry on Thursday night so it has been read cover to cover already and I've dipped back into it for seconds! It'll never win the Booker prize for literature but I was happy with what I read.There was a reasonable variety of articles to keep most people happy in there. A spotted section/crossword and a contributor along the line of Setright would be nice, but over all not a bad 1st go. I'd probably buy another copy. 

[chaseracer]

^ I think Keef'll be happy with that! 

[JohnK]

I've read this thread with interest. I'm in town today, so I will keep an eye out for a copy and see if I can find one.

[UltraWomble]

I cant walk..... Ive lost all feeling in mt legs....

Its not bad and if the price point is kept at under 3 quid I'll buy another - nice article on the Activa Richard :0

[Tamworthbay]

Is there such a thing as a template for online mag publishing? I have written articles for a few car mags over the years but always on an ad hoc freelance basis. I have an idea for a magazine but couldn't do it in paper so online seems the obvious way forward.

[Junkman]

I received my copy yesterday courtesy of Chaseracer (many, many thanks again!), who obviously lives in a more literate area than I do.

But it also may have to do with the fact, that Greater Manchester is the car breaking capital of the world, and it seems, that interest in cars, that are still together, is not very widespread around here.

 

Anyway, I started reading it and must say, that the words "buy" and "money" seem to be in two out of three sentences, at least felt.

Maybe the writers should apply for a job at the Financial Times, seeing that pelf and mammon seems to be their primary interest and not cars?

 

What they write about the featured cars however is surprisingly well researched and indeed contains information that was hitherto unknown to me (the 928S4 having a Mercedes auto box anyone?). However, they should refrain from trying to tell me that a particular interior hue does not work very well, although I might get used to it over time. Well, like the majority of other readers (I think) I can damn well decide for myself what I like and what not, and it doesn't necessarily have to harmonise with the taste of selected staff writers.

 

As for the subject matters, I think they are right on track. What gets collected first is the flashy stuff, this has always been the case. Back in the 80s I wouldn't have given an old 5-series a second glance if it wasn't a M535i, the only contemplable Benz was a 300 SEL 6.3, a 911 without hairdryer was unacceptable, my first Opel KAD was a B-Diplomat 5.4, Pontiacs were only acceptable in GTO flavour, Oldses had to be 442s and 440TNT-less Mopars remained in the used car dealer's rearcourt.

I wish there had been a magazine back then catering to these then youngtimers, and that's exactly what this magazine does now for now youngtimers. The general spirit is to drive a supercar for new Golf money and that's exactly what my philosophy was back then, too.

 

The unsung heroes aficionado I evolved into later, and the similarly minded sophisticated chod connoisseurs I met here, are not the target group for this magazine. But since I also always had a liking for discarded property developer and footballer chariots, I will continue reading it. Who knows, there might be a VW Continental or a Ford DB7 out there somewhere with my name on it. The Future® might not be as bleak after all. If we don't get nuked, that is.

[Bear]

Is there such a thing as a template for online mag publishing? I have written articles for a few car mags over the years but always on an ad hoc freelance basis. I have an idea for a magazine but couldn't do it in paper so online seems the obvious way forward.

 

Not so much a template, though there are - but Wordpress sites can be very powerful and professionally styled. If you don't want to monetise the content people will enjoy it, but it's relatively easy to do so - though you need epic readership levels for the ad revenue to be remotely useful.

[Tamworthbay]

Not so much a template, though there are - but Wordpress sites can be very powerful and professionally styled. If you don't want to monetise the content people will enjoy it, but it's relatively easy to do so - though you need epic readership levels for the ad revenue to be remotely useful.

more interested in having some fun, as long as I cover costs I am happy! Will have a look at the WordPress sites, thanks.

[beko1987]

I've given my copy to a colleague since I've read it now, he wouldnt have bought a copy anyway so no loss of sales yet from me passing mine about. If he gives me it back I'll drop it off at the doctors to go with the practical classic magazines they have in the waiting room

 

[UltraWomble]

So, now I have had time to read and inwardly digest my copy:

 

Presentation and price point: - the presentation is fine, its not a glossy, its not going head to head with Car or with Practical Classics or any of those ilk, its priced below their cover price and the presentation ( paper etc) reflects this. I dont have an issue with that - remember Jalopy? or UBG? Remember how that was printed on cheap paper with just a glosy cover? I know Im drawing comparisons to JoyPal here and this magazine isnt a PalJoy magazine, but this is Autoshite and therefore we naturally do draw comparisons. There of course we differ from the average Classic Car fan in that most of our "classic cars" are in fact run as a daily and the idea of turning a proffit is for most of us a bit of a pipe dream. I think most of us buy a car not becasue its better than money under the mattress but because its something that we want to experience and enjoy - whether we follow the bangernomics ethos or the "im going to throw £££'s at this because I love the thing" ethos.

 

Advertising content: -  About what I would expect and no more irritating than Practical Classics or Classics magazine. Some bits were of interest, some not. If it helps keep the cover price point low then thats all well and good.

 

Articles:- Well ths is issue one and in my eyes there may be was a bit of a Keith Adams bias to authors, but on the whole they were succinct and of interest across the magazine. Maybe (as I think has been mentioned) there wasnt too many unusual facts, but what was there seemed accuarte and researched. Writing style was easy to read. I'd like to think that over time the writing and contribution will evolve into a much broader church with a bit of something for everyone - perhaps not in every issue though.

 

Favourite bit :- Hard to pin to one thing, but the C6, Xantia Activa (which for some reason I thought had been written by RichardK of this parish at first) and the Not A Classic pieces were for me the most interesting articles and the ones that I would liked to have read more about rather than a page.

 

Would I buy another copy  - yes I think I will, but as with all monthly mags it would have to be on the content (or if it had free stickers on the cover - Im a tart for stickers).

[Bear]

Hehe, I haven't written any car-bits yet for MC, products only Also I am sworn off PSA-group products, I'd have to be completely insane to go there again. Like, straitjacket & padded cell crazy. I've turned down XM/Xantia opportunities because that way, misery lies as I discover everything I want to fix is no longer available.

 

I also want a Modern Classics sticker for one of the cars. Though I guess for some of the readership, a revisit of the old Max Power sticker sheet with all those charming "No Dogs Allowed" and so forth phrases on might be more apt.

Just imagine. Another ten years or so, and it'll be old geezers in flat caps with picnics in re-used takeaway containers sat next to Porsche Mint Green Astra GTE 16v wide-arch bodykitted things listening to Acid House and complaining that kids these days don't understand real cars and music, with their self-driving eco machines and non-noise-polluting safety headphones with piped Taylor Swift...

[Junkman]

What really should be addressed (in this and pretty much all British motoring magazines) is the photos.

Not only are some of them challenging the worst ebaymongness has to offer, but most of the featured cars are shown in picture fields measuring 10x5 cm or smaller.

This is not good enough!

I don't have a scanner ready, otherwise I would show you what I mean for widespread hilarity.

 

For those who have a copy, look at the following pics:

 

Page 8 - the De Loreans: it should have been deleted, not published in a magazine

 

Page 9 - the lienup of six-and-a-half Ferraris

 

The interior* shots on pages 18 and 20 - roflcopter

 

The totaly OMGPHOTOSKLZ shot at the lower row's right on page 24 honestly had me lol.

 

In the entire "WOSSOM" feature, there are big across two pages photos of old touring car footage nicked from the internet, but the actually featured cars are merely worth half-beermat sized pics, execpt for the Renner, which was only worth a stamp sized pic. This is pretty consistent in the other articles, too, but then on

 

Page 38 - the photo is just simply revolting

 

And the main article about the future shite icons is awash with half arsed shots of dashboards and engine bays.

 

 

For those in the magazine trade: If you need guidance as to how a motoring magazine should look like, just take the boat to Calais, go into the next supermarket and buy any motor magazine. Just any.