Are these Vloggers just a scam? SOL or Shmee etc???????
Discussion
)TopGear7 said:
TGE has been quite open in stating that the way the orders have been timed he will be going from one car to another - not buying and keeping all of them at the same time. Although he seems to have cancelled his 720s ordered but in the Geneva video appeared quite excited about it again.
Mo Vlogs has sold his 458 after a few months and there's people commenting calling him out on renting it and never actually owning it. It wouldn't surprise me, it's all props for content really. He's also moved in to a 'mansion' now.
I don't quite understand SOL purchasing the Huracan brand new. A second hand one with warranty would have fulfilled the same role in terms of what he intends to use it for (lots of YouTube content) without taking the massive hit in depreciation of a brand new one.
I don't understand what problem people have with someone renting/leasing a supercar either if they can afford to do it. I should really bolden the last part of that sentence.Mo Vlogs has sold his 458 after a few months and there's people commenting calling him out on renting it and never actually owning it. It wouldn't surprise me, it's all props for content really. He's also moved in to a 'mansion' now.
I don't quite understand SOL purchasing the Huracan brand new. A second hand one with warranty would have fulfilled the same role in terms of what he intends to use it for (lots of YouTube content) without taking the massive hit in depreciation of a brand new one.
Given all that matters is he is driving a supercar and the haters aren't who cares how it is paid for?
I do enjoy some of the YouTuber's channels, but have to admit that I'm going off the main UK ones a bit, primarily because they change their cars too often and seem to always buy brand-new ones with a "Surprise! New Car! Old one gone!" for the viewer. It is a lot like the back pages of Top Gear magazine - they have something coming and going every 2 minutes. I can't really get behind them, whereas owner reports in something like GT Porsche, are actually owned by the editors so have a mix of old and new and some are very long term keepers - with appropriate problems and/or modifications that go with it.
And on that vein, the ones I like at the minute are Nick Murray (the guy who had the woeful problems with his 991 and used YouTube to publicise his plight and get a refund from Porsche) and particularly Rob Ferreti (superspeedersrob). Both have real jobs/companies and talk openly about them, which gives more depth to their personalities I think. Rob's businesses all revolve around cars. He keeps his cars for a long time, has a nice variety and does plenty of interesting videos about ownership and other mad s
t too - like the MX5 snow plough.
I'd recommend those if you haven't seen them.
And on that vein, the ones I like at the minute are Nick Murray (the guy who had the woeful problems with his 991 and used YouTube to publicise his plight and get a refund from Porsche) and particularly Rob Ferreti (superspeedersrob). Both have real jobs/companies and talk openly about them, which gives more depth to their personalities I think. Rob's businesses all revolve around cars. He keeps his cars for a long time, has a nice variety and does plenty of interesting videos about ownership and other mad s
t too - like the MX5 snow plough.I'd recommend those if you haven't seen them.
So much bitterness on this thread.
On the most part, these guys are in their twenties, driving supercars and flying around the world for a living - which they've created off their own back (to varying degrees), while churning out free content for hundreds of thousands of people day in day out, whom seem to enjoy what they're producing.
What's there to hate or bash? Unless you're simply a shade of green. Nothing annoys me seeing them buying a new car, and really is a reflection on yourself if it makes you irate.
Bar a couple of exceptions that lie about their income and source of wealth, most are totally honest how they're financing, and why on earth shouldn't they if they can even vaguely afford it, it's the main tool of their trade, and funds further growth and earnings. Good on them for taking a bit of a risk and sacracfice for indulging their passion and feeding their own businesses.
And as for the merchandise, whether it's to your taste or not, they're running a multi faceted business - on the most part simply supplying to feed demand. As with all things, the market determines what's what. They wouldn't make it if people didnt buy it.
For what it's worth - SOL is the most genuine & likeable of the lot.
On the most part, these guys are in their twenties, driving supercars and flying around the world for a living - which they've created off their own back (to varying degrees), while churning out free content for hundreds of thousands of people day in day out, whom seem to enjoy what they're producing.
What's there to hate or bash? Unless you're simply a shade of green. Nothing annoys me seeing them buying a new car, and really is a reflection on yourself if it makes you irate.
Bar a couple of exceptions that lie about their income and source of wealth, most are totally honest how they're financing, and why on earth shouldn't they if they can even vaguely afford it, it's the main tool of their trade, and funds further growth and earnings. Good on them for taking a bit of a risk and sacracfice for indulging their passion and feeding their own businesses.
And as for the merchandise, whether it's to your taste or not, they're running a multi faceted business - on the most part simply supplying to feed demand. As with all things, the market determines what's what. They wouldn't make it if people didnt buy it.
For what it's worth - SOL is the most genuine & likeable of the lot.
Beefmeister said:
I was waiting for the sales pitch for a forex trading platform but it never came... londongeorge87 said:
So much bitterness on this thread.
For what it's worth - SOL is the most genuine & likeable of the lot.
I agree with this person, SOL seems to be the best of a bad bunch! That TGE fella, while he looks/sounds like a cross between a made in Chelsea wannabe and a down and out, he seems to have something about him! With all the cars he has/has on order, he must have a massive house, garage, and drive! As I understand it, he has his fingers in quite a few pies, and he is the only one out of the main youtubers that actually has a day job.For what it's worth - SOL is the most genuine & likeable of the lot.
Not a fan, although they aren't hurting anyone I suppose!
Edited by jimbohop on Monday 20th March 22:18
jimbohop said:
I agree with this person, SOL seems to be the best of a bad bunch! That TGE fella, while he looks/sounds like a cross between a made in Chelsea wannabe and a down and out, he seems to have something about him! With all the cars he has/has on order, he must have a massive house, garage, and drive! As I understand it, he has his fingers in quite a few pies, and he is the only one out of the main youtubers that actually has a day job.
Not a fan, although they aren't hurting anyone I suppose!
Tom (TGE) has a very specific style, very laid back and blase, but he's a massive petrolhead. I don't know how he has time to do anything social though. He's got a very well paid job in the city and runs LDNMuscle with his brother. And have you seen his body?! That takes hours of working out every day to maintain. Then there's the YouTube content that he has to shoot and edit. Don't know where he finds the time unless he only sleeps about 4hrs. Not a fan, although they aren't hurting anyone I suppose!
Edited by jimbohop on Monday 20th March 22:18
And he lives in London, so it's a flat with multiple parking spaces below like Tim.
TopGear7 said:
TGE has been quite open in stating that the way the orders have been timed he will be going from one car to another - not buying and keeping all of them at the same time. Although he seems to have cancelled his 720s ordered but in the Geneva video appeared quite excited about it again.
Mo Vlogs has sold his 458 after a few months and there's people commenting calling him out on renting it and never actually owning it. It wouldn't surprise me, it's all props for content really. He's also moved in to a 'mansion' now.
I don't quite understand SOL purchasing the Huracan brand new. A second hand one with warranty would have fulfilled the same role in terms of what he intends to use it for (lots of YouTube content) without taking the massive hit in depreciation of a brand new one.
SOL will of bought brand new for APR % Mo Vlogs has sold his 458 after a few months and there's people commenting calling him out on renting it and never actually owning it. It wouldn't surprise me, it's all props for content really. He's also moved in to a 'mansion' now.
I don't quite understand SOL purchasing the Huracan brand new. A second hand one with warranty would have fulfilled the same role in terms of what he intends to use it for (lots of YouTube content) without taking the massive hit in depreciation of a brand new one.
RSK21 said:
trowelhead said:
I think he hints in the video one will replace another
Fair play to him that's an exciting year of cars ahead to enjoy and I bet he'll make enough on the GT3 flip to subsidise the others ha ha
With one Cayman Gt4 behind him which speculation says may well have bben flipped at profit how on earth does he get on he approved list for a new GT3 ?Fair play to him that's an exciting year of cars ahead to enjoy and I bet he'll make enough on the GT3 flip to subsidise the others ha ha
To me its getting a car then selling on almost straight away for a big premium without doing any miles yourself.
That's not what Shmee did with his GT4, He put a decent amount of miles on it on a few Euro trips and owned it for a decent period of time.
How long do you have to keep a car and how many miles do you need to do before you aren't classed as a 'flipper'?
Edited by Davey S2 on Tuesday 21st March 10:53
Davey S2 said:
What do you class as flipping though?
To me its getting a car then selling on almost straight away for a big premium without doing any miles yourself.
That's not what Shmee did with his GT4, He out a decent amount of miles on it on a few Euro trips and owned it for a decent period of time.
How long do you have to keep a car and how many miles do you need to do before you aren't classed a s a 'flipper'?
Nothing wrong to my mind keeping a car for even a couple of months, enjoying and getting as much use as you're able to get, and selling up for someone else to enjoy, while the market is strong. You don't have to keep cars for years and take a financial hit to be a true 'petrolhead'. TGE is not a flipper, but he does seem very concious of residuals, and why shouldn't he be - sensible chap.To me its getting a car then selling on almost straight away for a big premium without doing any miles yourself.
That's not what Shmee did with his GT4, He out a decent amount of miles on it on a few Euro trips and owned it for a decent period of time.
How long do you have to keep a car and how many miles do you need to do before you aren't classed a s a 'flipper'?
Buying and speccing with sole intention to sell slot, or sell with delivery miles - THAT is flipping, but each case on its merits. Sometimes people have to sell their delivery mileage car and not everyone that has done, receiving a premium should be banished to the gates of hell.
londongeorge87 said:
Beefmeister said:
Tom (TGE) has a very specific style, very laid back and blase, but he's a massive petrolhead. I don't know how he has time to do anything social though. He's got a very well paid job in the city and runs LDNMuscle with his brother. And have you seen his body?! That takes hours of working out every day to maintain. Then there's the YouTube content that he has to shoot and edit. Don't know where he finds the time unless he only sleeps about 4hrs.
And he lives in London, so it's a flat with multiple parking spaces below like Tim.
Despite the excessively blase style, 'TGE' is definitely not stupid, and a definite petrolhead. Those that've been following him on Instagram will have seen his journey over the past couple of years, and you can't help but be slightly impressed.And he lives in London, so it's a flat with multiple parking spaces below like Tim.
I could only dream of owning/driving the cars that TGE has, although I suppose I also want to sleep well at night too!
I have since looked back at some of TGE’s numerous car collections, and can see that while his style may be to show little excitement/emotion, I would relate better to him, should he show some genuine excitement – after all, he has just taken delivery of an amazing car! Personally, I would be buzzing if I had the opportunity to go through a Super car collection day, and the whole experience it brings with it! Having said this, I wouldn’t be as ridiculously giddy as that STG guy gets – that seem a little OTT!
Maybe it’s the extortionate finance payments that are weighing heavy on TGE’s mind, or he is just tired from the endless amount of work he does in order to afford such dream machines – either way, just a glimmer of excitement would make him more relatable! I guess it’s just the way he rolls! “
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF3Nshu23wjPgK4DW...
jimbohop said:
“I’m as impressed as the next guy with anyone who tries to better themselves, although something doesn’t quite add up here!
I could only dream of owning/driving the cars that TGE has, although I suppose I also want to sleep well at night too!
I have since looked back at some of TGE’s numerous car collections, and can see that while his style may be to show little excitement/emotion, I would relate better to him, should he show some genuine excitement – after all, he has just taken delivery of an amazing car! Personally, I would be buzzing if I had the opportunity to go through a Super car collection day, and the whole experience it brings with it! Having said this, I wouldn’t be as ridiculously giddy as that STG guy gets – that seem a little OTT!
Maybe it’s the extortionate finance payments that are weighing heavy on TGE’s mind, or he is just tired from the endless amount of work he does in order to afford such dream machines – either way, just a glimmer of excitement would make him more relatable! I guess it’s just the way he rolls! “
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF3Nshu23wjPgK4DW...
Out of all of the "vloggers", TGE is about the only one that it does seem to add up. As has been said, his blog is more simply a sideline and he has a "normal" 9 - 5 in a city job and runs what appears to be a successful supplements company with his brother. I've no idea as to whether he benefits from a background of family money also, but he at least appears to have a foundation for his wealth unlike the usual stream of "I'm a social media consultant and have several (always unnamed) businesses from age 5 that I would rather keep private"..I could only dream of owning/driving the cars that TGE has, although I suppose I also want to sleep well at night too!
I have since looked back at some of TGE’s numerous car collections, and can see that while his style may be to show little excitement/emotion, I would relate better to him, should he show some genuine excitement – after all, he has just taken delivery of an amazing car! Personally, I would be buzzing if I had the opportunity to go through a Super car collection day, and the whole experience it brings with it! Having said this, I wouldn’t be as ridiculously giddy as that STG guy gets – that seem a little OTT!
Maybe it’s the extortionate finance payments that are weighing heavy on TGE’s mind, or he is just tired from the endless amount of work he does in order to afford such dream machines – either way, just a glimmer of excitement would make him more relatable! I guess it’s just the way he rolls! “
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF3Nshu23wjPgK4DW...
As for his more morose style, I actually much prefer that and his self-deprecating presentation rather than the schoolkid squealing and "super" of everything by the majority of the rest.
londongeorge87 said:
So much bitterness on this thread.
On the most part, these guys are in their twenties, driving supercars and flying around the world for a living - which they've created off their own back (to varying degrees), while churning out free content for hundreds of thousands of people day in day out, whom seem to enjoy what they're producing.
What's there to hate or bash? Unless you're simply a shade of green. Nothing annoys me seeing them buying a new car, and really is a reflection on yourself if it makes you irate.
Each to their own but I simply dislike the content most of them produce- it's nothing to do with them personally, just the stuff they put out. You use the word 'churning' and I think that is very apt.On the most part, these guys are in their twenties, driving supercars and flying around the world for a living - which they've created off their own back (to varying degrees), while churning out free content for hundreds of thousands of people day in day out, whom seem to enjoy what they're producing.
What's there to hate or bash? Unless you're simply a shade of green. Nothing annoys me seeing them buying a new car, and really is a reflection on yourself if it makes you irate.
To me a lot of it is lowest-common-denominator stuff, designed to appeal to a specific audience. It's 'churned out' daily by an ever-increasing number of Youtubers, simply because it's a successful formula that works. Much like the raft of pseudo-reality stuff on TV, or the proliferation of Saturday night 'talent' shows- one is successful so everyone else scrambles to get a seat on the bandwagon.
It puts me in mind of the classic Alan Partridge 'Monkey Tennis' sketch:
Alan: Right, OK. Shoestring, Taggart, Spender, Bergerac, Morse. What does that say to you about regional detective series?
Tony Hayers: There's too many of them?
Alan: That's one way of looking at it, another way of looking at it is, people like them, let's make some more of them.
And much like the various pseudo-reality TV talent stuff, it seems to me that a lot of the younger Youtube "what-colour-wrap-shall-I-get-for-my-next-supercar" stuff is trying to sell its target audience a lifestyle to aspire to more than anything else, a lifestyle of social media fame and easy living.
I've nothing against that, as there is clearly a vast market for that kind of thing, but to suggest the only reason people would strongly dislike those Youtubers is because we are jealous of them is a bit presumptive.
I also actively avoid any TV shows with the word 'celebrity' or 'reality' in the title, and would sooner spend an evening listening to "Peter Andre's Drum & Bass Christmas" than watch an episode of The Only Way is Essex / Geordie Shore etc- and it sure as hell isn't because I'm jealous of any of their "stars"!
The best car-related Youtube channel for me is Harry's Garage, no question. Absolutely top notch, brilliantly informative, entertaining, and an overwhelming enthusiasm for the cars above everything else. He doesn't 'churn' stuff out daily, but I think that works to his favour, to me it's a brilliant example of quality over quantity- which is much more my cup of tea.
Squirrelofwoe said:
Each to their own but I simply dislike the content most of them produce- it's nothing to do with them personally, just the stuff they put out. You use the word 'churning' and I think that is very apt.
To me a lot of it is lowest-common-denominator stuff, designed to appeal to a specific audience. It's 'churned out' daily by an ever-increasing number of Youtubers, simply because it's a successful formula that works. Much like the raft of pseudo-reality stuff on TV, or the proliferation of Saturday night 'talent' shows- one is successful so everyone else scrambles to get a seat on the bandwagon.
...
Market determines what is popular - while the higher quality less low brow stuff personally appeals more to me, the public dictate what they want, and the more inane stuff still drives views and is as popular as ever. It would stop if people didnt watch it.To me a lot of it is lowest-common-denominator stuff, designed to appeal to a specific audience. It's 'churned out' daily by an ever-increasing number of Youtubers, simply because it's a successful formula that works. Much like the raft of pseudo-reality stuff on TV, or the proliferation of Saturday night 'talent' shows- one is successful so everyone else scrambles to get a seat on the bandwagon.
...
While also the car should be the star IMO when I'm hunting for automotive YT content, there is a huge value for these guys to engage their audience with THEM, not the cars, hence some will try to draw the audience into engaging and buying into them personally, over the cars on occasion. I see the tactic there - makes them far more valuable for their own endeavours, and external brands alike.
londongeorge87 said:
Joratk said:
Think TGE has his toes dipped in a few other businesses as well as LNDM. 11ing.co.uk, EmojiFresh, maybe even Plogo UK too, although not sure on it... Also writes and sells gym/health/fitness ebooks which can be incredibly profitable as some of you may know.
Cool guy.
Fair bit about this TGE character online; notably LDNM his company even featured on Forbes recently:Cool guy.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisoncoleman/2017/02...
He even apparently founded a watch trading business too in Notting Hill, @WatchesLDN on Instagram.
Not a hint of family money here. Good on him - more than can be said about a few of the daddy funded youtubers with nothing better to do, naming no names. Interesting funny character too. One to watch!
Edited by londongeorge87 on Tuesday 21st March 12:11
Edited by londongeorge87 on Tuesday 21st March 12:19
londongeorge87 said:
PH XKR said:
I'm glad you didn't fall into the trap of mentioning schmee, stg or seb in that post.
Not sure STG is fully in this bracket. There are certainly more obvious names.To be fair, I think STG is the most fluid and natural at presenting, whether or not I like his style or his content. He seems at ease in front of a camera and less awkward than some.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff