Octane magazine - 'collectors Editions' . . .
Discussion
restoman said:
I know that Octane magazine was first launched in July 2003, but can anyone tell me when they first started doing the 'Collectors Edition' covers for subscribers - was it from issue 1 or sometime later?
Thank you
Fairly sure it wasn't from issue 1 - I couldn't say when without turning the loft out, though, sorry...Thank you
Some of their staff, especially the one with an XK140 ,are possibly too busy schmoozing slebs and avoiding proles like me to attend to anything as trivial as an email from a member of the public. Another glass of reassuringly expensive Chateau Petrus ,Robert?
Edited by coppice on Thursday 25th September 18:57
coppice said:
Some of their staff, especially the one with an XK140 ,are possibly too busy schmoozing slebs and avoiding proles like me to attend to anything as trivial as an email from a member of the public. Another glass of reassuringly expensive Chateau ,Robert?
So true! I sent them the below letter asking them to tone down the ponciness. They never replied and got more poncy, so I cancelled my subscription. Don't miss it a bit.Dear Octane
As I nestle deep into the sumptuous leather of my man-cave's central feature, supplied by the bespoke Swedish designer iKea, the comforting sound of my timepiece ticking on my wrist punctuates my musings on my Octane subscription. I feel a warm glow of satisfaction as I contemplate the horological masterpiece, only enhanced as I look forward to the descent of some classic car types on my home, and ponder my choice of vices - will it be port or cigars? Only two things disturb my sense of well-being; the first being my bounder-like conduct of purchasing my racing automobile based on the fact that it goes fast, rather than the true raison d'etre of the Octane subscriber - what does it cost and is it going to go up? Of course, I should have considered the likelihood of my asset appreciating, rather than the fact that I wished to impress shallow women and shallower men, but this is not the only cause of my disquiet.
The second? Well, its the way the compass of a magazine that I have subscribed to for a number of years continues its swing from the true North of substance to the magnetic North of "style". Whether! it! be! the! punctuation-laden prose of Mr Coucher, dropping clichés like confetti, or the rather Christ-like figure of Mr Lilywhite (p.131, January 2013) scanning the hostile horizon like Titus Oates wondering whether it really is that cold out there, name proudly emblazoned on his race suit, it all smacks a little of showing off...
Fancy, in the most recent issue alone, that a Porsche GT3 is too fast for the road. Goodness me; a watch-maker showing off his wares compared to a dictator's parade and a small portable clock similed to a nuclear warhead. My word; an Aston DB7 (the Porsche Boxster of the marketing world) returning to "its spiritual home" at Newport Pagnell. Quite apart from that particular phrase being my pet hate for its laziness and lack of originality, living as I do within a stones throw of the Aston works (or, perhaps as it might be put in Octane,"within reach of the hallowed grounds of the chapel of Aston"), I'm pretty sure that the closest the DB7 made it to Newport Pagnell was passing by on the transporter en route to being delivered to a mildly successful letting agent.
The saddest thing of all, is that within all the flimflam are nuggets of gold - some great articles. But please - ease off on the clichés, try not to force three words in where one will do, and bear in mind why we all like classic cars - because they go fast, look good, and make us feel alive. Because otherwise, reluctantly, I will be cancelling my subscription.
Paul S
A letter in this issue challenges them on their eliteism, quite rightly too. As the author describes I too sometimes feel like the poor mans classic car owner...probably because I am very foolish and buy cars based upon weather I like them or not, and not just for their investment potential...
The slight problem is that there are plenty of 'everyday' classic car magazines, with Practical Classics being the most down-to-earth. I guess Octane have to maintain their position, and if that means occasionally upsetting people by slagging off more everyday classics like the TR7 then so be it? Still not a very nice attitude.
The slight problem is that there are plenty of 'everyday' classic car magazines, with Practical Classics being the most down-to-earth. I guess Octane have to maintain their position, and if that means occasionally upsetting people by slagging off more everyday classics like the TR7 then so be it? Still not a very nice attitude.
Firstly in answer to the question it was about 2 years ago and if it's important I could check because I have my copies on shelves in the garage.
Secondly, as someone who has subscribed to Ocatane from edition 6 and randomly purchased the preceding editions from WH Smiths I would agree that the style of the magazine has gone down. In it's formative years the subject matter was genuinely informative and unique but perhaps there are no longer enough cars to cover. Today most of the featured classics are for sale with one of the auction houses or traders advertising within the mag so it feels a bit like advertorial.
The letters pages have certainly gone downhill, I can distinctly remember some of those early letters were from the designers, engineers and major and captains (retired), who would have raced, fettled and tuned the very cars featured in the previous months edition. Now it's mostly poor "I've got a Ferrari" letters or something obsequious in a thinly disguise effort to win the watch/leather bag/jacket or whatever that month's give away is.
Regarding the cars, I don't mind the fact that they are mostly rather top end, a has been said I can get Practical Classics or Classic Cars to read about everyday classics (is that also a magazine, if not there's an idea!). I do however agree about Mr Coucher's penchant for cigars, made to measure suits, watches and so on and if I was genuinely interested in that stuff I would, presumably, buy Savile Row Monthly or whatever. I'm not.
So yes, they should cut the pretence at trying to be a general interest magazine and get back to what they do best. Do more in depth features and less advertorial and cut the posing.
All IMHO.
Secondly, as someone who has subscribed to Ocatane from edition 6 and randomly purchased the preceding editions from WH Smiths I would agree that the style of the magazine has gone down. In it's formative years the subject matter was genuinely informative and unique but perhaps there are no longer enough cars to cover. Today most of the featured classics are for sale with one of the auction houses or traders advertising within the mag so it feels a bit like advertorial.
The letters pages have certainly gone downhill, I can distinctly remember some of those early letters were from the designers, engineers and major and captains (retired), who would have raced, fettled and tuned the very cars featured in the previous months edition. Now it's mostly poor "I've got a Ferrari" letters or something obsequious in a thinly disguise effort to win the watch/leather bag/jacket or whatever that month's give away is.
Regarding the cars, I don't mind the fact that they are mostly rather top end, a has been said I can get Practical Classics or Classic Cars to read about everyday classics (is that also a magazine, if not there's an idea!). I do however agree about Mr Coucher's penchant for cigars, made to measure suits, watches and so on and if I was genuinely interested in that stuff I would, presumably, buy Savile Row Monthly or whatever. I'm not.
So yes, they should cut the pretence at trying to be a general interest magazine and get back to what they do best. Do more in depth features and less advertorial and cut the posing.
All IMHO.
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