In defence of Max Power magazine
Discussion
I happen to have the latest issue on my desk, and I had a quick flick through, not having seen it for years. I was expecting to see horrendous body-kits, bad wheel choices and spotty munters on every page.
What I actually saw was a guide to checking the safety of aftermarket wheels, an article by the editor calling burnouts in carparks moronic, a few interestingly engineered European show cars, where the emphasis was on smoothing and improving in hot-rod style rather than tacking on tat, and only one "girl feature" where she actually kept herself mostly clothed.
It's not my magazine of choice, but it's surprising how far removed it is from the "barryboy bible" you expect it to be. The chav cruise culprits I think look up to Max Power without actually really reading it it seems.
What I actually saw was a guide to checking the safety of aftermarket wheels, an article by the editor calling burnouts in carparks moronic, a few interestingly engineered European show cars, where the emphasis was on smoothing and improving in hot-rod style rather than tacking on tat, and only one "girl feature" where she actually kept herself mostly clothed.
It's not my magazine of choice, but it's surprising how far removed it is from the "barryboy bible" you expect it to be. The chav cruise culprits I think look up to Max Power without actually really reading it it seems.
I was also impressed when I picked up a copy a year or two ago and found similar things, including an article that appeared to be about how to drive as fast as possible on the road, but actually was about things like safe overtaking maneuvers - for example sighting down the side of the car in front as it rounds a corner to check if the road ahead is clear.
To be honest I think the whole Barry'd up car scene is on the wane. I keep hearing noisy hatchbacks expecting to see bodykits, spoilers and bass bins, but am increasingly pleasantly surprised when I see a stripped-out interior and a half-roll-cage.
Maybe it's the resurgence of the British in motorsport, what with Hamilton and Button talking about how they got into it all through the grass-roots, or seeing Kris Meeke yumping crests on TV adverts. Maybe it's the hike in insurance premiums that made many young motorists realise that they could make their bog-standard cars more exciting by taking stuff out of them rather than bolting on tat, and this in turn doesn't affect their premiums or their wallets.
Either way, I went to Hellfrauds the other day (just went in for a wiper blade, honest guv!) and they don't seem to be selling as much tat as they used to.
It's a nice change if it is happening. Maybe the whole 'chav' explosion, followed by the country defining a 'chav' by, among other things, their cars, and ridiculing them. Also, I think the credit-frenzy Blair era was one for very un-British showing-off, where 'cruising' in a ridiculously-modified s
tter 'picking up chicks' in McDonald's car park, desperately trying to emulate American drive-thru culture, was somehow acceptable, especially after the indiscriminate American-culture love-in that followed 9/11.
Or maybe it's the new generation of 'warm' hatches that have slotted in below the somewhat weighty GTs-in-sensible-clothes that represent the Golf GTI's market now. Young people can realistically think about buying and insuring a Twingo GT or a SportKa, whereas a few years earlier, you had a choice of dross, or a Focus RS or Megane RenaultSport with an insurance premium that could buy a telecommunications satellite.
Another thing I've noticed is an increasing number of young women driving performance cars and following F1. Obviously with the Max Power magazine of a few years ago, with its Babestation rejects sprawled over some self-styled 'pimpmobile' would have put them right off the performance car scene altogether.
Maybe it's the resurgence of the British in motorsport, what with Hamilton and Button talking about how they got into it all through the grass-roots, or seeing Kris Meeke yumping crests on TV adverts. Maybe it's the hike in insurance premiums that made many young motorists realise that they could make their bog-standard cars more exciting by taking stuff out of them rather than bolting on tat, and this in turn doesn't affect their premiums or their wallets.
Either way, I went to Hellfrauds the other day (just went in for a wiper blade, honest guv!) and they don't seem to be selling as much tat as they used to.
It's a nice change if it is happening. Maybe the whole 'chav' explosion, followed by the country defining a 'chav' by, among other things, their cars, and ridiculing them. Also, I think the credit-frenzy Blair era was one for very un-British showing-off, where 'cruising' in a ridiculously-modified s
tter 'picking up chicks' in McDonald's car park, desperately trying to emulate American drive-thru culture, was somehow acceptable, especially after the indiscriminate American-culture love-in that followed 9/11.Or maybe it's the new generation of 'warm' hatches that have slotted in below the somewhat weighty GTs-in-sensible-clothes that represent the Golf GTI's market now. Young people can realistically think about buying and insuring a Twingo GT or a SportKa, whereas a few years earlier, you had a choice of dross, or a Focus RS or Megane RenaultSport with an insurance premium that could buy a telecommunications satellite.
Another thing I've noticed is an increasing number of young women driving performance cars and following F1. Obviously with the Max Power magazine of a few years ago, with its Babestation rejects sprawled over some self-styled 'pimpmobile' would have put them right off the performance car scene altogether.
Twincam16 said:
To be honest I think the whole Barry'd up car scene is on the wane. I keep hearing noisy hatchbacks expecting to see bodykits, spoilers and bass bins, but am increasingly pleasantly surprised when I see a stripped-out interior and a half-roll-cage.
Maybe it's the resurgence of the British in motorsport, what with Hamilton and Button talking about how they got into it all through the grass-roots, or seeing Kris Meeke yumping crests on TV adverts. Maybe it's the hike in insurance premiums that made many young motorists realise that they could make their bog-standard cars more exciting by taking stuff out of them rather than bolting on tat, and this in turn doesn't affect their premiums or their wallets.
Either way, I went to Hellfrauds the other day (just went in for a wiper blade, honest guv!) and they don't seem to be selling as much tat as they used to.
It's a nice change if it is happening. Maybe the whole 'chav' explosion, followed by the country defining a 'chav' by, among other things, their cars, and ridiculing them. Also, I think the credit-frenzy Blair era was one for very un-British showing-off, where 'cruising' in a ridiculously-modified stter 'picking up chicks' in McDonald's car park, desperately trying to emulate American drive-thru culture, was somehow acceptable, especially after the indiscriminate American-culture love-in that followed 9/11.
Or maybe it's the new generation of 'warm' hatches that have slotted in below the somewhat weighty GTs-in-sensible-clothes that represent the Golf GTI's market now. Young people can realistically think about buying and insuring a Twingo GT or a SportKa, whereas a few years earlier, you had a choice of dross, or a Focus RS or Megane RenaultSport with an insurance premium that could buy a telecommunications satellite.
Another thing I've noticed is an increasing number of young women driving performance cars and following F1. Obviously with the Max Power magazine of a few years ago, with its Babestation rejects sprawled over some self-styled 'pimpmobile' would have put them right off the performance car scene altogether.
....apart from certain parts of Wales.....though not all.Maybe it's the resurgence of the British in motorsport, what with Hamilton and Button talking about how they got into it all through the grass-roots, or seeing Kris Meeke yumping crests on TV adverts. Maybe it's the hike in insurance premiums that made many young motorists realise that they could make their bog-standard cars more exciting by taking stuff out of them rather than bolting on tat, and this in turn doesn't affect their premiums or their wallets.
Either way, I went to Hellfrauds the other day (just went in for a wiper blade, honest guv!) and they don't seem to be selling as much tat as they used to.
It's a nice change if it is happening. Maybe the whole 'chav' explosion, followed by the country defining a 'chav' by, among other things, their cars, and ridiculing them. Also, I think the credit-frenzy Blair era was one for very un-British showing-off, where 'cruising' in a ridiculously-modified s
tter 'picking up chicks' in McDonald's car park, desperately trying to emulate American drive-thru culture, was somehow acceptable, especially after the indiscriminate American-culture love-in that followed 9/11.Or maybe it's the new generation of 'warm' hatches that have slotted in below the somewhat weighty GTs-in-sensible-clothes that represent the Golf GTI's market now. Young people can realistically think about buying and insuring a Twingo GT or a SportKa, whereas a few years earlier, you had a choice of dross, or a Focus RS or Megane RenaultSport with an insurance premium that could buy a telecommunications satellite.
Another thing I've noticed is an increasing number of young women driving performance cars and following F1. Obviously with the Max Power magazine of a few years ago, with its Babestation rejects sprawled over some self-styled 'pimpmobile' would have put them right off the performance car scene altogether.
I also think sites like this spread awareness that there are better things to spend your money on and the range of affordable used performance vehicles is expanding all the time.
Edited by LuS1fer on Thursday 15th July 10:21
aka_kerrly said:
Fast car is the same, that used to be full of cars with horrific bodykits, trampy girls and articles about fitting 18s on a fiesta.
I remember fast car 15+ years ago was a sensible car tuning magazine with not a naked lady in sight. In fact Max power never used to be the semi jazz mag it became. Then Max power started to feature more tat, less tech and page 3 girls and fast car decided it was going to try and compete. They had kind of become the Nuts and Zoo of their day. Crap you buy just to look at the tits.Glad to hear they have gone back to their roots.
Several factors:
1. Fasion - now racing style is preferable to stick on tat style
2. Barry boys.co.uk - where half finished body kits are ridiculed
3. Credit crunch (no more money for stick on tat, so remove weight instead)
4. Nuts/Zoo - no need for boolies in Max Power et al as these mags have that covered (or uncovered as it happens)
5. Definition of 'chav' - see item #2.
1. Fasion - now racing style is preferable to stick on tat style
2. Barry boys.co.uk - where half finished body kits are ridiculed
3. Credit crunch (no more money for stick on tat, so remove weight instead)
4. Nuts/Zoo - no need for boolies in Max Power et al as these mags have that covered (or uncovered as it happens)
5. Definition of 'chav' - see item #2.
spaceship said:
I used to buy a magazine called 'Revs'. Not even sure if it's still in publication. Was a bit less boobs and barry than Max Power - had some decent maintenance articles for basic diy jobs.
Was bought by the evil empire that is Emap in 02/03ish. Then crushed in favour of Max (also owner by Emap)Devil2575 said:
aka_kerrly said:
Fast car is the same, that used to be full of cars with horrific bodykits, trampy girls and articles about fitting 18s on a fiesta.
I remember fast car 15+ years ago was a sensible car tuning magazine with not a naked lady in sight. In fact Max power never used to be the semi jazz mag it became. Then Max power started to feature more tat, less tech and page 3 girls and fast car decided it was going to try and compete. They had kind of become the Nuts and Zoo of their day. Crap you buy just to look at the tits.Glad to hear they have gone back to their roots.
Twincam16 said:
Maybe it's the resurgence of the British in motorsport, what with Hamilton and Button talking about how they got into it all through the grass-roots, or seeing Kris Meeke yumping crests on TV adverts. Maybe it's the hike in insurance premiums that made many young motorists realise that they could make their bog-standard cars more exciting by taking stuff out of them rather than bolting on tat, and this in turn doesn't affect their premiums or their wallets.
That last bit is just not true. Fitting a roll-cage into a road car makes getting insurance extremely difficult, there have been several threads about it in the past. The euro-style look with no interior, 13x9 wheels and a show-cage is just a new fad. I think I preferred the barry boys tbh, at least you could play on the PS2 while you sat in McDonald's car park.
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