Is anyone bored with EVO magazine recently?

[VERN UK]

edar said:

Over the last few editions, for me, there seems to be a dip in interest generally. I'm also skipping certain pages especially those containing Jethro Bovingdons very drab and boring reviews-stroke-features. The only decent writers on the mag are Henry Catchpole, Harry Metcalfe and Nick Trott. For me, Henry Catchpole stand's out with his excellent road trip encounters, and more recently, the hidden writing talents of Nick Trott.

Is it time for them to bring in fresh writing talent? (maybe re-hire Chris Harris?)

Bored, love the mag?

Over to you...

Is that you Monkey?

[Uncle John]

I started with Performance Car, a grass roots mag with great photos and a siren to the petrolhead.

PC died and then Evo appeared.

Along the same lines driving decent halo cars in class.

Simples.

Now diluted with Perfomance oil burners and even hybrids.

TBH it's a mess.

I used to subscribe, a year or two ago now. I have bought issues indvidually since, but missing the ones that do not interest me, I can honestly say I have not read a whole issue for yonks.

The Focus RS buying guide this issue is very poor as with other buying guides. A serious in depth guide is required. Not tricky in a month of copy.

Demise is inevitable.

[0a]

Uncle John said:

Demise is inevitable.

I still end up buying 9 issues out of ten as it's the best magazine, and sometimes you want a magazine (on the bog, or on the train to Scotland with limited 3G).

[sodslaw]

This thread pops up time and time again..

[MarkRSi]

I was somewhat put off when they became the 'GT86 Haters Magazine' - 'The thrill of hating the GT86'









Then I test drove a GT86 and a Megane 265 Cup.... they've got a point actually...

[v8will]

I'm pretty much bored with all magazines. I do buy PPC periodically along with the odd specialist mag (Kit car, some of the classic mags etc)

Forums and the like is enough for me.

[LotusOmega375D]

Don't forget that most of us PHers have a much greater interest and possibly knowledge than half the journos on any car mag. Those guys will be writing about caravans or fly fishing within a year. Writing's a job for them, so we shouldn't blame them for moving on to pastures new.

[RenesisEvo]

The first copy of EVO I bought was the F12 issue just recently. I have decided that, rather than judge the magazine on one copy, I would try out the £5 for 5 issues deal. I admit the comments above do make me sceptical, but I'll wait and see. I was happy but not overwhelmed with the content of the F12 issue and there were a few sticking points (describing an F12 as 'much, much faster' than a 599GTB seems woefully short-sighted), but I looked through other magazines and its' more of the same - lots of adverts, pretty photography but always a bit short on substance. Possibly a result of people turning to the internet, with dwindling readership no doubt more adverts are needed to be sustainable. No-one's perfect and churning out a good magazine each and every time is going to be a tall order.

I was often a subscriber of Car and Car Conversions, sadly that stopped suddenly, and whilst PPC tries to carry that on, it seems too concerned with tuning oddities that have very narrow audiences. I wish I could combine the best bits of PH, EVO, YouTube's drive channel and Motorsport, into one awesome monthly, but it would be difficult to make it work.

[edar]

VERN UK said:

edar said:

Over the last few editions, for me, there seems to be a dip in interest generally. I'm also skipping certain pages especially those containing Jethro Bovingdons very drab and boring reviews-stroke-features. The only decent writers on the mag are Henry Catchpole, Harry Metcalfe and Nick Trott. For me, Henry Catchpole stand's out with his excellent road trip encounters, and more recently, the hidden writing talents of Nick Trott.

Is it time for them to bring in fresh writing talent? (maybe re-hire Chris Harris?)

Bored, love the mag?

Over to you...

Is that you Monkey?

I wish I was... What a hoot of a job he has. I'm sure we'd all love to get up in the morning to go and drive cars everyday, and get paid quite handsomely for it, too.

By the way, several points have been made about the poor content of EVO recently. They seemed to have moved away from what "the thrill of driving" defines.

Here's an idea; Perhaps PistonHeads should release their own magazine? At least those who are part of the PistonHeads community understand what makes a pertolhead tick, whatever your interests are. There are thousands of us on here that could contribute and really make it happen, don't you think?

I guess it's all about "passion". If you're passionate that comes across. And EVO just aren't quite there at the moment.

PistonHeads magazine anyone?

[AddledDad]

It's still a decent mag but its format hasn't changed for years. Could do with a refresh.

[Don1]

Me. Subscriber from single digits also, and I've cancelled it. Was it the general demise? Was it their blinkered view of who is actually really driving TVR forward these days? Was it yet another 911 feature? Was it the fact their final letter of 'you have received your final magazine - resubscribe' before the magazine actually arrived?

Yes.

[rohrl]

I've got pretty much every Evo since I think number three. It's gone up and down over the years and hopefully it's coming out of a major downer at the moment.

Sometimes it feels more like "The joy of being rich" rather than driving, which isn't enjoyable to read. I'd bin the page on watches tomorrow if I were editing. I don't give a toss about watches, any more than yachts or private schooling, and they could be using that page for something interesting.

Interesting to read others views on Car, which mirror my own. I'd given up on Car altogether after countless crap editors who didn't know one end of a car from the other. The publishers finally seem to have cottoned-on that the clue is in the title and recent issues look very promising. Maybe it's time for me to give up on Evo for a while in the hope the same thing happens.

[LotusOmega375D]

What is it with car mags and watches? They're all at it these days.

Maybe it's got something to do with the influence of some of their major advertisers (God forbid).

Message to Publishers: WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN READING ABOUT WATCHES!

[Dblue]

LotusOmega375D said:

What is it with car mags and watches? They're all at it these days.

Maybe it's got something to do with the influence of some of their major advertisers (God forbid).

Message to Publishers: WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN READING ABOUT WATCHES!

Errrrr..................




i am

[LaurasOtherHalf]

edar said:

PistonHeads magazine anyone?

that's actually not a bad idea

[rohrl]

Dblue said:

LotusOmega375D said:

What is it with car mags and watches? They're all at it these days.

Maybe it's got something to do with the influence of some of their major advertisers (God forbid).

Message to Publishers: WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN READING ABOUT WATCHES!

Errrrr..................




i am

I like drinking tea but Evo don't give over a page for that. I have to subscribe to Tea and Teamen, so go and subscribe to Horology Today and let Evo get on with writing about cars.

[Don1]

Dblue said:

LotusOmega375D said:

What is it with car mags and watches? They're all at it these days.

Maybe it's got something to do with the influence of some of their major advertisers (God forbid).

Message to Publishers: WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN READING ABOUT WATCHES!

Errrrr..................




i am

I am too. PH has a watch forum, and Octane has a watch column. Why can't mechanical enthusiasts like micro-mechanics of watches?

[Dblue]

rohrl said:

I like drinking tea but Evo don't give over a page for that. I have to subscribe to Tea and Teamen, so go and subscribe to Horology Today and let Evo get on with writing about cars.

Is Tea and Teamen a Dennis publication? That sounds great.




Though seriously, I do agree with you.

[billzeebub]

As a subscriber to Evo, I still look forward to it arriving each month. However, I must admit that I no longer read every article. 10k watches don't interest me, neither do cars much over 100k or anything Diesel/Hybrid. My perfect car magazine wouldn't be much different to Evo, but it would have more focus on more affordable cars and Classic performance motors/ buying guides/ group tests..with more RoadTrip type features. I do love the Evo Diaries Videos and always look out for the latest offering. Still a great offering, but could be so much better...

..Also, currently in the long term stable a Nissan Navara!..WTF!..no idea why, couldn't be bothered to read about it.

Performance Car from a few years ago, around 2009 was my favourite but it didn't last long

Edited by billzeebub on Saturday 15th September 01:53

[jackal]

I bought evo once when i was about to board a transatlantic flight at heathrow. I also got given some free copies when i went up there once.

Apart from that, i read What Car, Top Marques and the Surrey Herald. I only want the facts when it comes to cars and if I want to know what a car is like i go and drive it or better still, buy it.