What is happening at EVO magazine?
Discussion
havoc said:
Raygun said:
Too many German cars on the market.
End of.
FIxed that for you.End of.
The UK, sadly, has developed an obsession with German = reliable + robust + premium.
Sadly, most of that isn't true. Even though the cars are priced as if it is (google 'conspicuous consumption' / Veblen goods)
Yes, there's a better-engineered 'thunk' when you close the doors, and they've nailed the Perceived Quality ratings with other stuff like soft-touch plastics and knurled knobs. But that's just a cultural thing which the Japs and the French (for example) aren't fussed about, and don't focus on...to their cost in the current image-obsessed market.
Where the Germans are no longer better is:-
- Part/component quality and reliability. Haven't been since probably the 1980s vs the Japanese, and I'd argue the Koreans have also overtaken them.
- Powertrain reliability. This is a lottery everywhere now, but typically the likes of Toyota and Honda are still top of the tree. (FK8 clutches excepted
).- Ride/handling. Not sure, Porsche and old BMW M excepted, they ever have been. The French have and still do lead the charge here, with occasional bursts of brilliance from Japan.
- Rust-proofing. Most cars are pretty good now.
We know M series BMW's are rapid but they look like every other BMW to most of the public, no sense of occassion driving one, the 911 has become too common now, victim of it's own success, the amount of SL Mercs is similar to the amount of MK 3 Cortinas I use to see in 1978, Audi with the exception of the R8 just look plain and don't get me on them fake exhaust squares at the back.
coppice said:
s m said:
Very true coppice
No one tends to put much stock in journos’ opinions when they’ve driven the car themselves
Actually I often do so - if they drive as well as , for example , a Meaden , Harris or (Roger) Bell , all of whom are journalists who can not only write well but win races. They have also driven infinitely more cars than I have No one tends to put much stock in journos’ opinions when they’ve driven the car themselves
If you look back at the old Press reviews on cars they’re often at odds with the majority aired view on here now - obviously they were contemporary views as the journal could not compare them to modern stuff back then
That’s when the conspiracy/manufacturers’ bungs accusations dilute the water
greenarrow said:
I do think EVO is back on form these days, but they are and always will be Porsche biased.
wait, a magazine entirely devoted to "sports and performance cars" generally finds the cars built by a manufacturer with the largest and longest running range of sports cars, that are generally regarded across the world to be "class leading", are often the best ones they test? Gosh, i'm shocked. Not.....(PS, i wouldn't buy an arse engined nazi staff car either, but i am sensible enough to understand they are very good cars)
Max_Torque said:
greenarrow said:
I do think EVO is back on form these days, but they are and always will be Porsche biased.
wait, a magazine entirely devoted to "sports and performance cars" generally finds the cars built by a manufacturer with the largest and longest running range of sports cars, that are generally regarded across the world to be "class leading", are often the best ones they test? Gosh, i'm shocked. Not.....(PS, i wouldn't buy an arse engined nazi staff car either, but i am sensible enough to understand they are very good cars)
Undoubtedly I'm sure that the expensive Porsche GT cars are thrilling to drive ( and 99% of us will have to take their word for it ) but I don't think those driving thrills are only found in 911s - a bit more variety would be nice is maybe what greenarrow is hoping for.
It would be good to see some cars that have had no column inches in 20 years of EVO.
I think most readers are now well aware of the nuances ( in written word ) of all the latest 911 models.
No doubt they sell mags though, as witnessed by at least 7 or 8 Porsche specialist mags on sale in WH Smiths,
cheddar said:
Alpine A110 for COTY?
It might just win in recognition of Renualts courage in bringing such a car to market. It represents pure Evoness in its small lightweight construction and focus on handling and driving pleasure over pure numbers.Looks like they're bringing along a Pista and GT2RS too so maybe the sheer excitement of these cars will win the day instead.
browngt3 said:
Raygun said:
Too many kraut cars in Evo.
End of.
greenarrow said:End of.
(PS, i wouldn't buy an arse engined nazi staff car either, but i am sensible enough to understand they are very good cars)
Good to see WW2 propaganda still alive after 73 years!
coppice said:
Just a possible reason for Porsche's ubiquity -might it be they make the best cars , and have done for years? Ferrari and Lamborghini are too upmarket , Astons come and go but are arguably more about being seen in , BMW , Merc and Audi don't really do sports car per se very much and it's marginal to the core product, Lotus are niche and Yank stuff is a bit blue collar. Doesn't leave much really does it ?
And Porsche make the only car in its configuration, and have managed , over the decades to win Le Mans, Monte Carlo rally , British saloon car championship and more races than (I suspect )any other sports car marque . In other news they produce the fastest racing car ever made , , their 1974 turbo was the one which really caught on first and their TAG engine won 3 F1 championships on the trot .
I don't own a 911 but think I do understand why they , and Porsche might be so popular...
Yes, agreed. The reason Porsche feature so heavily is they make arguably more Evo cars than any other manufacture and people like to read about them. Evo are a business and they need to sell magazines. I agree they could have done more with the Lotus anniversary article but that whole issue was dedicated to the British sports car industry and Porsche barely figured.And Porsche make the only car in its configuration, and have managed , over the decades to win Le Mans, Monte Carlo rally , British saloon car championship and more races than (I suspect )any other sports car marque . In other news they produce the fastest racing car ever made , , their 1974 turbo was the one which really caught on first and their TAG engine won 3 F1 championships on the trot .
I don't own a 911 but think I do understand why they , and Porsche might be so popular...
However, as a Porsche owner and fan I have to say I immensely enjoyed the 70th anniversary issue. Great articles and something a bit different to other mags. I think Evo is back on form as much more interesting and well written articles these days. Looking forward to ECOTY after last year's disappointment.
havoc said:
The UK, sadly, has developed an obsession with German = reliable + robust + premium.....
Yes, there's a better-engineered 'thunk' when you close the doors, and they've nailed the Perceived Quality ratings with other stuff like soft-touch plastics and knurled knobs. But that's just a cultural thing which the Japs and the French (for example) aren't fussed about, and don't focus on...to their cost in the current image-obsessed market.
Hang on, are you suggesting the Germans have focused on giving the market what it wants? Yes, there's a better-engineered 'thunk' when you close the doors, and they've nailed the Perceived Quality ratings with other stuff like soft-touch plastics and knurled knobs. But that's just a cultural thing which the Japs and the French (for example) aren't fussed about, and don't focus on...to their cost in the current image-obsessed market.
Those pesky Germans and their business sense...trackdemon said:
havoc said:
The UK, sadly, has developed an obsession with German = reliable + robust + premium.....
Yes, there's a better-engineered 'thunk' when you close the doors, and they've nailed the Perceived Quality ratings with other stuff like soft-touch plastics and knurled knobs. But that's just a cultural thing which the Japs and the French (for example) aren't fussed about, and don't focus on...to their cost in the current image-obsessed market.
Hang on, are you suggesting the Germans have focused on giving the market what it wants? Yes, there's a better-engineered 'thunk' when you close the doors, and they've nailed the Perceived Quality ratings with other stuff like soft-touch plastics and knurled knobs. But that's just a cultural thing which the Japs and the French (for example) aren't fussed about, and don't focus on...to their cost in the current image-obsessed market.
Those pesky Germans and their business sense...
I'd actually suggest it's a bit more synergistic - the Germans have marketed themselves better than the competition, making their cars seem more upmarket (Audi, 30-40 years ago, weren't premium) and aspirational.
Alongside which has come a dumbing-down sort of democratisation of the roads, where what your car can do is less important (witness the demise of big-engine'd non-premium saloons) than what it looks like / what it says about you / how much kit it's got.
...so the middle-classes now HAVE to have a German badge on the bonnet of their car to go alongside their Bosch/Neff kitchen appliances, their shopping delivered from M&S and their designer-label clothing. I'd suggest they've created the market demand, to a degree, through making their 'model' the aspirational one...40 years ago Citroen and Saab were the cool, must-have cars, remember!
havoc said:
(Audi, 30-40 years ago, weren't premium) and aspirational.
...so the middle-classes now HAVE to have a German badge on the bonnet of their car to go alongside their Bosch/Neff kitchen appliances, their shopping delivered from M&S !
ffs
lowdrag said:
Raygun said:
... .and a Bosch washing machine.
ffs
Don't knock 'em. Both washer and dryer are still going strong after 21 years - and I was still able to buy a spare part for one last week ffs
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