What is happening at EVO magazine?
Discussion
I've always enjoyed the photography in EVO, and the general quality of the articles, but it's always had a slight tone of self importance that I find slightly irritating.
Modern Classics has recaptured my interest in printed magazines after years of abstinence. Attainable cars, and clearly written by enthusiasts for enthusiasts.
Modern Classics has recaptured my interest in printed magazines after years of abstinence. Attainable cars, and clearly written by enthusiasts for enthusiasts.
I think what's turned me off EVO is the similarities between the cars and how they're described. A BMW M4 will lap a track competently within a second or two of a Merc C63 or Audi RS4. A 440 will do the same a few seconds slower than that, much like the Merc C43 or Audi S4. They've all got more or less the same equipment in them, and are so far out of my price range, I find them irrelevant. Likewise the Ferrari 488/Lamborghini Huracan/McLaren 720 - all highly competent and more or less the same.
Then you get the odd article gushing over an 80s or 90s hot hatch, but nothing too critical, nothing comparing it one of it's peers. I guess Modern Classics suffers from that too, or they'll compare 2/3 crap cars but only be interested in the investment value of them. The recent Fiat Croma/Alfa 164/Lancia Thema triple test was proof of that, all fairly awful cars, but interesting to read about, although you'd be mad to spend more than a grand on any of them.
Then you get the odd article gushing over an 80s or 90s hot hatch, but nothing too critical, nothing comparing it one of it's peers. I guess Modern Classics suffers from that too, or they'll compare 2/3 crap cars but only be interested in the investment value of them. The recent Fiat Croma/Alfa 164/Lancia Thema triple test was proof of that, all fairly awful cars, but interesting to read about, although you'd be mad to spend more than a grand on any of them.
vacant-100 said:
I think what's turned me off EVO is the similarities between the cars and how they're described. A BMW M4 will lap a track competently within a second or two of a Merc C63 or Audi RS4. A 440 will do the same a few seconds slower than that, much like the Merc C43 or Audi S4. They've all got more or less the same equipment in them, and are so far out of my price range, I find them irrelevant. Likewise the Ferrari 488/Lamborghini Huracan/McLaren 720 - all highly competent and more or less the same.
Then you get the odd article gushing over an 80s or 90s hot hatch, but nothing too critical, nothing comparing it one of it's peers. I guess Modern Classics suffers from that too, or they'll compare 2/3 crap cars but only be interested in the investment value of them. The recent Fiat Croma/Alfa 164/Lancia Thema triple test was proof of that, all fairly awful cars, but interesting to read about, although you'd be mad to spend more than a grand on any of them.
The thing is though, Evo is a magazine for driving enthusiasts, and in terms of driving, the M4, C63 and S4 couldn't be more different. Sure, the prices, purpose and equipment levels may be the same, but that's the preserve of What Car and the concern of rich people who care not about cars and just want 'premium' transport for £50k. In terms of Evo, and in my terms too, they all have different engineering (particularly the S4), and as such drive differently. That's what Evo comment on and what distinguishes them from other magazines.Then you get the odd article gushing over an 80s or 90s hot hatch, but nothing too critical, nothing comparing it one of it's peers. I guess Modern Classics suffers from that too, or they'll compare 2/3 crap cars but only be interested in the investment value of them. The recent Fiat Croma/Alfa 164/Lancia Thema triple test was proof of that, all fairly awful cars, but interesting to read about, although you'd be mad to spend more than a grand on any of them.
Edited by RobM77 on Tuesday 31st October 12:21
Prinny said:
Having had the time (finally) to open the package last night, what galls me the most is the complete lack of comment about the changes, if nothing else, a footnote to Mr. Gallager's comments at the front of the mag should have been there.
I wholeheartedly agree with this - it's probably the worst part of the whole thing!I used to love studying the 'data' on the back pages and memorising the stats. Sad ! It sort of went downhill when C harris left - he had a really good phraseology that really hit home on what he was experiencing. It did get very fully of the latest Porsche at times which was tiresome! I stopped my subs about 6 months ago..
Cancelled my subscription a year ago and don't miss it, and I had every issue from issue 1.
Plenty of content online these days, and I took out a 7.99 per month subscription to Readly which means I can read digital versions of Car, Top Gear, Auto car, classic car even What Car plus mags like Stuff, what hifi, total film, F1 etc etc plus lots of others.
Plenty of content online these days, and I took out a 7.99 per month subscription to Readly which means I can read digital versions of Car, Top Gear, Auto car, classic car even What Car plus mags like Stuff, what hifi, total film, F1 etc etc plus lots of others.
I keep morning to create the Evo drinking game, where the use of the word alacrity means you have to down your drink each time it’s in an article and therefore by the end of the game you’re either very nearly dead or very actually dead. Especially if David Vivian has more than one job to do that month.
My subscription finishes in December and I won’t be renewing
My subscription finishes in December and I won’t be renewing
Might just show how far that EVO has gone downhill in the past year that I haven't even opened the warping yet despite it being on the side for a few days!
The volume of articles on £100,000+++ cars just puts me off it needs a better balance, why not fully review 'sporting' variants of more mainstream cars new Jag XE 300hp petrol for example or BMW 330i? the mega money stuff is interesting in moderation.
They used to do great articles that were a bit left field, remember the CL63 AMG to Transylvania write up?
I still value EVO's opinion of vehicles however its a little hard to take notice when those opinions are based on vehicles the majority of the readership are unlikely to afford?
Come on EVO I do not want to cancel my subscription but its on the cards!
Ag
The volume of articles on £100,000+++ cars just puts me off it needs a better balance, why not fully review 'sporting' variants of more mainstream cars new Jag XE 300hp petrol for example or BMW 330i? the mega money stuff is interesting in moderation.
They used to do great articles that were a bit left field, remember the CL63 AMG to Transylvania write up?
I still value EVO's opinion of vehicles however its a little hard to take notice when those opinions are based on vehicles the majority of the readership are unlikely to afford?
Come on EVO I do not want to cancel my subscription but its on the cards!
Ag
DanielSan said:
I keep morning to create the Evo drinking game, where the use of the word alacrity means you have to down your drink each time it’s in an article and therefore by the end of the game you’re either very nearly dead or very actually dead. Especially if David Vivian has more than one job to do that month.
My subscription finishes in December and I won’t be renewing
I play it with the word "helm". My subscription finishes in December and I won’t be renewing
The only mags I buy are old ones. I like to read how s
t the MGC and TR6 were in 1969 as opposed to someone banging on about 'they're not that bad really' etc etc in C&SC.
C&SC, whilst not perfect, is not a bad read to be fair (very good writers) and Classic Cars is good although again, I'd rather read them from the seventies and eighties when the old Astons, E Types etc were interesting old cars and didn't inspire the awful sycophantic grovelling they do now.
1970's and 80's CAR is where it's at. LJKS, Phil Llllewwelllyn, Mel Nichols, Doug Blain, Steady Barker, George Bishop and Bulging - writing as an art form as opposed to the utter shyte that is Autocrap, CAR etc. I've never liked EGO and have only flicked though it in the dentists so can't comment.
t the MGC and TR6 were in 1969 as opposed to someone banging on about 'they're not that bad really' etc etc in C&SC.C&SC, whilst not perfect, is not a bad read to be fair (very good writers) and Classic Cars is good although again, I'd rather read them from the seventies and eighties when the old Astons, E Types etc were interesting old cars and didn't inspire the awful sycophantic grovelling they do now.
1970's and 80's CAR is where it's at. LJKS, Phil Llllewwelllyn, Mel Nichols, Doug Blain, Steady Barker, George Bishop and Bulging - writing as an art form as opposed to the utter shyte that is Autocrap, CAR etc. I've never liked EGO and have only flicked though it in the dentists so can't comment.
I find the writing style very cringe inducing when they do a group test and the article keeps mentioning them by name re their thoughts about each car, Meadon thinks this and Catchpole says that........... blah blah blah.
That style of journalism, trying to personalise everything, makes my toes curl, but maybe it's just me.
That style of journalism, trying to personalise everything, makes my toes curl, but maybe it's just me.
iSore said:
LJKS, Phil Llllewwelllyn, Mel Nichols, Doug Blain, Steady Barker, George Bishop and Bulging - writing as an art form
Bygone age in more ways than one - most people now consume their information electronically, often in video format not text. And (sadly) often with the attention span of a goldfish on amphetamines. All the print magazines are suffering, hence the proliferation of advertising (Octane / C&SC especially - half the pages are bloody classifieds!).Ref the old guys:-
Bulgin's book is on my shelf and still gets an occasional read - still as good as any auto journalist anywhere.
Nichols' book has been lent out to friends and I don't mind if it doesn't come back - decent read but if he hadn't had such a relationship with Sant'Agata he wouldn't have been rated so highly.
LJKS is on my Xmas list, just need to decide which one is most digestible...
s m said:
Uncle John said:
Wish they would bring back Performance Car.
Which one?I still love reading Clarkson from his PC Mag days in the 80s. You weren't going to get too much of a car review from him, but he was entertaining for me
However, they also had the likes of Laban, Barker, Tomalin, etc to do the proper car stuff, and they did it well IMO
I quite liked Harris/Sutcliffe/Goodwin-era Autocar from the late-90s too
I was in WH Smiths today and both EVO and Octane were there on the shelves, format apparently unchanged. So is it just the loyal subscribers who are being fed the 'lo-cost' version then?
I've kinda stopped buy EVO as I've gotton older. Octane is a much better magazine, albeit the features unashamed free advertising for upcoming Bonhams, Mecum and Goodings auctions...
I've kinda stopped buy EVO as I've gotton older. Octane is a much better magazine, albeit the features unashamed free advertising for upcoming Bonhams, Mecum and Goodings auctions...
Alex said:
DanielSan said:
I keep morning to create the Evo drinking game, where the use of the word alacrity means you have to down your drink each time it’s in an article and therefore by the end of the game you’re either very nearly dead or very actually dead. Especially if David Vivian has more than one job to do that month.
My subscription finishes in December and I won’t be renewing
I play it with the word "helm". My subscription finishes in December and I won’t be renewing
Mind you, that wasn't just an Evo-specific thing - the entire motoring press cottoned on to it.
I cancelled my Evo subscription this morning. I started buying it about 15 years ago, drawn by the great features.
Now, it seems like they're self-indulgent articles the journalists who create them want to write, rather than the articles I as a reader want to read.
There's only so many 911/McLaren/Ferrari variants you can read about in the same situations and the new Autocar-style geeky loaded-with-data car reviews are just s
te.My favourite section was always the long-termers but even that is dull. No Metcalfe, no SimonSpider, even SSO has gone now.
Shame - I always looked forward to a couple of hours reading a new issue but now they get skim-read so it's not worth it.
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