An Octane Rant...!
Discussion
http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...
Thought it best to start a separate thread that sort of follows on from the above.
Have any of you read the DB6b
ks diatribe in this month Octane? The above thread nicely covers pros & cons of classis car subjects. Then Octane strike again with their jumped-up market views of, wait for it, yet more over-inflated Aston Martin market drivel. Since when has a MKI DB6 been worth £200,000?? And that's not even for a DB6 Vantage!!
So incensed am I, and to prove a point, a quick goodle search flags up 12 DB6's for sale between £95,000 and £149,000...nowhere near £200,000; see
http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/find/4100_results....
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/search-classic...
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/classic_cars.php?ca...
There's even a well looked after MKI Vantage for sale at £125,000 here http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
I'm sure my words above will attract some detractors, but this article has clearly been written with the named garages in mind; particulalry Mr DJS [no name mentioned ED]. Having driven DB4's, DB5's, DB6's and DB6 Vantage...the DB6 is just not as good as a well sorted DB4. And if the article's words are to be believed, then DB4 and DB5 prices should be lower than the above DB6 pricing. With such utter disbelief, when will the likes of Octane stop this coffe-table-type trash and concentrate on well thought through and accurate reporting.
And if the above isn't bad enough, Mssrs Coucher and Kidston produce more waffling-gibberish between pages 50 to 56. Precisely how difficult is it to drive two overly-pampered period cars from London to Geneva? Answer? It's not. I have completed this trip over 40 times to date. If they're wanting to appear as piloting heros, then they fell at the first hurdle. Clearly the real hero is the French mechanic who's technically experienced enough to find the dirt in the carburettor problem, whilst the two erstwhile jockeys look on, one with mobile phone to the right ear, the other with the expression "so that's what an engine looks like?". Sadly the mechanic only charged them 37Euros...he should have put a couple of zeros on the end; then that would of given them something to write about!
This month's only saving graces are the MB W125 Recreation article on page.106, it's nemesis counter statement from Mercedes-Benz AG on page.20, and that for anyone looking there's a MKII DB6 vantage for sale on page.189. Price for the most sought after DB6 Coupe? £139,950!! I rest my case
Thought it best to start a separate thread that sort of follows on from the above.
Have any of you read the DB6
ksSo incensed am I, and to prove a point, a quick goodle search flags up 12 DB6's for sale between £95,000 and £149,000...nowhere near £200,000; see
http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/find/4100_results....
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/search-classic...
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/classic_cars.php?ca...
There's even a well looked after MKI Vantage for sale at £125,000 here http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
I'm sure my words above will attract some detractors, but this article has clearly been written with the named garages in mind; particulalry Mr DJS [no name mentioned ED]. Having driven DB4's, DB5's, DB6's and DB6 Vantage...the DB6 is just not as good as a well sorted DB4. And if the article's words are to be believed, then DB4 and DB5 prices should be lower than the above DB6 pricing. With such utter disbelief, when will the likes of Octane stop this coffe-table-type trash and concentrate on well thought through and accurate reporting.
And if the above isn't bad enough, Mssrs Coucher and Kidston produce more waffling-gibberish between pages 50 to 56. Precisely how difficult is it to drive two overly-pampered period cars from London to Geneva? Answer? It's not. I have completed this trip over 40 times to date. If they're wanting to appear as piloting heros, then they fell at the first hurdle. Clearly the real hero is the French mechanic who's technically experienced enough to find the dirt in the carburettor problem, whilst the two erstwhile jockeys look on, one with mobile phone to the right ear, the other with the expression "so that's what an engine looks like?". Sadly the mechanic only charged them 37Euros...he should have put a couple of zeros on the end; then that would of given them something to write about!
This month's only saving graces are the MB W125 Recreation article on page.106, it's nemesis counter statement from Mercedes-Benz AG on page.20, and that for anyone looking there's a MKII DB6 vantage for sale on page.189. Price for the most sought after DB6 Coupe? £139,950!! I rest my case
Edited by v8250 on Saturday 24th December 18:11
I subscribe to Octane, and it has slowly started to disappear up its own arse over the last year. I won't be renewing. I get the impression its aiming a bit too much at the US market.
I skimmed over the article you mention, like everything by Coucher too! many! cliches! and explanation! marks! for me...
I skimmed over the article you mention, like everything by Coucher too! many! cliches! and explanation! marks! for me...
There are some interesting articles, but in parts it comes across as being written by Hooray Henry's that have a superficial knowledge of their subject and are taken in by the P.R. output of some of the higher end dealers.
I used to cringe when reading about a certain XK being run by them.
I used to cringe when reading about a certain XK being run by them.
Agreed. On buying the first issue, ( Cob/GTO ), I thought Octane was the answer to all my magazine dreams, ( car magazines that is! ). For a while it was great and I liked the various articles on iconic bits of kit and so on, however I have to agree that in recent times it seems to have completely sold it's soul. From day one I was under no illusion that the featured motors were way out of my league but it was great to see my all time favourites beautifully photographed. Unfortunately I can no longer abide the elitist flavour that comes with such articles. Whilst I appreciate the owners of such machinery are extremely well heeled, it seems the articles and general theme has become more about well heeled lifestyle than the cars themselves which is a shame as this starts to alienate and grate on those of us who don't wear cravats. A beautiful or fearsome machine sets the pulse racing of any petrolhead regardless of whether he's working class or upper class. Unfortunately Octane seems to have become blinkered to this and in turn become a cliquey niche mag written by and for a select crowd of uber rich car collectors. Nice work if you can get it but I want to read about the cars without having to experience them through some pompous monicle.
Two months back they wrote about the "woefully undervalued" 348 Ferrari, acknowledged even by Ferrari as their worst car. Mine had so many problems that it was a heap of poo, and the road holding (or lack of it) in extremis prompted me to write a letter contradicting their market valuations and predictions. Not published of course. Like the general concensus, I find that they are now believing their own drivel and self importance. My first instinct today is to read Tony Dron and scan most of the rest.
vpr said:
The 348 is/was a well publicised disaster and values should always reflect this.
IIRC the coverage in the "current car" mags at the time wasn't too complimentary, there were comments when firstly the 456 and then the 355 came out about how Ferrari had managed to rediscover their great legacy.vpr said:
The DB6 isn't anywhere near the car its predecessors is especially the aesthetics which I find very awkward and quite disturbing.
Frustrating when you read some of the features in Octane for sure.
When it comes to "aesthetics" then beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I've always rather liked the DB6, more so than the 5. I'm quite happy to acknowledge I probably on my own in this respect. Aesthetically I'd rather a DB4 which I think it my favourite of all the Astons, but since I prefer the DB4GT to its Zagato bodied off spring perhaps my opinions should taken with a pinch of salt.Frustrating when you read some of the features in Octane for sure.
The latest Octane is sitting on the side waiting to be read, but since Santa brought me the history of Le Man's 1950->59 and the new book on the XJ13 it will probably be a while till it gets read. Many of the articles are written for those that supply the subject matter, the magazines and the dealers need each other. But there are usually still many good articles and the letters section shows that it is well read, so corrections from some very interesting horse mouths aren't uncommon.
Without wishing to appear rude guys, if this publication is that bad why do you subscribe to it?????
As long as people are buying the magazine the publishers/editors/contributors will be under the mistaken impression they are doing a good job.
If you don't like the mag then don't buy it, if subscriptions suddenly fall off maybe some changes will be made.
As long as people are buying the magazine the publishers/editors/contributors will be under the mistaken impression they are doing a good job.
If you don't like the mag then don't buy it, if subscriptions suddenly fall off maybe some changes will be made.
I have only bought a few copies, I guess it doesn't target me directly, fair enough. More recently while browsing the publication seems to have turned into a weird cross between Top Marques and one of the classic car magazines. All those ads just annoy me, and they make the mag heavier to carry in my laptop bag (airplane reading - since I bought a Macbook Air I notice every gram ).
).The standard of writing in this magazine shocks me, it's full of typos and poorly constructed sentences that wouldn't get through GCSE English let alone past an editor of a large-scale publication. The articles are woefully tiny as well - the worst was the Gulf Racing cover. The editor's intro alluded to some interesting tales about the cars they featured but anything other than very basic info (that anyone buying the magazine would probably know anyway) got edited out of the feature itself.
LordBretSinclair said:
Without wishing to appear rude guys, if this publication is that bad why do you subscribe to it?????
The frustrating thing is it used to be really good. Hopefully they can return. All the money-speak gets to me, as if they are more interested in the value of the cars then actually driving them, I get the impression they'd rather have a car that's going up in value (or that's in fashion) but they hate driving then a car which is staying still that they actually like. It is fair enough to talk about value, e.g. 'S1 XJ6 looks great value compared to a Rover P6' or 'TR6 is cheaper then a TR5 but gives the same thrills' but the investment-speak really grates.
we've just cancelled our subscription. I agree with everything which has been said: tt feels like the author is writing with either the cars owner, or an auction house, or both looking over the shoulder.
Or,perhaps more damning: I am no longer learning anything from it. Apart from the investment potential, of course
Didnt they award a "best dressed" girls award at this years goodwood? Not "best car in the car park..." or somesuch
Or,perhaps more damning: I am no longer learning anything from it. Apart from the investment potential, of course
Didnt they award a "best dressed" girls award at this years goodwood? Not "best car in the car park..." or somesuch
varsas said:
LordBretSinclair said:
Without wishing to appear rude guys, if this publication is that bad why do you subscribe to it?????
The frustrating thing is it used to be really good. Hopefully they can return. All the money-speak gets to me, as if they are more interested in the value of the cars then actually driving them, I get the impression they'd rather have a car that's going up in value (or that's in fashion) but they hate driving then a car which is staying still that they actually like. It is fair enough to talk about value, e.g. 'S1 XJ6 looks great value compared to a Rover P6' or 'TR6 is cheaper then a TR5 but gives the same thrills' but the investment-speak really grates.
I'd like to make a comment on a magazine that I write for - not Octane though. I always entitled my articles "Letter from Le Mans", in honour of Jenks articles for Motor Sport entitled "Letter from Europe". We then get a new editor who, in a Jaguar magazine, writes about his dream car which is a Bond Bug. He now, since a while back, has changed the title of my articles since, being an ex Birmingham Mail chappie with absolutely no knowledge of classic cars or their history, neither in detail nor journalistic, had no idea as to where I was coming from. Now as a director of said club as well as an employee, he took the decision to buy himself a new car, naturally, being a director of said Jaguar club, a Honda Jazz.
If you think that Octane is going downhill, try reading the magazine I have tried writing for for some years - for free too. I am not allowed to write about companies that don't advertise in the magazine, so my horizons are very limited. I can't write about excellence of manufacture or restoration unless they pay to advertise, so naturally we are now here working to the lowest common denominator of journalism - self appreciation amd fawning. I am not allowed to write about the new series of alloy bodied E-types, somewhere between short and long chassis with 700bhp V12 engines, I am not allowed to write about the rebuild of the most evocative Jaguar of all time which existed but ephemerally, the parts of which I saw and touched recently, I am not entitled to write about those who are restoring my D-type as an XKSS, I am not entitled to write aboout FIA papered copies of a famous car that was recently restored at humungous cost. I could go on, but as a journalist I respect those who supply me with details and also respect their wishes that I do or do not publish what I see. It is in that way that people have confidence in me.
But to write a scoop for the said magazine? Not a chance; they don't advertise so I'm not allowed to write. My last two articles have been blue pencilled for this reason.
Now are Octane following this route and fawning to their advertisers? I can't say, but life is tough, magazine sales are falling due to the recession, and commercialism rules. I don't blame the journalists per se, it is just that in this competitive world we need to make a living. If Octane stuck to its original guns, ignoring commercial pressures and went bankrupt (as, I am sure will the magazine I talk about above) would we be better off? I don't think so, since of all the magazines it is still the best, with its articles on watches and collectibles, it's in-depth articles, and if for now it must kow-tow to that great god the £, I'll still follow it through.
If you think that Octane is going downhill, try reading the magazine I have tried writing for for some years - for free too. I am not allowed to write about companies that don't advertise in the magazine, so my horizons are very limited. I can't write about excellence of manufacture or restoration unless they pay to advertise, so naturally we are now here working to the lowest common denominator of journalism - self appreciation amd fawning. I am not allowed to write about the new series of alloy bodied E-types, somewhere between short and long chassis with 700bhp V12 engines, I am not allowed to write about the rebuild of the most evocative Jaguar of all time which existed but ephemerally, the parts of which I saw and touched recently, I am not entitled to write about those who are restoring my D-type as an XKSS, I am not entitled to write aboout FIA papered copies of a famous car that was recently restored at humungous cost. I could go on, but as a journalist I respect those who supply me with details and also respect their wishes that I do or do not publish what I see. It is in that way that people have confidence in me.
But to write a scoop for the said magazine? Not a chance; they don't advertise so I'm not allowed to write. My last two articles have been blue pencilled for this reason.
Now are Octane following this route and fawning to their advertisers? I can't say, but life is tough, magazine sales are falling due to the recession, and commercialism rules. I don't blame the journalists per se, it is just that in this competitive world we need to make a living. If Octane stuck to its original guns, ignoring commercial pressures and went bankrupt (as, I am sure will the magazine I talk about above) would we be better off? I don't think so, since of all the magazines it is still the best, with its articles on watches and collectibles, it's in-depth articles, and if for now it must kow-tow to that great god the £, I'll still follow it through.
v8250 said:
LBS you completely miss the point and your suggestion of simply not subscribing is a fruitless throw-away comment. We all expect, not unreasonably, well written and intelligent articles from the likes of Octane, ala Motorsport and The Automobile, not the gushing dribel that emits from Octane's current oral orifice. Cancelling one's subscription is a futile activity as magazine companies notice very little whilst their advertising revenues are paying the bills and fuel costs for frivolous driving trips.
You're missing the point. Advertisers will only put money into publications with a sizeable readership. If that readership drops significantly so will advertising revenues.Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff