The changes at Evo magazine - are people happy now?
Discussion
For the record, I love Evo magazine. I think it's a great read and will continue to buy it as long as they print it, probably.
But it was pretty evident from recent (and older) threads that the PH masses had many issues with it. Some hated the Porsche bias, some didn't like the way it was all £100k+ supercars and some didn't like the writers.
Well, as i sit having just finished the last 2 months' issues, surely those people must be a little happier now?
There is a £15k heroes feature, with the best £15k hatches against the best £15k 2nd hand heroes. Brilliant read.
They've got a 520d ED and an XF 2.2d on the fast fleet now, and Harry's putting his Zonda away for a year.
The new Porsche 911 LOSES two group tests! (which i'm sure has nothing to do with Monkey leaving the mag to continue his Pork-loving here on PH...
)
So, are people happier with the mag or not?
But it was pretty evident from recent (and older) threads that the PH masses had many issues with it. Some hated the Porsche bias, some didn't like the way it was all £100k+ supercars and some didn't like the writers.
Well, as i sit having just finished the last 2 months' issues, surely those people must be a little happier now?
There is a £15k heroes feature, with the best £15k hatches against the best £15k 2nd hand heroes. Brilliant read.
They've got a 520d ED and an XF 2.2d on the fast fleet now, and Harry's putting his Zonda away for a year.
The new Porsche 911 LOSES two group tests! (which i'm sure has nothing to do with Monkey leaving the mag to continue his Pork-loving here on PH...
) So, are people happier with the mag or not?
I've bought it since day one. I don't mind the percieved Porsche bias, I've driven a couple of 911's and they were so much better than other sports cars I've tried that I can see why they tend to win COTY.
I'm not into track cars but I understand a lot of people do track days and that's fine so I don't mind the articles on Caterfields and Radicals, etc.
The only thing to spoil the purity of the magazine for me is the amount of diesel and 4x4 vehicles that are cropping up in there. It doesn't stop me buying it though.
I'm not into track cars but I understand a lot of people do track days and that's fine so I don't mind the articles on Caterfields and Radicals, etc.
The only thing to spoil the purity of the magazine for me is the amount of diesel and 4x4 vehicles that are cropping up in there. It doesn't stop me buying it though.
toon10 said:
The only thing to spoil the purity of the magazine for me is the amount of diesel and 4x4 vehicles that are cropping up in there. It doesn't stop me buying it though.
Agreed. I think a 520d and XF 2.2d are certainly more suited to Autocar/Car than Evo in the Fast Fleet. I read the FF first in the whole mag, I love to read what it's like living with the upper echelons of the car world, like the 458/Murci and Harry's Zonda. I hear the LP640 guy has an Aventador arriving soon which should be an interesting read.I can't say I ever got the Porsche bias thing, the same people in the same company keep making similar cars, and the same testers continue to like the same things they always had, so if Porsche were making what they valued most, they were going to keep winning until Porsche changed. The supercar bias was what I wanted too. I wanted to read about dream cars that I might never drive, not my next family hack. If I want to know how a potential purchase drives, I'll go and drive it.
I did stop my subscription, but that was because I was counting pennies. I've bought the occasional Evo in the shop since then but since I'm just finding myself less and less interested in modern cars. The magazine doesn't keep me interested for as long as it used to but I don't know if that's because the mag changed, or because I have.
So it's classics for me now, but then all the classic mags charge just as much and then give you a product full of classified ads, so I don't buy many of them either.
I did stop my subscription, but that was because I was counting pennies. I've bought the occasional Evo in the shop since then but since I'm just finding myself less and less interested in modern cars. The magazine doesn't keep me interested for as long as it used to but I don't know if that's because the mag changed, or because I have.
So it's classics for me now, but then all the classic mags charge just as much and then give you a product full of classified ads, so I don't buy many of them either.
I have always enjoyed reading Evo and will continue to subscribe unless it really changes for the worse.
I agree that the articles should be about both exotica and the more mainstream stuff that we mere mortals are more likely to buy, but the common thread that all cars featured MUST have is what they themselves describe as "Evo-ness."
Does including an XF 2.2D and the like deviate from this sine qua non? I think it might and they will spoil a great magazine if they try poaching on territory already covered by others like Autocar and What Car to cater for the average punter rather than giving us petrol-heads what we want.
I agree that the articles should be about both exotica and the more mainstream stuff that we mere mortals are more likely to buy, but the common thread that all cars featured MUST have is what they themselves describe as "Evo-ness."
Does including an XF 2.2D and the like deviate from this sine qua non? I think it might and they will spoil a great magazine if they try poaching on territory already covered by others like Autocar and What Car to cater for the average punter rather than giving us petrol-heads what we want.
Cancelled my sub and it's staying cancelled for now, though I did buy it this month for the first time in several months and it was better - the piece on driving a Caterham in the snow was brilliant.
Nevertheless it still feels a bit disconnected from reality to me - perhaps I've just had enough, but I much preferred the copy of 'Car' that I bought at the same time. And this from a self-confessed Porsche lover.
Nevertheless it still feels a bit disconnected from reality to me - perhaps I've just had enough, but I much preferred the copy of 'Car' that I bought at the same time. And this from a self-confessed Porsche lover.
BuzzLightyear said:
Does including an XF 2.2D and the like deviate from this sine qua non? I think it might and they will spoil a great magazine if they try poaching on territory already covered by others like Autocar and What Car to cater for the average punter rather than giving us petrol-heads what we want.
I don't think it has to breach the Evo principles (although most diesels aren't very gear-headish to borrow the US parlance), but they've still got to have that Evo factor.For me I'd read a mag like Evo more often if they had more features on cars normal people can afford which still retain that special quality underneath. There might not be many, but it'd be nice to hear more about the ones that are out there.
Truckosaurus said:
Beefmeister said:
I could understand a 530d or XF 3.0d S but not the eco-chariot versions. Not for Evo...
The 520d and 2.2 XF are going to be the more popular with buyers, so makes sense for EVO to report on what they're like to live with.Truckosaurus said:
The 520d and 2.2 XF are going to be the more popular with buyers, so makes sense for EVO to report on what they're like to live with.
I agree that those are the most popular models, but I always felt that Evo should be about the more unachievable models, not the hum-drum.We all know that the 520d will do about 50 mpg real-world, as will the XF 2.2d. But they will also be averagely fast and a little dull. Autocar, Car and What Car (even Top Gear mag) can cover those things. I like Evo to be more aspirational, if you will.
pilchardthecat said:
Truckosaurus said:
Beefmeister said:
I could understand a 530d or XF 3.0d S but not the eco-chariot versions. Not for Evo...
The 520d and 2.2 XF are going to be the more popular with buyers, so makes sense for EVO to report on what they're like to live with.
there cobber - it's hardly "eco" to buy new cars is it Paul Dishman said:
The moaners will still moan about it no matter what they publish. Personally I've been a happy subscriber to Evo for years and didn't see the so called Porsche bias just that - Porsche make the best sports cars- its as simple as that. 
Yep, pretty much this. If they produced a mag full of £5-15k cars then people would moan just as much as if they produced one full of £150-£1m cars. Just goes to prove you can't please everyone all of the time.
I've bought Evo since Issue 3 (silly me, I threw out issues 3-100 in a house move...)
The early years were the best, for me it took a real nose dive after the Drivers Republic exodus. Not just because some good writers left but also because in their short-staffed panic you could see Metcalfe take a more prominent role, and the overriding message I get from his pieces are:
- look at me, I'm loaded
- look at my car collection, and they're all the best drivers cars ever
- look at my lifestyle between my farm in this country and my villa in Tuscany
- look at my friends, they're loaded
- look at me, I get txts from Horacio Pagani on Christmas Day
I have no problem with his assets and friends, but Evo almost became a personal blog for him and his cars.
Things are looking up now based on recent issues and some of the old staffers returning. Still undecided about Nick Trott and what he brings - new editor, I knew there would be a facelift coming shortly after.
There isn't a Porsche bias - the 911 just happens to have been deemed better than its rivals until the most recent iteration.
Edited to add: Oh, and I wish they'd stop printing white text on black backgrounds or non-contrasting colours - some pages are really, really hard to read.
The early years were the best, for me it took a real nose dive after the Drivers Republic exodus. Not just because some good writers left but also because in their short-staffed panic you could see Metcalfe take a more prominent role, and the overriding message I get from his pieces are:
- look at me, I'm loaded
- look at my car collection, and they're all the best drivers cars ever
- look at my lifestyle between my farm in this country and my villa in Tuscany
- look at my friends, they're loaded
- look at me, I get txts from Horacio Pagani on Christmas Day
I have no problem with his assets and friends, but Evo almost became a personal blog for him and his cars.
Things are looking up now based on recent issues and some of the old staffers returning. Still undecided about Nick Trott and what he brings - new editor, I knew there would be a facelift coming shortly after.
There isn't a Porsche bias - the 911 just happens to have been deemed better than its rivals until the most recent iteration.
Edited to add: Oh, and I wish they'd stop printing white text on black backgrounds or non-contrasting colours - some pages are really, really hard to read.
Edited by PhilboSE on Wednesday 14th March 11:00
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff