Buying American Car Magazines in (central) London

[Truckosaurus]

Now then Fellows,

Back in the Day I used to regularly pickup copies of American car magazines such as Car&Driver and Road&Track from various branches of Borders bookshop around the country.

Since their demise I rarely see such mags on the shelves of provincial newsagents, so as I will find myself in exotic London this Saturday can anyone suggest another bookshop or international newsagent that is likely to stock them.

[TiMopar]

I would really like to be proven wrong, but I think you are going to be out of luck. Years ago there were some great newsagents on Charing Cross road and another in Old Compton Street that sold not only foreign Car magazines, but Aviation titles also. Sadly long gone. Additionally, 'Motor Books' off St.Martins Lane, and the once mighty 'Foyles' are mere shadows of their former selves, very disappointing. Who else remembers that South African guy in 'Motor Books' who used to argue with everyone?

[vixen1700]

TiMopar said:

Who else remembers that South African guy in 'Motor Books' who used to argue with everyone?

Yes, I remember him!

Used to go in there quite a bit when I worked around Great Russell Street in the late '80s.

[300bhp/ton]

Truckosaurus said:

Now then Fellows,

Back in the Day I used to regularly pickup copies of American car magazines such as Car&Driver and Road&Track from various branches of Borders bookshop around the country.

Since their demise I rarely see such mags on the shelves of provincial newsagents, so as I will find myself in exotic London this Saturday can anyone suggest another bookshop or international newsagent that is likely to stock them.

If you really want to get them, then you are far better off mail ordering via subscription. I used to get Motortrend and it worked out about 75p and issue including postage. I didn't renew as they doubled the price, although it still worked out a lot cheaper than most UK mags.

Not too mention I've seen American mags sold for £5-6+ an issue on the shelf in the UK.

[nullogik]

Agree with 300bhp/ton. I have subscribed to both Motor Trend and Car & Driver for the last few years. One years subscription is about $35 which works out at under £2 per issue. Considering it has to come all the way from the US it is very good value.

Interestingly, I noticed that my last Car & Driver had a UK price printed on the cover. I've never seen it there before. Shelf price IIRC is £4.99. If they are printing it on the cover it must be available somewhere in the UK!

Edited by nullogik on Thursday 24th January 15:09

[AllyBee]

Truckosaurus said:

Now then Fellows,

Back in the Day I used to regularly pickup copies of American car magazines such as Car&Driver and Road&Track from various branches of Borders bookshop around the country.

Since their demise I rarely see such mags on the shelves of provincial newsagents, so as I will find myself in exotic London this Saturday can anyone suggest another bookshop or international newsagent that is likely to stock them.

There's a good newsagent on Drury Lane called M2 (Next to the Lowlander Cafe) near the junction with Long Acre. They have lots of US magazines. Not bought any car ones but I used to go there alot to get US mountain bike and motorbike mags.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=51.51477,-0.122319&spn=0.000527,0.001923&t=m&z=19&layer=c&cbll=51.514921,-0.122601&panoid=M-gQ3YAU5IK-idujNt8wOw&cbp=12,244.05,,0,7.03

[DJFish]

AllyBee said:

There's a good newsagent on Drury Lane called M2 (Next to the Lowlander Cafe) near the junction with Long Acre. They have lots of US magazines. Not bought any car ones but I used to go there alot to get US mountain bike and motorbike mags.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=51.51477,-0.122319&spn=0.000527,0.001923&t=m&z=19&layer=c&cbll=51.514921,-0.122601&panoid=M-gQ3YAU5IK-idujNt8wOw&cbp=12,244.05,,0,7.03

+1
The only place hereabouts that stocks evo as well.

[Truckosaurus]

Thanks, chaps.

I have previously had subscriptions (not simultaneously) to C&D, R&T, Automobile and RollingStone so I'm aware of the cheap subscription offers available, but it is sometimes nice just to pick up the odd issue here and there if there's an article that catches your eye.

[anonymous-user]

Yes, get a subscription. Incredibly cheap and very effective - especially if you pay 2 or 3 years at once!

Road & Track is IMO waaay better than any of the UK mags.