37 replies to this topic

[Black.Ghost]

I've dropped all magazines. Admittedly I wasted a lot of money before, but at one point I was buying both mini mags, T3, Stuff, 2 different mountain biking mags, the occasional photography one (even though I never fully got into it) an occasional movie one or something else. It's ridiculous how much money you can end up wasting on utter rubbish. We live in a changing world, one where people want new things all the time. Magazines just don't offer that. I rarely read a good old fashioned newspaper anymore either. We live in an online world. Much easier. And no magazines taking up space! 

[Fast Ivan]

I like some of the stuff AC Dodd does, recently done a write ups on how to lighten flywheels and building an MPI gearbox useful, practical stuff

[ibby4585]

After almost a 10 year lay off from buying miniworld and mini magazine I bought both copies last month. And I just can't believe they are turfing out the same old rubbish!

They layout of the magazine hasn't changed! And it was crap back then too.

The cover article was Karen Dreary and her sister visiting Greece to see a prototype. Quite clearly this was a jolly up, as the bloody article was shocking!!

I honestly can't believe they put an article in a magazine about Dreary's bucket seat had broken,and she took it to an upholsterer to get it repaired! Oh please!!

Clearly the bucket seat had lost the will to live also!!

Rant over!

Edited by ibby4585, 15 October 2014 - 08:09 PM.

[MrBounce]

I think one thing to note about the mags whether you like them or not is that they do tend to be staffed by at least some enthusiasts who run their own Minis, and probably have access to the Publisher's coffers to service and repair them whilst writing about how it's done.

 

I think we would all welcome the opportunity to be able to do this. The scene itself has changed massively over the years - there aren't nearly so many first-time buyers because the first-time buyers struggle to afford to buy the now Classic car. 20 years ago you could get a decent MOT'd Mini for £700, Now you struggle to get a box of bits for that.

 

I loved reading about the recent City E restoration in Practical Classics the other month. It was lovely to see a sympathetic resto on an unloved model. Mini World, Mini Mag, go and find some similar ones, preferably ones that haven't just had loads of money thrown at them; but instead where the owners have spent time, and shed blood, sweat and tears to rebuild them. Chequebook rebuilds just don't cut it for me because anyone can do it.

[ACDodd]

With my articles, I try to show how you can do this at home with basic tooling, and where you also need to get others to do things for you.

It is a challenge for me to keep to page numbers sometimes not all the info is able to be given as clearly as I like. However the point is, try feeding back to the mags what you want to see. If you don't let them know what you want them to write about how can they do it!!

 

 

For now I will keep writing as much as I can and as long as the mags want my input. (I am actually in the middle of writing this evening!!)

There is a lot than can still be written and my focus will always be on what you can do at home, as that is how I started, doing it myself.............

 

 

AC

Edited by ACDodd, 15 October 2014 - 11:14 PM.

[ibby4585]

[quote name="minidizzy" post="3154023" timestamp="1413408615"]Kay Drury might be flattered to be taken for Karen Drury's sister when in fact she is her mother. I have to say that Kay has done some brilliant interviews with many of the old legends in the Mini History. Her articles are making a huge contribution to our knowledge of the Mini. Personally I could not do without MiniWorld for this reason.
[/quo[quote name="minidizzy" post="3154023" timestamp="1413408615"]Kay Drury might be flattered to be taken for Karen Drury's sister when in fact she is her mother. I have to say that Kay has done some brilliant interviews with many of the old legends in the Mini History. Her articles are making a huge contribution to our knowledge of the Mini. Personally I could not do without MiniWorld for this reason.
[/quote]

and Karen Dreary not so flattered! Lol

You couldn't do without MiniWorld? Wow.

[Badboytunes]

I subscribe to bith, I like them. True there are aot of adverts but most mags are the same. Admittedley the forum is better because its " personal" to a point where a mag is just a mag. I will continue with the subs for the time being.

[Badboytunes]

 Chequebook rebuilds just don't cut it for me because anyone can do it.

 

I suppose I fall into that catagory to a point.  Example,the gearbox needed rebuilding, dont have the time or facilities to sort myself so shipped the job out to a local specialist. Ok it was nearly £900 but it was a job well done, with warranty and peace of mind.

[Yams]

I buy them them whenever i'm in town and there is a W H Smith about, but i don't follow them religiously. If i want some easy reading and some nice pictures then i'll buy one. I'd probably say i can get 2 hours out of a mini magazine before i've had my fill of it. I do agree the quality of the physical magazine isn't like it used to be, and the layout is very slap-dash, but it is what it is.

 

In the magazines deffence though, there isn't much out there anymore that will give you about 2 hours of entertainment for under a fiver!

[ibby4585]

They could make a lot better magazine if they tried. I'm not interested in the fact every contributor has about 5 cars each, and probably the reason they can maintain that amount of cars is that they get massive discounts through the mag.

I understand the advertising to an extent but blimey it's covered in ads.

For me what would be interesting is hunting for a barn find or a rare model and watching somebody with limited funds, space and capabilities restore it. It could have links to YouTube footage of trying to find the car, rumours of where it is stored then the purchase and then the restoration process. It could have a list of the companys that were helpful and reliable and actually see what new equipment/parts work.

Just an idea.

[The Matt]

I've stopped buying them.  Too many adverts, not enough different content....I think with me it's just a case of "seen it all before" to be honest.  Not necessarily that the mags are getting worse, just that my attitude is

[Badboytunes]

.  Not necessarily that the mags are getting worse, just that my attitude is

 

 

You badass !!!

[Black.Ghost]

It seems like the obvious thing to do is condense into one publication and revamp it all. As has been pointed out, they cant't/won't change it if they do not receive any feedback.

[WMU 211G]

 

Who needs a mini mag when we've got the forum!!!!! Damn side cheaper too! Photos, restorations, tech help, opinions....... need I say more

 

Totally agree!

 

Also I got fed up reading about how "enthusiasts" pay thousands out thousands of pounds for others to do the work then the car is featured or drop a super dooper million pound enging on tyres that cost twice as much as my mini!   I like the cheap as chips advice on here,  my mini is meant to be a cheap hobby :)

 

must be because im just a tight Geordie lol

 

 

I'm an 'enthusiast' but paid someone else to restore my car because I don't have the skill, time or space to do it myself, would that make my car less worthy to be featured in either of the mags than someone who'd done all the work him / herself? I don't think so! I've done some jobs myself but there is no way I could acheive anything like the result that my restorer did. For me, the end result is what matters... I don't mind reading about 'chequebook restorations' at all, there are some fantastic cars out there which have appeared in both mags which would possibly have fallen by the wayside if someone hadn't come along with enough dosh to pay someone else to do the work.

 

Takes all sorts!