What do you think of Panorama?

[Doug Zielke]

I just got the June '01 Pano.
The orange RSR just about had me piss'in in my pants...man is that a lovely car!
Awesome photography seems to be a staple in Pano. And Bill Oursler, is a fine writer.

But aside from a great feature like that, and Bruce Anderson's always helpful advice, is there anything *really worthwhile* in Panorama? Compared to Excellence, I can blow through Pano in half an hour.

For instance, do you read, "From the President"?... Boring!
Or how about, "From the Regions"?...
Snoresville!

Do BMW and Merc owners clubs have a better (or worse)national magazine?
Not that I could do any better, I'm just wondering what other PCA members think.

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

[epbrown]

If the Rolls-Royce newsletter "The Flying Lady" is any gauge, the tone of "Panorama" is normal for a newsletter. In both, I tend to read the tech articles, advertisements, and the classifieds. Like you, I find Excellence and 911 & Porsche World (which I just finished reading) to be much more interesting.

Part of it is the writing, I guess - we can't really expect professional-caliber writing from hobbyists like ourselves. But I think a big chunk of the issue might be that both the PCA and the RROC seem to skew to an older demographic. Most definitely, in the case of the RROC, this is true - there was out-and-out amazement on the mailing list recently when several of us in a thread discovered we were all under 40 - I haven't personally met a member under 60, nor have the others. The cars themselves are viewed as targeting the older crowd.

In the case of the PCA (which is about 10 times the size of the RROC) and Panorama, the problem is young person apathy. Most of the sub-40 Porsche set doesn't seem to join, and those of us that do rarely participate beyond autocross and DE attendance. I doubt the newsletter is written by a staff anywhere close to the demographic of this BBS or the Rennlist one; is it any surprise it doesn't "speak" to us?

There are good reasons for this, of course. Most of us are working our jobs or working on our cars, which doesn't leave a lot of time for composing articles. And from the way some of you guys write, most of us would need quite a bit of editing! :-) That leaves retirees and home-makers contributing their time, and we get the newsletter we deserve, I suppose.

Emanuel

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Everybody wants a normal life and a cool car;
most people settle for the car." Chris Titus
1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
1983 Porsche 911 SC Targa

[pwd72s]

Compared to the Mercedes Benz Club publication, you ask? STAR is far superior in photography and writing quality. Pano? Well, it's a club magazine...and it's remained one for a long time...my back issues begin in '66. Frankly, if it weren't for the monthly PANO, I'd consider dropping out of PCA...PANO is kind of like the local paper you like to complain about, but would miss if it's gone...

[This message has been edited by pwd72s (edited 06-21-2001).]

[GIBSON]

As club magazines go, Panorama is very good.
Probably due to having the same editor for many years, a large budget and some good feature writers. Do I read it all the way through, no. Great article on the RSR, often good articles on Porsche racing history but many dull sections. The social end of the club bores me but not everyone obviously.
The BMW mag (Roundel?) is pretty good but too much Porsche bashing, Panorama stays away from other marques quite well.
I think we are lucky to have Excellence around. Others have tried (Gmund..)and failed. How about the current European Car,
some pretty good info on 911S cars (some errors as well, I don't think the 73S ever did 0-60 in 6 seconds, mine can't).
I keep my memborship to get Panorama mostly, can't think of too many other organizations I've been a member of for more than 20 years.

Bruce Herrmann
73911S

[89911]

The lastest issue started off with a request from the president to treat all Boxter owners as equals. Give me a break. I felt like it was may dad telling me to play with my little brother. I guess he doesn't want the newer Boxter owners from paying their yearly PCA dues. Personally, I have no beef about Boxters and like them. I just feel that I have to be told this.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Jack Olsen! Are you listening? Pano needs better writers!

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blue
'81 SC Targa

[epbrown]

Isn't Jack on his honeymoon? I was thinking of a pool on how long until he goes into withdrawal and starts posting from the honeymoon suite...

Emanuel

[Doug Zielke]

I went back and read that bit about Boxster owners feeling they don't get any respect in the PCA.
So, we need the Pres to tell us that??

And Bruce, tell me more about this "Porsche bashing" that you say goes on between the covers of the Roundel....

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

[GIBSON]

Doug, my wife has a 540 BMW so I get used to get the Roundel, I stopped when I read too many letters to the editor etc. with guys talking about "whimp Porsche drivers" and general comments about "kicking Porsche ass" etc. It was some time ago, maybe they've cleaned up their act. Nothing against BMW's but the magazine got old. Like the 540 torque however.
Bruce

[epbrown]

Isn't that insecurity weird and annoying? People with other cars go out of their way to talk trash about Porsches. On usenet, alt.autos.porsche is regularly trolled by Corvette owners looking to start something; I can't recall ever seeing a Porsche owner trolling the Corvette group.

Of course, we've got our own trouble-makers on alt.autos.porsche. It's rare when someone can comment on a 924 or 944 without the "Audi" trolls coming out of the woodwork, but every family has that branch of knuckle-dragging slow-witted cousins.

Emanuel

[This message has been edited by epbrown (edited 06-21-2001).]

[Doug Zielke]

The newsgroups are a rats nest of....er...rats! If you think alt.autos.porsche is bad, you should have a look at the Harley-related n-groups

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

[Joe Bob]

Pano has gotten better, but it's still a shill to PCNA....every once in a while they stoop to feature stuff that interests ME....

I'm not rich, can't afford a Porsche less than 20 years old.....it panders to the rich elite. Not the club members that mostly pay the freight, but they have to kiss Stuttgarts bunghole....

Otherwise I like it fine. Just my $.02.

[Doug Zielke]

Gee Mike, I wish you wouldn't hide your true feelings...

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

[RarlyL8]

Pano does pander to the afluent Porsche population, but not nearly as bad as Christophorus. I can't even pick that rag up. This is what gives the Porsche snob connotation to our sportscar of choice. We have to tolerate it because these are the people who make buying pristine used cars possible.
Pano has good tech articles and a fair classified section. Nothing comes close to Excellence. That mag is great!
As for all the Porsche bashing, we win by default. When it comes to neo-exotics we set the standard of which every Porsche basher wishes to aspire.

[88911coupe]

Although I have not not read it in 3 years (since driving 911s!) I really liked Roundel. They had a lot more technical sort of info that I loved, not quite as much on personalities, although most of that is interesting as well. I see an earlier poster says they are slamming Porsches now...too bad, BMW's are fine cars and don't need to stoop to that. I will keep my Pano though as long as I drive Pcars, hopefully for a long time. BTW, back in the 80's the 2002 drivers complained about what BMW was doing to the company...not doing bad in F1 now though.
Buck
88 Coupe

[Doug Zielke]

I have yet to see a copy of Christophorus. Am I correct in thinking, they send it to you free, if you buy a new Porsche?

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

[Planter91C2]

i don't know, Doug, but i get it for free and i bought a 91C2 last year. i think it comes with some relation to your local porsche dealership because mail i get from them and the christophorus magazine both come with my first name misspelled the same way.

it is an o.k. magazine for free, nice pictures and some interesting things. but it is basically the porsche company cheerleader magazine and it also contains alot of advertisement for non-porsche related very expensive crap.

i don't think i would pay for a subscription.

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Daryl 964 Targa

[Doug Zielke]

Thanks Daryl. What you say makes sense, because I have a (rich) relative who buys a new Porsche every other year. He gets the magazine in the mail, and has for about 20 years. I can't see him paying for the mag, as he likes to get everything he can for free!

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

[Jim T]

I am a member of PCA (Panorama), BMW CCA (the Roundel) and MB CCA (the Star).

Of the three mags, I'd rate Panorama as the worst. The biggest problem is that other than the feature article and a few other little things (like Anderson's tech stuff) its just the same boring things, year after year. And, often, the feature article is boring, too. I usually blow through Panorama in about 5 minutes, and add another 15 or so going through the ads. Lightweight stuff (although it is nice and glossy).

I'd rate the MB Star as second. Usually has some good articles on restorations, chronicling a top level restoration. An amazing story on a '57 300 SL in the last edition. Over 1000 hours spent on the body alone, getting it in shape. Add $60.00 per hour, and that's a pretty expensive body and paint job!

First place is DEFINATELY the Roundel. Its got car news, BMW news, GREAT columnists (like Satch Carlson, and others) that do really interesting, funny, and well written pieces each month, autocross, councours and restoration articles, lots of tech stuff, great classifieds and more. Really a top notch publication, truly amazing for a car club magazine.

[rvanderpyl]

Well Pano is a club publication, which means it's going to be full of news and events that (mostly) are only interesting to those in the region mentioned. However they do manage to have at least one interesting article a month and the classifieds are interesting

Robert 911Rrrrrr (Project)