New issue of "9" arrived yesterday...

[cegerer]

"It's far, far easier for me to do the same thing on-line. Oh wait, that's what we've done!"

Exactly! And that's why I see little - if any - value in a 'how-to magazine' these days. I can go on-line and quickly find just about anything I need tech-wise. Compare this with sending a tech question to Excellence or hoping that the next issue of 9 has something relevant to your latest project. -- Curt

[sammyg2]

I just got the latest issue of 9 last week. I spent about 3 minutes thumbing through it before I put it on the shelf. I normally spend at least a half hour going through European car magazine, about the same with car and driver, and at least an hour with Excellence.
Heck, I even spend more time reading Panorama that 9.

I don't care about the typo's. I'm not that anal. If I can figure out what the writer is trying to say it doesn't bother me. What does bother me is a magazine full of stuff I don't care about, or stuff that has been re-hashed by every other for of media for the past six months to two years (this month's Porsche turbo article for example. Absolutely nothing there I haven't read before 10 times). I don't like the fact that the advertisements are in color and the pictures in the tech articles are in black and white and too small and blurry for my old eyes. Worthy of nothing more than a quick glance to me.

I've met Brian at the euro. autofest and he seemed like a nice guy. I'm not slamming him at all or wishing him any misfortune, but that money I spent on this subscription was the worst money I've spent since getting serious about Porsches. No, I could not do it any better, but I realize that and am not trying to make money at it.

I can't remember exactly, but I think it was around $19 for a year and they don't put out a magazine every month.

This subscription is twice as expensive as some others I have and to tell you the truth does not interest me in the least.

For my sake as well as Brian's I hope the quality of content goes way up soon. As it is I do not plan to renew my subscription.

[DavidPorter]

From what I've seen this magazine is at or below the level of a good local newsletter of one of the national clubs.

First of all I do think details like spelling and punctuation matter, if only to convince me that the editors take the same care with their technical information.

Second, the content is weak.

Third, the design is weak.

Can't think of a 4th. I guess there are examples of publications like this growing and getting stronger, but this one doesn't offer anything that hasn't already been done (and redone) by the other Porsche magazines. So what is the business plan? The reason for existence? I haven't figured it out.

[old_skul]

So, what would I have here? Basically printed Pelican Parts propaganda with a ton of technical data that people would be paying me to send them. Not a bad business plan if you ask me. BUT, it would require a lot of attention, a lot of work, and a lot of hours that I don't have.

It's far, far easier for me to do the same thing on-line. Oh wait, that's we've done!

Ah, but Wayne, you don't charge people to access the site at all. A magazine would have a revenue stream that doesn't stop. And backing from a major supplier would be a boon for a technically oriented magazine.

If you ever decide to give it a shot, let me know.

[Ed VanderVeen]

I agree with sammyg2. I flipped through the new 9 Magazine and was finished with it in about 10 minutes.

Personally, I would like to see more photo spreads of older P-cars...LOTS MORE

I don't care about the newer models and if I did, the other established magazines cover them to death.

This goes for tech articles also. I don't think there is a single tech issue dealing with my '75 911S that hasn't been written somewhere (which is a good thing) that I can't find (like here )

What I would like to see in a new magazine is:

Lots of color pictures of older 911s (start to finish restoration photos are cool).

Reviews of new car products and tools.

Great P-car stories (such as a reader's trip down Route 66 in his '60 356 last summer...like they do in the motorcycle magazines).

How about reprints of p-car reviews from the '50s, '60s, & '70s?

Classifieds (I know every other magazine has them, but I still like looking through them).

An INDEX to the BEST P-car websites (maybe like a "Reader's Choice" list).

[Wayne 962]

Originally posted by cegerer
"It's far, far easier for me to do the same thing on-line. Oh wait, that's what we've done!"

Exactly! And that's why I see little - if any - value in a 'how-to magazine' these days. I can go on-line and quickly find just about anything I need tech-wise. Compare this with sending a tech question to Excellence or hoping that the next issue of 9 has something relevant to your latest project. -- Curt

Ahh, then how can you explain the run-away success of 101 Projects?

-Wayne

[atlporsche]

more bling bling, of course...J/K

Fortunately, it's already being done. Grassroots motorsports is doing it just fine. I have no idea how long my subscription is for because they occasionally send me a renewal special, so I renew for the next couple years....

sjd

[atlporsche]

easy wayne, it's confidence inspiring.

It gives the mere mortal the confidence that "YES!! I can do this project"

sjd
who used to blame it on free t-shirts...

[sammyg2]

Maybe we as an audience are just more sophisticated than we used to be. Before the internet I would kill for an article explaining performance modifications, now all I have to do is click on the mouse a few times and find almost anything I want.
that goes for just about any kind of information I'm looking for. That would definately put the pressure on someone trying to publish a new magazine, how do you inform the informed?

The knd of stuff I can't readily find on the internet is unbiased, honest evaluations of high performance products, driving impressions of older cars, track events (from the inside), historic race cars, etc. Only problem with that is, most magazines are good to those who advertise. It is rare to see a magazine slam a product made by a sponsor :-)

Most of the time I don't believe what I read in product evaluations. If someone wanted to sell me a magazie that did nothing but test products with real, honest tests, I would buy it. I'm talking dyno time, lap time, you get the picture.

I'd kick in a few bucks to see real world controlled tests of the cool collar, fuel and oil filter magnets, different tires, exhausts, K&N filters, electric superchargers, cams, pistons, etc. kind of like a consumer's digest for Porsches.

[scottb]

I got a "free" sample copy of the latest 9. My "free" copy cost me $3 for shipping and handling, but that's another story. I'd never seen the magazine before, but had read the posts here on the board about its problems. I was hoping to be pleasantly surprised. I wasn't. I thought the magazine was a complete waste of paper and ink. I spent about 10 minutes thumbing through it. Frankly, the advertisements were more interesting than the articles. Needless to say, I *won't* be subscribing.