Lurking Lawyer

I know Evo is supposed to be all about "the drill of driving" and so on, but I can't help but feel that it's losing its way a bit of late. For the average man in the street, it's interesting to read about supercars but they have no real relevance to him.

The Fast Fleet has turned into a bit of a supercar w*nkfest recently. OK, you can just about make a case for Harry Metcalfe's just-departed 550 and, at a push, the AMV8 that Tony Bailey (?) runs. But how many of us are ever going to get the chance to run a Murcielago, a Carrera GT or now a Zonda S? Very very few.

That's not to say that it's not interesting to read, especially the eye-watering running costs that these things seem to have, but I can't help but think that the mag has subtlely changed its brief since it started. I suspect it's because they've become a lot more "establishment" as readership has increased and they are offered all the latest toys to drive by the manufacturers' PR departments.

lower

not interested in a long term zonda at all. Way too much top end machinery in that magazine already. What with an existing lambo as one long termer, the 550 as another and now a zonda, it makes you wonder where the focus is for the magazine. Gives the impression that its car's for the boys.

Plus if they can afford a zonda long term, they're charging way too much for subscription.

Crusoe

they've got a astra vxr, focus st, brabus smart for four, fiesta st, hyundai coupe, golf gti, old 911 just sold and probably expect a clio 197 soon as they've had all the other small renaults. Hardly lacking in lower range machinery

AlexC

It does seem a bit pointless though - the real justification for long termers is for a magazine to run cars that a significant number of their readers might run, so the readers can find out in advance about the costs / reliability issues etc.

How many evo readers are going to buy Zondas???? 2 or 3 maybe? If so, they can doubtless afford all running costs that may arise anyway.

Clearly just a case of Harry using the mag as an excuse to buy himself a f**k off expensive hypercar.

MarkB

Conversely, how many Ego staffers are going to run something the hoi polloi can afford if they're offered a concession on a Zonda/Lamborghini etc?

They lost their way a long time ago for me, self aggrandisement and their flowery prose put me off the magazine years ago - as popularity has risen, the magazine seems to be alienating more and more of it's readership in the same way.

AlexC

But sadly, for the monthly performance oriented mags, not sure they have much competition - CAR is ok, TG is worse than the TV show, what else is there?

RichUK

Classic Car for you

Bassoctopus

I bought TG at the airport last week and it was bloody awful. I subscribed for a few years when it started and it used to be a good magazine. These days it's not far away from Max Power. I'd rate it as "The Sun" of car magazines now

AlexC

Not a bad idea Rich - especially now they've stopped making mine

Pink Lady

Imagine my surprise when have got me feet up on me huge sofa and idly watching me huge telly and pick up me copy of Evo which i got from Xcel Motorshow and start to flick through and it opens onto a piccie of Dave and his S and a Red S how totally

I was impressed