practical classics - any opinions
Discussion
Hi all you Pistonheads
I'm doing some research into what people like and dislike about Practical Classics magazine, so we can improve. We're the best-selling classic car mag in Britain but there's always room for improvement.
It'd be great to know what you like about the mag? And, of course, what bugs you?
We want PC to be entertaining and useful for everyone who loves old cars, so it'd be brilliant to get your opinions.
Cheers,
Matt Wright
I'm doing some research into what people like and dislike about Practical Classics magazine, so we can improve. We're the best-selling classic car mag in Britain but there's always room for improvement.
It'd be great to know what you like about the mag? And, of course, what bugs you?
We want PC to be entertaining and useful for everyone who loves old cars, so it'd be brilliant to get your opinions.
Cheers,
Matt Wright
I don't buy it regularly, but I like the practical bias - aimed at people that are probably going to do the work themselves and would benefit from understanding what they are doing. Also the price guide - helps me with what I can aspire to in the not too distant future.
I actually like it as it is - if I want to read about more exotic stuff I just buy Classic & Sports Car - but that is a different type of magazine really.
I actually like it as it is - if I want to read about more exotic stuff I just buy Classic & Sports Car - but that is a different type of magazine really.
hi must admit havnt bought pc for a while but thats mainly because im trying very hard to resist tempting myself into buying another tinkering car 
the biggest annoyance for me was adverts for services and trimers etc although helpful takes up to much of the mag
im all for the cars for sale and part's etc
maybe it's time to see more late seventies and early 80's cars though admit have seen them coverd
maybe run a fleet of cars that regularly do a fair amount of miles rather than the odd few hundred a year
would make for interesting reading
the biggest annoyance for me was adverts for services and trimers etc although helpful takes up to much of the mag
im all for the cars for sale and part's etc
maybe it's time to see more late seventies and early 80's cars though admit have seen them coverd
maybe run a fleet of cars that regularly do a fair amount of miles rather than the odd few hundred a year
would make for interesting reading
I don't tend to buy many classic mags now as they seem to keep repeating:
How to buy a mini
How to change the trunions on a Morris Minor
Escort MK1
and so on
So how some more modern classics
BMW 750 or 850 (plenty of scary stuff there, starting at £500)
Vauxhall Senator 3.0 24V
MGF
Toyota MR2/Mazda MX5
Clio Williams
Peugout 205
Alfa 164
How about a few articles on what to do with ECUs, ABS and electrics in general? They seen to scare most people off yet much of it is relatively straightforward. Most 80s cars have electronics so it will be an issue for an increasing number of your readers. Carry a review of fire extinguishers alongside.
A few articles on how to add modern electronics (MP3 satnav etc) without spoiling the character of the car - remote controls in modified radios, screens hidden behind speaker grilles, buttons on gearlevers the usual Bond stuff. Take a look at mini-itx.com or sourceforge.org for inspiration.
You know PHs car for £500? Surely that sort of junk....
How to buy a mini
How to change the trunions on a Morris Minor
Escort MK1
and so on
So how some more modern classics
BMW 750 or 850 (plenty of scary stuff there, starting at £500)
Vauxhall Senator 3.0 24V
MGF
Toyota MR2/Mazda MX5
Clio Williams
Peugout 205
Alfa 164
How about a few articles on what to do with ECUs, ABS and electrics in general? They seen to scare most people off yet much of it is relatively straightforward. Most 80s cars have electronics so it will be an issue for an increasing number of your readers. Carry a review of fire extinguishers alongside.
A few articles on how to add modern electronics (MP3 satnav etc) without spoiling the character of the car - remote controls in modified radios, screens hidden behind speaker grilles, buttons on gearlevers the usual Bond stuff. Take a look at mini-itx.com or sourceforge.org for inspiration.
You know PHs car for £500? Surely that sort of junk....
Great magazine, one of the few I buy every month. Don't change it too much but if you do, more detail, more detail and a bit more detail. Don't allow it to be dumbed down like the article this month on servicing your classis . . . any manual will tell you that, lets not have those articles but more like the TVR article but with more detail.
Would also be nice to find a new way of including the adverts you need for income, whilst not diistracting from a good read. PC is borderline now, too many adverts - can you raise the page cost and take fewer adverts ?
Would also be nice to find a new way of including the adverts you need for income, whilst not diistracting from a good read. PC is borderline now, too many adverts - can you raise the page cost and take fewer adverts ?
Long time reader (and sad loser- i have got every one!)
do you sell binders? When PC switched to the square bound style and then back againg was very annoying. The ink on the cover used to smudge, but that seems to be better now
PC has lost it recently- unstable, editor changing all the time and the journalists sometimes give the impression they are there for a career move; not because they are big classics fans. Since Will Holman left it's lost it's way. In his time it became alot more about the personalities of the journalistic team, they carried that off. Not sure that is working now, especially with changing faces all the time.
I agree with the comment about ads. Flicking through, that's all i see- not unique to PC and not a new thing.
Staff car sagas- popular feature as you know. I think this isn't the place for modern classics en mass, but recently is full of them. Real life running reports are loads better for the older cars, and what it should be all about. You guys are running saabs and golfs and audis- Yaawwwwwwwwn. There are plenty of other mags covering this sort of 80's junk- stick to real classics
Having said that, the comments below about ECU's and the like I agree with. If you stand still your readership will dwindle but classics are the core and an 1988 Audi 100 does not cut it.
I love this suggestion. This to me is what it is all about. Running a classic as a daily driver, with subtle, effective and practical mods to make that possible; all without ruining the character and essence of the classic car. Take a look a what the guy who first started the magazine says in one of the aniversary editions- he summed up why it was started and was a success.
It has lost a bit of it's understated class too. Hard to explain, but a bit gawdy these days. Who are your core readers- perhaps the sort of people you see at autojumbles? So consider if words on the front cover like "whoaaah" will appeal?? They don't to me, just make me wonder what sort of pointless farce is going on inside.
PC is in danger of turning in to it's downmarket, error strewn, low rent contemporary "Classics"
I don't seem to devour it as I used to.
>> Edited by stigproducts on Thursday 16th February 23:08
>> Edited by stigproducts on Thursday 16th February 23:13
do you sell binders? When PC switched to the square bound style and then back againg was very annoying. The ink on the cover used to smudge, but that seems to be better now
PC has lost it recently- unstable, editor changing all the time and the journalists sometimes give the impression they are there for a career move; not because they are big classics fans. Since Will Holman left it's lost it's way. In his time it became alot more about the personalities of the journalistic team, they carried that off. Not sure that is working now, especially with changing faces all the time.
I agree with the comment about ads. Flicking through, that's all i see- not unique to PC and not a new thing.
Staff car sagas- popular feature as you know. I think this isn't the place for modern classics en mass, but recently is full of them. Real life running reports are loads better for the older cars, and what it should be all about. You guys are running saabs and golfs and audis- Yaawwwwwwwwn. There are plenty of other mags covering this sort of 80's junk- stick to real classics
Having said that, the comments below about ECU's and the like I agree with. If you stand still your readership will dwindle but classics are the core and an 1988 Audi 100 does not cut it.
cdp said:
A few articles on how to add modern electronics (MP3 satnav etc) without spoiling the character of the car - remote controls in modified radios, screens hidden behind speaker grilles, buttons on gearlevers the usual Bond stuff. Take a look at mini-itx.com or sourceforge.org for inspiration.
I love this suggestion. This to me is what it is all about. Running a classic as a daily driver, with subtle, effective and practical mods to make that possible; all without ruining the character and essence of the classic car. Take a look a what the guy who first started the magazine says in one of the aniversary editions- he summed up why it was started and was a success.
It has lost a bit of it's understated class too. Hard to explain, but a bit gawdy these days. Who are your core readers- perhaps the sort of people you see at autojumbles? So consider if words on the front cover like "whoaaah" will appeal?? They don't to me, just make me wonder what sort of pointless farce is going on inside.
PC is in danger of turning in to it's downmarket, error strewn, low rent contemporary "Classics"
I don't seem to devour it as I used to.
>> Edited by stigproducts on Thursday 16th February 23:08
>> Edited by stigproducts on Thursday 16th February 23:13
Stopped buying it ages ago.
Poor research, stupid errors that 5 minutes on the web would have corrected.
Regurgitated stuff that I read years ago.
Massive amount of repetition, MGB, etc etc....
Dreary format. Same applies to the other Classic mag. I read it in 5 minutes & then bin itas it isn't worth re-reading.
Only buy in fact subscribe to one mag which is Classic & Sports Cars. Brilliant
writing, lovely pictures good articles about some exotica & then something very cheap & cheerful. They run classics themselves at all levels.
Poor research, stupid errors that 5 minutes on the web would have corrected.
Regurgitated stuff that I read years ago.
Massive amount of repetition, MGB, etc etc....
Dreary format. Same applies to the other Classic mag. I read it in 5 minutes & then bin itas it isn't worth re-reading.
Only buy in fact subscribe to one mag which is Classic & Sports Cars. Brilliant
writing, lovely pictures good articles about some exotica & then something very cheap & cheerful. They run classics themselves at all levels.
I have probably been reading PC since 1980. I like the format always have. I like the fact that it covers cars people can afford, don't stop that. I disagree with the veiws of 80's cars not being classics, they are. In 1980 we would have read about MGB's, which were still in production. Keep up the practicle stuff, that is why I subscribe.
Do an article on the triumph GT6, as I have not seen one for a long time.
Do an article on the triumph GT6, as I have not seen one for a long time.
I used to subscribe to PC but don't anymore, The paper quality needs improving, too many adds, more modern classics, better photos, better quality of writing, to name but a few improvements needed.
I now tend to only buy it when there is a car I like featured. I brought this months. I now subscribe to PPC much better coverage of articles and cars, less adds, better photos, better quality of writing (didn't the main contributers work for you once?). PPC feels like its worth the money, and lasts quite a while. PC feels cheap and pages start falling out as you walk to the checkout, which is why I then put it back.
I now tend to only buy it when there is a car I like featured. I brought this months. I now subscribe to PPC much better coverage of articles and cars, less adds, better photos, better quality of writing (didn't the main contributers work for you once?). PPC feels like its worth the money, and lasts quite a while. PC feels cheap and pages start falling out as you walk to the checkout, which is why I then put it back.
I`ve stopped buying it and I agree pretty much with all that stigproducts states above. The magazine used to have a sense of no-nonsense humour that was appealing - also it used to be more informed that it is now. There are plenty of errors and often a distinct lack of knowledge about the subject matter.
I personally enjoy diversity and would appreciate more in-depth content on earlier and later motors. Finally, I used to enjoy the ridiculous test features that were patently dreamt up in the boozer - done well this works!
I personally enjoy diversity and would appreciate more in-depth content on earlier and later motors. Finally, I used to enjoy the ridiculous test features that were patently dreamt up in the boozer - done well this works!
I used to subscribe but still buy it quite regularly.
Less likely to buy it if there's an MGB on the front.
It goes through phases when one issue looks like a MG/Jag/Triumph owners club mag but it's usually OK.
I always read staff car sagas first. If I had anything to do with the mag I'd insist that all writer put something in print for it, if only 'no problems but is that the sound of a wheel bearing'.
I appreciate that getting a few cars together for a test is very difficult but some of their group tests seem to be very poorly matched (an Ami 6 but no R4!).
Unfortunately the standard of research is usually poor by journalists on all these 'classics' mags. On one of the others, a friend had his car featured. The writer was told 4 times verbally and twice in writing that he's got one thing wrong (his other sports car) and it still went out wrong.
>> Edited by Alpineandy on Monday 20th February 14:26
Less likely to buy it if there's an MGB on the front.
It goes through phases when one issue looks like a MG/Jag/Triumph owners club mag but it's usually OK.
I always read staff car sagas first. If I had anything to do with the mag I'd insist that all writer put something in print for it, if only 'no problems but is that the sound of a wheel bearing'.
I appreciate that getting a few cars together for a test is very difficult but some of their group tests seem to be very poorly matched (an Ami 6 but no R4!).
Unfortunately the standard of research is usually poor by journalists on all these 'classics' mags. On one of the others, a friend had his car featured. The writer was told 4 times verbally and twice in writing that he's got one thing wrong (his other sports car) and it still went out wrong.
>> Edited by Alpineandy on Monday 20th February 14:26
Hasbeen said:
Long time reader, but, why does it take so long to get the thing to Oz?
How about structuring some of the competitions to give us foreigners a chance? After all, we do pay a lot more for the mag.
Hasbeen.
Dunno what you consider 'long', but it takes two weeks for Evo to cross the English Channel and land on Dutch bookstands. I dread to think how long it takes to get to Oz. Surely that's less than acceptable in this day and age?
How about a competition for the dodgiest MOT? The car has to have passed in the last month. Crash damage not eligible.
How cortinas can be held together with filler and newspaper. My brother bourght one like that - we were used to Leyland cars that don't rust badly. In fact on taking out the interior trim panels on the inner wings you could see the front wheels going round as you drove along. The car was only 7 years old......
More seriously, how to make modern bits fit old cars so you can keep them going.
How cortinas can be held together with filler and newspaper. My brother bourght one like that - we were used to Leyland cars that don't rust badly. In fact on taking out the interior trim panels on the inner wings you could see the front wheels going round as you drove along. The car was only 7 years old......
More seriously, how to make modern bits fit old cars so you can keep them going.
cdp said:
More seriously, how to make modern bits fit old cars so you can keep them going.
Good call. And how to update cars with bits from later models so it can mix better with modern traffic with regards to braking and handling. There's so many cars out there that the owners don't get their money's/time's enjoyment from because basically they'd rather drive their 'modern car' so they end up only taking it to the occsional show or meet, if at all.
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff