Total Impreza - Am I the only one thinking this ??

[Scott.T]

Wasn't sure whether to slag of this months edition or not in public

Got the mag last week and a subscription renewal today.
Based on this months edition, I won't be renewing.

Wagon with a very dodgey bodykit, a feature on a £700 Classic Sport, a Classic in WR1 blue......I mean come on.....and about 3 or 4 features detailing in 'great detail' how to do the most basic modifications.

I don't think I have read the last 3 issues, maybe one feature from each then it goes in the cupboard with the rest.

Whereas Redline Magazine (since it went more technical, less Max Power and Quote : "if it doesn't improve performance it don't go in the mag") I pretty much read cover to cover.

In Total Impreza alot of the articles appear to be generic that can be in Nissan, Evo or Subaru mags, sometimes even has pitcures of the wrong marque in the feature.

One month it had a 9 page article on the 3-point seat belt....yes that is 9 pages not a typo.

What are your thoughts/opinions ?

Scott

I have to say, I am getting more and more un-impressed with the magazine every month.

This month for instance, I was sent an e-mail by the magazine chasing up urgently the club news, which Keith jumped onto straight away and sent off the following day I believe. And all for nothing, there was no club news what so ever in this edition.

The magazine just seems to be an advert carrier, with inaccurate articles inserted to break the ads up.

I won't be renewing next year unless there is a massive change in the magazine.

[SeanMcKnetic]

Don't get me started.

[scooby999]

i toyed with the idea of subscribing to total impreza but was talked out of it.I do get other car mags from time to time but it would be nice to read about subaru.
maybe someone on here should look into a small on-line mag.
As I am fairly new to this field of cars ,i tend to get the mags with good "how to section"....could we do a how to section on here as there seems to be a wealth of knowledge out there

[SeanMcKnetic]

Have a look at this thread on Surrey, RE: that particular magazine...

http://www.surreyscoobies.co.uk/foru...ad.php?t=36785

[Steve_PPP]

yep, not very impressed with it. won't be renewing my subscription - the photos are of poor quality, there are mistakes all over it (grammar, spelling and just getting facts wrong!), the graphic design looks like someone knocked it up in Microsoft Publisher.

And we're not the only ones thinking this are we
http://bbs.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-g...impressed.html

Really hoping they get there act together there is a huge demand for a decent subaru magazine, after all

The mistakes in the magazine are amazing!!!! The total impreza car picture showing exactly the same for the Northern Big One and Cross Roads Garage open day OFF ROAD PICS Does nobody edit these things? Mistakes in every issue I have received so far

I certainly would not have paid for the Sep/Oct edition in a shop and if theres no improvement in the next issue, then I will not be renewing my subscription.

Lack of club information in this edition is also annoying, SES still do not show in the clubs links on the website!! even with the addition of Total's ads on the SES forum!

Agree with Scott's comments above

Based on this latest edition, if anyone is looking to subscribe IMHO DON'T

[Hongkongfooi]

I emailed my thoughts to them a few months back and although I got a quick reply it seems this months is the worst so far.
Its worth emailing them suggesting ways to improve though as the idea of an impreza only mag is a good one.

[belliott]

i subscribed for 6 issues and was so glad when it was over, just to many mistakes and the same old crap each time.

i really do agree with silversurfer that redline is the magazine i buy every month now, no tat just balls out power every mag and no mistakes.

edited to add that i still have the old scooby mags that were out 4 years ago and its such a better read, no mistakes, not as many adverts and more decent cars. its a shame hanna barbera threw a strop and sued the magazine because of the name of it and they had to stop making it.

[bigemp]

i thought it was awesome....not... took me all of the last 20 mins to read it and yep the old scooby mags were much better,and wont be renewing my subscription either

[Claire_PPP]

I've had a look through Steve's copies when they've dropped through the door and as a magazine designer, some of the things in there make me want to cry. That mag could be gorgeous, but they make some basic design mistakes that could be easily fixed. (In fact I've thought of mocking up a few designs and emailing the publishers, but didn't want to risk offending them!)

Whilst I obviously don't know Total Impreza's situation specifically, publishing as a whole is taking a real downturn at the moment. Mags are paid for by advertising, not subscriptions and companies either can't afford to advertise, won't commit to series deals or can't pay their bills when they have advertised! As a result publishers 'recycle' content more and more to keep editorial costs down (possibly why you're seeing skylines in an impreza mag).

Publishers (generally speaking) are also skimping on pagination and print/paper quality to cut production costs, which could explain why TI are chasing for club info and then not using it. Chances are they were coming up short on advertising that month and needed to cut pages at the last minute to keep costs down - the club page won't make them any money in advertising so it'll be one of the first to go.

All that doesn't help you enjoy the mag any more, but might explain some of the points people have raised.

[SUBARMAN]

Originally Posted by worzel

Scott

I have to say, I am getting more and more un-impressed with the magazine every month.

This month for instance, I was sent an e-mail by the magazine chasing up urgently the club news, which Keith jumped onto straight away and sent off the following day I believe. And all for nothing, there was no club news what so ever in this edition.

The magazine just seems to be an advert carrier, with inaccurate articles inserted to break the ads up.

I won't be renewing next year unless there is a massive change in the magazine.

You are quite correct. All that effort to meet the deadline, and they don't bother to print the article

[Guy B]

Can't be as bad as Jap Performance, they will show any old banger......isnt that right Anger!

[Anger]

If mines an old banger Guy then what does that make yours.... Actually i have an angle grinder in hand... Pop it over here and it will save me phoning for a skip