CAR magazine - Sports Car of the Year - 720S wins, GT3.2 second
10-16-2017, 06:50 PM
#46
Drifting
The car "journalism" business is quite interesting.
I have several friends who are active in the space now in various capacities, including some who write noteworthy cover stories and feature articles for large domestic magazine(s) (e.g., Road & Track). I have other good friends who have left the automotive journalist "lifestyle" to go get actual, real jobs. Some in the automotive field, others in different industries.
The currency of the industry - in particular for freelance journalists - is the never-ending carousel of lavish trips and perks that accrue to those who are adept at interfacing with PR people and never saying anything negative. It's cool to have elite status across multiple airlines and travel to Europe 10-15 times a year, enjoying experiences that "normal" people would have to pay well into five figures to replicate; the downside is that the pay is pretty anemic and the skills learned pretending to be rich aren't so transferable to a real career.
Gone are the days of Road & Track (and Cycle World) paying Peter Egan 6 figures a year to write 700 words a month.
Have you ever worked before?
Have you ever dealt with constraints outside your control?
All of the magazines are in the entertainment business, that's why they are full of pretty pictures of exotic cars on scenic roads.
Imagine the CAR Magazine road test editor calling up the Ferrari PR department and saying "pretty please, we need a Ferrari ______ for our annual supercar test, otherwise some random internet commenter will call into question the validity of our comparison test that is primarily pornographic entertainment!"
I just realized something - they didn't have the McLaren F1 either, did they?
SO HOW DO YOU KNOW IF IT'S BETTER OR WORSE THAN THE MCLAREN 720S?!?
I recommend you buy both, just to be sure!
+1
Have you ever heard any real criticism from someone on an all-expenses paid $10,000+ trip to Portugal or wherever to go slide around in the latest $250K (or more) toy?
No, because critics don't get invited back to the party.
I have several friends who are active in the space now in various capacities, including some who write noteworthy cover stories and feature articles for large domestic magazine(s) (e.g., Road & Track). I have other good friends who have left the automotive journalist "lifestyle" to go get actual, real jobs. Some in the automotive field, others in different industries.
The currency of the industry - in particular for freelance journalists - is the never-ending carousel of lavish trips and perks that accrue to those who are adept at interfacing with PR people and never saying anything negative. It's cool to have elite status across multiple airlines and travel to Europe 10-15 times a year, enjoying experiences that "normal" people would have to pay well into five figures to replicate; the downside is that the pay is pretty anemic and the skills learned pretending to be rich aren't so transferable to a real career.
I own more exotics than you. Lets leave it that. Car magazines with multimillion dollar budgets should get the currently available cars to do proper tests.
How can you proclaim the best car when you haven't freaking tested every available car?
Call your magazine article something other than "Sportscar of the year" if you cant test every car.
I fail to see how you can be so obtuse and dense to not realize this.
How can you proclaim the best car when you haven't freaking tested every available car?
Call your magazine article something other than "Sportscar of the year" if you cant test every car.
I fail to see how you can be so obtuse and dense to not realize this.
Have you ever dealt with constraints outside your control?
All of the magazines are in the entertainment business, that's why they are full of pretty pictures of exotic cars on scenic roads.
Imagine the CAR Magazine road test editor calling up the Ferrari PR department and saying "pretty please, we need a Ferrari ______ for our annual supercar test, otherwise some random internet commenter will call into question the validity of our comparison test that is primarily pornographic entertainment!"
I just realized something - they didn't have the McLaren F1 either, did they?
SO HOW DO YOU KNOW IF IT'S BETTER OR WORSE THAN THE MCLAREN 720S?!?
I recommend you buy both, just to be sure!
For these "Car of the year" comparisons, they only test cars that are new models, or a new version of a car for that given year. The 488 is out because it is not a new car. As for the Performante, or Super Fast, I think Lamborghini, and Ferrari refused to supply a car.
They simply don't have the money. It is not a very profitable business. They rely on car manufacturers to provide them cars, airfare, hotels, meals etc. for most of the individual tests. That is why you have to take car magazine reviews with a teaspoon full of salt.
They simply don't have the money. It is not a very profitable business. They rely on car manufacturers to provide them cars, airfare, hotels, meals etc. for most of the individual tests. That is why you have to take car magazine reviews with a teaspoon full of salt.
Have you ever heard any real criticism from someone on an all-expenses paid $10,000+ trip to Portugal or wherever to go slide around in the latest $250K (or more) toy?
No, because critics don't get invited back to the party.
