Car Magazines

[ProjectWHaT]

So I've been thinking about getting a car magazine subscription to read. I've been looking around to see which one's the best. I've read Evo is really good. But because I live in Freedom Land, it'll cost $115 a year which is easy too much. Top Gear is $120! So British magazines are out of the question. So that leaves the popular American magazines left, Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Road and Track, Automobile, etc. Out of these, what's the best magazine? Or is $115 worth an Evo subscription?

 

[Joey D]

I really don't think major auto magazines are worth it now days since you can get up to the minute information from anyone of the automotive blogs out there. The specialty magazines are still pretty good since they often contain information that's more difficult to find on the internet. I'd try to find a magazine that fits whatever your automotive niche is and subscribe to that, you'll get more out of it I think.

But with that said, if I am going to read a major auto magazine publication, I typically go for Motor Trend since they typically offer the best in terms of writing in my opinion. I typically enjoy the photography in Automobile more though.

 

[Grandea GTR]

This topic is probably more fitting in the "cars in general" subforum, I'd say.

 

[Downhill Dino]

I recommend going through Amazon. I have a number of magazine subscriptions (Road & Track, Motor Trend, etc.) for $5 a year.

 

[Crash]

If you are willing to go all digital, you should look into and consider whether there are digital only subscriptions, as those often are cheaper than the print editions for the same content.

 

[TVR27]

Magazines are not worth buying.

 

[ScottPuss20]

My dad has subscribed to Wheels for about 12 years, and the collection is absolutely huge

 

[Pupik]

Car magazines are great for places with no internet connections, those with aversions to battery-powered devices, or if you need to swat flies while you read, but that's about it. I say this with a bit of sadness and nostalgia, because it's been an important touchstone to a larger world, a library of information throughout my life, helped form many opinions and the basis of a way-too-much data in my brain. It probably sealed a career path and other side interests that follow me forever.

I religiously used to read Car & Driver and Road & Track for about 25 years, but I've just stopped in the past few years due to a somewhat declining quality of writing and a lack of content in recent years. They've become a bit too close to their advertisers' wishes to include fluffy non-automotive content; it's just within the boundaries of gushing about a particular model or brand.

In the past 2-3 years, I've just stopped caring about a motoring press that skips over road tests for actual cars for SUVs that I have very limited interest in, despite being in various dealerships all year long. Likewise, I really don't care that much about obscure foreign-market models that I'll likely never come into contact with...there's no use, and if I really need to know, there's Google.

Still, it's not like Jalopnik or AutoBlog's writings is any better. While they're a daily online publication with the ability to stay current, sometimes they're mired in their own little ignorant world. And short of long-term tests and real-world ownership, the press can only tell you so much about a vehicle after a three-day press junket.

 

[TexRex]

I still read magazines in the "library" because if I've got a computer/device with me, I invariably end up posting on a forum. People probably wouldn't have a clue where I am--it's not like talking on the phone and having soft grunts echo over the line--but I still can't bring myself to do it.

 

[Driving Park]

I dunno...I still find lots of value in car magazines. Although I read Jalopnik, Autoblog, etc. daily, it's always a good day when my Road & Track comes in the mail. Seems odd coming from someone up technology creek without a paddle, but there it is. For me it's not about the information, it's about cracking open a new issue and pouring over the pages. Call me old fashioned.

I used to subscribe to Motor Trend, but their writing style changed from exactly what I wanted to exactly nothing I wanted, so I cut it. Road & Track's writing has declined overall as well, in my opinion, but I still enjoy many of the issues so it's worth it to me.

I share the Euro mag sentiment...if they were more reasonably priced I'd have multiple subscriptions from magazines across the pond.

 

[CodeRedR51]

They're good reading material when you are sitting in the doctors office waiting room.

 

[daan]

I have 2 car magazines on subscription. I get Evo though the Zinio app, and I get Motorsport magazine through the post but I also have access to it through their app.

I don't read either of them for the news, but there are great articles in both, and the photography in Evo is stunning. I usually take a couple of screenshots from each issue to use as the background on my tablet.

 

[Blitz24]

I used to get Car and Driver and Road and Track until they just billed me for a new subscription without notification. Used to get AutoWeek too. Now I just get Motor Trend and Automobile and it's a good thing to read on weekends.

 

[Ibonibo]

Dsport if you are into Japanese cars. Plus they have very good 101 articles (suspension, engine parts, chassis,...). I mainly bought it because of these articles. Where else, or what magazine has 10 pages of very detailed info on, for exemple, engine bearings, valve trains....

It's my only subscription I have.

I pay 120 a year, but as it is imported from the US.... might be worth checking

 

[ilikewaffles11]

My dad is subscribed to a ton of magazines, and I'd say some of the best ones are the Hemmings magazines. They have all different ones, but I always liked the Sports & Exotics.

Like other people said, the stuff in AutoWeek, Road & Track, and Car & Driver aren't anything you can't find online, and it seems like Road & Track is mostly just consisted of advertisements nowadays anyway.