I just got the newest issue yesterday, and let me tell you it is the best one I've seen in awhile! Every article was interesting! With any magazine, you get good issues and bad issues, usually because a certain one will not have articles that have much about the stuff you are particularly into, this one had me turning pages.
Awhile back, GRM had a pole about what readers would like to see more or less of in the mag. I'm thinking that they may be implementing things from my list, because I was reading through it and liking everything I saw.
Good job GRM!! I hope it is not a fluke.
Chris Rummel
I second that. I've only perused through it so far but every article looks amazing. Keep up the good work GRM.
I haven't had a chance to peruse mine because the missus has been hogging it.
If she's interested it MUST be good.
kreb
SuperDork
9/21/12 10:35 a.m.
x3 on the kudos. I got more "hard core" and less "lifestyle"
Good issue indeed.
Admittedly, my reaction to the UTCC article was "meh, corvette...(flip page)...meh, mustang...(flip page)...meh, honda...(flip page)... holy e36m3, is that an LTD?! NICE!"
Matt B
Dork
9/21/12 11:57 a.m.
I was just thinking the same thing this morning while reading in my usual place. Let's just call it "the office".
I almost felt like it was written with myself in mind when it had fwd suspension setup and MR2 Spyder articles back-to-back (makes perfect sense right?). Not to mention the 911 buyers guide aimed at the financial "sweet spot" market. I've been scheming on getting an SC for 10 years plus.
Damn good job guys.
JohnInKansas wrote:
Good issue indeed.
Admittedly, my reaction to the UTCC article was "meh, corvette...(flip page)...meh, mustang...(flip page)...meh, honda...(flip page)... holy e36m3, is that an LTD?! NICE!"
Actually, it was interesting that the UTCC was won by a relatively stock vehicle rather than a purpose-built prototype or tube-frame racer.
Stop giving away all the surprises, willya?
I'm still waiting for my issue, guess some underpaid postal service workers need to read it first .
Yeah, I only have two problems.
One, that graphic on the cover of the circular sticker peeling up a bit is driving me nuts. I keep trying to flatten it out.
The other is in the Skyline article, there are two pictures of the interior right next to each other and they're very obviously different cars (one is right-hand drive, the other is left-hand drive). So what's the story on the other car?
Other than that, I think this is the best issue to date. I really liked the way you distilled the typical two challenge articles down to a single one.
ReverendDexter wrote:
Yeah, I only have two problems.
One, that graphic on the cover of the circular sticker peeling up a bit is driving me nuts. I keep trying to flatten it out.
The other is in the Skyline article, there are two pictures of the interior right next to each other and they're very obviously different cars (one is right-hand drive, the other is left-hand drive). So what's the story on the other car?
Other than that, I think this is the best issue to date. I really liked the way you distilled the typical two challenge articles down to a single one.
This thread will explain the Skyline issue.
As for the fake stickers, Alan hates those, too. We listen to him on pretty much everything except that.
jg
Thanks guys. We are listening and still working hard for you.
The fake stickers worked beautifully in my opinion.
I was chuckling all through the 911 article, though. "Here's how to buy a good one (get an expert), how to test drive (get an expert) and here's how we got our good one (which then needed an extensive and expensive engine rebuild despite an expert)". Knowing the future of that car helps temper my enthusiasm for the 911.
So here's a thought - is UTCC basically Can-Am?
The 911 experience has been fun and, yes, having an expert definitely helps. A few things that help temper that:
The Porsche shop I use here in town has reasonable labor rates--I want to say about $80/hour. Keith, what do you guys charge?
Our car has pretty much doubled in value since we bought it.
It's a 911.
By the way, thanks for all the kind words about the issue. We have a great team.
Our shop rate is more than $80/hour, but you don't ship your car to us because of cheap shop rates.
The new engine would certainly help resale values, and you guys bought that car at the right time for sure. How much would that new engine cost a civilian, out of interest's sake? Is the car's appreciation keeping ahead of that big bill? I'm guessing yes.
There was a 1988 (?) 911 for sale in town around the time we bought the E39 M5. It was on the lot for a long time, as this isn't a 911 town. From an appreciation standpoint, the 911 would have been a better choice.
I'm looking forward to digging into that FWD article, it looks like a really good one.
Yeah, appreciation outpaced the engine work. The final engine bill wasn't bad, either. If we didn't do the heads, then it really wouldn't have been bad--gaskets and seals, mostly. The heads ($1800-ish total) were the big-ticket items.
Basically, this hasn't been as frightful as people would expect. Yes, there's a learning curve, but that's part of the fun. And you get to drive a 911.
I loved the article on how to make a simple bracket. I would love to see more like this. The only reason I still have a Hot Rod subscription is for their tech articles.
VonSmallhausen wrote:
I loved the article on how to make a simple bracket. I would love to see more like this. The only reason I still have a Hot Rod subscription is for their tech articles.
Cool, glad you enjoyed that one. Thanks for the feedback. Quite simply, Carl rocks and we have more stuff like that planned.
Knurled
SuperDork
9/22/12 6:22 p.m.
Keith Tanner wrote:
I'm looking forward to digging into that FWD article, it looks like a really good one.
I found enough technically incorrect things in it (weight transfer is apparently due to body lean, and stiffer sway bars reduce it!) that I threw the magazine in disgust.
I will admit that the magazine throws a lot nicer than the older ones.
Oh man, really? I haven't looked at it yet, I shall this weekend.
For cables and hoses, the "Lucido Bracket" works as well as any real one.
Take a piece of fuel tubing, 1/4" ID or so, and no more than an inch long. Extend a zip-tie through it, around the cable, and back through the tubing. Secure to any convenient location and pull the zip-tie tight. Voila! Vibration-isolated and easily removable.