Daimo B
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Registered: 20th Mar 00
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quote:
Originally posted by Ian
quote:
Originally posted by VXR
no-where near the amount of adverts (which creates big money, again, about the money)
Not if your average reader age is less than that required to drive a car, and therefore buying an advert doesn't actually generate you any business.
No but the companies have to pay the magazine to put the advert in there, so the company (publishers) will still be making a huge amount from it...
Isn't it like £5k+ for a page advert in max (prices are old, could have gone up or down).
Max Power won't care if the adverts are drawing in the companies money, there will always be another car company who can fill the advert space should another business go bust.
Look at PVD, now covered by loads of other VX tuners. TV don't care if they go bust, as long as they companies are putting the adverts in and making the magazine money.
Its all about money and profit, look how many things Max Have their name on these days. Seat covers, wheels, shows, air filters, books, its recently been all over Kiss100 (big london radio station)...
All about the money, not about the cars, and thats what makes a good magazine. the cars, not the money.
[Edited on 06-11-2006 by VXR]
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Toby
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Nov 05
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quote:
Originally posted by Max ed
Now I know many of you feel let down by Max and it is for that reason that I wanted to talk to you.
Last cover said CORSA CRUSHER, this not a corsa website??
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alli Ronald
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Registered: 20th Aug 04
Location: Glasgow
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Hello, just thought i'd throw my 2p in since im probably the fairly typical ex-reader...
1) loose the soft core porn...
2) drop the chav image...
3) increase technical knowledge
as a kid (16 or so) I was buying it to see Supra's / Skylines and stuff I could only dream of, nowadays- clio 1.2 with 50% of the countries fibreglass hanging off it... oh and a "max power" of 20raging ponies....maybe that appeals to some but like i said, most of the folk who made your magazine grow - have grown up, maybe its time Max P did too.
last but not least, good luck, you seem to actually want to hear some opinions so fair play to you,
[Edited on 06-11-2006 by alli Ronald]
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Marc
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Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: York
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You need to totally change the look of the magazine, at the moment it looks like a ned survival manual. I don't mean go for the mundane look of Car magazine as you still want to show that you are catering for cars and more importantly owners that want their cars to be individual. I wouldn't shy way from kitted cars too much as some can actually look quite tasteful and I imagine these kind of reviews cater for a large amount of your readers. As you have probably gathered though, most enthusiasts would rather read about subtle cars where all the attention has been paid to the engine bay. A fairly standard looking car with a bit of go is a lot more appealing than a car that is in your face but has as much grunt as a lawn mower. How you can have a 2-4 page spread reviewing a cruise I don't know! The emphasis should be on track days, motoring events et al. Step by step guides on fitting tuning guides would be a lot better than how to stick some tat on your car too!
I havn't read your magazine for nearly 5 years.
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nova_gteuk
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Registered: 15th May 02
Location: South Wales Drives: The Bandwagon
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I used to love max power when i was 14-18,i first bought it when they had the big yellow max power stickers and fido dido stickers where the in thing lol
But i havent bought if for years now,to many girls with their kit off and to many advert's for my likeing.
The magazine is meant to be for car modifying enthuisast's but to be honest there aint as much informative stuff about motors in there for the price.
Plus now im older and now realise that bodykit's neons etc are shit,not much point buying it.
I buy total vauxhall thesse days,much prefer this to fast car,max power etc...
[Edited on 06-11-2006 by nova_gteuk]
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Haimsey
Premium Member
Registered: 8th May 05
Location: Nottingham Drives: Corsa B
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i used to read Max Power when i was like 15-16 but i havnt brought or even read it since joining CS because the help and content of CS is much better than that shown in Max Power IMO.
As for other mags, TV is good  id much rather read that than Max Power as TV contains alot less crap
Marcy Marc 
White Sport Progress Thread
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shane2corsa
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Registered: 4th Sep 05
Location: Nettleham, Lincolnshire
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hi, i used to like max power but as people have already said, when i was 14/15, im now 20 and more interested in keeping my car mint, making it faster, lighter, handle better etc etc.
no disrespect but i think max power focuses too much on 'add-ons' rather than how to seriously improve your car.
i buy total vauxhall now, i like the guides and decent advice in it and obviously i own a vauxhall so thats why i buy it, but dont get me wrong i like to look at whats going on with other manufacturers!
A freind of mine recently brought in some issues of max power from up to 10, maybe more years ago, and i noticed the styles of modyfying have changed loads since then. I think that could also be blamed for Max power being described as 'chavvy' as thats the way things have gone 
Thats my views
Shane
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Welsh Dan
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Registered: 23rd Mar 00
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TBH, I think Max Power is past saving now.
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SAL
Premium Member
Registered: 19th Dec 05
Location: Radlett, Hertfordshire
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agreed ^
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Matt H
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Registered: 11th Sep 01
Location: South Yorkshire
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Hi Simon, would just like to say that Im quite impressed with how open to suggestion you are being. Its the first time in a long time that I've seen a magazine asking its target readers what they'd like to see. Hats off to you 
First of all I think people are going slightly over the top with how bad the magazine has gotten? Im not a regular reader any more, but I do have a flick through occasionally just to see whats inside. Never once have I seen Max claiming that air filters give 20bhp, nor have I seen a feature on a cheap car with the cheapest bodykit available thrown on.
I know you're new but don't be afraid to point people out if they seem to be exagerating the truth!
Mat G's idea of having 2 magazines was one that also popped into my head but Im not sure how well that would work. Potentially it could build a rivalry between the 2 mags & some of the younger & more impressionable readers of the current style mag might start to do silly things. Its highly unlikely but you never know.
I think the magazine needs to stop trying to be noticed so much. Walk into any car spares shop & head straight for the bolt-on-crap section. Which is the most prominent brand on display?
Taking into account how cars look once these have been fitted, is that really an image you want your magazine to have?
If you don't endorse these products then you won't be associated with them.
Max Power is a big enough brand name now that it could survive without funds or advertising from these tacky items. A change of logo would also possibly be a step in the right direction to distancing yourself from the products that have the current MP branding.
What kind of response have you had from the other sites you've posted on? Generally the same as on here?
By the looks of it most people on here want the mag to go back to how it used to be a few years ago. There wasn't a set criteria back then, if a car looked good it could get a feature. There wasn't a need to put wheels on a car that were so big that they made the car look stupid, now days people get turned down for features because the wheels aren't big enough (Eg - Sam Fears Corsa: He had 16's & was told to get at least 17's for a feature)
To me that just doesn't make any sense whatsoever.
Also I think its time Max struck back in its own Barryboys style against cars that look bad.
It doesn't have to be as childish & offensive as what Barryboys is but even a "What we miss about the modding scene" and have a different item each week. The wheels example is one you could use, another could be "going to a cruise & not seeing neons tubes hanging from a car" or "bonnets without fake vents"
Also if you attend a cruise make more of a point to photograph some of the retro/classic/not so modern styled cars that catch your eye. Give them a bigger picture in the report & mention them in the write up.
Thats off the top of my head, Im sure with a little more thought it could work. The point Im trying to make is that you could point out what is wrong with the modding scene (otherwise known as Max Powers image) without being too offensive to people who might not have realised how cars were before all this glittsy glamour crap thats everywhere today.
In terms of the women in the magazine its fairly simple - less of them would improve the image.
Max Power is the biggest modded car magazine in the country. If I had all the magazines offering me a feature (highly unlikely   ), I'd choose them. With a turnaround of the mags image I think it could get even bigger & have a more ideal fan base than randy teenage boys & car park "kroozers"
All of this is just based on how it was the last time I looked at it. (It may have changed since?) If you want to send me a recent copy/future copy I don't mind having a flick through it so you could get a some more accurate feedback. Might be an idea to do this with a few of the clubs?
Matt
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Ojc
Member
Registered: 14th Nov 00
Location: Reading: Drives : Clio 197
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Matt H
Also if you attend a cruise make more of a point to photograph some of the retro/classic/not so modern styled cars that catch your eye. Give them a bigger picture in the report & mention them in the write up.
Thats exactly what they need to do, indicate that lots of fibreglass is not the way forward, and neither is ram raiding Halfords.
Thanks
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Steve
Premium Member
Registered: 30th Mar 02
Location: Worcestershire Drives: Defender
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quote:
Originally posted by Matt H
Never once have I seen Max claiming that air filters give 20bhp, nor have I seen a feature on a cheap car with the cheapest bodykit available thrown on.
no really, i have, lots of times
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EarlofBarnet
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Registered: 26th Mar 04
Location: West Cumbria
User status: Offline
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What puts me off about Max Power is the fact that every car thats in there has had £20-£30k spent on it, that realistically 99.9% of its readers couldn't afford to spend in a million years. The fact that most of these cars are either funded by 'mummy & daddy' or loans/credit cars puts me off further.
How about some real modified cars that don't have 1/2 tonne of fibreglass stuck on them and have been sent to a bodyshop for £20ks worth of work and nothing has been done by the owner.
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StuartVRS
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Registered: 9th Feb 03
Location: Bromley Common, Greater London
User status: Offline
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May i also suggest that all these freebies you give away like neon tyre flashing thingiemabobs get cut out. Im sure the money you spend on getting these sent out could be put to much better use on more interesting features. They only end up on scooters anyway, or people foolish enough to have them on their car end up having them stolen by chavs. If you want to give things away, negotiate with a big car part supplier and distribute vouchers in your magazine for 10% off if you spend £100 etc etc. The range of cars you show in the mag needs to vary more. Id personally rather see a mix of cars, whether it be power, kitted or old school cars.
The other bit as mentioned previously is any rich muppet can hand their car over with 20k and tell them to modify it, id like to see more features on people who teach themselves how to do it, do the work themselves as thats what makes a car individual. People on here have taken classes on spraying, welding etc etc so they can do the work themselves and it makes it just that little bit more special.
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Marc
Member
Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: York
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Steve
quote:
Originally posted by Matt H
Never once have I seen Max claiming that air filters give 20bhpon.
no really, i have, lots of times
I have too.
Also, why print the bullshit power figures the featured owners tell you? Surely you know a totally made up power figure when you see one.
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drax
Member
Registered: 5th Feb 05
Location: Sittingbourne, Kent
User status: Offline
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STOP FEATURING / PROMOTING CARS THAT LOOK LIKE THIS
Then you might be on the right path to setting things straight.
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Max ed
you want the design and writing to grow up, have less slutty women, have more how to and useful stuff, more variety
Yes, bit like a mag called Max Power, in 1994.
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woodwardsbodyshop
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 22nd Feb 06
Location: widnes, cheshire, uk
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to improve the mag there is 2 things i can say, feature more euro/subtle styled cars and get icy on board for pics
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Matt H
Member
Registered: 11th Sep 01
Location: South Yorkshire
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Yeah sack that Fly fella & employ Icy
If you don't have anything sensible to say keep out of the conversation
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woodwardsbodyshop
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 22nd Feb 06
Location: widnes, cheshire, uk
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quote:
Originally posted by StuartA3Turbo
The other bit as mentioned previously is any rich muppet can hand their car over with 20k and tell them to modify it, id like to see more features on people who teach themselves how to do it, do the work themselves as thats what makes a car individual. People on here have taken classes on spraying, welding etc etc so they can do the work themselves and it makes it just that little bit more special.
also i tottally agree about that, i'll always give someone respect if they've done the work themselves, i'll even give them respect for trying, as said before anyone can hand a car and credit card over to a garage
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woodwardsbodyshop
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 22nd Feb 06
Location: widnes, cheshire, uk
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Matt H
Yeah sack that Fly fella & employ Icy
If you don't have anything sensible to say keep out of the conversation
wtf? i haven't read max power for about 3 years, if they featured alot more euro styled cars then i might be persuaded to have a look
[Edited on 06-11-2006 by woodwardsbodyshop]
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mav
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Registered: 19th Jun 01
Location: Scotland
User status: Offline
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I haven't read it for years either...
All the above points I agree with about the content...
As a note from me at the moment I would be embarrassed to walk with MP under my arm out a shop, that tells you alot I think about what ppl now want from the magazine..
Good on you for wanting to change though
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Max ed
Member
Registered: 3rd Nov 06
User status: Offline
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Many of you have made very valid points and the exciting thing is the mag we want to create should go some way to addressing every one of those concerns: more variety in the types of car we feature, no more gift tat, a bigger pool of better writers and photographers, better design, more subtle cars, much more usefulness...and that is just the beginning. It is the so called 'lapsed readers' i.e - most of you guys and girls that Max should be created for and that is why I want to listen to you. We all need to work together to keep this scene vibrant and a good magazine should be central to all of it. Thanks for taking the time to let me know your opinions guys and please keep me up to date with your thoughts. The Xmas issue is out on Nov 22 and I'd be interested to get your view on a few of the cars and features in there. We are testing a couple of things in Xmas and Jan so let me know if there is anything you like/dislike.
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Steve
Premium Member
Registered: 30th Mar 02
Location: Worcestershire Drives: Defender
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i think a name change is in order too, max power trying to act sensible just wouldnt work
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Daimo B
Member
Registered: 20th Mar 00
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Send me a free copy and i'll give some feedback quoting page numbers and artical text context......
I cannot justify nearly £5 on a book of adverts, especially this month
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