Unhappy
Re: re-cycled articles. To a certain extent I agree with the earlier
correspondents disappointed with your recycling of articles, though both from
earlier AutoSpeed editions and from other sources. To illustrate this point
let’s look at the articles available in the 10 days to the 2nd Feb 07.
Two (20%) are the regular editorials, though I note that Response only
includes 3 letters this week, 4 the previous week, down from the 15 and 11 of
issues 409 and 413 respectively (though this could be entirely due to lack of
feedback).
We print the vast majority of readers’ letters but unlike some magazines, we
don’t make up ones when people haven’t written.
Two (20%) are revisits to the Negative Boost story covered previously,
the only change being a new test mule.
That’s simply not true. The second series measured cross-sectional areas
throughout the intake system, which the first series did not. The second series
took into account negative pressures associated with surface airflow over the
body of the car, which the first series did not. The second series made greater
changes to the intake system than the first series – and needed to, as the
Falcon’s intake was as standard much more efficient than the Audi intake. The
second series made use of factory parts from other models, which the first
series did not. Finally, the second series dyno-proved the power increase, which
the first series did not.
In fact we’re very proud of the new series. (1) To reduce total intake system
pressure drop by 40 per cent on a car that already had a very efficient intake
system was an excellent result, especially when (2) no special techniques were
employed, (3) anyone could replicate the results for very little money, (4)
factory air filtration standards were maintained and (5) low intake air temps
were maintained.
Three (30%) are word for word repeats from prior issues, which whilst
interesting reads in their own right aren't new - not even an added editorial
comment. The Merc EFI conversion for instance is (IMO) far less applicable
to most of us now than it was 9 years ago when first
published.
Perhaps less relevant – but certainly still relevant. In fact, right now,
we’re thinking of doing something similar to a car with mechanical
injection.
One (10%) is a word for word repeat of a story published elsewhere on a
topic that many motoring enthusiasts would have already been familiar via
various emails and internet sites that ran the story last year. It could
(at least until recently) be read in its entirety for free at
www.ricardo.com/rQ/rQlatest_article.pdf.
The story is clearly credited to Ricardo. Our reader rating of the story was
particularly high – so (1) most of our readers hadn’t seen it before, (2) most
readers enjoyed it a lot. We’re very pleased that we were able to run that - and
the previous story - on the JCB diesel world record breaker.
One (10%) is a continuation of the Diesel series, which appears to be at
least 60% word for word from a BMW technical report, though no attribution is
given.
The story was based primarily on research of Bosch material. If the BMW
report is "60 per cent word for word", we’d like to see it. In fact, although
you don’t mention it, the story was first published in
Silicon Chip
magazine, when Julian Edgar was a contributor to that publication. However, the
vast majority of AutoSpeed readers would not have seen it, and very good reader
ratings show it was widely enjoyed. It’s also part of the content thrust that
we’re making into diesel and hybrid powered cars.
One (10%) is a new car review, that even the author stated was completed
though having the car for less time than usual. Did this affect the
quality of the finished work? If it didn't, why mention
it?
The story was termed a ‘quick test’ because we thought it important that
readers be aware that the car was had for a less than usual period. Would you
rather we hadn’t told you? Or would you rather the test didn’t appear at all?
The choice was between no test or a 2 day drive test.
Conclusion - excluding Response (given it is for the most part reader's
comments) and including Driving Emotion, only 2 articles (or 20%) of the last
ten articles contained genuinely new journalistic content or editorial
opinion.
As with all consumer choices, you can vote with your money. If you are
unhappy with the content, don’t renew your subscription!
50% of the articles were 'reprints' of prior AutoSpeed works, reprints of
works published by others (attributed) or reprints of works seemingly published
by others (BMW/Bosch) though not attributed.
We do not agree that those articles were "reprints of works seemingly
published by others (BMW/Bosch) though not attributed".
This 'reprinted' figure is actually 70% if (like me) you consider the
Negative Boost series to be a simple re-write with a new test mule, adding no
new processes, principles or outcomes.
That statement about the Negative Boost series is simply not true. One
wonders if you actually even read it.
Your comment in the most recent Response that "These stats show that
the repeat articles are very popular with external readers – they help bring new
readers to AutoSpeed." also shows that your focus is clearly on selling
old articles to those that haven't read them yet, rather than creating the new,
interesting and up to date articles that AutoSpeed has been built
upon.
Huh? Repeat articles are free access....
I commend you on the quality of the new articles produced by your team,
however it is getting harder and harder to find them lately.
PS. On
a slightly different topic, with your focus on new readers to Autospeed it is
surprising that there was no mention of the Christmas hiatus in the Driving
Emotion immediately prior to the break. Though I have been a reader for
many years now I still went looking for articles during the
break.
We do not usually make a specific mention of a forthcoming Christmas break.
As a reader for many years, we’re surprised you aren’t aware of
that.
PPS. In the Negative Boost Part 5 the dyno run clearly shows a
considerably leaner mixture (0.5-1:1) in the 'after’ runs. Was this
explained at all by the ChipTorque crew?
Andrew Vandreike
Australia
I Can Hear Voices....
Subscriber: What an excellent idea!! Congratulations, can't wait for the
next one
AS: One what?
Subscriber: I was wondering when you were going to take the plunge. With all
that stills experience, it would be easy.
AS: Stills experience, easy, what are you on about?
Subscriber: I'm congratulating you on deciding to take the next step for an
online magazine, especially one that does excellent DIY, into the obvious
inclusion of video into the online articles.
AS: Whoa, we haven't done that
Subscriber: Oh yes you have
AS: Oh no we haven’t
Subscriber : What about
Response 416?
AS: Well that was just...
Subscriber: Oh no the cat's well and truly bolted over the spilled
milk.
AS: Hey?
Subscriber: Another nail in the coffin of paper publication I'd say. Now when
you describe a tricky procedure or need to demonstrate a particular technique
you can just toss in a small piece of vision and everybody gets it straight
away. Brillant idea.
AS: Now wait up.
Subscriber: Gotta go, looking forward to the next video instalment. See
ya
AS: What?? How?? ...Oh Well... Hey anybody know about video
compression...
Simon Briggs
Australia
Where it can really add a lot we will think about doing it more
often...
The Six Series
I read your
BMW 6-Series article and it reminded me why I loved that car so - my favourite. However, I owned a 1985 635CSi
in the U.S. so they were imported at least until then. My friend owned a
1988 M6, the last of the M6 Series cars imported into the U.S. I believe
the last of the 635CSis were in '89.
Lawrence Newman
Canada
Check the Dates
Re: BMW 6-Series article. You may wish to check the production dates. I think
you will find that 1983 was when the 635 CSi was released. Production went
through until 1988 or 1989.
Blair Coull
Australia
Thanks – model cessation date corrected.
Why Not MegaSquirt?
Re the Back to the Future article: why not use a MegaSquirt ECU???
It's far cheaper, easier to program, uses GM (Holden) sensors, and much more
capable. It's also an OPEN design, so you're not locked into a shop that
can only tune a specific type of OEM computer. The end user can tune it himself
if he so desires.
Check it out:
http://www.megasquirt.info
http://ww.megamanual.com
http://msefi.com
http://msextra.com
Dave Andruczyk
United States
Invention
Now that we as car drivers, consumers, etc have 'mucked up' our world so
much that we are now getting concerned. Maybe this is a time to examine my
invention. It is an opportunity for motorists to repay some of the greenhouse
gases we motorists keep chugging out. My invention is entirely green, the only
one of its kind in the world, and works. Please take a peak at
www.carmagic.com.au
Charles
Australia
Wrong Vote
Just a quick note to let you know that, as a reflex action, I clicked on the
"2" at the bottom of your BMW 6-series article in an attempt to go to page
2. I then realised I had voted the article as 2 out of 5. I wonder if your
votes might be skewed towards the "2" value by others doing the same as it's
almost second nature on the net to click to the next page at the bottom of the
current page....or am I the only idiot out here?
Anthony Meegan
Australia
We receive relatively few '2' votes so it is not something many people
do.
Grading the GTR
Regarding
Grading the GT-R
republished in issue 408, I think a few things have changed since this article
was published 6 years ago. When I was looking for my GTR at the end of last
year, 70% of the R32s had engine rebuilds or required engine rebuilds or were on
their last legs (ie poor compression in one or more cylinders). And most
gearboxes were very sloppy around 3rd gear. These cars have really suffered with
the extra 6 years of thrashing, and if someone was to buy the wrong car, they
could be up for significant repair bills. General estimates are in the order of
$8k for a RB26DETT rebuild. Not something you'd like to do when the car is
costing somewhere around $20k. Also, alternative options have changed. You won’t
find an STi for between $20-30K with factory warranty. You can find mostly
hammered ones with noticeable gearbox wear.
Apart from that it's still a
great article and stood the test of time. Do you still receive hate mail over
that article?
PS here is a shot of my stock-ish R32.
http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/pade/gtras.jpg
Andrew Pade
Australia
Most of the negatives about our views on R32 GTRs are in forums. Here’s a
good one:
http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=141358&hl=
When a Diesel?
Great articles on diesel engine management. Now.....when are you
going to buy one and start modifying it?? Been waiting for you to do this
for a very long time and surely very interesting, given potential performance
yet spectacular economy.
Peter Bodon
Australia
Not any time soon. Old Japanese grey market diesel imports (eg Corolla
diesel) are slow and run mechanical injection. Old Mercedes diesels are also
slow and use mechanical injection. First decent turbo diesel cars with
electronic injection (eg Peugeot 406) hold their value very well unless they
have astronomical kilometres on them. For similar dollars we’d rather drive a
Prius.
|