Mercedes Enthusiast - Friday Afternoon Rant

[nickg]

Mercedes Enthusiast - (Not Just a) Friday Afternoon Rant

(Eventually) received the latest Merc Enthusiast yesterday.
Its got a great big feature on loads of Mercs cabrios including lots of nice stuff about SLs - all good so far.

I am, though, here to rant and so must complain about the standard of journalism generally in ME. It has never been exactly Pullitzer Prize winning stuff, but it seems to be getting worse and worse.

Don't get me wrong, I will continue to subscribe and I enjoy it for what it is.
But most of the articles seem copied straight out of MB press releases or are just endless repeats of the same thing.

More annoyingly they don't bother to mention even the most basic weak points for particular cars.
e.g. they had a big spread on sub £10K 129 SLs but failed to mention the fact that wiring looms on cars of that vintage are known to disintegrate and need replacement at a cost of several hundred pounds.
This is one example I am sure there are many more.

Worst of all is the letters page. It normally makes me cringe with embarassment (are MB owners/ME readers really that geeky?) but this month's took the biscuit. There was a letter from a Canadian gentleman who described how scary it was for him to sit as a passenger in a RHD car, because "the steering wheel was on the wrong side". Was this really worthy of publication?

Agree/Disagree?

 

[Howard]

Sounds like a crock of sh!t .......

Wrong side indeed .....

 

[glojo]

I believe most editors toe the line when reviewing new goods, be it cars, camera's hi-fi whatever. Bad reviews though will not encourage companies to come back for a second slagging. Journalists might disgree and I accept that very rarely an honest review might be printed. (Usually though when the item is just being upgraded, or replaced)

When Mercedes-Enthusiast reviews older cars then I'm with you, they owe it to the reader to give an honest review. We need to know the type of faults you have mentioned :bannana:

John

 

[Steve_Perry]

Go on Nick, write them a letter and see if you get published.

I haven't bought ME in ages, I only tended to buy it when they are special features that would have been of interest.

S.

 

[Vlad]

I tend to agree.....a lot of the articles lack substance and as far as buyers guides go they are very lacking.

I wish they would put a bit more effort into the articles and really get into the pro's and con's with specific models.

Maybe it's down to the fact that they are journalists first and car guys second and that they don't actually know that much about the good and bad points on the various MB models.

In terms of the guys who write up the articles, as I understand it, most of the guys who write for ME are freelance and I must admit I don't tend to see their work elsewhere.

However in conclusion,whilst the mag does have its weaknesses, it is the only true Merc related magazine and I will continue to buy it and read the articles with gritted teeth.

 

[stats007]

I've always taken ME articles with a pinch of salt. The opinion on MBOC is somewhat lower...

 

[del320]

I will continue to subscribe and I enjoy it for what it is.
But most of the articles seem copied straight out of MB press releases or are just endless repeats of the same thing.
Agree/Disagree?

Absolutely agree! Too much uncritical puff. The letters are like those in the free MB mag.

What really grips me are the glowing reviews of models a year or so ago, then when that model is superceded, they tell you about all the deficiencies of the old one - like they were crap in the first place. Also too many mistakes in technical info.

Still drooling over the advert for the E60AMG on p26!

 

[pluggers]

I had a subscription for 2 years and thought it was going a bit stale with the articles so this year I didn't bother renewing my subscription,Haven't missed it so far after 3 months

 

[Fady]

I got a subscription from wifey for Xmas. Better than socks and hankies....but only just! I can't see myself renewing when it expires. I agree - a general lack of substance.

 

[GRAV888]

One of the ME people is a member on here.
Lizzy?
Maff can confirm, as he's had her in the passenger seat of his car.
Maybe I should put that differently.
She did an article on Maffs' car and was a passenger

 

[neilrr]

Over to you, mercbeserk.

 

[kensalriser]

Good journalists don't need to know a subject inside out to write about it, they do their research. Obviously writing on a specialist subject requires some knowledge, but as far as (old) Mercs go there are plenty of people out there willing to share their expertise. It's just laziness.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

It is a Lazy mag, ive had bought it for years and it has got worst.


Its a case of 'Here is a new Merc, wow it does this etc etc'

Never any negative opinions on anything, its almost too biased which is a pity.

It could do with a more technical aproach with perhaps HOWTOs etc?

I would miss it if it went though...

 

[Satch]

Try writing some short articles for the poor thing.

Editors of many specialised journals are absolutely gagging for even half decent semi interesting copy which is why they tend to trot out cut & paste versions of PR guff to fill the gaps or rerun stuff printed elsewhere.

You should see some of the crap I get into print. Almost ashamed to get paid for it

 

[TKB13]

Worst of all is the letters page. It normally makes me cringe with embarassment (are MB owners/ME readers really that geeky?) but this month's took the biscuit. There was a letter from a Canadian gentleman who described how scary it was for him to sit as a passenger in a RHD car, because "the steering wheel was on the wrong side". Was this really worthy of publication?

Agree/Disagree?

Just like an Irish friend of mine holidaying in a hired car on the Continent. "B'Jezus, what a stretch to reach the steering wheel, and I could hardly reach the pedals for that bl--dy tunnel!"

 

[glojo]

Almost ashamed to get paid for it

Nearly a man of principals?

John

 

[nickg]

Glad I am not alone in my views.
Will consider my forthcoming letter when time allows.....

 

[saorbust]

Nope you aren't alone. I think its an okay mag, and Dan Trent the editor is a nice guy.

However I won't be renewing my subscription when it expires - I think the magazine is full of press cuttings, really poor articles which just seem to 'lick the backside of the MB press officer' - sorry if that sounds poor but just how many times can we read the phrase 'Truly a dream MB, The best MB, etc etc'.

They did an article on the new S600. For my money - that car has enough in it to justify an article of at least 5000 words. Or a good article with a few side notes on key areas of interest such as the electrics, or the COMAND system etc.

Key to me is that the story makes me

a; want to own the car one day
b; appreciate how much effort has been made to develop it
c; know that in operating it (ie, servicing, updates to COMAND, etc) its reliable
d; feel passionate about it.

Instead I get some old trout about a road trip. Tops. And then later in the same magazine we have 4 pages on MB's new light system (which is admitedly v good).

Have some opinion, some passion and some objective views. No one builds a great car everytime.

[/rant]

 

[grober]

Between a rock and a hard place.

The editorial guys on ME are between a rock and a hard place unfortunately. They absolutely need access to modern Mercedes models for review to stay current but dont have the advertising/ circulation clout of the big car mags to express their opinions freely. Their supply of cars to test would quickly dry up otherwise. Unless they have a death wish they cant really say things like "dont buy this mercedes , its poorly constructed, overpriced, unreliable etc etc because by INFERENCE they would be saying buying this magazine was a total waste of money! I have to agree with most of the criticisms levelled at the magazine already, and personally I would like to see some in depth service and repair or equipment upgrade articles on various models. At least this might repay reader loyalty by saving them a bit of money. At the end of the day its the only non club MERCEDES mag in the UK so I will continue to buy it from time to time if only for the adverts!

 

[ddentrec]

I got a subscription from wifey for Xmas. Better than socks and hankies....but only just! I can't see myself renewing when it expires. I agree - a general lack of substance.

Spooky..got same from my wife. I keep it in the loo along with my 'Viz Profanisaurus Rex'. I can tell you the Profanisaurus gets more interest and is recommended!!

Will not be renewing my sub, it reads too much like an advertorial for DCUK.