I don't normally read Car and Drivers' letters to the editor section. But the sub-head over a readers' missive caught my eye: "Is our BMW Bias Showing?" I'd just finished editing a comment accusing Justin of anti-BMW bias in his Infiniti G37 review. As a matter of policy, I delete any and all accusations of brand bias against TTAC from our comments' section. Although I recognize the importance of this issue (which a new writer will address in an editorial on Monday), these comments inevitably lead to rancor and flames. I always email the offender and invite them to discuss the issue via private email. In this regard, Car and Driver enjoys the luxury of both quarantine and unnatural selection; they publish what they like, edit it as they please and respond at will, without any chance of reprisal. So anyway, subscriber Dave Kress makes his case and asks "Were you guys born BMW biased or do you work at it?" Instead of denying the charge, it's "We work hard at it– Ed." Jim Lucas then chastises Car and Driver for not highlighting the new M3's high price. "Our job is to tell you how the car performs. Your job is to figure out what you can afford– Ed." Greg Williams upbraids C&D for inconsistencies in the mag's M3 stats. "Sounds like we've stumbled ino the Nerd City Internet Chat Room." And there I was thinking (some? most?) car dealers are the only auto biz folk who still treat their customers like shit.
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I’m a subscriber and I always wonder why they bother publishing these letters only to insult the writer. They might as well just ignore the letter and use the space to post something a bit more educational or moderately useful. The whole thing reeks of the Maxim or FHM letters section, which is totally in contradiction with a magazine that wants to be taken as seriously as C&D.
They printed about 4,000 letters admonishing the (admittedly ugly) re-design, each of which was shot down with less than stellar wit. In that sense, they emulate BMW perfectly – arrogant about their ugly designs to the bone.
C&D has, for at least as long as I’ve been reading, been less than contrite when readers have criticized them. They snipe at the readers, they belittle their writers and editors and generally act (at least in print) like an automotive frat house.
If I want something a bit more erudite, I can opt for several other car mags or websites.
I must say the witticisms were much funnier when most of them were closer in age to frat boys than frat boys’ grandfathers though.
I must be getting old.
Bridge Over Troubled Water (January 26, 1970)
Keep The Customer Satisfied (2:38)
P. Simon 1969:
Gee but it’s great to be back home
Home is where I want to be
I’ve been on the road so long my friend
And if you came along
I know you couldn’t disagree
It’s the same old story, yeah
Everywhere I go
I get slandered, libeled
I hear words I never heard in the Bible
And I’m one step ahead of the shoe shine
Two steps away from the county line
Just trying to keep my customers satisfied
Satisfied
Deputy Sheriff said to me
“Tell me what you come here for, boy
You better get your bags and flee
You’re in trouble, boy
And now you’re heading into more”
It’s the same old story
Everywhere I go
I get slandered, libeled
I hear words I never heard in the Bible
And I’m one step ahead of the shoe shine
Two steps away from the county line
Just trying to keep my customers satisfied
Satisfied
And it’s the same old story
Everywhere I go
I get slandered, libeled
I hear words I never heard in the Bible
And I’m so tired
I’m oh so tired
But I’m trying to keep my customers satisfied
Satisfied
Robert, thanks for the flashack. Back when I was a teenager, I used to have about 20 different S&G albums (my grandpa bought out a rock station’s library back in the day, he was such a progressive soul) including five unopened copies of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’.
Putting that album on the Fisher record player at 12 year old and hearing that song for the very first time… it was simply one of the most beautiful moments of my life.
Thanks!
I for one am happy that auto magazine sales are on the decline, and that most certainly includes C&D. When C&D sales and subscriptions hit rock bottom, maybe *just* maybe the writers and editors at C&D will get the message through their thick heads that it’s silly to insult the writer (reader) or make sarcastic remarks instead of actually giving proper responses. Maybe they’ll also get through their heads that people appreciate objective and thorough reviews and comparisons.
The problems that the (American) auto mags are facing are symbolic of the problems American automakers are facing. For instance, both have an inefficient corporate culture and both are too stubborn to adapt and change to modern times. In both cases, it’s an example of “too little, too late”.
The BMW Jihadists as C&D are so overt, that I’m honestly surprised that they haven’t simply done a Chris Bangle: Profiles in Genius issue yet with a life-sized fold out centerfold of him.
I’m pretty sure Jim Lucas went to his Halloween costume parties dressed as a giant iDrive knob…at least he got the “knob” part right.
I have a C&D subscription I received last year for Christmas and I’m looking forward to the coming day when it runs out. What was once an entertaining and informative rag is now just one more thing to toss into paper recycling.
What’s the point of reading car magazines anyway? Their reviews are damn near worthless and I can look at pretty car pictures online without paying a subscription fee
@f8
Not to mention, you frequently see photos online before that copy of c&d even arrives in the mail.
Robert, I don’t disagree with your general assessment of the “buff books.” But fair is fair.
You say you don’t normally read Car and Driver’s letters section. If you did, you’d know that responses to letters are intended as facetious and/or sarcastic humour. A regular reader who writes to CAD would not expect anything else.
That kind of humour is typical of CAD, which has never taken itself too seriously. That’s why, before the web, I preferred CAD to R&T or MT.
You don’t have to like CAD’s brand of humour. But treating sarcasm and facetiousness as sincerity is much akin to quoting out of context.
fishiftstick :
I was being facetious when I said I don’t normally read C&D’s letters to the editor section.
How funny is that?
Anyway, listen: I heart sarcasm. I snort sarcasm. I AM sarcasm. But I never direct my sarcasm towards my paying customers. That’s just wrong.
As a long-time C&D subscriber (Jan 08 is THE end), they have for years made jokes at the expense of the writers, and for the last few years made jokes of the “reviews”, the content of which appears to be simply re-written press release information. I got all exercised about it until I realized they were no longer in the editorial business, but were basically in the entertainment business.
For me, when I want entertainment, I read a book or rent a movie; I get my fix of informative auto opinions on TTAC…
Besides, perhaps Car and Driver have more business than they need!