Recently, our austere Managing Editor, Mark Stevenson, asked what TTAC means to you. This is an important question, for many reasons, the most important of which may be this: every automotive blog/website has an audience, but TTAC may be the only site where the audience has such an active role in “steering the ship,” as it were.
I’ve been here for nearly five of these fifteen years as a contributor, with over 200 posts to my (dis)credit, and for considerably longer as a reader. And while you can find my writing elsewhere on occasion, TTAC is, without question, my home. I was quite pleased to see that many of you said that “Bark” was one of the things you wanted more of (well, not all of you), so I’ll do my best to live up to your high expectations.
Henry Ford once said that if he had asked people what they wanted, they would have wanted a faster horse. Well, we’re beating the holy hell out of this horse, trying to get it to giddyup. Here’s what I’ve learned about TTAC, myself, and the B&B in the process.
Honesty is the best thing we’ve got going for us.
Nearly everybody said that they wanted more reviews. Believe me when I tell you that writing reviews is my least favorite thing in the whole world to do, especially if the review is the result of a press event. Everybody’s reviews hit at exactly the same moment (as soon as the embargo lifts), and finding something unique to say about the car can be difficult. Every person gets exactly the same OEM-approved experience in the car, on carefully crafted drive routes.
That’s why I love Rental Reviews. I don’t get a press kit. I don’t get a branded hat and water bottle. There’s no drive route. No excuses about “pre-production” cars. I just pay my money and take my chances. I understand that some of you object to the fact that I don’t follow any sort of review format on Rental Reviews, but I like it that way.
And while it’s true that I’ve probably skewed slightly more negative than positive on reviews, I want to make sure that we remember that honesty goes both ways. I don’t mind reviews that fawn all over cars — if they deserve it. But if a car gets praise from me, you can guarantee that it’s good. It’s like the difference between your mom telling you that you’re great at football and your old-school, tough-as-nails coach congratulating you on making a great play.
So I’ll keep getting my hands on cars any way that I can, and I’ll keep telling you the truth about them — even if they’ve got a Ford badge.
Everybody says no politics, but…
I get it, I really do. You come here for a bit of an escape from the real world, and that includes not having to read about the latest political scandals. However, there’s an inescapable link between politics and the auto industry. The very nature of the current climate suggests that there’s a war coming against the right to drive (excellently articulated here by friend of TTAC, Alex Roy). There’s a big government/small government discussion to be had about the role of the new administration when it comes to Ford/GM/FCA.
What I find to be somewhat reprehensible is the shadow influence over automotive journalism as a whole. Go search some of your favorite autowriters on Twitter, and see how many of them are in full-on crisis meltdown mode over the election right now. I don’t have to tell you who they are — you’ll see for yourself. I’m honest about the fact that I’m a traditional Reagan Republican, and that influences my opinions occasionally. I want higher speed limits, more American-made cars (and yes, I know neither my FiST nor FoRS are Born in the USA), and a rollback of CAFE. These are discussions that we can and should be having, and I think we can do it without calling each other names. Don’t you?
To those of you who asked for more performance driving articles:
You’re in the minority, to say the least. Our trackday reports rarely perform well, and we don’t have the budget to cover professional motorsports to any degree. Contrary to recent accusations, I’m not terribly concerned about the number of clicks any of my posts get — I know when I’ve written something good and when I’ve written something that misses the mark. However, nothing I’ve ever written about performance driving or track events has ever done well. So I’ll make you a deal — I’ll write about performance driving tips and trackday experiences if you promise to read them. My experience probably more closely aligns with yours than some of the other hot shoe driver/writers out there. While I’m an above-average autocrosser and time-trialer, and I can set a fast lap in a car that I’m comfortable with, I’m still very much learning how to race, and it’s all been trial by fire. If that sort of thing interests you, let me know.
Come on, let’s hear it for the fiction.
If you’re relatively new to TTAC, you might not know that we used to run a series called “Sunday Stories.” I loved them. Jack wrote some brilliant things. Thomas Kreutzer penned a tale or two that still stick with me. And, of course, I thought some of mine were pretty good, too. If you wouldn’t mind kicking back and reading a story or two on Sundays rather than re-reading the Friday news items, let us know. (I’m fighting an uphill battle here, guys.)
Maybe I’m biased but…
Earlier this year, at the New York International Auto Show, one of the producers of a popular automotive television show told me that “TTAC has the best and most loyal readership anywhere.” I tend to agree. I know that not all of you love me, but I love all of you. Rest assured that every time I sit down to type out my thoughts on car buying, dealerships, or anything at all, I have you in mind. I’ve met a few of you in person, and I hope to meet many more, but there are literally hundreds of thousands of readers that I’ll never have the pleasure to meet. Doesn’t matter. I still owe you my best, because you’re honoring me with your choice to click on my name. We don’t have to agree on much of anything at all, and maybe it’s best that we don’t. After all, if you only read things that you agree with, how do you know when it’s time to change your opinion?
So to those of you who said you wanted more from me, thank you. For those of you who didn’t, I’ll be doing my best to win you over soon. Stick around, would you? We’ve got great things coming.
Somebody need they own old man pants!
Politics…in the sense of what impact policy has on the automotive world is one thing. But tossing every Trump supporter as a right-wing nut/Clinton supporter as a left-wing nut has no place here.
And yes, I’m 100000% for more American-made cars. I’m not convinced that globalization is a wagon I want to hitch onto. I’d rather see my friends, neighbors and family at work, with money (as much as possible) staying here, versus going to countries that are neither friend nor ally to us. So there’s that, I suppose.
Keep up the good work! Can’t please everybody…but y’all sure are trying to be the best site out there for “behind the curtain” views of the automotive landscape.
I’m for American-made cars, and I wish Ford would bring Fusion/MKZ production back, but I do understand their reasoning of building lower-margin vehicles in a cheaper labor country. I would rather them be built in Mexico than China.
I would love to see a dedicated Lincoln factory of modular design that could build all of their models in the US, including some for export. This would encourage Ford to progress further in distancing Lincoln and making it truly premium. My wish list includes a car above the Continental, RWD, a true high-end luxury car and crossover based on it.
I have listed all the Ford products built in the US before, and I was unaware that Fusion was relegated back to Mexico and MKZ was not assembled in Flat Rock as I had believed. However, there are still plenty of cars built by not only Ford, but GM and FCA as well as the transplants in the US. Some are exported as well.
We rejoice when Toyota builds a US factory, but if Japan acted the way some Americans do, they wouldn’t be here. Its the same with any transplant.
A lot of US-built vehicles (and other products) are sold in Mexico. A lot of automakers besides the U.S. 3 build lower-end cars in Mexico. It would be foolish to provoke a trade war with our neighbors. If anything, we should help Mexico get control of the violent cartels and mutually benefit from our relationship with each other.
I’m torn on immigration, because I want anyone with ambition to have the chance to succeed, unless their ambition is of a criminal or harmful nature of course.
Someone who will do manual labor most US teenagers and young men turn up their noses at to better their lives and of those they love, I have a hard time saying no.
There is no easy answer on a lot of things.
I know I’ve said it befoe, but…
I’m not exactly happy Trump is our president, but I am still happy it isn’t Clinton.
“Back?” Fusion/Milan/MKZ were built in Hermosillo from the start. It was only because of capacity issues (which no longer exist) that some lower-trim Fusions were made in Flat Rock for a couple of years.
I think the whole ‘tossing every supporter as a nut’ thing extends far beyond the borders of TTAC. Every 4 years one half of the American population is completely wrong about just about everything, and then there’s three years when you can (more or less) keep a civil conversation among eachothers.
^excellent point.
Re: fiction.
I liked your stuff and I liked Thomas’s stuff. I did not really care for Jack’s work though. The best fiction was Crabspirits but I get that circumstances make it so that he won’t be a regular contributor.
If it stays on Sunday and it doesn’t “count” as one of your weekly things then I’d be fine with it coming back.
Ajla,
I’m with you, my preference is Bark.
Jack is unreliable and a narcissist.
Hey Jack where’s my fncking Texas Edition badge?
MAYBE THE DINGO ATE IT
“Re: fiction.”
In my not entirely humble opinion, Tom Kreutzer’s “Ride of a Lifetime” linked here and Jack’s “Concours d’Angst” are probably the two best pieces of writing on this site (though each achieved this highest honor in very different ways.) Useful consumer advice and industry news are great, but being shocked into thoughtfulness proffers a different level of value.
Thanks, I’m touched.
I do leadership for a living and I know to focus and organization. Whether he intended to or not, Jack’s focus was on creating a friendly, open place with a lot of different experiences. I think he was pushed that way after his predecessor pushed so many people away from the site. he had to get people to come back and try again, and fiction was a part of that. I think it added a great deal to the site and having it appear on Sundays was, I think, akin to the way the New York Times steps away the usual things they do during the week to offer special Sunday sections. they are so good at it, some of us only subscribe to the Sunday edition.
Mark’s focus is different. I think he came in with the idea of building a solid website that could deliver news and opinion. That meant a lot of the softer stuff needed to go. I think he looked at those sorts of things, and the web analytics might back him up on this, as added weight and he was concerned that the “fat” would limit the amount of “muscle.”
The problem is, as any good cook can tell you, fat is flavor. I think the site has lost much of its flavor and, to be honest, don’t really feel like there is a place for me here any longer. I don’t write for a living, I write for fun and when the fun went away I chose to go as well.
I’ve read the article about “improving” the site with some interest but haven’t contributed to them because, as a former contributor, I haven’t felt like its my place but here is my honest opinion” TTAC has become a leaner and a meaner place. There is less contact to engage me, a non-industry insider, and voices in the community are more strident than they used to be. Also, I’m not seeing new readers. The only people the site is serving now are the old diehards and the people who come into the site for a specific reason via a hotlink. You can’t build a site by reducing its content.
Tom, you’ve taken a poignant perspective as you’re wont to do, which speaks to broader points you’ve made. You are, again in my opinion, one of the most valuable people who’ve ever contributed to this site because of the depth of what you say.
The Matsusaka ribeye vs. skinless chicken breast comparison is easy to make but holds true. TTAC should never be an Autoblog, and for good reason. Sources which serve simplicity will usually find a broader audience than those which serve to pickier tastes, but the latter will probably be devoured with a more purposeful ferocity, and I suspect the economic results would reflect this if the readers’ personal inferences were perfectly accounted for.
(Unfortunately VerticalScope’s godawful advertising tact precludes me, and I suspect many others, from providing this in earnest. Without strong ad-blockers I’m not able to use this website.)
I don’t really want to insult anyone, but I do think there’s been a push towards a lower quality of basic reportage. For example, Cameron Aubernon, despite her lack of a drivers’ license, was able to produce perfectly neutral, well-researched, and usefully substantive news on the automotive industry, which contrasts with the often cringe-worthy and simplistic post-Gawker half-snark we get now.
I guess I’m a die-hard, having arrived at the transition from Farago to Niedermier, and I’ve made some significant financial and social commitments based on what’s been written here. I don’t know what the current leadership is going for, maybe this direction appeals strongly to an audience that I’m not aware of. I know my opinion is worth little, but it’s as if they’re caught between halfheartedly attempting controversy, and trying to appeal to those who aren’t looking for such.
Right on, Kreutzer! I am an old school western WA f**k myself and a car geek. I think we are roughly the same age. Moved away after the crowds came and have not moved back. Thanks for contributing to TTAC. I still have some of your articles saved especially that one about dragging on the road to Boeing. Old times and old Sno-county! Thanks, man!
Keep it up Bark. Always enjoy your writing even when I don’t agree with you.
For me, road tests are TTAC’s most valuable service. Even carefully structured press events can be useful if you let us know how hard you were (or weren’t) allowed to push the car.
Politics are important insofar as they affect driving and ownership. It’s difficult to impossible to get around restrictions (e.g. low speed limits) imposed by government.
I enjoy articles about motorsports in which TTAC personnel were participants. However, they don’t mean as much to me as articles about road tests and governmental activity.
Some of the fiction has been fun to read but, overall, it’s the least important.
I’m all for the Sunday Stories – I liked the fictional stories (as long as they’re clearly marked). Also, have you guys extended an invitation to CrabSpirits to do more writing?
“Everybody says no politics” but I said more politics. What the heck, do I not even throw a shadow around here?
Fiction, yes. Even if it is just reruns of CrabSpirits greatest hits.
Rental reviews, owner reviews and borrowed car reviews, yes. No to manufacturer sponsored reviews.
Performance driving, no. Just JB ego stroking exercises. Not interested
As for increasing the number of American made automobiles. What the heck about Canada??????? We have lost far more production than the USA. And TTAC is after all Canadian owned.
Sorry, but your argument about politics isn’t cutting it. If Curbside Classic can operate blissfully free from political talk (which is one reason I visit that website about 10 times more than yours) you can do it too. I want to read about cars, not puerile nonsense about phony conspiracies (like the so-called War on Driving) or hear Jack Baruth calling abortion legalized murder. Progressives like cars, too; why are you trying to drive us away?
I think we can all handle a little political diversity in our lives. I would hope that merely reading an opinion that’s contrary to your own wouldn’t “drive you away.”
lol I don’t know if you can call CC “politics free” – GM Deadly Sins have often delved into the political climates of their time and how manufacturers have responded. And then their was that one post with a vintage photo from the 1970s. Someone called the shirtless guy working on his car a DILF and all heck broke loose…
I agree with the “Why are you trying to drive us away?” sentiment, and I hope the EIC is listening.
With regard to “Go search some of your favorite autowriters on Twitter, and see how many of them are in full-on crisis meltdown mode over the election right now” etc.: I don’t participate in Twitter, and I think this is a healthy thing. Nor do I have “favorite auto writers.”
Nor do I care to hear that you are a Reaganite. For all I care, you can fly into DCA each week and kiss the feet of the frickin’ Reagan statue. But if you have arguments to make in favor of (for example) rolling back CAFE standards, convince me on the merits!
“I agree with the “Why are you trying to drive us away?” sentiment, and I hope the EIC is listening.”
He is.
I agree that “political diversity” is needed especially between elections. I value contrary opinions because they make me reassess my own.
The contributors to this site have individual personalities that define who they are and what they drive as well as how they write. I’m not going to trust an opinion on a vehicle or anything else if I don’t trust the writer. If I understand the writer’s point of view I can respect that despite the fact that I might not agree with it.
“I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends
A chance to share old memories and play our songs again
When i got to the garden party, they all knew my name
No one recognized me, i didn’t look the same
But it’s all right now, i learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourself.”
I don’t want unrecognizable authors with generic content. I’m not usually a fan of fiction since life as they say is usually stranger.
I don’t feel driven away in the slightest by contrary opinions. What is striking when this site turns political is how much less informed the discussion becomes. I know that everybody feels like an expert about politics. But for someone who has been involved in the sausage maker at a personal level, discussion of politics on a car site just comes across as wildly uninformed. By contrast, both the writers and the commentariat really do know cars well, and the contrast is really jarring.
“wildly uninformed”
Spoken like a true Marxist commie-fascist Nazi socialist!
“What is striking when this site turns political is how much less informed the discussion becomes.”
That makes the discussion much more important.
We filter everything through emotion. Anyone claiming to being completely logical does not understand how the human brain works. Just because we do not personally understand how the human brain works does not mean that we should stop thinking or feeling. Same applies to politics.
Curbside Classic deals very little with today’s auto industry and the environment it operates in. Political things relevant to the industry absolutely belong here, so long as it stays away from thinly-veiled advocacy for or against a particular candidate or party.
I didnt know how much I’ve missed the fiction until now. As for politics, as long as it’s linked to cars, or done in a way like Jacks Trumps Volkswagen piece (which was honestly not really a political piece, but rather an invitation to be creative) I’m OK with it, but you have to expect the B&B to attack eachother in the comments.
As for motorsport coverage, I don’t really care, but I like the ones that read almost like a drivers ed course, and shouldn’t TTAC get their own Lemons car or something? (or borrow something from ‘Roadkill’, which is the only motortrend show I can be bothered to follow.)
Here here for the rental car reviews. I might even right one if I can get enough of my real work off my desk.
My favorite Rental Car Reviews are when Jack takes one and does things manufactures never intended (like flogging it around whichever track he’s visiting that weekend) or praising the handling of a Chrysler Town and Country. The other great Rental Reviews are when the reviewer/vehicle match is just WRONG like when Murilee was given an Escalade.
Popular Warlord Magazine!
“when Murilee was given an Escalade”
I want to see someone give Bark a Ridgeline.
I want to see someone give ME a Ridgeline ;)
Politics has and will always be linked to industry. Especially a heavily regulated industry like the auto industry. So we must pass judgement.
I don’t care where anything is manufactured. To me living in a country and only buying product from that country is nonsense. Why settle for less and maybe paying more at times. I’m not suggesting to buy “foreign” all the time if a product can be had that is locally manufactured and is truly competitive.
But it is sad when a locally made product is artificially supported to make it attractive. Someone has to pay for this.
Just because you don’t care does not mean others don’t. But, there is no room for that in your logic.
Am I to assume you are perfectly fine with all automobile assembly being shut down in Australia?
Your insinuation that the US artificially supports its full size trucks doesn’t pan out. Competitors are built here, they don’t put a dent in their sales. Are you saying a full size truck made in Japan would succeed if not for the chicken tax? Japanese cars are successful and a great many of them are designed for, and built, right here, just like their big pickups. The difference is, their trucks simply don’t compete with ours, especially when you look at higher than half-ton requirements. Nissan is at least trying there, even though it isn’t a 3/4 ton. I believe the Big 3 once called a truck like the XD a “heavy half(-ton)”.
So long as their is demand, American full size trucks will continue to evolve and be a sensible choice for a great many Americans. Sorry if you wish it wasn’t so.
“Your insinuation that the US artificially supports its full size trucks doesn’t pan out. Competitors are built here, they don’t put a dent in their sales.”
I think his point of view is that more-or-less requiring foreign competitors to build and run plants here in order to avoid a very stiff tariff constitutes protectionism.
Which is not unreasonable.
Speaking of press events, wasn’t there supposed to be a VW Alltrack launch event article? I don’t think I’ve seen that yet for some reason, maybe I missed it.
I did enjoy Sunday Stories, forgot about those.
I also enjoy the rental reviews, especially Jack’s 2013 Sentra review where the fuel door release broke. You’re not going to get that kind of experience with a press event car.
“Speaking of press events, wasn’t there supposed to be a VW Alltrack launch event article? I don’t think I’ve seen that yet for some reason, maybe I missed it.”
You haven’t missed it. I’ve just been swamped.
MOAR fiction and performance driving articles, please. I’ll commit to reading them, emailing them to family and friends, and clicking on them from multiple devices many times over.
I generally like Bark’s posts, even when I disagree with them. Many fascinating insights, and generally robust comment section discussions. It really helped getting all the background info about his experience and knowledge of the auto industry to help put his opinions into perspective. I do think both the Baruth bros are master trolls who know exactly what they’re doing when they get folks riled up… sometimes that’s fun, sometimes it’s annoying. I can live with that. My only two cents would be to maintain a thick skin; critiques like those provided by [name redacted] are of interest to all of us, even when delivered in non-tactful ways. Jack is a master at humorously deflecting criticism (even when said criticism is valid), but I feel like Bark gets a little butthurt.
I don’t think I get butthurt (not my favorite word, to begin with), but I will absolutely take your two cents to heart.
The term “butthurt” is so tacky it hurts.
Thanks Asdf, I’ll be sure to run my comments by you next time. Wouldn’t want you getting hurt.
I’m told that the “butthurt” goes away once you relax and get used to it ;)
Dingleberry….+1
@Bark re: I’ve met a few of you, I’d like to meet more…….This
I have often thought about this. I’d love a meet and greet with the TTAC writers and the B&B. It could probably be done without much planning at a car show or a big auction like Barrett Jackson Scottsdale. Maybe once a year at rotating sites…..Southwest one year, then East, then Midwest, then South. Even if we only got 10-20 guys the first year it would be a hoot.
I’d love to meet Deadweight and give him a ride in my “Hotrod DTS”.
How have legislation and politics affected cars? Sure.
How proposed legislation or changes to regulations may affect future cars? Sure.
How proposed or past trade practices have affected the production or design of cars? Sure.
None of that has anything to do with “I voted for X” or “I believe in candidate Y” in general. There’s no useful information from that remark, *except* in the form of: “Candidate X/Party Y’s proposed/past policies have or may have affected cars thusly”.
As a non-American, I care a great big honking deal how US policy decisions, regulations, or other similar decisions may have affected vehicles because those decisions affect most every vehicle market around the world (that sells US vehicles) as a result. That doesn’t mean I care one whit what an author believes unless that belief ties specifically and narrowly to how their chosen candidate/politician/party has or will affect specific car policy or regulation.
My $.02(CDN)
We think very similarly.
Is Stephen Abootman still president up there, buddy?
Nah, Justine Turdeau now. She’s nice.
“Justine”.. “She’s”?
What’s the subtext there? The Pride Parade thing?
There is a quite a bit of subtext in “Justine”.
Like what? I know nothing about Trudeau.
Mark,
After appropriate changes I see my avatar now gets fetched. Thanks.
The subtext is that most Americans would be gullible enough to believe our “president” is named “Justine Turdeau”.
I was born and raised here in southern Ontario. I’ve visited every province , and worked with people from every corner of Canada. Not once in my life have ever heard, anyone pronounce about …aboot .
actually, neither have I. I was making a South Park reference.
the way I *have* heard it is closer to (but not exactly) “aboat.”
I think the “no politics” means wanting to avoid politics that really aren’t germane to the car industry or car owners. Sure we want to hear if CAFE standards or other regulations might be amended. I suspect most don’t want to hear it when it goes outside those bounds.
For instance, I doubt anyone here wants me to try to engage you on your Reagan Republican comment to try to find out how much of your views are based on what Reagan actually did (and attempted to do) while in office vs. the weird revisionist history some are pushing these days (e.g. claiming he never compromised).
Maybe its age, or maybe it’s the fact that many current cars are worse drivers cars than the generations that proceeded them for the first time in decades…. but I really love articles about all the ins and outs of selling cars more than talk of the cars themselves. Be it sales analysis, inventory, production, or the ins and outs of the retail side. It’s a really fascinating business and your experience with dealerships is very valuable to me. I wish you would do more articles about that life.
Noted—I have enough dealership stories for years of content :)
+1 for more tales from the sales side of the business. Very few TTAC readers race their cars, but all of us have to buy and sell them. How that side of the industry works is always interesting, especially tales from a consultant that sees the good, bad, and ugly on the dealership side.
As a bonus these articles are not only entertaining but make me a better consumer.
Yes, yes, more inside dealership stories. Having spent 15 years working for dealers, I can’t get enough of these. I have some doozies that I wouldn’t even write on these pages as they are so outrageous.
+ Infinity and beyond ! .
.
I too am ex Dealer/used car lot/junk yard / Service Station so the stories are always fun to read .
Educational too ! I learn *so* much from the comments, sometimes by ‘ reading between the lines’ .
-Nate
+1 for being an old car guy that has thankfully transitioned out of the dealership space*, and is working on the corporate side of things. I always look forward to hearing stories from the guys and gals that have been in other trenches across the country.
*Let’s be honest, you never truly leave the car business.
“I’m honest about the fact that I’m a traditional Reagan Republican…”
And I’m honest about the fact that I was a Reagan Democrat (in 1984, anyway).
Strange but true. Far as I’m concerned, you vote for the better man, and sometimes the better man doesn’t agree with you politically.
Just wish that had been true in this election…if so, I’d have been happy to deprive Hillary Clinton of my vote. Just don’t tell my kids.
You write good stuff, Bark. Keep it comin’.
FreedMike – wellllll, technically you’d have no choice but vote for Trump if better “man” was the criteria :o
Well, all I got out of this is that some people disagree with “Bark”.
Been a regular TTAC reader since the Farago days. This site has remained my go-to for truly interesting automotive news, editorials and articles. I’ve been happy with the diversity of articles and opinions that have been coming through lately, and glad to have the writers and leadership that this site does!
Same here. I find the mix of stuff interesting. I know which articles to avoid.
More inside the world of car selling and how dealership work would be great.
I’m a semi-track rat (and part time instructor) so I love those articles of course, but I understand that is more niche material. However I try to encourage people to get on the track because it really reveals what your vehicle is all about. For example the first time I heard my Z understeers I laughed it off because based on street driving you would never know it. However after a few track days I got it, the oversteering is totally user induced as the car itself is actual pretty neutral to slight understeer at the limits. More people should experience what its like to really push those limits (in a safe and controlled environment) to learn this kind of stuff and become more familiar with their ride.
I _LOVE_ the diversity ! . lots of things I don’t know and/or don’t understand, it’s good to expand one’s and and world view .
.
I miss the Sunday Fiction greatly .
.
I don’t care about the racing apart from enjoying good writing no matter what it’s about so don’t stop that either .
.
In a nutshell :
.
You’re all ignorant trolls ! change everything ! .
.
You’re the sharpest knives in the drawer ~ don’t change a thing ! .
.
Pick one and carry on please .
.
-Nate
We asked for your opinion and here are a couple of things that stood out.
REAL CAR REVIEWS: Real objective car reviews are a lot of work and we don’t feel like it. Instead we’re going to do “rental reviews” and such. With these, we can throw our checklists away and produce subjective and, more importantly, out of context experience opinions. We’ll call them reviews, because we’re experts.
NO POLITICS: We like getting people riled up and politics do that. Because politics can be associated with any aspect of society, we’ll claim an association with the automotive industry as an excuse. F-Trump, or Hillary, or whatever!!
But we really do love our readers, so thanks for the feedback!
I really enjoy the rental reviews! Rental reviews are exactly what TTAC is all about. Thank you for what you do.
I enjoy Bark’s posts and Jack’s posts. I just wish the Ford bias wasn’t so apparent at times, but hey, we all have our bias in all aspects of life, so no worries.
liking something you don’t is not “bias.”
It’s better for someone to write openly, honestly, and from their point of view rather than try and pretend to be so morally superior as to be free of bias. No one is free of bias and that is a good thing.
Some auto related content I do miss is the edmunds.com “suspension walk around” articles. Also, I enjoy watching savagegeese on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/savagegeese
It’s great to get under the cars and read/learn about what’s there.
I still think TTAC is the best automotive site on the web. So much so I don’t bother with any other save Curbside Classic.
By choice I have a quite narrow range of auto interests and don’t read a lot of the articles and fiction and racing doesn’t appeal to me at all. I do latch on to real-world reviews of vehicles that peak my interest.
I guess my only peeve on here is the unnecessary use of profanity. “Adult” language to me means speaking and writing in an intelligent manner and thinking of correct words to use rather than resorting to lowest common denominator words that are used simply as adjectives to seem cool or merely to shock.
One final peeve: Please stop using that go-to photo of the VW factory!
I enjoy reading all of your articles. While not as fun as your brothers they are still a good, informative read. Unfortunately your politics suck. My retirement was scheduled to commence next year after working my ass off for 50 years. Now it looks like those plans will be ruined if your boy lets Paul Ryan have his way. Thank you.
TTAC is quickly become my online home away from home, largely because of articles from Bark and Jack. I’ll slow down my scrolling when I see their names, and will more than likely read the article.
I’m for the proposed changes, and hopefully will see them being implemented in the near future. As an longtime industry insider, I’ll try to contribute as much as I can.
Photo – A major?