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iGav

macrumors G3
Original poster
Mar 9, 2002
9,025
1
This has the potential to be really rather good, founded by the (brilliant) Monkey (Chris Harris, ex-Autocar) and Richard Meaden (Co-founder EVO magazine).

Drivers Republic said:
What's different?

We believe that it is driving that unites us, whether that’s in sports cars or family cars, new or older models, elite brands or the more accessible. In the years to come we may be driving electric or hybrid models, but we believe that manufacturers will still be creating models that appeal strongly to the driver.



We believe that you know more than we do about running cars – so we would like you to share your knowledge with us and the wider community, building an invaluable knowledge base that makes choosing and driving cars more enjoyable.

We understand that forums, clubs and existing communities thrive on discussion and debate. We will provide you with the insights, videos and fresh new features to enliven these debates.



We believe that many readers would like to have more say in the magazines they read than merely a mention in the letters page. We will provide a means for you to shape and influence the features we run, become involved in its creation and provide an opportunity for you to publish yourselves.

We believe that the drivers voice should be heard, listened to by manufacturers and automotive brands. We will provide a means for you to interact with these companies, be consulted on new developments and be valued.

Ultimately we wish to earn your trust, and we intend to do so by breaking down the boundaries between the conventional editorial team and our readership. To achieve this, we will need to get to know you better, learn about your aspirations and what you would like to hear more about.

So we are placing the success of Drivers Republic in your hands. The more you become involved with us, the better we can shape the experience.

Welcome to the Republic. :cool:
 
Didn't they get the memo? The era of the modern motor car is over. It's all battery operated, save you from yourself automated, dull as pants from here on in. Bugger.

:p
 
Been live for over a month hasn't it? Personally I found the "magazine" bit really difficult to read. What's the point in trying to replicate a glossy magazine on screen: it's a different media. Play to the strengths of being on a website, don't f it all up by trying to emulate paper.

The videos are OK though...
 
The idea is horrible. I wouldn't want regular people to write about cars. Just take a look at the advice given out in the Buyers Advice forum at MR. It's just full of people passing bad advice to another person, who then believes it and passes it on to other people. I honestly think that half the posts in that forum are full of bad information. I don't personally consider myself one of those people, but I can imagine lots of pseudo-experts stating their opinion as fact, when it could have been made up on the spot.

If they made them "wiki"-style articles, where bad info can be edited by a bunch of trusted reviewers for that site, then OK.
 
Personally I found the "magazine" bit really difficult to read.

More to sirs liking now?

What's the point in trying to replicate a glossy magazine on screen: it's a different media..

That's why I stopped reading Winding Road come to think of it. :p

The videos are OK though...

Indeed... :D Particularly enjoyed the RS6 vs C63 piece, I'm surprised the RS6 doesn't step off better, had I not seen the drag they did up on the moors, I'd have been convinced the C63 was benefiting from the additional adhesion of the Silverstone asphalt, but the C63 really does takeoff... even more surprising though is that the RS6 absolutely caned it around a lap, given its weight, not entirely expected... :p

Abstract said:
The idea is horrible. I wouldn't want regular people to write about cars.

I don't know... if the people are writing about cars they actually own (or at least have driven), then their real world opinions are just as valid.

Abstract said:
It's just full of people passing bad advice to another person, who then believes it and passes it on to other people. I honestly think that half the posts in that forum are full of bad information.

You mean like here on MacRumors?

Q: I'm looking for something faster than my old Honda Civic, I'm thinking a Porsche?
A: How about a Honda Civic Si?


Q: I want to buy a classic car, what should I buy?
A: Maybe a '96 Honda Civic?


Etc, etc, etc... :rolleyes:
 
You mean like here on MacRumors?

Q: I'm looking for something faster than my old Honda Civic, I'm thinking a Porsche?
A: How about a Honda Civic Si?


Q: I want to buy a classic car, what should I buy?
A: Maybe a '96 Honda Civic?


Etc, etc, etc... :rolleyes:
The Buying Advice forum I referred to IS at MR. ;)

The articles wouldn't be any better on that website if contributed to by everyone.
 
More to sirs liking now?

Actually, scrub that... I've just realised what you were going on about.

Reminds me of a discussion I had with lecturers at my Uni, regarding the digital versions of Illuminated Manuscripts at the British Library. :p

Abstract said:
The Buying Advice forum I referred to IS at MR.

Oh, :p :p :p

Though I get the impression that on a website targeted at enthusiasts, the words Honda Civic will be seldom uttered. ;)

Abstract said:
The articles wouldn't be any better on that website if contributed to by everyone.

I think it has the potential to work really well, without such interaction from it's readers, it becomes just another generic car-mag, we'll see how it develops though.
 
Actually, you may be right. Mainly car enthusiasts will bother to write prose about a car they once drove. Sure, you'll get the silly teenagers who just want to go from 0-100 kph as fast as possible in a straight line, but I think the forum-style approach (if they have that) will straighten out the contributors who just post crap. They'll put pressure on each other to churn out something good.

Possibly. ;)
 
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