The great Indian Auto Mag war. - Team-BHP

Rtech · 1st September 2005, 11:20

The plethora of new auto magazine launches in the past few months has really rattled the market and left all of us wondering which magazine to buy, which to subcribe too and which to glance through at the book shop without putting your money down for it!

I'm sure we would all like to buy copies of all the dfferent mags, but storage space, cost or a combination of both force us to make a choice.

So, as the newcomers are now into their second month of sale, and the dust is beginning to settle down, lets see where you put your money.

The poll is for which magazine/s you will subscribe to.

P.s. This is a multiple option poll in which you can choose as many options as you like.

artofzen · 1st September 2005, 11:29

AutoCar and TopGear -subscribe

BSMotoring i will happily buy every month.

And AutoCar UK every week from British Library.

shuvc · 1st September 2005, 11:48

try to resist the urge to subscribe to any one particular mag .. gives me the option to choose the one(s) from my local vendor , depending on the contents ..

Rtech · 1st September 2005, 11:58

My choice:

Subscription:
ACI: For their local content which is unmatched so far, and I like the partnership with F1 racing as well as the latest with T.W.O., a bike mag. That was the one thing lacking in the old ACI - their limited motorcycle coverage.

Top Gear: I like the reporting style and their international coverage.

One-off buys or bookshop reads:
CAR India: If something catches my eye.

BIKE India: as above. But their quality (both paper as well as picture) and content really has to improve if they plan to survive in this market.

BSM: I like the way they test the exotic bikes & cars in India, but thats about it.

GTO · 1st September 2005, 12:11

My take:

Autocarindia : Did you see their new layout? Its absolutely FANTASTIC! In addition, some of the articles from this months issue (Like the Old Fiat versus Ambassador etc.) make for splendid reading. For sheer quality on the Indian motoring scene...nothing beats the Autocar

BSMotoring : Gotta love that bunch of undiplomatic petrolheads and their car-guy kinda language

Top Gear : Purely for the international content. Great reading.

Car India : I am yet testing the waters with this one. I am not too fond of Adils style with his constant use of "She" when referring to cars and adopting "PS" instead of "BHP".

GTO

tsk1979 · 1st September 2005, 12:13

Top gear and Car have great quality of paper etc., but when i compare the sept Autocar with Top Gear, top gear falls flat on its face. Even the car magazine does not fare any better. This is india, and i want to have road tests of indian cars. I am more insterested in dicor than some VW frog. BS motoring is also much better than both the foreign mags.
But being an Auto buff now my monthly magazine purchase is
Autocar, BSM, Overdrive, Car and Top Gear. My earlier list of 3 mags has gone up to 5. Not sure wether i will buy the Car and Top Gear next month though.

tsk1979 · 1st September 2005, 12:14

BSM writing style is too good. The RS vs Audi TT article in sept BSM is simply too good. I doubt any other mag, even autocar can come even close to their sense of humour and their crazy ideas

sridhar24 · 1st September 2005, 13:22

For me its ACI, they are very professional and for the overall content they provide nothing beats them. Top gear is the magazine which i would buy purely for the international content.

hell_rider · 1st September 2005, 14:36

i think its got to be Top Gear for me. loved the inaugral issue, the pics and the general content.

i wouldn't pay for BS Motoring. no matter how well qualified and knowledgeable the columnists, I find I cannot trust the words of auto/bike enthusiasts who decide the Bike of The Year Award should go to a 125cc "cruiser". How disgusting can that be? Also inconsistencies in their reporting depending on the situation and the marque being discussed.

Also mags devote too much to F1. I love F1. Follow every race. but i don't buy an auto mag for to follow a sport. I buy it to gain some new knowledge and insights into automobile technology and engineering.

Sadly this is an area where almost all cars mags really fail to deliver. auto building techniques, engine tuning techniques, old auto restoration techniques and so on and so forth.

but yes, i will be subscribing to Top Gear.

sanket12 · 1st September 2005, 14:51

bought both the issues of car & the inaugral issue of top gear ... definately will not suscribe till they increase the local (indian) news road tests etc..etc..

Insane Devil · 1st September 2005, 15:45

i have been receiving AUTOCAR since past 3 years, and its definately the BEST car mag in india! now that the CAR mag has come out, Autocar might have some competition! picked up the 1st issue of CAR last month, liked it, but found that its more focused on Cars outside India. well, slowly they will setin good, i believe. so yea, now on will buy the CAR also for a couple of months then maybe i will subscribe for it.

ritik123 · 1st September 2005, 16:33

Autocar is got to be the best amongst the lot. CAR is nothing but copy / paste from overdrive. and Adils style of writing is s&*t. Top gear tests of Indian cars in the 1st issue didnt impress me much. Neither did the photography.

I will subscribe to none...but am most likely to pik Autocar when i go to a shop.

raja_ys · 1st September 2005, 17:14

overdrive is the only magzine that gives us a near close fuel efficiency of cars whereas auto car is totaly vague

Abhay · 1st September 2005, 17:17

None.
I sometimes buy BSM and read their site as well as Autocar..

bhp · 1st September 2005, 17:38

autocarindia and topgear
i have already subscribed for topgear (indian) .

View Poll Results: Which magazine will you subscribe to this year?
Autocar India	188	69.12%
BS Motoring	52	19.12%
BIKE India	9	3.31%
CAR India	22	8.09%
Top Gear	68	25.00%
Overdrive	68	25.00%
Indian Auto	7	2.57%
Any other (Please name)	6	2.21%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 272. You may not vote on this poll

1st September 2005, 11:20	#1 (permalink)
Rtech Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,982 View My Garage	The great Indian Auto Mag war. The plethora of new auto magazine launches in the past few months has really rattled the market and left all of us wondering which magazine to buy, which to subcribe too and which to glance through at the book shop without putting your money down for it! I'm sure we would all like to buy copies of all the dfferent mags, but storage space, cost or a combination of both force us to make a choice. So, as the newcomers are now into their second month of sale, and the dust is beginning to settle down, lets see where you put your money. The poll is for which magazine/s you will subscribe to. P.s. This is a multiple option poll in which you can choose as many options as you like. __________________ He who makes the loudest noise usually has the least to say. Unfortunately they don't realise that and keep at it! ____ Last edited by Rtech : 1st September 2005 at 11:24.

1st September 2005, 11:29	#2 (permalink)
artofzen BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: VOCI-LHR Posts: 438 View My Garage	AutoCar and TopGear -subscribe BSMotoring i will happily buy every month. And AutoCar UK every week from British Library. __________________ Corum..

1st September 2005, 11:48	#3 (permalink)
shuvc Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kolkata Posts: 1,716 View My Garage	try to resist the urge to subscribe to any one particular mag .. gives me the option to choose the one(s) from my local vendor , depending on the contents .. __________________ PIGZILNKILJBSCOMB

1st September 2005, 11:58	#4 (permalink)
Rtech Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,982 View My Garage	My choice: Subscription: ACI: For their local content which is unmatched so far, and I like the partnership with F1 racing as well as the latest with T.W.O., a bike mag. That was the one thing lacking in the old ACI - their limited motorcycle coverage. Top Gear: I like the reporting style and their international coverage. One-off buys or bookshop reads: CAR India: If something catches my eye. BIKE India: as above. But their quality (both paper as well as picture) and content really has to improve if they plan to survive in this market. BSM: I like the way they test the exotic bikes & cars in India, but thats about it. __________________ He who makes the loudest noise usually has the least to say. Unfortunately they don't realise that and keep at it! ____

1st September 2005, 12:11	#5 (permalink)
GTO Super-Admin Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 12,554 View My Garage	My take: Autocarindia : Did you see their new layout? Its absolutely FANTASTIC! In addition, some of the articles from this months issue (Like the Old Fiat versus Ambassador etc.) make for splendid reading. For sheer quality on the Indian motoring scene...nothing beats the Autocar BSMotoring : Gotta love that bunch of undiplomatic petrolheads and their car-guy kinda language Top Gear : Purely for the international content. Great reading. Car India : I am yet testing the waters with this one. I am not too fond of Adils style with his constant use of "She" when referring to cars and adopting "PS" instead of "BHP". GTO __________________ GTO Change the way you think, and watch the world change around you. Please don't PM for support. Use the Contact Form instead. Please read the NEW Team-BHP FAQ section for all your queries.

1st September 2005, 12:13	#6 (permalink)
tsk1979 Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Noida, New Delhi Posts: 8,520 View My Garage	Top gear and Car have great quality of paper etc., but when i compare the sept Autocar with Top Gear, top gear falls flat on its face. Even the car magazine does not fare any better. This is india, and i want to have road tests of indian cars. I am more insterested in dicor than some VW frog. BS motoring is also much better than both the foreign mags. But being an Auto buff now my monthly magazine purchase is Autocar, BSM, Overdrive, Car and Top Gear. My earlier list of 3 mags has gone up to 5. Not sure wether i will buy the Car and Top Gear next month though. __________________ Reclaiming.....!

1st September 2005, 12:14	#7 (permalink)
tsk1979 Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Noida, New Delhi Posts: 8,520 View My Garage	BSM writing style is too good. The RS vs Audi TT article in sept BSM is simply too good. I doubt any other mag, even autocar can come even close to their sense of humour and their crazy ideas __________________ Reclaiming.....!

1st September 2005, 13:22	#8 (permalink)
sridhar24 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 848 View My Garage	For me its ACI, they are very professional and for the overall content they provide nothing beats them. Top gear is the magazine which i would buy purely for the international content. __________________ Don't limit your CHALLENGES, challenge your LIMITS!

1st September 2005, 14:36	#9 (permalink)
hell_rider BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 433	i think its got to be Top Gear for me. loved the inaugral issue, the pics and the general content. i wouldn't pay for BS Motoring. no matter how well qualified and knowledgeable the columnists, I find I cannot trust the words of auto/bike enthusiasts who decide the Bike of The Year Award should go to a 125cc "cruiser". How disgusting can that be? Also inconsistencies in their reporting depending on the situation and the marque being discussed. Also mags devote too much to F1. I love F1. Follow every race. but i don't buy an auto mag for to follow a sport. I buy it to gain some new knowledge and insights into automobile technology and engineering. Sadly this is an area where almost all cars mags really fail to deliver. auto building techniques, engine tuning techniques, old auto restoration techniques and so on and so forth. but yes, i will be subscribing to Top Gear. __________________ For all your days prepare And meet them ever alike When you are the anvil bear, When you are the hammer, strike.

1st September 2005, 14:51	#10 (permalink)
sanket12 BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: satara Posts: 167	bought both the issues of car & the inaugral issue of top gear ... definately will not suscribe till they increase the local (indian) news road tests etc..etc.. __________________ push it to the limit

1st September 2005, 15:45	#11 (permalink)
Insane Devil BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 798 View My Garage	i have been receiving AUTOCAR since past 3 years, and its definately the BEST car mag in india! now that the CAR mag has come out, Autocar might have some competition! picked up the 1st issue of CAR last month, liked it, but found that its more focused on Cars outside India. well, slowly they will setin good, i believe. so yea, now on will buy the CAR also for a couple of months then maybe i will subscribe for it.

1st September 2005, 16:33	#12 (permalink)
ritik123 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United States Posts: 122	Autocar is got to be the best amongst the lot. CAR is nothing but copy / paste from overdrive. and Adils style of writing is s&*t. Top gear tests of Indian cars in the 1st issue didnt impress me much. Neither did the photography. I will subscribe to none...but am most likely to pik Autocar when i go to a shop. __________________ It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.

1st September 2005, 17:14	#13 (permalink)
raja_ys BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: hyderabad Posts: 69	overdrive is the only magzine that gives us a near close fuel efficiency of cars whereas auto car is totaly vague

1st September 2005, 17:17	#14 (permalink)
Abhay BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 425 View My Garage	None. I sometimes buy BSM and read their site as well as Autocar..

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1st September 2005, 17:38	#15 (permalink)
bhp BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: lokhandwala mumbai Posts: 617 View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (5)	autocarindia and topgear i have already subscribed for topgear (indian) . __________________ 05 suzi baleno 07 city vtec 08 swift DDIS Live Life in the Fast Lane "vvvrrrooooommmmmmmm"