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Originally Posted by vigneshA is there like a post review conference again |
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Originally Posted by arakhanna Just curious, do the OEM's solicit views of the reviewers? Is there a questionnaire that the reviewers fill in post the event? |
At some, yes...at most, no.
Most marketing / PR folk know the car is already in production (no changes possible) and hence don't care about your critical appraisal of the car.
On the other hand, the more inclined technical folk (at a few events) will sit down with you and take notes on areas of improvement.
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Pricing seems to be one of the key aspects in our market. Are rough figures brandished and are the OEM's interested in feedback on the same.
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Pricing, yep. There have been drives where the pricing wasn't decided yet, and feedback was taken on what we think the right price points are.
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like parts falling off etc.
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If you spot a part falling off, a software bug, a rough edge...the answer is consistent = Pre production prototype
. It greatly annoys me when I see the same (unsorted) problem in an initial ownership report here.
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Also is there a great deal of interaction with other reviewers leading to exchange of opinions
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There's really no time for a great deal of interaction. Except at the dinner party where you anyway spend most of your time getting additional info from the business & technical dudes, there's hardly an opportunity to socialise.
Sure, over lunch or during the airport transfers, some comments & opinions are exchanged, but they aren't excessive.
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Originally Posted by naveen.raju Do they really allow you guys to paste teambhp stickers onto the cars when you do the review? |
Yep, and we make sure to take them off before returning the car.
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Originally Posted by Indicruz A curious question though - how do Mods rotate the review responsibility? Do you guys fight with each other when you get an opportunity to review a high end performance car? |
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Originally Posted by newtonMeter Awesome insight! Just one query. How are mods selected to review which vehicle? |
As Ajmat replied, it depends on your area of core expertise (SUVs, offroading, luxury cars, mass market rides, motorcycles etc.) & availability too. As an example, Anshuman is an authority on DSGs as he's put so many kms on his Laura DSG. Check the review of the Rapid DSG out and you'll know that level of detail is possible only when there's familiarity & expertise.
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Originally Posted by Sutripta From the point of view of dessimation of technical information, which manufacturer is best? And worst? |
Rather than manufacturer, it really depends who you can get a hold of / strike an open conversation with at the event. And even at the same event, one engineer can be a lot more forthcoming than his colleague.
By now, a lot of them are familiar faces and hence, we know who we'll get the required information from.
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Originally Posted by Simhi latest model of Toyota Corolla Altis |
Sorry, somehow we just missed out on that one. Hopefully, sometime soon.
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How mature are the PR agencies with respect to negative reviews? Given that Team BHP is unbiased and articulate, it would not escape their attention.
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We don't care. As long as we know our review is accurate - whether good or bad - we're happy. Our objective is 100% accuracy, not pleasing anyone.
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Originally Posted by Vid6639 Majority of the media drives are over 2 days and it's almost weekdays. That's because for full time journos they are working and a weekend drive event is them working on a weekend! Whereas we prefer weekends so we don't have to take leave from our regular work. |
So true! I would love for every media drive to be held over the weekend only.
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Originally Posted by Funny This was a wonderful read. Thanks team.
I was wondering, has there been any instance where you guys couldn't manage to attend a press drive? |
I don't remember any new car drive that we've missed attending yet.
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Originally Posted by commonman Man,what a lot of work to do ! I really wonder, is this part of any journalism program/course? |
I think the best part about the Team-BHP Core Team is that none of us are professionally trained in journalism (we're business / engineering / IT / design / law majors). That's why we were able to start from a clean slate, bringing our own style of reporting. We also continuously improve....look at the difference between our first review (Ritz) and the latest. It's quite evolved.
What helps us come up with good reviews is simply...the love of cars.
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Originally Posted by prashanthyr Can we put in officially or widely acknowledged issues / recalls (and solutions) of the car in question along with the official review? |
It's very difficult for us to keep updating the 100+ official car reviews with new developments on recalls, feature list changes etc. etc.
What we do insist however, is that each major development gets its own new thread. That's why we encourage people to spend time researching on the forum. Put in the effort and there's not a detail you'll miss.
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Originally Posted by Sutripta What is the equation between TBhp and a) the bike manufacturers, and b) the commercial vehicle manufacturers. |
Honestly, we don't have an equation with any manufacturer, whether it's for cars, bikes or CVs. Reason being we don't have a business relation with them (as we don't accept advertising for new car models, and don't do 'sponsored advertorials' in exchange for $$$).
If the product is relevant, we want to review it for our readers. If the manufacturer offers the vehicle to us, great. If not, we'll find the car from someplace else.
That said, of course, we should get around to reviewing 2-wheelers as comprehensively as we do cars.
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When are we getting our own test equipment? (Can one hire ARAI facilities?! VRDE I'm sure is out of bounds.)
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We can definitely get a V-BOX if BHPians want those stats for each car.
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Does anyone push for factory visits?
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You bet! And we thoroughly enjoy them.
Ford Jaguar Tata Hyundai Eicher Mercedes Piaggio Quote:
Originally Posted by drmohitg One of them being how does a car maker decide as to whom to call? |
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Also there are so many different shows, national and then local, TV and print, followed by magazines and multiple internet forums. How does a car maker decide whom all to call?
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Depends entirely on the readership / viewership you have.
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How much has there attitude changed towards TBHP per se given the phenomenal growth of the forum with every year.
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Because of our independent nature & unbiased reporting, there's definitely a load of respect for our community.
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Originally Posted by humyum The best part about Team-Bhp reviews are that there is no mirch masala, no 'I have to please these manufacturers' |
Our funda is clear: The review should be as accurate & informative about the car as possible. We write reviews for BHPians...not manufacturers. BHPians have made Team-BHP what it is today.
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when you drive the car which has been reviewed makes you say 'HECK THIS IS EXACTLY HOW THE REVIEWER HAD SAID IT WAS'.
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Believe me, nothing makes my day more than to read a fresh ownership report that echoes the observations we made in our official review. I read each & every new ownership thread that goes live.
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Originally Posted by Nithesh_M This is very painful to hear. Some people never let go of their college shenanigans. |
I'll share a jewel or two with you.
At the drive of a mass market hatchback, someone chose to ask 4 - 5 questions on a souped up international version with 200+ BHP on tap. Questions about 250 kph top speed followed.
At the event of a premium car, someone persisted with questions on why it should be launched in all-electric form, or with a hydrogen fuel-cell.
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Originally Posted by Rudra Sen Now with this only one point I will continue my argument with Rush. And it will be a never ending one each time. |
Hahaha...a never-ending one, Rudra.
Thanks to you, we got this:
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Originally Posted by StarrySky In true T-BHP fashion, the thread on the process behind the official reviews is as detailed as the reviews themselves (including the smaller yet significant things)!! |
Thank you, StarrySky!
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Originally Posted by zavegur I think where it clicks for T-BHP is that at least 2 mods do the review- this makes the prose unbiased at all times. |
Very true. The presence of a 2nd Moderator is
invaluable. You'll notice that our most detailed reviews (e.g. EcoSport) were with 2 onboard. This greatly, immensely enhances the quality of the report.
Let two of us come and give us enough time with the car...I guarantee you a review like no other.
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Originally Posted by RGK Will BHPians be allowed to participate in the review if logistics are taken care by the individual? |
You know, I'd love to say yes...but it is a logistical challenge for us to orchestrate the same.
That said, we've frequently engaged BHPians to offer their perspective when they own a chief competitor: E.g. Fortuner owner Guderian for our Santa Fe review.
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Originally Posted by MunnabhaiMBBS However, if it doesn't bother you much, would you also mind sharing the data analysis and final review write-up process followed by Team-BHP mods team? |
Our style of working is very unique. Cannot share that data today, but maybe someday, you'll see an article like this on the inner workings of Team-BHP
.