Hpi Mag

[WazR32GTSt]

what's his username? get him in here!

[Tangles]

I havent bought the HPI mag since around issue 37.....

just couldnt be bothered - like all motor magazines they go a bit stale, same buildup 1 after the other

[Blitz]

what's his username? get him in here!

benhpi

[phunky_monkey]

Bring back Speed Magazine

WORD!!

Best magazine out imo, and not being biased because my car was in it

[Sydneykid]

My 20 cents worth.

I have current subscriptions to both Zoom and HPI, have had for years. I always pick up something useful from each issue. I read each issue twice, the first time is a simple read through of the articles. The second read is where I pick out particular articles and read them closely, try and absorb the details. I look at the pictures very carefully, I generally pick up something from the pictures that isn’t mentioned anywhere in the words. I guess I am what could be termed a “technical” reader, the rice stuff leaves me totally cold, ditto the stereo stuff.

So, keeping the above in mind, my beefs are;

1. I don’t think you can publish a credible magazine and at the same time sell products that are used on the cars in that magazine. You are hardly going to see a critical article on Ottomotto products. If I was an advertiser I would not like the obvious bias towards Ottomotto products in comparison to mine.

2. The car variety in HPI is a problem, there are just so many GTR’s, GTST’s and Silivias that you can have in one magazine (let alone 3). There is a limited variety of the RB and SR engine theme around. That’s why you will find them pushing other brands, the current 1JZ/2JZ engine promotion is an example of that. HPI, in particular, and Zoom are trying to get people to buy/modify cars with those engines in them.

3. The articles are getting more superficial, shiny engine, polished pipework, chrome knobs. I know it’s my particular area, but where are the articles on suspension? I really get sick of the “it’s got XYZ coil overs, so it handles like a dream” rubbish. They can afford to get into the detail a bit more than they do.

An example is the Nissan/Nimso day in Japan featured in the current HPI issue. I would have liked a look under the bonnet, suspension, brakes etc of quite a few of those cars. That article looked like it was a grab bag of glossy photos, but where was the editorial content? It’s a big once a year event, surely it was worthwhile getting their local staff writer to cover it.

4. In a similar vain, they need to tone down the what I call “fully sick” approach. Where every single modification is THE best. I know it’s a tough line to tread, if you are critical of peoples’ cars, then they won’t want them in the magazine. But it does wear a bit thin when you read that a T51 is a spot on turbo choice for a 2.5 litre road car.

5. They are aiming higher and higher in the car modifications, if a car hasn’t got 600 bhp it’s hardly likely to get a mention. Where are the cheap and easy 20 rwkw upgrade tips? They have to keep in mind that not everyone can afford to have Top Secret build them a car. More importantly they have to keep in mind that not everyone WANTS Top Secret to build them a car. They may have personally moved on from what made the magazines a hit, but they need to keep in mind what their “average” reader wants.

6. Drag racing and drifting, that’s all the competition that they talk about. There are plenty of great imports racing in Targa Events, where is the coverage of them? They only cover the cars and events that they are personally interested in. Is it because the other events are too technical for them? Or they think their readers aren’t interested? Well maybe they should ask.

7. They have a section for “Technical”, but it is getting less and less technical every issue. Martin Donnon is quite capable of writing technical stuff, but he glosses over many aspects. Is that his choice? Or is it being toned down by the editor? Personally I would like to see him set free at least once in every issue to get as deep as necessary on a technical aspect.

An example, I really liked reading the turbo compressor map explanation he wrote about 3 years ago. It would have been great if he could have continued that, write an article on the compressor maps of recently released turbos. Or simply finish the job and do an article on turbine and wastegate size selection.

Enough from me, I might complain, but I still find them the best source of local info around. It’s just that they could be so much better.

cheers

Edited August 21, 2006 by Sydneykid

[racsov500]

also, they are definately starting to move into a ricey direction. maybe that just because thats whats kool now. slap on a big shiny turbo and get a bodykit

[D-limo]

but I still find them the best source of local info around. It’s just that they could be so much better.

cheers

Yeah I still find some of the content good to read but, perhaps this could be the route of the problem. The only competion is themselves.

I would love to see some bosuzoku action!! Abeit in the form of a meeting or even a feature on one of the cleaner cars.

To me the perfect example of this was the absolute joke of a DVD that came with the latest edition. I couldn't believe how bad it was. I don't think you could look any more amateur if you tried!! The old HPI would never have let that be attached to their mag.

This is what tipped me over the edge, after watching that vid something had to be done lol. I know it's easy to critisise, but this new direction the magazine is taking seems to be aimed at a different group, rather than keeping true to the HPI image. I have also noticed this in the style the new writers do their thing.

Edited August 22, 2006 by Drift_Limo

[floody]

An example is the Nissan/Nimso day in Japan featured in the current HPI issue. I would have liked a look under the bonnet, suspension, brakes etc of quite a few of those cars. That article looked like it was a grab bag of glossy photos, but where was the editorial content? It’s a big once a year event, surely it was worthwhile getting their local staff writer to cover it.

I noted that - I also noted other magazines at the newsagents slightly before or subsequent to that issue which had what appeared to be exactly the same photographs and much the same copy...(Pommy mags I think, Banzai?).

I think HPI has always been borderline on having enough content to diverge fully from Zoom; with drift battle its reduced any unique opportunities to have a standout import magazine further. Without HPI turning into a import parts and cars catalogue I can't personally see any changes happening.

I think HPI->Zoom->Drift Battle between them stretch too little content too far. And HPI/Drift Battle are slowly beginning to look like an Otomoto brochure - editor's perogative, sure, but any attempt to make it look transparent insults the readers' intelligence.

As for bring back SPEED...It was simply crap, all eye candy. Basically autosalon's non-muralised cars in a magazine with a few pommy evo articles copied and pasted in for good measure. Or one issue of this trend, one issue of this one... Proofreading notably absent quite often and outrageously ridiculous numbers and descriptions with a lot of the cars. Wore rather thin after a few issues - I did buy it because if anything it was an aesthetically pleasing magazine, nice photos and glossy spreads thus a welcome addition to the coffee table, and John Bowe's column was great, but otherwise it had as much content as Bert Newton has hair.

Edited August 21, 2006 by floody

[Bunta]

I loved seeing the lower buget cars that had great results! It is what got me into imports in the first place, But now all the cars there are massive budget!

I still have the magazine at home where I frist saw the R32 with the RB25 conversion with simple updrades that made 260rwkw...I thought to myself that is a great idea, it is simple, relatively cheap and has great results. And here I am 4 years later driving somthing similar

Now when I pick up the magazine all I ever see is cars that I could never afford and/or would never want

[Links]

Hmmmm.. it's interesting seeing everyone's different perspective..

Sydneykid - if you were after better photos - it would almost be worth emailing Dino - http://blog.gtroc.com/dino/ - who takes a large number of the photos and writes the articles.. he's also on gtr.co.uk - as DCD - however people already know that..

As for technical.. I think sometimes it's good.. some bad.. I end up reading 3 different magazines to absorb some new things.. including FastFours which has run 2 x Skyline modification articles in this one + last one.. Some of which has incorrect information - 99% of which is available on this forum but is always good having in a concise article rather than searching 10,000 posts..

Autosalon.. well they appeal to a different market, however once you get past all the ad's plus glossy crap have some alright articles to read..

HPI - was good.. until otomoto started to pop up.. this was around when they were doing their R32 -> 2.4ltr conversion.. I stopped reading after all this happened.. as I also located Dino's blog which had photos in it..

Interesting article in Autosalon is the C-West S2000 which has some intersting carbon fibre details.. which than made me look at the website and they have a comparison.. anyways.. it's a quick scan at the newsagent.. pick it up if it's good.. flick through than either put back.. or it goes in the pile next to the toilet

[d0p3y]

It's gone downhill I reckon. Needs more JZX90/JZX100 and JZS147 stuff in it.

[Savage Bliss]

Yeah seriously, Good articles lately are about as common as rocking horse shit! BRING BACK SPEED... and the other kind as well... hey? wink wink nudge nudge say no more!

[mikymouse]

Definitely downhill. Bought the current issue, had a brief look, and to my dismay no project car. Back in the old days there was a project car in each issue. The R34 and Soarer buildups were terrific.

The buyer’s guides are a load of crap. They are just a good way of disguising a few pages worth of advertising. Like others, I am also sick of hearing Otomoto, Otomoto in each edition.

The only articles worth reading now are those by Martin Donnon, and even he is starting to flail.

I'm finding it difficult to justify spending any more money on HPI. The only reason I bought this copy is in the delusional belief that they picked up their act. Sadly I was mistaken. I will buy the next issue, but if I don’t see a project car or some decent how-to’s, I will be writing-off HPI like Drift Battle. It seems they have just enough content for one magazine, but feel they must milk it out over two.

[Savage Bliss]

Hey, strap on a set of balls and tell him! [email protected]

[Links]

Chances are he might have read this already..

intersting.. see what others have to say, than maybe we'll see if he'd like to comment..

[lingeringsoul]

i'm still hoping for the Z restoration/modification and some good in depth articles on rotaries and honda engines.

Ben if you are reading this, MOD UP THE CLASSIC Z PUHLEAAAASE!!!!!!!!

[Malecki]

I've had a subsription with HPI for some time now and i have also seen the mag go downhill, same old stuff each month, getting repetitive

I've been finding ZOOM mag alot more interesting and their feature articles very different to the usual GTR, GTST's, SUPRA's found in HPI

I wonder if all of these opinions will c a revival?

[Bliksem]

Ben if you are reading this, MOD UP THE CLASSIC Z PUHLEAAAASE!!!!!!!!

+1

p.s. I also thought Speed was good r.i.p

Bought it more religiously than I can honestly say I buy HPI lately

[VB-]

Hey, strap on a set of balls and tell him! [email protected]

done and done!

[Interloper]

7. They have a section for “Technical”, but it is getting less and less technical every issue. Martin Donnon is quite capable of writing technical stuff, but he glosses over many aspects. Is that his choice? Or is it being toned down by the editor? Personally I would like to see him set free at least once in every issue to get as deep as necessary on a technical aspect.

An example, I really liked reading the turbo compressor map explanation he wrote about 3 years ago. It would have been great if he could have continued that, write an article on the compressor maps of recently released turbos. Or simply finish the job and do an article on turbine and wastegate size selection.

Enough from me, I might complain, but I still find them the best source of local info around. It’s just that they could be so much better.

cheers

i agree, Martin Donnon should be writing more detailed tech articles and not watering them down (if thats whats happening)

The best thing they could do to revive the mag would be to merge HPI and Drift-B back together. I remember a few years back before drift battle, hpi had more content about japan as it seems like they don't have enough content to support 2 mags...