If you used to read Sport Compact Car...

[sisforsurfing]

This probably will cater to few on here anymore, but I figured for those that care that still browse regularly it's worth the post.

If you used to read Sport Compact Car in the "good old days," before it got all thin and then died, check out MotoIQ (http://www.motoiq.com/Default.aspx). It has a few of the same writers (Coleman, Kojima, Hsu, etc) as the magazine did and all of the great car-geek updates without having to pay for a subscription. I wish it was a physical magazine (can't read it on the throne anymore), but this is way better than nothing, and it's free.

BTW, I'm in no way affiliated with these guys and have no real reason to post this, just thought some people might be interested.

[Proven]

SCC was a solid magazine at first, and I was lucky enough to have a 5 page feature but they were far from organized and disrespectful if anything.

Why I'm glad they are done, and my experience with them -

-Couple months after the phone call "we want your car in our mag" I emailed the editor who called to ask about proof of feature (if they had such a thing) so that I could try to get some sponsors on the car for the shoot. My Email explained who I was, when we talked, and a pic of my car for reference. His response was "NO we don't have such a form and STOP trying to use our name to scam parts" ..... In caps and in bold, yes.... I was of course pissed and now nervous that my car wasn't going to be featured.

-6 months after I was told my car was to be featured the Photographer calls me out of no where to meet in Ephrata, PA the next day (hour 1/2 drive, no biggie/whatever/I'm excited). Turned out dude stayed in Willow grove (20 min drive from me) but wanted to meet in Ephrata to visit his friend.....

-At the shoot the dude actually yelled at me and rolled his eyes (haha) because for the "driving shot" I had my windows 1/2 down and he wanted them up. (my buddy said he yelled for me twice then freaked out). I wanted to break his neck.. but wanted my car in mag.

-When the shoot was done I asked "hey man you guys give out T-shirts, license plate frames, key chain, etc." .. He laughed, rolled his eyes, said no, packed his stuff, and frigging left (no bye, see ya later, etc.)... I'm for serious!

-1 year 2 months after the Initial phone call my car was in the magazine! I found out because I got a call from Prime Media (SCC) to find out if I wanted the $80 package or $120 package of my feature framed and put into a Poster... I said neither, thank you, and drove to the store to buy the Magazine.

F Sport Compact Car... But yes, those times were the good ol days for sure!!

[Proven]

Ignore my rant about SCC.. This new sites actually pretty good.. Some solid Tech articles. I just read the "tuning a diff" article

Thanks for the link sisforsurfing

[grimm]

thanks! looks like it will have some good info.

[sisforsurfing]

Yeah, I was just happy these guys are all still writing regularly.

Proven -- understood about the rant. I can't say anything about your particular experience, but it is certainly the nature of the beast that it's a lot less glamorous than readers would like to believe. I remember your feature, I think I gave you that old mag back during summer '05 or '06 or whatever. I could be remembering that totally wrong though.

[Proven]

Originally Posted by sisforsurfing

Yeah, I was just happy these guys are all still writing regularly.

Proven -- understood about the rant. I can't say anything about your particular experience, but it is certainly the nature of the beast that it's a lot less glamorous than readers would like to believe. I remember your feature, I think I gave you that old mag back during summer '05 or '06 or whatever. I could be remembering that totally wrong though.

So true, I definitely thought at the time I was in for a treat (although I was w/ the whole feature itself, but you know..) And yes, If I'm correct you gave me your copy at the Cheese-steak meet on Bristol Rd.? - which of course was awesome of you and its still the only copy I have

[turboman808]

Well a photographer doesn't really represent the company. Also they probably all get asked for free stuff non stop on a daily basis. After 6 months of that I would probably be a bit of a dick as well. I used to read it as a teenager. Hell I read it til I was 25. Of course back then we didn't have as much information as we do now.

Hell back then if you had 200hp you were the ****ing man. Times have changed.

[Fbomb]

Yah, they been around for a while...Some of the nissanperformancemag guys went there.

[Proven]

Originally Posted by turboman808

Hell back then if you had 200hp you were the ****ing man. Times have changed.

haha! Love the last line in your response.. so true!

Yeah man, the good ol days.. Driving to E-town and undoubtedly seeing like 20 Tuner cars on the turn pike ride, back when SCC featured a s13 with SR swap for the first time!!!, When GSX's were the hottest cars to have.. I'll never forget going to the first HIN in New York and constantly running into groups of 5-10 tuner car's all waving and smiling at each other!!! Remember when 12's was stupid fast? When NOPI was the biggest and best place to buy parts!

[turboman808]

Originally Posted by Proven

haha! Love the last line in your response.. so true!

Yeah man, the good ol days.. Driving to E-town and undoubtedly seeing like 20 Tuner cars on the turn pike ride, back when SCC featured a s13 with SR swap for the first time!!!, When GSX's were the hottest cars to have.. I'll never forget going to the first HIN in New York and constantly running into groups of 5-10 tuner car's all waving and smiling at each other!!! Remember when 12's was stupid fast? When NOPI was the biggest and best place to buy parts!

Hey 12 are still fast for me.

It was alot of fun back then. Everyone had some sort of sports car or riced out ride. Now it seems very few people are interested in cars.

The best day ever was when Hondata showed up at my doorstep. I would say thats when the game really changed. Overnight everyone went from having a 220hp car that farted and spit smoke to having 300-500hp monster that ran all day. I think that was around 1998 or 99.

Here is my car around 1998 I would guess.

[Proven]

Originally Posted by turboman808

Hey 12 are still fast for me.

It was alot of fun back then. Everyone had some sort of sports car or riced out ride. Now it seems very few people are interested in cars.

The best day ever was when Hondata showed up at my doorstep. I would say thats when the game really changed. Overnight everyone went from having a 220hp car that farted and spit smoke to having 300-500hp monster that ran all day. I think that was around 1998 or 99.

Here is my car around 1998 I would guess.
]

Good stuff man, clean hatch for the times! I think in 98 is when I got my first ride in a Galant vr4 w/20g. I couldn't believe a 4cyldr could go so fast in a straight line and needed to know more! In 99 I sold my Jeep, my quad, and dirt bike and got the RS, had the engine swapped in early 03 and never turned back, and never will. Although I diss SCC I also secretly praise them because I did learn a lot from the mag.

I also still think 12's is fast don't worry ha! Its just now you need 10's to raise eyebrows.

[frosti108]

motoiq is pretty sweet. ill be checking it out often