Modern Classics magazine needs a Quattroporte (and other news)

Contigo

Contigo

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Agreed, should dominate all those other cars which are pretty dull (apart from the E60 M5 V10) in comparison to the QP.
 
MarkMas

MarkMas

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They said that they needed to put the Merc, BMW and Audi up front for circulation reasons, as these were the 'popular' marques. Then the Jag, Vauxhall/Holden and Maserati as the 'quirky' choices. My prediction, based on random overheard comments and my own prejudices, is that the verdict will be:

Buy the BMW if you are somehow both bland and flashy.
Buy the Merc if you like going really fast in a straight line.
Buy the Audi if you are German.
Buy the Jag if you are British but wish you were German.
Buy the Vauxhall if you are an idiot.
Buy the Maserati if you listen to your heart (and your ears, and your hands...)
 
MrMickS

MrMickS

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MarkMas said:
They said that they needed to put the Merc, BMW and Audi up front for circulation reasons, as these were the 'popular' marques.
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Sort of shows the levels that journalism has slipped to, though it could be that it was only any better in my mind. What's the point of doing such an article if you've pre-judged the results based on popularity and for circulation reasons are going to judge things accordingly. Not wanting to prejudge the article in any way of course.

Shouldn't they take pictures for all possibilities and put the appropriate car front and centre based on their honest opinion after the driving tests?

I know, I'll get my coat.
 
Contigo

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BennyD said:
Dominate? What is wrong with you?! Apart from just about everything. :D
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I think it fits all of these definitions.

dominate
ˈdɒmɪneɪt/Submit
verb
have power and influence over.
"the company dominates the market for operating system software"
synonyms: control, influence, exercise control over, be in control of, command, be in command of, be in charge of, rule, govern, direct, be the boss of, preside over, have ascendancy over, have mastery over, master, have the upper hand over, subjugate, hegemonize; More
be the most important or conspicuous person or thing in.
"the race was dominated by the 1998 champion"
have a commanding position over; overlook.
"a picturesque city dominated by the cathedral tower"
synonyms: overlook, command, tower above, tower over, stand over, project over, jut over, hang over, loom over, dwarf, overtop, overshadow, overhang; More
 
MarkMas

MarkMas

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MrMickS said:
Sort of shows the levels that journalism has slipped to....
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I think that is a bit unfair, Mick. They said nothing about pre-judging or that the photo reflected the order of the result, just that the cover picture needs to have appeal to the maximum number of potential buyers, and (presumably) the thinking is that a popular brand will have broad appeal, whereas an exotic, bland or quirky brand will not. If you had seen how long it takes to just get the cars lined up for one pic, you would NOT be suggesting 'pictures for all possibilities'! The two set-ups I snapped took all morning.
 
MrMickS

MrMickS

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MarkMas said:
I think that is a bit unfair, Mick. They said nothing about pre-judging or that the photo reflected the order of the result, just that the cover picture needs to have appeal to the maximum number of potential buyers, and (presumably) the thinking is that a popular brand will have broad appeal, whereas an exotic, bland or quirky brand will not. If you had seen how long it takes to just get the cars lined up for one pic, you would NOT be suggesting 'pictures for all possibilities'! The two set-ups I snapped took all morning.
Click to expand...

Fair enough. I guess lining things up will take some time to get things just right.
 
GeoffCapes

GeoffCapes

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MrMickS said:
Sort of shows the levels that journalism has slipped to, though it could be that it was only any better in my mind. What's the point of doing such an article if you've pre-judged the results based on popularity and for circulation reasons are going to judge things accordingly. Not wanting to prejudge the article in any way of course.

Shouldn't they take pictures for all possibilities and put the appropriate car front and centre based on their honest opinion after the driving tests?

I know, I'll get my coat.
Click to expand...

Totally agree. Most people I know who are interested in cars, absolutely love Maserati's. Apart from those who call them a poor mans Ferrari.
But then those have never aspired to more than a Ford Focus.

Most of those people who are interested in cars would love to see a Maserati beat a Merc, BMW, Jag etc in a group test.
A bit like the Alfa beating an M3 and C63 in a recent test.

As cars become so much better, the differences in how good they are become smaller, are the journals covering their *** to a degree that they can't slag off a Merc/Audi/BMW etc otherwise they won't be asked to test their cars any more? Rather than saying "yeah the BMW/Merc/Audi etc is great, but it's not a Maserati....."
 
Contigo

Contigo

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One day putting an Italian motor on the cover of a magazine would have sold more copies though, that's the mindset of the reading audience which has changed as German cars have become far more mainstream and improved somewhat (read AMG, M Power and RS cars)
 
MarkMas

MarkMas

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MrMickS said:
Fair enough. I guess lining things up will take some time to get things just right.
Click to expand...

You would not believe how fiddly it is. Getting them lined up just right (inept driving and photographer perfectionism are a bad combination), plus giving every car a good polish, plus setting up extra lights (even outside in bright sunlight), plus trying several variations, all adds up. To be accurate, I think we manged four set-ups between 10 and 12:30.

I used to work as a yachting journalist and it was just the same, but wetter.

Here is the QP in position 3.
Modern Classics Shoot - 2017-03-15 - 03.jpg
 
BennyD

BennyD

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Contigo said:
I think it fits all of these definitions.

dominate
ˈdɒmɪneɪt/Submit
verb
have power and influence over.
"the company dominates the market for operating system software"
synonyms: control, influence, exercise control over, be in control of, command, be in command of, be in charge of, rule, govern, direct, be the boss of, preside over, have ascendancy over, have mastery over, master, have the upper hand over, subjugate, hegemonize; More
be the most important or conspicuous person or thing in.
"the race was dominated by the 1998 champion"
have a commanding position over; overlook.
"a picturesque city dominated by the cathedral tower"
synonyms: overlook, command, tower above, tower over, stand over, project over, jut over, hang over, loom over, dwarf, overtop, overshadow, overhang; More
Click to expand...

"The Maserati is more desirable than the rest" sounds less twattish and less German.
 
MarkMas

MarkMas

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Contigo said:
Did you take your spoon with you for the bonnet shot? :D
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I'm never without my hand-carved oak spatula (it is NOT a 'spoon', FFS), and opening the bonnet was, as ever, somewhat challenging.... Hopefully that won't be the one factor that pushes the Mas off first place!
 
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