The biggest problem I've found with my car enthusiasm is, well, I'm a girl. So trying to find a monthly car-oriented publication that's not FHM with power steering or a lingerie catalogue wrapped around a few F1 reports can be a bit of... A trial.
So often did the covers of my magazine ... Read review
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Advantages: Excellent features, A-Z index of manufacturers/make+model, excellent regular columnists Disadvantages: letters page; occasionally the photographers focus more on their models than the cars
...Then last year I discovered TOP GEAR MAGAZINE and I haven't looked back. It really is a fantastic magazine, offering some of the same; yet so much more than the eponymous programme and wrapped in a package that wouldn't make your gran blush! TOP GEAR MAGAZINE is all about cars, cars, cars! Hurrah!
STUNNING CARS: The magazine's first section is METAL - consistently the best chapter of the magazine - this has all of the month's previews ... ...basic tech specs (BHP/TQ, 0-60, top speed etc) and some of the most beautiful vehicle stills photography I've ever seen.
SARCASTIC CARS: The magazine is home to two written columns by TOP GEAR programme presenters Jeremy Clarkson and James May who join Paul Horrell in the FACES section. The content here varies from month to month depending on the columnists' choice of topic, but it's a section that guarantees at least 30mins of good ... more
The biggest problem I've found with my car enthusiasm is, well, I'm a girl. So trying to find a monthly car-oriented publication that's not FHM with power steering or a lingerie catalogue wrapped around a few F1 reports can be a bit of... A trial.
So often did the covers of my magazine purchases result in mortifying embarrassment (long before I reached the check out, I might add), I'd confined my vehicular reading materials to copies of Autotrader and newspaper motoring sections.
Then last year I discovered TOP GEAR MAGAZINE and I haven't looked back. It really is a fantastic magazine, offering some of the same; yet so much more than the eponymous programme and wrapped in a package that wouldn't make your gran blush! TOP GEAR MAGAZINE is all about cars, cars, cars! Hurrah!
STUNNING CARS: The magazine's first section is METAL - consistently the best chapter of the magazine - this has all of the month's previews and prototypes from aspirational manufacturers (Porsche, Ferrari etc) and more affordable manufacturers (Vauxhall, Ford etc) all lumped together in one section with short articles on the model being covered, basic tech specs (BHP/TQ, 0-60, top speed etc) and some of the most beautiful vehicle stills photography I've ever seen.
SARCASTIC CARS: The magazine is home to two written columns by TOP GEAR programme presenters Jeremy Clarkson and James May who join Paul Horrell in the FACES section. The content here varies from month to month depending on the columnists' choice of topic, but it's a section that guarantees at least 30mins of good reading - an hour if you need to read it twice, or two if, like me, you end up having to read the funniest bits out to friends, family and colleagues who demand to know what's making you laugh so much.
SLEEK CARS: In FEATURES they give serious page space to some seriously gorgeous high-performance vehicles - in recent months this has included the Porsche GT3, Ferrari 599 and limited edition Aston Martin DBS. Ok, so these are dream cars - way out of the realms of affordability for anything less than 6 numbers on the lottery or a full player's contract at Chelsea - but with photography that focuses on the fine detals of the interiors as well as the fantastic exterior shots, the magazine makes sure your dreams are going to be gloriously vivid and detailed forever more. To be fair they do give equal coverage to 'normal' releases like the new Honda Civic and Ford Focus ST but to be fair, after you've been looking at a Porsche 911 Turbo getting the same treatment a few pages previously, looking at 'normal' releases after that is not far off being forced to endure a very cold shower.
SHARP CARS: TOP GEAR MAGAZINE includes an in-depth buyers guide for new cars at the back of the magazine. This is organised alphabetically, by manufacturer, with the makes listed by ascending model specifications (cheapest first). This is something I've found EXTREMELY useful, though it is a resource that is limited to current models that are on sale - they do provide a top-estimate price and a dealer-quoted price that's a lot lower, this you can use to shop around and get a better deal. In addition one of the magazine's advertisers' occasionally has page runner ads that give you the top and bottom estimates for insurance on some models. The A-Z is the best section for general information on the car you have, the car you're going to have and the car you want.
Overall TOP GEAR MAGAZINE is an excellent monthly magazine if you're interested in cars. It's addictively - and irreverently - well-written and well-photographed. The non-regular features (I've only covered the regulars in this review) and articles are always well informed and entertaining. They have recently covered a wide range from interviewing Sir Stirling Moss to a retrospective on the life and work of motorcycle artist: Von Dutch and even had time in between for a little CSI-style detective work on the Ferrari Enzo crash on the LA Pacific Highway!
The drawbacks with this publication are minor compared to the advantages. The LETTERS page is a notable flaw which consists - with little monthly variation - of readers writing in to complain about Clarkson, the TV programme, Clarkson, ecological issues, Clarkson (anyone would think he's a hot topic for complaint!) or why TOP GEAR MAGAZINE hasn't taken their lead from other magazines and done a 25 page pull-out of Richard Hammond posing in a vest and Y-fronts on the bonnet of a Porsche for 'the ladies'. Luckily it's only one page and I'm now quite adept at flicking past it.
OTHER DRAWBACKS: They do include a lot of text-based specifications in the articles and tagged to the smaller images in features but TOP GEAR MAGAZINE doesn't include detailed diagrams or outline blueprints. So it's all very nice being told HOW the new design of turbocharger works in the 911, but you're not given an opportunity to visually contrast it alongside the old one. This is a BIG drawback for engineering fans and does make TOP GEAR MAGAZINE appear all gloss and no substance.
The final drawback is that occasionally the magazine's photographers' fall too much in love with their locations, human models and filter box. The result is, invariably, a beautiful two page picture of a panoramic valley with a Corsa artistically wedged behind a bush somewhere in the distance. This only seems to happen with main feature photography and even then it only happens very rarely, most of the time they get it right and focus on using the location to show a vehicle at its best.
CONCLUSIONS: At £3.90 cover price it is a bit steep to buy on a per-issue basis, but getting a good deal on subscriptions - I bought a sub pack from WH Smith just before Christmas (£32) - can slice that by 1/3rd or more.
It could also be seen as too many pretty pictures and not enough content, and with a focus on too many 'aspirational' vehicles - but, frankly, WHO. CARES. It's a great read and a good magazine that satisfies pure petrolhead lust and, if you're a girl, you'll never be embarrassed to buy a copy. (Unless the editior DOES bend to the will of reader opinion and do something for 'the ladies'.)
They also have several high-quality free gifts included at various points in the year - these are mostly DVDs that have clip collections from the show or promotional previews of cars like the new Jaguar XK8, though Honda bundled a PC video game to coincide with the release of the new Civic earlier this year - as a nice incentive, so if you're thinking about trying the magazine for the first time I recommend you pick up a copy one month when there's a bundled DVD/calendar etc. That way, if you don't like the magazine, at least you've got something that you wanted.
If you love cars, you'll love this magazine. If you're looking for TOP GEAR the TV show in paper form, you're not going to get it. What you will get is a good all-round monthly magazine that keeps you up to date on the latest cars and keeps you entertained to the point where you'll still be finding new things to read in an issue by the time the next issue's due out.
(TOP GEAR MAGAZINE is due out the first week of every calendar month)
Advantages: Clarkson returned Disadvantages: Not Enough from the main men, Clarkson, May and Hammond
I hadn't bought Top Gear for a few years but I remembered it as by far the best and most interesting Car magazine out there. Where other magazines read like a massive indiscriminate advertisement for whatever car they were reviewing and are often bogged down in listing all the facts on the car or displaying a journalists knowledge of "Torque", Top Gear was always more readable and you always got some real opinions on the cars and it was always done ... ...was trying to head up Top Gear and having been challenged by channel 4's Driven as the best car show around, the call was made for Clarkson to return as the programmes figurehead and saviour. The TV show was stretched to an hour long extravaganza, with it incorporating more of a chat show format for Clarkson about cars. Joined by his minions, Richard Hammond and James May as co presenters and the butt of his jokes, this new format really suits Clarkson, ...
cokane 01.11.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Top Gear Magazine
Advantages: Plenty of information Disadvantages: Not as good as it was
...so why do I read Top Gear? Well, it seems to me to give a good compromise between something like Car, which is a bit middle aged, and Max Power, which is aimed at spotty youths with nothing better to do with their money than paint their Nova bright green. They have factual articles about new cars, but they aren't afraid to poke fun at silly cars, and occasionally themselves. The magazine is in a bit of a decline now, with no Quentin Willson, and ... ...Unfortunately, they don't seem to get much of a mix these days; some issues seem to be aimed at millionaires, and others at "family man", whereas in earlier issues they would have a nice balance. It still offers plenty of amusement, though, and could keep you occupied on a long train journey. ...
Big-Al 01.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Top Gear Magazine
Advantages: Informative magazine focused on the cars, just as much fun as the TV shows Disadvantages: Can be a little technical at times
The Top Gear TV programme has begin to achieve nationwide recognition in it's last few series, and with good reason; you'll struggle to find anything more entertaining on the box. However, with this popularity has come a burden of sorts - the new audience. Previously it was the reserve of automotive buffs, but now, people from all walks of life, whatever their opinion on cars, are tuning in, because it is such good entertainment. In short, while ... ...void? The answer comes in Top Gear magazine. The articles are more technical, and because they are targeted towards a more niche audience, place a much higher focus on the vehicles themselves. However, the wonderful sense of humour has not been lost, and the zany, entertaining nature still remains. The challenges for which the TV series is now famous for still exist (for example, the January 09 issue contained a drive across the spine of the USA ...
jonwebb5 28.01.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Top Gear Magazine
Advantages: Occasional good features Disadvantages: Tacky, quality of photos + storys
...Car Magazine. Top G. Magazine does get you more magazine for your money , than Car.
But the quality of photography or reviewers in not as good.
The good bit about the magazine is that if there's been something good on the programme (rarely happens now) - it'll be covered in more depth in the magazine, and there were once quite a few good features.
Now though - it just seems a bit tacky. ...
WrexhamAFC 22.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Top Gear Magazine
...If your a fan of Top Gear the TV programme then without doubt you will love this.
The magazine contains various different articles from James May, Richard Hammond, Jason (fifth gear) along with a whole array of others. The Clarkson column, two pages long, is always funny and a good read.
Then theres the cars, there's information about concepts, new exclusives, and reviews about supercars aswell as the normal. A great addition is to all the articles ... ...such as price, engine size, top speed, 0-60, and the price per calendar month for you to purchase it.
A great section of the magazine is 'Lifers'. Were reporters have to live with the car they are reviewing (I think for six months) and report back on every month on whats good and whats bad.
Theres also a price guide with prices of all cars on the market with details regarding there top speeds, 0-60 times, insurance groups, co2 emissions and lots ...
AmzSingh 07.01.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Top Gear Magazine
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