New Total Vauxhall Editor

[dan@totalvaux]

Hi all -

Thought it best to introduce myself before the forum rumour-mill starts ;-)

I've taken over from Dougie as the Editor of Total Vauxhall, although Dougie will still be contributing to the mag every month, so this isn't the last you'll see of him!

Also, yes, I am also the Editor of Fast Ford - but that isn't in itself an issue, as my role is to be the Editor of the magazine, not the 'supreme Vauxhall guru'. What it does mean is that I know how to put a magazine together, and also to always make sure I work with people who are properly into the scene to ensure that the mag is both accurate and what you guys want.

The mag's not going to change drastically, but there will be a few tweaks and changes over the forthcoming months.

I await your comments, questions, insults and death threats...

[Melv]

Welcome to MIGweb Dan.

Changes to the magazine, I'm sure, wont just be for the sake of it so that's no bad thing. IMO have a ban on arden blue Corsa B's with XE engines, speedlines and GSi kits is needed as they are everywhere! lmao

No Ford hating from me, I'd love a YB MK1 or MK2 Escort but that will have to wait until I run into a lot of cash. Plus I've a Focus Econetic company car at the moment but that's not exactly a Performance Ford, although it's driven that way lmao

What do you drive yourself?

[Benn]

Again, Welcome to the site.

[daddy cav]

I need to start buying the mag again ..... not bought one for ages .

Do we still get the migweb discount ?

[Mike-vec]

I've only been getting TV for the last 6 months, so can't say what direction it should go in, but a few more classic Vauxhalls would be nice

[Jamie_Watret]

Welcome to the vauxhall scene, I look forward to the changes in the mag

[Kev_G]

welcome - can i have a free tshirt please

[Paul]

Never grabbed a copy for ages to be honest, feel free to send me one

[Jack]

More old-skool Vauxhalls would definitely be cool, and I'd like to see some features on some of the weirder Vauxhalls and Opels? Let's get some Monza FFs or something in there, I'd quite like a couple of pages on what they were, some underbody shots...etc.

[CB GTE]

Welcome along, I have a Mk1 Escort its no fast ford thou! just a little 1.1..

[dan@totalvaux]

To be fair there already is a lot of old school Vauxhall's in the mag. Certainly more old stuff than newer fast Vauxhalls. As an example we're about to shot a pair of Ex-Brookes Manta 400s, and a RHD factory 400. All three are owned by the same guy.

There needs to be a balance of old and new, as the older stuff keeps the Vauxhall nut happy, and the new stuff brings in new readers and attracts advertisers (essential to a mag's survival).

While I'm here it's worth mentioning that TV is now available on the Apple Newsstand for £2.99 per issue, and some very reasonably priced subs deals.

[specks]

evening,so does that mean dougie is back up here then or still living down there,just being nosey like.

fast ford eh,im looking to track down a s2 rst that was featured a few years back,was my cousins then sold it,now trying to track the new owner down to see if it`s for sale as he wants it back,just need to remember the reg of it first.

[dewismotorsport]

lets get some vauxhall v's ford airfield days jacked up and lets see where you loyaltys lie lmao

[Adam]

I dont feel the cover of tv mag should just be for the 'newer age vauxhalls' thats all for now

[dan@totalvaux]

The cover car has to be the car that best sells the mag. It would be commercial suicide to put a Kadett or Royale on the cover. It makes sense to have the most marketable car as the 'main' car and the quirky stuff in supporting roles.

As for my loyalties, they lie with magazines ;-)

[RobJenko]

firstly dan, welcome to mig. incase you didnt realise it, mig is one of the biggest vauxhall sites around with many feature worthy cars hidden away in our projects section, and local events in our regional sections that could be possible features.
secondly, congrates on the new job, but im guessing that from your first post above saying that you also the editor of fast ford (and iirc from past TV's are situated in the either the same offices or next door) that this may also be a cost saving measure by future mags of having one editor for two mags, which may be a good thing considering how other "big car mags" of late have disapeared in keeping TV on the shelves.

Whilest i buy TV less of late, hopefully you'll keep up the good work of Dougie and crew over the last few years, and try to push forward with intresting features (the mantas you mention sound like a good feature) and hopefully get a bit of Ford V's Vauxhall track / drag days going as you'll have all the contacts from both sides at your disposal. but the big question will be where will your loyalties lie on the day, with the griffin or blue oval?? lmao

[Adam]

The cover car has to be the car that best sells the mag. It would be commercial suicide to put a Kadett or Royale on the cover. It makes sense to have the most marketable car as the 'main' car and the quirky stuff in supporting roles.

As for my loyalties, they lie with magazines ;-)

I understand that respectfully but how do you work out what would be the best to sell the mag? Do you do a questionaiire to the people who buy the mag or go on instinct? To put it into perspective...If a 500bhp astra vxr was on the cover or a 600bhp cavalier was on the cover...id choose a cavalier imho lmao

[dan@totalvaux]

I go off what I know about mag sales, what I know sells best and what my intuition tells me. I can never please all the people all the time, but from my perspective I always have to take the course of action that is likely to result in the maximum sales - that in a nutshell is the purpose of my job as Editor.

Which brings me onto my loyalties - I currently drive a Ford as I've worked on a Ford mag for the past three years, but I've also owned a VW, BMW, Vauxhall, Audi, and a Skoda! I'm a car enthusiast and have worked in the modified car sector for well over a decade.

When I'm wearing a TV t-shirt my loyalties lie with the Griffin, and when wearing my Fast Ford hat I'm a Ford man.

There is no 'crossover' nor potential conflict, just two separate mags run to the best of my abilities.

I intend to keep them separate so there won't be any Vauxhall v Ford thrashes unfortunately! ;-)

[Kev_G]

feature more mk5 Zetec S's in Fast ford please (as i have one)

feature more home built quality cars not **** boxes in TV.

I buy both and the lack of the above gets on my titties.

Also when does the newsstand items come out on itunes as id live to subscribe.

[dan@totalvaux]

They're on sale now! Search for the mag titles in the app store and download the free app. From the app you can download single issues and subs.

[chip]

Welcome to MIG.

I manage to own both ford and vauxhall cars without it feeling like a conflict and likewise to write for both magazines without it ever feeling like a conflict, so im sure you'll be just fine in charge of both.

Fair play to you for not doing what a lot of people might have and pretending to be massively into vauxhalls in your personal life when you arent just to try and win people over, but I reckon that if you are on the mag for long enough the bug will bite a bit, so maybe we can convert you

[GTE 16v]

Welcome

Just don't do what they did a few years back and put a full page Ford Parts advert in the Vauxhall mag.

Dave

[dan@totalvaux]

Haha, that was nothing to do with us thankfully! The PDFs got muddled up. Someone got a PROPER rocket for that little mistake!

[DarrenH]

Someone got a PROPER rocket for that little mistake!

you gave them a gearbox ? bmm tssh i'm here all week, please try the fish

[Turbostevo]

That justinaudia4tdi chap or whatever his name is would have a field day if he saw this thread!
Good luck with the job Dan, hope to more about the Ford V Vauxhall idea!
Stevo