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EMPIPowerRules21
Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2022
Posts: 2
Location: USA
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 Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: VW Trends is BACK! |
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| Dave wrote: |
Hey Dan, this guy joined TODAY, and he has ONE post- this one. I get the feeling he is just trying to stir up "stuff".. Tell us a little about yourself, Empipowerrules, what have you contributed to the industry/hobby/obession?
Do you remember the old "Rants and Raves" forum, I do, and I can be quite good at it. |
Dave and Dan, i know you guys worked for magazines for years, I on the other hand have not, so part of me feels that being in the boat industry, not in publishing, I have no right to even offer criticism, what do i know about magazines? I was genuinely excited for the new VWTrends, i got my subscription and was excited for something new. Getting Shannon for the first cover was great, it got my nostalgia juices flowing. I know running a magazine in 2022 must be a challenge, I was hoping something that would take me back to my youth, or if not that, then something unique and different than a traditional magazine.
1. In Dan's podcast he talked that he wanted to do nostalgic stories and features. Aside from the ZZTop bug, where are they?
2. What is with the last 2 covers? Especially this one. They are different, but come on. They look like you stuck random photos into an instagram filter app. It's a car magazine. Last issue looked like Welders Weekly. This month was a drone shot with sepia tone?
3. only 3 features in the latest issue? Not to mention that none of the cars were really exceptional. The New Beetle pickup didn't deserve a feature, and maybe that's why it was only a 2 pages. You couldn't find something better than these 3?
4. In the podcast Dan said he didn't want to be a carbon copy "Orange county" magazine like hotvws. Yet, issue 1 had an OC car that was on the cover of hotvws 2X in the past. Issue #2 was followed up with another "orange county" Cal-Looker.
5. Issue 3 had fluffy on the cover, again, HotVWs already did that. Then this issue had 4 more Fluffy pages. We get it, Fluffy is kinda famous and has a bunch of VWs. Maybe he's an investor, i don't know.
6. Tech articles? It's 2022, not 1992 we have the internet and youtube.
7. I think the features and the magazine as a whole is too wordy, again it's 2022, who is actually reading the stories?
I love that you guys are bringing this magazine back, I loved the seeing the ZZTop bug again in the last issue. The print quality is very good. I just wish the magazine was more what was hyped on the podcast. I met Dan at Prado last year and and he was very good at getting me hyped about future issues i just am not as excited as i was. |
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Abscate
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Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22648
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 11:07 pm Post subject: Re: VW Trends is BACK! |
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7. I think the features and the magazine as a whole is too wordy, again it's 2022, who is actually reading the stories?
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DanLeadbetter
Samba Member
Joined: September 17, 2020
Posts: 73
Location: Newport Beach, CA
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2022 8:32 am Post subject: Re: VW Trends is BACK! |
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Hey EMPIPR,
Thank you so much for being very detailed. Most people would be like, "No sir, I don't like it." Like I've said before, I appreciate the feedback of all kinds. Let me address your concerns:
1. We'll do nostalgic features as we get them. Being that we're a quarterly publication, we need to spread it out.
2. With our covers, we're trying something new and different. All of us on staff are pretty excited at the direction we're taking. Be assured, we'll have car covers.
3. The issue you are referring to is our Event Issue, so we felt like we needed to pack it with events from all over the country. If you check, all of our other issues had the most features of any magazine! We're want to bring people a wide variety.
4. We chose Rick Sadler's DKP Bug and Shannon as they fit the criteria for bringing back nostalgia and the look and feel of the new VWT.
5. Our Fluffy issue was our biggest selling issue to date. Yes, the other guys did his shop in 2015, but he's updated his collection since then, and I feel we had a different take on it, and added stuff that people hadn't seen. And no, he's not an investor (Hey Gabe .... wanna invest?)
6. One of the biggest request we heard when we were doing our market research was more tech articles. I agree most everything is online, but a lot of people still like to actually READ things. If that weren't true, our subscribers wouldn't be growing worldwide every. single. day.
7. We've cut back on our wording and beefed up the captions, again, people want information.
Thanks for your feedback, the compliments on the print quality, and I appreciate you subscribing! Remember, we're still only 5 issue in and we keep getting better and learning more with every issue. Seriously, thank you for the feedback ... I don't consider it positive or negative, it's just data. And the more we get the better we get.
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Dave
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Joined: July 11, 2002
Posts: 2693
Location: The Forest Moon of Endor, in the Redwoods
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| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2022 9:28 am Post subject: Re: VW Trends is BACK! |
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| EMPIPowerRules21 wrote: |
| Dave and Dan, i know you guys worked for magazines for years, I on the other hand have not, so part of me feels that being in the boat industry, not in publishing, I have no right to even offer criticism, |
Of COURSE you have the right to criticize, sir, and I'm certain your criticism will be taken seriously.. I mean, if everybody didn't like the magazine, the features, the tech, the way the pages are numbered, whatever, Dan wouldn't have a magazine, would he?
I don't have an interest in the magazine, financially, or any other way (Yes, I do contribute every now and again), but I think that another US based magazine will keep all of them on their toes...and who benefits from that? Why, YOU, the reader, does... 
Print media is declining, no doubt about it. But there are still us holdouts, that like to sit down at the end of the day, with a beer, Bloody Mary, Pinot Grigio, coffee, or even a glass of water (call me crazy, but my poison is good old Vitamin D milk) and read a well-balanced magazine that has content of interest to me..
I know Dan knows he has a bit of an uphill battle; we have talked about this between ourselves. But, let's see where this thing goes, criticism, as long as it is not vile, or snarky, I'm sure will be taken seriously, again, if VWT doesn't appeal to the masses, then it won't be around very long. And I, for one, hope it sticks around this time
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gears
Samba Member
Joined: October 28, 2002
Posts: 4391
Location: Tamarack, Bend, Kailua
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| Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 7:43 pm Post subject: Re: VW Trends is BACK! |
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| DanLeadbetter wrote: |
6. One of the biggest request we heard when we were doing our market research was more tech articles. I agree most everything is online, but a lot of people still like to actually READ things. |
Dan .. I wrote a REAL transmission technical article for you in early 1988, but never even got a call back for my effort. Instead, Hot VWs ended up publishing it in their August ’88 issue, where it was a big hit. A lot of builders benefited from the tips found in that article, and I'd like to believe Hot VWs benefited as well.
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DanLeadbetter
Samba Member
Joined: September 17, 2020
Posts: 73
Location: Newport Beach, CA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2022 10:47 am Post subject: Re: VW Trends is BACK! |
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That's awesome! Glad you got printed and hopefully paid! I hope you'll forgive me for something that happened 34 years ago, as I don't recall ever seeing your submission ... which isn't surprising after all this time. Frankly, ay 62, I can't even remember what I did yesterday!
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sportin-wood
Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2010
Posts: 2007
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2022 5:27 pm Post subject: Re: VW Trends is BACK! |
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So, the latest issue is out? I still haven't received mine.
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janerick3
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Joined: June 04, 2006
Posts: 1879
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2022 10:42 pm Post subject: Re: VW Trends is BACK! |
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| sportin-wood wrote: |
| So, the latest issue is out? I still haven't received mine. |
I think some of our accounts were deleted after the Spring issue came out.
I never received an email or any other kind of notification that it was time to renew.
I've had 4 credit cards skimmed in the past year, so if VWT was on auto-renew and the card on file was rejected, I suspect the account was summarily deleted.
I went on the VWT website to log in with my email address and got a popup saying "No account found with that email."
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DanLeadbetter
Samba Member
Joined: September 17, 2020
Posts: 73
Location: Newport Beach, CA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 9:43 am Post subject: Re: VW Trends is BACK! |
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Hey everyone!
We did have a bit of a snag with our renewal service, getting the word out that it was time to renew. You can go on www.vwtrendsmagazine.com and choose "renewal" on the subscription page. You may want to reach out to [email protected] and give your name, mailing address, and when you subscribed, and they can sort that out for you. Thanks for your patience as we work the bugs out on the back end!
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sportin-wood
Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2010
Posts: 2007
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2022 10:49 am Post subject: Re: VW Trends is BACK! |
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So, there's no "renewal" to click on, on the subscription page, but I did send an email to [email protected] to see if they can follow up for me. Thanks
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"Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman. He's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it." --- Jeff Spicoli |
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NormGarr87
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2008
Posts: 46
Location: Anderson, South Carolina
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| Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2022 6:42 pm Post subject: Re: VW Trends Customer Support and Feedback |
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I can now wrap up the saga of missing magazines. I finally received my order times two. Not sure how that happened but it did. I passed the extra batch on to a another V-Dubber since I opened both mailers not knowing what I received. I read the mags; nice and glossy, pretty pictures, articles well written but it does not scratch my itch. I grew up with Dune Buggies and Hot VW`s back in the early 70's. There wasn't a lot of color from what I remember there was a lot of technical stuff, how to make it work and make it better. That's what I miss.
Thanks for the assistance. Nice mag, doesn't scratch my itch. Of note I finally dropped Hot VW for the same reason.
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Every VW has some Porsche DNA and every Porsche has some VW DNA. Sorry boys, they started as hopped up V-Dubs. |
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DanLeadbetter
Samba Member
Joined: September 17, 2020
Posts: 73
Location: Newport Beach, CA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2022 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: VW Trends Customer Support and Feedback |
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Glad we got you sorted. So when you say, "the itch", what are you itching for? Can you be more specific?
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wheel607
Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2004
Posts: 1847
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| Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2022 1:18 pm Post subject: Re: VW Trends Customer Support and Feedback |
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| Wow Dan, a month and a half later. |
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NormGarr87
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Joined: August 16, 2008
Posts: 46
Location: Anderson, South Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2022 1:20 pm Post subject: Re: VW Trends Customer Support and Feedback |
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Dan,
My itch is more articles on how to fix the cars. All the mags seem to have drifted to one or maybe two articles that are real tech. The glossy pictures are nice, the people articles are nice but I work on my V-Dubs. I want more information on parts, part combos, and how to do its if I'm going to spend my money.
Norm
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72 forever project Bug
03 Boxster S
18 Tiguan SE
73 Thing
81 Caddy w/2.0 liter ABA
Every VW has some Porsche DNA and every Porsche has some VW DNA. Sorry boys, they started as hopped up V-Dubs. |
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vwinnovator
Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2005
Posts: 1555
Location: Still doing it in the back of your VW
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| Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 7:54 am Post subject: Re: VW Trends Customer Support and Feedback |
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| NormGarr87 wrote: |
Dan,
My itch is more articles on how to fix the cars. All the mags seem to have drifted to one or maybe two articles that are real tech. The glossy pictures are nice, the people articles are nice but I work on my V-Dubs. I want more information on parts, part combos, and how to do its if I'm going to spend my money.
Norm |
I wouldn't rely/expect to fix cars from a magazine article. Remember..most articles are written by specialists in WRITING..not repairs of cars. I've yet to find a magazine article the is complete and thorough on repair/technical information.
One decent Bentley repair manual on hand will cover most of what you need to fix your car.
But these days, an simple internet search will also usually find a video "how to" to guide the average person through. |
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NormGarr87
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Joined: August 16, 2008
Posts: 46
Location: Anderson, South Carolina
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| Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 9:58 am Post subject: Re: VW Trends Customer Support and Feedback |
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Vwinnovator, I get what you are saying. I was asked. I'm an engineer and started out working on air cooled V-Dubs in the early 70's as a mechanics helper. I did a lot of hands on stuff before college. If the article is well written and researched I can glean a lot out of the article. I have learned a lot along the way from magazine articles. I also live in the Bentley's for all my vehicles. The more info the better. By tech I'm looking at everything from interior refurbishment to paint. The glossy photos are nice but.........
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72 forever project Bug
03 Boxster S
18 Tiguan SE
73 Thing
81 Caddy w/2.0 liter ABA
Every VW has some Porsche DNA and every Porsche has some VW DNA. Sorry boys, they started as hopped up V-Dubs. |
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DanLeadbetter
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Joined: September 17, 2020
Posts: 73
Location: Newport Beach, CA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 10:37 am Post subject: Re: VW Trends Customer Support and Feedback |
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Thanks for the reply Norm.
Yeah, VWInnovator is right, there's no replacement for a good Bentley manual or the How to repair your VW for the complete idiot. And while all of the magazines out there can show you what's being done, it's a whole other ball of wax to explaining a detailed HOW it's done. That would be another magazine all by its self. We try to get as detailed as possible in our tech features, but realize the limitations. Thanks again for your reply!
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6T5 square
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| Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 11:35 am Post subject: Re: VW Trends Customer Support and Feedback |
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Also remember that most repair manuals were written 20 or more years ago. A lot of updates have happened since then
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DanLeadbetter
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Joined: September 17, 2020
Posts: 73
Location: Newport Beach, CA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2023 10:38 am Post subject: Re: VW Trends Customer Support and Feedback |
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Hey Everyone! Mark your calendars for June 10th (the day before Prado) at 10AM as VW Trends Magazine host it's 48IPA Hopped-Up Beer Launch party and car show at Chapman Crafted Beer in Old Towne Orange ! Limited VIP show space is available! Come check out our new beer and hang with your friends! There will be food, fun, surprise guests, swag, and lots more! Go to www.48IPA.com and get on the email list when registration goes live!
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AlteWagen
Troll
Joined: February 23, 2007
Posts: 8501
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2023 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: VW Trends Customer Support and Feedback |
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If you REALLY want to provide a service to the VW community you will do a TON of aftermarket parts review. Buying the parts yourself with help gain confidence from your readers as its not a free advertisement product review.
You will make enemies in the industry as you peel back the incestuous layers on the retail side but for those actually MAKING products you may 'help' them be a little more honest about their claims. In post covid auto parts industry I think that is what people want in 'tech' articles. Any bubba can slap together a stock engine using stock VW parts and a bentley, trying to build an all new engine with no german vw parts is a real pain and takes a lot more time to get together.
Id like to see you do a review of the empi D series and mention the good with the bad. We all want to believe the parts will work but like with these carbs there is a manufacturing issue where progression holes are drilled incorrectly making the carb unusable. I think readers would like to know this before they shell out $800 for a product that empi wont warranty. How many times do you need to hear 'no one has ever mentioned that to us before' even though you have personally reported the issue multiple times by various vendors.
Even a review of the gen 3 hpmx carbs. you can point out all the upgrades done over the years to make them usable carbs. how to tell the different generations and such.
Carb linkage review, exhaust review (actual dyno testing of vintage speed stuff for example). For those vintage guys review the WW okrasa kit and detail the issues with the carbs. BBT sheet metal is now on the market how about some reviews of the fenders and such and compare to the black panels and originals. Compare all the other guys as well, virtanen, wolf, autocraft etc. Im sure a comparison photo of their H apron compared to an original or wolf can tell a LOT
How about calling it R&D update since these companies are making the customer do all that for them instead of making sure a product actually works before release.
Market watch would be another great category. What are these things bringing at the time of print. Ebay, BAT, etc with a little pointing out if it was a good buy, overpriced (due to work needed etc), danger to public safety and the like. How about a buyers and sellers guide with that piece. Just because BJ sold a tag job bus to 6 figures doesnt mean your rusty pile is worth more than scrap or parts car price. Maybe pictures of what a condition 1, 2, 3 etc car looks like. Define terms like all original, or numbers matching, resto mod, hood ride etc.
How about a review of the Empi K series carbs. How many parts interchange with the original solex version? Why dont the new TBs not work with the old bodies? Then do follow up long term reviews to see how the shaft bushings hold up or if the ethanol gas is eating the internal fuel bowl.
Blow the lid off the Autolinea mag case product that many were selling to the public leading customers to believe they were OE mag cases. Most still dont know they even offered a mag case.
How about window rubber. WW has been selling rubbers that dont fit for at least 10 years that cause water to leak internally. Those of us who have purchased and installed these parts know the truth and I think others would like to know before wasting time and money on ill fitting parts. Ill tell you I was PISSED after all the time I took to install the trim and everything, put it in myself then to see HUGE gaps in the corners. I would have liked to see this and then use WCM or Viewb for OE fit.
New cooling tins are on the market, how do they fit?
I think a project car would be the best way to go through every system and review parts just like an average guy would build in his garage. Regular parts, regular reviews for regular folks. Use one of those CB builders kits and show what is required to build from start to finish and showing what is not included. Then you can right off all the stuff on your taxes.
Not everyone has the time needed to drag through hundreds of threads to find out if this new product works as advertised and how its holding up years later.
If you are in it just to make friends in the industry or re live your youth you are not doing your readers justice. Truth and honest reviews rarely make friends but if you are into it to make the industry better all consumers will appreciate it for sure
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