Motoring blog, writers needed

Bodhan

Hi Guys,

I hope this is in the right place. If not feel free to move it.
I have a passion for all things cars, and I like writing so I've combined the two into a motoring blog which I hope to expand into a web site later on.
I'm reviewing second hand cars as well as new one with the help of a few local dealers.
Here's the thing, If you would like to be a guest blogger on the site I'd love to hear from you. Maybe you'd like to talk about the mechanics of a car rather than the car, what ever you like so long as there's no bad language.

Flick onto the site and email, pm here or follow me on Twitter and I'll have a read and maybe publish what you write.

Cheers.
http://smokerspack.wordpress.com/

Owen

I'd change the name - but that's just me. Smoker's pack seems unprofessional. Plus, in one of your reviews - "I think that this type of car will be bought by the same people as the iPad" or words to that effect, leave out the "I think that". It makes your editorials less watery. Otherwise a good idea, but a Carina E ... really?

Mr Benevolent

PaintDoctor wrote: »

I'd change the name - but that's just me. Smoker's pack seems unprofessional. Plus, in one of your reviews - "I think that this type of car will be bought by the same people as the iPad" or words to that effect, leave out the "I think that". It makes your editorials less watery. Otherwise a good idea, but a Carina E ... really?

+1

I'd also read a lot more motor journalism and review articles, take some pointers from them. Motor journalism is basically a cliche pick 'n mix, so find your favourite cliches and start using them.

veetwin

After getting board of having to be nice about cars (so he could get a loan of them) he decided to start his own web site where he could say what he liked about cars.

Interesting concept but spelling and grammar errors will do you no favours. I agree with Paintdoctor that you should state your opinion rather water it down with "I feel" or "I think" or "I would". However the Carina E was an important car in its day and worthy of review many years later. I particularly remember tall people liked it especially because of the great leg room both front and back.

voxpop

Confab wrote: »

+1

I'd also read a lot more motor journalism and review articles, take some pointers from them. Motor journalism is basically a cliche pick 'n mix, so find your favourite cliches and start using them.

On that bombshell.....

kazul

Finish every sentence with, ..."in the world!!!" like The King himself

kazul

Actually I just had a look, at least spell the names of cars correctly, there's no excuse for "Avensus"

colm_mcm

The carina was replaced by the avensis in 97. Also I don't think there was a glx model. Most likely an sli or gli

johnos1984

Bodhan I'll try put something together in the next week for you as I've said in the email already. It'll be my first time but I've always wanted to do something like this!

Don't worry about the negative points it is still in its infancy yet and these will be sorted quickly with experience. You'll look back and laugh in a few months

John

Bodhan

Wow, big response to the blog. Thanks for the critique guys I've made some changes to the look of the site, new and fresh layout, and the spelling of Avensis, thanks for pointing that out It was a Gli Carina, slip of the hand and it's a glx.
It's nice to get opinions on the reviews, if no one minds I'll post here when there's an new one, just to get the discussion going?


Still looking for more reviews though, get in touch if you fancy a go.

Bodhan

New review posted Citroen C4 Picasso 1.6HDI 2008

http://smokerspack.wordpress.com/2010/06/03/citroen-c4-picasso-1-6hdi-2008/

Owen

I'd change the name though ... seriously. Not everyone's into smoking, and even though it doesn't bother me, it will bother some very PC people.

cadaliac

PaintDoctor wrote: »

I'd change the name though ... seriously. Not everyone's into smoking, and even though it doesn't bother me, it will bother some very PC people.

I would be of the exact opposite view. Keep the name in my view. It's different.
I don't want the same old PC crap anymore. It kind of makes the blog a bit more realistic, spelling mistakes and all. It reads like real people who own the cars review the cars and not some pompous journalist, paid to say that all Toyota's are the best car in Ireland.

Owen

cadaliac wrote: »

I would be of the exact opposite view. Keep the name in my view. It's different.
I don't want the same old PC crap anymore. It kind of makes the blog a bit more realistic, spelling mistakes and all. It reads like real people who own the cars review the cars and not some pompous journalist, paid to say that all Toyota's are the best car in Ireland.

You're missing the point though. The guy said from the off he wants to attract readers and develop this into something professional in time. Having a name that could potentially alienate viewers won't help, nor will spelling mistakes, or watery choices of words/phrases.

He's off to a great start, and needs to fix just a small few things to have it continue on the path to success!

Bodhan

I thought about changing the name too, the main problem is most things related to cars are already taken. Anything with Gear, wheel, motor and so on is already gone for dot com. The Smokerspack choice was something I thought of because it's now so often on a option list for free. Although it wasn't my first choice I've grown to like it now.
All I keep in the ash tray is loose change and the sat nav is plugged into the lighter.
I don't want to be the same as all other car review sites, so I try to give you something to read and a car review too. It's too easy to copy the likes of Top Gear or even Michael Sheridan, that's what most car review sites do, just hang out for another new car, spin the wheels and write the same old review. I want to appeal to the common man, to the real people who are buying cars.
But I do like opinions on the web site, keep them coming and maybe as it grows it will refine into something you like.

Gitb1

So the sun has come out to play, the rise in temperature makes everyone (apart from mad people and lizzards) wear less clothing.

All the magazines scream about dieting and “loose 10 pounds in a week” mentality.

Seriously spell check stuff before you put it up. Good reviews but spelling mistakes make it look very amateurish

Bodhan

Gitb1 wrote: »

Seriously spell check stuff before you put it up. Good reviews but spelling mistakes make it look very amateurish

Thank you, that post was done last night after midnight, I promise it won't happen again

Gitb1

Bodhan wrote: »

Thank you, that post was done last night after midnight, I promise it won't happen again

I didnt mean to be a smartarse about that even though it kinda came across that way im just a bit of a grammar nazi when reading stuff even though im as lazy when im writing haha.

Would it not be handier to write it in a word processor and just let it spellcheck for you and you can just copy and paste it then?

colm_mcm

Without picking holes too much, the Prius review is more an anti public transport rant. And the idea that only tredy gadget types buy it seems to be little more than a prejudice. I sold Prius's since the launch of the 2nd generation in 2004 and the people that bought them from me were usually people looking for an automatic car with good fuel economy, reliability and lots of toys. I can't remember ever trading in a very fashionable car against one - The most "desirable" one was probably a Subaru Forester S Turbo from the CEO of an alternative energy company.

kasper

i cant wait for the skoda octavia revue

Bodhan

colm_mcm wrote: »

Without picking holes too much, the Prius review is more an anti public transport rant. And the idea that only tredy gadget types buy it seems to be little more than a prejudice. I sold Prius's since the launch of the 2nd generation in 2004 and the people that bought them from me were usually people looking for an automatic car with good fuel economy, reliability and lots of toys. I can't remember ever trading in a very fashionable car against one - The most "desirable" one was probably a Subaru Forester S Turbo from the CEO of an alternative energy company.

Yes but that's the point Colm, the people who buy that kind of car aren't looking for style or substance, they are looking for cheap tax, they buy with their brain.

Bodhan

kasper wrote: »

i cant wait for the skoda octavia revue

Your wish is my command, driving one the last 2 days. 2008 1.9Tdi gonna write the review tonight, car goes back tomorrow

colm_mcm

Bodhan wrote: »

Yes but that's the point Colm, the people who buy that kind of car aren't looking for style or substance, they are looking for cheap tax, they buy with their brain.

An excerpt from your review:

These kind of cars are bought by people who ran out to buy the iPad, the same people buy the iPhone. It’s not bought for any*sensible*reason, neither is it bought because of what it can do, it’s bought for that “shiny thing” appeal. It’s the latest thing, same as the electric cars that are just around the corner. They will fill a gap in the market, they are the latest*gadget. Just the same as the iPad will go for the real world buyer, something else will come along and the iPad will wind up in a drawer gathering dust. For the Hybrid and full electric cars, they are just a stopgap for whats to come. I think it will be hydrogen cars that will save the world of motoring, after all it was cars that saved the horse. Right now there are many more*economical*cars to have than the Prius, any Diesel will beat it on motorways but none of them that shout at the world so loud saying “look at my car, it’s eco and I have an iPad too”.

Bodhan

Buying a car for the cheap tax is the same as going to McDonalds for a salad, it's just not sensible. Now buying a car because you like how it looks, goes, handles what ever the reason, that's buying with your heart and that's not sensible either. You need a mix of both.
You must admit the big sell is the hybrid engine, and the cheap tax? Neither has anything to do with how the car goes or feels.
There are other cars on the market that have better economy, there's tonnes of automatics, there's even more with low tax. So that leaves the gadget effect, hybrid will die it's just a question of when.. No oil - no hybrid.
And yes I hate the public transport system in this country, only because it's broken

colm_mcm

Bodhan wrote: »

Buying a car for the cheap tax is the same as going to McDonalds for a salad, it's just not sensible. Now buying a car because you like how it looks, goes, handles what ever the reason, that's buying with your heart and that's not sensible either. You need a mix of both.
You must admit the big sell is the hybrid engine, and the cheap tax? Neither has anything to do with how the car goes or feels.
There are other cars on the market that have better economy, there's tonnes of automatics, there's even more with low tax. So that leaves the gadget effect, hybrid will die it's just a question of when.. No oil - no hybrid.
And yes I hate the public transport system in this country, only because it's broken

Sounds like you're backpeddaling! the Prius still had buyers when it was taxed as a 1.5.
you seem to be contradicting yourself a good bit
Your point in the article was that the Prius is a gadget and buyers buy them because of a novelty factor, now your point is that they're not that economical and people buy them for cheap road tax.

On a seperate note, what's your "beef" with McDonalds salads? what's not sensible about that?

no doubt most of ye know anyway but years back when engines commonly needed major overhaul after a good few years service car dealers often used one of these cars as their runabout, they called them smokers !

Bodhan

colm_mcm wrote: »

Sounds like you're backpeddaling! the Prius still had buyers when it was taxed as a 1.5.
you seem to be contradicting yourself a good bit
Your point in the article was that the Prius is a gadget and buyers buy them because of a novelty factor, now your point is that they're not that economical and people buy them for cheap road tax.

On a seperate note, what's your "beef" with McDonalds salads? what's not sensible about that?

The Prius I reviewed was a 2008, so what ever its tax was on first release wasn't in debate.
Your mis reading/quoting me. I didn't say it's not economical, I said there are more economical cars than a Prius. So if your only reason to buy one is economy then buy one of the diesels out that same year. There is only one situation where the Prius wins on economy and that's in really bad traffic where the stop start nature means it runs on mostly batteries.
So your still left with the gadget factor, the definition of a gadget is appliance: a device or control that is very useful for a particular job. That's what the Prius is, good for heavy traffic but there are better cars out there for everything else, there are even better cars out there for sitting in traffic!

McDonalds salads taste of a chemical wash unless you put the dressing on them, and that means the calorie count of a burger, so just have the burger. Anyway I prefer Burger King

Bodhan

kasper wrote: »

i cant wait for the skoda octavia revue

The waiting is over http://smokerspack.wordpress.com/2010/06/05/skoda-octavia-1-9-tdi-2008/

Next week Skoda Yeti.

Bodhan

Bodhan wrote: »

The waiting is over http://smokerspack.wordpress.com/2010/06/05/skoda-octavia-1-9-tdi-2008/

Next week Skoda Yeti.

I don't know how you can even call that a review to be honest, as car reviews go that's a shameful piece lacking in detail. Also ....

It didn’t take long before Skoda got hold of VW’s parts then the Fabia was released and soon after the Octavia, behind all this Skoda was winning rally championships. ...................

Oh really ? Fabia was released before the Octavia, you may be right but I doubt it.

To be honest reading the site I'd find it hard to believe you are either a car enthusiast or that you worked in the trade, sorry for being blunt

EPM

You're correct RJ, Octavia launched first.

Seriously, the lack of detail is woeful. The reviews just seem to be full of your own views on the manufacturers/models/customers as opposed to detail on the car being tested.

Nothing wrong with that btw, just can't really call it a review

Bodhan

RoverJames wrote: »

I don't know how you can even call that a review to be honest, as car reviews go that's a shameful piece lacking in detail. Also ....

It didn’t take long before Skoda got hold of VW’s parts then the Fabia was released and soon after the Octavia, behind all this Skoda was winning rally championships. ...................

Oh really ? Fabia was released before the Octavia, you may be right but I doubt it.

To be honest reading the site I'd find it hard to believe you are either a car enthusiast or that you worked in the trade, sorry for being blunt

Think you can do better? Prove it, write a review and I'll post it on the site, that's why I posted here in the first place.
Also take out the "and"
then the Fabia was released soon after the Octavia
Octavia 1997, Fabia 1999

There is nothing to detail, it is as it sounds a capable family car.

Bodhan

Bodhan wrote: »

Think you can do better? Prove it, write a review and I'll post it on the site, that's why I posted here in the first place.
Also take out the "and"
then the Fabia was released soon after the Octavia
Octavia 1997, Fabia 1999

There is nothing to detail, it is as it sounds a capable family car.

lol, take out the and then you are correct, that's sofakingweetodded
I'd sooner pick my arse with barbed wire than contribute to that site to be honest

Bodhan

RoverJames wrote: »

lol, take out the and then you are correct, that's sofakingweetodded
I'd sooner pick my arse with barbed wire than contribute to that site to be honest

Now isn't that a great reply, it's very easy to critique someone else's work when you've created nothing. This site is 2 weeks old, and trying to be different. I like criticism as it will make the site better, but at least be constructive.

Bodhan

Bodhan wrote: »

Now isn't that a great reply, it's very easy to critique someone else's work when you've created nothing. This site is 2 weeks old, and trying to be different. I like criticism as it will make the site better, but at least be constructive.

I was constructive with my first reply, you then mentioned if certain words were dropped from your sentances you would then be factually correct, also your attitude to criticism was can I do any better, when faced with such muppetry I then lowered my response to that level

L-M

EPM wrote: »

Seriously, the lack of detail is woeful. The reviews just seem to be full of your own views on the manufacturers/models/customers as opposed to detail on the car being tested.

+1

IN my opinion, I could of wrote most of that without actually having an Octavia. Coming up with that review after having the car for two days is pityful IMO, and I found myself skipping toward the end of it.

Bodhan

RoverJames wrote: »

I was constructive with my first reply, you then mentioned if certain words were dropped from your sentances you would then be factually correct, also your attitude to criticism was can I do any better, when faced with such muppetry I then lowered my response to that level

A typing error that's been corrected. My original post here was to get new writers which is why I said it to you.

Bodhan

New review up Skoda Yeti, why you should drive one.
http://smokerspack.wordpress.com/

-Chris-

Can I check something? From the Octavia review:

On the road the engine noise is fine at cruising speed but a little noisy if you push it, the tyre roar was terrible but I put that down to the cheap tyres that had just been put on in the last service.

Were you reviewing a second hand car?

-Chris-

Nevermind, I just saw some of the other reviews.

Reviewing second hand cars (and a Carina?) seems like a strange decision to me.

EPM

Bodhan wrote: »

New review up Skoda Yeti, why you should drive one.
http://smokerspack.wordpress.com/

How can the best of the lot be a car you haven't driven?

Better effort than the others though for the most part

-Chris-

It’s an old story retold every bank holiday weekend you’ll see red faced parents littered all over the countries roads trying to use brute force to get a deck chair or some other beach related equipment back into the boot. My bank holiday was spent carting the kids from Home to Hotel and then Hotel to Beach, gray sky’s meant we didn’t stay that long on the beach. Back and fourth we went trying to keep the kids from going postal. I was thanking the motoring gods that conspired to grant me a Yeti for the weekend.

I count 5 errors of grammar in this sentence (although I'm no English professor). You really need to proofread more/better.

Bodhan

-Chris- wrote: »

Can I check something? From the Octavia review:



Were you reviewing a second hand car?

Yes, the Octavia is 2008 model it's in the title of the post. I was in a friends Octavia over the weekend and there was very little road noise, he was on Bridgestone tyres too.

-Chris-

The Smokers Pack in a car is something that these days you have to ask for when buying a new car. It get’s you an ash tray and cigarette lighter. I think everyone should put it in, even if you don’t smoke. Smokers pack web site aims to review all cars on the road, both new and used.

The Author and owner of the web site has been a car nut since being a very young child, as a teenager he could tell what car was coming down the road from the shape of the headlights at night. After a extended stay in the motor trade he was asked to write a review of a new car for a newspaper, he liked it so much he started to review cars for various web sites. After getting board of having to be nice about cars (so he could get a loan of them) he decided to start his own web site where he could say what he liked about cars.

Welcome to the Smokers Pack.

If you would like to submit your car for review (any car) then get in touch. Also if you fancy yourself as a motoring journalist then write me a review and it might get published. There’s no restrictions on the car you want to talk about, neither is there any restrictions on what you can say just no bad language. Use the email address to get in touch, or follow me on twitter.

I think I just counted 11 errors in your "About Me" page.

Bodhan

EPM wrote: »

How can the best of the lot be a car you haven't driven?

Better effort than the others though for the most part

You mean the 4x4 version? I drove that in the UK, January this year nice demo model with some hill decent and adjustable ABS/Traction items. They will be expensive options here I bet.

-Chris-

Bodhan wrote: »

Yes, the Octavia is 2008 model it's in the title of the post. I was in a friends Octavia over the weekend and there was very little road noise, he was on Bridgestone tyres too.

It's an unusual choice - the ride and drive of a car can vary quite a bit depending on how the car was treated in the intervening two years.

Reviewing new cars at least gives you a level playing field, or review a second hand car that's for sale and provide a link to it, but reviewing a random car and commenting on road noise or fuel consumption or rattles & squeaks seems like it's going to be of limited use to someone who's thinking of buying a 2008 Octavia.

colm_mcm

FYI the felicia was built from 94 and not 91, it'd be worth mentioning that it got vws 1.9 diesel and 1.6 petrol as well as other skoda firsts like abs

Bodhan

Just a couple of new posts, good video of a track girl falling down and the Mansory Panamera, uggh * shudders*
http://smokerspack.wordpress.com/

Bodhan

-Chris- wrote: »

It's an unusual choice - the ride and drive of a car can vary quite a bit depending on how the car was treated in the intervening two years.

Reviewing new cars at least gives you a level playing field, or review a second hand car that's for sale and provide a link to it, but reviewing a random car and commenting on road noise or fuel consumption or rattles & squeaks seems like it's going to be of limited use to someone who's thinking of buying a 2008 Octavia.

How many people a week log onto Boards to ask an opinion on a second hand car? I'm just giving them another opinion. Yes all cars are treated differently and what I test might not be the car you buy. If the car is up for sale I will be providing links (with the owners permission, as it might be a crap review ) to the car
The alternative is do what every other site does, review new cars and drool over prototypes that we'll never see on the road, I intend to review new cars like the Yeti and second hand cars.
Oh and the Carina historically was a very important car, there's even a few of them left on the road and for sale.

Bodhan

colm_mcm wrote: »

FYI the felicia was built from 94 and not 91, it'd be worth mentioning that it got vws 1.9 diesel and 1.6 petrol as well as other skoda firsts like abs

Well accoring to this just on the bottom of the page it's 91, and this Says 97 so I went with Skodas' version as Wiki can be a little hit and miss.
You are right though about Skoda being the first with lots of things we take for granted now. that said they had a huge budget and lots of ground to make up.

Bodhan

John McGuinness, a lap at 130mph in the TT

The speed makes my eyes water

http://smokerspack.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/john-mcguinness-a-lap-at-130mph-in-the-tt/

Mr Benevolent

Bodhan wrote: »

John McGuinness, a lap at 130mph in the TT

The speed makes my eyes water

http://smokerspack.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/john-mcguinness-a-lap-at-130mph-in-the-tt/

Pfft, I could do that with one leg tied behind my back!*




*From the comfort of my bedroom on a PS3.