The weekend has begun early. w00t.

"Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom" (will-alib)
09/05/2014 at 12:23 • Filed to: None

Those nice guys from GM dropped off a CTS-Vsport yesterday for a week-long review. 420hp of twin-turbo V6 goodness. Now if I could just figger out where the TC defeat button lives...

DISCUSSION (24)

EL_ULY > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
09/05/2014 at 12:25

I want to rent one (if possible) for my Vegas honeymoon. I hope it is as rad as most say

treesmakewater > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
09/05/2014 at 12:26

Well you did not hear it from me, but most TC systems can be completely turned off by pulling a fuse.

HammerheadFistpunch > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
09/05/2014 at 12:29

how are people getting review cars? seriously, I want to hit up Toyota for a 4runner trail and I don't even know where to start.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > HammerheadFistpunch
09/05/2014 at 12:31

Been at it for 3 years. Started off slow and built up steam. Doesn't hurt that my f/t gig is aerospace analyst/writer though.

Oddly enough, a 4runner is one of the trucks I've asked for on a few occasions but Yota never seems to have on in its press fleet.

macanamera > HammerheadFistpunch
09/05/2014 at 12:32

McLaren, I'll review a P1 like anytime you want.

HammerheadFistpunch > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
09/05/2014 at 12:36

I wrote up a nice piece that made it to the front page as the Trail being the best bang for the buck as an overland vehicle and I would like to follow it up for review. I don't even know who to ask

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > treesmakewater
09/05/2014 at 12:42

which should be identified in the manual....

treesmakewater > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
09/05/2014 at 12:50

Most of the time whatever panel is covering up the fuse box will have a diagram on it

mcseanerson > HammerheadFistpunch
09/05/2014 at 13:07

Agreed, I need to expand my Z/28 expertise.

Andrew T. Maness > HammerheadFistpunch
09/05/2014 at 13:11

Ah Toyota, I've been trying to get my foot in the door with them for awhile now.

How the whole press car thing works is 5% talent, 95% politics, so you know, same as any industry.

So far I've been fortunate to get vehicles from GM because they like my style and think that I could be part of the next generation of what I call, automotive content specialists. An ACS is someone who can create print and digital media in any number of formats.

Think of it this way, currently there are the big boys, Autoblog, Motor Trend, Yahoo Autos, Edmunds, etc. etc. They have tons of $ and resources for their writers, directors and editors. However, they are catering to an aging crowd as they themselves are aging entities.

If you want to get press cars don't think about who to ask, think about how to get them to come to you. If you have an I-Phone you can make car reviews. Review your own car(harder than you think), review a friend's car, review your parent's car. The best thing you can do is have a wealth of content to show companies when they come knocking, which if your stuff is good and people are engaging with it, they will.

It's not going to happen overnight, as with anything as awesome as getting brand new cars dropped off at your house(are there things as awesome as that?) a lot of hard work has gone in behind the scenes. I directed reviews for Auto Trader for a year before I struck out on my own. A year of shooting the most incredibly boring, droll and lifeless automotive content you can possibly imagine. The pay wasn't great, the hours weren't either but you know what, it got me started. Once in awhile I'd get to pick up/drop off the cars and I got to drive some pretty amazing stuff.

Lastly and this is perhaps the most important piece of advice I can offer, if you do get in touch with a brand and they reject you, do not get discouraged. I've been told "we'll pass" by a couple of my favorite companies and yeah, it sucks. It's hard to be told no by people you've never met in person. You don't get to plead your case, show them why you deserve this opportunity, explain how this is exactly what they need. Instead you have to take it in stride, thank them for the consideration and say you'll be in touch as your readership/viewership grows.

You've got to find your niche, make your unique voice heard, make it very clear that among all the gearheads of the world, you are responsible enough and talented enough to be trusted with a brand new vehicle. If you can do that then yeah, I'd say you'll be able to get your hands one a 4Runner.

Andrew T. Maness > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
09/05/2014 at 13:12

Have fun!

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Doug DeMuro > HammerheadFistpunch
09/05/2014 at 13:12

It's harder than you think. There's a TON of handshake wink crap that goes on with press cars.

HammerheadFistpunch > Doug DeMuro
09/05/2014 at 13:13

well that's just discriminatory, seeing as how I lost both hands fighting a bear and my eyelids in that freak chemical accident.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > treesmakewater
09/05/2014 at 13:14

well there's that too - but the manual should definitely have one.

HammerheadFistpunch > Andrew T. Maness
09/05/2014 at 13:15

Thanks for that, its something to consider. Im not in the business, per-se, but it would be great to be a greater part of it eventually.

treesmakewater > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
09/05/2014 at 13:25

Sadly most manufacturers do not include such information

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Doug DeMuro
09/05/2014 at 13:26

A Beer of the Month subscription is a good place to start ;)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > treesmakewater
09/05/2014 at 13:27

really?

Man they suck these days.

Just looked at the fuse guide in my wife's Jeep Commander last month in the manual.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Andrew T. Maness
09/05/2014 at 13:31

So far I've been told "We'll pass" by Porsche, Bentley, Volvo and Subaru. Until recently, Ford was on that list too. (Ford!) But instead of being so direct and crushing a writer's fragile ego, they just say their press fleet is small and they can't accommodate the many requests they get for loans. So, I just focus on the companies that can accommodate.

For Sweden > HammerheadFistpunch
09/05/2014 at 13:39

I wrote a front page article about Strategic Miata Reserves. Does that get me a press car?

Andrew T. Maness > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
09/05/2014 at 13:50

"Press fleet is small and we can't accommodate the many requests we get for loans" is my most hated sentence of 2014.

Nice that you got Ford, I have to get in touch with them again. I was one of the 20 Fiesta ST agents for "The Fiesta Movement Remixed" last year, had a FiST for 6 months, with a gas card and free range.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Andrew T. Maness
09/05/2014 at 14:00

" Sir, do you know why I stopped you ?" My most hated sentence of 2014.

As far as the Fiesta deal - a 6 month loan and a gas card? Wow.

treesmakewater > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
09/05/2014 at 15:11

my audi does not even mention where the fuses are. my mother's new crosstrek only shows the location of the main fuse box.

Andrew T. Maness > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
09/05/2014 at 17:50

Haha, yeah that actually should be mine as well. Hazards of reviewing a Red C7 convertible.

Yeah the Fiesta movement was a pretty amazing experience, great little car.