What do you think of FP?

"Spridget" (dustbustervans) 05/17/2016 at 23:45 • Filed to: None

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This is just a general post about your opinions of FP after the firings of Sean and Mate, as well as the sinking ship jumping of Tyler, which many people were upset about. Just share your opinions on FP in general and on the firings, regardless of what you think!

Blondude > Spridget 05/17/2016 at 23:48

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I used to love it, but after today I’m to the point that if there’s one more misstep I’m deleting my bookmark and never coming back.

Matt Nichelson > Spridget 05/17/2016 at 23:49

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Tyler wasn’t fired though. He was offered another job and left.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Spridget 05/17/2016 at 23:49

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The FP sucks, period. They could rehire all their writers and it wouldn’t change a thing.

There’s an elitist view on everything there.

Anything not a manual is hated on.

Anything not a wagon is hated on.

If you disagree with the majority. Run

Also, I still have a grudge with Balban or whatever his name is for his Jersey post

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Spridget 05/17/2016 at 23:50

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To be pedantic, I think Tyler left of his own accord.

Chariotoflove > Spridget 05/17/2016 at 23:50

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My opinion is that the jobs of those left are going to get harder. I don't envy Patrick. Whatever happens will be laid on him.

MLGCarGuy > Spridget 05/17/2016 at 23:51

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Too much clickbait, not enough good reads. The “Why I Fuck Up My Cars” article was an example of a good read.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Spridget 05/17/2016 at 23:57

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The Drake post could be a new low.

MonkeePuzzle > Spridget 05/17/2016 at 23:57

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frontpage is father and mother. we oppo-nauts are oppo-noughts without it.

Blondude > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 05/17/2016 at 23:59

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There’s an elitist view on everything there.

A lot of Opponauts have an elitist view towards FP commenters. Also anyone who drives anything bagged, stanced, stretched, lifted, etc.

Anything not a manual is hated on.

Anything not a wagon is hated on.

I’ve never really seen serious hate for either of these. A vast majority of it is joking sarcasm. There’s a lot of Miata/wagon is always the answer in the same vein as “Pretty sure that’s a Lambo, dude.”

If you disagree with the majority. Run

The same applies to Oppo in regard to a lot of things (see above).

His Stigness > Spridget 05/17/2016 at 23:59

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****EXCLUSIVE SHITPOSTING**** TM Jalopnik

OH LOOK AT US, WE’RE DIFFERENT!!! We’re going to change up car reviews for the sake of changing them up. What’s that you ask, why not just have better writing? Pish Posh! Who needs that when we can make GRAPHICS!!!

LOOK AT US!!! WE’RE SO INTEREStING!!!!

WE’Re THE BEST, FUCK THE REST.

WE HAVE INTEGRITY! (HA!)

Pretty much sums up how I view them now. I never though their writing was good, but I came for the news and the funny crap. But over the years the constant patting themselves on the back has gotten so fucking annoying. A good example is when Patrick stuffed that Camaro. They made such a big deal about it and “owned” up to it, and went out of their way to say other people stuff cars but never write about it.

Also most of the writers are a bunch of insufferable little bitches. Balaban seems like a bitch who doesn’t want to be argued with, same with Hardigree or George. And Tracy is insufferable, trying to act all high and mighty and talk shit about Volkswagen he was an FCA engineer.

REPOST!!

CROSS-POST CLICK BAIT

phenotyp > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 00:01

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Y’all.

I was here when this was Spinelli’s creation. And I have been here since.

If you ask me, the high point of the FP was the Liebermann/Johnson era.

Time passes. Things move on.

d15b > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 00:01

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IT’S LIKE TOP GEAR WITHOUT CLARKSON, RICHARD HAMMOND AND JAMES MAY.

THERE, I SAID IT.

DrJohannVegas > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 00:03

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I miss Murilee Martin posts. I also miss Spinelli. I kinda miss Wert (a little), too. COTD has gone soft, I think. The current crew is a good group of writers, and the comment section is, despite our griping about it, better than the median “front page” internet comments section. Corporate shit constrains everyone in media, so I bear no deep ill will, although I also reserve the right to occasionally snark about it.

TL;DR: Same as it ever was. (Look where my hand was.)

MonkeePuzzle > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 05/18/2016 at 00:04

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dammit honda!

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > MonkeePuzzle 05/18/2016 at 00:07

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Hondas be stealin’ yo military writers.

Nibby > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 00:10

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It used to be better but really I always thought it was hit-or-miss. Some stuff catches my eye and a lot does not. But I see how it could appeal to others.

Though yes, it has unfortunately like the rest of the internet gotten more click-baity.

I’ve been around here for 6+ years now. Oppo has changed but it’s still a fun and decent community, just with different people, as it was when I first started here.

Spridget > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 05/18/2016 at 00:12

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Fixed it. Sorry for the error.

Spridget > Chariotoflove 05/18/2016 at 00:13

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I’ll admit, I’m guilty of this.

Spridget > MonkeePuzzle 05/18/2016 at 00:15

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True, despite whatever we think, FP did create Oppo.

scoob > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 05/18/2016 at 00:15

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What Jersey post?

Spridget > Matt Nichelson 05/18/2016 at 00:15

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I fixed it. That was my error.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 00:18

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No need to be sorry, I just know that negative posts come under more scrutiny.

whoarder is tellurium > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 00:19

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I’ve always been in the gray on the FP. That is all I know.

Also, I cannot read.

sn4cktimes > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 00:20

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Sean was my favourite writer. I found his adventures and reviews quite entertaining to read. I also really liked Tyler’s articles. Not sure that they were really super specifically relevant to auto culture though. I think FTA should have been a Giz sub as so much was tech based. But I do miss reading his stuff.

TheHondaBro > MonkeePuzzle 05/18/2016 at 00:26

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And I am your estranged uncle.

TractorPillow > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 00:30

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I used to read every article, every day. I then went to maybe one or two a day about 6 months ago. Now it’s one a day tops.

I love Doug and get a kick out of 90% of his writing and videos.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 00:30

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It’s a lot better if you just use the Kinja Blocker Chrome extension to hide articles by authors you don’t like.

Seriously, though, I think it is down just a little, but I still go there quite a bit. I do miss AOTD even though it was getting pretty recycled it always got some interesting responses. Also there seems to have been an influx of below average commenters who found about Jalopnik for the first time when the Hulk thing hit the mainstream press. They’ll probably filter out with time.

Westbrook is truly terrible though.

BIGBLOCK472 - wide and bizarre > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 00:30

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As I posted on the Tavarish article on the Maxima, Jalopnik is becoming PerezHilton.com/cars with whining and bitching that all new cars aren’t 20 year old manual Volvo wagons... Essentially the Mean Girls of the automotive news websites.

Gone is the prose of Murilee Martin, replaced by snark and sarcasm and bitchiness of a junior high FBLA club. I think there’s enough negativity to go around in the world... Jalopnik should make me want to love cars, not despise automotive journalists.

Flavien Vidal > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 05/18/2016 at 00:33

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Some great stuff can come out of the FP. In term of articles as well as in term of commenters... Commenters can be stupid, but same thing goes on everywhere on internet. Oppo is a tight small community, it obviously will get a lot less “problematic commenters”

The main problem with the FP is, I think, the lack of proper original content. Real car reviews of cars they just don’t ask to manufacturers press centers. Jalopnik never meant “how many options do we get in next year’s Nissan Altima.

They have great offroad coverage that, with David, fits the Jalopnik I used to like a bit more... But all the youtube videos, Tesla updates, week ends filled exclusively with racing content at a rate of 3 or 4 post per race covered per day, supercar related content, fill up articles with a pictures and a sentence along with what I see as a general lack of interesting and original content has pushed me out of the FP more and more...

All that with no driving whatsoever, appart from offroad vehicles.

What we have left are good offroad content, Jason’s funny posts and once in a while something that stands out as a great write-up. That’s pretty much it.

Pretty much this exact same post I wrote before ended up with Patrick basically telling me to fuck off, because I also, on that very same day, sent him an email telling him that I’d be happy to help out produce original content for Jalopnik, emailing me back something like “Jalopnik is shit but hire me!” and quoting my post. Any criticism of what Jalopnik currently is, seems to be seen as an agression. I highly doubt that it’s how things will get better over time....

Positive stuff now??

Guys, you’re freaking Jalopnik, why don’t you connect with your readers more?? I’m sure there are tons of great reader’s cars you could review and film, at a local track or in NY state back roads! “Jalopnik is looking to review YOUR car, contact us with what you have and could let us try here: email@jalopnik.com.”, and have Raphael and Doug send out to people’s home around NYC with someone to film that...

It’s a low cost and that’s something I’d love to watch twice a week. Better than handheld “live stream” or “What sports car can you drive if you’re not an asshole” videos...

CRider > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 00:33

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Used to be pretty nice, is currently burning itself to the ground.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > DrJohannVegas 05/18/2016 at 00:35

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COTD used to feature good stories or amazing mechanical knowledge throwdown. Now it’s meme-tastic, or something I saw on oppo like last week.

Alex from Toronto > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 00:35

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The FP has the occasional good read, but the content has gotten stale. Although Black Flag and Truck Yeah always has some good stuff.

DrJohannVegas > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 05/18/2016 at 00:39

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> puts on Alex Trebek voice

I’m sorry, but you need to phrase your response in the form of a meme.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > DrJohannVegas 05/18/2016 at 00:42

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DrJohannVegas > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 05/18/2016 at 00:43

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> Trebek voice continues

Oh, I’m sorry. We were looking for “What is ‘I think that’s a Lambo, dude.’?”

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > DrJohannVegas 05/18/2016 at 00:49

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YEH PERT YER LEFF FERT ERR

Flavien Vidal > His Stigness 05/18/2016 at 00:51

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The cross posting and lack of original content is indeed tiring... But I think you’re wrong with most writers. They are car guys who I’m sure would be fun to hang out with... But they are car guys who have to “fill up the day” with their daily quota of posts... Car guys who are probably also tired of doing this. Demuro and Jason seem to be the only ones who actually look like they enjoy what they’re doing... Demuro goofing around the camera, thinking of any jokes a 12 year old could find, and Jason, drunk posting at 10pm.

Blame the system, but I don’t think you should blame the messengers like that...

My bird IS the word > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 00:53

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At least they cant fire all of us. We are dumb enough to write for free.

MonkeePuzzle > TheHondaBro 05/18/2016 at 00:54

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I love you uncle touchy.

I see we are one.

My bird IS the word > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 05/18/2016 at 00:55

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Does anyone on oppo even own a wagon? lol. I get that it is always talked about, but next to none are actually around.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > My bird IS the word 05/18/2016 at 00:57

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I used to :( ....

Also the Vibe is actually classified a wagon by my DOT so technically maybe I do!

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > My bird IS the word 05/18/2016 at 00:58

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Paging JamesGrabow

Alfalfa > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 01:02

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It’s really hard to say, considering they’ve been very “hush hush” on the whole thing. We don’t know why, or even who fired them. I feel like they have no idea what they’re doing, but I’m sure there’s at least a little logic behind it.

His Stigness > Flavien Vidal 05/18/2016 at 01:10

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Well in my defense I’ve never met any of them in person, so the only thing I have to go off of is their online presence. I agree they are all probably car guys, but I still disagree with their styles. I think the reason all of them (except Demuro) are there for a reason. And I think it’s for that same reason Tyler and Sean are now gone. Some don’t have a hard time writing the Gawker way, and some do.

RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z) > d15b 05/18/2016 at 01:13

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its like top gear america...the first season

DipodomysDeserti > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 05/18/2016 at 01:16

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Damn, that's a huge fucking chip on your shoulder!

Big Bubba Ray > My bird IS the word 05/18/2016 at 01:17

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Yep. 05 Outback 5MT here.

Dsscats > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 01:18

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It’s rapidly becoming Carthrottle.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > My bird IS the word 05/18/2016 at 01:21

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I have an Outback does that count?

There are multiple allroad owners as well.

Dsscats > TheHondaBro 05/18/2016 at 01:22

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You’re the redheaded step child who grew up in the basement.

Love you.

DipodomysDeserti > BIGBLOCK472 - wide and bizarre 05/18/2016 at 01:23

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Spot on. There's an extremely annoying tone with much of the writing.

His Stigness > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 01:25

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Crap I totally forgot:

FULL DISCLoSURE: We’re full of ourselves.

My bird IS the word > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 05/18/2016 at 01:34

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Oh it definetly counts. Still seems that wagon owners are in a very small minority for how much that “brown diesel manual wagon” talk comes up. Seems like an inaccurate joke at this point.

MrTexas > RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z) 05/18/2016 at 01:42

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Any. Season.

d15b > RedlineZ bought an SV (And is getting rid of the z) 05/18/2016 at 01:47

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Basically, this.

It’s like, awkward, elbowy, virgin nerd sex.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 01:47

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I started reading Jalopnik when I began college in the fall of 2011/spring of 2012. Around that time it was Ray Wert, Matt Hardigree, Mike Spinelli, Raphael Orlove from what I remember.

I still remember the freakin’ star system. I wasn’t even a registered user back then. Oppositelock was a confusing place to visit with its horrible layout (imo).

I still remember $kay’s fabulous COTDs though. Articles back then were great quality. Then the lists arrived, the reviews changed, folks got promoted, /DRIVE happened. There was this shift in quality...

I’m not too big of a fan of the defense articles but once in a while those Rogoway articles were fabulous pieces to just read. Currently I really enjoy Stef’s articles, Doug DeMuro, Steve Lehto and Tom McParland.

I will also drop in to just vote without reading on graverobber’s pieces form time to time. More often than not I fall under the majority of votes!

And let’s not forget the commenting quality has gone down hill. It used to be pretty good back when I started visiting Jalopnik. Now this shit enrages me, it’s like the fucking Youtube comments. I’ll drop down to read comments from Oppositelock folks and that’s it.

M54B30 > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 02:22

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When I first started reading Jalopnik a few years ago it was one home run article after anothed. It was so good i stuck with it through the Kinja disaster.

Now it’s stupid shit half the time like shameless commission-driven “commerce team,” sponsored posts, and the occasional barely-relevant cross-site posting (see: Alanis King’s anti-car articles that keep getting shared). The old days were good...

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > d15b 05/18/2016 at 02:41

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“Elbowy” really made that line for me. Well done!

duurtlang > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 03:28

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Wait, Máte was fired?

t_s > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 07:06

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Jalopnik’s FP used to be my first port of call for automotive news. As someone who lives outside the United States it was a fascinating insight into how cars are lived with on the other side of the pond. I became a regular reader in the Spinelli years. It was fantastic. I think this latest iteration of the editorial staff is utterly woeful. Whilst I didn’t agree with most of the Lanesplitter posts I did like the fact that there were there. Foxtrot Alpha was a fascinating read. Now every other post is about how awesome the 1973 Beetle door retaining nut is or useless reposted videos. I sincerely hope this is just a phase and Orlove and Co. return to their fine form of the past. The FP is just a gateway to LaLD and Oppo now, I can only stomach so much Beetle-based whimsy and pointless regurgutation of the same tired comments underneath every article.

Klaus Schmoll > duurtlang 05/18/2016 at 08:05

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They closed the whole Budapest office. Apparently, they let him work the whole day and then fired him around 4 o’clock when his latest work was published to the frontpage.

duurtlang > Klaus Schmoll 05/18/2016 at 08:17

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After my reply I read some more comments and noticed the same. A shame really, I’m getting the feeling Jalopnik is beeing gutted. Real and interesting content (/writers) seems to be getting phased out, although I’m confident this is despite rather than because of the Jalopnik management.

4 pm in Budapest is early morning in the US by the way, so that’s not too odd.

Party-vi > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 08:28

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FP did not create Oppo. Oppo created itself, and then Kinja techs asked the Mods to helm new Oppo as the Kinja guinea pig.

Quadradeuce > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 08:44

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Tyler: he put out a lot of content that I enjoyed reading, even if he had an obvious bias.

Sean: I dislike motorcycle culture, but Sean made it more approachable, probably because he actually acknowledged the shortcomings. I had more of an interest in motorcycles as a result of his writing.

Maté: I never really cared for his content, especially after he ripped on trans ams. I really don’t like those cars, but I respect the enthusiast culture and recognize it’s a solid jalop platform. But I did enjoy his European view of things.

As far as who’s left: Jason, Doug, and Raph are all i’m really interested in reading. Patrick doesn’t put out anything interesting since taking over and ballaban just seems bitter for some reason. Justin clearly has a chip on his shoulder and his quality has gone down.

That’s my $0.02. I am going to the FP less and less.

Chariotoflove > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 09:49

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It's natural.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 10:24

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Wait, Mate is gone now too? What the actual fuck? Not that he did much, but was still pretty good.

I’m still upset about Sean being fired, Lanesplitter is absolute shit now and not worth the time.

Shift24 > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 10:27

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Mainly read it for the Morning shift. Commenting is stupid (even oppo has it, though less of it), you have to be recommended by the writter to be ungrayed because some made up reason that happened years ago. I think Tom will bring up some good points and travish has some worthy posts (not saying he is right on decent amount of the cars he recommends) but I agree alot of it is FB type click bait.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > My bird IS the word 05/18/2016 at 10:31

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Yup! Magnum SRT8.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Spridget 05/18/2016 at 10:45

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I am trying to remember if it was ever any better on the FP. Lately every time I go to check it out I see three Nascar stories. I want no part of that.

Alanis King > M54B30 05/18/2016 at 11:41

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Errrr... I’m not a cross poster and I’m not anti-car... I believe you got my name mixed up.

M54B30 > Alanis King 05/18/2016 at 12:44

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Crap, sorry! I must’ve remembered your name from articles I actually enjoyed reading and accidentally applied it recklessly.

Edit: yeah I confused you and whoever they share on the weekends since you both are Jalopnik’s weekend lineup

My bird IS the word > StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 05/18/2016 at 15:08

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The car every wagon aspires to be.

Alanis King > M54B30 05/18/2016 at 16:28

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No worries! I appreciate y’all’s thoughts, so I just wanted to clear that one up.

M54B30 > Alanis King 05/18/2016 at 20:52

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Absolutely - the one I was thinking of is from Gizmodo I think