FP News

"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
10/09/2020 at 11:52 • Filed to: None

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DISCUSSION (70)

jminer > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 11:56

Gah! He will be missed. Anyone know where he’s going ?

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 11:57

It’s almost like they don’t want us to read the FP at all anymore.

Andrew’s awesome, this sucks.

Jim Spanfeller > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 11:58

It’s only a matter of time before the others jump ship as well. Honestly Jalopnik is dying, and at this point it’s just holding the good writers back.

For Sweden > jminer
10/09/2020 at 11:58

Either Business Insider, R&T, or The / Drive

hike > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
10/09/2020 at 11:59

I pretty much only go there to see what crazy things Torch writes and to see what David Tracy is up to with his van. It’s pretty sad what it’s become.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 11:59

Holy crap, I mean, writers always come and go, but it’s been a ton from Jalop in the last year, hasn’t it? Sounds like David is burning out, too, and Jason and Raph can’t keep the ethos going by themselves.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > For Sweden
10/09/2020 at 12:00

Likely - hopefully he’s got a good place to land.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > jminer
10/09/2020 at 12:01

His follow-up tweet says he’s joining Patrick George and Mike Spinelli to relaunch a site called Car Bibles.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
10/09/2020 at 12:02

G/O clearly doesn’t pay for shit, so Jalopnik is really just a launching pad.

Hopefully he’s got a great new position ahead of him.

jminer > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
10/09/2020 at 12:02

I just saw that. While I’m no expert on automotive media seems like a strange name for a car website.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > jminer
10/09/2020 at 12:04

I agree. Him saying it’s a relaunch makes me wonder if the Car Bibles name was an early-internet (“Web 1.0") thing.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/09/2020 at 12:04

It was illuminating when David disclosed that the video series he’d been assigned was months late “due to the whole video staff being laid off”. He had to eventually shoot it himself.

Must be zero fun over there by now.

facw > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 12:06

Too bad.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 12:06

Follow-up tweet:

Joining Patrick, Spinelli and Cheromcha at Brookline (TheDrive) to relaunch Car Bibles (sounds like he’ll be running the site).

ibRAD > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 12:07

Aw, come on.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > For Sweden
10/09/2020 at 12:08

Follow-up tweet:

Joining Patrick, Spinelli and Cheromcha at Brookline (TheDrive) to relaunch Car Bibles (sounds like he’ll be running the site).

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/09/2020 at 12:09

I’m sure he does. All the other Jalop writers that have left have seemingly ended up in bigger and better situations. It just sucks because I remember how amazing Jalopnik was back around 2012-2015 and I just don’t think the new hires are as entertaining or frankly knowledgeable of the car industry.

vondon302 > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 12:10

Damn it. Another reason not to go to the FP.

For Sweden > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/09/2020 at 12:10

Reject Modernity (Car Bible)

Embrace Tradition (Car Torah)

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
10/09/2020 at 12:11

Do you still read it? As I said yesterday, I actually find Murilee’s TTAC far more interesting these days. It’s not even close. And, of course, Stef at The Drive.

Hell, even DriveTribe’s looking better by the day.

Future next gen S2000 owner > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/09/2020 at 12:14

I’m convinced people just move from Jalopnik to TheDrive after a given amount of time. It’s some how ingrained into their DNA. Like a turtle returning to the beach where it was born.

HammerheadFistpunch > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 12:14

Another reason to visit disappears . sad times.

Sovande > Jim Spanfeller
10/09/2020 at 12:15

I gotta say, they already lost all the good writers. Andrew was bay far the best writer of the remaining bunch and it is sad to see him go. Tracy is obviously next as he has basically decided to fuck off to Europ e for a while (which sounds fucking amazing). So we can continue to read under-researched articles about weird turn signals and odd electric cars from Torch and that’s about it.

I also find it odd that Jalopni k, et al, link to articles from competing car sites. Seems odd to drive traffic away from the site mid-article .

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 12:15

Bummer but good for him, everyone deserves to go where they want.

Now we only have Torch and Tracy to carry the ba ton.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 12:16

I am shocked he stayed that long. I used to love Jalopnik but it is not really what it used to be. Shame, since their content actually was picking up over the course of the last month.

They just can’t keep any talent and the talent isn’t to blame for that.

Textured Soy Protein > hike
10/09/2020 at 12:17

Yeah at this point it’s like, those couple things, plus Morning Shift and a bunch of motorsports updates on the weekends. They don’t even have enough writers to put out articles about whatever interesting cars get press releases in a given week.

shop-teacher > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 12:17

Jalopnik reall y is dying on the vine. Andrew’ s long form adventure stories are always incredible. Only DT and Torch write anything worth reading there anymore.

MM54 > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 12:20

And then there were two...

Jim Spanfeller > Sovande
10/09/2020 at 12:22

I like Torch and Tracy’s work, but that’s about it. Brownell is a good writer, but too hostile in the comments, and the others? They just... Don’t write with a lot of personality, if that makes any sense. When it’s a Torch, Tracy, or Brownell article, you can tell. The others? I forget they even work for Jalopnik. At this point, if Torch and/or Tracy jump ship, I’m abandoning Jalopnik for good.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > Textured Soy Protein
10/09/2020 at 12:22

Yes I’ve noticed how there’s essentially zero industry news on the FP anymore. They had intentionally skewed away from covering it in an autoblog.com-like manner, but now it’s suddenly nothing.

Roadkilled > For Sweden
10/09/2020 at 12:28

Here is what I found in the Car Torah.

If thy car has a lever next to the driver, and that lever allows the driver to select individual gears, the car is acceptable to me an it may be driven.

However, if the level is marked with “D” that alloweth thy car to automatically select gears, the car is an abomination to me and shall not be driven. If “D” indicates that there are not individual gears, but instead the transmission is “continuously variable”, the car is an abomination and shall be sent to the crusher.

Sovande > Jim Spanfeller
10/09/2020 at 12:31

Agreed, and that’s a really god description of why I don’t read Brownell. He really is oddly defensive of his articles . I am fairly certain that I couldn’t name another author on the site aside from Torch, Tracy, Andrew and Brownell.

HammerheadFistpunch > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
10/09/2020 at 12:36

If they could get free of this idea that you have to live in New York to work there...I mean you could hire half a dozen freelancers all over the country to get interesting and diverse content but they dont

I realize some are remote, but they all start there.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 12:39

Opposite lock is going to be the last blog standing.

Urambo Tauro > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 12:46

Sad to see him go, but y’know what- he deserves better than G/O Media. So good for him! Definitely g onna have to check out this “Car Bibles” thing...

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 12:49

Ah man, this sucks.

Wacko > jminer
10/09/2020 at 12:49

a car site for priests

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 12:57

Mid Engine > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/09/2020 at 13:09

Justin posted several weeks back that he makes ~ $55k. That’s fucking ridiculous

ranwhenparked > HammerheadFistpunch
10/09/2020 at 13:13

And hiring people who live in more car friendly areas would seem to make sense for, you know, a car blog. Even fairly wealthy people have trouble swinging monthly parking fees in NYC, let alone an entry level blog writer.

COMTNDRVR > HammerheadFistpunch
10/09/2020 at 13:24

I don’t think that’s true anymore. I think they just have 3 writers in NY now and when Rory announced they’re hiring he said NY wasn’t a requirement. Heck Rory and Erin run things and neither is in NY.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/09/2020 at 13:42

I do, but that’s because I’m a glutton for punishment, and if I ever feel like getting into an argument it’s a great outlet lol.

HammerheadFistpunch > COMTNDRVR
10/09/2020 at 13:43

Their last posting required you to come in to the office from time to time.

COMTNDRVR > HammerheadFistpunch
10/09/2020 at 13:49

“ from time to time.”

It really depends what they mean by that.

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 14:32

No, NO, NOOOOOOOOOOO.

Well, FP continues to skew further left. Tracy is the holdout. When he goes the only weird Torch will FP be worth visiting.

A Boy and His Longtail > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/09/2020 at 15:08

The FP is on life support at this point

stuckMTB > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/09/2020 at 15:11

Yep... used to be I would type in J-a-l-o-p whenever I opened a new tab. Now it’s Oppo more often than not.

atfsgeoff > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
10/09/2020 at 15:23

Waiting for the slogan to change to "Drive Free and Die"

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Mid Engine
10/09/2020 at 15:39

Ridiculous for NYC?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
10/09/2020 at 15:42

When’s the last time Orlove’s posted anything?

Mid Engine > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/09/2020 at 15:58

yeah, or pretty much any decent sized city. Shit pay considering the job likely requires a 4 year degree

ranwhenparked > COMTNDRVR
10/09/2020 at 16:37

True, if it's just for like, a quarterly staff meeting, or even monthly, you could live pretty well anywhere. But, if they expect you in a day or two a week, forget it. Even every other week might be a bit much to live a plane ride out.

SpeedSix > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/09/2020 at 17:21

TTAC is loaded with trolls - I just stick to occasionally browsing Murilee’s articles on different sites as linked from his own website.

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > Jim Spanfeller
10/09/2020 at 18:54

I can’t stand the comment section because half the staff at this point have adopted a ‘holier than thou’ attitude when they do Op-Ed. No matter how shitty the take, no matter the contrary evidence presented; they choose to die on the hill.

It’s this direction that has had a tremendous impact below. There’s a significant base of people that are un-greyed on Jalopnik that just drone affirmation and goad opposition to the articles. They providing near zero meaningful discussion. It’s when you see the 300+ comments and it’s just a bunch of bickering filler gone nowhere.

I’m not inclined to read articles where the authors refuse to admit faults or consider other views when confronted. It’s overly dictatorial.

50ford500 > Sovande
10/09/2020 at 19:38

Brownelle alone is a major reason I hardly touch the FP anymore he’s just so difficult to stomach. I still like Tom and the npocp series but I’m still not sure why the changed the name it sounds stupid now

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > stuckMTB
10/09/2020 at 20:28

Oppo content is A+

Jalapeño content is like C-

flatisflat > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/09/2020 at 23:55

Worth reading? Nothing recently. Lots of old schwinn content (which I’m not fundamentally against but it just doesn’t feel to really strike a chord) and what feel like lackluster half-hearted vehicle reviews.

Stef Schrader > COMTNDRVR
10/10/2020 at 01:25

When I was around under different editors and different ownership , it was super infrequently. Occasional events. Basically getting flied in for it.

Then again, I have n o idea what goes on anymore because I’m so out of the loop that I didn’t even know they still did roasts , ha .

COMTNDRVR > Stef Schrader
10/10/2020 at 01:28

That’s what I’d assume, and I’d think G/O is cheap and COVID means even less required inbound travel.

Stef Schrader > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/10/2020 at 01:29

It was illuminating when David disclosed that the video series he’d been assigned was months late “due to the whole video staff being laid off”. He had to eventually shoot it himself.

fjdksla;fdjkfs;fdksalf;jel;e fadls

I knew the video staff was massacred by the herb, but good grief. David deserves extra pay for picking up their work on top of his.

Jim Spanfeller > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
10/10/2020 at 01:29

Not to mention half the articles on Jalopnik seem to have been written by people who wanted to be political writers but were rejected and ended up on Jalopnik instead. If I wanted to read about politics, I’d visit a different site. I come to car sites to escape from political discussions, not stumble into them at random!

Stef Schrader > COMTNDRVR
10/10/2020 at 01:34

I have no idea if they’re even back in an office, TBH. Lifehacker’s recent mayo-cracker video looked like it was shot at home.

COMTNDRVR > Stef Schrader
10/10/2020 at 02:17

Per the increasingly angry and depressing Morning Shift, they are not.

Blondude > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/10/2020 at 03:26

https://jalopnik.com/author/orlove

He still posts most days, but it’s mostly just reviews and press releases. It’s been a long time since we got a solid, long read from him.

stuckMTB > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/10/2020 at 09:55

I want more Jalapeño content.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Blondude
10/10/2020 at 10:11

I guess I’ve missed that he’s been doing Morning Shifts. I wonder if/when we’ll see more bylines by Rory.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > flatisflat
10/10/2020 at 10:13

Seeing your friends and coworkers jumping ship one after another can’t make for a good feeling at the (virtual) workplace.

flatisflat > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
10/10/2020 at 10:30

That is a very! good point.

TheBlightOfGrey > HammerheadFistpunch
10/10/2020 at 19:23

I’ll take Brownell’s garage in Reno any day.

Stef Schrader > COMTNDRVR
10/12/2020 at 15:09

Makes sense. Supposedly they moved into a pretty gross little hole on Times Square per the folks who stayed, so that’s a thing. An inadequately cleaned office in the middle of a tourist trap that’s the most likely to attract covidiots who are OK with crowds in the middle of a pandemic is the LAST place on earth I’d want to actually go right now.

Plus, the temptation to leave poop on Spanfeller’s desk might be too much some day. Just slip a big ol’ brown one right in an office plant.