S2C Forum Archives
Main Section => Welcome to our virtual Pub Meeting ... => Topic started by: Mycroft on March 28, 2023, 06:54:49 PM
-
James Taylor has just posted to his Facebook followers that the next published Land Rover Owner magazine will be the last. Full text below. Incidentally, if you don't follow James on Facebook ("James Taylor Roverphile"), he posts lots of detailed articles, occasionally touching on our favourite machines. I haven't felt the need to buy many copies of LRO, preferring CLR and of course B2L, but it's sad to see a car magazine - any car magazine - fold.
"I’m sad to say that an official announcement has been made by Bauer Media that publication of LRO magazine will be indefinitely paused (their words) and the last issue will be the one with a May cover date that goes on sale on 12 April.
There have been rumours about a major change for some time, and no doubt more information about the failure of alleged negotiations to sell the magazine will become available in due course. However, Bauer cite the primary reasons for their action as reduced sales, reduced advertising income (both of course caused by migration to online media) and increased prices of paper, printing and distribution. Essentially, there's no profit or not enough profit in it any more.
I rejoined LRO in 2012 after a period with other magazines, and during which I was Editor of Land Rover Enthusiast for nearly ten years. I first wrote for LRO in 1990.
I don’t yet know what will happen to my Roverphile column, which has been running for more than 25 years in various magazines and which I know is widely enjoyed. I hope it will survive somewhere, although I will not be receptive to proposals for major changes to the format.
To those I’ve dealt with and met through LRO, I’ll say a big Thank You. You now have one less demand on your hard-earned pennies every month, which may be a good thing; but you will also have one less Land Rover-related fix every month, which is not such a good thing.
Whether a market exists for any more new Land Rover magazines is something I don't know. However, wouldn't it be good if somebody created one devoted to the classic Defender in all its forms? Would you buy it? I'd certainly write for it!"
-
Sad to see it go, especially as an outlet for James' research.
But to be honest, I haven't bought it for a number of years.
I hope it make CLR magazine more viable, with less competition.
-
Sad to see it go, especially as an outlet for James' research.
But to be honest, I haven't bought it for a number of years.
I hope it make CLR magazine more viable, with less competition.
Spot on Exile . I hope James isn't too proud to offer his services to CLR - both would benefit.
-
My LRO subscription expires October 2023. No mention of refunds. I'll have to phone the subscription section.
-
I am quite sure that this forum and the LRSOC forum would be quite happy to see his posts
-
Yes it`s a pity to see LRO close down. For many years they, & others, have been an important entry into LR interest & ownership, just like this forum. Yet another by-product of the so-called social media.
LRO in 2021 had 162 pages, compare that with 2008 when it had 234 and of those many were advertising, that's a lot of revenue to lose
I cancelled my LRO subscription a couple of years ago when I started with CLR, a membership which I coincidently renewed only today, a two-year subscription amounting to £3.75 per issue. That has got to be great value.
-
The jungle drums have been saying that LRO was on borrowed time for the last few months.
It's not my position to cast aspersions, The magazine is no where near as full as it used to be and bauer obviously have the final say.
Hopefully John, Neil, Mark etc the rest of the team can find other avenues for their creative talents.
And as mooted above maybe James could work with CLR as he is a go to in terms of historical know how and a bit I always read. :first
-
Oh well, I have been a subscriber since the first year of publication. I kept them all, only selling my complete collection last year as it was taking up too much room.
I had been mithering about cancelling my subscription for a while, because it had become very formulaic. Like _very_ formulaic. Apart from the likes of Roverphile, or the workshop section, there was precious little else of any depth.
What it lacked in my opinion was some articles properly probing how the vehicles worked. I think the last proper article like that was about the ABS on the Range Rover Classic!! With all of the tech on modern vehicles, some articles about e.g. Ingenium, ACE, EAS, the TDV8's, etc would have improved the mag no end.
But there we are, I will have to subscribe to something else.
Chris.
-
Presumably there will not now be a LRO show this year (had they lined up a new venue to replace Peterborough Showground after its closure?) ???
-
Presumably there will not now be a LRO show this year (had they lined up a new venue to replace Peterborough Showground after its closure?) ???
The economics on shows can be quite different - and separate. I was once involved in a mag that closed down, but we kept the show going for a while. I'll let you know if I hear more.
-
There's recently been too much focus on expeditions abroad rather than the nuts and bolts of running Land Rovers and I don't have much faith in some of the answers in the Technical Queries section.
-
That’s sad. It opened the whole Landrover world to me. LRO came directly from the gods and took me on a fantastic ride with every copy.
As a student in the UK in the early 1990s I eagerly awaited each new issue which I bought at the campus newsagent and read in one go in my dorm room the same evening, only to re-read it for the next weeks (ok, read some Shakespeare and lots of other books, too. If I remember about two to three a week).
I started rummaging on scrapyards back then and casting an eye on every Series Landy I saw, and upon my return to Germany I bought my first Landrover, an early 1980s 109, still as a student and with a limited budget. And I started subscribing back then.
I still have these copies of LRO in the basement and from time to time a take the odd old issue and read it for the memories.
I stopped subscribing when CLR came out as I felt that by that time too much content didn’t really address me. Incidentally, I cancelled my CLR subscription a while ago as there wasn’t enough workshop and hands-on material in it for me either.
Maybe I should re-subscribe? I miss the good old real paper reading.
-
That’s sad. It opened the whole Landrover world to me. LRO came directly from the gods and took me on a fantastic ride with every copy.
As a student in the UK in the early 1990s I eagerly awaited each new issue which I bought at the campus newsagent and read in one go in my dorm room the same evening, only to re-read it for the next weeks (ok, read some Shakespeare and lots of other books, too. If I remember about two to three a week).
I started rummaging on scrapyards back then and casting an eye on every Series Landy I saw, and upon my return to Germany I bought my first Landrover, an early 1980s 109, still as a student and with a limited budget. And I started subscribing back then.
I still have these copies of LRO in the basement and from time to time a take the odd old issue and read it for the memories.
I stopped subscribing when CLR came out as I felt that by that time too much content didn’t really address me. Incidentally, I cancelled my CLR subscription a while ago as there wasn’t enough workshop and hands-on material in it for me either.
Maybe I should re-subscribe? I miss the good old real paper reading.
Good memories.
It's sad - and ironic - that physical publishing is struggling at a time when interest in the cars has never been higher.
In an ideal world, some of the know-how would migrate to CLR.
-
I stopped buying LRO many years ago.
Overpriced and full of adverts.
-
We had the French language edition of LRO down here. That only lasted about three issues before disappearing!
-
I'm sticking with CLR at the moment. Hopefully it might buck its ideas up and get more practical subjects rather than expedition reports which seems to be the "in thing" at the moment.
-
I've just contacted the subscription section and I have cancelled my subscription and I will be getting a refund. I was offered a transfer to another Bauer publication but I already subscribe to Practical Classics and I don't want anything else.
-
I wonder what will be the next to go, with costs going up a people cutting back...
-
I always regarded LRO as the pick of the bunch historically. Off road international was non land rover specific.
LRM had a try at toppling LRO but remained in my opinion not as good.
LRO started to loose my readership when they migrated to extreme modification. Where as before it was stock vehicles, with a smattering of club, trials and comp results.
Latterly the classic and archive articles took my interest.
That I assume is where classic land rover mag picked up its readership and following.
Unfortunately pages and pages of ads for revenue wind up folks who want articles, or me at least.
Because advertisers migrated to online, prices of the mags rose even with depleted content.
It used to be a pinnacle or feather in cap to be featured in lro, I know wittsend has starred with his pristine airportable.
-
That’s sad. It opened the whole Landrover world to me. LRO came directly from the gods and took me on a fantastic ride with every copy.
As a student in the UK in the early 1990s I eagerly awaited each new issue which I bought at the campus newsagent and read in one go in my dorm room the same evening, only to re-read it for the next weeks (ok, read some Shakespeare and lots of other books, too. If I remember about two to three a week).
I started rummaging on scrapyards back then and casting an eye on every Series Landy I saw, and upon my return to Germany I bought my first Landrover, an early 1980s 109, still as a student and with a limited budget. And I started subscribing back then.
I still have these copies of LRO in the basement and from time to time a take the odd old issue and read it for the memories.
I stopped subscribing when CLR came out as I felt that by that time too much content didn’t really address me. Incidentally, I cancelled my CLR subscription a while ago as there wasn’t enough workshop and hands-on material in it for me either.
Maybe I should re-subscribe? I miss the good old real paper reading.
It is sad.
When I bought my first and only Land Rover as a cheap working runabout in 2000, I had absolutely no idea there was such a thing as the “Land Rover scene”. It was LRO that introduced me to that, and my first attendance at the LRO Show was where I found the Series 2 Club, and subsequently this Forum.
I agree also it lost its way over the years. Too much consideration given to building no cost spared “trailer queens” for my taste. The CLR mag is far better for me, and one can only hope that the journo’s from LRO find gainful employment elsewhere within the scene……
-
Hopefully this will lead to more quality content available for CLR to pick from going forward.
-
Maybe printed paper magazines are all going this way?
I used to get LRO all the time back in the 90's It was the best way to get information and see suppliers. With the advent of the internet though, everyone offering online ordering and these forums for instant question answers, the magazine seemed to loose it purpose.
I stopped subscribing to LRO mid 2000's I guess when the last of the beam axle vehicles were made. Modern independent suspension things didn't have anything to offer me and I saw the LRO articles changing to be more focused on off roading, modified vehicles and new vehicles, all subjects I'm not really interested in.
Is a shame to see it go though. They featured me and my series IIA way back over a 4 or 5 page article. Still have that copy somewhere.
I tried the online version of the CLR but I have about 10 issues now I haven't looked at yet, just never seem to find the time.
Craig.
-
I wonder if the main problem for Land Rover mags is that club forums such as those for the S11 and S1 club are so good there is no place for less focused Land Rover publications
-
I started reading LROi back in 1994, there was a good mix of articles and as mentioned, the only way to find parts and suppliers etc. I stopped getting the mag in the mid 2000s, I felt it just became all about off roading, expeditions and bolting as much tat on your Defender as possible month after month. All the big 3 mags were running very similar articles on similar/same vehicles. I found the project vehicles interesting as I like reading in depth about restorations and rebuilds and tech articles, even hybrids, engine swaps and the like . I’m not fussed about chequebook type rebuilds and the modern coil sprung ‘builds’ of throwing as much stuff as you can ordered from Scorpion Racing or whoever was the supplier of choice at that given period.
In the modern world with the internet I suppose magazines and also newspapers have a difficult job as it’s so easy to read about whatever you want on the WWW.
-
I subscribed for a few years in the late 90s and early 2000s but let it drop as I felt there was less and less in it for Series vehicles and more about blinging up more modern motors, to me they had lost their way under 'Bauer Media' ownership just the same as some other hobby mags from the 'Bauer media' stable that I took and eventualy dropped. CLR is better in that respect and is from an independent publisher 'Key Publishing' and not some big publishing conglomerate that is pushing for sales to new modern LR owners.
I attended an early LRO show at Billing and to see the carpark full of thousands of Series vehicles was a joy to behold and was a very enjoyable weekend, a couple of years later I decided I wouldn't be travelling the 300 miles to Billing as the LRO magazine emphasis had changed so much.
Dave.
-
I bought LRO regularly in the early 90s, when I was new to Land-Rover ownership. In those pre-internet days it was one of the best ways of sourcing parts etc, but there are only so many ways you can rearrange the same articles/jobs/trips and by the mid 90s I was unwilling to shell out the cover price to read yet another rehash of the same basic formula. Since then I have only ever bought the odd issue that had a particular article that interested me; and they had become very few and far between as the content's focus shifted to coil sprung vehicles and accessories. To be honest, I am surprised it has lasted as long as it has.
-
I wonder how LRO sales numbers compare with the other Land Rover monthly publications ???
Anyone got the numbers ???
-
Yes,
Locate the Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation that appears within the magazine itself, printed annually, usually in December or in the last issue for a given calendar year. It may appear among advertisements in the front or the back pages of a magazine.
There is an organisation in the UK that collects circulation data for magazines and newspapers ...
ABC (https://www.abc.org.uk/data/consumer-magazines)
:snowman-1
-
I stopped subscribing to LRO mid 2000's I guess when the last of the beam axle vehicles were mad
Hi Craig,
That is, arguably , sensible.
When a beam axle hits a bump, the wheel(s) rise, taking the differential with them, while the chassis may only rise a little.
When independently sprung wheel hit a bump, the wheel(s) rise, but the chassis and differential will only rise a little, if at all, so the differential may become a plough, with the chassis following suite.
The Austin Champ had (adjustable?) independent torsion bar suspension to all four wheels. I don't know how well they managed cross-country. ???
602
-
I hope that someone from CLR reads this and they work on their mag. I’d be really sad if it all shifts to the Internet, I think, even if it’s so convenient.
For me a good real expedition article is fine, but what always inspired me were the down-to-earth builds and the technical workshop section. And the useful reviews with new, useful and affordable parts or kit.
I also liked the product features about old and proven kit, like the jerrycan, the Trangia stove or the Coleman lantern - even though you can only have that many jerrycans or stoves. But they were entertaining and inspiring.
As were the Mike Manifold style articles (I think he was from a rival mag). Hugely entertaining, down to earth and also educating.
Sadly, even CLR is a bit thin in these (and in a literal sense). Sure it’s hard to come up with genuine content about something like Series vehicles that have been around for a while, but that’s why these people are professional journalists and that’s what we pay them for.
It’s true that it’s all far more convenient on the internet. But all these old copies of LRO, LRE, LRM never fail to inspire me after a long day of work or on a relaxing weekend. Far better than the internet does.
-
It is the fate of printed material - newspapers, magazines and books.
One day they will all be gone - everything you read will be online.
Even our club magazine - B2L will one day disappear :'(
Don't worry it won't be for many years (hopefully) long after we are all gone - but the printed medium will be a thing of the past.
Can't say when ....
:snowman-1
-
I hope that someone from CLR reads this and they work on their mag. I’d be really sad if it all shifts to the Internet, I think, even if it’s so convenient.
For me a good real expedition article is fine, but what always inspired me were the down-to-earth builds and the technical workshop section. And the useful reviews with new, useful and affordable parts or kit.
I also liked the product features about old and proven kit, like the jerrycan, the Trangia stove or the Coleman lantern - even though you can only have that many jerrycans or stoves. But they were entertaining and inspiring.
As were the Mike Manifold style articles (I think he was from a rival mag). Hugely entertaining, down to earth and also educating.
Sadly, even CLR is a bit thin in these (and in a literal sense). Sure it’s hard to come up with genuine content about something like Series vehicles that have been around for a while, but that’s why these people are professional journalists and that’s what we pay them for.
It’s true that it’s all far more convenient on the internet. But all these old copies of LRO, LRE, LRM never fail to inspire me after a long day of work or on a relaxing weekend. Far better than the internet does.
I hope so too. It's been pretty thin gruel recently. There are only so many variations on "I remember when all this were fields" I need to read.
-
Land Rover Owner magazine came out in 1987.
If you weren't there at the time, you won't realise what a seismic effect it had.
Before that we were a small number of outsiders, interested in an unfashionable vehicle, and searcing for like-minded "weirdos" in small, mainly trialling Clubs.
To suddenly find it was a "thing" to love Land Rovers and to actually have a glossy magazine in the shops, was mind-blowing.
The downside to we band of purists was that they became "trendy" and all sorts began buying them - and soon after that, the topics of values, rarity and "coolness" became a reason to buy a Land Rover.
Long ago, I asked an old friend, Staff Dovey who had been involved in Series Ones for many years, when the attitude of his customers had changed for the worse.
He answered "after LRO came out."
Despite the scene today being unrecognisable from those days, I will be re-subscribing to CLR.
Because, like village shops and pubs, you "use it or lose it".
Finally, to the die-hard leaf-springers, an unmolested classic Defender is now a "classic" and is worthy of being in Classic Land Rover magazine.
Please get over it. :-\
-
Much easier sitting in a comfortable armchair reading a magazine while enjoying a drink of something than fiddling about with a recalcitrant electronic heap of rubbish.
-
^^^^^ :ditto
-
Despite the scene today being unrecognisable from those days, I will be re-subscribing to CLR.
Likewise, and yes, we should welcome 90/110's and early Defenders as classics now.
-
Vehicle are eligible for registering as "Historic Vehicle of Interest when they hit 40 years after the year they were made and thus MoT and Tax exempt.
If early 90/110s and Defenders fit into this category then the DVLA regard them as classic cars ???
(I don't know what year(s) they 1st came along :stars )
-
The first One Tens were available the the public in 1983, 40 years ago.
-
^^^
Pretty sure it was March 1983 for the One Ten and 1984 for the Ninety. I know if at least two One Tens hitting the big 40 this year.
-
These are the different L/R publications I used to buy over the years. I stopped buying them new when the price here in Australia reached A$10.00 in
the late 90s.
.W.
-
Amazing that there was once enough demand and content for FOUR independent magazines.
-
I don't think they were all available at the same time.
.W.
-
I don't think they were all available at the same time.
.W.
For a while they were!
LRE was the first to go when it merged with LRM. Shame really as LRE was very good, headed by James Taylor. It wasthefirst mag I ever wrote for too.
Now we just have LRM and CLR left.
-
Don't forget that The Landy also exists albeit more as a newspaper than a magazine. As Britpart dealers give it away free to customers, its got a wide circulation. I'm still struggling to find anything useful in any of the magazines to be honest, but at least The Landy is absorbent... Glossy magazines have no useful secondary usage.
Absorbing no... Absorbent yes...
-
Absorbing no... Absorbent yes...
:-X
I use The Landy for masking paintwork!
It is the fate of printed material - newspapers, magazines and books.
One day they will all be gone - everything you read will be online.
Even our club magazine - B2L will one day disappear :'(
Don't worry it won't be for many years (hopefully) long after we are all gone - but the printed medium will be a thing of the past.
I am not convinced that the future is as bleak as that ^ Alan.
It wasn't long ago that the same was said about LP's.
People laughed at me for playing my old scratchy vynil LP's, and told me confidently that CD's "were the future!".
Today, vynil LP's are outselling CD's. :tiphat
Things that go around, come around......
Except kipper ties! :agh
PS. Have just taken out a subscription to CLR again.
-
Sometimes I wish there was an 'Up' or appreciation button on here - some great and amusing posts above, I just want to acknowledge that a laugh was generated, but have nothing of quality to add. Chapeau Wittsend, Rusty, Exile, Diffwhine and all :tiphat
-
These are the different L/R publications I used to buy over the years. I stopped buying them new when the price here in Australia reached A$10.00 in
the late 90s.
.W.
I used to subsribe to all 4 and still do to the existing ones,
(most now in the loft, I think I might have full sets) :-[
-
I had a look in W.H. Smith today and they had LRO, LRM and CLR.
I was amazed at the number of classic car magazines. Classic Fords, Classic Mercedes and many other "Classics." I wonder how many will last.
-
I had a look in W.H. Smith today and they had LRO, LRM and CLR.
I was amazed at the number of classic car magazines. Classic Fords, Classic Mercedes and many other "Classics." I wonder how many will last.
I suspect that those that know their niche and who their readers are will far outlast those who tack to the middle of the road, pleasing nobody. But it'll largely depend on the extent to which advertisers keep faith in physical media.
-
It is always sad to see a Magazine disappear, I have been with LRO since day one but like others have said is has somewhat lost it's way and I have been toying with the idea of leaving.
But always stuck with it, out of some sort of loyalty I guess, and a good subscription offer !
I have met Neil at Stoneleigh and Mark when they did an event near where I live, an impromptu meet at a local pub. :cheers
Both seem to be decent folk, but I should have known something was up with the recent change in editors. Threee in a short time and their resident Mech' going to edit LRM.
LRE did a short write up on my '63 Caravanette, bit strange really, they wrote to me asking questions of the vehicle in bullet point form. I replied in a similar way.
They then sent me a copy with the 'story'. My answers where cobbled together into a short feature. ???
I have not seen The Landy for some time but will be having a look at LRM and CLR.
-
Call me sad if you like.
If I did not have lr mag at any other point during the year I would have one in my christmas stocking.
I would read cover to cover, or pace myself by selecting articles.
Either way it it topped the festivities and telly!
Lro for certain used to offer plastic holsters to keep multiple copies in.
I have a few James Taylor books. Some articles in the mags used these as a basis or source.
The Ken Slavin book I have, I have never seen sampled, maybe his intellectual property protection was different.
On the downside of the mags, if you did partake regular then they took up a lot of room, as when they were good you tended to keep as a reference.
-
Who remembers Overlander Magazine the forerunner of then all, produced I think by David Bowyer and Brian Hartley. I still have a few copies stashed away.
-
I recall the name Bowyer from the off road driving school thing they had.
I was in awe when I met magazine contributors or featured folk.
I remember meeting Drew Bowler in the flesh at his works, he could not understand the fuss.
Guy smith, of guy smith racing fame, married to a simmonite sister.
Milner, they of the conversions.
-
I have issues 1 and 2 of Overlander Magazine given to me by David Bowyer who used to be a member of the same target rifle shooting club as I was.
He was at the Land Rover event at Thruxton last year and I had a chat with him. He might be at Newbury Sunday April 2nd.
I was looking at LRM to replace LRO but it's a bit samey and I couldn't find a technical Q&A section.
-
Who remembers Overlander Magazine the forerunner of then all, produced I think by David Bowyer and Brian Hartley. I still have a few copies stashed away.
I remember Overlander, and I had a subscription to the short lived International Off Roader, I still have the T shirt.
I liked IOR as they featured real Trucks going off road, think Stalwarts, 602's Hippo's and the like. :o
I am currently reading the Spring edition of LRO, predicably there is no mention of any impending doom, but some of the articles do read like an Epitaph.
-
I am currently reading the Spring edition of LRO, predicably there is no mention of any impending doom, but some of the articles do read like an Epitaph.
I once worked in consumer magazines and the staff are usually only informed of the magazine's fate after the last mag has been compiled - just before if they're lucky. The last thing you want is an exodus before the last edition you intend to charge for. Once the staff knows, you normally try and make a public announcement within 24 hours to stay ahead of leaks and rumours. I bet they're all still in shock.
-
I found an error in James Taylor's book on the Series 3 Land Rover where it stated that the 2.25 engine had an aluminium cylinder head. I emailed the publisher who passed my email on to him and I received a thank you from him for spotting the error that others had missed.
Previous to that I found an error in Lindsay Porter's book on Land Rover restoration where it stated that the dynamo on the 2.25 engines was a left hand version instead of a right hand version fitted upside down. This was pre email so I wrote to the publisher and received a typed letter from the author thanking me for pointing it out when even Dunsfold had missed it when they checked the information before publication.
-
Hard to get hold of James's Series 3 book now it seems - I recommended it to someone looking for more s3 info and it had disappeared from Amazon, eBay, everywhere. Not surprised - great series of books - even with the odd mistake!
-
I've pointed out a few errors to James too, but generally his books are very accurate. He said himself nobody can get everything right all the time. It was his early series on LR history in LRO that got me hooked on the subject.
-
:-X
I use The Landy for masking paintwork!
I am not convinced that the future is as bleak as that ^ Alan.
It wasn't long ago that the same was said about LP's.
People laughed at me for playing my old scratchy vynil LP's, and told me confidently that CD's "were the future!".
Today, vynil LP's are outselling CD's. :tiphat
Things that go around, come around......
Except kipper ties! :agh
PS. Have just taken out a subscription to CLR again.
I wonder ( Hope ) if the theme of old things coming back will apply to real engines and the current trend for electric cars will fade away. “ It’s the future “ they say , but I’m not convinced
Regards Andy
-
I read an article (I think it was in LRM) a few weeks ago about electric junk. The writer knew someone who bought an all electric Jaguar and it was nothing but trouble. After it broke down in a narrow lane in Cornwall blocking the road as it couldn't be towed (I'd shift it with my Land Rover) he returned it demanding it be replaced by a car with a proper engine. It's just a fad and Germany has rebelled against the EU decision on banning petrol and diesel engine cars.
Anyway, where's all the electricity going to come from to charge them all?
-
It's an interim technology, like recordable DVDs. Hopefully someone will come up with something better soon as there's no rational justification for putting all our eggs into putting more demands on a grid that's only going to become more intermittent. And no environmental justification in terms of whole life cost, if you've ever even glanced at the realities of cobalt and lithium mining.
-
:ditto
-
It's an interim technology, like recordable DVDs. Hopefully someone will come up with something better soon as there's no rational justification for putting all our eggs into putting more demands on a grid that's only going to become more intermittent. And no environmental justification in terms of whole life cost, if you've ever even glanced at the realities of cobalt and lithium mining.
Interesting article in the latest Classic Land Rover mag, about the amount of co2 involved in producing modern vehicles, versus running an older classic vehicle - albeit for only 1500 miles per annum.
The real shock is that after 8 - 10 years, the cost of replacement batteries is so uneconomic in Tesla cars, that most owners just scrap them!
Throwaway society eh?
-
And that's an expensive car - the cheaper stuff becomes far too uneconomic to fix/recycle, reducing the lifespan over which the environmentally damaging manufacturing costs can be spread. A truly terrible technology for mass transportation.
-
Just inside the entrance to Newbury Showground was an LRM stall offering a deal on subscriptions. I said I'd think about it but after talking to David Bowyer who said that it was a good magazine I and my mate decided to take up the offer to fill the void left by LRO.
-
And it is official.
https://www.lro.com/blog/news/a-statement-about-lro/
-
Still no news on the show ???
-
I have been musing on the demise of magazines.
Cycling weekly used to be the only way of getting results, bike reviews, classifieds and so on.
Times and tech have changed rendering them obsolete.
As readership falls, cost per issue rise and journalist are expected to do more and more.
Rival publishers hoover up strugglers only it seems to prolong the inevitable.
Remember the days when land rover mags had pin badges and stickers as enticement?
-
"Remember the days when land rover mags had pin badges and stickers as enticement?"
Many noticed the lack of LRO calendar this year. That was obvisiouly a clue to the future. Or lack there of ? ???
-
That's another item that slides into obscurity, the calendar in general.
Firms and reps used to dish them out Christmas time, so that if for no other reason you were subliminally staring at their name and contact details in addition to what ever else was on it.
I recall a lad at primary school who's dad worked at a main agent austin rover, I still have the triplex rover and mighty metro pics that I saved from that.
Maglites were given away via subscriptions, who uses a torch now, other than me, they all use their phone.
Wrist watches too, does anyone tell the time, or is that another job for the phone that folks seems incapable of letting out of their grasp.
-
Who remembers pint milk bottles ???
-
Who remembers pint milk bottles ???
Apparently they're making a comeback.
Someone wrote to LRO about the lack of a calendar and the explanation was that it was too expensive. The writer suggested a digital version that could be printed and that would be "looked into." Little did we know.
-
I hope they are not the "dumpy" style.
An OT
q. How did you get that puncture ?
a. Ran over a milk bottle.
q. Didn't you see it ?
a. No the kid had it in his pocket.
:tiphat
-
Who remembers pint milk bottles ???
Me, we still have doorstep deliveries.
-
The final edition of LRO dropped through my letterbox this morning. And it confirmed it's demise in the editorial at the front.
Chris.
-
Yea, just received mine. Note it does say final print edition ?
I still not heard from the subscription department. Waiting to see what they offer ...
I have noted they started off quite thin, then built up to quite a tombe, then down again. This has to be one of the thinnest. ???
-
Who remembers pint milk bottles ???
Every morning at Primary School in the 60`s we had a small bottle of milk, were they half-pint? I remember the warm milk if they`d been standing in the sun.
Do young school children still get morning milk ???
-
They were 1/3rd of a pint!
-
I recall the phrase 'Mrs Thatcher milk snatcher' from my primary school days in the 1980's, so I doubt that milk is still provided to children.
It would probably offend somebody nowadays or the legal liability would make it far too risky.
Chris.
-
Yea, just received mine. Note it does say final print edition ?
I still not heard from the subscription department. Waiting to see what they offer
I rang the subscription department when I heard LRO was ceasing. I was offered to have the balance of my subscription transferred to another Bauer magazine or a refund. I opted for the refund.
-
I recall the phrase 'Mrs Thatcher milk snatcher' from my primary school days in the 1980's, so I doubt that milk is still provided to children.
It would probably offend somebody nowadays or the legal liability would make it far too risky.
Chris.
Milk was still given out in the early to late 2000's, my son repeatedly got into trouble for refusing to drink warm milk :-) Born in 2001, so was in trouble around 2006 - 2010 :-)
-
I'm still waiting for my last LRO. There's been no post jhete for 4 consecutive days.
-
I rang the subscription department when I heard LRO was ceasing. I was offered to have the balance of my subscription transferred to another Bauer magazine or a refund. I opted for the refund.
I will probably cancel unless they offer a good deal elsewhere.
-
They were 1/3rd of a pint!
I remember those, having mine and those the fussy kids did not want. I attribute my rugby union front row stints to the the milk.
I cant get enough. MMB did a campaign 'lotta bottle' and also the 'maurice loves milk'. The problem with the latter it pictured a cow but maurice is a male name?
It puts me in mind of the wurzels song farmer bills cow man a response to kaizers bills batman.
In the wurzels song the farmhand tries milking the bull according to the lyrics.
-
Do young school children still get morning milk ???
A couple of the very young year groups at our daughter's primary school still do. Apparently drinkable for 3 weeks during the year, otherwise warm or frozen solid! It's very reassuring that some things never change!
-
The final isstof LRO arrived today. Now it'll be LRM.
-
Its probably familiarity, but I always rated LRO as the best of the mag offerings. To have a feature vehicle in there was kudos.
-
I might have to try and get a copy of the last one.
I had my 109 featured in there many years ago. Was a great feeling seeing it in print.
Craig.
-
I got the letter from LRO today. I couldn't help be amused by the phrase 'paused indefinitely'. Does that mean 'cancelled', 'ceased' or what? Why make up a euphemism when there are a plethora of perfectly good words already in the 200,000 English word lexicon!
Chris.
-
^^^ Yes I got one yesterday but no mention of by DD being ended just another Mag in its place!
I will cancel my DD however,
Taking the p... I thought
-
I had a letter recently confirming my subscription had been cancelled as requested and no more money would be taken from my account. They'd have difficulty doing so because I had already cancelled the direct debit. The last issue which arrived earlier this week is the next magazine to be read.
-
I'm hanging on to my last issue copy.
Should be worth a bit on eBay in a few year's time :cash
I wonder who owns the title "Land Rover Owner" ???
Whilst hard copy mag sales are falling year-on-year maybe the LRO journos could band together and try an online only mag ???
-
I wonder who owns the title "Land Rover Owner" ???
Whilst hard copy mag sales are falling year-on-year maybe the LRO journos could band together and try an online only mag ???
I assume Bauer Media own the LRO title.
I object to an online only magazine. First it's great to sit in a comfy chair with a drink and read a proper magazine and second when I did try reading an on line magazine I couldn't turn the pages
-
^^^ I think many grumpy old blokes (like me, born in the time of 80" production) still want a paper magazine, not the modern options :coffee
-
I would agree, you can't beat a real magazine, something to hold in your hands, a sit down and good read :coffee
Problem is - as posted above and in the last LRO editorial - Costs, and with falling advertising revenue it's a vicious spiral downwards.
We don't like magazines stuffed with adverts :thud
And then - do the punters want to pay £10 - £15 a copy ???
Which brings us to our own award winning magazine.
We carry a few targeted adverts to offset some of our costs.
We will continue to print a hard copy of B2L for as long as we can - hopeful for many years to come.
:snowman-1
-
Great Alan. I look forward to my issues of B2L when the Royal Mail sees fit to deliver.
-
My April addition turned up today , was a one off as 75th anniversary special took a month to arrive so still holding out hope that spring B2L will turn up soon
-
No point in signing up for an online only Mag'. If you going to spend that much time online you may as well just search for any specific content you interested in.
Most of it is FREEly available.
It is puzzling with LRO having a circulation way bigger than the two nearest competitors that they could not make it pay ?
Word on the 'street' is that a possible sale fell through. ???
-
^^^ I fear that owners of many sorts of companies have bought them with little intrest in a long term ownership but just selling them on for a quick pay out perhaps after a quick company tidy up to make them look good in the short term >:(
-
Got my first copy of Practical Classics today! I'm sure I must have missed a magazine somewhere as it seems more than 4 weeks since the last LRO...
Chris.
-
Got my first copy of Practical Classics today! I'm sure I must have missed a magazine somewhere as it seems more than 4 weeks since the last LRO...
Chris.
Me too. Subs' dep't told me PC will run for an extra month so issues will be equivalent, ending in December. ???
-
Me too. Subs' dep't told me PC will run for an extra month so issues will be equivalent, ending in December. ???
and me :stars