4x4 Action Magazine Lives

[Jungle]

Thanks Beer Cruiser.

Please keep the comments and feedback coming. We have spotted quite a few little things to fix for next issue.

We might even try and have a few more pages in the next one.
Wont be 200 with a DVD though.

Have a great Easter guys and gals.

Will hopefully catch a few of you out and about.

Cheers

Jungle

[Cleary]

Finally found a copy today in Whitcoulls (neither Borders nor Magnetix had it and they are the biggest magazine outlets in central Welly).

I have some (hopefully constructive) feedback...

* The visual layout and graphic design has gone mainstream - hard to distinguish it from the other NZ mag now - seems a bit generic.
* The writing is more professional (except JJ - sorry mate, I know you can't help yourself) - but this kind of moves things away from the grass roots basis of the original concept - where real 4WD'ers wrote about real trips and events. I guess it may sell more mags, but it still feels like a move towards the mainstream (AKA the other mag).
* There were too many articles about new vehicles - the average guy generally can't afford them. More real trucks/ projects and mods please...
* There were too many words and not enough pics. Much as I like to read a quality mag - I mainly bought this one because of the large number of quality pics of hard core offroad action. So if you are going to cover competitions, please make sure there are lots of pics. I know that Gail Os took lots more pics of the Napier round.

And that's all from me...

[lilpigzuk]

Bit odd having a vintage 4wd parked in front of an old shed on the cover of a magazine called "4x4 action"
Apart from that, good photos as per usual

this was a serious critique from me (suprise). I wouldnt go by penthouse gold label if there was pic of Granny nanny cleaning the house with a duster on the cover
Yes there is potential, but not attracting the target market

[shortylux]

I have been over seas since all this drama occured. My Brother came over and brought issue 67 with him. I have not seen the new mag so cant comment on it, but for those involved here is some feed back on what I have seen.

I started buying 4x4 action and 4wd action at about the same time (about issue 7 of 4x4 action). I tired of the aussie mag after a year (repeditive mag, plus I like reading about local stuff) I have subscribed or purchased 4x4 action ever since.

NZ 4wd is a boring mag for me, I may never buy a new 4wd and this mags focus seems to be on that end of the market, seems more "shiney truck" oriented. Also I find there event coverage lacking.

4x4 action was AWESOME in the begining when it wasnt glossy. I really enjoyed the stories written by club members etc. It did take a step towards mainstream when it got shiny but it still had awesome event coverage and readers rigs (about built stuff rather than a new jeep with a lift and some tyres).

I am not hugely concerned with who produces the mag but please stick to the roots. DO NOT become any more like the other two mentioned mags.

I will subscribe again when I return to NZ next month (assuming you havent lost your way)

Hope that was helpful and relavent.

Arron.

[Dr_PC]

Bit odd having a vintage 4wd parked in front of an old shed on the cover of a magazine called "4x4 action"
Apart from that, good photos as per usual

this was a serious critique from me (suprise). I wouldnt go by penthouse gold label if there was pic of Granny nanny cleaning the house with a duster on the cover
Yes there is potential, but not attracting the target market

You've got an Ali why are you buying Penthouse?

[niblik]

Bit odd having a vintage 4wd parked in front of an old shed on the cover of a magazine called "4x4 action"
Apart from that, good photos as per usual

this was a serious critique from me (suprise). I wouldnt go by penthouse gold label if there was pic of Granny nanny cleaning the house with a duster on the cover
Yes there is potential, but not attracting the target market

You've got an Ali why are you buying Penthouse?

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! so by your comment, allies the granny nanny cleaning with a duster?

oh the pain you will endure...!!

lmfao.............

[muddyhilux]

well i know nothing of the latest issues but i actually am like others,ive been on here for years,and have owned my truck for 5 years,ive read alot of mags but it turns out ive never come across this one,just checked out ore market palce and yeh,ive never seen this mag yet it looks like itll be the better of all of them,oh well il have to try find a copy of the latest issue and check it out before i subscribe

[shortylux]

you are right, half the reason I initially subscribed was because it was hard to find.

Arron.

[badnuz]

its stocked at most NI ARB shops

[Smurf]

Good to see it back on the shelves, needs more reader input, trips etc and less new vehicle reports but I guess for a first issue/restart is was ok. Except for all the spelling mistakes.

[basics]

Except for all the spelling mistakes.

becareful, you'll start sounding like skid

[Smurf]

Except for all the spelling mistakes.

becareful, you'll start sounding like skid

no need to be nasty... LOL

[skid]

Except for all the spelling mistakes.

becareful, you'll start sounding like skid

no need to be nasty... LOL

and hopefully my comments wont be considered nasty

but sorry guys, what was a good magazine has now become just like the other NZ mag that I look at in shops and put back, coz its just not for me.

finally found a copy today and paid top dollar for it, only to be disappointed.

as has been said before, its lost it razzamatazz sort of layout, seems too plain and simple

heaps of advertising, but I understand that its not gonna be viable without all the advertisers.

NZ is a small place and to have 2 magazines doing the same sort of write ups is not gonna last too much longer I think.

and I'm even gonna pick on my fellow competitor, JJ and mention that there was nothing at all about trialing in his article.


and clever work there George, making the digger recovery a 2 part article to force us to buy another issue, good ploy.
was good to catch up on weekend, even if not much was said

cheers guys

SKID

[Nizsafari]

I had a look at the latest 4x4 Action.... reminded me of NZ4WD Mag, articles on soft roaders, what next??? sorry to say nothing like the old mag ....

[Jungle]

Great feedback guys.

Totally see what you mean. Has got a sterile look to it. Gotta start somewhere I suppose. Will try something different next month I reckon.

Let me know what you want to see in the mag? Would reading about other guys mods and how they did them be of interest, rather than just listing the mods.

This would mean you would have to take heaps of pics and write articles though.

Sounds good to me!!!

Cheers

Jungle

[shortylux]

yes! tell us about building stuff and the thinking behind it (where relivant) I dont care much for bolting things on, the american and OZ mags tell us plenty about bolt on stuff.

Club trips. safaris (not the nissan), whinch challenges and trials with plenty of detail and pics.

new vehicle test are not hugely interesting, I dont care how a rav4 performs.

Helpful?

[Jungle]

All good stuff.

So much stuff going on in the club at the moment that could have been documented. Think we'll have 6 winch challenge trucks ready to race this year. Might be enough to keep the sport alive.

I don't care much for the Rav 4 either. I am interested when a new cruiser comes out or a new hilux. One day I hope to buy new. Or I'll just wait till it's 20 years old and then buy it.

Cheers

G

[haydgq]

Yes that was my first impression when flicking through the first few pages, I actually had to flick back to the front cover to check i didnt pick up the wrong mag as it reminded me so much of the other mag.

I dont want to read about new soft roaders either and would love to see more readers rigs or build-up pages on readers trucks that have been built and not brought etc.

If any of us think we have a truck worthy of the mag as a feature truck who do we e-mail the info and pics to.? There are heaps of cool trucks on ORE that have been built from the ground up or heavily customised or modded in some way.

Cheers

[Swamped]

Sounds like you want a cross between say car craft magazine, the shed magazine and 4wd action. I don't know about others but it is cool to look at do it yourself parts fab, component servicing etc. ie car craft always has a multi part budget engine build, carburettor rebuild, paint test/application etc etc which is at times pitched at backyard spec garages. Be a bit hard to get that sort of story written I guess though. Need people willing to do it.
More local coverage/stories would be good. New vehicle reviews definitely have their place as people are always interested in where things are going but they should be less important as far as content goes ie just a column and not 3 pages as in nz 4wd. Product reviews are always good as long as they are applicable.
I will admit I havn't bought this mag for a while as its hard to find but I've just stuck down what I would find interesting and what would make me more inclined to purchase it.

[DaveM]

When it comes to vehicle reviews, I'd rather read the odd article about second hand vehicles which people are more likely to buy such as Safari's, Hilux's etc and simple bolt on mods that may suit more people that don't have the time/funds/skills to fabricate their own stuff.

[Heath]

I remember way back when the mag first came out. It was a revelation. Here was a mag for us, by one of us (hell I even had some of my articles printed in it. Sure it wasnt all glossy and polished. And yes it had the occasional typo, but it was our mag (and I bet it scared the "other mag" - they did change their layout etc to match slightly after all).

I suggest going back to the original issues and looking at what made them what they are (were). Lots of simple backyard stuff that we can all do or afford to think of doing. Reports on the build next door and simple mods are great and yes some stuff on the newer wagons but keep it relevant (a softroad AWD is not a softroad 4WD - no transfer case then its out), the other crap can fill the pages of the "other mag".

The chances of me being able to buy a $100k wagon are not even remote so why would I buy a mag that tells me how great they are? Tell me about the second hand market and like the aussie mag give a breakdown of pros/cons of each wagon, maybe alist of simple mods etc (one vehicle a month would be great) and perhaps profile an example of one or two in that issue.

Some of the builds on ORE are beyond belief and would make great reading for us wannabe fabricators (home made coil overs etc). Simple body lift tips (how to, how not to), guard cutting (how to, how not to), home made snorkles, shop bought snorkle fitting, exhaust systems (benefits, etc), How to water proof electrics.

The list goes on but keep the two part stories to a minimum (looks like a marketing tool - oh yeah that's right it is) unless it is a long running build and then make it a side feature, not the main event.

What do we as 4wders want to read about? Trips, mods and vehicles we can drool over (and maybe afford) in the main I guess.

Find that niche that isnt being filled and fill it dont follow the "other mag", whats the point in that.

Just my thoughts

[sig]

still waiting for mine to arrive in the letterbox

[vitara888]

My subscriber issue hasn't arrived yet either.

[lincooln]

I remember way back when the mag first came out. It was a revelation. Here was a mag for us, by one of us (hell I even had some of my articles printed in it. Sure it wasnt all glossy and polished. And yes it had the occasional typo, but it was our mag (and I bet it scared the "other mag" - they did change their layout etc to match slightly after all).

I suggest going back to the original issues and looking at what made them what they are (were). Lots of simple backyard stuff that we can all do or afford to think of doing. Reports on the build next door and simple mods are great and yes some stuff on the newer wagons but keep it relevant (a softroad AWD is not a softroad 4WD - no transfer case then its out), the other crap can fill the pages of the "other mag".

The chances of me being able to buy a $100k wagon are not even remote so why would I buy a mag that tells me how great they are? Tell me about the second hand market and like the aussie mag give a breakdown of pros/cons of each wagon, maybe alist of simple mods etc (one vehicle a month would be great) and perhaps profile an example of one or two in that issue.

Some of the builds on ORE are beyond belief and would make great reading for us wannabe fabricators (home made coil overs etc). Simple body lift tips (how to, how not to), guard cutting (how to, how not to), home made snorkles, shop bought snorkle fitting, exhaust systems (benefits, etc), How to water proof electrics.

The list goes on but keep the two part stories to a minimum (looks like a marketing tool - oh yeah that's right it is) unless it is a long running build and then make it a side feature, not the main event.

What do we as 4wders want to read about? Trips, mods and vehicles we can drool over (and maybe afford) in the main I guess.

Find that niche that isnt being filled and fill it dont follow the "other mag", whats the point in that.

Just my thoughts

exactly what i was thinking. couldnt have said it better.

[badnuz]

if everyone on here was to submit an article about a simple mod, or trip or tip then the mag will be full every month!!! they are asking for local club stuff, SO GIVE IT TOO EM!!!

and maybe put the "new" 4wd reviews at the back....

and no more white writing in articles lol!!

best of luck to John and Jungle and everyone else at the helm!

[mudy1]

Totally agree. I will be submitting an article and pictures of this Sundays Coastguard rally.

[Jungle]

if everyone on here was to submit an article about a simple mod, or trip or tip then the mag will be full every month!!! they are asking for local club stuff, SO GIVE IT TOO EM!!!

and maybe put the "new" 4wd reviews at the back....

and no more white writing in articles lol!!

best of luck to John and Jungle and everyone else at the helm!

Thanks mate.

I guess you've got some handy tips about landcruiser engine rebuilds to share.

Cheers

Jungle

[badnuz]

if everyone on here was to submit an article about a simple mod, or trip or tip then the mag will be full every month!!! they are asking for local club stuff, SO GIVE IT TOO EM!!!

and maybe put the "new" 4wd reviews at the back....

and no more white writing in articles lol!!

best of luck to John and Jungle and everyone else at the helm!

Thanks mate.

I guess you've got some handy tips about landcruiser engine rebuilds to share.

Cheers

Jungle

yeah-dont lol!!!

[Dace]

if everyone on here was to submit an article about a simple mod, or trip or tip then the mag will be full every month!!! they are asking for local club stuff, SO GIVE IT TOO EM!!!

and maybe put the "new" 4wd reviews at the back....

and no more white writing in articles lol!!

best of luck to John and Jungle and everyone else at the helm!

Thanks mate.

I guess you've got some handy tips about landcruiser engine rebuilds to share.

Cheers

Jungle

yeah-dont lol!!!

Maybe a Buyers guide for 80 series cruisers???

[haynzy]

Thanks mate.

I guess you've got some handy tips about landcruiser engine rebuilds to share.

Cheers

Jungle

yeah-dont lol!!!

Maybe a Buyers warning for 80 series cruisers???