http://jalopnik.com/5111232/csaba-csere-car-and-driver-editor+in+chief-resigns
Jalopnik has confirmed Csaba Csere, the famously unpronounceable Editor-in-Chief of Hachette Filipacchi Magazines' flagship moneymaker Car and Driver, will be resigning his position effective January 1, 2009. Why?
We've been given no reason, but Csere has been in charge of Car and Driver since 1993 and with the magazine since 1980. Hachette will now be conducting a search for Csere's replacement.Thanks to JT for the tip!
That's odd...
I guess we'll never know how to properly pronounce his name.
Pardon my French:
THANK THE FUCKIN' LORD!
It's people like him why real enthusiasts can't find jobs at that magazine. He emphasized being an engineer over being in love with the car, and I think he lost sight of what it means to be an enthusiast.
C&D has a lot of problems but being engineering-oriented ain't one of them. It's been completely overtaken by fancy spec sheets and a proliferation of lazy, uncritical "short takes" and "baubles and bolt ons" sections.
Quote from: Laconian on December 16, 2008, 10:28:18 AM
C&D has a lot of problems but being engineering-oriented ain't one of them. It's been completely overtaken by fancy spec sheets and a proliferation of lazy, uncritical "short takes" and "baubles and bolt ons" sections.
I think they've done a fine job of getting the point of the car and whether it's good or not in the short takes. They're missing detail, but they're not first-look-fawning.
Does anyone else not like the new layout? I find it kind of ADD-inducing.
The real reason behind the resignation might surprise you. Try to say this three times real fast.
Csaba Csere Car Czar.
Meh, who cares.
As far as I'm concerned C&D is nothing more than a "two shit magazine", and likely never will be.
Quote from: Byteme on December 16, 2008, 10:39:16 AM
The real reason behind the resignation might surprise you. Try to say this three times real fast.
Csaba Csere Car Czar.
Choobah is the "Car Czar"??? Seriously?
Quote from: Byteme on December 16, 2008, 10:39:16 AM
The real reason behind the resignation might surprise you. Try to say this three times real fast.
Csaba Csere Car Czar.
Chubba Chedda? How could he be Car Czar :confused:? He knows too much about cars :huh:.
Quote from: FoMoJo on December 16, 2008, 11:32:06 AM
Chubba Chedda? How could he be Car Czar :confused:? He knows too much about cars :huh:.
They need someone in there who hates cars and thinks that every American wants to drive an electric econo box.
Ralph Nader?
I picked up a C&D from the library the other week and it was awful. Their constant use of "IP" as an apparent acronym for "instrument panel" was a turn-off all by itself. I'll stick with Road & Track and CAR.
I met a former C&D writer at Glenmoor, and while it was a great conversation, it made me realize that all of those people have huge egos. I wonder what finally made Csere call it quits, seriously.
This guy must be of Hungarian descent with a name like that. :ohyeah:
Hmm, so where do I send my application?
Quote from: Raza on December 17, 2008, 01:41:56 PM
Hmm, so where do I send my application?
(http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/9214/californicationmoodyavabp6.jpg)
Quote from: NACar on December 17, 2008, 01:42:59 PM
(http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/9214/californicationmoodyavabp6.jpg)
:lol:
Car Czar? I really doubt it. If there was one it'd be a biz guy, politician, or some mix of the two, not a car guy.
I still think C/D has the best writing of any magazine out there. It's on par with Top Gear's show (better than the TG magazines). It's informative, but more importantly it's funny. Not always, Csaba Csere wasn't that great of a writer IMO, but usually the articles have at least some zest to them.
I look at other magazines for specs and numbers, but for entertainment, it's C/D all the way.
Quote from: the Teuton on December 16, 2008, 10:56:01 PM
I met a former C&D writer at Glenmoor, and while it was a great conversation, it made me realize that all of those people have huge egos. I wonder what finally made Csere call it quits, seriously.
I'm sure we'll all get some sugar coated version.
Quote from: mojammer on December 18, 2008, 02:35:04 PM
Car Czar? I really doubt it. If there was one it'd be a biz guy, politician, or some mix of the two, not a car guy. I threw that out as a joke, mainly because I like the sound of "Csaba Csere Car Czar" when you say it fast.
I still think C/D has the best writing of any magazine out there. It's on par with Top Gear's show (better than the TG magazines). It's informative, but more importantly it's funny. Not always, Csaba Csere wasn't that great of a writer IMO, but usually the articles have at least some zest to them.
I look at other magazines for specs and numbers, but for entertainment, it's C/D all the way.
That doesn't say much for the other magazines does it?
Pesonally I think Road and Track has the best writing.
Quote from: Byteme on December 19, 2008, 01:20:16 PM
I threw that out as a joke, mainly because I like the sound of "Csaba Csere Car Czar" when you say it fast.
Ah, I thought maybe you had some inside scoop.
Quote from: mojammer on December 19, 2008, 02:24:47 PM
Ah, I thought maybe you had some inside scoop.
It's enough of a lead to get him a gig as a cable news talking head.
I just read my 2006 50th Anniversary Issue of C&D, and I came to two conclusions:
1) 2005 was the last great year for that magazine, especially that issue.
2) That magazine has fallen so quickly it isn't even funny.
Quote from: the Teuton on December 19, 2008, 06:20:02 PM
I just read my 2006 50th Anniversary Issue of C&D, and I came to two conclusions:
1) 2005 was the last great year for that magazine, especially that issue.
2) That magazine has fallen so quickly it isn't even funny.
They changed format soon after.
I rmember those issues where they re-ran one story from each decade. Lots of good stuff there, I remember each story vividly, but all it did in the long term was highlight just how far the writing standards had fallen.
I still love John Phillips, but he is less of an automotive writer than a travel writer working for a car magazine.
Quote from: Byteme on December 16, 2008, 10:39:16 AM
The real reason behind the resignation might surprise you. Try to say this three times real fast.
Csaba Csere Car Czar.
ROFL
By the way his name is pronounced "Throat-Warbler Mangrove." Hope this helps.
C&D has really gone down the shitter ever since that frikkin format change.... ugh, whoever made that decision should be hung by their testicles
Quote from: r0tor on December 23, 2008, 06:08:28 AM
C&D has really gone down the shitter ever since that frikkin format change.... ugh, whoever made that decision should be hung by their testicles
Maybe he just resigned?
I agree that the new format with the dizzying and blinding yellow shotgun blast format sucks. This came after they threw in the "Gotta Have It" factor in their comparos. Who the hell decides the Gotta Have it factor? I've seen many comparos get decided by a few points attributable to the absurd GHI factor. Those were 2 big steps downhill for them, but I still love the magazine - just not as much. I liked Chabba Chzedda and usually agreed with him, so he'll be missed. I doubt he had much to do with the format change - but if he did, then good riddance! Now if Phillips ever leaves, I don't know what they can do to make up for the lost entertainment factor. He's a gem and I don't see anyone else on the staff coming close to his writing and wit. I've been a subscriber since 1987 or so, and I'll keep getting it, but for now, it's definitely not one of their better eras. :(
Quote from: saxonyron on December 23, 2008, 10:41:00 AM
I agree that the new format with the dizzying and blinding yellow shotgun blast format sucks.
Gotta keep up with the times. It's similar to what Grassroots Motorsports did. It's nice to be able to cater to your core audiences, but in reality, they'd go broke if that's all they did.
Quote from: the Teuton on December 16, 2008, 10:24:00 AM
Pardon my French:
THANK THE FUCKIN' LORD!
It's people like him why real enthusiasts can't find jobs at that magazine. He emphasized being an engineer over being in love with the car, and I think he lost sight of what it means to be an enthusiast.
Magazines need more engineers writing more technical pieces. I'm tired of the usual drivel about how beautiful the mountain is that they're driving past. They think it's so poetic, but it strikes me as a writer struggling to make their piece interesting. I want to know the technical differences in the new car. What makes it great. Not the experience of the sun bouncing off their gleaming smile. That's not what makes a Ferrari bad ass.
I don't find out anything new from most magazines anymore. It's like they're telling a story about a new car, and the intended audience is 8 year olds that only know that an engine makes a car go.
Quote from: saxonyron on December 23, 2008, 10:41:00 AM
I agree that the new format with the dizzying and blinding yellow shotgun blast format sucks. This came after they threw in the "Gotta Have It" factor in their comparos. Who the hell decides the Gotta Have it factor? I've seen many comparos get decided by a few points attributable to the absurd GHI factor. Those were 2 big steps downhill for them, but I still love the magazine - just not as much. I liked Chabba Chzedda and usually agreed with him, so he'll be missed. I doubt he had much to do with the format change - but if he did, then good riddance! Now if Phillips ever leaves, I don't know what they can do to make up for the lost entertainment factor. He's a gem and I don't see anyone else on the staff coming close to his writing and wit. I've been a subscriber since 1987 or so, and I'll keep getting it, but for now, it's definitely not one of their better eras. :(
As I understand it, the GHI factor is simply an overall subjective rating.
Their old comparos were completely decided by a subjective numeric score and no one complained.
Quote from: MrH on December 26, 2008, 10:14:11 AM
Magazines need more engineers writing more technical pieces. I'm tired of the usual drivel about how beautiful the mountain is that they're driving past. They think it's so poetic, but it strikes me as a writer struggling to make their piece interesting. I want to know the technical differences in the new car. What makes it great. Not the experience of the sun bouncing off their gleaming smile. That's not what makes a Ferrari bad ass.
I don't find out anything new from most magazines anymore. It's like they're telling a story about a new car, and the intended audience is 8 year olds that only know that an engine makes a car go.
And I want to know why a car is fun instead of the trigonometric angle of the A-arm's suspension.
These are enthusiast mags. Go read your Popular Science.
"Trigonometric angle"? lol
Most of the computer magazines out there have ridiculous articles on topics like "MORE WAYS TO CONNECT YOUR IPOD TO YOUR REFRIGERATOR! 25 HOT PRINTER MAGIC TIPS! STATIC DISCHARGE: THE TERRORIST WITHIN" There are still some great industry publications for engineers like Communications of the ACM and IEEE Spectrum. I bet SAE offers something similarly meaty.
These magazines offer little engineering insight with washed up, trite humor in place of legitimately good writing. In that respect, Automobile and the Brit mags are vastly superior to C&D.
I would LOVE a tech article from a mag on what makes for good steering feedback. What is it in the geometry of the suspension, tires, steering rack and so on that does it.
God I love good steering feedback, but I guess it isn't high on the list of others when they shop for a car.
I'm sure the sidewall stiffness and stiff bushings on the suspension help, and some caster, but beyond that I dunno.
Quote from: HotRodPilot on December 26, 2008, 05:27:57 PM
I would LOVE a tech article from a mag on what makes for good steering feedback. What is it in the geometry of the suspension, tires, steering rack and so on that does it.
God I love good steering feedback, but I guess it isn't high on the list of others when they shop for a car.
I'm sure the sidewall stiffness and stiff bushings on the suspension help, and some caster, but beyond that I dunno.
Tight tolerances in the steering rack helps as well.
The thing is no one does that. Heck, for a bunch of engineers, the recent article on brakes in C&D wasn't even that good.
Quote from: the Teuton on December 26, 2008, 05:41:48 PM
The thing is no one does that. Heck, for a bunch of engineers, the recent article on brakes in C&D wasn't even that good.
Sadly, all of that calculus does little to help one understand how a brake system works.