As an automotive enthusiast, I am of course drawn to most things motoring or automobile related almost instantly; as if it is a part of my natural instincts. Last month, I saw one of those ‘super deals’ on car magazine subscriptions offering 12 months of magazines for $5. I thought to myself “$20 will get me 4 subscriptions to 4 different car magazines!” and so I jotted my name down and signed up. Car & Driver, Road & Track, Motor Trend, and Automobile Magazine.
Now it seems regular that my mailbox is filled with these rolled up American car magazines, and I am left wondering why I even wasted $20 on them. I didn’t want to criticize the US car magazine industry, but let me just tell you: These magazines are unimaginative, boring, ad-filled, wastes of paper! It’s like Autoblog, but in paper form. I can’t even figure out if any of them are better than the others, because it is impossible to distinguish which one is least crap.
For now, I will have to suffer this silly 12 month subscription; although I am currently debating canceling all of them, even if i don’t get my money back.
IEDEI 
The only one car magazine I buy is EVO (UK edition). I can highly recommend their iPad version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0uQD49YIro
Unfortunately, Chris Harris left Evo at the end of 2011 and went to pistonheads.com
Motorsport Magazine is very good too. If you love racing, and good old times, you should consider buying it. Their audio podcasts are worth listening to. Legendary stuff!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/motor-sport-magazine-podcast/id328064082
They are pure ads, even their “results” are.
agreed…such a shame. the ‘comparisons’ often don’t even make sense…
What about Motor Trend classic! That’s a fantastic magazine, both in design and content.
that I will concede to you—-it is entertaining to read. Wish i could trade in my regular $5 subscription for that one!
Of all those listed, Road & Track probably has the best writing (which is pretty pathetic), Car & Driver’s is the worst it’s ever been.
Some kickass mags I’ve found are Grassroots Motorsports and it’s sister mag Classic Motorsports. Another good one is is Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car.
I subscribe to Hemmings Muscle magazine and Muscle Car Review, I liked Motor Trend Classic until I saw the same article in one issue in Octane or another similar magazine.
If you think the magazines you subscribed to are bad, try some of the Australian ones… they’re worse.