Subiesport Evolving
Posted on 16. Jun, 2009 by ryan in News
The world has changed since we launched Subiesport Magazine back in 2004: Subaru has successfully carved a larger niche in America with the WRX and STI. In the process it has finally shrugged off its “inexpensive and built to stay that way” image. To many, Subaru means quality, performance and – especially to performance tuners and racers – power!
Who would have thought, those years ago, Subarus would be taking charge in Autocross, Grand Am or even the Redline Time Attack series. How about rally? Back in 2004 the major US Series was teetering on the brink of oblivion. Today, it’s watched by millions in the United States and enjoys rapid growth as the “newest” extreme sport, thanks to the involvement of action sport icons: Travis Pastrana, Ken Block, Dave Mirra and others.
Unfortunately, the economy has seen a big shift as well. There are two industries that are feeling more pain than ever before: magazines and the automotive world. Automotive publishers in particular are feeling a cash crunch that has caused even industry stalwarts to close up shop: Sport Compact Car, Turbo and many other magazines: Gone, seemingly overnight.
We’re not inclined to wilt simply because the economy is tough. Nor are we going to sit back and pretend that the world hasn’t changed.
Instead, we’re going to kick things up a notch. Load both barrels and make a charge into the fray. It’s time to evolve the magazine to meet the demands of today’s Subaru enthusiast or die trying. We’re taking a chance that is big – but no bigger than the idea of creating a Subaru-specific magazine back in 2004. People thought we were certifiable back then.
You’ll have to wait until Issue 26 lands on your door to see for yourself, but we think that you’ll agree: change is good. Look for it in your mail around the first part of July. We’re sure there will be additional fine-tuning in the issues to follow, but every issue is another chance to improve the beast.
Thank you for reading, thanks for subscribing and we’re looking forward to serving you the best Subaru and rally coverage in the world: now, and into the future. We look forward to hearing your comments.
PS: Start or renew your subscription now. Rates are going up in July.
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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ryan
16. Jun, 2009
I should probably add that this is something we’ve been working on for a very long time. We just didn’t have all the details sorted and the exact issue it was going to happen with until after SS25 was shipped.
Jeff
17. Jun, 2009
Can’t wait to see what the changes are. for a minute there I thought you were going to announce an only digital format from now on… That would have been painful.
good luck!
Jason Hoffman
23. Jun, 2009
I’m in Afghanistan and just in the last month, the local base store has all but run out of mags. The choices now are DUB and MODIFIED. We used to get DSPORT but now all there seems to be is men’s health and gun mags. Thanks for the availability of digital issues you guys are lifesavers. You have a subscriber for as long as you print or at least stay digital for the next 6 months.
Rock On!
Chris
24. Jun, 2009
Guys I can’t wait for the new issue! Can we just say it’s July right now? Like a kid at Christmas time…….
TommyGonzo
12. Jul, 2009
Way excited, I am currently at work, and your magazine helps me get through those long slow days, I miss some features while I’m here, since I am a print subscriber, but I now have a reason beyond bills to actually check my mail. Can’t wait for the new issue!
Scott
16. Jul, 2009
Hello,
Is anyone there? I have been waiting for this next issue for months now. You have completely missed your release date. When will the new mag be out?
ryan
17. Jul, 2009
We signed off on the printer proofs on Tuesday. The final production wheels are turning…
Scott
27. Jul, 2009
Hi,
Any ideas for the release date?
ryan
27. Jul, 2009
Lots of physical assembly involved now that the printed magazines are back from the press. This second part is taking more man hours than originally calculated. I think it’s safe to say they’ll be in the post by next week at the latest. You’ll know why when you get them.
Cheers,
R
Ryan
28. Jul, 2009
I cant wait until the next issue!!!!!!!!
Steve
29. Jul, 2009
Looking forward to the new issue. Ryan please keep us informed about a possible release date. Thanks
brad downs
06. Aug, 2009
any idea when the next digital edition is coming out. its been 5 months since the last one!! that is unexceptable!! i want a answer. i payed you for a subscription that isnt being delivered.
Brian
06. Aug, 2009
The suspense is killing me. Someone call 911! Just kidding but I can’t wait to see the mag.
Keep Up the good work
Wade
26. Aug, 2009
This episode has to be a joke. If you are going to pull this bait and switch crap on me, I will promptly be demanding a refund. The magazine is now just a bunch of ads and a table of contents for a DVD. Well how the f*ck do I watch a DVD while I’m on the toilet, asshats! 15 pages total, this is the lamest excuse for a magazine I’ve ever seen.
double
07. Sep, 2009
Totally agree with wade. What is going on .I dont get the magazine for the ads and that seems the majority of the dvd. I have every mag minus the first 2. the video is ok but I really want my subaru magazine back
Robert
04. Sep, 2009
I agree I get magazines to be able to read them at work i cant carry a dvd player to work with me
If this is the way subiesport is gonna be now i wont be renewing
Konrad Kano
19. Sep, 2009
Wow….. This is a very sad day for me. I received the “DVD” issue # 26 about a month ago, and didn’t bother to watch it until 10 minutes ago today.
And I really wish I had the last 40-ish minutes of my life back.
This is the way SubieSport is going to “evolve”? As the others mentioned above, this so called “digital” version of your magazine is nothing but advertisement for Subaru parts and accessories dealers? What is going on over there?
Subaru fans do not buy your magazines for the ads, we buy them because 1. Subie Sport was the only mainstream Subaru (and rally) magazine on the market. 2. The editorials were interesting, informative, and exciting!
Now we are stuck with a DVD (which I must add was shot terribly and with a surprisingly low quality camera), and the only thing worth watching was the Rally segment (which was hardly entertaining).
I think we all understand the “crunch” that most consumers and business entities alike are facing in today’s current economy. But for christ’s sake! You should have just released one final, “blow my mind” issue and thank everyone for their years of support. Perhaps there would’ve been a chance to revive the magazine once the economy shifted for the better.
This is truley pathetic. And the worst part of it all, I convinced a good friend of mineto purchase an 04 Sti and I brought him into the Subaru community. I purchased for him a 1 year membership to your Subie Sport publication back in January for his birthday. He has since received 1 regular print issue, and now he is stuck with this worthless DVD.
After all of the Subaru fans I have turned to your magazine, and the countless hours I’ve spent reading your magazines………. this truly is a shame.
ryan
08. Feb, 2010
No, the worst part is that I worked myself to death for 5 years and ended up with nothing.
peter kinkead
10. Nov, 2009
If there is a next issue(sort of), might I suggest trying to UNDER promise and OVER deliver; not the reverse. First I loose SCC AND Turbo, thinking I still had Subie Sport. I really am what I subscribed to…
pete
10. Nov, 2009
sorry, I got ahead of my self. I meant to say “I really am wondering what I subscribed to…” . I could probably write for Motortrend.
By the way, Is there going to be another “magzine” before 2010 or is my subscription filled with 2 (almost )magazines?
Jarrod Bunk
17. Nov, 2009
Well I think that officially Ryan you have let the entire Subaru community down. I have purchased or subscribed to every single issue since the first one… You haven’t responded back to anyone on here in a long time to actually address their concerns. Not only that but you haven’t even responded anyones posting on NASIOC. I really am hoping for the better out of this whole situation, but honesty the DVD was stuff that I could have filmed and edited in its entirety on my MAC. I absolutely loved Subiesport and told everyone I knew about it. I really wish that you would take peoples comments to heart, I know that they are harsh but you pretty much took the magazine in a direction that no one other than you wanted to take it. I am sure we all appreciate what you have done for the Subaru community prior to issue 26, but really once you have made your money off of your customers doesn’t mean that you can stop taking care of them… So since I have still not received any new issues since 26, should I as well as all of your subscribers assume that Subiesport is dead?
Concerned, Saddened, and Angered
JB
tony
18. Nov, 2009
ive recently joined the subaru community, and what a joy it was to come across your mag. a short-lived one!! you started something really great but left us hanging! you will probably turn out a honda mag or something, subiesport you suck ass!!!!!!!!
ryan
08. Feb, 2010
@Tony You love the magazine but are angry that I may or may not create a Honda magazine for some reason and that saddens you. Right.
Konrad Kano
27. Jan, 2010
So……. It is now towards the end of January and I have not received anything from your publication in almost 3 months since your since DVD issue. Is Subie Sport officially over and done with? I again renewed my subscription, and purchased a subscription for a good fiend of mine back in September. Since then all we have received was tha pathetic DVD issue. Where are the publications I have already paid for?
I hope you do not feel that avoiding the entire Subaru enthusiast population on this website, as well as many of the other forum sites such as iwsti.com and NASIOC is acceptable.
How about a reply there Ryan?
Sadness turned angry…..
Konrad-
ryan
08. Feb, 2010
@Konrad, as we have listed on the front of the site, Subiesport was acquired by Grassroots Motorsports last November (again, it’s on the front of Subiesport.com and has been since early December, not sure how you posted here but failed to miss this). GRM will be increasing their Subaru-specific content and I will be contributing as to their title now as well. As you mention NASIOC, it was also well covered on both the front of NASIOC as well as in Press Releases that were spread as far and wide as we were able.
As for avoiding anyone. Hardly. I am still the most prolific poster of news to the NASIOC front page, and I continue to develop my other project, Driving Sports, where I am berated daily by YouTube commentors. (http://www.drivingsports.com) I have not continued to contribute to many of the forum threads that have popped up discussing the magazine, because, really, at this point I have no control over the title.