Ferrari Gives Jalopnik A Model To Review

I LOL'd at this comment:

 

Still a starr commentator?



Quote by Destert Dawg

I am on F-Chat, but mostly hang out in Silver there, just for the random silliness. I also used to be a starred commentator on Jalopnik (well I guess I still am), but I haven't posted on there in I'm sure well over a year, so maybe I'm just somewhat forum-fickle, as well... Dunno.

 

I think that's about all they'll be given to review.. I am sure that site (which used to be not be so bad as a not so serious car site) is required daily reading for Ferrari S.p.A. and NA legal teams!

 

I haven't posted on Jalopnik in quite some time... I don't think I would even remember my password. I still visit it most every day, though - I'm glad they brought back "The Morning Shift" again; I like that feature.

EDIT: Also - WTF? I have a Stalker?

 

Jalopnik bugs. I hate their troll / purposefully inflammatory editorial style. Makes me appreciate the old school buff mags like C&D and R&T for their professionalism. MT has some GREAT video content on YouTube these days, too.

I still visit Jalopnik because, well, they do aggregate some good content sometimes but I never comment.

Maybe it'll change now with their new EIC.

 

I think the biggest, and most immediately apparent, benefit to the Editorial changeover, is that Hardigree has apparently inherited the EIC's spell-checking software app.

 

I, too, have long since quit jalopnik. It was the day of the Japanese tsunami when they went wall-to-wall coverage of the event, just like CNN, ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS, etc. I wrote on their facebook page that they should give us CAR news since there were plenty of other sources all over the internet for the information they were providing and was met with an initial response that "they have many readers in Japan and many other readers have friends and relatives in Japan" (and seemingly those other people didn't know any other source for tsunami news). I was then kicked off of their facebook fan page and banned from commenting on there again. Eventually some others started sharing the same sentiment; I don't know how it turned out.
Jalopnik blows. Realistically, I've noticed since then that they never seem to have much interesting content, certainly nothing I haven't already seen at Autoblog.

 

Actually it was observing that banning and childish "de-starring" behavior by Ray Wert that turned me against the blog. A flame war broke out between him and a few commenters he de-starred for expressing the same sentiment...that they should focus more on real automotive stories. He then stripped their stars and started taunting them saying they were disloyal, ungrateful readers and that they'd "be back. you guys always come back on Monday." It was like watching a 3 year old throw his toys out of the crib. After reading it I created an account for the first time just to comment on what an unprofessional, childish amateur he was and that I'd be keeping my support of the blog down to an absolute minimum from that point on.

 

What do these smart azz guys expect from a Ferrari hate site? Dinner in Modena at the Montana?

 

In all fairness to Jalopnik, I really don't think it's an F-Car "hate site" - their approach is simply a snarky one, and they'll poke fun at pretty much any & all brands.

 

I, for one, think you're doing a good job so far, Matt.

 

That's the way I see it. I don't get too riled up and tend to look for the humorous stuff when I have some downtime. I haven't really noticed the Ferrari hate, but maybe I haven't been on long enough.

I read the articles daily...seems like a cool enough site to me.

 

It's ironic that you use the term "Fairness" when referring to Jalopnik.

There is nothing fair about what they post. It's all hate all the time and the people who comment there love to be part of the hatefest.

As an example, every post about Ferrari for the past 2 years have involved some smart aleck reference to flames or burning, no matter how obscure to the subject.

"Ferrari bursts into flames in Paris garage!"... except it was an accident with a scooter that caused it.

They've also mined this site to dig dirt and reposted it to get a rise out of people.

I'm fine with cracking a joke and making fun of a subject. But, the idea of posting just to get trolls riled up doesn't do it for me.

 

Here's a few random ones that say nothing of that...

http://jalopnik.com/5917167/why-did-ferrari-turbocharge-this-california

http://jalopnik.com/5911021/this-is-what-a-63-million-ferrari-looks-like/gallery/1

http://jalopnik.com/5734009/baby-you-can-drive-my-car

http://jalopnik.com/5710852/california-from-italy-in-london

 

Fair enough. I've been visiting the site again since the leadership change.

My point was that I found the editorial tone and professionalism of the site under previous management to be severely lacking. I realize part of the appeal of blogs is the more freewheeling, loose style the format lends itself to, and I don't think any subject, especially things automotive, is too sacred to have some fun with.

But when any enterprise shows such disdain for the consumers that are responsible for making it successful in the first place, I find that extremely unacceptable. It's the internet; you shouldn't be surprised that your readers are going to talk back from time to time and you won't always like what they have to say.

 

Typical smart allecky ness

http://jalopnik.com/5866826/watch-a-ferrari-599-gtb-burn-to-the-ground-in-dubai

"Considering the amount of supercars in Dubai and how often Ferraris decide to torch themselves, it's no surprise how unfazed other drivers seem to be by the sight of a burning exotic car in the middle of the road."

http://jalopnik.com/5914282/ferrari-ff-catches-fire-on-polish-freeway

"Most recent Ferrari fires have been 458 Italias. The model was recalled in 2010 for what Ferrari said was an adhesive that had a propensity to catch fire in certain conditions. Sure. I have a roll of duct tape that will catch fire if you put it in a burning Ferrari."

http://jalopnik.com/5866236/watch-a-ferrari-f430-burn-to-the-ground-on-a-houston-highway

"This fire occurred earlier this week in Houston along the city's 610 loop. The driver escaped the car without injury, but the car wasn't so lucky. That's why we're advising all Ferrari F430s to stay inside until this curse is lifted."

http://jalopnik.com/ferrari-fire/

"As supercars tend to congregate in the garage and Ferraris are so well known for self-immolation we consider the information credible enough, for now."

http://jalopnik.com/5621078/ferrari-458-italia-not-on-fire

"The recent spate of Ferrari 458 Italia fires are curious and have dominated the news about the car. Here's a picture of one not on fire, just in case you forgot."


http://jalopnik.com/5878057/watch-a-lamborghini-gallardo-torch-itself-in-the-british-countryside

"With this in mind it seems only natural that Lamborghini wasn't content to give Ferrari even the title of "most likely Italian exotic to set itself on fire."


http://jalopnik.com/5884365/heres-further-proof-listening-to-a-ferrari-in-a-tunnel-never-gets-old

"Given the glorious sound this Ferrari makes we can understand why so many owners are willing to overlook the inherent fire risk that comes with buying one."


http://jalopnik.com/5886688/your-ridiculously-cool-ferrari-ff-wallpaper-is-here

"No matter what Jeremy Clarkson says. No matter that they keep catching on fire. I'm still a fan of the Ferrari FF."

http://jalopnik.com/5841474/our-ideal-fire+free-ferrari-458-spider-driving-experience?tag=ferrari458spider

"Our ideal fire-free Ferrari 458 Spider driving experience"

 

The random silliness seems to be filtering here as well wonder who 1986245 really is?

 

1986245 is Matt Hardigree, Editor at Jalopnik:

https://plus.google.com/112926488558565452082/posts

Mike

 

I'm not disagreeing with you in that regard - just saying it's not all/always negative as you asserted.

 

I've kinda given up on Jalopnik, it seems to have gone downhill. I haven't logged in for a long time but I still check on the site every once in a while. I prefer sites that focus on motorsports (Le Mans is this Saturday and still no mention of it on Jalopnik) and less on glorifying hooning, but I suppose that's their target audience.

By the way Harris probably thinks those hair clippers are "cheating" because Ferrari sent an entire factory team to the review to make sure it was operating in tip top condition and cranked up the power on the motor

 

I didn't realize he was a fellow Longhorn. I'll give 'em another chance. Everything gets better with added Texas.

 

+1

I've been a starred commenter at Jalopnik for a few years (got lucky with a witty comment about the new SHO lamenting how 4200lbs is the new 3200lbs with sports sedans) but haven't posted much lately since my computer stopped auto-entering my password and I'm too lazy to request a new one... but I still visit the site at least once per day.
In particular love the retro/old timer articles by Peter Oroz (sp). Just plain thoughtful writing and photos written by a younger guy that you just don't find elsewhere. Maybe Chris Harris, but without the subtle underlying smugness.
"Nice Price or Crack Pipe" by Graverobber is flat out one of the most consistently funny, cleverly written columns anywhere IMO.

If you can't take some cheeky jabs about Ferraris catching fire then feel free to stay here in your safe, cosseting little F-Chat world and quit crying about how unfair Jalopnik is
You know what they say....if you can't take a joke....

PS Matt: Props to your guy for going under the clippers. Personally I'd have preferred to take Ferrari's hair dryer for a spin but that's just me