Top Gear Magazine : It really is a top magazine ! (Top Gear Magazine)

Member Name: blades1071

Product:	Top Gear Magazine
Date:	01/11/08 (93 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Content, images, stories, practically everything !

Disadvantages: Repetitive ads towards the back in each issue

I got my first edition of Top Gear magazine a couple of years ago at a filling station on the way home from Outlon Park Gold Cup racing weekend, partially because I was bored and wanted something to do for the long journey, but also because included were a ser of particularly interesting looking fridge magnets.
Not being a reader, this was realy the first magazine I had read and I have to say it was thouroughly enjoyed. So good infact, that upon arriving home, I subscribed for the year, and around three years later, I am still a Top Gear magazine subscriber.
The magazine itself is split up into different sections, which appear in each edition, but obviously filled with different content.
As its the first thing you see, I have decided to start with the cover (to me this doesnt make a difference as I have already paid for each magazine - but this is importnt to everyone who buys every month from the shelf). The traditional top gear logo can be found religiously at the top of each magazine, in cover complimenting colours, beside the website, price and edition of the current magazine. Above this, at the top of every magazine, is a sometimes humerous quote from Jeremy Clarksons column found later on in the magazine. The rest of the cover displays relative titles to content and fantastic immagery giving a brief idea of what will be inside that issue.
As you go through the mag' you may notice a lot of adverts, however, you will be pushed to find a magazine of this quantity (around 300 pages) without adverts inside. The great thing is tho, all adverts are topic related and most show great looking cars anyway!
The contents is split into two sections, the 'Features' and the 'Regulars'.
Everything new to that issue, such as one off stories about new cars, or previews about certain racing events etc... can be found in the features section.
The regulars section is further split up into seperate parts, outlined below.
Metal, is the bit all about cars, usually containing fascinating immages about the newest, oldest, wildest, wierdest, eco-friendliest, fastest, smallest, largest... you get the idea ?
Faces, features columns from Clarkson himself (mentioned earlier), James May (co-presenter from the TV show), amongst others such as Paul Horrell, Jamie Kitman and Emma Parker Bowles. Others occasionally contribute, but each issue also contains a column called 'Motorworld' displaying humerous events from the world of motoring over the past month.
Drives, is the next section and has in depth reviews of cars new on the scene, or even just beautiful cars which need reviewing. Some stories are incredible renditions of the reviewers journey in which they had the car to review, which can last for page upon page and contain wonderful stories.
Top Gear, is a further section displaying some of the great purchases available to the motoring scene, ranging through all price brackets, there is usually something everybody will be itching to get after its portrayal in this magazine.
Regulars, is the next and last 'real' section which follows the lives of actual cars each month, telling of their ups, downs and in-betweens, it is usually quite a good, quick read that is sure to be enjoyed.
After these parts, the magazine nears the end and starts to decline in quality, basically having nothing more than adverts, which, I suppose, could be useful to some if they advertise what you are looking for.
Just before these is a comprehensive list of new cars in the New Car Guide which shows all new cars with their specifications from almost every manufacturer you can think of! Great if you are thinking about getting a new car.
The Campaign For Real Racing Drivers is a fairly new page at the very back of the magazine which goes into light detail about certain 'heroes' in the world of motor racing, a section which is a great addition and provides both entertainment and educational information.
Top Gear is a brilliant magazine and for the price, is well worth it for what it offers!

Summary: Top Gear is a brilliant magazine and for the price, is well worth it for what it offers!