New magazine

What a piece of sh--. If I wanted to look at late models I would have suscribed to a different magazine. I own a 65 coupe which I bought in 1972 and drive everyday. I have very little interest in the late models as I don't own one. I think I might just cancel my subscription as I just renewed and had no idea you were going to change it into a late model magazine. Very dissapointed.    

JUST GOT MY JULY ISSUE OF YOUR NEW MODIFIED MUSTANG & FORDS MAGAZINE.AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW DISAPPOINTED & BETRAYED I FEEL.BEING A FAITHFUL SUBSCRIBER SINCE 1989,I JUST CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD CHANGE ONE OF THE BEST MAGAZINES AVAILABLE ON VINTAGE MUSTANGS & FORDS, FOR THIS NEW TYPE WITH THE LATER MODEL STUFF,WEATHER IT'S MODIFIED FORDS OR NOT,HAS MORE PAGES CONSISTING MOSTLY OF ADVERTISEMENTS,6 PAGE SPREAD ON SOME BIMBO,INSTEAD OF A MUSTANG OR FORD. I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A CAR MAGAZINE!! I WAS GETTING YOUR MUSTANG & FORD MAGAZINE ALL THIS TIME BECAUSE IT HAD IT ALL, EVERYTHING THAT THE OTHER FORD MAGAZINES DIDN'T HAVE,I KEEP ALL MY ISSUES AND USE ALL THE ARTICLES WHEN I WORK ON MY CARS,LEND THEM TO MY FRIENDS WHEN THEY ARE WORKING ON A PROJECT,THEY IN TURN END UP SUBSCRIBING TOO.BUT NOW WITH THIS NEW MAGAZINE, IT'S JUST A REVISED MM&FF,5.0 MUSTANG,SUPERFORD ALL ROLLED INTO ONE,WITH NOTHING THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO READING AND COULD USE ON MY FORDS.SORRY TO SAY THIS BUT YOU GUYS SURE MESSED UP ON THIS ONE BIG TIME. MY SUBSCRIPTION IS PAID UP TILL MAY 2010,BUT WILL BE CANCELLING IT.NOW WHAT IS A FORD GUY TO *** THE BEST FORD MAGAZINE IS GONE.  

Think about how us late model fans feel! I own a 2004. Why in the world would I care about articles related to '64 1/2 to '78 Mustangs. It's a devastating blow to both sides.

Also, I am not a Ford fan. I am a Mustang fan! I don't care about any other Ford models! I want articles in my magazines to be relevant!

Possibly the saddest thing about this new magazine, though, was the article titled "Four Doors = Ford Fun." My stomach went sick.  

Beerett...

Without those '64 1/2 to '78 Mustangs you would NOT have that '04 Mustang in your driveway. Period. I'm so sick of the division amongst Ford (or in your case) Mustang owners/fans. How about a little respect for the cars that came before you? When I drive my '66 Mustang I wave to all the Mustangs that pass me and for the most part I get a look back from the '94 and up guys (the Fox guys seem to show some respect for the classics) like I have two heads.

And how can you say you are not a Ford fan but you like Mustangs? That's like saying your like Reeses peanut butter cups, but don't like peanut butter. Huh?

And that article on four doors was from YOUR past editor, Huw Evans, who is just as big an "all-Ford guy" as I am.

It's a shame that we're even having this conversation. I can see the complaints about After Hours, but all the griping about "I don't want this in MY magazine" are really depressing. Where are all the "Super Ford Magazine" reader types that are rabid for anything FORD?

Mark  
Mark Houlahan
Editor
Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

1965 FFR Roadster 427W/TKO-600
1966 Mustang 289-4V/C4
1968 Mustang 4.6L Three-Valve/5R55S auto
1990 Mustang 347/AOD
1998 Escort 2.0L SOHC/F4E-111 Auto
2002 Explorer Sport Trac 4.0L V-6/5R55 Auto

I agree with you Mark. I am a fan of most Fords. Heck I'm a V8 fan no matter what the brand is. Without the other brands we wouldn't have the Fords we have now. I mean could you honestly say that the Lightning would be around if the 454SS or the Lil' Red Wagon were never produced? Now maybe y'all could get the Super Ford moniker from 5.0 Mustangs and use it.  

BigDog, I understand you are upset, but I did want to thank you for the compliment on the magazine (within your post). I've always been a huge fan of Super Ford when it was published, and frankly, it was the only magazine I subscribed to before I even started working for Dobbs Publishing (almost 18 years ago).

When I took over M&F I tried to bring some of that flavor of SF back with MORE classic Fords and not so much Mustang. Things like a feature on a Pantera or Sunbeam Tiger once in a while, and so on. (all great Ford powered performance cars)...

For those that liked Super Ford if you remember the articles on Taurus SHOs, Lighting trucks, and other off the wall Ford performance stuff, well, that's what I'm envisioning for the merged book. Still great classic content, plus late-model Ford performance. I know the first issue was all Mustang on the late-model side of things, and frankly, that's because pre-merger Modified Mustangs was only Mustangs, so we had NO late-model Fords (trucks, Marauders, whatever) to run in the very first issue. Lame excuse? I hope not. It takes a little while to get to events and shoot those cars (that's what Huw and I were doing at Carlisle this past weekend). So I feel the mag will get better as we introduce more late-model non-Mustangs to it and keep the classic stuff going strong.

I know it's a shock to many, but I think if it is given a few issues we can make it work (that or it's my job!)...

TexasVenom, unfortunately the SF name is permanently sutck with 5.0 Mustang, but that doesn't mean we can't be more like SF used to be...

Ford built more than the Mustang and I feel there should be a magazine that all Ford fans can enjoy.

Thanks...
Mark  
Mark Houlahan
Editor
Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

1965 FFR Roadster 427W/TKO-600
1966 Mustang 289-4V/C4
1968 Mustang 4.6L Three-Valve/5R55S auto
1990 Mustang 347/AOD
1998 Escort 2.0L SOHC/F4E-111 Auto
2002 Explorer Sport Trac 4.0L V-6/5R55 Auto

Am I the only one here who loves the merger??? Hi I'm a long time reader of both magazines...well at least I used to read Mustang and Fords from like 93-97 and have lost interest til recently...and I have been a reader and subscriber to Modified Mustangs since issue #1! Great to see both have joined together to create a great layout of info and pics! -Luke  

Mark, I think it's great.  I've been a subscriber for years to MM and MF and I believe there is a niche market out there for "Modified Mustangs" other that strictly the Fox bodied and later models.

I'm sorry so many people feel so strongly about his and blame you personally.  There are still a few strictly "purists" mags out there but they are difficult to find as their readership shrinks.  I'm sure that's a probable reason for your merger.

Best of luck and I look forward to many great issues.

P.S.  I re-up'ed for another 12 months last week at the All-Ford Carlisle Show and got my new T-Shirt.  
Bill Hamilton

My 1970 Mach
1970 Mach 1
2003 Mach 1

Thanks Bill...

Sorry I missed you there. I would have loved to have talked to you...

Believe it or not, our new T-shirt was the most popular one at the booth. Some were subscribing to Mustang Monthly or 5.0 Mustang, yet asking for OUR shirt!

Mark  
Mark Houlahan
Editor
Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

1965 FFR Roadster 427W/TKO-600
1966 Mustang 289-4V/C4
1968 Mustang 4.6L Three-Valve/5R55S auto
1990 Mustang 347/AOD
1998 Escort 2.0L SOHC/F4E-111 Auto
2002 Explorer Sport Trac 4.0L V-6/5R55 Auto

MustangMan:
Thanks Bill...

Sorry I missed you there. I would have loved to have talked to you...

Believe it or not, our new T-shirt was the most popular one at the booth. Some were subscribing to Mustang Monthly or 5.0 Mustang, yet asking for OUR shirt!

Mark

Yeah, sorry I missed you too, Mark.  I did see Donald again and got him to autograph my original copy of his Boss 302 book from 25 years ago ... finally(LOL).

I love Carlisle.  I always make it over to the booth and see "Billy T" for my renewals and T-shirts.  For me it's a reunion every year with many of my Mustang/Ford buddies that just happens to coincide with fantastic 3-day car-show with several thousand Mustangs.  

Keep up the good work, you've got me for at least another 12 months .... until I see Billy T again.    
Bill Hamilton

My 1970 Mach
1970 Mach 1
2003 Mach 1

MustangMan:
Beerett...

Without those '64 1/2 to '78 Mustangs you would NOT have that '04 Mustang in your driveway. Period. I'm so sick of the division amongst Ford (or in your case) Mustang owners/fans. How about a little respect for the cars that came before you? When I drive my '66 Mustang I wave to all the Mustangs that pass me and for the most part I get a look back from the '94 and up guys (the Fox guys seem to show some respect for the classics) like I have two heads.

And how can you say you are not a Ford fan but you like Mustangs? That's like saying your like Reeses peanut butter cups, but don't like peanut butter. Huh?

And that article on four doors was from YOUR past editor, Huw Evans, who is just as big an "all-Ford guy" as I am.

It's a shame that we're even having this conversation. I can see the complaints about After Hours, but all the griping about "I don't want this in MY magazine" are really depressing. Where are all the "Super Ford Magazine" reader types that are rabid for anything FORD?

Mark

Mark -
Are you serious? And you're a professional? I left a post on the other "New Magazine" thread with every intention of making "nice." And here you are, the editor of the magazine and apparently the end all of end all on this website, and you have the audacity to berate and belittle YOUR customers. What happened to the customer is always right, no matter how nasty and inappropriate they may become??

First off, my wife is a HUGE Ford fan and isn't fond of Mustangs in the least- another example - I love motorcycles and have never been fond of Harley Davidson's. Your analogy between cars and candy is ridiculous. Apples and apples, my man.

One more thought (or a few) from the two of us and then we are off to find the delete subscription number (as well as the refund and parent company phone numbers) - As a leader, an editor and representative of your company, a little professionalism may go a long way.

Part of being a leader is never letting 'em see you sweat - And I'm pretty sure when you were chosen as editor of this magazine, your insults and rudeness abilities and your thin skin weren't on your resume - I'm assuming it wouldn't have gotten you very far.

Try making a general statement - the magazine is changed. Thank you for your concern. Contact each person personally through their online subscription email with their individual concerns. Done, end of story. Leave the peanut butter cups out of it.

Tom & Kim  

See, there's just no way to please everyone Tom...

If I did as you suggested then I would be labeled some cold hearted person who could care less about a reader. "We changed, thanks for your concern" would piss off people just like my post above ticked off you. There's no way to handle it correctly. You call it thin skinned, I call it being a real human being discussing the matter with my readers in a frank and casual manner (which is what the Internet is based on).

It's way too easy for people to be "armchair editors" from afar, having no idea what happens here, thus I post to their comments giving them the real deal, no BS.

Your analogy on motorcycles is just as incorrect. You say you are not fond of Harleys, that's like saying I'm not fond of GM products. Fair enough. My statement is concerning products from the same brand. Let's say you are a big Suzuki fan. If so, then you'd like their touring bike/V-twin just as much as you could appreciate their sport bike or their two-stroke dirt bike (if they even make two-strokes anymore, not a huge bike guy )

If my comments you quoted above we're attributed to anyone else on this message board it would just be participants in a heated conversation about their passions (just like on any other message board you visit), but because I'm the editor of the magazine all of a sudden it's not right?

As I posted in the other thread, sorry to lose you, but enough is enough. I'm not going to make anyone happy no matter what side of the argument I take or how I approach it, as you clearly have shown here...

Mark  
Mark Houlahan
Editor
Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

1965 FFR Roadster 427W/TKO-600
1966 Mustang 289-4V/C4
1968 Mustang 4.6L Three-Valve/5R55S auto
1990 Mustang 347/AOD
1998 Escort 2.0L SOHC/F4E-111 Auto
2002 Explorer Sport Trac 4.0L V-6/5R55 Auto

Mark -

I don't like apples anyway - however, this "armchair" editor is (was) still the customer. I'm right either way. By using this forum to try and justify getting in the last word, you've completely crossed the line. I'm just hoping that your parent company, when I ask them, is okay with this sort of juvenile tactics of being "real" rather than professional.

This is beyond the magazine, unfortunately. I was disappointed with the new magazine, but understand things change (As well as understand how corporations operate within the print industry having been a part of numerous publications bought, sold, changed, and sadly discarded by the readers when not received well.) While the magazine was the initial problem, it's not even part of your discussions anymore - I'm digusted by the staffing and the way things are being handled. Very sad.

Kimberly (and Tom)  

I know you are upset guys, but come on. I REPLIED to your comments, and you call that "getting in the last word". Come on, we're adults here. you asked a question, I replied.

Mark  
Mark Houlahan
Editor
Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

1965 FFR Roadster 427W/TKO-600
1966 Mustang 289-4V/C4
1968 Mustang 4.6L Three-Valve/5R55S auto
1990 Mustang 347/AOD
1998 Escort 2.0L SOHC/F4E-111 Auto
2002 Explorer Sport Trac 4.0L V-6/5R55 Auto

What color is the sky in your world?