mayerst:
I'm done if I wanted to read ads I'd buy a newspaper. The new format stinks, I want my money back! I will not renew. I'm real happy the editor feels the same way, that helps. You guys suck!

" I, for one, am happy for this merger. I used to read a magazine called SuperFord and this new magazine is a return to that type of magazine. It used to have both late-model and classic Fords and not just Mustangs. Then the power-that-be merged it with 5.0 and Superford was lost. They claimed that the same type of cars would be covered but to this day I can count all the non-stangs that have shown up in that magazine in one hand. I'm loyal to the Fox-body cars but love most Fords. Honestly I knew there was no room for 2 classic Ford magazines so this merger does not surprise me. I think 5.0 Mustangs & Super Fords will merge with Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords. "

I am also very happy about the merger! Great layout and articles...  

I'm not at all happy with the merge. I like all years but my main interest is the classics. I've been into mustangs since high school some 28+ years and have owned ~14 mustangs, classics, MIIs & foxes, but mostly classics. There are no other mags dedicated to the classics other than Mustang Monthly and they don't cater to the modifying crowd. I've been a long time subscriber to M&F and enjoyed their dedication to the classic cars. It just sucks! I used to get Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords until they started going to this soft porn crap. I cancelled that subsciption and don't miss it at all. Maybe management should have polled the numerous mustang web sites before making the merge. I think they would have gotten a different picture.  

I bought a copy of 5.0 and MM & FF at Walmart yesterday.  After further review, I think we have it pretty good.  The reference to Super Ford is a good one, I have several old issues and was a subscriber.  Until you mentioned it, I hadn't thought about it - there are certainly echos of SF present in the current magazine.  Mark's comment that he was a subscriber and fan of SF is a good omen IMHO.  

It does look like the standard layout for a lot of magazines these days is several ads for every wheel and tire known to man sandwiched between the cover and the TOC.    Hey, if it keeps the magazine in print...  

Been a subscriber for years - and this really sucks!

I searched long & hard to find a 'clean' magazine that I could leave around for my boys to peruse & gain an interest or love for Classic Fords - & now we get 'used toilet-paper' dumped in our mailbox.

Come on guys! Clean up your hearts! Remember how the hormones flowed when you were 16? Some of us actually cherish our children & even 'soft-porn' can pull their hearts in a destructive direction. How many of you now struggle with lust, wandering eyes, porn, or worse? Or did you just give up completely & become an animal? Has it helped your marriage or your life? Not! If you can't master your appetites, you are master of nothing - you are a slave. I want Classic Fords - minus the bimbos.

Hope somebody takes a stand & throws out the smut & the stray cats that dragged it in. This is one sewer pipe I will remove from my home.  

That's funny, I do not remember asking for late model contect or tramps in bikinis? Why in the world did you dedicate an entire page for the so called model. You "NEW" and greatly UN-IMPROVED magazine is JOKE! Shame on you Mark, you cannot defend this crap!

ClassicStangFan  

mayerst:
I'm done if I wanted to read ads I'd buy a newspaper. The new format stinks, I want my money back! I will not renew. I'm real happy the editor feels the same way, that helps. You guys suck!

unnoticedtrails:
" I, for one, am happy for this merger. I used to read a magazine called SuperFord and this new magazine is a return to that type of magazine. It used to have both late-model and classic Fords and not just Mustangs. Then the power-that-be merged it with 5.0 and Superford was lost. They claimed that the same type of cars would be covered but to this day I can count all the non-stangs that have shown up in that magazine in one hand. I'm loyal to the Fox-body cars but love most Fords. Honestly I knew there was no room for 2 classic Ford magazines so this merger does not surprise me. I think 5.0 Mustangs & Super Fords will merge with Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords. "

I am also very happy about the merger! Great layout and articles...

Hey Hot Lips

Did you get your brother in-law to write this Post or is it you? By the way there used to be 3 classic Mustang mags until they were all purchased by same company. Guess who?
 I strongly urge all readers to cancel their subscrtiptions! This will get their attention!

ClassicStangFan  

ClassicStangFan, there's no need for name calling (like I've never heard the MASH reference before), and technically her name was spelled with an I (the correct Irish spelling if you care) where as mine is with an "a"...

Furthermore, I have no need to post under an assumed name to compliment the merger decision. I'm a big boy, and as you can tell I have no problems defending myself or commenting on this forum under my ONE AND ONLY screen name.

Maybe, just maybe, there's a few people that like the change (as hard as it may be for you to realize)...

I am not defending anything here, only stating the honest truth in every post I've made. The merger was a decision from management above, and like you, I am dealing with it. The After Hours section is most likely not going anywhere, as I also stated in other posts, being revenue driven and this is a publicly traded company that, apparently, is willing to lose some subscribers in the hopes of gaining others.

Would you expect my column in the first magazine to be all gloom and doom and full of negativity? Frankly, it would never have been printed if I did write it that way (and probably been fired or demoted for trying to get it published). You are not happy with the new title, and for that I am truly sorry. My best suggestion to you is to cancel your sub, get your remaining money back, and find some other magazine (if there is one) that does make you happy.

I can't force people to read this magazine and I can't force you to stay. If you knew me personally you'd know I'm this huge Ford fan and I had many plans for M&F that unfortunately will not be happening now. So while you are upset, and I'm the easy target as editor, cut me a little slack here and realize I know this wasn't a good move but one I had no say in.

Mark  

MustangMan:
ClassicStangFan, there's no need for name calling (like I've never heard the MASH reference before), and technically her name was spelled with an I (the correct Irish spelling if you care) where as mine is with an "a"...

Furthermore, I have no need to post under an assumed name to compliment the merger decision. I'm a big boy, and as you can tell I have no problems defending myself or commenting on this forum under my ONE AND ONLY screen name.

Maybe, just maybe, there's a few people that like the change (as hard as it may be for you to realize)...

I am not defending anything here, only stating the honest truth in every post I've made. The merger was a decision from management above, and like you, I am dealing with it. The After Hours section is most likely not going anywhere, as I also stated in other posts, being revenue driven and this is a publicly traded company that, apparently, is willing to lose some subscribers in the hopes of gaining others.

Would you expect my column in the first magazine to be all gloom and doom and full of negativity? Frankly, it would never have been printed if I did write it that way (and probably been fired or demoted for trying to get it published). You are not happy with the new title, and for that I am truly sorry. My best suggestion to you is to cancel your sub, get your remaining money back, and find some other magazine (if there is one) that does make you happy.

I can't force people to read this magazine and I can't force you to stay. If you knew me personally you'd know I'm this huge Ford fan and I had many plans for M&F that unfortunately will not be happening now. So while you are upset, and I'm the easy target as editor, cut me a little slack here and realize I know this wasn't a good move but one I had no say in.

Mark

On your next editorial you should list the phone number or email address for canceling  subscriptions.  

 As for a few people liking the new changes, that is crap! THIS IS NOT THE MAGAZINE I SIGNED UP FOR! This is fraud! I will be reversing the charge on my credit card.

 I can appreciated the position you are in, but sometimes it is better to go down with the ship!

By the way thanks for the spelling lesson, Mash was a great show. That was until they made stupid changes.  

ClassicStangFan  

The subscription services number is in the masthead of every issue, so it's already there. I would not agree with you that people liking the new magazine is "crap". Do you like it, no, but there are a few on this forum (and others I have read) that have stated, at the least, they'll give it a few issues, while others outright welcomed the late-models.

So you are saying I should have quit my job, jepoardizing my family's roof over their head and food on their table (in these difficult times) just because I too am not in favor of this merger? I guess you are retired or independently wealthy, cause in the Houlahan household it's not like we have 100 dollar bills stuffed in the mattress. With two teenage children, a car payment, etc. I need this job, and for the most part, I like this job. Been doing it for almost 17 years now. That is something I hope you can understand and appreciate as well...

Mark  

I called the new magazine "crap" because of the near nude model (on the cover), endless ads and the lost focus of classic cars. Once again, THIS IS NOT THE MAGZINE I SIGNED UP FOR. This is fraud! Late-model may be great, but that is not why I choose your former magazine.

As for your job, if selling soft core porn does not bother you or your family go for it. I have heard drug dealers and prostitutes use this very same argument.

ClassicStangFan
(AKA former Mustang & Fords Subscriber)  

You said: "As for a few people liking the new changes, that is crap!" How is that referring to the magazine?

Near nude? Come on, she's wearing black pants and a bikini top! I know After Hours is a touchy subject with the merger, but I think that's a bit of a stretch.

There's more skin shown in models in women's magazines, Men's Health, and other mainstream titles.

Frankly, even if I did quit over this you think it would have prevented a merger of the two books? They would have made Huw the editor (the editor from the Modified side of the merger) or hired some flunky to take my place...

You've said your peace, I've said mine...

Good night and best to you and yours (and yes I mean that with all respect, not arogance like another poster suspected in a previous thread)...

Mark  

"There's more skin shown in models in women's magazines, Men's Health, and other mainstream titles."

That is exactly what made your magazine so good. You did not need to cheapen it's content with this crap. Once again, this is not the magazine I subscribe to. Please send all of the angry posts to the genius's who made these changes.
Also, all fans of the old magazine please cancel your subscriptions ASAP. Let's show these people we want our old magazine back.

Mark, I know you are in a tough situation, but you must understand how we feel. Did you honestly think your subscribers would be happy with the changes? The powers to be at Source Interlink have taken a family friendly, non-ad intrusive magazine and turned it into DUB wannabe.

ClassicStangFan  

First, let me start off by saying I will keep an open mind with this new magazine.  Mark, I know your just doing your job and I have no ill will towards you, but I have to admit I'm not too fond of this new direction.  I have never read Modified Mustangs, but have been a subscriber of Mustangs and Fords since Sept 1996 when I was 16 years old.  I liked the down to earth approach of M&F.  At one point I subscribed to MM&FF but found it too tacky if you get my drift.  I think what caught me off guard is that you didn't mention a change was coming in the magazine, only online here.  Since I don't frequent the web site, I was totally blown away with the change. A little printed notification would have helped to brace me for the change.  Now I'm going to break down the + and -  for the new mag so far:

Plus's
- Better photos and text readability
- More modified rides

Minus's
- New staff / new writers (I guess I just have to get used to them)
- Late model coverage (I also subscribe to Mustang Monthly, so I am used to it.  I don't mind late models.  But I liked M&F becuase it was a safe haven from the late model crowd)
- Soft Porn (I'm young and without kids, but still its not my style, but I suppose it sells magazines.  Just keep it to a minimum and get rid of the after hours)
- Fords coverage (I am a mustang nut, especially when it comes to my 68 FB.  But I still appreciate other vintage fords.  I really hope the next issue doesn't have a Focus on it or else that might be the breaking point)

I'm sure there are more things I can mention, but I can only type so much.  Please, for the love of god, do your best to fight the powers that be and steer this magazine as close to vintage mustangs and fords as you can.  GOD SPEED!!  

Classic, trust me, I know how you all feel, but like I said, they'll probably chalk about a hundred or so cancellations as "collateral damage" and look for new readers. Please understand I am not being callous in my comments, just a realist. After working through five company sales, all of them public companies (except for Dobbs) I see the writing on the wall and there's no turning back.

Stangboy, thanks for posting...
I was specifically prohibited from mentioning the merger in my column or in the Ford News column. I can only suspect that they didn't want other employees finding out about the merger (this merger closed the Toronto office where the three Modified brand books were being produced and 17 people lost their jobs) and warning the office in Toronto. Another corporate strategy I guess, like firing someone on a Friday at 4pm. The blog on the site here wasn't posted until after the office closed on March 18th (and I was told on March 4th about the merger, mind you not asked).

I think for the classic guys August will be better. We've got a '67 Group II SCCA Shelby Mustang, a modified '57 'Bird, and a '64 Comet. Only two late-models next month. A '91 hatch and a '06 GT.

Thanks for listening...
Mark  

OK.  First, I haven't seen the mag yet.  Second, I'm a vintage guy (currently a 67 vert) that I'm rest-modding with a stroked 5.0 EFI, T5, 8.8..., so I'm interested in Fox bodies.  Just bought a 95 GT vert for a daily driver. So I'm interested in SN95s.  My son drives an 06, and I think the SN197s are the coolest thing to come out of Detroit in, oh, say 40 years???

I'm a die-hard Mustang guy, and have been for about 38 years (I can't remember much before I was 4).  

I have never subscribed to a late model mag, even though I've got interest in their tech articles for my 67 driveline, and now for my DD.  Reason:  The girlie pics.  Even the advertising had some clothing deprived girl hanging her rear out a gull-wing door.  I will not have that in my house.  Period.

So, I'm interested in the new format.  I'm willing to give it a try.  Mark, I only ask that you INSIST to the corporate heads that they take the girls out.  Shoot, I don't even want to see the owners with their cars (unless of course, you're doing a story on my car, then that's a different story!   ).  

But if you can't assure me that I'll have a car magazine, not a car-and-girlie magazine, I'll be forced to cancel my subscription, which I really don't want to do.  It's your choice (you, corporately, meaning the leadership of this magazine).