The Truth About Cars
The Truth About Cars (TTAC) is a website covering automobiles, automotive products and the auto industry. Its features include the GM and Ford “Death Watch” and Chrysler "Suicide Watch" series. The site began publishing in 2002,[1] and features a mix of automotive reviews, editorials and news. The site is home to the annual Ten Worst Automobiles awards,[2] which are nominated and selected by the readers.
The web site currently receives over 175,000 monthly unique visitors, with a strong demographic favorable to automotive products and accessories.[3][4] Time Magazine [5] calls TTAC one of the 25 "Best Blogs of 2011." Forbes Magazine lists TTAC as a “Best of the Web.”[6] PC Magazine listed TTAC as one of its "100 Favorite Blogs" in 2007.[7]
TTAC is one of the few automotive websites that maintains a network of international correspondents.
Contents |
[edit] Staff
- Editor-In-Chief, Bertel Schmitt
- Editor-At-Large Edward Niedermeyer
- News Editor Derek Kreindler
- Editor Jack Baruth
- Editor Murilee Martin
- Editor Michael Karesh
- Editor Sajeev Mehta
- Editor Steven Lang
- Editor Alex L. Dykes
[edit] Style
The site offers its writers total editorial freedom to serve its readership.[8] Reader comments are moderated to prevent flaming the site, its authors or fellow commentators, and to maintain a civil discourse in the comment section. Although some readers claim the site has a pro-import bias, the writers are outspoken in their criticism of both domestic- and foreign-branded automobiles.
[edit] Criticism
Their review comparing the grill of the Subaru B9 Tribeca to a vagina[9] caused BMW to officially stop providing review cars. Many other manufacturers also withheld access to their press fleets in the past, but that is changing as readership grows. Aston Martin, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Cadillac, Jaguar, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Nissan, Ford, Land Rover, and General Motors now provide access to their press cars.
[edit] Content
- Detailed car reviews and editorials from contributing writers
- Worldwide industry reports
- Monthly sales statistics for major markets
- “Death Watch” editorials detailing the decline and fall of the US car industry
- News blog and commentary
- Moderated comments section (free registration required)
- "Curbside Classic" editorials focusing on old cars, including "GM's Deadly Sins."
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ "New Car Reviews, Ratings & Pricing, Auto News for New Models | The Truth About Cars". http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com.
- ^ "The Truth About Cars Website Names Its Ten Worst Automobiles for 2006". http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/11/08/028053.html.
- ^ "Thetruthaboutcars.com - Car Reviews". http://www.romow.com/detail/link-8416.html.
- ^ "#thetruthaboutcars". http://jalopnik.com/tag/the-truth-about-cars/.
- ^ "The Best Blogs of 2011". Time. June 6, 2011. http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2075431_2075447_2075476,00.html.
- ^ "Forbes.com Best of the Web". http://www.forbes.com/bow/b2c/category.jhtml?id=322.
- ^ "Our 100 Favorite Blogs - The Truth About Cars". PC Magazine. http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,l=216520&s=27153&a=216536&po=88,00.asp.
- ^ http://www.newsobserver.com/1566/story/909658.html[dead link]
- ^ 2005 Subaru B9 Tribeca Review, retrieved Sept. 12, 2010
