How did the site get its start?
How are you different from other automotive sites?
Why haven’t you reviewed a _________?
What’s TTAC’s commenting policy?
I can’t see the comment I just entered. What happened?
How can I try my hand at writing for TTAC?
The Truth About Cars provides no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners automotive news. reviews and editorials. Our writers call it like they see it, and pull no punches. We also provide a comments section for readers to voice their informed and passionate opinions in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
How did the site get its start?
Back in the day, Robert Farago was a freelance writer living in the UK. After Autocar blacklisted the auto writer for slating then Editor-In-Chief Steve Sutcliffe (for boasting about driving a Lamborghini with his eyes closed), Farago started posting rants on www.pistonheads.com. Despite (or because of) Fahrenheit 451 temp replies, he created a regular series called “The Truth About Cars.” When Farago moved to the U.S., he started TTAC.
How are you different from other automotive sites?
The Truth About Cars prides itself on its editorial independence. Even though we accept advertising, the ads do not influence our editorial content. We also believe in full disclosure. Any time we receive a car loan or travel considerations from a manufacturer, we state the fact in the review.
Why haven’t you reviewed a _________?
Thanks to our dedication to telling the truth (and general attitude problem), TTAC’s access to manufacturers’ press fleets is strictly limited. In fact, we’ve been banned from press fleets by GM, Subaru and others. Our poorly-paid, single-minded reviewers must beg, borrow and go to dealerships to drive a car. Mind you, there are advantages: we generally drive the same car you can buy, rather than carefully prepared press vehicles.
What’s TTAC’s commenting policy?
1. No flaming the website, its authors or fellow commentators. “Flaming” means personally insulting. For example, you are free to suggest that a TTAC editorial should consider Toyota’s green policies, but you are NOT free to say “we’ve got it in” for domestic automakers (or anyone else). You are free to argue that a reviewer should take the new Jeep Patriot off-road, but you are NOT free to call the writer biased or unfair. You are free to say Ford makes reliable vehicles, but you are NOT free to diss a commentator’s personal history of unreliable Fords.
2. No trolling. “Trolling” means making comments deliberately designed to encourage flamers. For example, you are free to suggest that TTAC should consider Toyota’s green policies, bit you are NOT free to say “Toyota’s a bunch of lying scumbags.” You are free to argue that a reviewer should take the Patriot off-road, but you are not free to say “anyone who doesn’t take a Jeep off-road is a wimp.” You are free to say Ford makes reliable vehicles, but you are not free to say “people who don’t love Fords are lousy drivers.”
Any commentator who flames or trolls receives email notification that the comment was edited or deleted. If the comment is deemed excessively offensive or mean spirited, the commentator also receives a warning. After the second offense, the commentator will be banned from posting on the site. Permanently. I repeat: there is no coming back. Ever.
If you encounter an offensive comment, do not respond in the comments section. Send an email to Robert Farago or Frank Williams and we’ll take care of it.
To enter a comment you have to be registered on the site and signed in.
I can’t see the comment I just entered. Wassup?
Normally, when you enter a comment it’ll show up as soon as you submit it. If your comment contains certain flagged words or several web links or comes from a questionable-looking domain or looks like comment spam (we’ve received thousands of them), the Wordpress spam filter will trap your comment. And there it sits, waiting for manual approval. If there’s a legitimate comment in there we’ll rescue it (and edit it if necessary) before we delete the real spam. Meanwhile, patience.
How can I try my hand at writing for TTAC?
Contact us for a copy of TTAC’s Writers’ Guide and it’ll give you the proper format and procedure for submitting articles or reviews.
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