Comments on: The Departed… Me

By: Landcrusher

Landcrusher — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:05:22 +0000

JB,

I am glad you won’t actually be leaving, especially since I just got a lot more respect for you (and for RF). It’s a shame more organizations can’t have employ relations like TTAC.

By: rudiger

rudiger — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:11:36 +0000

McQueen really did miss that turn in Bullitt and the amount of wheel-hop was dramatic when he did a burn-out backing up. I’m a little unclear as to how it applies to departing the premises but it’s still a good picture, regardless.

By: noreserve

noreserve — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:10:52 +0000

Good luck in whatever new endeavor you find yourself Justin. I’ve enjoyed reading your reviews.

By: autonut

autonut — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:31:13 +0000

Good luck. I hope you will drop a line now and then. Sense of humor is commodity that is hard to put $$$ on.

By: RGS920

RGS920 — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:45:39 +0000

GL Justin, always enjoyed your work and insight.

By: BlueBrat

BlueBrat — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:58:32 +0000

I’ll take a guess the corporate mothership is NameMedia.com, since it’s the company mentioned in the T&A link below and also holds the same list of sites in the About Us section here.

But I could be wrong.

By: AKM

AKM — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:19:00 +0000

We’ll miss you Justin! And we’ll miss you even more if/when you become a lawyer. You were planning on passing the bar exam, right?

And what’s that about corporate mothership?

By: Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:43:20 +0000

Exactly, Ingvar. Let’s all chip in. Where else do you get the truth, and nothing but the god damned truth for a buck a month?

PS: It’s “Publish or perish” … a milder version, with the same consequences.

By: Ingvar

Ingvar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:50:56 +0000

Yeah, but then, if you are telling the truth, you can not be dependent on other peoples money and whim. Either you go all the way, or there’s no point in doing it.

There’s also a saying in the journalistic world, “Publish, or be damned…” meaning that the journalistic integrity is more important than the eventual sorrowed pride of advertisers. The publisher, in this case Robert Farago, has a responsibility to the readers of telling the truth, no matter the consequences. Re the vagina-faced Subaru Tribeca-debacle.

Also, having integrity is a selling point in itself. TTAC wouldn’t be the place to be, if it wasn’t for peoples wishes of upholding that integrity. It’s intrinsic for the purposes of this site. If Farago et al would have wanted to make it easier for themselves or make a boatload of cash, they would have done so long ago in some other field of work.

By: Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:23:05 +0000

Usta Bee has a point: When you tell the truth about cars, this doesn’t make you a lot of friends in the car business. Especially not amongst those with the big ad budgets. I’ve heard stories of big car companies canceling their yearly contracts with large print magazines after just one critical story. Imagine what they do to a site that lately had to show more sinking ships than shiny sedans?

Maybe it’s time to consider paying for the honor of being a part of TTAC. Would a dollar a month be too much? Let’s see. With 734k readers a month, that would be $734k. Even if paid readership plummets to 10% of itself, that’s still $73K a month, enough to survive, especially if there is still the odd ad dollar or two.

I appreciate RF’s remarks about “and/or increase the pay for our freelance work.” However, if the B&B agree to pay a buck a month, I vow to do the Iacocca, and work for a buck a year.

By: mmartel

mmartel — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:17:07 +0000

Even when it’s your head on the block, you’re calling it “just business” – those are some big-boy-britches you’re wearing, JB. Sad evidence that even the best ships can aground in low tide.

Good luck with your next gig.

By: PG

PG — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:03:34 +0000

Really sorry to hear this, Justin. I greatly enjoyed your car reviews. Best of luck at wherever your career takes you next.

I hope that Web sites like TTAC will find a way to become really profitable somehow, since newspapers and magazines are facing such huge cutbacks and financial declines.

The ‘net is the future, but it won’t be worth it if they can’t find a way to employ quality people for the job.

By: John Horner

John Horner — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:00:45 +0000

Sad news indeed. Don’t be a stranger Justin … and all of us should click on those ads a little more often ….

By: Edward Niedermeyer

Edward Niedermeyer — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:54:19 +0000

Later J-man. May the wind be always at your back, and may the radar guns always malfunction in your presence.

It’s been an honor!

By: Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:35:23 +0000

Justin, Justin, Justin …

Come to China! Xinhua is hiring foreign editors. Auto sales still up. You could do podcasts via VOIP. You could import one personal car tax free and live in grand style for a year on the proceeds alone.The world needs writers like you … alive.

By: jkross22

jkross22 — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:08:40 +0000

Justin, You’ll be missed by those you’ve never met but enjoy your take on all things cars nonetheless.

Best success to you, and keep us posted where you land!

By: BlueBrat

BlueBrat — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:13:34 +0000

skor::
I’ll be welcoming you all in the door at that kitchen…

So yeah, does this mean no more fun banter on the podcasts with you and Justin? I’m going to miss those.

Good luck on your future endeavors at any rate, and to TTAC as well. Christ, we can’t be left to Autoblog as our only interweb auto resource…

By: skor

skor — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:38:46 +0000

Don’t worry about being lonely. Most of us will be joining you down at the local soup kitchen soon enough.

Cheers.

By: njgreene

njgreene — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:00:51 +0000

Have you at least gotten good bar results? I realize I can’t expect it every day, but are continuing cameos on the (hopefully soon to return) podcast a possibility?

By: Dimwit

Dimwit — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:59:23 +0000

Damn! See ya. Good luck!

By: Don Gammill

Don Gammill — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:48:05 +0000

Justin, I’ve always enjoyed reading your stuff and am glad you’ll still be around to contribute. Good luck in the future.

By: ZoomZoom

ZoomZoom — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:55:47 +0000

Well, at least it wasn’t titled “The Dearly Departed”….

Sorry to hear this, Justin. Good luck.

By: Lokki

Lokki — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:29:47 +0000

I’ve enjoyed your writing here, Justin. I’ll be looking for you to pop up elsewhere. Well done and carry on.

Lokki

By: Ingvar

Ingvar — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:19:54 +0000

Au revoir and good luck! You have done a good job, Justin. Hope the best for you…

And, Usta Bee. There’s always Car & Driver, if ýou want advertisment driven editorials…

By: Usta Bee

Usta Bee — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 22:59:35 +0000

I love the part about websites having a harder time finding advertisers, especially when you consider TTAC. It must be a bitch trying to find advertising when you’ve probably pissed off all the major auto manufacturers by telling the truth about them and their products. Somehow I don’t think Justin will be finding any job applications in the mail from Rick Wagoner or GM anytime soon. ;)

Maybe Justin could start his own website about other automobile magazines and websites ?. Since he has insider knowledge now, how about “TTATTAC” (The Truth About The Truth About Cars)?.