Filed under: Etc., First Drive
For only $19.95, you too can get paid to drive hot cars like the pros!
Have you ever wanted to get paid for test driving brand new, hot cars? Yeah, us too! And it's a mystery to us how some bloggers and magazine writers are allowed to do so. Seriously. Who in their right mind thought it was a good idea to give Alex keys to a brand new Bentley?But, apparently, anyone can become an automotive journalist for the low, low price of only $19.95! David Bellm has written a book, "How to Become a Car Magazine Test Driver," in which, according to his Web site, he divulges all the secrets of how to become a test driver. We assume he does not, however, give out the secret Test Driver Handshake, because rule No. 1 is, "We don't talk about the secret Test Driver Handshake."
We recommend if you really want to get paid to write for a car magazine that you do it very quickly. Since it looks like the "paid" part may soon get much less common.
Not having actually seen the book, we can't say if it's worth your money, or even if Bellm has the proper credentials to
[Source: Autiv]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rich 11:05AM (2/08/2008)
Nice Fight Club Reference!
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Avinash machado 11:09AM (2/08/2008)
Jeremy Clarkson must write such a book.
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speedball3 11:13AM (2/08/2008)
One of the more amusing posts on autoblog. Somehow when the author makes fun of both the subject matter and himself, it seems so much warmer than when he just makes fun of the subject matter. =)
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Dolemite 11:47AM (2/08/2008)
Agreed. Great post and very well written. Gave me my first good laugh of the day.
Razor1973 11:16AM (2/08/2008)
"the proper credentials to right such a how-to guide" -- "right"? This is a typical case in which a spellcheck doesn't help, but a careful review would have. ;)
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J.D. 11:17AM (2/08/2008)
I'm sorry, but this is a scam. It smells like a "Become a Millionaire in 24 Hours!!!" book.
Too good to be true? Yes, thus it must be false. Who but car-nerd Jeremy Clarkson-worshiping jealous high-schoolers would buy a line like, "There I am sitting in the interview, and this guy is telling me how if I get hired, I’ll be taking home brand-new cars – including big-time stuff like BMWs, Vipers, Porsches, Mercedes, etc. – to drive every day, for three or four days at a time."
The fact is that when you read a good car publication like TopGear or Road&Track, something you notice is that the journalism is high quality and the drivers do know what they are talking about. Ergo, experience matters. This guy makes it sound like you don't need any at all.
And who the hell has heard of this guy, anyway? I don't believe him.
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J.Crew 11:25AM (2/08/2008)
Chris - you are getting the shaft for sure... I bet the good stuff is just around the corner, but once I have this book I will get those cool rides first... they will be mine! MINE I SAY!... MIIIIIIINE!!!!!
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Razor1973 11:38AM (2/08/2008)
There, better. :)
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Jeff 11:39AM (2/08/2008)
You mean I really cannot become a millionaire in 24 hours? Next you're going to tell me I won't have good fortune shed upon me because I passed that email on to 10 of my friends.
Oh no, what have I been doing with my time>
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Scott 11:46AM (2/08/2008)
I've compiled a little "have driven" list of my own:
2003 VW Jetta
2004 Mazda RX-8 Grand Touring
2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart
2006 VW Jetta
2003 Honda Civic Si (now own)
2004 Mazda 3s (Sedan and 5-Door)
2006 Mazdaspeed 6 (holy hell, that was fast)
2006 Lexus IS250 AWD
2008 Mercedes Benz C300 Sport
2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII
2007 Hummer H2 (lol the only one I couldn't park)
2008 Infiniti G37 S
Friends' Cars:
2004 Audi TT S-line
2002 Chevy Camaro 35th Anniversary Edition
1986 Toyota Corolla GT-S (AE86)
1986 Buick Regal (lol)
2003 Saturn Ion Sedan
1997 Subaru Impreza Outback
Our Cars:
2003 Honda Civic Si hatch (mine)
2004 Mazda 6i
2001 Buick Century (lol)
RIP/Sold
2001 Ford Focus LX
1997 Ford Escort LX Wagon
And that's all I can think of right now... there were more, it's just been a very long time on some of them.
My "to do" list:
2008 VW R32
2008 BMW 328i Sedan
2008 BMW 135i
As much as I would like to get paid to be an automotive journalist, I think this author is willing to say anything to make a buck. Granted, I've not read it, but I think we're entitled to our skepticism...
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Iridium 12:47PM (2/08/2008)
Well just a few short years ago nobody would ever think a couple guys posting on a blog could ever get to test drive cars and get paid for it.
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h8rain 1:30PM (2/08/2008)
Poor Chris. :)
I have always thought that test driving cars and writing reviews and such would be a cool job.
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Miranda 1:57PM (2/08/2008)
Suckage for you and having to drive the boring cars.. next time pull a goulet and stalk them then jump in the drivers seat ;)
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Dan Roth 2:12PM (2/08/2008)
Hey, buck up, Chris - I had the Kia Sedona, Sportage, and Rondo - there's a month of unglamorous cars right there. It's still informative to drive those vehicles, though. I also just recently had an SX-4 and was thoroughly entertained.
Now, the fact that I had an XK, a 'Vette, a CTS, the G35S (twice) is balanced out by the fact that I've had two different Ford Escapes, right? :)
HotRod 2:47PM (2/08/2008)
Chris, let me remind you of something. You live in Alabama. We (those of us who live here) know the Bham metro area is awesome. The rest of the world just hears banjos. As long as you live here, and the other guys live up north/out west, you will get the Kias and Minivans, they will get the hot suff. Just deal with it.
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Lemmiwinks 3:58PM (2/08/2008)
I LOLed at the last paragraph. Funny guy, that Tutor.
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ricbum 4:10PM (2/08/2008)
LOLZORS. very humorous journalism. now they just need to put me up there too, cuz i like using words like lolzors.. and cuz.
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Craig 9:48PM (2/08/2008)
I had no idea Brock Yates writes for The Truth About Cars now. I actually wrote a review on there, but decided not to continue with it. I guess maybe I should have. Could have been an online brush with greatness in a way.
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Hydrajohn 9:36PM (2/09/2008)
Tintan drives like a charm. Thought about others but stuck with the best! ***
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Jon 10:46PM (2/09/2008)
Do they front you the gas money?
Oh, do they do background checks?
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