Of all of our bad ideas, I think buying a Pontiac Aztek might be the best bad idea we’ve ever had. If you don’t remember, we said we’d buy a Pontiac Aztek and David would even live in it for a week if enough of you became members. Many of you signed up so we bought it, drove it around, and David just recently finished sleeping in it (more on that soon).
To commemorate this amazing moment, we are going to give members who renew (Vinyl+) one of these sweet, limited-edition Autopian pins made by our friends at Leen Customs. These are extremely cool and once we’re out of them we don’t make any more of that design so they are truly limited-edition.
If you’ve noticed all the posts lately about what you get if you renew your membership that’s because we launched membership in early December 2022 so many of you are getting emails asking if you still want to renew. It’s our big mission to make membership as valuable to you as your membership is valuable to us (it helps keep the server hamsters fed).
If you have auto-renew set, you don’t have to do anything. If you’ve disabled auto-renew you can log in to your account and reset it.
We ordered a lot more pins than we did last year so we have enough to cover just about everyone who is renewing between December of this year and well into next year. It’s possible they’ll last all the way until next December, but it just depends on how many people actually renew.
BTW, if you’re curious about the banner on the side, it commemorates this great trip we did with the great crew at Fuel Run. Check out the video below:
As a reminder, as a renewing member, you get the following:
- Cloth –Â Price drops from $70 to $50 for the year, a $20 savings.
- Vinyl – The cool new shirt + a pin.
- Velour/RCL – The shirt, the pin, and a license plate frame.
Here’s what those will look like:
What if you’re reading this post and you want to become a member today? We’ll likely do another, different pin next year so sign up and make sure to renew, and you’ll also likely get a bonus t-shirt if you sign up in the next couple of weeks. You’ll still get all of the member perks, including a sticker/shirt/badge/rust depending on the level.
The bonus t-shirt offer also extends to gifts. Here’s the link for that:
- GIFT CLOTH ANNUAL – $50
- GIFT VINYL ANNUAL – $100
- GIFT VELOUR ANNUAL – $250
- GIFT RICH CORINTHIAN LEATHER – $1,000
By the way, if anyone actually gifts RCL we will send an extra member shirt for whomever made the gift as a thank-you bonus.
Thanks again to everyone who is signing up/renewing/gifting membership. The ad markets are insane, we try to limit advertising as much as possible, and there are only so many partnerships we can do with our small staff. Having members like you helps us keep this place sustainable and allows us to make more informed decisions about staffing.
Many other sites you love are taking a similar hybrid approach (both Defector and The Verge have announced ads + membership in some form), so you’re not only supporting a website you love. You’re a pioneer.
Thank you.
This is going on my cannibal corpse denim vest. HURRY UP AND RENEW DAMNIT
As a pin hoarder and nothing to stick said pins on, I must have an Aztek pin. I have a feeling it might be the only one on the planet.
I’m happy to be a member and I’ve white-listed you for my adblocker. Honestly, the ads aren’t bad on PC; I don’t generally use my mobile for reading because I’m getting old and the small print is difficult. I think you’re hitting the right balance.
Thank you! It’s always a challenge. There are no plans to significantly add to our advertising stack, though we may reconfigure the front page to get a few more stories in, which would add an inline unit. Not clear yet. Obviously, if we started running short on funds it’s one lever we have to pull but I’m loathe to pull it.
Based on the fact that my company computer blocks ads so you don’t get that income and my desperate need for this
shit showparty to continue to exist I’ve increased my membership level. Happy Festivus.When do we begin the airing of the grievances ?
Don’t want to miss that.
Every day in the comments section!
WOOHOO!
Is there a chance I can just buy a license plate frame without spending an extra $150? I really want one.
They know this and are keeping uncharacteristically mum. Maybe it’s to do with the storefront mentioned previously. But consider yourself echoed!
Yes, I want to get back to a store front, and while we might not have this specific license plate frame it would be nice to do another one.
How do you know when your membership renews?
Never mind, I found it.
I think mine renews later this week, yay!
I do like this pin, but now I just want that black bag with Autopian logo patch to attach my pins to. Just in case anyone’s trying to decide what merch to offer when you get the storefront running again.
Ditto. I saw that bag and thought the same thing, I NEED IT!
I had a Grand Prix once upon a time with those same wheels. Man I loved them! Three spokes are always amazing. Mine had the little mini spokes in gunmetal grey so they were subtle and yeah. I miss Pontiac
They’re a great candidate for being the most Pontiac of Pontiac wheels, at least for the division as she existed from the ’80s until her demise. Sorta sporty meets faux techy.
They make me think of both the Star Fleet emblem and the biohazard warning label.
This place just gets me.
Of all our bad ideas, maybe giving out Aztek pins…
better than a wheelbarrow full of shrimp
Well you’ve got me there.
Blasphemy! I will tolerate no more slander regarding the wheelbarrow full of shrimp! A wheelbarrow is a useful tool for moving things by hand and shrimp is delicious. The combination is fantastic. Lots of shrimp, easily put into position!