Some car forums are hard work

Some car forums are hard work

Author
Discussion

bigkeeko

Original Poster:

1,370 posts

142 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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It would be fair to say I like a change of car. This brings about a change of forum that I inevitably join to learn a bit about my new ride which brings me to my point.

Some forums are harder work than others and by that I mean either less friendly or more `cliquey` or have less amiable members in general. I'm aware there is forum etiquette and so on but there are some where not only myself (but others) just don't seem to be accepted. Now this doesn't bother me at all as I`ve been on loads of forums and have got on brilliantly on many so it's more fascination with the psychology of the posters and the type of cars they own.

I joined a Jeep forum 10 years ago and it was the best forum I ever was part of. I joined a Porsche forum last year. Bell End central.

Has anyone ever joined a forum and struggled a bit then left?

Edited by bigkeeko on Friday 29th April 00:32

Black_S3

2,667 posts

187 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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Just look at the difference between the sub forums on here. Kit car & Bike chat are a different world to speed plod and law.

Blayney

2,948 posts

185 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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A classic mini forum. Mixed bag - a handful of exceptionally helpful and knowledgeable folk, a plethora of bell ends causing endless petty infighting that led me to stop frequenting that particular forum.

xjay1337

15,966 posts

117 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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I'm banned from pretty much every Scirocco group!

Not because I did anything horrible, I just got fed up and bored with people going "what colour should i paint my wheels" or "Where can i buy black badges" so i would give stupid answers.

Even 5 or 6 years ago youwould use some sortof initiative!

KungFuPanda

4,324 posts

169 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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I PMed a mod on a forum asking for his views on certain cars I was looking at buying. He rubbished each and every one of them by saying they were the wrong engine, low spec or just not right. He then tried selling me his own high mileage, base model car with a smattering of extras at dealership prices.

55palfers

5,893 posts

163 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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Mercedes Benz sites are usually friendly and very knowledgeable.

pincher

8,497 posts

216 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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55palfers said:
Mercedes Benz sites are usually friendly and very knowledgeable.
Unlike their Dealers laugh

Ari

19,328 posts

214 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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I've always found Mercedes dealers extremely good. confused

Anubis

1,029 posts

178 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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I know what you mean.

Joined a really good forum years back that had knowledgeable enthusiastic people. They'd take real pride in what they had, take photos of their car, offer tips and help each other out (group buys for discounts on official parts etc). However I found after going to a few meets over 18 months of ownership the types of people turning up were getting much more chavvy.

The prices of the cars were going down and these Japanese types that once cost £35k+ to own could be had for £6k for a poor spec and condition. Thus the ironing board spoilers, shiny rear lights and 'phat' tyres started appearing amongst the new hoard and the original people I liked left.

Still good memories but i kinda understand the badge and brand snobbery a bit more now - in a way it can keep away certain types but (as it seems with Porsches) it can also draw in another type of person / different type of bell end.

It's something to factor in for the next special car purchase as I like the whole enthusiast community spirit side of it that goes with a car. smile

bigkeeko

Original Poster:

1,370 posts

142 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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Some fair replies there. It's right enough though, some forums have some seriously switched on helpful technically minded individuals and then there are others offering complete dog st advice which couldn't be further from helpful. Another thing that annoyed me about some forums was a lot of people think if you're looking to buy a certain car then a forum members car was ideal as they were `enthusiasts`. Half of the time that couldn't be further from the truth. Botched, abused cheapest entry into a particular brand was what I noticed from the "I got mine cheaper" or "I'd never pay that" brigade.
Oh, and never ask what your rare, low mileage mint car is worth on a forum either as it'll lumped in with the 9 owner high mile, needing a gearbox variants of the same manufacturer..

Edited by bigkeeko on Friday 29th April 08:27

X5TUU

11,909 posts

186 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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I used to be a really active member of coupe-club.co.uk which no longer exists after the site ended up in new hands and the chav-element really took over, it's been reduced to a group on Facebook now I believe and is just Barry from all accounts (I do t have a farcebook account to personally verify)

I was banned from the RX8 owners club after paying to get the rotors compression tested from a club member and putting my car up for sale as the engine was factory fresh ... I just saw an opportunity to make some cash out of my car and buy another cheaper to work on! That was just crazy!

I occasionally use a TT forum, pretty friendly, not chavvy but there are very definitive tastes and anyone who dares deviate from OEM/OEM+ on their own vehicle normally gets the brunt of it!

I also used the Astra owners club when I had my coupe, coupe turbo and VXR and they were really great, and not chavvy like I expected either... I occasionally pop in just out of curiosity

I have been in the market for a 360spider for a few years and joined various european and international forums to get information, tips, buyers guides etc... And they were really difficult and not friendly at all, resulting in me pausing my search

vanordinaire

3,701 posts

161 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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I've accidentally logged into a few American car forums while searching for DIY solutions to problems. Don't want to appear overly xenophobic but God are they thick!

pincher

8,497 posts

216 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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Ari said:
I've always found Mercedes dealers extremely good. confused
It was (meant to be) a joke wink

jammy_basturd

29,776 posts

211 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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Blayney said:
A classic mini forum. Mixed bag - a handful of exceptionally helpful and knowledgeable folk, a plethora of bell ends causing endless petty infighting that led me to stop frequenting that particular forum.
Haha, which one was it and how long ago?

bigkeeko

Original Poster:

1,370 posts

142 months

Friday 29th April 2016
quotequote all
vanordinaire said:
I've accidentally logged into a few American car forums while searching for DIY solutions to problems. Don't want to appear overly xenophobic but God are they thick!
Well. I have owned a few American cars and the UK based forums have some thoroughly decent blokes. I was however on sn95 forums a few years back and some of the posters there, well, did come across as bit retarded. Some of the technical issue advice was so staggeringly wide of the mark it wasn't funny. It was like the blind leading the blind at times.

danpalmer1993

507 posts

107 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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There must be some correlation between the car model or brand and the atmosphere of the forum!

Tony 1234

3,465 posts

226 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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bigkeeko said:
I joined a Porsche forum last year. Bell End central.
911UK I presume, if so yes I agree with you rolleyes

Some Gump

12,671 posts

185 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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RS246 - some really friendly and helpful pleople, outshouted by a bunch of cliquey chav bellends that think saying "fk off newbie" to everyone is clever. There seems to be a direct correlation between air suspension and "FON" postings.

Blatchat - a great place spoilt by maybe 10 people that really would fit in with the worst parts of NP+E, or SP+L.

Robbo 27

3,605 posts

98 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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I used to have a Fiat 124 spider, the Fiat site was appaling, would not have it that new Fiats were full of problems and that the majority of the dealers were tosspots.

I have an interest in a detailing business and follow detailingworld, good site with a balance between sales and advice. They took one car that had been outside for seven years, completely covered in green mould and mess of every description. These guys made it look like a 6 month old car.

The SAAB forum was good too, I had a track day 900 and they could not have been more helpful in terms of preparation.

I am on another forum that is unrelated to cars which is very tightly regulated, no swearing and no abuse to other members, it is nicknamed the forum of smiles. If you want to be difficult, swear and be abusive you get one warning and then banned if you persist, permanently. Everyone is treated with respect, thanked for their contribution and helped in whatever manner is appropriate.

You get the forum you want I guess, wherever you feel at home.


Falsey

449 posts

138 months

Friday 29th April 2016
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I was on a 1 series forum years ago that was great. Even met up with a load of people from there for BMW show at Santa Pod.

Since then all the other marque forums Ive tried have been very cliquey or just full of garbage. Focus ST forum being a highlight there. Scirocco forums arent very good and I dont have the constitution to join a general interest 'dub' forum.

Eyeing up my next purchase and doing my research and Scoobynet seems pretty good, just dont ask the difference between a Type R and a P1.

Every forum has its good guys and its bad guys, its smart guys and its idiots, its just that some the general theme and atmosphere is pretty ste.

"Hey bruv where can I get carbon badges?" "How do I get lows?" "How much does an air setup cost?" "Here is my project, I call it the beast: *Standard car with plastic bits dipped in carbon effect paint*"