Haymarket agrees sale of PistonHeads to CarGurus
Discussion
Glade said:
I get all my news from PH... as soon as something kicks off it gets posted, with discussion and i can do my own research via many links of opposing views/sources.
This will sound nuts, but the flaming rows of NP&E are a great way of getting a balanced view!
Someone said a more social media feel... my account is locked down and i don't want to use social media to consume the content that i get on PH. Also the different forums allow me to choose what content i see quickly. In dont want to have to flick through random posts instagram style.
I always look in the ph classifieds first and i wpuld rather buy an "enthusiast" owned car... so checking out their post history, and the ph ads normally give better reassurance of the car's history than autotrader for example, which is usually just specification based.
This. All day long.This will sound nuts, but the flaming rows of NP&E are a great way of getting a balanced view!
Someone said a more social media feel... my account is locked down and i don't want to use social media to consume the content that i get on PH. Also the different forums allow me to choose what content i see quickly. In dont want to have to flick through random posts instagram style.
I always look in the ph classifieds first and i wpuld rather buy an "enthusiast" owned car... so checking out their post history, and the ph ads normally give better reassurance of the car's history than autotrader for example, which is usually just specification based.
MYOB said:
300bhp/ton said:
There are quite a few very long time members on here (much longer than me). So there would be a vested interest in keeping to forum alive, even if completely independent from the rest of the current content.
Duration of membership will not influence the future direction. We are all equal regardless of time. The ownership does not matter to me.
The concern is that the forums become cluttered by advertising, pop-ups, promotional stuff or posters get bombarded with junk mail which will just alienate people. The classified site is of course a very different situation which I assume they will integrate into the rest of their business.
The concern is that the forums become cluttered by advertising, pop-ups, promotional stuff or posters get bombarded with junk mail which will just alienate people. The classified site is of course a very different situation which I assume they will integrate into the rest of their business.
MG Mark said:
Lots of knee jerk reactions and the deal isn't closed yet! The site and forums may not be perfect and to everyone's complete satisfaction, but I still like both and visit most days to pick up on new stuff of interest in both areas.
The forums may well be less used than before, but they're active and the breadth of coverage of topics is epic - pretty much anything and everything, as well as cars of all ages and types and motoring in general as a common bond - it's petrolhead Dad/Mum/Bloke/Bird net. Long may it remain so.
So, Cargurus, relatively oddball stuff on the site (Origins, SOTW, Spotted, YKYWT, Owner's cars, classics etc) draw people in as much as stuff about current cars or classifieds. The forums contain a wealth of information and connect people in a way that social media cannot emulate. PH is not fundamentally broken - by all means add to it and improve it, but please don't wreck it.
I've not read the whole thread, but this just about sums it up for me ie CarGurus, please, whatever you do, don't wreck PH!The forums may well be less used than before, but they're active and the breadth of coverage of topics is epic - pretty much anything and everything, as well as cars of all ages and types and motoring in general as a common bond - it's petrolhead Dad/Mum/Bloke/Bird net. Long may it remain so.
So, Cargurus, relatively oddball stuff on the site (Origins, SOTW, Spotted, YKYWT, Owner's cars, classics etc) draw people in as much as stuff about current cars or classifieds. The forums contain a wealth of information and connect people in a way that social media cannot emulate. PH is not fundamentally broken - by all means add to it and improve it, but please don't wreck it.
pc.iow said:
Glade said:
I get all my news from PH... as soon as something kicks off it gets posted, with discussion and i can do my own research via many links of opposing views/sources.
This will sound nuts, but the flaming rows of NP&E are a great way of getting a balanced view!
Someone said a more social media feel... my account is locked down and i don't want to use social media to consume the content that i get on PH. Also the different forums allow me to choose what content i see quickly. In dont want to have to flick through random posts instagram style.
I always look in the ph classifieds first and i wpuld rather buy an "enthusiast" owned car... so checking out their post history, and the ph ads normally give better reassurance of the car's history than autotrader for example, which is usually just specification based.
This. All day long.This will sound nuts, but the flaming rows of NP&E are a great way of getting a balanced view!
Someone said a more social media feel... my account is locked down and i don't want to use social media to consume the content that i get on PH. Also the different forums allow me to choose what content i see quickly. In dont want to have to flick through random posts instagram style.
I always look in the ph classifieds first and i wpuld rather buy an "enthusiast" owned car... so checking out their post history, and the ph ads normally give better reassurance of the car's history than autotrader for example, which is usually just specification based.
I bought my S2000 from a well-written PH ad, gave me confidence in the car.
I don't post much but I visit the forums every day. I fear having to fill my time if they disappeared with err, talking to my family or being sociable. No thanks! (shudders, but not as much as Mrs van Guy at the thought...)
I do wonder how many of us there are here, though. Sometimes I'll click on a Youtube link someone's posted in the dashcam thread and find it's had <200 views.
The more there are, the more valuable the forums are to owners/advertisers - does anyone know the PH population?
T5SOR said:
So said:
what are the most visited car websites after PH currently?
www.toyota.co.uk - must be close to the topI briefly joined the one started by the chap who started PH. Today I cannot even recall what it is called.
Mastodon2 said:
I do think forums are dying, which is a shame. I'd have very little interest in using Facebook or Instagram as a place for discussion, it just doesn't work well for it at all.
I honestly can't see why forums would die out - they work very well (assuming sufficient users to be active). With Facebook groups the discussion is lost if you aren't online that day as popular discussions don't stay at the top as it were. It all moves at much speed so you get a lot of repetition. I also don't want everyone I know to have everything I'm posting on non private groups all over their walls!We're jumping the gun here, but I think the forums mean a lot to people that they would be sad if it went so there is concern. I've been on others that have been closed - Parker's was one, a big and friendly car community lost overnight. There are about a dozen members left posting on a replacement about 5-6 years on.
ah s
t...........
I'm not actually big enough or tough enough for an actual face to face argument."
Someone's actual thoughts, probably.
Exactly 
I spend most of my time lurking these days, but I still have a look through most days on the forum. That said I've spent the last 16 years or so on forums, one by one they have disappeared, PH is my last bastion.....
The new owners sound more like whatcar than PH.
t...........80sMatchbox said:
C70R said:
Jesus. How can anyone feel so strongly about the company that owns a free online forum that they use? You guys need to get out more, or get a hobby...
"How can you be so flippant?? A hobby? I have one thanks, I argue with strangers on here all week, what am I going bloody well do if that comes to an end?I'm not actually big enough or tough enough for an actual face to face argument."
Someone's actual thoughts, probably.
I spend most of my time lurking these days, but I still have a look through most days on the forum. That said I've spent the last 16 years or so on forums, one by one they have disappeared, PH is my last bastion.....
The new owners sound more like whatcar than PH.
Petrol Ted kicked it off. A car-nut creating a new fangled forum for car nuts, go figure. It was all very fresh .. a while before Facebook and other groups got going. Information was given and shared freely with no notion that it was being commercialised. Car ads were free and I was rather pleased when Petrol Ted sold his rapidly growing baby to Haymarket. Good for him ... and he stuck around.
Haymarket grew the content and news, Facebook groups cleaved off some of the more specialist interests, and my perception is that over time the quality of the content diminished in direct proportion to the intensity of the language used.
There is a social responsibility to hosting a body of material in the public domain ... and I can only imagine how expensive it must be to try to moderate this whilst respecting reasonable freedoms.
Small wonder that the price of continuing might be a sharp focus on commercialising our value as readers and contributors.
Maybe this commercialisation could be a two way street that is beneficial if there are enough experts in their respective fields who can contribute and lift the value of the information exchange. To be seen.
But the information I gave so freely to Ted ... I would not give so freely if I felt that this was being commercialised.
Add to that the often destructive posturing to be found on here ... and somebody has a real job on their hands.
In the end, we get what we deserve ... if we are lucky.
Nothing is free, despite what everybody would like to believe.
So, good-luck to the new PH Team !!! I appreciate to odd free ads, the informed content and the good banter.
But I hate the ill informed and intolerant argument. There you have it
Haymarket grew the content and news, Facebook groups cleaved off some of the more specialist interests, and my perception is that over time the quality of the content diminished in direct proportion to the intensity of the language used.
There is a social responsibility to hosting a body of material in the public domain ... and I can only imagine how expensive it must be to try to moderate this whilst respecting reasonable freedoms.
Small wonder that the price of continuing might be a sharp focus on commercialising our value as readers and contributors.
Maybe this commercialisation could be a two way street that is beneficial if there are enough experts in their respective fields who can contribute and lift the value of the information exchange. To be seen.
But the information I gave so freely to Ted ... I would not give so freely if I felt that this was being commercialised.
Add to that the often destructive posturing to be found on here ... and somebody has a real job on their hands.
In the end, we get what we deserve ... if we are lucky.
Nothing is free, despite what everybody would like to believe.
So, good-luck to the new PH Team !!! I appreciate to odd free ads, the informed content and the good banter.
But I hate the ill informed and intolerant argument. There you have it
I had never heard of Cargurus before reading this thread – so I had a quick look at their site.
The Questions section:
“Hello all, I own a Fiat Punto Classic model 2004. The failure is while I am driving the car, it suddenly breaks. The dashboard shows no errors. When I try to turn on the car again,it does not work. ...”
NO REPLIES after two days – PH needs to help this chap!
Had a search of the classifieds – looking for a Fiesta – found this:
“1998 Ford Fiesta 1.3 Finesse 3d - £7,989”
Seems a bit pricey for a 20 year-old, but according to the advert it looks like this:
The Questions section:
“Hello all, I own a Fiat Punto Classic model 2004. The failure is while I am driving the car, it suddenly breaks. The dashboard shows no errors. When I try to turn on the car again,it does not work. ...”
NO REPLIES after two days – PH needs to help this chap!
Had a search of the classifieds – looking for a Fiesta – found this:
“1998 Ford Fiesta 1.3 Finesse 3d - £7,989”
Seems a bit pricey for a 20 year-old, but according to the advert it looks like this:
Mixed feelings.
A cash and technology injection could be good.
It could be a disaster.
What happens to the current guys who work for Haymarket? Haymarket get a lot of stick but I’ve met a lot of the guys who work on PH at Sunday services over the years and they’re all good guys doing the best with what they’re given. I hope this doesn’t screw them over.
Finally, Sunday Services. If they die off I’ll be gutted. I try to do 3 or 4 a year and in the last couple of years they have really delivered some great events. They’re a rare occasion for me and my pensioner dad to hang out for a day and chat cars without fear of being a car bore.
A cash and technology injection could be good.
It could be a disaster.
What happens to the current guys who work for Haymarket? Haymarket get a lot of stick but I’ve met a lot of the guys who work on PH at Sunday services over the years and they’re all good guys doing the best with what they’re given. I hope this doesn’t screw them over.
Finally, Sunday Services. If they die off I’ll be gutted. I try to do 3 or 4 a year and in the last couple of years they have really delivered some great events. They’re a rare occasion for me and my pensioner dad to hang out for a day and chat cars without fear of being a car bore.
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