FOR SALE 2021 white BMW Z4 s drive 2.0i very low mileage of 11000 £26500 (immaculate condition)

[tiglon]

Easily the most welcoming, helpful and positive forum that I've come across - which is possibly why people get defensive of it.

Can see both sides of the argument, although to be honest no new member is likely to successfully sell a car on here with a vague and uninspiring advert (unless the price is compelling, which it invariably isn't), so they're wasting their time anyway.

Who's going to put in the effort to enquire for more details about this car, when it's priced similarly to other cars on autotrader with negligibly higher mileage and dealer warranty and dealer finance? There's just no incentive here (price or rarity) to take on the hassle and risk of a private purchase (for a very large amount of cash) from a taciturn seller.

No matter how welcoming and polite members were with this, it isn't going to sell on here for that price with that advert, so the whole situation is pointless.

 

[bigwinn]

Sadly it is getting that way.

Which is a shame as this was generally a much better place than most other forums, or even fora, and I'd really like it to stay that way.

Anyway welcome Viv (even if you are leaving) and GLWTS.

Controversial view here-

If that is the case, and of course with everything there needs to be balance; I’d say you are best placed as a moderator to effect a change.

I’m glad we don’t have heavy handed moderation but helping the polarised views see things differently can make a difference (IMHO)

It’s been said but both sides have a defendable view- the newcomer getting flamed will be butt-hurt but the old hands protecting the integrity of the forum we all love and use is just as valid.

As always, I’m happy to be shot down for my views

This forum is hands down light years ahead of any other car forums I’ve used and seen. Case in point the 2002 forum I am using at present has around 5 active members in the uk.

Stuart

 

[enuff_zed]

As a general forum it’s very good with some very good knowledgeable members. However the classified side seems to be quite negative, often sarcasm for poor ads or if someone has just joined to advertise their car. Personally feel the sarcasm does not give a good impression of what is overall a good forum.

Fair enough. But the sarcasm is only directed at people who come to make one post, then disappear again, so their impression is somewhat irrelevant. They only want to make use of a free advertising opportunity.

 

[john-e89]

OP hasn’t been treated badly at all imho, Enuff said it all.

So do we want a humourless forum now…? There’s scant little of it now, hasn’t been for long enough as too many people are wayyyyyy too easily offended or simply don’t seem to have a sense of humour at all.

A bit of light sarcasm really isn’t an issue especially for the reasons explained, honestly if someone gets upset at what’s been said then that’s not the forums issue, maybe someone needs to lighten up and have a word with themselves. There’s far too much s**t going on in this world for someone to get so upset at what’s been said here, which is nothing. Imho obvs.

Girl in the office at Fix auto where my workshop is has just lost her husband unexpectedly at 56, wtf…?? And some here are getting upset at a bit of rib tickling.

We need a balance of car advice, chat, and some, shock horror…..humour, life’s too short…!!

 

[enuff_zed]

Controversial view here-

If that is the case, and of course with everything there needs to be balance; I’d say you are best placed as a moderator to effect a change.

I’m glad we don’t have heavy handed moderation but helping the polarised views see things differently can make a difference (IMHO)

It’s been said but both sides have a defendable view- the newcomer getting flamed will be butt-hurt but the old hands protecting the integrity of the forum we all love and use is just as valid.

As always, I’m happy to be shot down for my views

This forum is hands down light years ahead of any other car forums I’ve used and seen. Case in point the 2002 forum I am using at present has around 5 active members in the uk.

Stuart

I am sure there has previously been discussion on the feasibility of restricting access to Sales and Wants until people have made a certain number of posts? Is this do-able?
Or is there a way to put a pop-up in when you click on 'For Sale' ?
I doubt any Mod would want to have to vet every advert, but is it possible to make every advert from someone with less than say, 5 posts, require authorisation?

Basically, I get frustrated by people taking advantage of this forum. If there were a way to prevent this it would be great.

 

[enuff_zed]

We need a balance of car advice, chat, and some, shock horror…..humour, life’s too short…!!

 

[B21]

So I guess the question is.. what is the harm in people coming here to achieve s specific objective?

Answer a simple maybe complex technical issue / search for a part / sell a car?

What are the rites of passage / precursors / predilections one must have?

 

[TriggerFish]

So I guess the question is.. what is the harm in people coming here to achieve s specific objective?

Answer a simple maybe complex technical issue / search for a part / sell a car?

What are the rites of passage / precursors / predilections one must have?

Interesting point!

Posting about/fixing one issue and then disappearing and selling a car are both self-serving one-time interactions with the forum. People don't (usually*) get annoyed with the former.

If anything, the person selling the car is potentially going to contribute more (compared to the 'help it's broken' person) in the long run, if it helps a member buy a car they wanted...

*So many problems are covered before, but people don't/can't use Google...

 

[B21]

Interesting point!

Posting about/fixing one issue and then disappearing and selling a car are both self-serving one-time interactions with the forum. People don't (usually*) get annoyed with the former.

If anything, the person selling the car is potentially going to contribute more (compared to the 'help it's broken' person) in the long run, if it helps a member buy a car they wanted...

*So many problems are covered before, but people don't/can't use Google...

The counter argument against Forum searches is that sometimes over time there is greater clarity as to the nature and causes of faults eg in the early days of N20 cam chain issues there were many different theories but these have now coalesced ..

 

[john-e89]

So I guess the question is.. what is the harm in people coming here to achieve s specific objective?

Answer a simple maybe complex technical issue / search for a part / sell a car?

What are the rites of passage / precursors / predilections one must have?

There aren’t any, no passage of rites etc, necessary, the point which your missing is the OP has got the hump over a bit of light sarcasm, read Enuff’s post as to why. You’ve gone off topic.

 

[tiglon]

Interesting point!

Posting about/fixing one issue and then disappearing and selling a car are both self-serving one-time interactions with the forum. People don't (usually*) get annoyed with the former.

If anything, the person selling the car is potentially going to contribute more (compared to the 'help it's broken' person) in the long run, if it helps a member buy a car they wanted...

*So many problems are covered before, but people don't/can't use Google...

The thing that annoys me about going to a forum to ask for help then disappearing is when they never return to share the outcome, so then when others come across it in future it's not as useful as it should be.

When you do google and find previous topics, often you have no idea what the fix actually was.

Pretty sure I've been guilty of this in the past, but I do my best these days to return with an outcome if I've started a topic. I think it's the quid pro quo of asking others for free help/advice.

 

[Pondy]

This forum is hands down light years ahead of any other car forums I’ve used and seen.

It is yes. And that is because it isn't made up of (generally) boring people just asking boring questions.
This forum, unlike many I have come across in the past decade, is still more like a 'club' than a forum.

And because it is more like a club, people care about it and defend it. IMO.

 

[Pondy]

We need a balance of car advice, chat, and some, shock horror…..humour, life’s too short…!!

Which this forum has. Stands it out among all the others I know of. Which, IMO, keeps it popular.

And I am sure (even though no-one will admit to it) a bit of arguing and controversy makes it more entertaining to many. Keeps it interesting.

The internet is littered with dead car forums. They presumably died because people got bored of them. Many moved over to FB pages. I am a member of several FB car pages. I hate them all. There is never any sense of belonging, people argue constantly with others who they have never interacted with before, or they are pretty dead. I also don't understand the layout of FB so find it disjointed and hard to decipher. But I am a bit dim!

 

[Pondy]

I am sure there has previously been discussion on the feasibility of restricting access to Sales and Wants until people have made a certain number of posts? Is this do-able?

That is the best approach IMO. At least people then have to 'earn the right' to some degree.

 

[B21]

The thing that annoys me about going to a forum to ask for help then disappearing is when they never return to share the outcome, so then when others come across it in future it's not as useful as it should be.

When you do google and find previous topics, often you have no idea what the fix actually was.

Pretty sure I've been guilty of this in the past, but I do my best these days to return with an outcome if I've started a topic. I think it's the quid pro quo of asking others for free help/advice.

I agree its very frustrating and I always praise those who do return with the update..most valuable.

But as you said yourself..most people just move on..

I'm still lamenting people not sending me a hand written thank you (delivered by their driver) after I've hosted a dinner..most regrettable ..no etiquette
these days..

 

[john-e89]

That is the best approach IMO. At least people then have to 'earn the right' to some degree.

Personally I don’t think it’s necessary, as Lynchy said someone using the forum as a free advert selling a car might benefit a member, maybe a better idea would be to make it possible only by submitting a donation until someone has had, say, 6 months here..? You can’t really do it on posts as someone could just do 100 posts of one word just as eg.

 

[john-e89]

I'm still lamenting people not sending me a hand written thank you (delivered by their driver) after I've hosted a dinner..most regrettable ..no etiquette
these days..

They probably didn’t enjoy it….


Ok I AM joking there….

 

[Pondy]

Personally I don’t think it’s necessary, as Lynchy said someone using the forum as a free advert selling a car might benefit a member, maybe a better idea would be to make it possible only by submitting a donation until someone has had, say, 6 months here..? You can’t really do it on posts as someone could just do 100 posts of one word just as eg.

I was thinking more like 5 or so!

That's the number to be able to use the PM system, so could be the same for the classifieds?

 

[john-e89]

I was thinking more like 5 or so!

That's the number to be able to use the PM system, so could be the same for the classifieds?

Might as well not have anything if it’s only 5 Pondy,

 

[tiglon]

I agree its very frustrating and I always praise those who do return with the update..most valuable.

But as you said yourself..most people just move on..

I'm still lamenting people not sending me a hand written thank you (delivered by their driver) after I've hosted a dinner..most regrettable ..no etiquette
these days..

If someone sends you a hand written thank you, are you obligated to thank them in writing for their written thank you? Slippery slope, that's why I never say thank you for anything...