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Any other forums like what this forum used to be? #1641762
15/06/2020 11:47
15/06/2020 11:47
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,645
J
JKD Offline OP
Forum is my job
JKD  Offline OP
Forum is my job
J

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,645
You know, with loads of interesting and lively Coop discussions, photos, videos etc?

It seems like the forum is nowadays mainly focused on the more technical and practical aspects of the Coop?

Or has everything that could ever be discussed about the Coop been discussed, and now it's just a matter of maintaining them and focusing more on that sort of stuff?

Re: Any other forums like what this forum used to be? [Re: JKD] #1641764
15/06/2020 12:22
15/06/2020 12:22
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Good question.

Nothing ever necessarily stays the same JKD and I daresay a certain migration to the convenience of mobile devices and social media has had an effect. I might venture also that a firm grip on the issues of trading cars and parts may have deterred some, as has the moderating of some legacy heated discussions on various topics. But I think it's the first reason mostly.

As you know the strict rules now applied to buying and selling are primarily as a responsibility toward members, some of whom in the past have been well and truly shafted by less-than-honest purveyors. The forum itself is no stranger to in-house dodgy personnel either, though this occurred some time back. The ethos is that we are basically a car-forum and not a stage for extremist views/language on whatever subject - there are plenty of other platforms for that. This may have appeared heavy-handed by some (and they're quite entitled to their opinion) and has made them reconsider their participation here.

I tend to agree that praise heaped upon the Fiat Coupe was boundless and often repeated in different ways but now appears to be lulled - even now though new members continue to be bowled over by this extraordinary beast which will be an icon of its time, I have no doubt, if it isn't one already.

Perhaps the great harvest of technical know-how on here might have changed over the years as the cars are very much reduced in number, though their age has brought up some new questions. Most of the common how-to's are already in place, leaving fewer to pose questions - apart from "what oil and how often should I check it" laugh

In the end we have a forum that I think sticks by its guns, makes a genuine attempt to follow its rules and be there as a source of hard-earned info for the enthusiast. We also have behind-the-scenes volunteers who go to a lot of trouble to make sure we are legal, comply with GDPR, organise events for members in the UK and abroad and not forgetting, maintaining the IT!

It works for me.


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: Any other forums like what this forum used to be? [Re: JKD] #1641767
15/06/2020 13:05
15/06/2020 13:05
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,676
Didcot - Oxon
RusH Offline
My life on the forum
RusH  Offline
My life on the forum

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,676
Didcot - Oxon
It’s an interesting observation and comment.

I’m hardly one to provide a relevant comment, having sold mine circa 6 months ago after 17 years of ownership – so maybe don’t represent the core Forum user base… Or maybe I do which could be part of the problem!

I think there has been a shift to the likes of Facebook which don’t necessarily have the administration/management like we do on a well-run Forum like this.

Interestingly I have my daily driver which is an Octavia VRs and on a Facebook owners group. This is peppered with people making modifications, projects etc etc. I purely think it’s down to the volume or cars and the shift to more easier plug ‘n’ play modifications with the likes of more modern cars.


Coupe now sold!
Re: Any other forums like what this forum used to be? [Re: JKD] #1641769
15/06/2020 14:00
15/06/2020 14:00
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,090
highlands
jimboy Offline
Club Member 857
jimboy  Offline
Club Member 857
Forum is my life

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,090
highlands
Aye I do agree times have changed, The move to Facebook for some, quite a lot it appears has left the forum a bit lacking in craic and of course as time goes by the Coop due to it’s age and looking after it has come to an end for some. I joined about thirteen years ago and the craic’ discussions, were colourful, along with wind ups fuelled with chosen refreshment especially at the weekend, all added to the mix. laugh Before my arrival when the forum was younger seemed to be the time for Coop owners. Many an in house joke went over my head from before my time. Time moves on.

When I joined the forum I was practically a forum novice and I soon learned a few dos and donts. laugh The forum as said is a must if you have a Coop. The one thing that I learned most of all....Not a good idea logging on to any forum when full of happy juice. nono


I'm an old git & happy with it,most of the time
Re: Any other forums like what this forum used to be? [Re: JKD] #1641817
16/06/2020 15:40
16/06/2020 15:40
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 293
Free State of Jones
clanger Offline
Making a profit
clanger  Offline
Making a profit

Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 293
Free State of Jones
In recent years the subject of Brexit has been very divisive across the board, I don't think that has gone away anywhere in society. I would imagine its had an effect on this forum too.

I don't use Facebook regularly but can understand its attraction for some - many seem to run their business from Facebook now, they don't even answer email enquiries sent to their own websites anymore.

As a recent joiner to the forum my observations are that like other forums they become 'owned' by the regular posters/those with high post counts. For some, there becomes a sense of prestige associated with a long posting record and regardless of post topic this prestige can spill in to a superior attitude towards others. Going back through a great many old posts on here there was certainly a buzz that does not exist now, its a pity but I guess things move on. Someone described the Coupe in terms of the owners in another thread recently, to paraphrase; Its moved from new owners searching for information to the tuning big power folks, to the conservators where it is now. Maybe that just sums it up?


E85
Re: Any other forums like what this forum used to be? [Re: jimboy] #1641818
16/06/2020 16:25
16/06/2020 16:25
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,645
J
JKD Offline OP
Forum is my job
JKD  Offline OP
Forum is my job
J

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,645
I think the low number of views and responses in this thread has beautifully demonstrated how there aren't many people on here who give a crap about general/casual Coop related chat anymore.

I know if there were practical/technical Coop threads like:

LE number 001 on sale for £2000,
Shell releases a new fuel specifically made for 20VT engines,
I got the Coop insured for £5 a year,

and maybe, just maybe, instead of a thread about how 'A stranger at the petrol station complimented the Coop', a topic that actually meant significantly much more for the social and more importantly, monetary value of the Coop, such as:

Jeremy Clarkson drives the Coop on The Grand Tour and calls it the best 90s sportscar ever,

well, then you'd actually see this number of flames next to any of the above thread titles:

click to enlarge click to enlarge click to enlarge click to enlarge click to enlarge click to enlarge click to enlarge click to enlarge click to enlarge click to enlarge

laugh

Re: Any other forums like what this forum used to be? [Re: JKD] #1641819
16/06/2020 16:35
16/06/2020 16:35
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Perhaps you could craft a number of posts with subliminal messages about fuel economy/speed/bhp/design/new production, JKD, and give each one a flame rating according to the reply-count chinny

But there again as you have suggested perhaps many thoughts have already been posted innumerable times....

Come to think of it, the photos of er, modified coops in the form of soft-tops, chip shops for example have drawn a good number of comments.....

There's a starter..


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: Any other forums like what this forum used to be? [Re: JKD] #1641822
16/06/2020 17:27
16/06/2020 17:27
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
magooagain Offline
Club Member 259
magooagain  Offline
Club Member 259
Forum is my life

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
I still pop in everyday and it's still my coupe go to place. Our FB page has its merits also.

It's a shame the banter has been lost here,but we still return when in need of a balanced opinion on a coupe problem or an everyday problem.

For the record my worst time to come on here was a Sunday evening,as I had been down to Madam Gillbertte's bar and was usually topped up when on here.

Fecking about on various Internet forums and media pages can be an awfull waste of time though.



Re: Any other forums like what this forum used to be? [Re: magooagain] #1641823
16/06/2020 17:42
16/06/2020 17:42
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Originally Posted by magooagain


For the record my worst time to come on here was a Sunday evening,as I had been down to Madam Gillbertte's bar and was usually topped up when on here.


rofl

Ach, that absinthe, what's it like laugh


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: Any other forums like what this forum used to be? [Re: Edinburgh] #1641827
16/06/2020 18:50
16/06/2020 18:50
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,482
Aldershot
PeteP Offline
Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
PeteP  Offline
Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
Forum Fossil

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,482
Aldershot
Originally Posted by Edinburgh


Ach, that absinthe, what's it like laugh



Absinthe makes the fart go Honda.


16VT and X1/9 1500

We must all do our part for the planet.
I unplugged a row of electric cars that nobody was using.
Re: Any other forums like what this forum used to be? [Re: JKD] #1641829
16/06/2020 20:34
16/06/2020 20:34
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
laugh


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: Any other forums like what this forum used to be? [Re: Edinburgh] #1641830
16/06/2020 20:42
16/06/2020 20:42
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
magooagain Offline
Club Member 259
magooagain  Offline
Club Member 259
Forum is my life

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
Originally Posted by Edinburgh
Originally Posted by magooagain


For the record my worst time to come on here was a Sunday evening,as I had been down to Madam Gillbertte's bar and was usually topped up when on here.


rofl

Ach, that absinthe, what's it like laugh






Ah now! No Absinthe was sampled at Madam Gillbertte's,just about everything else but not that.

The Absinthe would be more associated with a certain well known specialist and a fella from Belgium along with my good self one very cold Febuary evening!



Re: Any other forums like what this forum used to be? [Re: magooagain] #1641836
17/06/2020 08:42
17/06/2020 08:42
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 17,114
FCSS 01684 593187
Countrycruising Offline
Club Rep Europe, member 914
Countrycruising  Offline
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Forum veteran

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 17,114
FCSS 01684 593187
Originally Posted by magooagain
Originally Posted by Edinburgh
Originally Posted by magooagain


For the record my worst time to come on here was a Sunday evening,as I had been down to Madam Gillbertte's bar and was usually topped up when on here.


rofl

Ach, that absinthe, what's it like laugh






Ah now! No Absinthe was sampled at Madam Gillbertte's,just about everything else but not that.

The Absinthe would be more associated with a certain well known specialist and a fella from Belgium along with my good self one very cold Febuary evening!


chinny pics or it never happened.................... no wait there is biglaugh

Re: Any other forums like what this forum used to be? [Re: clanger] #1641937
20/06/2020 17:02
20/06/2020 17:02
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,521
Berlin
barnacle Offline
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
barnacle  Offline
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
Forum Demigod

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,521
Berlin
Originally Posted by clanger

As a recent joiner to the forum my observations are that like other forums they become 'owned' by the regular posters/those with high post counts. For some, there becomes a sense of prestige associated with a long posting record and regardless of post topic this prestige can spill in to a superior attitude towards others. Going back through a great many old posts on here there was certainly a buzz that does not exist now, its a pity but I guess things move on. Someone described the Coupe in terms of the owners in another thread recently, to paraphrase; Its moved from new owners searching for information to the tuning big power folks, to the conservators where it is now. Maybe that just sums it up?


Clanger, I can't speak for other high-count posters, but for myself I hope that I don't have that superior attitude. I certainly don't try to be superior... my post count is high because (a) I've been here a long time and (b) I've answered an awful lot of technical queries over the years. Interestingly, of the 'top ten' posters, half haven't posted in years and of the other half most - even me, these days - post sparingly and usually in response to a technical subject or a club event. We've had all the arguments smile

But I agree with you that all long term forums change to the flavour of the people who have been there longest. It's not restricted to car forums like this; I see it in electronics and software forums too. I suspect it's just one of those things. Those of us who are bemused by the fascination with facebook and its ilk... well, we're still somewhere...

I think you may be right about the demographic changing. Twenty years ago the cars were still new (well mine wasn't, but you could still buy them new) and people were spending significant sums even second hand. Ten years ago, prices were on the floor and the average post was 'I've just got a cheap coupe, how can I make it faster' (and friendly advice on how to make it stop or handle was generally derided). Now people are willing to spend lots of money to keep the cars in better condition than they were when they were new... it's a different attitude; people in that mode have already seen all the pros and cons and made up their minds.

It means, of course, that a general chat comment may produce no response, or very little - there simply isn't the traffic to drive it. But I guess that's just how it goes. We're always on the lookout for new fogies!

Neil


[Linked Image]
Don't get no respect! Coupe Fiat 1994-2000 - an owner's guide <-- clicky!
Re: Any other forums like what this forum used to be? [Re: JKD] #1642057
24/06/2020 12:12
24/06/2020 12:12
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 974
Behind Enemy Lines
Master_Mariner Offline
Club member 583
Master_Mariner  Offline
Club member 583
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 974
Behind Enemy Lines
I'm not on facebook, and can't understand the attraction.

I really don't care if people are eating chocolate cake.
And I like to look where I am walking, rather then being face down in a glowing hand held screen. You can call me old fashioned like that.

The forum is to me an awesome resource, and THE place to be if you have a question about, or a passion for the Coupe.

In my time the forum -which is miniscule to some - the amount of cars being sold/bought/trading places has dropped remarkably-in line with the increasing rarity of the Coupe.

Add to that - if you want to find out something about the coupe- you can either ask the same questions that have been asked hundreds of times- and get pointed out they have been asked hundreds of times. Or use the search feature-which often times will answer any question.

So maybe the forum is so effective- its kind of self defeating in some ways.

Add to that the last 3/4 months there have been no ability to have any meet up's/drive out's club get together's and all these are probably reasons why the forum is a bit quiet.

Chin up all - let's hope freedom is coming back (it must!) and we can all rescue the remains of the year.

It was just so nice weather last night I grabbed the keys and went out for a drive in my Coupe (Red which as everyone knows is THE best colour lol). Recent new tyres, and a recent bleeding of the brakes -meant it was a really great drive-brakes back up to where they need to be! A/c....hmm not as cold as it should be. So I had the windows open to enjoy the whistle and burble of the engine!

Maybe we should set a date-for next week, or some such where we ALL agree we take our cars out for the evening? See what reaction that gets in the coupe spotting pages. Update each other how it went. What if anything went wrong/broke etc.

Maybe there is someone sitting in Humber/Summerset/Bempton/Edinburgh/York/Brighton/Cardiff- with a project/problem on there coupe they are stuck with. SHOUT OUT - if we social distance - a group of local coupe owners could come over- give some practical help/push the project on. Or just give moral support?

Maybe there is a rare Coupe that needs saving - we could all chip in a token amount to get it saved?

LOTS and lots the fourm could do. All just humble suggestions.

Long live the forum and forum power!!

Regards all,

MM

Re: Any other forums like what this forum used to be? [Re: JKD] #1642059
24/06/2020 12:49
24/06/2020 12:49
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,621
Leicester UK
Ballypete Offline
Club Member 1578
Ballypete  Offline
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My life on the forum

Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,621
Leicester UK
Crowdfunding the restoration of a Coupe is a great idea in principle MM but can imagine all sorts of issues when it comes to money


Doris the 1998 Portofino Blue 20V and Zoe the 1999 Alfa Romeo 916 Spider
Bog standard needn't be boring...
Re: Any other forums like what this forum used to be? [Re: JKD] #1642062
24/06/2020 13:26
24/06/2020 13:26
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 974
Behind Enemy Lines
Master_Mariner Offline
Club member 583
Master_Mariner  Offline
Club member 583
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 974
Behind Enemy Lines
Hi Ballypete,

I hear that and appreciate the difficulties -which go on to make it an almost impossible idea. But at least we could help out with some moral support if someone is struggling with a non-cooperative coupe!

I thought the "unwanted parts" for free post was a great idea.

Hope the forum can continue to grow.

Regards

MM


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