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View Full Version : General, maintenance...needs to be more specific.



Washburn
12-23-2010, 08:57 AM
I am having a hard time being clear about what to post in general and what to post in maintenance - if you look at the General section you will see a bunch of posts about mechanical/repair issues members having on their car - you will see the same type of post in maintenance section. To add to the confusion, the General section has all kinds of misc. stuff, too - which don't have any mechanical/car-problem oriented content. (IMO, those are the only posts that should be in that section)

One of the following should be done (IMO)
incorporate mechanical problems (what's wrong with my car, what's this noise, how do I do this/that) into the "maintenance" section and the section should be renamed "mechanical/maintenance", OR:
A new section for purely "problem"/mechanical/repair questions (what's wrong with my car-stuff), right next to the maint. section.

In any case, Mechanical problems etc should not be in the "general" section with "why did you buy a ZHP" and "what interior do you have" and "number of ZHPs built" etc. Mechanical questions about what's wrong with our cars is not something general, it's a specific question about a specific problem, and can't belong in the general discussion section of cars in ...well, GENERAL :)

Although not a BMW site, take a look at http://www.elantraclub.com/forum/index.php? and see how well and logical the sections are divided - they have a lot of sections, scroll down needed)
(their general content IS really general and car-problem questions are in the "maintenance" section). The general is really a general discussion (what do you like about your Elantra, how many miles, what color, etc.)
Even with an extensive number of sections, It's one of the best organized car forums I have ever seen.

Thanks IA.

Marcus-SanDiego
12-23-2010, 09:02 AM
Wash, thank you for the thoughtful post. I agree with you. Look for the changes posthaste.

Washburn
12-23-2010, 09:07 AM
Thanks Marcus - I admire your constantly quick responses to suggestions and how fast you act. Great work!

pyreguy
12-23-2010, 09:12 AM
Just saying, I have really enjoy watching this site evolve.

Mtnman
12-23-2010, 09:16 AM
I was just sitting at my desk at work (working feverishly on posting at zhpmafia, of course) and was looking through the forums wondering what category i should post my "my snowflake wont leave me alone post". Seriously not 10 minutes ago. I agree we should standardize now, and we will all be better for it later. Thanks for all you do Marcus, and good point Washburn.
ps- the "what i like about my elantra" section sounds like a blast!

Washburn
12-23-2010, 09:19 AM
haha -Thanks.
I know, most BMW owners don't also have an Elantra driving wifey, but man that car is bullet proof - 155k or so, and not a single repair to date, or even a creak from the dash...it's quiet, gets about 30mpg, looks better than most econo cars, interior is VERY well put together, and really is fun to drive, and pretty damn quick, too (for an econo car) Yep, there's quite a bit to like about it.

Marcus-SanDiego
12-23-2010, 09:34 AM
Done.

Tell me what you guys think.

danewilson77
12-23-2010, 09:38 AM
I will start moving the maint stuff to the maint section...

Marcus-SanDiego
12-23-2010, 09:39 AM
Dane, thanks for doing that.

Washburn
12-23-2010, 09:39 AM
Great! Thanks for everything, guys!
(there's a few topics that can moved to the new Mechanical section as well)

Marcus-SanDiego
12-23-2010, 09:40 AM
And if you want to move threads to the mechanical section that would be great. You have a better handle on what is maintenance and what is mechanical. I'm all thumbs!

danewilson77
12-23-2010, 09:44 AM
"Mechanical" needs to be renamed to "Troubleshooting"

Marcus-SanDiego
12-23-2010, 09:48 AM
Thanks Marcus - I admire your constantly quick responses to suggestions and how fast you act. Great work!

Wash, one thing about me is that I am teachable and humble. You made a good suggestion -- one that resonated with me (and I imagine the entire membership). In hindsight, I wish you would have suggested this earlier. It's a great idea. It's an idea that I didn't think of.

Part of running a community-based site is that you have to be responsive to intelligent, well reasoned arguments that your membership brings to you. If you're not open to ideas, you'll eventually fail. I don't want to fail.

Thanks again for the suggestion. It's now implemented and it's ready for new posts.

Marcus-SanDiego
12-23-2010, 09:49 AM
How about Mechanical/Troubleshooting?

danewilson77
12-23-2010, 09:50 AM
Yeah....something like that....because we also have lighting and electrical, programming issues...etc....

Washburn
12-23-2010, 09:52 AM
Ja, "Mechanical/Troubleshooting" klingt toll ! :)

danewilson77
12-23-2010, 09:56 AM
And really....tbh.....just about everything in general, just about ends up being Off Topic.......after we get all these sub forums setup...

Washburn
12-23-2010, 09:59 AM
I think perhaps General needs general topics but related to ZHP and Off-Topic needs general stuff that's not related to ZHP (like guns, politics, i bought a new watch, and here's my puppy, and do you believe in global warming, suggest me a gift for the wifey etc)

Linh
12-26-2010, 01:23 PM
I'm really enjoy seeing this site grow, not to mention. . . it makes ownership much more fun and easy ;)

pyreguy
12-26-2010, 05:59 PM
It definitely does make ownership more fun. Especially when there aren't any other ZHP owners in my area. I would have one who gets me in this way were it not for this site.