I really wish forum members would post in the relevant sections better ...

[MachNroll]

There's a natural life cycle to a forum, similar to things like electronics or pharmaceuticals. People may disagree on the names of the points, but as the people who buy the cars run from "early adopter" -> "new cool thing" -> "solid choice" -> "mature tech" -> "discontinued model" -> "bargain buyers", the tenor of the forum changes with it.

Early Adopter

• Not many people in the forum
• Trickle-ins from other forums ("Huh. I wonder if you can use a CJ manifold on this.")
• Arguments over appearance of new models.
• Forum may not achieve critical mass to really get going.

New Cool Thing

• People talking about how they've just seen someone else with one on the road.
• Early adopters kicking about new model teething issues.
• Fair number of lurkers who are thinking about getting the car.

Solid Choice

• Forum growing in size as more and more people own the cars.
• Possible new buyers asking about teething issues and finding they've been fixed.
• Enough people own them that "My model is better than your model" wars can break out.
• A few people get a little chesty over issues, but most people laugh it off. Some don't, and flame wars erupt.

Mature Tech

• The forum fills with a broad range of people reflecting the bulk of the buyers.
• Forum acts as a repository of useful and informative information.
• Most people love the car and want to talk about it and related items.
• Someone active in the forum has likely seen the most common problems through and can provide actual insight working through fixing issues.
• Many owners' cars remain under warranty, so things are getting fixed correctly.
• Early adopters have moved on the the Next Big Thing.
• Kind of a "family feel", people arranging meetups and events

Discontinued Model

• Forum fills with people who can now afford the rapidly depreciating vehicles.
• Many cars are no longer in warranty, and repair costs threads appear more often.
• "Is this a good first car?" threads appear.
• Lots of "Oh, jeez, not this again!" threads pop up.
• "Try using the Advanced Search function" will be a valid answer to >50% of questions asked.
• Majority of formerly active forum participants move on as they change models.
• Some old timers hang in, hoping to keep the feel going.

Bargain Buyers

• High school kids can afford them
• Repeated "How Can I ..." threads erupt, including:
  HCI add boost to a car that has no business having boost?
  HCI boost my car past 900 HP?
  HCI slam my EcoBoost to 1/4" off the ground?
  HCI fit 345/15-R24 tires on my car?
  HCI fix this damage with putty and a rattle can of Rustoleum?
• Most remaining old-timers are bitter about the changes and also want the new people off their lawns.

Great summary!

My Mach 1 is now 4 years old and with me being an "older owner," I'm not so easily entertained by the new best thing, nor do I feel the need to change cars when I like what I have. Point being, short of an issue that comes up with the car that I just don't want to deal with, I will most likely keep it and stay connected with this forum for the information and interesting thought exchanges.

PS: I don't like people on my lawn.

Sponsored

 

[jpalmerino]

There's a natural life cycle to a forum, similar to things like electronics or pharmaceuticals. People may disagree on the names of the points, but as the people who buy the cars run from "early adopter" -> "new cool thing" -> "solid choice" -> "mature tech" -> "discontinued model" -> "bargain buyers", the tenor of the forum changes with it.

Early Adopter

• Not many people in the forum
• Trickle-ins from other forums ("Huh. I wonder if you can use a CJ manifold on this.")
• Arguments over appearance of new models.
• Forum may not achieve critical mass to really get going.

New Cool Thing

• People talking about how they've just seen someone else with one on the road.
• Early adopters kicking about new model teething issues.
• Fair number of lurkers who are thinking about getting the car.

Solid Choice

• Forum growing in size as more and more people own the cars.
• Possible new buyers asking about teething issues and finding they've been fixed.
• Enough people own them that "My model is better than your model" wars can break out.
• A few people get a little chesty over issues, but most people laugh it off. Some don't, and flame wars erupt.

Mature Tech

• The forum fills with a broad range of people reflecting the bulk of the buyers.
• Forum acts as a repository of useful and informative information.
• Most people love the car and want to talk about it and related items.
• Someone active in the forum has likely seen the most common problems through and can provide actual insight working through fixing issues.
• Many owners' cars remain under warranty, so things are getting fixed correctly.
• Early adopters have moved on the the Next Big Thing.
• Kind of a "family feel", people arranging meetups and events

Discontinued Model

• Forum fills with people who can now afford the rapidly depreciating vehicles.
• Many cars are no longer in warranty, and repair costs threads appear more often.
• "Is this a good first car?" threads appear.
• Lots of "Oh, jeez, not this again!" threads pop up.
• "Try using the Advanced Search function" will be a valid answer to >50% of questions asked.
• Majority of formerly active forum participants move on as they change models.
• Some old timers hang in, hoping to keep the feel going.

Bargain Buyers

• High school kids can afford them
• Repeated "How Can I ..." threads erupt, including:
  HCI add boost to a car that has no business having boost?
  HCI boost my car past 900 HP?
  HCI slam my EcoBoost to 1/4" off the ground?
  HCI fit 345/15-R24 tires on my car?
  HCI fix this damage with putty and a rattle can of Rustoleum?
• Most remaining old-timers are bitter about the changes and also want the new people off their lawns.

which gpt you use for this?

 

[Zooks527]

which gpt you use for this?

Pshaw. Wrote it myself. Granted it was just over 7 years ago and it was when I was on the BMW forums, but it still holds.

My original post here: https://www.bimmerfest.com/posts/12818847/

 

[TonyNJ]

Pshaw. Wrote it myself. Granted it was just over 7 years ago and it was when I was on the BMW forums, but it still holds.

My original post here: https://www.bimmerfest.com/posts/12818847/

I was totally feeling the chatgpt vibe, but here you are with the receipts. Nice. It was a well written synopsis.

So it's seems we're in the early stages of the "Bargain Buyers" era. Life goes fast.

Edit: This line should've told me it wasn't AI: "HCI slam my EcoBoost to 1/4" off the ground?"
I don't think AI has mastered sarcasm this will yet.

 

[MachNroll]

Pshaw. Wrote it myself. Granted it was just over 7 years ago and it was when I was on the BMW forums, but it still holds.

My original post here: https://www.bimmerfest.com/posts/12818847/

Heck, I'll stick around just to read a well-written post like this that looks like it wasn't written with crayons

 

[jpalmerino]

Pshaw. Wrote it myself. Granted it was just over 7 years ago and it was when I was on the BMW forums, but it still holds.

My original post here: https://www.bimmerfest.com/posts/12818847/

 

[Pistol_91]

I don't post as much on here anymore probably due to losing a bit of interest in my own car but I still come on here daily and like to read threads like this. LOL

 

[SheepDog]

There's a natural life cycle to a forum, similar to things like electronics or pharmaceuticals. People may disagree on the names of the points, but as the people who buy the cars run from "early adopter" -> "new cool thing" -> "solid choice" -> "mature tech" -> "discontinued model" -> "bargain buyers", the tenor of the forum changes with it.

Early Adopter

• Not many people in the forum
• Trickle-ins from other forums ("Huh. I wonder if you can use a CJ manifold on this.")
• Arguments over appearance of new models.
• Forum may not achieve critical mass to really get going.

New Cool Thing

• People talking about how they've just seen someone else with one on the road.
• Early adopters kicking about new model teething issues.
• Fair number of lurkers who are thinking about getting the car.

Solid Choice

• Forum growing in size as more and more people own the cars.
• Possible new buyers asking about teething issues and finding they've been fixed.
• Enough people own them that "My model is better than your model" wars can break out.
• A few people get a little chesty over issues, but most people laugh it off. Some don't, and flame wars erupt.

Mature Tech

• The forum fills with a broad range of people reflecting the bulk of the buyers.
• Forum acts as a repository of useful and informative information.
• Most people love the car and want to talk about it and related items.
• Someone active in the forum has likely seen the most common problems through and can provide actual insight working through fixing issues.
• Many owners' cars remain under warranty, so things are getting fixed correctly.
• Early adopters have moved on the the Next Big Thing.
• Kind of a "family feel", people arranging meetups and events

Discontinued Model

• Forum fills with people who can now afford the rapidly depreciating vehicles.
• Many cars are no longer in warranty, and repair costs threads appear more often.
• "Is this a good first car?" threads appear.
• Lots of "Oh, jeez, not this again!" threads pop up.
• "Try using the Advanced Search function" will be a valid answer to >50% of questions asked.
• Majority of formerly active forum participants move on as they change models.
• Some old timers hang in, hoping to keep the feel going.

Bargain Buyers

• High school kids can afford them
• Repeated "How Can I ..." threads erupt, including:
  HCI add boost to a car that has no business having boost?
  HCI boost my car past 900 HP?
  HCI slam my EcoBoost to 1/4" off the ground?
  HCI fit 345/15-R24 tires on my car?
  HCI fix this damage with putty and a rattle can of Rustoleum?
• Most remaining old-timers are bitter about the changes and also want the new people off their lawns.

A lot of truth in here....

 

[OldbutNew]

Zooks527, I think you nailed it. Just like you, I can apply this to other forums I have been a part of.
I see this forum as somewhere between "Solid Choice" and "Mature Tech". With the S650 out there, how long until we cross to "Discontinued Model"??

 

[Cobra Jet]

Zooks527, I think you nailed it. Just like you, I can apply this to other forums I have been a part of.
I see this forum as somewhere between "Solid Choice" and "Mature Tech". With the S650 out there, how long until we cross to "Discontinued Model"??

I’d like to see Fakebook as a discontinued model . . . Maybe it will go the way of the EV, but it needs to happen so much sooner……

 

[MAGS1]

I’d like to see Fakebook as a discontinued model . . . Maybe it will go the way of the EV, but it needs to happen so much sooner……

I’d say most forms of social media need to go away (and I’d be all for AI going away as well), but that’s a discussion for another time and place…

 

[G.T.]

Zooks527, I think you nailed it. Just like you, I can apply this to other forums I have been a part of.
I see this forum as somewhere between "Solid Choice" and "Mature Tech". With the S650 out there, how long until we cross to "Discontinued Model"??

With lots of people still liking the S550 over the S650, also it being more of an evolution than a revolution, it will be a while more IMO.

And yes, Zook527 is spot on. I still go to some forums and there are times I am the only one online there lol!

Reddit and FB Groups also contributing IMO. Me, I prefer forums.

 

[Joe Gonsalves]

I joined this forum looking for answers. Sometimes I found what I needed, other times I provided answers to others. That to me creates the community we share on here. Members helping out other members. And for the most part it's been great. Yes, one day in the not to distant future, this forum will fade away. And when that day comes, I'll still be enjoying my car. At my age I know it will be my last, dare I say toy. Knees being what they are now, it's easier to get in my wife's SUV.

 

[TonyNJ]

I joined this forum looking for answers. Sometimes I found what I needed, other times I provided answers to others. That to me creates the community we share on here. Members helping out other members. And for the most part it's been great. Yes, one day in the not to distant future, this forum will fade away. And when that day comes, I'll still be enjoying my car. At my age I know it will be my last, dare I say toy. Knees being what they are now, it's easier to get in my wife's SUV.

I don't know man, in 20 or 30 years, anyone restoring these cars is going to have a trove of information here to bring their car back to life. It'll be like a time capsule.

What we did here, will echo in eternity!!!

 

[Zooks527]

I see this forum as somewhere between "Solid Choice" and "Mature Tech". With the S650 out there, how long until we cross to "Discontinued Model"??

Sounds right. As noted by G.T., the large overlap between the S550 and S650 will stretch the transition out.

What we did here, will echo in eternity!!!

The Internet is forever !

Sponsored