Auto forums in general...

You've hit the nail on the head, as it were. I'd extend your observation to the entire internet though.

With maybe the exception of some very boring blogs, people don't tend to post stuff online that like "today, nothing interesting happened. Would you like to hear about it?" It's usually either the best of the best or the worst of the worst. Take anything on the internet with a grain of salt.

I loves my Prius though... loves my Prius. More than I loves my gun. I have only minor complaints, but for me, it's a car that happens to have some features that put it ahead of any other car I've driven.

 

If you want to see MUCH more of the same, visit VW Vortex. VW is either the be-all-end-all of human civilization, or a heap of dung.

The difference is that they have over 200,000 members.

All auto forums are the same .... you need to take things with a grain of salt.

 

You guys hit "the nail on the head". I usually just ignore the extreme posts and pay attention to the "good information" and the things that interest me.

 

People love to dwell in extremes, especially from their armchairs.
Look at the popularity of Faux News and other "hyper-reality" TV
shows. If the press reported "a bunch of people went to work today
as they always do, and went to the grocery store on the way home",
wouldn't that just glue you to the glass tit all evening salivating
to hear more about it?
.
_H*

 

Heard of the 80/20% rule? This applies in general to forum participation (except it is closer to 98/2%) - many join, few are active. Of the ones that do, the firebrands often stick out.

I have personally recommend forums in person, but seldom do they come.

By the time someone joins PC, you have a fairly select group of enthusaists.

 

A forum like this does make it tough for someone to come in and just get some information in general. This forum and its members overall seem to be all about "get all the mileage you can get through any abnormal means you can," and is not set up well to be useful to people who just want to drive the thing and let the car be the car.

Odyclub, the Honda Odyssey forum, is much less snooty about the car itself, and is just an outlet for information.

 

i disagree with the "grain of salt" comments.

...i'm thinking of something more like a bucket. and extending that to all of existence.

 

What else would you expect? No one wants to spend the time and effort posting unless they feel strongly about a subject. It's the same reason politicians never get elected running on the apathy ticket; you just can't get that base out to vote.

Tom

 

I don't see it that way. I've been an owner for 3 months and frequent these forums daily. While I've seen some of what you claim, I also find valuable info for all owners of varying degrees of sophistication.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mootsman @ Apr 7 2007, 11:59 AM) [snapback]419368[/snapback]</div>

My first experience with auto forums was when I got my 04 Mini Cooper S. some of those people are fanatical so much so that they would make even the most dedicated PriusChat poster look like a disinterested party.

We had people talking about how the Mini was better than Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche. Common how do you compare a 21k (tops 30k) sports car to 200k plus cars with 5 times the hp and torque) they went as far as to talk about how to get a v6 in the car or were they could get a Porsche engine and trani to put in the car and how would they make it fit. Some people took out airbags, seats and anything they could to lighten the car. Crazy I know but hey.

I find this place to informative and helpful more than anything. Yes it does have its share of trolls and fanatics who think the prius should be the only production car on the market period. But that is with anything on the net.

 

I learned how to get better mpg. I would have never known about P&G without this forum. Also how running your battery down to red is counter intuitive for optimal mpg etc etc.

I like this place anyone can come and learn about their car more than they will get from reading the owners manual.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adam1991 @ Apr 7 2007, 01:56 PM) [snapback]419429[/snapback]</div>

With all respect, that's an unfair generalization. Members run the gamut in their goals, practices, and advice. I freely acknowledge that I am one who emphasizes mileage, but not through "any abnormal means." I offer guidance on reasonable steps to take full advantage of the car's ability to maximize mileage to those who want it, or whose goal at least appears to be similar. And I try not to meddle in others' dialog where the interest obviously is elsewhere.

 

I would also agree with Tidelandprius and IAO
Forums are great place to increase your knowledge and I am very grateful to those who participate

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ichabod @ Apr 7 2007, 09:04 AM) [snapback]419371[/snapback]</div>

Yep, he has. I used to frequent maxima.org (had an 02 Maxima), have popped into vwvortex.com on occassion, used to pop into rx8club.com, and still do frequent my350z.com.

There are definitely the set that will defend their car, say it's the best value, better than _____, mock other competing cars, etc. Then there's the set that will say that their car is crap, they'll never buy one from that manufacturer again, etc.

That said, some of the probs on my350z.com were very valid and the Consumer Reports reliability ratings pretty much supported it). Examples are: infamous front tire feathering/cupping (I experienced it), failing power window motors and regulators (both of mine failed under warranty), manual transmission probs (many have gone thru several), window grease streak (TSB on it), rear axle click (TSB on it too, mine had it as well), and most recently, high oil consumption on some.

 

Back again.., see some familiar people, got about 12,000 on the 2005.. never disappointed, not getting the better mileage, but still substantially better then before. The board here is good, as others the more dedicated ones do the most and know the most, but all in all I've learned alot about my car. Just got to sort it out, and keep the perspective on why you come to the chatroom to begin with. Now... how about someone talking about converting the HEV prius to a PHEV., like in the "Calcomp" design, but a lot cheaper..??

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adam1991 @ Apr 7 2007, 12:56 PM) [snapback]419429[/snapback]</div>

People who just want to drive the thing and let the car be the car don't need a forum. They have the owners manual and a road.

The outlets of information here are easy enough to find and I don't recall seeing any really bad advice posted. The other stuff makes it fun to visit.