Forum Needs Sub Sections / Forums

[Rom]

I think the forum would really benefit from having sub forums.
Mainly for the 8L and 8P sections, but others could benefit as well.

Those forums have close to 35k and 27k threads.
That's far too much for a single forum.

There's too much going on for it to be as good as it could be.
On 1 page there is threads about new car delivery times, build threads, recalls, remapping, suspension upgrades, engine faults, what should I do/buy, rnse, bodywork, wheels and tyres, the list goes on.

It would be a lot easier to navigate and use, if there were sub forums for certain topics.
This could be as basic or as in-depth as Mods like / is feasible to implement.

Ie just break it to Engine, Suspension and Brakes, Body. With the original forum kept for general topics.
Or could get specific, Engine Upgrades, Suspension and Brake Upgrades, S3/TFSI Engine specific , Diesel Engine specific etc.

I've been heavily into cars and forums for many years, and this is how most seem to be set up.

Please don't see this as a dig, merely a suggestion to make the site better, and easier for people to use.

Search functions on any forum are always hit and miss.

It would also ease the amount of stickies, as each would go in sub forum, rather than half a page of stickies in main forum.

I know there is already a tuning/handling forum but they will never be as useful as model specific ones. A lot of A3 owner may have little clue or input to give to an A6 owner and vice versa.
It's better to be able to target specifically each model, as there is a wider more in depth knowledge base.

 

[Sandra]

Good morning. I will pass your suggestions to Adam. x

 

[Administrators]

Hi I agree and we used to have more but they got reduced (not by me) I think we should do the same with the events etc... The forums are set up for the regions already I just need to make them live....

If you would like to do the normal leg work and see what sub catagories we should have I'll be more than happ to set them up..

One question...... Who wants to go through the old posts and sort them in to the new Sub forums

Many thanks

Adam

 

[voorhees]

One question...... Who wants to go through the old posts and sort them in to the new Sub forums

Many thanks

Adam

Jojo and Sandra

 

[Sandra]

Jojo and Sandra

Lol, nice one Jase. x

 

[Rom]

Not sure how far you want to take it?

My longets standing forum is 205GTIDrivers Forum And they take it pretty far! Thats all for 1 model of car. Maybe a bit too far for here. Not looking to make your life (much) harder.

I see it as either standard sections, and modified/upgrading sections.
IE Engine, Chassis, Body, Electrical or something. Which covers standard and modifed.
Or Engine, Chassis, Body, Electrical, then Modified Engine, Chassis, Body etc.

Either would be fine i think. While more may be easier to navigate for info, and keep each section specific, so only modified chassis threads, rather than what coilovers are best, mixed in with my wheel bearing is gone.
Dont want to end up with 10 almost empty forums anymore than 1 insanely busy forum. So a balance should be found.

As for sorting old threads... Er, theres a lot lol. Could be an ongoing effort, dont need it right away.
Its a mod only job, poor mods.

 

[Sandra]

Not sure how far you want to take it?

My longets standing forum is 205GTIDrivers Forum And they take it pretty far! Thats all for 1 model of car. Maybe a bit too far for here. Not looking to make your life (much) harder.

I see it as either standard sections, and modified/upgrading sections.
IE Engine, Chassis, Body, Electrical or something. Which covers standard and modifed.
Or Engine, Chassis, Body, Electrical, then Modified Engine, Chassis, Body etc.

Either would be fine i think. While more may be easier to navigate for info, and keep each section specific, so only modified chassis threads, rather than what coilovers are best, mixed in with my wheel bearing is gone.
Dont want to end up with 10 almost empty forums anymore than 1 insanely busy forum. So a balance should be found.

As for sorting old threads... Er, theres a lot lol. Could be an ongoing effort, dont need it right away.
Its a mod only job, poor mods.

lol, Jase has kindly volunteered myself and Joe for the job. Will make him help out, lol. x

 

[NHN]

I thought this had already been suggested tbh a while back & using a prefix would help to ascertain what area it was for, question then & now is as already mentioned, how far do you go, but as with all changes, as long as they are positive & of benefit, then the flock will follow the required path

 

[voorhees]

I thought this had already been suggested tbh a while back & using a prefix would help to ascertain what area it was for, question then & now is as already mentioned, how far do you go, but as with all changes, as long as they are positive & of benefit, then the flock will follow the required path

It was suggested but only for the 8P section,that's spot on Nige if it benefits the site then good bring it here,only grey area is what happens if its more than one problem,say a seat and a cigarette lighter problem,where would it go then and would you have the people in the know looking in that location ?

 

[NHN]

only grey area is what happens if its more than one problem,say a seat and a cigarette lighter problem,where would it go then and would you have the people in the know looking in that location ?

That was exactly the same point raised back then iirc, I think maybe a prefix system is better, think question was back then how far does that go, but I think the general ones like interior, electrics, engine, wheels, bodywork would be good to trial, I think the last time it seemed a bit half hearted with no real direction, ended as soon as it started tbh, be interested to see how this pans out.

 

[Rom]

Its quite simple, if its a new thread, you would need to separate your questions.

Which is always better than 'I have a problem with my brakes, and a problem with my radio, and a problem with my eml'

You will always get a better response, and easier to manage thread if its a single, or at least related issue.

Obviously old thread already created will either have to be archived into both sub section (if thats possible) or left in the (to be created) General section.
Id be amazed if the general users would rather wade through a single 30k thread forum than have a few sub forums. Even if we keep is simple, just General, Electrics, Engine, Chassis, Body or something. Doesnt have to be a million sub sub forums etc.

Prefix to me look messy. They serve a purpose, but still wont change the fact you will have 30k threads, and wont be any easier to sort old threads (dual prefix etc).
They help when idiots cant even name a thread sensibly (not specific to ASN!), like 'I have a problem with' etc. Simple concise thread titles would help every forum in the world.

I think at first this should be trialed on the 8L and 8P sections, as they are by far the busiest. The other chassis forums dont really have the volume to necessitate it.
As said, keep it simple with the amount of sub sections. Can always amend later if more or less are needed.

 

[jojo]

I don't want the job!

 

[Sandra]

I don't want the job!

Jase was kind enough to volunteer us both Joe, lol. x

 

[jojo]

Jase was kind enough to volunteer us both Joe, lol. x

 

[ScottD3]

Don't we have a ICE, AC, Handeling, tuning and other sections out side of 8L and 8P sections?

If we/you break down the 8L/8P sections to have sub sections, would the above sections be pointless?

 

[voorhees]

Yes it does seem to dilute the forum,not sure if the prefix idea would work.

 

[Rom]

Yes, there are sub sections. But they arent used as much as they could be.

They are generic, obviously the AC one is fine. But handling, is a very broad forum, for the amount of models this forum caters for. Do you not think it better to have a handling forum, for 8P users?
I think most users stick to their own model, and have little knowledge of the others.

How many A3/8P users could offer handling advice for say an A6, or a Q7? Plus, even if they were widely used, you would just have a massive forum, full of information about all models, it would be just as hard to navigate as the 8P section is now.
Plus it also clearly says no model specific threads....

As for rendering them useless...

The Handling forum, on the first page, has threads dating back to 2009.
Tuning to 2010
Diesel to 2011

Hardly get used as it is.