Any other Automotive Forums?

[mchastek]

Just curious - is anyone here a member of any other automotive industry forums? As far as I know, there aren't any others dedicated to professionals in the industry. I know there are a ton of consumer-based forums.

Just curious!

-Mark

[bunyarra]

Yes, there are some quite active and interesting ones here

http://www.just-auto.com/forums/active.asp

[aaron kominsky]

Yes, Www Dealer-magazine.com

[3760Guru]

www.dealersedge.com

[UpBus.com]

www.dealersedge.com


Thanks for that cory. I visited that site years ago on a daily basis but lost the url in a pc crash and could never find my way back to it...the old memory isn't what it once was.

[Gregg]

http://forums.rsainc.com/

[luke11]

Yes, for all the oil nuts there is a forum that has been growing very rapidly in the past year. What I like about it is that there are very knowledgeable people who know there stuff www.bobistheoilguy.com

[kgreen]

there is a new one for f&i, aftermarket sales and service

www.dealerlogix.com/forum

[mchastek]

I think this is turning into a great thread! As much as listing other forums draws members away from this one, I think having this resource is valuable. Keep contributing! :)

[mchastek]

there is a new one for f&i, aftermarket sales and service

www.dealerlogix.com/forum (http://www.dealerlogix.com/forum)

Just took a look at that forum, and I have one suggestion - reduce the number of forums, especially until you get an active member base. Having that many forums is VERY hard to manage at first, and probably isn't necessary. This forum originally had a lot of different forums, and we decided to reduce the amount to make it less confusing. Just a thought!

[kgreen]

very good advise, thank you

I have been pondering that this weekend.

[Jaime Lazarus]

Just curious - is anyone here a member of any other automotive industry forums? As far as I know, there aren't any others dedicated to professionals in the industry. I know there are a ton of consumer-based forums.

Just curious!

-Mark
Here's a GREAT site: http://www.iatn.net/

[futureoftheunion]

I know of some "blue collar" messageboards. :p

[Topshop]

Everyone is welcome to check out this site:

http://automotivemanagementnetwork.com

I believe that the posting of these links does not reduce the use of this site, but increases the use of all sites.

Tom Ham
AutomotiveManagementNetwork.com & Hams Management Systems

[HTDI-Brian]

Excellent sites ... I was in the auto industry for over four years and I'm glad to know be working with a company where I can offer my services to dealers and investment minded individuals and groups.

Best wishes to all,

[bhoecht]

Dedicated to issues, understandings and education in support of car dealer adoption of transactional capabilities on their websites to sell cars online, this is a new forum.

http://www.ai-dealer.com/forum/index.php

Use the forum to review and express your thoughts and opinions on the Michael Dell shopping cart ecommerce model that has arrived in automotive. Car dealers are arming themselves to become Click and Mortar dealerships. ADP has their own iteration of the shopping cart program which they market as Deal Builder (formerly owned by AutoFuse). It requires an ADP DMS and is in use by Lithia at thier new used car superstore. www.L2.com

In a recent CapGemini study (July 2007) it was found that 1 in 5 in-market vehicle consumers would buy online if the capability existed. Ai-Dealer had nothing to do with the production of the survey. What do you think of the implication of that?

http://www.ai-dealer.com/1_in_5_Would_Buy_Online.html

You'll also find car dealership best practices on the main Ai-Dealer website at:

http://www.ai-dealer.com/Case_Studies.html (no charge, the video interviews with dealers are free)

And the opportunity to post your comments to them at:

http://www.ai-dealer.com/forum/index.php?board=3.0

[bhoecht]

Here is another one dedicated to F+I professionals

http://www.fi-magazine.com/forum/

[bhoecht]

http://cardealerforums.com/

I've also found a variety of useful blogs (a forum's informal cousin):

http://www.followupforsuccess.com/
http://autodealers.ning.com/
http://davidthomasautogroup.blogspot.com/
http://dealeradvisor.blogspot.com/
http://dealerimpact.com/blog/
http://dealerism.com/2007/09/11/the-top-reasons-internet-departments-fail/
http://www.webtwologies.com/aboutus.php
http://wardsauto.firstlightera.com/EN/Microsites/1/Dealer+Impact/WhyGoDigital.htm

I'm sure there are many others. These are my favorities in automotive.

Enjoy! :eek:

[ballsack]

Just curious - is anyone here a member of any other automotive industry forums? As far as I know, there aren't any others dedicated to professionals in the industry. I know there are a ton of consumer-based forums.

Just curious!

-Mark

Yes, Mark, I am a sponsoring member of IATN.net, and a staff member at blueovaltechs.com. Have tried some others, as well as consumer sites, but a lot of them are not to my liking. I volunteer at a few, but only when time allows for me to answer questions and help out.

This topic is a pretty good idea, gets everyone involved in what is available. Some sites don't like postings about other sites for some reason. I think in the auto industry the more the better to bring the industry together to benefit all.

[AutoShopOwner]

Yes, Mark, I am a sponsoring member of IATN.net, and a staff member at blueovaltechs.com. Have tried some others, as well as consumer sites, but a lot of them are not to my liking. I volunteer at a few, but only when time allows for me to answer questions and help out.

This topic is a pretty good idea, gets everyone involved in what is available. Some sites don't like postings about other sites for some reason. I think in the auto industry the more the better to bring the industry together to benefit all.

We have recently launched AutoShopOwner[.]com, which is a network of shop owners. It is brand new. :D

[xdcx]

I found this site based on a Google Search and then noticed this thread and decided to register.

Like some of the others I have a website that I recently started that has a similar, but different, theme. My site is limited to Dealership Employees only.

I don't want to do anything to detract from this site, I'm just looking for some feedback from people that are in the car business and are familiar with Internet Forums. I've had a tough time getting people to respond to threads - I even have a $100 Gift Card Incentive that has had only a minimal impact.

If you get a chance, please check it out: www.DealershipForum.com (If you post a message you've got a pretty good chance to win a $100 Gift Card - I think that there's only about 20 entries so far.) :o

Thanks in advance and have a great week.

[mchastek]

Scott -

I think your forum looks great - well designed, etc. One thing I'd recommend though: start with a lot fewer forum categories. It'll make your forum look more populated, and less confusing for new members. Once your membership base grows, then you can start to branch out.

Best of luck, and welcome to the forum,
Mark

[xdcx]

Scott -

I think your forum looks great - well designed, etc. One thing I'd recommend though: start with a lot fewer forum categories. It'll make your forum look more populated, and less confusing for new members. Once your membership base grows, then you can start to branch out.

Best of luck, and welcome to the forum,
Mark

Mark:

Thanks for the input - I agree 100%.

It seems like right now I'm trying to be "All things to all people" and I'm not getting anywhere.

It looks like you've done a great job with your forum - congratulations.

Thanks again for the input and have a great week.


Scott

[xdcx]

Scott -

I think your forum looks great - well designed, etc. One thing I'd recommend though: start with a lot fewer forum categories. It'll make your forum look more populated, and less confusing for new members. Once your membership base grows, then you can start to branch out.

Best of luck, and welcome to the forum,
Mark

Mark:

I just wanted to let you know that I've taken your advice and eliminated 12 of my sub-forums. I'm also thinking about merging Service and Parts to eliminate another 12 sub-forums.

I figured that there's nothing worse than asking for advice and then not taking it. Thanks again for your input. :)

[mchastek]

You are very welcome. It's always nice to give advice and have it be followed. If you have any other questions about running a forum, feel free to send me a PM.

[reachmikerudolph]

Looks like this is the best site out there.

[precision1marketing]

All of those other forums are kind of weak.

[Topshop]

For what it's worth....

Since last mentioned, the following site has had a number of improvements and now has over 4,500 members in more than 100 countries. Quite a few more enhancements are currently in process.

www.AutomotiveManagementNetwork.com (www.AutoMN.info)

Two smaller "sister" sites have also been launched (these are both small....about 500 members on one and about 200 on the other....but they are growing steadily and plans to grow them extensively are in the works):

www.AutoDealerManagementNetwork.com (www.AutoDealerMN.com)

www.TruckingManagementNetwork.com (www.TruckingMN.com)

[AmexBlackG5]

UpYourSale.com is a pretty good site from what I heard..:)