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vwinnovator Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2005 Posts: 1555 Location: Still doing it in the back of your VW
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 8:37 am Post subject: Samba daily online users declining |
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Been noticing that the daily online user number has been on the decline for a little while now..
Is it a sign that the vw community is on the decline as well..?
is our beloved hobby slowly heading to an end? |
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Bob Loblaw Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2008 Posts: 865 Location: Vancouver Island, Canada
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 9:13 am Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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I believe it signifies the beginning of the end of the "forum era". All of my local VW forums have gotten very quiet. This one is still the busiest for sure. (Duh)
Here's a link to the local water cooled (mostly) forum from Vancouver discussing the same thing.
http://dubberz.com/forum/the-wet-coast/did-facebook-groups-kill-the-internet-forum/
It's the new future, I'm afraid. But no FB for me, thanks. _________________ sent from a phone using poor grammar and spelling |
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René R. Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2015 Posts: 1705 Location: No. Calif.
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 9:28 am Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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Forums of all types seem to be in decline as people migrate to Facebook. The problem I have with FB (well, one of the problems....) is that there are so damn many groups for every interest. It's difficult to set up and run a forum, but ridiculously easy to start a FB group. I can't be bothered looking at 15 or 20 (or more), and even if I do there are a lot of people who post the same thing on every one of them. It gets really tiresome.
The biggest problem, in my view, is that FB posts appear in chronological order, as comments are made. There's no rhyme or reason to their presentation and trying to find specific information in a specific subcategory is pretty much impossible.
Forums are fantastic resources of information that can be readily searched. No Facebook page can take the place of TheSamba. _________________ Gone but not forgotten: 1950 Hoffman split (restored in 1966) - another 1950 Hoffman split (restored in 1996) |
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vwracerdave Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2004 Posts: 15280 Location: Deep in the 405
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 9:49 am Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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I agree. The participation on forums may be declining, but the popularity of VW's is not diminishing, it's just all the yuppies are more interested in facebook. The Samba will never die as long as the classified stay active.
Now that I am a member of a few local Facebook VW groups I no longer look at any of the other VW forum pages. No point is reading the same post in 3-4 places.
I am a member of a facebook group specifically for VW racing and the administrators of the group are very serious about only talking about racing. They are very quick to delete some guy asking about his 34 PIC carb or his Rusty RatRod. _________________ 2017 Street Comp Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble, OK
2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK
Featured in Dec. 2001 HOT VW's Magazine page 63
Watch my racing video's http://www.youtube.com/user/okvwracer/videos |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12815 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 10:58 am Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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I think the declining numbers also has to do with the fact that as the cars get older & gain value as antiques, they are being priced out not only enthusiast's hands but also those that would enter the hobby. The only reason most of us started tinkering with VWs was that they were inexpensive to buy AND to work on, and we bought them for basic transportation. Now, it's rare to find a complete car for less than $1,500-$2,000, much less one that doesn't require lots of rust & mechanical repair. Who, in their right mind, is going to spend $5,000 for an entry level hobbyist vehicle for a daily driver when they can buy 2006 BMW for the same money? As the cars get priced out of the market for people, so does the interest in them. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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Mark Evans Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2004 Posts: 1929 Location: Alsea,Oregon
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 11:15 am Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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TDCTDI wrote: |
I think the declining numbers also has to do with the fact that as the cars get older & gain value as antiques, they are being priced out not only enthusiast's hands but also those that would enter the hobby. The only reason most of us started tinkering with VWs was that they were inexpensive to buy AND to work on, and we bought them for basic transportation. Now, it's rare to find a complete car for less than $1,500-$2,000, much less one that doesn't require lots of rust & mechanical repair. Who, in their right mind, is going to spend $5,000 for an entry level hobbyist vehicle for a daily driver when they can buy 2006 BMW for the same money? As the cars get priced out of the market for people, so does the interest in them. |
So true. One aspect of the VW hobby that many may never "enjoy" was the freedom and feeling you had driving them way back in the day. Yes, even then they would get stolen, but now you have a LOT invested in them making me leary to drive it and leave it sitting anywhere. _________________ '63 Ragtop |
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67ctbug Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2016 Posts: 3619 Location: CT
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 11:40 am Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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I think it also is to do with my generation... we don't really want to do anything obviously not me, I love this stuff, but most people my age would rather have it easy. If they want it easy, they obviously aren't going to want to actually fix things, so they won't come to the forum. I think it really boils down to laziness. For example, I recently asked 2 friends if they preferred manual or automatic transmissions. One said manual because he had to know when to shift and it was a skill.... he also wants an 80s Porsche to fix. The other one said auto because it was easier and didn't want to be bothered learning manual. _________________ '67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
'69 Plymouth "Adam-12"
'63 Ragtop
'73 914
'73 Dodge W200
'72 Dodge Wrecker
Go Cubs!
World Series Champions 2016
KentPS wrote: |
...or the PO envied the terrorists' bus in "Back to the Future". |
mukluk wrote: |
He's fine, just waiting for the dragon in winklepickers to move out of his lane. |
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heimlich VWNOS.com
Joined: November 20, 2016 Posts: 6554 Location: Houston, Texas
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 11:54 am Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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I figured it was the winter. Everyone is hibernating. _________________ www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here) |
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Zundfolge1432 Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12454
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 1:55 pm Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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Bingo it slows down around this time every year |
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adam78 Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2013 Posts: 219 Location: Jersey Shore USA
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 4:22 pm Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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kawfee wrote: |
I figured it was the winter. Everyone is hibernating. |
My participation in this site and most forums ebs and flows. I work on my car more in the summer since I dont have a garage and it is DAMN COLD this time of year. If I am not doing repairs, I dont have questions to ask. If I dont have questions to ask, I am not on the forum as much. But this is by far my favorite car forum, and I belong to many lol _________________ 1975 Beetle 1600dp 4spd Daily Driver.
1972 Westy 1600 Type IV 4spd project/ soon to be driver. |
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cbeck Samba Member
Joined: January 14, 2014 Posts: 2494 Location: high ridge, mo
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 5:04 pm Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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Or maybe it is stupid bickering about how a super beetle with a flat windshield isn't really flat when a poster is trying to id year with a vin, which was done 6 posts ago. _________________ My cut in half and rebuild thread
www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647779 |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76760 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 5:17 pm Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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Wait till school ends in June. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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nelson845 Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2014 Posts: 59 Location: WASHINGTONVILLE NY 10992
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 7:08 pm Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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I've mentioned ''the samba'' on a few fb groups and many didn't know what it was. So I guess there are new air-cooled enthusiast coming into the hobby. I for one have been in n out of the hobby 3 0r 4 times since the late 70's.....and havent been a samba member long enough to notice the decline. |
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Rodmullet Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2010 Posts: 196 Location: New Jersey
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 7:25 pm Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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Probably a combination of all of the above...and it doesn't help when long time/grumpy old SAMBA people aren't the most understanding of new people to the hobby, or even to people who have been around, but maybe don't have the amazing skills/fancy workshop/decades of experience/unlimited funds that apparently we all need to have in order to be allowed to own one of these vehicles.
I frequent a different foreign car forum, and I believe the average age skews a bit older than the SAMBA, but there is very little of the nastiness that goes on here....
Just my opinion.
Rod |
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Sharp64 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2015 Posts: 5305 Location: Central Florida
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2017 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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Rodmullet wrote: |
Probably a combination of all of the above...and it doesn't help when long time/grumpy old SAMBA people aren't the most understanding of new people to the hobby, or even to people who have been around, but maybe don't have the amazing skills/fancy workshop/decades of experience/unlimited funds that apparently we all need to have in order to be allowed to own one of these vehicles.
I frequent a different foreign car forum, and I believe the average age skews a bit older than the SAMBA, but there is very little of the nastiness that goes on here....
Just my opinion.
Rod |
Not trying to skew too far off topic but does anyone know the approx average age of the population on the samba? I’m mostly in the 58-67 forum and would venture a guess somewhere in the early to mid 40’s there. Strictly an unsupported wild ass hairy guess.
On topic I prefer forums over FB pages. As mentioned FB groups are hard to use as a reference and honestly, worthless except for buying/selling and the most simple of technical questions. At least the groups I’m in, I’ve found the answers to range from wildly uninformed to barely accurate or correct in a lot of situations. It’s pretty scary some of the advise I’ve seen disseminated. It’s so bad in some cases that I wonder if a lot of the people that are run off of forums for not having a clue aren’t the main supporters of FB groups. _________________ 1960 Indigo Blue Ragtop (Blue Barry)
1967 Ghia
1985 Westy Money Pit
“...some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.” - Michael Caine |
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Karly Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2002 Posts: 641 Location: Australia
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 3:57 am Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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Facebook is killing a lot of forums.. the samba is lucky it is one of the more active ones! Try loading forums on your phone? Many people I know don't even have access to a laptop or computer but just use their phone - they are going to use facebook instead!
Much prefer forums myself - easier to look up questions or just browse.
Also ... these cars are becoming more weekend (if that) cruisers than daily drivers ...perhaps that accounts for less activity too? That said numbers at the shows I've been too only seem to be increasing. _________________ 1960 Beetle ''Heidi" daily driver
1964 Karmann Ghia project |
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Sharp64 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2015 Posts: 5305 Location: Central Florida
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 4:20 am Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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Karly wrote: |
Facebook is killing a lot of forums.. the samba is lucky it is one of the more active ones! Try loading forums on your phone? Many people I know don't even have access to a laptop or computer but just use their phone - they are going to use facebook instead!
. |
I'm on my phone the vast majority of the time I'm on this forum. No issues at all. Right now I probably have several pages running in the background. _________________ 1960 Indigo Blue Ragtop (Blue Barry)
1967 Ghia
1985 Westy Money Pit
“...some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.” - Michael Caine |
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APPLEGREENVW Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2003 Posts: 2379 Location: Seekonk,Massachusetts USA
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 9:16 am Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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TDCTDI wrote: |
I think the declining numbers also has to do with the fact that as the cars get older & gain value as antiques, they are being priced out not only enthusiast's hands but also those that would enter the hobby. The only reason most of us started tinkering with VWs was that they were inexpensive to buy AND to work on, and we bought them for basic transportation. Now, it's rare to find a complete car for less than $1,500-$2,000, much less one that doesn't require lots of rust & mechanical repair. Who, in their right mind, is going to spend $5,000 for an entry level hobbyist vehicle for a daily driver when they can buy 2006 BMW for the same money? As the cars get priced out of the market for people, so does the interest in them. |
Yes,very true. I notice that when I go to the local vw shows. I would like to own a pre 67 sedan,but the prices are crazy to me. _________________ Parts for sale https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/search.php?username=APPLEGREENVW
02/76 Beetle sedan |
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heimlich VWNOS.com
Joined: November 20, 2016 Posts: 6554 Location: Houston, Texas
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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You have to consider the holidays too. I think it's just the cold. I love taking my Beetle out in the cold. It's the best time of year for them. Others don't like the cold as much. _________________ www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here) |
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scottyrocks Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2016 Posts: 2645 Location: Long Island, NY
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 12:33 pm Post subject: Re: Samba daily online users declining |
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Message boards like this will not die as long as there are people who want a dedicated, organized, no-BS (yes, I know, but I am talking in relation to FB) approach to the hobby.
FB car groups are generally full of sidetracked semi-threads that are, for me, less valuable than the in-depth, on-task knowledge available here.
And then there is type of thread; this amazing story - https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8648919#8648919 - would never sustain on FB.
Long live theSamba! _________________ “If you care for a thing long enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn't it? Mending old things, preserving them, looking after them – on some level there's no rational grounds for it.”
– D. Tartt, 'The Goldfinch'
Last edited by scottyrocks on Sat Dec 30, 2017 1:54 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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