RF Responds to TTAC Sub Site Feedback

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

Thanks for all your comments. I have read and fully considered every one, and will continue to do so as this process evolves. This is your website. While we have to to make a buck, I don’t want to screw it up. I won’t make any changes without running them by you first. And with your help, my thinking has moved from oh shit to well maybe… I don’t have much time to create a game plan that will suit us all. But I will do my level best. Keeping in mind that I am open to debate on any and all points, here are some thoughts:

* Paid comments – Many of you have suggested charging readers to access the comments section, or the ability to make comments. I’m not feeling it. The Best and Brightest ARE TTAC. I don’t want to discourage readers who want to add to our collective knowledge. By the same token, charging people for providing TTAC with content doesn’t make sense to me.

* Payment process – Must be unobtrusive, fair (no automatic roll-over) and fast. Who’d want it any other way? Donations are great, but I need reliable income.

* TTAC ‘Tude Merchandise – I’m well into this, mate. I’m going to launch some products even before we sort the rest of this NSFW out.

Two-Tier TTAC I agree completely with all of you who’ve warned me that hiding all—or even most—of TTAC behind a wall would be suicide. As one of our commentators said, you got to give ’em a taste. The big question, perhaps the only question: what’s free and what’s pay? This is the big Kahuna. What do we do that’s worth cash money? Let’s go ahead and jump. Jump!

Free

Blogs – have become our meat and potatoes. But let’s face it: they’re nothing more than stylish (I hope) regurgitation. The information itself is available on a number of free sites. Yes, we dig up the occasional gem, but real reporting is an expensive, time consuming business. We can’t afford it right now. Blogging has beefed-up our numbers and unleashed the B&B, but I reckon it’s simply not worth a premium.

Editorials – A lot of our editorials analyze current news. In other words, more regurgitation. While the Death Watch and other series have made a name for the site, I don’t think they’re sufficient unique to justify cold, hard cash. Again, small, fickle audience.

Snapshot reviews – A reasonably-sized free sample of our no-holds-barred automotive tests.

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Not Sure

Podcasts – Same rehash, but obviously a lot more fun for the audience. In other words, the entertainment value is significantly higher than blogs and editorials. So… not sure.

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Pay

Full Reviews – TTAC may not have access to the latest machines as they come hot off the presses, but we can say things about cars that no one else can. The Google rankings for our reviews regularly puts the big boys to shame. Beefing-up the reviews—more text, more stats, some unique tests, original photos—is not an insurmountable task. The fact that Consumer Reports is successful as a pay service is MOST encouraging. So… free taste, sub for the full monty, which gives you a year’s unfettered access to all new reviews.

Killer app – Garage. Facebook for your car, iPhone compatible. Yes, yes, many have tried. But all have failed. I’m not JUST talking about pics of your wheels and social interaction. TTAC will provide you with regular, truthful, car-specific info. Widgets for your car’s current worth, notices of safety recalls, heads-up on mechanical issues uncovered in forums, running cost calculator, wear item calculator, seasonal TTAC-approved products, news stories, social events, access to car-specific experts, etc.

Your thoughts?


Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Rick Rick on Mar 12, 2009

    Heh. I remember having this discussion about TTAC several years ago. Here's my two cents: I pay for only one site - totalfark.com. I like their model - they have plenty of content (and forum access) for all non-paying members, then access to all forum content for paying members. I think a model like this would work well - leave the standard blog section the way it is, and allow users to comment on them for free. For a reasonable fee, users would have access to a forums section where they could have the ability to post content (blogs, questions, whatever) that only other paying members could see and comment on. If somebody posts something really good, it could be moved to the all-users portion of the site. By implementing this model, you strengthen the community of your best and brightest, you encourage discussion of topics that the TTAC staff might not have thought of, and you get the potential for free editorial content.

  • Aeroelastic Aeroelastic on Mar 13, 2009
    AWD-03 : March 11th, 2009 at 1:06 pm I think you should reference another site that was a two tiered setup. Fark. Basically a weird news aggregator, but it gives the paying customers instant access higher levels of interactivity, notoriety for the paying customer handle. Agreed. I'd pay $25/yr for a "B&B" logo next to my name, plus B&B subscribers get to see articles a few hours (or days?) earlier than non-subscribers. That way, you still get the google links on older articles, but I can get up-to-the minute news.
  • Jpolicke In a communist dictatorship, there isn't much export activity that the government isn't aware of. That being the case, if the PRC wanted to, they could cut the flow of fentanyl down to a trickle. Since that isn't happening, I therefore assume Xi Jinping doesn't want it cut. China needs to feel the consequences for knowingly poisoning other countries' citizens.
  • El scotto Oh, ye nattering nabobs of negativism! Think of countries like restaurants. Our neighbors to the north and south are almost as good and the service is fantastic. They're awfully close to being as good as the US. Oh the Europeans are interesting and quaint but you really only go there a few times a year. Gents, the US is simply the hottest restaurant in town. Have to stand in line to get in? Of course. Can you hand out bribes to get in quicker? Of course. Suppliers and employees? Only the best on a constant basis.Did I mention there is a dress code? We strictly enforce it. Don't like it? Suck it.
  • 1995 SC At least you can still get one. There isn't much for Ford folks to be happy about nowadays, but the existence of the Mustang and the fact that the lessons from back in the 90s when Ford tried to kill it and replace it with the then flavor of the day seem to have been learned (the only lessons they seem to remember) are a win not only for Ford folks but for car people in general. One day my Super Coupe will pop its headgaskets (I know it will...I read it on the Internet). I hope I will still be physically up to dropping the supercharged Terminator Cobra motor into it. in all seriousness, The Mustang is a.win for car guys.
  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
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