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Now that you’ve all sufficiently recovered from your New Year’s festivities, I’d like to welcome you all to the 2015 edition of TTAC. It’s been roughly 18 months since the, *ahem* mid-cycle refresh, and just four months since Jack departed the EIC post (but not the site), to spend more time with his guitar collection.
For 2015, we will be making some changes, but nothing in the way of subtraction. Get ready to see more
- Car reviews: Not just new car reviews of press fleet vehicles, but reviews of rental cars, Zipcars, used cars, reader cars, barely running cars. If we can get access to it, we will review it (and we’ll accept your review as well).
- New faces – and some familiar ones too: To riff on Donald Rumsfeld, there will be “known knowns”; there are contributors we know that we haven’t seen in a while, for various reasons, but will be returning throughout the year.. There are known unknowns; new contributors that have not yet been introduced to the readers. But there are also unknown unknowns — the ones we don’t know about yet. I’m most excited to see who we discover in 2015. And I’m hoping that contributions from the B&B will be a new source of talent for us. And unlike other sites, we will pay you for your submissions.
- New stories: Expect to see a return of the popular “While You Were Sleeping Series”, and a pilot project that will see us reboot our coverage of used car auctions and try out more data driven features. There will be continued auto show coverage, sales analysis, editorials on new products, the state of the industry, regulatory issues and other topics that you’ve come to expect from us.
- Forum activity: we are working on revamping the forum to use more modern vBulletin software. This is as thorough a revamp as switching from a body-on-frame, carbureted engine/Powerglide setup to a modern unibody/EFI layout with a new ZF 8-speed. I know that for some readers, this analogy could be taken as a negative development. Trust me, it’s anything but.
- Transparency: In addition to our [email protected] email, you can also call us at 416 341 8950 x 263.
And last but not least
- The same commitment to honesty, integrity and delivering The Truth About Cars that you’ve come to expect since the inception of this site in 2001.
Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous new year, filled with quality writing, spirited debate and reading the article before leaving a comment.
-DK
76 Comments on “Welcome To The 2015 Model Year TTAC...”
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And the best part is, you don’t have to wait for us to roll down the ramp at the big international auto show; you can take us home right now!
The 2015 TTAC Zaibatsu: Big. On everything.
Do YOU come with the car?
Oh, you *tee-hee*
Call Mr. Plow, that’s my name, that name again is Mr. Plow.
Put it in ‘H’!
Is using vBulletin 100% set in stone?
As a longtime forum moderator (MotorTrend) and admin (TimeKeeperForum), I would suggest using Xenforo. Not only is it more user-friendly on the back end, but for forum members, it’s much easier to navigate around as well.
Even VBulletin is a lot better than the Model T software now being used
So long as it works with Tapatalk I’m good.
Xenforo is very nice indeed.
Yes, it is.
Looking forward to the new features.
May I suggest fewer scoops from Autoblog and Automotive News etc…it seems really lazy and just click bait.
Looking forward to all the positive new changes, keep up the good work
It would be nice to have a ‘submit your ride’ segment. I lose track of who owns what, from what I remember BTSR drives a Prius and Sporty Accordy a Camry?
#1. I wouldn’t be caught DEAD driving a Toyota anything.
The only exception is if I’m
a) at a golf course
b) in Japan
c) in some third-world country with limited auto availability
#2. 2012 300 SRT and 2014 Jeep SRT
#3. So TTAC will pay for submissions?
This is a labor of love. I’m willing to work for free!
A case of relative values. A lot would not be happy driving a Chrysler 300T or a Jeep SRT. A lot of countries outside the U.S. have as much or wider choices. It all depends on individual tastes
Outside the U.S., not too many would be happy with SRT 300 or Jeep. Many countries have choices as wide or wider as in the US
Many would not be happy with either a 300 SRT or a Jeep version. Choice is as wide or wider than US
Even *in* Japan you have much better options!
I would commit Seppuku before I’d buy/own/drive a Prius.
TESLA Model S FTW.
And if you wanna argue that the Volt is a more direct competitor, I’d take that instead of a Prius as well.
No you got it all wrong, the Camry driver is krhodes1 :p
If they switch to VBulletin and have signatures or allow customized user profiles we could all list our rides that way.
All the changes listed sound good to me, looking forward to it.
I thought they did exactly that not long ago. It pulled in something like 700 comments.
If I call 416 341 8950, who picks up?
>If I call 416 341 8950, who picks up?<
This is why I tell my kids to never give out any personal information online!
IS YOUR REFRIGERATOR RUNNING?
:D
Does this mean we don’t have to type s*d anymore?
Unfortunately I didn’t see anything on the list about fixing the spam filter.
LOL.
This is a :(, as it has been broked for months now.
“Forum activity: we are working on revamping the forum to use more modern vBulletin software. This is as thorough a revamp as switching from a body-on-frame, carbureted engine/Powerglide setup to a modern unibody/EFI layout with a new ZF 8-speed. I know that for some readers, this analogy could be taken as a negative development. Trust me, it’s anything but.”
Careful; this is a blog, not a forum.
If you’re trying for something like Ars Technica’s Civis, where content is tightly integrated with the forum–then yes, this could work. But if the forums are a separate entity, it’s more likely to work against the blog content by drawing visitors away. Forums can become awfully insular places.
Using something like the disqus model would be better integrated.
Disqus would be an improvement, but it’s a bit of a bear inasmuch as it’s rather slow. A greater risk is that you’re essentially giving your site away to another organization whose future is potentially in doubt.
I’d always favoured Slash for this kind of thing.
Quite agree on the forum versus comments part… though it would be nice to be able to open discussions here off-topic from the articles.
And yes, Disqus sucks borscht.
I am looking forward to more re-reviews of the cars that Jack B has already reviewed. And make them really random, please.
I’ll start for you:
Model X has exterior design and also interior features. It includes wheels and an engine in front, as well as seats and wipers.
Thanks!
looking forward to the returning writers, and the new ones , good luck with the changes.
any meet and greets at the Detroit auto show?
Excellent Plan. Wishing a great year to skipper and crew.
:-)
Happy new year everyone. Change is in the wind for me again this year but hopefully I’ll find the time to write some new stuff in the coming months.
Here’s one vote for “glad to hear it,” Tom. Do what you gotta do and write all you can for us hungry readers!
Tom;
it was precisely YOU who I was thinking, that should come back and write more.
Looking forward to any and all improvements.
Be careful if you’re comparing a Powerglide to a modern Chrysler transmission, not a good idea, as Powerglides seemed to be far more reliable!
Hopefully, I’m wrong on that, but the Ultradrive and its cousins’ updates legacy live on!
Good to see BTSR back, and good to keep seeing the continuity of longtime commenters who, like me, have haunted the site since the Farago days.
TTAC wouldn’t be the same w/o Jack and Murilee.
Looking forward to what should be a very interesting 2015!
Steven Lang FTW!
What’s the best way to get in touch to either submit our personal car for a review or write our own? Dunno if you guys would actually be interested, but mine is available if one of your writers would like to sample it. I also scored an elusive Honda Civic rental about a month ago and was thinking of writing up a review on it.
editors at ttac dot com
sent
Here Derek, sent you guys the Civic review earlier this week.
Hey All.
Verano is back in the shop today. The new foreman at my local dealership used to work for GM Canada as a powertrain engineer (allegedly) and has promised to instrument the car and get to the bottom of my myriad powertrain issues.
With DK’s blessing I will write a 9 month (24000kms/15000mi) follow up of the whole repair process as well as my over all impressions of living with the car.
Again? Dang.
Has it just been transmission issues or is the car just a pile of $hit?
Well, its STILL making the “release bearing grinding on low gear upshifts” its been doing since 300 kms.
Since then, it has tossed up a few random CELs, it does an odd stutter when cold at certain outside temps (foreman thinks it has to do with an EGR system check + certain ambient temps) and also does some odd hesitation under hard acceleration (no discernible pattern on this one.
None of these issues has been a reliability concern thankfully (yet), we drive the car a lot, and not always in the city.
The thing has been a beast in this cold weather, starting every time not plugged in and feeling planted on its Hakkas, so its got that at least.
Do you not have Lemon Laws in Canada, because I’m beginning to think yours more then qualifies?
How would that work with a lease? He gets to cancel it and they refund the down payment?
Good question, I don’t know how a buy-back works with a lease
Lies and Corey,
If they fail to fix it this time around, I am 100% going to pursue some sort of lemon law. If they get it fixed, the car is a decent drive.
“Do you not have Lemon Laws in Canada, because I’m beginning to think yours more then qualifies?”
No Lemon Laws in Canada, but there is a binding arbitration process that the automakers subscribe to called CAMVAP that settle these disputes.
If I was to somehow have it taken off my hands, I could really see myself leaning in this direction.
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/calgary/2010-ford-fusion-sport-3-5l-very-clean-92km/1042453458?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
It’s, it’s, an auto… automatic!
The world has flipped polarities, Dave from Calgary wants an automatic
There are just too few options left that fit the bill.
Its not so much “wants” as “would not curse and scream every morning to have to live with it”
Actually that’s a very good pick at a decent price
Dave I hear you, I am again suffering what looks like the result of extreme cost cutting on the part of GM in my 7.5yo car as it looks like the master cylinder is leaking. “Old” GM: Solid drivetrain, incredibly cheap components around it. “New” GM: Solid drivetrain? Better components around it?
See, what really annoys me is the LHU (since 2007) and F4 (since 2006) are getting to be veteran powertrain components. The fact that they are the trouble spots is unexpected and sad. My experience with GM engines and transmissions has always been the BEST part of GM ownership.
The rest of the car has minor gripes (will discuss these in greater depth) but is overall a nice place to spend time, especially highway miles.
sorry, that should say F40, not F4.
Yes! Please do! Also, I’ll be back for Stampede.
Excellent! Calgary TTAC Meetup 2.0?
I love Calgary, but now that the Wings are in the Eastern Conference, I run out of reasonable opportunities to go. It’s not like there will ever be a Wings-Flames finals.
The Jets will make the finals before the Flames ever get close.
Sadly, both options are pipe dreams atm.
At least they aren’t the Oilers…
Lol, the Oilers should hire Johan and Melody and reinvent themselves as a hockey merch brand that includes a once proud hockey team…
The biggest downside to being in the East is insufferable Leafs fans. It’s been like 400 years since they’ve been to the Stanley Cup, and they are still elitists.
Hey, haven’t we now begun the 2016 model year?
I just look forward to not logging in and then returning to the page I wanted to post on, only to once again see the telltale “login to reply” box.
As to content, I’ll put in my request for more automobile reviews and less GM/UAW click bait.
I’m not familiar with the blog tool lingo, but please fix it. I don’t understand why it broke, but it’s really hurt the site.
Looking forward to a great TTAC year!
Does 2015 include the return of Steve Lang and Hammertime? I sure hope so.
That was not a friendly parting, so I doubt it.
Toronto meet up in 2015? Auto show is in six weeks.
Please, please fix the spam filter.
Definitely bring back “reader rides” where Jack/Derek/whoever would take our cars out for a spin. I quite liked that, especially because a lot of us don’t buy brand-new cars and enjoy reading about 5+ year old automobiles. Since virtually all online auto content is geared to only the latest, it’s a nice differentiator for you guys I think.
Spammed.
Toronto Skeptic – Good point on the used car segments. Was thinking the same thing myself!
I love the site. Solid, solid content and, as a former journalist, I can tell when there is great writing out there.