fiestaturbo.com

[AdrianFRST]

Evening all!

Two items of news to announce:

I've not lost interest in fiestaturbo.com - there will be a new version coming next year

It's a way off yet, but I've been doing a lot of work on a total rewrite of the site. So far it's all backend stuff but I'm aiming to improve every aspect of the site, from design and content to load times and features.

I've started to rewrite this site from scratch three times now in the past 10 years, but I want something solid that will last another 10 years. Not easy in these fast moving times! As for what will be coming, here's what I have planned:

- User contributed content - anyone can write articles / guides which will be published on the main site if they are good.
- User contributed show photos - I don't get to any shows these days so the show gallery hasn't been updated in years - I want to change this.
- Flickr style photo album with uploader, search function and shared galleries.
- Better management of the subscription system.
- Site-wide login, your forum account will work throughout the main site too.
- Better garage system.
- Trader system with feedback.

I'm also looking to expand the focus of the site from just the mk3 to the newer models. This might result in a name change - as much as I love the ft name it's very specific and I think dissuades a lot of people from joining.

Hopefully I'll own a modified Fiesta again soon!

Today I picked up the keys to my new house (I've been renting a flat since I sold the FRST in 2006). This means two things:

1. I save a couple of hundred quid a month - the mortgage is cheaper than my rent was, and it's out of the city so living costs (council tax etc) are also cheaper.

2. Space! It has a double garage. This plus 1) means the money and facilities to start a new project. Four years in a near standard car has me itching to build something interesting. I'm not sure what yet but it won't be a mk3. Maybe a mk6 ST perhaps?

Anyhow, that's enough for now. Have a great Christmas everyone!

[Tweek]

This is good news, that's all I can think of to say

Personally not sure on the name change though. Maybe after revamping the main site it could be broadened to "advertise" all Fiestas and a bit explaining the name? Once word gets out I'm sure it will all be fine

[AdrianFRST]

Yeah, that's one option. The others are:

1. Change the name completely and forget about fiestaturbo.com
2. Have a new name but have the ft logo underneath and have it as "incorporation fiestaturbo.com"
3. Have the site accessible through both the old and new names and the logo changes depending on which name you type in - this has technical implications though (duplicate content for search engines etc).

I'm just conscious that as the mk3 gets rarer, the site gets quieter and less relevant. I know it's already happening so I think it's important that it changes to reflect what models are currently popular.

[- Danny Boy -]

The idea of making the site not just devoted to mk3's is good in someways, others not. I can understand the site being very quiet, but instead of just changing the name, why not change the aspect of the site. So like under the the site name put 'for all your turbo needs'... that way it will be mk3 rst's and possibly all other turbo'd fiestas too - of course the main site will need a revamp to basically say 'hey look at this site, this is all about turbo powered fiestas from mk3 rst's to mk6 cossie powered cars and everything inbetween'... name change is a bit much though perhaps?

[knuckles]

glad to hear the site will be revamped - the content on front page is well past sell by date

but a name change could cause alot of users to maybe go elsewhere. I remember when virgin changed to absolute radio , there was an uproar , hate mail , complaints etc.
Xrtwo dont seem to have a problem and a mk2 xr2 is surely a more rarer car than a mk3 rs turbo ?

[jonyb4]

glad about the renewing of the site, will appease many including myself

but ont he other hand i agree with the above, the name changing could make many of the exsisting memebers maybe get fed up with the site, personall id hate for it to get a new name, but id still use it

i used the site when i owned a mk4, others do the same, some have never even had a mk3, ive never had a RSTfor that matter

im sure theres otherways to make people see its not just for the mk3?

is there a way of revamping the site, waiting for an improvement, in time, failing that then changing the name?

[dontpannic]

I disagree about people leaving because of the name change. If they were decent members and cared about the club and its members it doesn't matter what name the site has, we're still enthusiasts of the Fiesta at the end of the day. You'd have to be very petty to consider leaving because of it. I joined with my MK3, and now have my MK5 and won't consider leaving because I don't own a Turbo, but also I've made a lot of friends here, a name won't change that.

Clark - the Virgin/Absolute thing was more than a name change, Richard Branson sold it and therefore it could no longer keep the Virgin brand - the uproar it caused was because most of the decent presenters went elsewhere and the content they were licensed to play dramatically decreased (and there are more adverts).

The changes sound good Adrian. I know what you have to go through, I've set up a Joomla site and integrated it with the forum logins for my local club and it was an absolute baxtered to get working correctly!

Will we be sticking with phpBB?

[jayrs]

glad to hear of the revamp.
also unsure of a name change, but i can see the reason why, its a case of follow the times or be left behind.
clark, i know xrtwo.com is still going strong, but you wanna use it a bit more mate, take away all the mian users that you see using the site every day, and other than them, it would be slow going really.
plus there were more xr2's made than FRST, dont forget the mk1 and 2 were xr2's where as the frst was only a mk3 and made for 3 years not 6 like the mk2.

anyhow, sounds good for the site, as for the guide, will all the guides that are curently on this site be transfered to the new one or sill they be sorted first? if sorted, i would like to download all my guides priour to maybe lossing them

anyhow, i look forward to the new site

oh, adrian, when will we know about the the name change? just thinking banners for shows, car stickers etc


and anyone that hasnt got a fiestaturbo.com keyring, get them now before the name change

[AdrianFRST]

I plan to stick with phpBB yes. I've written something to allow the phpBB accounts to work site-wide, and have a login box on the same place on each page. The idea being if you're logged in on the forum, then you're logged in to use the uploader, or submit content etc.

I'm also aware that people aren't getting the value they expected from paid membership. I really want to make this work, as the advertising only covers around half the hosting costs of the site. I'm not sure what changes I'll make here. I know some are happy just to contribute (and I'm extremely grateful for this), but others who perhaps don't know me, or are aware of how the site is run and funded expect more.

I'd say the number one priority is to get a system in place where everyone can contribute and main site updates / show galleries are not dependant on one (currently non-Fiesta owning, non-show-going) person!

[AdrianFRST]

The guides in the forum will either be transferred, or remain there. They won't get deleted that's for sure, so no need to worry there.

Thinking about it more, any name change would have to incorporate the existing name and logo in some way, so as not to make all the current merchandise, stickers and banners etc obsolete. There will be some way of achieving what I'm trying to do, I just have to work it out!

[knuckles]

Clark - the Virgin/Absolute thing was more than a name change, Richard Branson sold it and therefore it could no longer keep the Virgin brand - the uproar it caused was because most of the decent presenters went elsewhere and the content they were licensed to play dramatically decreased (and there are more adverts).

it was just an example nick...
there are plenty of cases where a name change has caused all sorts of problems.

this site has always been ''the ultimate online fiesta modification resource'' Its an established brand and a well known one of that.
i dont see how calling it something like fiesta4all.com will make a big difference. It will be a big step backwards to be honest.

[jayrs]

cool sounds good mate, i look forward seeing the new site come on line

[Chris 2i]

Glad to hear you haven't given up on it, we were starting to wonder! I'm happy to help out where I can, created a few corporate websites in the past few years and could help with the main site perhaps? Also happy to discuss any ideas you have as there are a few of us getting more involved now...

[jonyb4]

Clark - the Virgin/Absolute thing was more than a name change, Richard Branson sold it and therefore it could no longer keep the Virgin brand - the uproar it caused was because most of the decent presenters went elsewhere and the content they were licensed to play dramatically decreased (and there are more adverts).

it was just an example nick...
there are plenty of cases where a name change has caused all sorts of problems.

this site has always been ''the ultimate online fiesta modification resource'' Its an established brand and a well known one of that.
i dont see how calling it something like fiesta4all.com will make a big difference. It will be a big step backwards to be honest.

i understand this,

Ft is usually rthe first thing to pop up on a google search no matter what you type aslong as it has fiesta typed in

[knuckles]

exactly

[JamieFRST]

http://www.notafiestaturbo.com

Glad to hear you have plenty of ideas for the site still.

[jayrs]

http://www.notafiestaturbo.com

Glad to hear you have plenty of ideas for the site still.

how does that link bring it back here when its for notafiestaturbo.com and not this site
i expected to be directed to the other one

[JamieFRST]

I think Max owns the domain and it just has a redirect on it.

[jonyb4]

lol i was wondering how it done that

clever though

[jayrs]

I think Max owns the domain and it just has a redirect on it.

ah right.
yeah heard about it a while back now, thought it was ment to be hush hush though

[~nomad~]

I think Max owns the domain and it just has a redirect on it.

ah right.
yeah heard about it a while back now, thought it was ment to be hush hush though

nothing hush hush about it

[jayrs]

I think Max owns the domain and it just has a redirect on it.

ah right.
yeah heard about it a while back now, thought it was ment to be hush hush though

nothing hush hush about it

fair enough, maybe i should of put "its not common knowledge"

or maybe it is, i dunno

[fiend]

Any thought on developing a mobile version?

[SEG1]

Any thought on developing a mobile version?

iphone app!

[jonyb4]

that might be a bit ambitious

[knuckles]

Any thought on developing a mobile version?

i can already get Fiestaturbo on my mobile

[jonyb4]

Any thought on developing a mobile version?

i can already get Fiestaturbo on my mobile

aye but to be fair a designed app would be alot quicker to use

[jayrs]

i can get on it via mobile as well, but a app would be a good idea, but im guessing thats a lot of work

[MotorcyclesFish]

Glad you're still around - I have to say ever since the hosting issues of 2006 (?) or so were resolved this site's been bulletproof.

http://www.therevcounter.com has a good concept of integrating articles, reviews and other things into a motoring site. Although their example is vastly overpopulated with content IMO.

[knuckles]

Any thought on developing a mobile version?

i can already get Fiestaturbo on my mobile

aye but to be fair a designed app would be alot quicker to use

if you have a i phone yes

most of us meer mortals still have normal mobiles that use internet normally

[jayrs]

most of us meer mortals still have normal mobiles that use internet normally

i dont have a Iphone yet, but my nokia takes apps, you just need to upgrade from the rubbish phone you got

[Ghost]

Heard about this today from a fellow member.

Very interested to see the changes that are being suggested.

To be honest the name change is going to have to be the way forward I would have thought, as all of us aren't going to go anywhere just because of the difference in name but it does give that opportunity to the new applicants to join.

Name association is a great idea if it is possible in the sense that merchandise can be used for a few years longer but using a pronounced newer name for a phased change.

Change is the way forward! As I say at work, those that dont like change can f**k off.... (slightly extreme)

One thing I would say (which I am sure you are thinking) is not to make it too similar to others as I dont think you will pull away those from, for example, fiesta-network.co.uk.

Needs USP and I would have thought RST will still have to be at the forefront but forum expansions into other models or even partnering with other sites (xr2.co.uk) could create revenue, 'if' other sites are run in a profitable way.

[jonyb4]

most of us meer mortals still have normal mobiles that use internet normally

i dont have a Iphone yet, but my nokia takes apps, you just need to upgrade from the rubbish phone you got

thank you jay, ive not got an iphone either, cant use the bloody things, way to complecated imo, not user friendly at all


i have a HTC, loads of phones use apps now, smart phones that is

the app would be handy for on the move

[knuckles]

most of us meer mortals still have normal mobiles that use internet normally

i dont have a Iphone yet, but my nokia takes apps, you just need to upgrade from the rubbish phone you got

whats the difference between ....

clicking web'n'walk icon on main menu to get internet

or

scrolling through the phones menu to access the applications to get the little Fiestaturbo.com app ?

i think as usual your talking s**t or your just plain lazy

my nokia c6 takes apps too you plank.

[jayrs]

holy $hit! you mean you have upgraded from that brick we had to go and find at the scrappy