Do you think the forums make sense?

Post by **matthew1** » 01 Sep 2008, 11:34

Volvo 850, S70, V70, XC-70 1993-2000
Volvo V70, XC-70, S60 2001+
Volvo 240, 740, 760, 940, 960, V90
Volvo S40, V40 and V50
Volvo S80
Volvo XC90

Do these categories make sense to you?

Is the 850, S70, V70, XC-70 1993-2000 category confusing? Do you think it's confusing to new members, or first-time visitors?

Would you organize the various models/years in a different way? ...something like:

Volvo 850
Volvo S70 1998-2000
Volvo V70 1998-2000
Volvo V70 2001-present
Volvo XC70 1998-2000
Volvo XC70 2001-present
Volvo 240
Volvo 740
etc.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 01 Sep 2008, 11:55

Matt,
You're missing the C70 and S30 so maybe they should be a category of their own and if doing a C70 section, the old and new model C70's should be split up. Maybe another section for the new S40/V50's too...I don't know.

In regards to splitting up the 850 and S/V/XC70, I would include just the '98 model of the x70's with the 850- they are almost same. From '99 the x70's have a different ECU as well as ETM. Maybe they are all ok the way they are together now.... depending on how others feel.

Hopefully others will give their opinions.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 01 Sep 2008, 12:36

They may make perfect sense but I don't know enough to know.

I can speak about 850's fluently but I avoid even posting on anything related to a V/S 70. I think a lot of things are the same but I don't own one and they are different enough that I don't want to give folks any bum advice.

I think it is like the old axiom that I would rather remain silent and thought a fool than open my mouth (keyboard) and remove all doubt.

...Lee

Post by **matthew1** » 01 Sep 2008, 13:01

MIJ, I should have been more clear. I wasn't so much proposing new categories as I was asking the question "should we have supercategories like the 850, S70, V70, XC-70, 1993-2000 category?"

It's an awfully long name for a category. I think it might turn off those who are looking for a simple place to ask a question. My thinking comes from the mantra that you can never make things too simple for web users.

The alternative is to have a set of categories like the second group I listed.

Post by **billofdurham** » 01 Sep 2008, 13:03

I don't think the layout can be too confusing to new members as we don't have to move too many posts to the correct forum.

Some other sites have split them up even further than you suggest by giving each model its own forum so we have a forum dedicated to the S40, another to the V40 and so on. I have noticed that many of their members only look in the forum relating to their particular model eg V40 when they may find the info in the S40 forum. Also the search will only look in the forum specified and info is missed.

I have always found this site easy to search, except for the repair database but that is another matter altogether.

Bill.

Post by **vegasjetskier** » 01 Sep 2008, 13:36

billofdurham wrote:I don't think the layout can be too confusing to new members as we don't have to move too many posts to the correct forum.

Some other sites have split them up even further than you suggest by giving each model its own forum so we have a forum dedicated to the S40, another to the V40 and so on. I have noticed that many of their members only look in the forum relating to their particular model eg V40 when they may find the info in the S40 forum. Also the search will only look in the forum specified and info is missed.

I have always found this site easy to search, except for the repair database but that is another matter altogether.

Bill.

+1

Post by **Maxbaby** » 04 Sep 2008, 22:29

+2

And is it just me or did you do some work around here on the "appearance" of the text and graphics? It seems cleaner and sharper in appearance....

Post by **matthew1** » 05 Sep 2008, 10:40

Maxbaby wrote:+2

And is it just me or did you do some work around here on the "appearance" of the text and graphics? It seems cleaner and sharper in appearance....

Hi Max
No, I didn't. Did you upgrade or change your browser? Or your PC/Mac?

Text quality can vary like crazy between browsers/operating systems.

Man these forum categories bug me. I know it very well could be a case of "if it's not broken, don't fix it" but I'm tempted to break out say S60 into its own forum. I can close my eyes and see S60 owners looking at the categories and not seeing a S60 forum, then leaving.

Or they see it's combined with V70 and XC70 and they think they won't get quality advice because their question will go unnoticed in the sea of questions.

New users probably don't know (and probably don't care) that P2 cars share components, and that's why the three models are in one category. They just see that their model isn't treated like its important, so they go somewhere else to get answers.

Post by **Maxbaby** » 05 Sep 2008, 14:46

Matt

I was reading your response (I did in fact upgrade the browser... thanks) and thought "maybe Matt should label the XC70 and S60 et al and follow it with a one-liner calling them the "P2" cars..." and then I looked at your headings already... you've already done that. In your quest for 100% score, you've already scored a solid 95% in my book. I think all that needs is some tweaking to the repair database. That and upgrading the appearance of text and graphics.. oh wait... you did that already... no.. wait.. that was me!... ughh...

Post by **billofdurham** » 05 Sep 2008, 15:31

Well boss, having read your last reply to Maxbaby perhaps I should clarify my earlier reply. I can see the point you make about S60 owners feeling excluded and would agree that it does warrant its own section. However, I still think that the S/V70 should be left together as mechanically they are the same. I would go along with splitting the 70s into early and P2 models. Similarly the S/V40. The V50 and S30 probably deserve their own sections.

As for the RWD, apart from the very early models, the mechanics are just about the same and most of the mechanical advice given can apply to all, up to and including the S/V90. The S90 is not mentioned in the heading for that section.

Although they were never taken to the US the 340 and 360 were very popular in Europe and the UK and we do have several members from this side of the great dividing water who may want advice. If you don't want to dedicate a section to them they could possibly be included with the 120 etc even though they have very little in common with them.

Bill.