[Grandpa#3]

I belong to the Rennlist Forum and pay my $30.00 membership dues every year which I believe is cheap. The information I find is most informative and has helped me out many times AND saved me a ton of money. I do almost all my own maintenance, it just takes me a little longer now. The Forum rules are laid out and are quite clear. I'm far from being rich by any means, fully retired and just passed my 77 birthday. IMHO I can not see why any of us would be hurt paying $100.00 a year for our dues, which should cover most costs for running our 968 Forum. It would be a help IF we knew how many members are in the forum now. My CPU skills are limited so I would not be able to keep the Forum running the way Flash does. I am on here every day so I could monitor what is being input and all rules are being followed, NO P*****g contests among members and No wandering off the subject at hand.  

 

Time is getting real, real, real short until the 968 Forum will be shutdown for good. 

 

Cheers,

Larry

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[ds968]

I'd argue that everyone who has participated in this forum has saved at least $ 100 annually , one way or another so I see nothing wrong with a membership fee . Not to trash talk any other forums , but I have occasionally looked into them and the organization of threads , posts , and the search engines set up seem to cause a colossal waste of time in any attempt to find what you're looking for.

Anyway , whoever ends up buying this forum should definitely consider a first year $ 100 membership fee if for no other reason but to recover the investment cost, and perhaps a declining scale in the subsequent years just to cover the maintenance costs, as perhaps some sponsors revenues may be generated .

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[flash]

keep in mind that there was a ver real reason for wanting to keep this site free to members.  with a dwindling number of cars, and by default owners, it was critical that we made it as easy as possible for people to come here and join the club.  further, there was so much in-fighting back then that we wanted to draw as many people as quickly as possible.

 

there are probably 30% fewer cars now than when we started.  it is increasingly important to have a resource like this for owners.  that being said, perhaps things have changed enough that a fee wouldn't be a hinderance, but i don't think so.  i think the new owners would be better served by seeking out advertisers, rather than a fee from members.  donations have always been helpful, but somehow it just seems wrong to charge a fee to a site that has always made a big deal out of the fact that it is would always be free to members.

 

food for thought

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[MCL968]

I have no problem with a fee, but I said that months ago and was told that a fee is not acceptable. I will now suggest an alternative, that the new owners (which may include me) consider a scaled membership. For free you get access to the forum, and for 25 a year you get access to the search engine and the archives. Cheap, you get what you pay for and you pay for what you need.

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[Rap]

Boy is this a dual edged sword. While I agree with everything flash says, let's remember he has been very successful running the site in it's current fashion, there is an argument that can be made that there may be an ability to make money by advertising to defray costs, earn money or both. I have followed this from the beginning and do not recall hearing anyone saying that they will take the responsibility to monitor. Certainly the amount of buy in, how much and how many participate is a separate but equally important issue. Perhaps if a monitor steps up the balance will fall into place.

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[williamoss]

By a monitor do you mean the person who puts up all the money to buy the site from Flash, or is the monitor just the person who makes sure the site is being run properly?

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[Rap]

Latter.

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[az968]

So I have been out of touch lately for a number of lame excuses. Anyway, an email to the list of interested people that has been communicating has resulted in a number of pledges for money to help acquire the site. Don't think we've quite reached Flash's magic number so if anyone here is willing to become an owner with the rest of us please PM me asap. You'll have a chance for bragging rights, chance at untold wealth, admiration and respect of forum members, participate giving Flash the boot,etc.:-)


Bob

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[Inkedupfatboy]

If you really wanted to keep the site going, I think the money wouldn't be a part of it. Just give it away to a dedicated person or group.

At one time I would have been interested, but when I saw the monetary requirements, I stepped back. I personally have two websites that I pay $400 a year to host.

It seems like it should be a bit cheaper than the costs that have been bandied about.

 

I was really excited at first to be a member when I bought my car, but my enthusiasm was severely curtailed by a certain member. I felt really put down and that is the other reason I backed off.

I also didn't care for the restrictions put on members as far as some of the postings were concerned. It's seems like a do it my way or don't do it.

 

I am sure I will take some flack for this, but It's the way I feel. Although the information is great, I don't feel welcome, so I just have lurked for the last couple years.

 

I dreamed about owning a Porsche for years. For all the hoopla about these cars, you would think I would be able to sell my car. I just don't seem to be able to find anyone to buy it. I will probably end up selling it for much less than I put into it. Again, another reason to stop posting. I have put just under 5,000 miles on my car since I bought it in 2013. I guess I don't fit the Porsche owner mold. Even the local PCA chapter made me feel like crap by ignoring me and my car (they were too wrapped up in their new 911's and their sailboats) so I quit after 2 meet ups and left never renewed.

 

Again, if you really wanted the information to hang about, give it away. Give it to Jeff Coe to combine with the register, work with the PCA or someone else who will work with it. The other option is get rid of anything not mechanical and archive to a searchable data base and then you only have to pay hosting. There should be a way.

 

Well I have said my say. Feel free to delete my membership logins, (I have asked this 3 times in the last year) and wish me luck as I continue to struggle to sell one of the last sub 50K mile cars around. Maybe I will trade it in on something easier to maintain lake a Camry.

 

Caio!

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[az968]

Typical Porsche owners response to our 968's. I'd been a PCA member for years before I got my 968 so they have to treat me better. Also got the 968 owners around here in our on little play group and the resurrected west coast gatherings. So I can get my fix of non-911 Porsches. Plus in another local sports car group to play with, never have a shortage of drive buddies.


My Camry is easier to maintain, but I doze off when driving it :-)

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[williamoss]

As live in the Portland Oregon area, where I know of 3 other owners of a 968. Unfortunately none of those 3 are either not willing to help me with repair questions or they themselves do not do any work on their cars, except for one. I know he works on his car. My point is the site is still very important to me, as when something goes wrong I can print out the comments from the group and give it to my mechanic. In California where there are a lot of owners I get the feeling that the attitude is different as some of you do help others.

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[ds968]

If you really wanted to keep the site going, I think the money wouldn't be a part of it. Just give it away to a dedicated person or group.


For all the hoopla about these cars, you would think I would be able to sell my car. I just don't seem to be able to find anyone to buy it. I will probably end up selling it for much less than I put into it.

!

Am I the only one that sees a funny and ironic parallel in those two statements ? So why not just give away your car for free ...to a dedicated 968 aficionado ?

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[Rap]

That's why they pay you the big money!

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[ds968]

Who are " they " ? If you find out let me know, because they evidently owe me a lot of money .

And as soon as I collect it,, I can continue my contributions to the forum ..now that it has new owners and will remain a viable site for what we can only hope will be many happy years and many happy 968miles to come ..

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[az968]

So it appears the "Bob and Jay Retirement Fund" is officially closed. The gang is hereby dismissed.

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