FAO Newbies - a bit of forum history

M. · FAO Newbies - a bit of forum history

The purpose of this post is to give new forumers an insight into this place, why it's here and an understanding of some of the 'in' jokes. Maybe other members take on the forum history might help encourage new members to join in and understand what makes this place the place it is.

How it began

Most of us came from the Autocar forums. Initially they were great, simple to use and worked well. Then they started to creak and eventually MyAutocar was imposed on the community. It was not well received and Matt set this place up so we jumped ship.

Tata Safari

The winner of theMotor forum car of the year. After a bit of silliness and rigged voting the forum chose the Tata Safari as it's car of the year, closely followed by the Audi RS4, I think.

Mad Max and the Eurofighter

Mad Max was a forumer who has sadly since left the building. He wasn't a bad person, and I'm sure he'd be warmly welcomed back, but he did have rather overactive imagination. Some of the wilder claims include a test drive of the Eurofighter, ownership of a Corvette, Monaro and worlds most unreliable Mercedes.

Any more?

D.

I'm sure there is a website connection somewhere.

SpecB

You forgot Mr. Plum.

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

M.

My intention was to encourage people to voice why they think this place works, the good things and the things that have happened to make it what it is now. There could be many other headings, Auto-Villains, Road Tests, How to get an E36 truly sideway, premature baldness... The list goes on. It was worth a shot.

SpecB

Probably.....it may be a good idea for some of the forum "characters" to introduce themselves here to newbies as some of them may get a shock when talking to Pooc/Alan/Woof Woof and a few others with a sense of humour all of a sudden!

SpecB

M.

Oh don't worry, no offence taken. Though I will be keeping an eye out for your car armed with a sledge hammer

Blarno

Hello newbies, I am Blarno, resident Clio driver and advert for what car not to turn into a track slag.

We may take the piss out of you, we may argue with you, don't be alarmed, it's what we do.

It's all alan's fault.

SpecB

M.

Are you?

SpecB

Yes but my wife gets the money.

M.

Going off Topic

Happens a lot see above.

SpecB

OCD

Some of us are that persuasion so no txt spk and use a speelchicker if possible.

PR

Forum meets

Happen regularly and are great opportunities to admire the staggering array of vehicles owned by members of this forum. And also to find out that everyone here is as enjoyable to spend time with in real life as in virtual space.

Matt

Scamper Spec

The process of buying a 320d and adding so much frippery gayness* to it, it cost well over 330d money!

*Frippery Gayness

A load of pointless features on a car such as TVs, power bootlids, self-closing doors. I could go on, but I've got typer's cramp.

M.

Hairy Shirt Spec

The opposite of Fripper Gay and Scamper Spec.

kraftwerk

France
You'll see a lot of pictures of cars from there and come to realise how brilliant you've know they are all along. Except post-Pininfarina Peugeots. They're rubbish.

Matt

Oh yes...

kraftwerk

Looking good, Matt.

Like I need encouraging...

Matt

Next door have builders doing their extension, so it'll be a long time before it's that clean again. Maybe then I'll take 3 months doing it and invite 3 mates around to photograph it.

kraftwerk

"him"

Buy a Mac

A "stock" reply to any number of forum posts, not necessarily computer related...

On the subject of French Cars ^^^

Saxos, don't necessarily fear them all ... they are actually OK cars

PR

Pah, you lot and your froggy heaps.

Everyone here ends up in a BMW eventually:

GonnaBreakABuggy

I'm here just to make sure Frippery Gayness extends far beyond it's accepted boundaries.

SpecB

BMW's in Love

Specifically a certain pair of 325 Compacts. Your eyes aren't deceiving you when you see pictures of this.

kraftwerk

Matt

Blarno

I fear Piers may be right. I may well go 'sensible' in a few years and buy a 330d.

Then again, I may decide to have breast implants and call myself Janice...

kraftwerk

Janis Ian?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=efHOIT1ROk8&feature=related

PR

Blarno

Graham

My ill-fated Vauxhall Vectra V6 track slag. It had the makings of a winner: Lusty V6 engine, tasty bodykit, nice wheels. Then I decided to strip it and upon seeing the mountain of wiring involved, quickly shoved it back in the garage before scrapping it.

"him"

What the hell is this turning into "Hatchback Mountain"?

Blarno

kraftwerk

Fucking good songwriter, mind.

PR

Blarno

Why, thank you. I have a nice afro, don't you think?

kraftwerk

kraftwerk

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

Big TC

Hi newbies - welcome!

The first thing to remember is, no text speak at all. There are 1 or 2 acceptable abbreviations, such as FFS, IIRC, BTW and LOL, but generally we type as we speak (apart from the obvious typos!)

And don't worry about grammar - we have our very own grammar-police who are usually benign, unless prodded with an incorrect apostraphy, oxymoron or the like (watch that last paragraph get corrected and critiqed - it'll be done with humour, though!)

Our interests range far and wide, so don't be afraid of starting a non-car related thread. Often, my posts and replies have nothing to do with cars and motoring.

And the very best thing? Doesn't matter what you drive, we are a friendly open community with one thing tying us together - our love of motoring and all things to do with vehicles (not just cars).

kraftwerk

BeN

We haven't mentioned Ravi and his RX300 with ECT Snow Mode in a while...

Big TC

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

Twelfth Monkey

Defensive owner's cape and moonboots.

Ever feel that you spend an inordinately long time defending your choice of wheels? That people just don't understand? I did, and on occasion still do. To commit such thoughts to the electronic ether is to don said cape and moonboots, in the manner of a low-budget superhero of sorts...

Still, I had an A3 before.

Do not be afraid to don said attire; your passion for your car will be respected, even if you can't quite talk the world into agreeing.

Martin

at 'Hatchback Mountain'

Remember that you don't have to love French Cars or even BMWs to join in. Quite a few people like old cars as well

I was brought up almost exclusively on French cars (Renaults 4, 5, 6, 16 & 20. Not exactly in that order and some were x2 or x3) and I've bought one with my own Money (new Megane), but still wouldn't class myself as a huge fan! I have only had one BMW so far and had to fight my prejudice against them to get one, but not choosing a car because of what you think of the people that drive them or what others might thing of you is a bit wrong.

I've gone off all Audis now all the cocks are driving them, so I'll probably end up having one of them next

.

Ahh Martin. Reminded me of a few things.

Tingtong, Blue Beastie, The Beast, Spanner, Nail, Tweedle Twins, Lionel, Gaylander and Patsy

Names for various cars of the forum.

Tingtong - My Focus - named so because of its Shandgong Linglong Tyres.

Blue Beastie - Clio 172 Cup owned by Blarno - named so because its Blue and wee beastie, but not a Beast. That titles belongs too...

The Beast - Twelfth tarty Audi A4 with a few S-Line bits bolted on in Look at me Blue.

Spanner - Piers' latest Compact (Named by me)

Nail - Piers' last Compact (Probably named by me aswell)

Tweedle Twins - Name given to the pair of 325 Tee Eye Sport Compacts on the forum. Only applicable when seen together or being talked about as a collective. (Definately named by me, notice a pattern yet?)

Lionel - Matts 306 XSi - the raplcement for Hair Dryer the ill-fated E36 that became a Saab 9-3. Thats another joke though...

Gaylander - As Martin affectionately calls any Freelander (1st Gen)

Patsy - Martins Passat 2.0TDI Sport with Rocket Lights and Ferrari Seats. Also in Blue.

Oh and Blue cars are faster than any other car. (c) Martin.

Twelfth Monkey

Pah! I'll not don moonboots for that...

Martin

That in no way means that naming cars is in any way 'cool'.......

I have never named a car and never will, but it entertains the children

Patsy.....

Blarno

Puns

Quite often, replies to various threads degenerate into pun matches. Some are funny, others are so awful they're funny.

Guitar Zero

Metaaaaaaal

A scant few of us worship at the church of metal - for those of you who are non believers - we pray for your souls in vain hope that the Holy Ghost of Dimebag Darrell one day sets you free.

Fords are great, five cylinder ones are greater

Anything with 5 cylinders is great, because the Ur quattro had one and blessed are the ones who follow in it's footsteps. I'm on my second 5 pot, which makes me awesome.

BMWs are o.k, they were great when I had one, sadly the greatness died when I sold mine and Herr Fukkensieuppen decreed that run flat tyres were a ' zehr gut ' idea. Greatness is due to visit the BMW range again when they do a new M5 with a manual gearbox and when I buy a 730d for £17k.

SpecB

Swearing

There is no swearchecker on here so nothing is censored.

The stock reply to something not liked by Kraftwerk is usually "**** off".

Martin

Guitar Zero

I may wait until next march and get a 750i for 37 pence.

Martin

First Dan with his 850 and now you, all this talk and no action....!

DarthBalls

Some of us guys on here drive girls' cars.

Literally in my case as my wife makes the payments on our MX5, it is, of course registered in my name.

Guitar Zero

What talk ? - I've simply alluded to the slight possibility of maybe thinking about dipping my toe in the watery goodness that is a 7 series.

I haven't

" pulled an Alf "

and started threads various about the eleventy million different cars that may be a possible replacement for the world's most expensive 156 GTA.

There is lots to consider, not including the furious amounts of man maffs required to make the swap vaguely sensible.

Martin

The mere suggestion is enough and when it's made more than once in different threads, it's time to get one bought!!!

The good thing about man maffs is that it doesn't take long and gives you the right answer, so there really is no excuse

I used Man Maffs when quickly moving for a £13k budget to 120d budget to a 130i budget. I managed to get it to work out that changing from a 3 year old Megane made financial sense

"him"

PR

I think it goes like this:

3.0 litres + 6 Cylinders, x 265bhp +232 lb/ft = Where do I sign?

Martin

PR

I seem to remember helping to reassure you that it was an excellent idea, Martin!

Martin

Yes, help and support from like minded individuals really helps make the Man Maffs stack up. You can't put a figure on that sort of thing!

BeN

kraftwerk

Racing

Don't take anything said by anyone seriously. Some forummers (Kraft, Pie (Guitar Zero)) may appear to be eye-poppingly rude on a fairly frequent basis but it's all part of their own special charm and not to be taken offence at!

And if you do take something seriously, be prepared to endure plenty of banter over it. All of which is not meant seriously....by and large....

Blarno

The Colin Shot

The obligatory photo that must be taken when test driving any vehicle, of the rear seats folded down to show off the loadspace.

Racing

Nobby, Chalky and Ginge

A fearless trio of Her Majesty's servants whose escapades from another era are occasionally related in inimitably amusing style by "G" after lashings and lashings of Hendricks.

Airplane/Treadmill Debate

A recurring debate over whether a jet aircraft could take off if you replaced the runway with a giant opposed treadmill. Gets heated.

Dark and Stormy Night

Undead thread about nothing very much which gives Count Dracula a run for his money in the longevity stakes.

The Other Place

A reference to the actual Autocar forums. Which aren't much cop in our considered opinions.

M.

GonnaBreakABuggy

Hey, most of my components never left a factory, they were born in a shed

Blarno

marcg

Doing a Racing

Forgetting which fuel your car takes.

Racing

Oi! I did not forget which fuel it took. I merely put the wrong fuel in. There is a fine but important distinction!

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

The pump was wrongly labelled, wasn't it? Had a similar pause for thought this morning, refilling the hire car before returning it. Having stopped at a Shell place, had to remind myself to put diesel in, not V Power. Hertz always give you dire warnings that their insurance doesn't cover mis-fuelling.

Racing

So it would appear - it was green and said "98" on it, but nevertheless clearly actually contained diesel.

TimR

Doing a Racing Part II

Accidentally buying another car when you're just out and about browsing, despite having nowhere to keep it.

Racing

to be strictly accurate that should be followed by "so you then drive it 2,000 miles to a place where you do have somewhere to keep it"

BeN

I though doing a Racing meant epic cross-country journeys from London to Moscow and back?

woof woof

My name is woof woof and I'm an animal loving vegetarian Northerner with a passion for cars and specifically roadsters. I tend to over analyse things (which is a good thing in electronics) and also to overcompensate. 90% of what I post (including the silly rhymes) is meant to be harmless fun and the rest is over analytical tosh. If I upset anyone I'll happily apologise, just say summot. I love you all, and I'll prove it after dinner and a movie. PM me and we'll arrange a meet, I'll be daddy.

M.

cbeaks1

Their pride and joy has a car-bra. Eeeuuuggh.

woof woof

Why feel the need to defend your own decisions? Just accept that other people have the right to be wrong.

Racing

Rodge

We must also take time to mention the Motor Forum F1 Game.
Where our money is regularly put where our mouths are. This competition is taken so seriously that I've forgotten who won it last year.

People also like to change their identity here and the confusion adds to the charm of the place.

marcg

Actually, that's one thing that really annoys me and really makes the cliqueyness of the place - you have to really know who's who if they keep changing their names. If there's one thing guaranteed to exclude newbies it's getting to know the tone of the posters then having to start all over again.

BeN

Motor Forum F1 Game History

Started out in 2005 when we were back on the old Autocar Forum. Big Blue seemed to be heading for the title, until his cheating ways were exposed and he was subesquently stripped of all points. I think Dan won that year (can't remember).

2006, and Autocar's Sarah Wakely got off to a flying start, leading until the halfway point before she left Autocar for another mag. Big TC eventually took the title (I think).

2007 was the first edition on The Motor, and it was a mighty fine competition. The lead changed hands several times, with Nick (then known as Stevie Wonder) joining midway through the season and completely blitzing everybody. He certainly would have won the title had he entered from the start. Right at the end though, an unlikely winner emerged, as Sav, trailing for much of the season, suddenly pulled off a masterclass in the last four races to nick it, mirroring the exploits of a certain Kimi Raikkonen in the real championship.

PG

BeN

I left that out on purpose...

PG

BeN

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

Blarno

Wasn't there also Mr Urhurmelmahay?

Skyhook

Dr. Hfuhruhurr

Big TC

BeN - I didn't win the F1 Forum Game in 2006 - I leapt into an early lead (like last year) and 'did a Lewis' and lost it in the last couple of races. Sav won last year.

Now, this year, my usual early lead is a bit bigger than it was in the last 2 years, so I might claim the title this year at last!

IMO, Skyhook has no chance this year.

and let's not forget:

Doing a Racing, Pt III

Crushing one's thumb in the boot lid of your car, whilst miles from any medical help.

D.

Technically I won in 2006. Though it was the Autocar award.

canadian bacon

.

Gawd, you're gonna set Mrs S off now...It does look cute though.