fiestaturbo.com

[jayrs]

a kindom is no good without the members that use it or the king that controls it

i wasnt joking, just stating a point, a blatent one i agree , its all very well holding on to what you created, but if your not going to maintain it, i fear people will move away to other sites and it will only be the regulars like our selfs coming back to it.

its like keeping a old classic car saying your get round to it, when in the end its got too bad to fix and no fcuker is interested and its dumped

maybe thats a bit over the top way of looking at it, but you get my point.

i agree mate, he prob dont want to put money into a site for everyone else to use when he doesnt, but if he wants it to continue like we do somethings got to be done,

whos been discussing the state of the site etc? i wouldnt mind getting involed seeing as im a very regular user of the site

[heeman10]

lol these are all the points that have been brought up over and over. With all due respect to Ade, we'd all far rather see it continue strongly with external input than crash to the ground as it is doing, just because he doesn't want to relinquish control. I can see both sides of the argument, which is why it isn't so much an "argument" between the forum users and Ade, more a problem, to which we are trying to find a solution

[Brammer]

My turn now - - its throwing me out everytime i click a link, can't get back on for ages, its getting me stressed and pushing me away.

I really enjoy it on here the crack is good but i just can't be arsed sometimes to wait 15-20 mins for it to load.

Why not run a Glod members scheme and update the server, makes sence to me before theirs no more members left, the site is slowing down with the number of posts compared to 3 years ago

Rant over

[heeman10]

WTF site's absolutely rapid at the moment!!!! Got another forum open that's being slow, and am downloading over 100MB's worth of videos but FT's RAPID!!!

[AdrianFRST]

I can't work out what's going on...

I have reports all over the place of slowness but it's always fine for me. Sometimes it's a tad sluggish, but no more than any other site at busy times.

The ISP says that the server can't cope anymore as it's over 5 years old. This seems odd to me because the site is quieter than it has been, but on the other hand people's connections are much faster so it prob takes a battering due to that.

I'm debating whether to cough up for a new server but I don't really think it needs cutting edge investment, just something enough to keep it going without taking up my time and money. At the moment the ads are not covering the hosting costs, but I'm reluctant to impose a charge for what has always been free. A voluntary donation may work, but the link has been there for ages and no-one uses it. Maybe if it was a bit more noticable?

I guess the options are:

1. I buy new server and work out a way of paying for it, either with paid membership in return for advanced features or via more ads.

2. Donation drive! - I like this idea, with a big chart and a "totaliser" like Blue Peter. However, it's hardly the same as donating to help sick children or find cures for diseases.

I think some combo of the two may work. Just need to figure out what...

[James2k]

What about advertisement pop ups. I know that they are a pain in the ass.. but to help you out i would put up with them..

[heeman10]

Ade - As I said in my PM, I strongly believe that we could come up with certainly a healthy amount of money if we buzzed people to cough up. As we've said plenty of times in the past, if everyone (by which I mean, the more regular users) gives just £1 or so, we'd have a large total. Vix's FT.com Paypal account would make that a doddle.

For that to be successful, a goal would be pretty much mandatory, so we knew what we were heading for. Glad you've replied now, everyone's sliding away so it needs a bit of action, fast


I think I probably speak for everyone when I say this place really cannot become a pop-up haven!!!

[jayrs]

no we dont want pop ups all the time, that would drive people mad

i like the idea of everyone chipping in a bit, thing is though, your be in catch 22, people wont want to chip in untill they see the change and you might not want to fork out of your own pocket, money to do it untill some money comes in.

the gold memeber ship thing passion ford has, to me is a good thing, it stops people joining the site just to sell some stuff and never to bee seen again, however you will find there stick ads in other room like PF so the mods will have more on there hands ( i volunteer to be a mod if ya looking for someone) to move or delet them.
topics like this then could be in contributors room.
if anyone didnt want to be a paid up member but wanted to off load some stuff they could pay for a ad like they would have to on ebay or somethign, even if it was only a couple of quid, its better than nothing.

as others have said inc myself, people are starting to slip away, so something needs to be sorted fairly soon

whats these advance fetures you got in mind adrian? or is it just a stab in the dark idea at this point?

[JamieFRST]

What about advertisement pop ups. I know that they are a pain in the ass.. but to help you out i would put up with them..

No please no the google ones are bad enough. I still think a gold membership package would be the way to go. I don't think to donate money that often, but would be happy to pay a one off membership or yearly subscription.

VIP Members could have a feature car on the main site or garage section like some forums have, custom post status, private VIP section, reserved slots on show stands. Depending on how much is paid for membership could include window stickers or something? blowup sheep for Heeman

[jayrs]

blow up sheep for Heeman

[andymac]

blow up sheep for Heeman

FT "Branded" ?

The site seems more or less OK for me most of the time, no matter which ISP I'm going out on, when it isn't OK the static page seems to load just fine. I would have thought it fairly obvious that Ade would be covering at least some of the costs of the hosting :- lots of people will have blocked google adwords and there's a reluctance amongst board members to pay for something they've historically gotten for free.

I'm inclined to think that a paid subscription would work well for additional features AS WELL as a fund-raising drive.

Perhaps adding a few restrictions, for example, viewing of guides restricted to the first 200 words unless you're paid up (quid a month, anyone ?).

Something similar to that in tech (You can post but you can't view replies without being paid up). That means a more draconian attitude from mods as regards posting technical queries etc in general to get "free" answers, but that's no bad thing in itself. Restricting number of uploaded images to say, three might be an idea too.

My point is to not exactly take away what was given before but certainly impose limits on what can be obtained gratis. Additional incentives such as first dibs on show stands, would help in this.

How about a special status for contributors Ade ? Will make people feel better about themselves (and make others feel like plonkers) when they see their "name in lights" as a result of helping with the costs.

[filtra]

For the first time in months FT has been amazingly fast for me!

Anyway…

I think a ‘gold’ area(s) + features, regardless of the situation of the site would be a nice idea. Leaving the forum as it is but adding an area(s) so non-payers don’t miss out on anything. I’m sure the regulars would pay; as for a lot of people the site is more than just a Fiesta resource.

I have no ideas on costing but I’m sure it runs into a fair few hundred a year! So, perhaps something like £20 a year membership and/or £7 quarterly? I may be wrong but if we say have 30 people that pay initially (I’m guessing that’s the number of regular users that would probably pay), there would be enough cash for hardware and a bit of hosting too perhaps?

Regards,

Fil

[grandman]

Hi,

Before site owner start major rebuilding we need to eliminate possible ISP members problems.

I know BT keep having problems, and that will account for slow loading. Does the site have any bandwidth limitations, I've not checked but what language is used for site, php, asp, .net Etc. presume with MySQL back-end DB. should have no problems with that.

[dontpannic]

Hi,

Before site owner start major rebuilding we need to eliminate possible ISP members problems.

I know BT keep having problems, and that will account for slow loading. Does the site have any bandwidth limitations, I've not checked but what language is used for site, php, asp, .net Etc. presume with MySQL back-end DB. should have no problems with that.

No, I think we can rule that one out - Ade has set up a static page which loads fine whenever the forums go slow - and I can confirm that all other internet forums I visit are fine (Digital Spy, Cable Forum etc)...

Must be database problems or capacity problems I should imagine - off-peak it works brilliantly, but because we have jobless hobo's like heeman10 on here 24/7 clogs it up (joking mate!)

Nick

[grandman]

Hi,

Before site owner start major rebuilding we need to eliminate possible ISP members problems.

I know BT keep having problems, and that will account for slow loading. Does the site have any bandwidth limitations, I've not checked but what language is used for site, php, asp, .net Etc. presume with MySQL back-end DB. should have no problems with that.

No, I think we can rule that one out - Ade has set up a static page which loads fine whenever the forums go slow - and I can confirm that all other internet forums I visit are fine (Digital Spy, Cable Forum etc)...

Must be database problems or capacity problems I should imagine - off-peak it works brilliantly, but because we have jobless hobo's like heeman10 on here 24/7 clogs it up (joking mate!)

Nick

What version of MySQL is the hosting company using? (I'm assuming the DB is [MySQL] and the version my dictate what table method was used?)

GM)
------

[JamieFRST]

It seems to be really bad again today, Im getting page cannot be displayed all the time.

Ping to server seems fine though, had to be server or db related.

Ping statistics for 217.77.182.65:
Packets: Sent = 147, Received = 147, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 19ms, Maximum = 25ms, Average = 20ms

[heeman10]

Yep, stalling over and over today and logging me out.

[Smo]

Yeah, was noticing the same... In the times that I was browsing today, it was dying more times than it was working

I've noticed, and it could just be fluke, but whenever I was editing a large post, it was taking FOREVER to do anything, and if I opened another window, it would be slow each time. It could just be a separate thing, but thought it may be worth mentioning

I often find the site is fine until I try doing a search too, and then it'll take ages to display the results, and during that time, it will take forever to load another page if I try...

[jayrs]

its still running cr@p, something must be able to be done, we have come up with ideas as to traising cash for the site, maybe its time to talk about putting some of them in to force rather than moaning about the site, because this slowness, and loggin out and no opening etc is really starting to pi$$ people off

[j7aoc]

Come some one tell why it is when you hit the submit when you want to post some thing it show's you the preview the just stalls for some time This site is pants

[Ollybee]

Previewing instead of submitting is because you are hitting the "submit" button too quickly. The reply page needs to be open at least five seconds before you submit anything otherwise it will automatically preview it.

[j7aoc]

Previewing instead of submitting is because you are hitting the "submit" button too quickly. The reply page needs to be open at least five seconds before you submit anything otherwise it will automatically preview it.

All i did was write then submit i pressed the submit once it went to preveiw and does this ever other day the stalls

[jayrs]

i know others think this inc me so im gunna say it.
this site is going down hill, even now, give it 2 years max if that at this rate and it will be nothing but a forgotton forum

would be a shame but i can see it happening unless something is done

[j7aoc]

i know others think this inc me so im gunna say it.
this site is going down hill, even now, give it 2 years max if that at this rate and it will be nothing but a forgotton forum

would be a shame but i can see it happening unless something is done

I hear you there bud if i was new to this site i would of given up by now and thought sod it i would rather pay and have a good site then have a free sh@# one who ever think there's nowt wrong with this site has there head up there ass

[CyberMODS]

i hardly ever visit this site anymore because frankly i find myself shouting at the screen everytime i try to use the forums to even just view.
One sec its there the next its gone and when it does return it runs so slow its stupid.

5 year old server should not be falling on its @rse!! unless it wasnt up to the job in the first place whitch is obviously was as thing were ok before.
Even if that was the case why not just UPGRADE the server instead of replacing it extra ram and a upped cpu would make a world of difference and on a 5 year old server parts will NOT be that expensive?

[j7aoc]

What CyberMODS said he sound's like he know his stuff i struggle with the toaster

[jayrs]

What CyberMODS said he sound's like he know his stuff i struggle with the toaster

i know adrian has said it cost to use a better server etc, but we have talked about bringing things in to help or even cover the costs envoled.
if people that pay for adverts on the site see its decining due to server problems and they pull there adds meaningless money wheres it gunna leave the site then........

[j7aoc]

What CyberMODS said he sound's like he know his stuff i struggle with the toaster

..

It never come's out the way i like it very light brown crapy toaster

[jayrs]

your not one of these that like it burnt are ya

[j7aoc]

your not one of these that like it burnt are ya

It never come's out the way i like it very light brown crapy toaster

[jayrs]

read it from my piont of view

It never come's out the way i like it very light brown crapy toaster


what it come out light brown, or it dont..?

anyway, enough of that.
this site is getting worse, replied to a post, only to go back and edit it and find no reply there, yet refresh the page and bing, it comes up.
open a new internet page, same thing, wtf is that about

[mintwhiters]

Going to look into things - pm'd Ade with details request to see if I can find a better hosting option, if possible, if not.... back to the drawing board ...