RetroRides - Where did it go wrong and what are the lessons?

[comfortablynumb]

There used to be a very good site called "Difflock" , catering for all things 4x4 

Lively, helpful ( in the main) and I was on it several times a day.

That too has died a death, which was a shame because it was so good in its heyday.

RR has gone the same way, when I posted about the demise of the Brighton Speed trials, I just got the so_called moderators shouting the party line, and one post actually just repeated someone else's post, but in capitals.

Excuse me? I thought it was supposed to be a car forum? And I for one regret the death of the oldest Motorsport event in the world, which I'd been to a few times, and really enjoyed.

That's when I thought " not for me, thanks" and left, not been back since.

 

 

[delux]

"Enforced positivity"

I'd forgot about that, yeah, that was another thing that killed it!

Someone posted some pics of the Berg cup. I dont like German cars, I dont like 'Cool Dad Scene gatherings' but there were some nice paintjobs and some serious work had gone into some of the cars.

I said something like 'Not my thing but some cool cars'

Some fucker tore a strip off me then my post got deleted!

I didnt say everyone who likes these cars was a cockwisk, I never claimed my opinion on cars was the right one, it was negative in the tamest and politest way.

[Fabergé Greggs]

54 minutes ago, R Lutz said:

Moderation and censorship kills forums faster than Facebook.

On this basis, how’s The Dark Wob working out? Genuine question. 

[Billy - Medhurst]

1 hour ago, delux said:

I wasnt the only one walking through classic car shows disappointed looking at rows of E types and MGBs only to take 20 pics of the rusty Datsun Violet in the car park!

 

That in a nutshell is why I stayed here and not used R.R For a couple of years now.  I did used to go on BarryBoys site at times too for a laugh. That died out I think too.

[Out Run]

When is the Autoshite swear filter being implemented to show pics of Father Jack and Bazil Brush? #modusoperandi

[Jazoli]

2 hours ago, R Lutz said:

Moderation and censorship kills forums faster than Facebook.

Agreed, it was far too saccharine sweet, I got banned for calling out dodgy mods, bunch of up their own arse cunts, I’m not sad the forum is on its arse.

[tooSavvy]

25 minutes ago, Jazoli said:

Agreed, it was far too saccharine sweet, I got banned for calling out dodgy mods, bunch of up their own arse cunts, I’m not sad the forum is on its arse.

Ooof! 😮

Glad my signing up wasn't the 'tipping point' lol

🚙💨

[Tenmil Socket]

1 hour ago, Billy - Medhurst said:

That in a nutshell is why I stayed here and not used R.R For a couple of years now.  I did used to go on BarryBoys site at times too for a laugh. That died out I think too.

I really enjoyed BarryBoys… especially the thread where some lad with a Saxo was having a go at someone that owned a Rover 45.

Retro Rides was okay years ago but did become too ‘scene’.

I did buy a MK4 Escort off there very cheap and it was a straight forward deal.

[Out Run]

3 minutes ago, tooSavvy said:

Ooof! 😮

Glad my signing up wasn't the 'tipping point' lol

🚙💨

OVIMOR

[tooSavvy]

5 minutes ago, Out Run said:

OVIMOR

..... It'll be me! 😉

🚙💨

[R Lutz]

1 hour ago, Fabergé Greggs said:

On this basis, how’s The Dark Wob working out? Genuine question. 

It's not my forum, son. You'd need to ask whoever created it. 

[R Lutz]

10 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

For my part it was down to the refusal to allow for threads covering more than one vehicle or anything even slightly off topic.

Off topic is again, good for a forum. Not as good as conflict, which we used to consider the lifeblood of a forum. 

[loserone]

Christ, no wonder AS is successful.

[R Lutz]

3 hours ago, captain_cal said:

Enforced positivity

I believe this forum trialled such a thing under the codename 'Joy Division'. I was banned the second time when I pointed out the true meaning of the term (clue; it aint a pop band).

@Sheefag will confirm this. 

[SiC]

3 hours ago, R Lutz said:

Moderation and censorship kills forums faster than Facebook.

My temptation to move this thread on the quiet to the open forum or politics section to wind up a few is rather large.... 😄

[R Lutz]

10 minutes ago, SiC said:

My temptation to move this thread on the quiet to the open forum or politics section to wind up a few is rather large.... 😄

Move a thread by all means. But those who seek to delete or lock threads, or delete their own posts and threads really should have that option removed from them. It's an insult to all those who've read or posted on that topic or replied to their posts. 

[Split_Pin]

Autoshite is a 'living forum'. It moves with the times and as said, is tangential and covers new ground almost daily.

Also, the smug know-all attitude is largely ignored here, everyone loves a fuck-up and equally shares their woes.

I've only read a few threads on RR but I've zero interest in modified or show cars. 

[SiC]

On 26/12/2025 at 12:27, R Lutz said:

Move a thread by all means. But those who seek to delete or lock threads, or delete their own posts and threads really should have that option removed from them. It's an insult to all those who've read or posted on that topic or replied to their posts. 

I agree and I would prefer if people couldn't delete posts and threads. If someone wants to remove their post then edit to blank.

However we had a poll either earlier this year or last and the majority wanted it to stay with the ability for OPs to delete their own threads and posts. So not fair going against the majority even if don't agree. 🤷

Probably a good reason why this forum survives as it goes generally on the majority flow of what people want it to be and most don't give a shit if it goes against what they want it to be. 

We'd never have a proper super large forum gathering like RR as we're all mostly too disorganised to get it together and for most to remember to attend. Part of this is that the forum is mostly decentralised in how it's organised.

[SiC]

Probably a good time to remind that the forum isn't free to keep running and is burning around £95ish a month in compute resources ... if @Talbot wants to get the can out to rattle again soon.

 

[N Dentressangle]

How about making all roffles notionally out of 60, with the proceeds from the imaginary 60th ticket going to forum costs?

[R Lutz]

1 hour ago, SiC said:

However we had a poll either earlier this year or last and the majority wanted it to stay with the ability for OPs to delete their own threads and posts. So not far going against the majority even if don't agree. 🤷

Mob rule never works either; A forum needs a leader. A central hate figure if you like. 

[loserone]

31 minutes ago, N Dentressangle said:

How about making all roffles notionally out of 60, with the proceeds from the imaginary 60th ticket going to forum costs?

I'll put you down for that one shall I?

[captain_cal]

7 minutes ago, R Lutz said:

Mob rule never works either; A forum needs a leader. A central hate figure if you like. 

Bring back Daveb, all is forgiven!

[R Lutz]

4 minutes ago, loserone said:

I'll put you down for that one shall I?

My days of running a forum finished years ago. I'm on the sidelines these days shouting at the Ref. Who's a woke twat and a cuck. 

[vaughant]

It's gone like passionford did, over moderated and a shit for sale section. I mean the older than y reg shit is pretty irrelevant now. A ten/fifteen year rolling maximum could have been good but they decided just to fuck it. 

I had a few ok cars over there and did meet some decent people but when some twat was selling his 02 plate caddy which only got in the for sale section because it had "wide steelies", then halfway through the ad stated the wheels weren't included, then the battery, then he wanted the money up front to MOT it I got a bit fucked off as they pulled a Ka I had for sale, with a buyer because it "wasn't older than 2000" to which I had to explain X was Y2K. The moderator said  in PM " Don't try that on with me, I've got a v reg Honda and that's Y2K so your car is clearly 2 years newer"....... Um it's not I'm sorry. 

I mentioned the caddy and was told it was a "valued members car" , this despite me helping other members out, with thanks, for years🙄🙄🙄🙄.

One guy also pissed me off with his tigra after he couldn't get it to start from an engine swap. I told him what was wrong, he ignored me, then kept wasting money on it, kept ignoring me then went to the mods to get the thread locked as I was "trolling him".

After fuck knows how long I think he took it somewhere who told him what I'd told him 6 months and probably £1000 earlier 🙄🙄🙄, he needed the receiver multiplex on the side of the engine as they're coded. 

Now, how did I know that 🤣🤣🤣.

Through a lot of pain.

Think I advised some kiddie on why his Clio was missing and he completely ignored it as well.

Passionford was great until the guy who started it sold it to IB then it was all about money and everyone left.

[vaughant]

2 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Autoshite is a 'living forum'. It moves with the times and as said, is tangential and covers new ground almost daily.

Also, the smug know-all attitude is largely ignored here, everyone loves a fuck-up and equally shares their woes.

I've only read a few threads on RR but I've zero interest in modified or show cars. 

I think that's totally fair and a lot of the sub sections are filled with excellent advice on all aspects of life.

I forget who it was but the other day a regular, really knowledgeable contributor posted he was 23 or something and I thought "fuck me he knows his shit" 🤣🤣🤣.

Thinking back when I joined RR the for sale section was up to Y2K or maybe a sneaky Y2K&1 which was at the time up to probably 10/12yr old cars at the very newest.

That's cars now that are pretty much still the same models today with the exception of the electric range although leaves and Zoe's are about at 2015 plate.

All those models forgotten about due to a stupid rule.

[R Lutz]

Rules, are for fools. They are merely a guide to the wise. 

[comfortablynumb]

Oh,and an established poster putting up a thread on remembrance day, Lest we Forget and so forth, along with a couple of pics, followed by the main Muppet posting "SIGH, REALLY???"🙄

If you're that disrespectful, at least keep it to yourself.🤬

 

[SiC]

Is it just me or is RR down at the moment with a 429 error?

 

Edit: I think temporary 

[N Dentressangle]

1 hour ago, loserone said:

I'll put you down for that one shall I?

dunno - just a thought for getting things funded more reliably.

I never really went on Retro Rides. Modded things aren't really my scene, and I don't have the time or the skills to do it anyway.

Has PH gone down the tubes in a similar way, or is it still thriving? I rarely use it so it's hard to tell.