Get Ready: TheCarConnection.com Is Changing

By Marty Padgett April 22nd, 2008

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What the heck is that? If you've been reading TheCarConnection.com for most of its online life -- more than 10 years online at this writing -- you'll recognize this very early logo. We forgive you if you think it looks like a car towing a computer. Back in the early days of the Web, towing a computer was better than not owning one at all. And, well...we were writers, not tech gurus and certainly not highly paid illustrators.

Times change, and so does the ethos of the Web. TheCarConnection.com is changing too, and in the next few weeks you'll discover more of what we have in mind for the most comprehensive re-think in TCC's history.

You've seen some of the changes so far. We launched an iPhone application that gives you an idea of the direction our new site will take. The clever readers will notice some minor tweaks to road tests this year. Recently we put our award-winning newsletters on hiatus while we come up with an even better way to deliver the car reviews and news you want directly to your inbox.

There's far more to come. We can't spill all the beans today, but when the changes start coming, you'll find reviews that are the most comprehensive on the Web. You'll get more photos, great pricing and shopping information, globe-spanning auto show coverage, and a slick new design that's easy to navigate. If I told you more, I'd be out of a job, and I'm no good at pulling espressos.

While our new reviews, blogs, and interface hide behind a firewall, we'll be posting less to the current site. We'll make this down time as quick as possible. In the meantime, please do stay tuned--everyone at the Car Advisory Network is proud of what we're ready to launch soon, and what we have planned for the next year.

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25 Responses to “Get Ready: TheCarConnection.com Is Changing”

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There’s a lot of good feedback here. I will say that the times have changed in favor of blogs for news coverage — and that the big interest online, by far, supported by readers and shoppers and advertisting, is for road tests and car news. It’s safe to say the new design reflects those sensibilities. We’re not far off - stay tuned.

Well I looked in my email last week and realized there wasn’t the normal Car Connection newsletter. And then I realized I hadn’t seen it yesterday. Nor the day before.

Eventually I located the note sent earlier this week saying that it was going to go into “hiatus”.

To the best of my recollection, “hiatus” is a break in a series so hopefully this is exactly what it is: a break and not an end. Because, let me be blunt, ending this newsletter is a BIG MISTAKE.

I do not want to have my computer cluttered with RSS feeds, nor do I want to spend my time digging around on the internet finding stories. Your newsletter was a trove of potential news items for me, delivered in a quick, easily scanned form from which I could then choose which to click on and jump to the full story.

It was quick, easy and convenient. What more can you ask? And it drove traffic to your website, your real product – why in heaven’s name would you want to drop it? This makes zero sense to me.

Let me be clear. I do not have the time nor inclination to access another website to look for the news myself. I want it delivered in a concise, high-level analysis form in my email.

And, while I’m on my soapbox, what’s happened to your incisive, detailed road tests and evaluations? You used to set the standard for this reporting among electronic media, frankly rivaling the specialist magazines and leading newspaper writers’ columns. But now the reporting is, to be frank, lightweight and sophomoric. The new writers (none of whom I’ve heard of: who are they and what training have they had?) simply don’t exemplify the breadth of knowledge and perspective that such a responsible position demands. I used to rely on these evaluations; increasingly, at best, I’m tempted to doubt them – at worst, forced to discount them.

You asked for my feedback but I gain no pleasure in sending you this. I hope you take it to heart and do something about it. Come on guys, you’ve got a wonderful product. Don’t screw it up.

Well Marty — from what I’m reading sounds like I’m not the ‘lone ranger’ when it comes to complaints. Bottom line sounds to me like its’ time to make with the changes and make ‘em good and make ‘em stick. A simple makeover won’t do. The links and features have to be up to date - don’t do something and ignore it for weeks/months as in the past year. Ya either is or ya aint - what’s it gonna be?

Don’t do BB - there are other PDA types out there - my choice with my travels is the N95/8Gb

Oh yeah, and when I complain - its usually cuz there is such fertile ground - take care Marty - you’re off the ‘favs’ for now……..I’ll check back next month……..maybe

The latest format is ridiculous. A banner ad across the top, a column of ads on the left, a column of ads on the right, and a bunch of ads inserted into the content. Ridiculous. If people can’t easily access usable content, they won’t came back and see the ads. It’s obvious the effort was to maximize ad revenue with little or no regard to actual usability of the site. Sorry TCC, that’s just how it looks to me. I hope the next makeover strikes a better balance.

Every single Web site i check out every day is totally free to me. I appreciate that TCC was always free, but so were every single one Auto sites I also see. I did mention that I still use the TCC link to PR NEwswire for a convenient and very early look at the monthly sales figures in detail, it only omits one or two major makers who I look up in their own news sites. But apart from that and this blog, I never check out the main TCC site after it changed from its original format. I think this is valuable info to TCC from its viewers. If it were MY site, I’d appreciate to know how my viewers feel and make any changes I could to improve it.