DSM-ONE: New idea for a website

[Nayr747]

This seems like as good a time as any to get your guy's thoughts on an idea I've been working on for a while. I don't know when I'll get around to actually doing it but I thought I'd just throw it out there for now. I would most likely need some help making it though. I’ve never designed a webpage and although I’ve been researching DSM related stuff everyday for over 2 years, I don’t know a tenth of what some people know.


Technically, forums should be needed less and less as time goes on. The only reason they're not is because people can't find the answers they need effectively enough and so, ask repetitive questions. My idea is for ONE site that would contain all dsm information -- basically extensive links to every piece of info categorized in the most helpful way – like brakes, short shifter, battery, intake; and information categories such as turbo dynamics, etc.

Here's the problem with finding info on forums as I see it. Don't get me wrong, forums are great places to talk and meet people with the same interests and bring up a question to which there is no answer yet or is very specific, but they are incredibly inefficient at helping people.

Problems with getting information now:

1) Info spread throughout MANY different sites and threads. When you want an answer to something, you don't know where to start. The info you need could be on any of numerous sites and the info you find may not be the best info out there.

2) Info instability -- VFAQ and DSMTalk are good examples. A lot of DSMTalk's info was lost after it crashed. And many pages of Vfaq's pages stop being hosted. This may be able to be solved by only having the best info from the many different unstable sources saved on the one site. It would only be a small amount since most of the rest is useless.

3) Info is hard to find in the sea of misinformation, chit-chat, etc. Example: You need an answer so you do a search on a forum. 200 threads come up, each containing many pages. And many of these threads may have nothing to do with what you want to know. Even searching through ONE thread with 6 pages would be a waste of time. But most likely it won’t be that easy. Most of the threads will be useless or not complete. The thread that actually has useful info, maybe the only one that does, may be anywhere in these many threads. It could be scattered in a couple of different threads or even on two different forums. It could take hours or days to find the answer or it may take hours to find nothing at all. Only one person has to do all the searching and reading. Then they can give the conclusion to everyone else.

4) Information isn’t available. Do you know which air filter is the “best”? Which one lets in the fewest particles or which one flows the most? No, because no one has tested them. People decide which is best based on biased company claims, hearsay, and what the fastest cars are running not on actual empirical evidence and independent testing. This could be solved by having a type of Consumer Reports for parts where they are tested. I don’t know whether this would actually be feasible but it would be nice.

So here’s how DSM-ONE would work:

ALL (every single one available) parts would be listed and ALL information having to do with that part would be given in a concise way. Let’s say you clicked on “boost controllers.” ALL boost controllers would be listed along with ALL information on them (how each one works, how they perform, prices, where to buy, store with the lowest price, “best” bang for the buck, pictures, etc). You could also find all info on how boost controllers work. There would also be ONE installation VFAQ composed of the best pictures and info available. I have never seen any site that lists EVERY part in a certain category so this should be helpful, letting people know all the options available. Here is an example of someone that could be helped by this:

“Can I match my brother's handling? Some AGX shocks, springs, and what strut bars and sway bars are there?”
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=516693

He could just go to DSM-ONE and click on "suspension" and read exactly how suspension works, specifically on a DSM. Then he could look at every shock, spring, coilover, sway bar, etc and decide what he wants. Then the store with the lowest price would be listed (either by some kind of Dealtime type system or by users of the site submitting the best price they found). Then, when he got all his parts, he could use the VFAQ on the site to install them and troubleshoot any problems.

DSM-ONE:

1) Able to continuously change and improve – If there is a piece of bad info in a VFAQ, a broken or unclear pic, a better step, a new bov, etc, anyone can click on a link to inform the admin. The more people that use it (and submit info) the better it will become. Let’s say a new exhaust manifold came out. It would immediately be added and info on it would be added as it became available. This way, the info on the site should be as complete as possible.

2) Contain all available information. Example: Suspension – EVERY manufacturer for DSMs would be listed. Not almost every one or a lot of them but every single one. Within each manufacturer, EVERY model available for DSMs would be listed along with their prices and all other info on them.

3) Scattered info in ONE place. No more having 500 sites as favorites and looking through each one trying to find the info. Just go to DSM-ONE and every DSM site will be there--every store, every forum, ever owner's page, etc. And all the good info will be taken from the sites and put in one consise conclusion with links to where the info was taken from (if you want to read it).

4) Conclusions. No more searching through six pages of crap just to find out if grounding systems are effective. Only one person has to spend all the time doing this. The answer would be given along with a short explanation and “cliff notes” of all the reading. Links to all the info would also be given (forum threads, mag articles, tests, etc).

DSM-ONE should be the best (since it is able to easily change) and should be COMPLETE (it should contain ALL available information on a topic) and should be CONCISE. In this way, it should be the ONE site you need to find anything easily.

Here’s an example of how I was thinking of organizing it:

+boost controllers
-info
-tests
-top rated ( cost, rating, looks “”, quality””, sound, overall)
-Joe P
-reviews (links)
-info (forum posts etc)
-best prices (links)

+filters
-“”
-Greddy
-Arinix
-Ebay

“DSM-ONE: The ONE complete source for DSM info.” “The one place to go for all things dsm.”

Here are some other names I was thinking of:

DSM-ONE, TotalDSM, all-dsm, EverythingDSM, CompleteDSM, PanDSM


Any suggestions or more info would be helpful. One of the main purposes of this website is that it should be able to evolve and improve. And if you think I’m wrong and it’s a stupid idea just let me know why.

[xavier3jr]

This is a great idea. But i high doubt it would EVER be compleated u always learn something new EVERYDAY! theres no way it could be compleat and would be very time consuiming to keep up.

[crunchymilk55]

sounds great, but it also sounds like an insane amount of work / research.

Plus I'm not quite sure you can just copy reviews from other DSM sites and post them on yours.

[Nayr747]

Yeah, it may be really time consuming to keep up. I've actually already done a lot of the research though, but only in certain areas. It may be able to be spread out amoung DSMers though. I don't think there would be a problem copying the info since it's all for information purposes. No one would be making money. And I would site where the info is from with a link. And with the being complete thing, I was just trying to say it would continually be as complete as possible. It would be constantly updated. One thing I didn't list that the site could have is a picture and video area. I have a ~6 gigabyte file of them. I know there is a permission issue since none of them are mine but again no one is making money or anything.

[-Josh-]

Anything posted on the internet that is not specifically labled as "copyright" can be used by anyone for any reason. The internet is like international waters.

[Shpyder]

It is a great idea, for all those specific reasons you mentioned, but it will be a tremendous amount of hard wok involved: he information is there, but compiling it will be a massive undertaking. You have my blessings, nevertheless...

[95_GSX]

The biggest problem I see with it, besides what has already been stated, is that it would still require people to search. We all know how well that works around here. Not that its a complicated process, people are lazy. Even if you had the best database design I still dont think it could replace a forum. I really like the concept of it, but funding the servers needed for what you are talking about would be extremly difficult. Even if advertising was sold, it would prove a challenge. I would also suggest throwing some of the ideas on the chopping block, and lets get a little more realistic, there is no way you could list every DSM vendor. List the major 20-30(or whatever) and call it good. I think you should sit down and decide what you would really like to have on the website, saying everything DSM is a little ambitious especially for a beggining site. Maybe start by building some lists of vendors, parts numbers for the different cars, links to other popular sites and see what kind of hits you get. You cant sell advertising untill you prove how many hits your site gets. I hope that helps.

[nova1313]

This sounds like a great idea. If anyone is serious about doing this I'd like to help.


I think it should be split over similar models too. One thing i struggled with was 4g64 info. So maybe something could be developed that when you post something you check off boxes as to what generation/engines/model the tip applies to

I have plenty of free webspace/bandwidth available and I'd be more then happy to pick up the tab for domain. My only rule: No popups. I can't see trying to profit off an informational site unless the whole community benefitted somehow. I'd host it for free, no cost to anyone, no claim to anything. I have alot of webspace that I no longer use since my business is no longer existant (I use to web host professionally), So it's up for grabs if someone is interested.

I'd be more then willing to help write the code too. I just suck at graphics.


I could forsee pulling in info from all the old faq's and keep them at least in an up to date site. So we don't loose them. I know alot of things I see fade out and you just loose after a while.

It's ambitious but no one said it has to materialize fast.

[clipsekid99]

Even though it would be a TON of work, I shall lend my webmastering skills to you in any way needed Sounds like a great idea.

EDIT: How about AbsoluteDSM?

[MexRocket]

Well sounds like you have this planned out. I say go for it, what could possibly go wrong =O

[l_eclipse_l]

It sounds like one helluva site. If you can do it, have the resources, the patience, and the time, then it would be one of the best sites, if not the best site, for information on DSMs.

Like stated, it will be impossible to have EVERYTHING. If you can get 50% of everything there is to know about DSMs, your site would be exceptional. Good luck.

[nova1313]

since we all knwo a bit what if all of us on here could add content to the site. that way if we even get a small portion it's just a few more sites you need not visit and it would be searchable..

Any idea's for a domain name. If so let me know unless the original poster wants full control over everything then hats off to you, I'd love to help.

[LouieAWDTSi]

1stopDSMshop

[ned032002]

I think that it is a great idea, and if you any help from me I'm in.

[scottsee]

I'd help ya out. Just get it up and going and deligate me some products to research and a good spell check.
DSM4life