Discussion
Any theories as to why the London forum is consistently one of the slowest? In terms of frequency of posts, total post count, and most certainly posts per capita or per car.
This isn't restricted to PH - it's a consistent trait of other UK motoring forums that I've visited.
Is it something to do with the lack of driving roads? Londoners too busy to be spending time on t'interwebs? Is it the greater availability of alternative leisure and social-networking options? (On my occasional traipse into other regional forums it does strike that some of them resemble Facebook groups, with lots of traffic generated by people who clearly know each other offline. Perhaps not something that's as likely to happen among citizens of the smoke.)
(Edited as the subject line went AWOL)
This isn't restricted to PH - it's a consistent trait of other UK motoring forums that I've visited.
Is it something to do with the lack of driving roads? Londoners too busy to be spending time on t'interwebs? Is it the greater availability of alternative leisure and social-networking options? (On my occasional traipse into other regional forums it does strike that some of them resemble Facebook groups, with lots of traffic generated by people who clearly know each other offline. Perhaps not something that's as likely to happen among citizens of the smoke.)
(Edited as the subject line went AWOL)
Edited by plenty on Tuesday 6th October 20:04
Was thinking the same. The MG forum is pretty much the sameb but thats down to number of owners. Wonder how many people scroll down to see if theres anything new on the London forum but don't actually start posts.It is tough doing things in a car in London. Friday night I drove to Norfolk and the first 5 miles (out of Camden) took me an hour and fifteen minutes. On the way home on Saturday pm. the last 3 miles took and hour!
This is what I was doing in Marham (Norfolk)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0se1V35HI0
This is what I was doing in Marham (Norfolk)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0se1V35HI0
plenty said:
Is it something to do with the lack of driving roads? ... On my occasional traipse into other regional forums it does strike that some of them resemble Facebook groups, with lots of traffic generated by people who clearly know each other offline. Perhaps not something that's as likely to happen among citizens of the smoke.
Both true, I suspect. I guess most people in the middle of London don't have much chance to get out driving and those on the outskirts do there enthusiastic driving in Herts or Essex or Kent or wherever they border.I think you're right about them being less sociable too. I've been living in my current house for over a year and still not had a real conversation with any of my neighbours. As something of a yokel originally I find that very strange.
Anecdotally it does seem like despite no shortage of nice metal in town, it's rare to find a petrolhead in London. I work in the city and when people ask "what are you doing on the weekend" I am usually met with blank stares when I start rabbiting on about drives and fettling and so on.
I attended a PH meet in Scotland a couple of months back. The meet thread extended 20+pages and spawned several other threads.
I attended a PH meet in Scotland a couple of months back. The meet thread extended 20+pages and spawned several other threads.
plenty said:
Anecdotally it does seem like despite no shortage of nice metal in town, it's rare to find a petrolhead in London. I work in the city and when people ask "what are you doing on the weekend" I am usually met with blank stares when I start rabbiting on about drives and fettling and so on.
I attended a PH meet in Scotland a couple of months back. The meet thread extended 20+pages and spawned several other threads.
Yep. It may be jealousy driving the comment I'm about to make, but I think there's a marked difference between real petrolheads (who may, but frequently don't, have the money for exotica) and flash city types who just want to prove how rich they are by driving around in something overtly expensive.I attended a PH meet in Scotland a couple of months back. The meet thread extended 20+pages and spawned several other threads.
I can remember chatting to a guy who had a McMerc SLR and a Vanquish amongst other things a few years back and he was every bit as interested in my cheap ropey Quantum kit car as I was in his supercar. A true petrolhead! Virtually everyone in his income bracket would have something us mere mortals would be jealous of, but very few would give the time of day to £3,000's worth of fiberglass and recycled XR2 parts.
Chris71 said:
I think you're right about them being less sociable too. I've been living in my current house for over a year and still not had a real conversation with any of my neighbours. As something of a yokel originally I find that very strange.
Actually that's not my experience of where I live in London (Wapping) at all. I know several of my neighbours and not just in passing. Wapping has a slightly villagey feel and I often bump into people I know in the local shops and restaurants. I suppose it helps that there are (or certainly were) several Phers living in the area who we regularly socialised with. And most of these are real petrolheads, not just flash gits! 
Chris71 said:
I think you're right about them being less sociable too. I've been living in my current house for over a year and still not had a real conversation with any of my neighbours. As something of a yokel originally I find that very strange.
Having met you Chris, I don't blame your neighbours in the slightest for trying to avoid you at all costs.ETA:
irf said:
BURNIE said:
Lets try to make the most of the City and surounds then!!Whos up for drive out some time soon ?
yes please. in west london but will travel wherever. just want to go out for a drive with like minded folk.Edited by Blib on Saturday 10th October 17:07
Certainly the sheer arse-ache of getting anywhere in daylight hours inside the North Circular - let alone the trouble of finding a flat with decent parking - was a factor in me moving outside it. I can live with a slightly longer commute in order to be two minutes away from some fields and fun roads (B184).
I shall be braving the North Circular later for the Ace Café meet, there's the park-ups at the Plough, and I've been known to 'leverage' my insomnia and go for an impromptu tunnel run after midnight on weekdays, but otherwise there's not a lot, is there?
I shall be braving the North Circular later for the Ace Café meet, there's the park-ups at the Plough, and I've been known to 'leverage' my insomnia and go for an impromptu tunnel run after midnight on weekdays, but otherwise there's not a lot, is there?
ThatPhilBrettGuy said:
Problem is that there's the pain of getting across it so people tend to side with the counties next to their bit. For example I'm in Wapping. It's quicker for me to get the far end of Essex than any of south or west London.
And with the whole of Gods own county of Essex at your disposal why on earth would you want to head west....let alone over the water!There be dragons don't ya know!!!
Chris71 said:
Gizmo! said:
Two minutes away from some fields and fun roads (B184).
Good call... the latter stages of that heading towards Thaxsted are superb! To be honest there's no such thing as a bad road once you get up to the Saffron Walden/Thaxsted sort of area.
Gizmo! said:
Chris71 said:
Gizmo! said:
Two minutes away from some fields and fun roads (B184).
Good call... the latter stages of that heading towards Thaxsted are superb! To be honest there's no such thing as a bad road once you get up to the Saffron Walden/Thaxsted sort of area.
One of the greatest drives I've ever had was when I decided to take the slightly more entertaining way back to Chelmsford from Enfield (the A414) before I moved to London. I was in no rush, so come Chipping Ongar I decided to head off onto the B-roads and explore. I just could not believe the area I found was 45 minutes from London. I stayed out until the light faded and I only saw a handful of people - mostly enthusiastically ridden bikes. It was almost surreal how quiet it was and I got myself completely lost around the Rodings and Bardfields, but came back with a massive grin. Meandered my way as far north as Saffron Walden before heading back. Just awesome. I even have the trip recorded for posterity...
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