Beep! Beep! Come and have a butcher's at Mumsnet Cars

[HelenMumsnet]

Hello. Today, we're launching Mumsnet Cars in partnership with What Car?, (as trailed by Justine on this thread a few weeks ago).

Please do come and have a look - and give it a little test drive.

As well as our good old Cars Talk forum - where you can get recommendations from other MNers on everything from satnavs and fan belts to the best wheels for a family of four (or five or six) - there are expert and Mner reviews of hundreds of new cars, plus a buyer's guide and a used-car valuation tool.

Do let us know what you think. It's all very much a work in progress (Tech is still underneath the bodywork, twiddling with the geek equivalent of the oil sump), so all feedback most welcome...

Great idea. And really helpful too, as I'm in the market for a new car. (I keep hinting about this, but so far haven't been offered a Ford discount ).

One specific comment, based on a quick look:

• site is a bit slow to load/drop down menus are slow

But my main 'gripe' is a brand one really - it's supposedly a Mumsnet site (I know it's in conjunction with What Car? but it is branded Mumsnet), but you're using completely different fonts and it looks different from Mumsnet.

From an overall brand perspective I think you need to make sure there is more consistency between this and the main site - otherwise it looks a bit of a mish mash and therefore not well thought-through/designed.

Cool

Ooh, I love this! Hadn't seen it before.

Hmm - I'm not one for change still using Mumsnet Classic so this has got me very confused!

It looks like Mumsnet but doesn't. The font hurts my eyes a bit and I'm not entirely sure where I am. Was panicking quite a lot until I saw the "go to Mumsnet.com" button at the top right - can this be more prominent so you know how to escape...?

Erm. Possibly I'm not the best person to review something new. Ahem.

Oh and you can barely read the words on some of the bars - where you've got words in blue/purple over brown bars - can't see them. Not sure if that's just in my settings though??

Its a bit wonky isn't it ? Maybe Tech needs less gin

Oh, come on. It's lovely. You'll get used to the burgundy body work and mismatched panels.

@BIWI

Great idea. And really helpful too, as I'm in the market for a new car. (I keep hinting about this, but so far haven't been offered a Ford discount ).

One specific comment, based on a quick look:

• site is a bit slow to load/drop down menus are slow

But my main 'gripe' is a brand one really - it's supposedly a Mumsnet site (I know it's in conjunction with What Car? but it is branded Mumsnet), but you're using completely different fonts and it looks different from Mumsnet.

From an overall brand perspective I think you need to make sure there is more consistency between this and the main site - otherwise it looks a bit of a mish mash and therefore not well thought-through/designed.

Ha ha - you're quite right BIWI - had the very same thought this am and we will be tweaking in the coming days.
Thanks for the input.

@CMOTDibbler

Its a bit wonky isn't it ? Maybe Tech needs less gin

Yes you're not wrong, it is a bit wonky. We were somewhat racing to meet a deadline because we had a launch event with What Car? to be ready for, but we'll refine and improve over coming days, honest.

The review of the VW Beetle says it's cute and good for sipping cappucino Oh, and it's a new shape with no indication of which variety - not even petrol/diesel and no sign of the lovely one i did for you of my tax exempt classic The grammar is appalling.

The valuation thing doesn't work on Blackberry PlayBook (tried a couple of cars) even if i did want to put my details in. Tbh, autotrader is easier.

However, i only look at old bangers so it's probably perfectly fine for people wanting a brand new car! You'll have to go some to directly compete with the established sites at the end of the market i'm interested in...

and you know you're going to have to have a [car] don't you...?

bleurgh to the font. but otherwise cool because I need a new car and I do whatever mn tells me to in every other aspect of my life, so I may as well add this one. But do change the font MNHQ, before I go blind.

Good point well made, Dotty.
[car]

Thanks! [honk]

Just had a look at the Beetle review...

'It's very feminine, so your bloke is unlikely to nick it'

Seriously? Seriously?

oooh and AAARRGGGGHHH the 'return to Mumsnet' link is broken!

Why would I use the used car valuer when I can do it elsewhere without giving all my details?

We've tidied it all up a bit now - hope you approve.

Hi 2madboys. Would you mind telling us where you could get a used-car valuation for free/without giving details? That would be v helpful.

Oh much better!

Now. About that [car] [honk] emoticon ...

Dfsdfsdfds

Dasdasd

There are two separate entries for the Honda Jazz.

@Lilymaid

There are two separate entries for the Honda Jazz.

There's a What Car? reviews and Mumsnetter reviews - is that what you mean?

Or have you spotted some duplication somewhere, Lilymaid?

There should be a tab back to 'main' Mumsnet as well.