Having spent countless hours over many years posting on car forums, I’ve come across some universal truths to get you from the new kid on the block phase, to a seasoned vet quickly. While the process may seem a little daunting at first, there are many benefits to becoming part of the community. Whether you are a proud new owner looking to show off your ride, or someone who needs advice on tuning, the information is out there. Why brave unknown modifications when you can simply run a search to see what is popular?

Here are the basics of what to expect in case you haven’t joined a car forum yet. Sadly, it’s all too common for a new guy (n00b) to start off on the wrong foot, get flamed, and quit before they learn anything.

1. Don’t sign up! Lurk the forums for a week.
After using search engines to find a forum specific to either your brand or model, you need to see their content firsthand.  There are many out there, but some are much better than others. Some either don’t have enough active posters, have an immature group, or are too young to provide any real useful content. Last thing you want is to join a small forum full of teenagers adding Pep Boy intakes to their parents old commuter car. What you want to look for is a forum that does in fact answer questions, has a friendly atmosphere, and that the threads get replies quickly. Threads can last for weeks if not months, but if threads only get a few replies a day, your questions will probably go unanswered.

2. Use the search button. It is your friend.
The true mark of a noob isn’t just their post count, it’s the posts they make. When someone has just joined after buying their new car, and asking what their first mod should be, you’ll end up with more rude comments than you can reply to. Why? Search for a few minutes, and you’ll usually find numerous threads answering the exact question you have. This not only saves you time, but a little bit of embarrassment after the jaded forum veterans remind you “Learn to search noob.”

If you are looking to add a cold air intake, exhaust or a different ECU, someone has done it before, and has given their advice. By reading this before you make your first post, you can ask the community questions weighing the pros and cons of a setup, and generally get better answers from the start.

3. Make a profile, and make your first thread!
First things first here. Car enthusiasts love pictures. Do not forget to add a few original pictures of your car. Showing off even a bone stock car tugs the heart strings of the enthusiasts, and proves that you love your car. Lacking a picture might invoke the unspoken “rule number one,” a simple rule that states all car content must include a picture.

While your first post doesn’t need to say “Hi I’m John, this is my GT-R, I like long walks on the beach and the Beatles,” you should let the community know what your intentions are. If you are thinking of modding your car, ask questions based on what you searched. If you plan to keep it stock, let everyone know. If you are interested in local track events or autocrosses, bring it up.

Last part on getting a few replies. Type in a somewhat educated manner. While forums host people from many different countries and walks of life, threads that start with “Yo dawgz chek da whip, I jus pickit up” are not usually going to end well. Simple rules the roost here. “New guy with a GT-R, have a few questions” will serve you much better.

4. Repeat after me: I will not feed the trolls.

Stop trolls by ignoring them.

Whats a troll? Just like the creatures that live under bridges, forum trolls are the members that climb out of the woodwork and post just to annoy others. Whether or not they do it on purpose is deeply entrenched in troll folklore, but the end result is one good troll can ruin a thread. If you see a member being combative, being rude, or making personal attacks, ignore them. Getting into a fight with them will only get the moderators involved, which generally means locking up your thread so all discussion stops.

Easiest way to spot a troll is their demeanor on the forums. If they are acting like a spoiled child, ignore them. If they are acting like they are the smartest man in the world, but their post doesn’t make sense, ignore them. The more you post back to them, the more you feed them. So, repeat after me, as I’ve learned the hard way: Do not feed the trolls.

5. Have fun and enjoy the perks!
Having amassed over 15,000 posts on various boards, I’ve had a blast helping people down the path of what to mod, how to improve your driving skills, or bantering in the off topic forums. I’ve attended car control clinics, driven rare cars (Ruf BTR-2 was a highlight), and spent time at more local car shows than I care to admit. Spending time around like minded car enthusiasts not only keeps you motivated to have fun with your cars, but also helps you pick up the friends needed for late night repairs that always crop up at the wrong times. It’s odd to think that some of my best car buddies were met after talking online, but the fact remains: If I want to go canyon carving, replace a clutch, or help someone buy a car, I’ve met people online who make this possible.

-KF