Abacus
That helpful B4 guy
I have toyed with this idea for awhile and am going to get the ball rolling on it. The resurgence is due to helping someone out last night on a Facebook group who was traveling home to New York and broke down in North Carolina. I was able to help him out some but without a Vag-Com locally it was difficult walking him through diagnosing the cause. I posted a thread about it on the B4 board.
Anyway, my wife and I take several trips a year that are over 200 miles, occasionally driving to Florida or on trips over 1,000 miles. I have AAA Premier, but that only gives a 200 mile range and where would we go anyway? The nearest dealership to get gouged and have more problems crop up?
So my thought is to develop a list, like the Trusted Mechanics list (from which he called all the numbers in North Carolina last night seeking help) or the now defunct Vag-Com list.
But my thought is to have it private, so web bots won't peel information off and use it for nefarious purposes. It would also have a map associated with it to see the location of people that may be nearby. Several people I spoke with suggested making the list a membership (no dues obviously) with sign-in required to keep roving eyes out. Those on the list volunteering to help would receive the benefit of being able to call on others also on the list, but I'm not sure if that would be too confining. At the same time I'd hate to find someone driving into my driveway at 2AM just to have a place to crash for the night because they were tired. It'd have to be for an emergency only and not a social visit, which could be set up individually if people agreed to it in advance.
So my thoughts are the following:
Thoughts? Should the list be private or made available to those who only want to use it and not contribute to it? My fear is that if it's the latter, then only a few will be available to help with the rest not having a stake in it until it's needed.
The discussion begins....now.
Anyway, my wife and I take several trips a year that are over 200 miles, occasionally driving to Florida or on trips over 1,000 miles. I have AAA Premier, but that only gives a 200 mile range and where would we go anyway? The nearest dealership to get gouged and have more problems crop up?
So my thought is to develop a list, like the Trusted Mechanics list (from which he called all the numbers in North Carolina last night seeking help) or the now defunct Vag-Com list.
But my thought is to have it private, so web bots won't peel information off and use it for nefarious purposes. It would also have a map associated with it to see the location of people that may be nearby. Several people I spoke with suggested making the list a membership (no dues obviously) with sign-in required to keep roving eyes out. Those on the list volunteering to help would receive the benefit of being able to call on others also on the list, but I'm not sure if that would be too confining. At the same time I'd hate to find someone driving into my driveway at 2AM just to have a place to crash for the night because they were tired. It'd have to be for an emergency only and not a social visit, which could be set up individually if people agreed to it in advance.
So my thoughts are the following:
- Sign in required.
- Name
- Address
- Phone number for emergencies
- Vag-Com availability
- Level to which you would be willing to help. This could be something as small as being able to bring tools or run to an auto parts place to having a full blown garage.
- TDI's on which you are experienced. I know my way around the B4 very well and the ALH OK but the PD/CR I do not. I have the Vag-Com and could help but my help would be limited.
- Perhaps time limits on which calls are allowed? I am willing to help people out at almost any time, but I'd hate to get a call at 2AM from someone 2 hours away with a simple flat tire or because they ran out of fuel (and I've fielded those calls). Obviously there are varying degrees of what people would consider an 'emergency', but those of us who work are obviously only available at certain times.
Thoughts? Should the list be private or made available to those who only want to use it and not contribute to it? My fear is that if it's the latter, then only a few will be available to help with the rest not having a stake in it until it's needed.
The discussion begins....now.