Just like the industry we cover, The Truth About Cars is hunkering down for the duration. To that end, we’ve ended our contract with Michael Karesh’s TrueDelta vehicle pricing and specification website. TTAC will no longer link directly to Michael’s site from our reviews. We’ve removed TD’s price comparison widget. And we’ve deleted the “pricing” option from our top menu bar. We thank Michael for the breadth, quality and utility of his data, and recognize the hard work he puts into its creation. We wish him good luck during this economically challenging time, and ask that our Best and Brightest recommend his site to anyone shopping for a car or searching for vehicle reliability information. Thankfully, Michael will still contribute reviews and commentary to the site. He is a valued part of TTAC’s editorial voice. Rest assured, that voice will not be quelled. The truth will out. Meanwhile, thank you for your ongoing support for our writers and advertisers.
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I’m gathering that TTAC is “hunkering down” by ending the relationship with True Delta so that TTAC can save some money, right? I don’t hardly know half the story, but I feel like this is a bad thing for True Delta. True Delta seems like a sight that has the potential for exponential awesomeness growth–the more people that join, the more data; the better the data, the more awesome, the more people join, etc.
However, right now, if it weren’t for TTAC’s endorsement, I would never have found True Delta, and I’m an autodidact internet-addict pistonhead. Even now, looking at True Delta’s website, I can’t help but think I’m looking at a thomas.net site or one of those sites that just Mad Libs whatever you put into google. With a fresh and modern design and free advertising on TTAC or other sites with visibility and street cred, True Delta could be great.
I have to agree. True Delta needs to be taken to the next level, I run an advanced design web company and would offer to help, except we are slammed with work.
As far as the connection with True Delta is concerned, I thought True Delta needed the support, both TTAC and True Delta are about integrity and their interests are mutual. That TTAC is ending the relationship without explanation casts a shadow on TTAC
theswedishtiger :
That TTAC is ending the relationship without explanation casts a shadow on TTAC
Huh? Did you read the post? Not only did they give an explanation, they gave an actual endorsement and asked readers (us) to spread the word. What more could they do?
I know that Michael posts on GMInsideNews, and used to post on FreshAlloy. TrueDelta is become more widely known. And, hey, it’s better than Vehix dotcom.
Thanks, RF.
As RF explained, this decision was entirely based on TTAC’s need to break even. The content I provided was not generating enough revenue to cover the cost of this content. That’s pretty much the whole story.
There’s a simple reason for this. As I’ve been telling RF all along, you can’t take such strong stands and hope to have a site for the typical car shopper. Put another way, if RF tailored the site for the typical car shopper, TTAC wouldn’t be recognizable as TTAC. It’s necessary to choose an audience: “B&B” or car shoppers. Only the former are comfortable with the “TTAC style.” Only the latter really need the pricing and specs I was providing. There’s a reason I post things here rather than over at TrueDelta.
On the design front at TrueDelta: we’re working on it. We don’t have a large budget–and it’s smaller now ;( But there’s a huge amount of potential, and we have many upgrades and additional features in development. If there’s a designer reading this who wants to help out, please do get in touch with me ASAP. I’m already talking with two designers, and want to pick one in the next week or two.
NICKNICK, and anyone else who is concerned: financially we’ll be okay. What we really need, and have needed all along, is better exposure. The MSM haven’t been providing it, so it’s up members of this site and my own to spread the word.
Ok, now the economy is directly affcting me.
TrueDelta is awesome; I’ve recommended several dozen acquaintances there and all have been most impressed in as, like TTAC, it is a labor of love.
I remember when Karesh, after putting forth numerous well thought-out comments, would get flogged by other commenters at Autoblog for what they perceived to be his self-serving perspective. Thankfully he continues to rise about the fray (I’m sure the piles of money he’s rolling in helps muffle the whiners….).
Good luck to Michael and to True Delta.
Dave M:
Unfortunately, no piles of money to muffle the whiners. The cash is currently flowing in the other direction. Like TTAC, I need a fix for this.
Right now I have to put a lot of my time and effort into getting the word out. If word-of-mouth continues to build, though, I’ll be able to put more time and effort into site improvements.
So, if anyone comes across a discussion of the areas covered by TrueDelta–reliability, fuel economy, price comparisons–please mention us. I cover quite a few sites myself. But I can only cover so many, and when the site owner is the one posting (and it wouldn’t be ethical for me to disguise myself) there’s always more suspicion than if someone else were the one posting.
At the bottom of most of our “results” pages you’ll find convenient direct links, including one in BB code for forums.
Sorry to hear about the break, but in this climate it’s understandable. Hopefully the relationship will resume in better times.
Robert, you might have already considered this, but have you thought about magnetic car stickers for members in metro areas? Hundreds, if not thousands of people daily would see the https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com sticker and you would have increased your base without too much effort. I would guess that you would see a noticeable spike in page views. Same would be true of the TrueDelta site.
An even more visible approach to advertising would be to pay members to cover their cars in that advertising film stuff. I know, I know, it costs money, but it might be a pretty cost-effective way to get the word out. We all know there won’t be any links from the GM website. And we like it that way. The car forums might be another avenue to increase viewers for a relatively low cost.
Anyhow, good luck with the site Michael. I’m glad you’ll still be around. Your commentary and vehicle information is always enjoyable and appreciated.
Does this mean we are about to start the TTAC Deathwatch? Or True Delta Deathwatch?
Michael, Don’t just rely on word of mouth. Send out regular press releases to news agencies, news sites on the web, and automotive blogs. Make yourself available to broadcast and cable news for comment on the auto biz. Just as J.D. Power and Consumer Reports are the go to brands for the legacy media, you have an opportunity to position TrueDelta similarly with new media.
I really wanted to like the TrueDelta website, but so far it has not offered me a lot of reasons to return to it. Perhaps another year or two…
Michael-I’m sure you’ve already thought about this, but what about providing your services to TTAC a lot cheaper, or even free? I have no idea how much it costs on your end to link your content to TTAC, but I assume it’s not that much.
From the little I know about your site, the more exposure it gets, the more useful it will be, then it will get more exposure, then it will become even more useful, etc. (somebody already mentioned this). Sometimes sacrifices have to be made to get the snowball to start rolling
Good luck, I’ve always liked your commentary and I like the idea of your site
Hey Michael, how about hooking up with dealerships and providing car window stickers that say something like: “Find out why this car is great” and have your website on it?
Maybe you could do a grassroots deal where people who are unhappy with their cars would get a sticker that would say, “Find out why this car is a POS”.
Just something that popped in my head (I hope it isn’t a vein)
Hey, RF, I thought you used to have links to other websites on the right side of the page. Where did it go? Seems like it would be nice to at least still link to TrueDelta from here. Or perhaps there’s no room for free publicity on the webpage; I’m certainly not the one having to balance the checkbook for TTAC.
Michael, have you explored any possible integration with Edmunds? With all of their proprietary pricing stuff and consumer orientation, it seems like your data (including reliability) would integrate quite nicely. Given your devotion to your website and getting the word out, I’m sure this isn’t a new thought.
Anyway, to both RF and Michael, I hope the situation improves for both websites. It’s easy to forget that it actually requires MONEY, and I imagine not a tiny amount, to keep these websites going. Many thanks for keeping the truth out there on the internet during these tough economic times, whether it’s regarding the pricing and reliability of a car or no-holds-barred reviews of domestic and foreign iron.
nino: Good ideas WRT boosting traffic, but not good ideas thinking more broadly. (Perhaps I think too broadly?) The first sets up an incentive for TrueDelta to provide positive results for specific models. The second potentially attracts people with lemons more than than average car owners–which would distort the results.
Bumper stickers, wraps, etc.: unlikely to generate enough traffic to justify their cost.
Ronnie: I do send out regular press releases. The press prefers to ignore them. I have some idea as to why, less about what might be done about it. Any thoughts here would be appreciated.
nino: Good ideas WRT boosting traffic, but not good ideas thinking more broadly. (Perhaps I think too broadly?)
Hey, I did say I hope it wasn’t a vein popping! LOL!
If I may presume, if any of you have person websites if you could add a link to TrueDelta, that might help. Just a thought.