Creating an Alternative to Cars.com... | FerrariChat
Buy

Creating an Alternative to Cars.com...

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by ghost, Dec 10, 2005.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. ghost

    ghost F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Dec 10, 2003
    10,046
    Singapore
    #1 ghost, Dec 10, 2005
    I have an idea for a car sales website that I'd like to start. Nothing fancy - just a twist on the usual autotrader.com / cars.com / etc. that I see out there. Don't expect this to be a money maker, nor is that the goal. Just want to put out a good car sales website that I can monitor in my spare time.

    I understand creating a website through plain-jane HTML is pretty easy. The question I have is that if I want to make the site somewhat dynamic, where users can input their ads themselves a la cars.com, etc. how difficult would that be. I understand you have to learn the "php" language? Is that correct? How difficult is it (again, I'm not a programmer).

    Other things I need to be aware of?

    Thanks in advance.
     
  2. MikeZ_NJ

    MikeZ_NJ Formula 3

    Dec 10, 2002
    1,533
    Southern NJ
    Full Name:
    Mike Z.
    #2 MikeZ_NJ, Dec 10, 2005
    PHP is a common way to go. You're also going to need to know something about databases, as that's what's going to hold the majority of your dynamic content. MySQL is also pretty common if you're just starting out.

    Do you do any programming at all? If not, then trying to program a website like Cars.com would probably put you way over your head... If you do know other languages, php isn't that difficult at all.
     
  3. ghost

    ghost F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Dec 10, 2003
    10,046
    Singapore
    #3 ghost, Dec 10, 2005
    Mike, thanks for the quick response. Unfortunately, I left programming behind in college...so my coding skills are non-existing which I can see from your post will make it problematic for me.

    Would it be easy to start a static HTML site first, where I would input the information manually based on what users send to me via email, and then over time (say within 6 months) migrate towards a dynamic site. Or would that be messy, and it would just be better to start as a dynamic site.

    Also, what are third-party alternatives to building the architecture. Ie, how much would it cost to get somebody who freelances to spend a couple of days setting up the plumbing. I guess monitoring it then becomes an issue, as does troubleshooting.

    Hmmm...
     
  4. MikeZ_NJ

    MikeZ_NJ Formula 3

    Dec 10, 2002
    1,533
    Southern NJ
    Full Name:
    Mike Z.
    #4 MikeZ_NJ, Dec 10, 2005
    Personally, I would hire someone to do the design portion of it (CSS, etc) first. That stuff isn't really all that intuitive to me, and you're going to need some sort of visual, css-based design to generate any sort of traffic.

    Manual updating would be a pain in the ass, BUT it would give you time to learn the php and mysql. Then you could slowly add in the dynamic features. Again, this is assuming you do it yourself.

    There are a lot of freelance coders that might do it for you. I'm not sure of the sites off the top of my head (rentacoder.com rings a bell) as I've never used them.

    IMO, get something up and running as quick as you can. Test and upgrade as you go. There are a gazillion people on the Internet, chances are theres someone developing the same idea. Its a never-ending race online.
     
  5. Dcup

    Dcup F1 Veteran

    Jan 3, 2005
    8,645
    Between 2 Implants
    Full Name:
    Claude Balls
    #5 Dcup, Dec 10, 2005
    i think with each car ad, their should be a chick with gigantic jugs next to each ad
     
  6. MrScarface

    MrScarface Formula 3
    BANNED

    Aug 8, 2005
    1,093
    Austin
    Full Name:
    Adam
    #6 MrScarface, Dec 10, 2005
    I concur
     
  7. Webby

    Webby F1 Veteran

    Sep 12, 2004
    6,821
    #7 Webby, Dec 11, 2005
    Mike is right on with PHP, MySQL, and CSS.
    You must use CSS for your design.
    And PHP is very simple but also very powerful when used with a MySQL database. I can code PHP but I have no clue how to use MySQL or I would help you. It would be so easy to hack into my website because I have the usernames and passwords stored in the PHP code, not in a database. But then again I don't really care about my website that much, and I think it would be hilarious if somebody hacked into it.
    If you really don't know programming I think your best route would be to hire somebody or find a friend who knows how and is interested in spending some time to work on it with you.
    As for HTML -> dynamic website, I've done that before and it was a pain in the @$$ to change all of the code, but I did learn a LOT from it, and it was very satisfying to see the end result. Since you will need to learn HTML even if you use PHP, then it would be easier to start out with an HTML-only site.
    Good luck.
     
  8. ghost

    ghost F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Dec 10, 2003
    10,046
    Singapore
    #8 ghost, Dec 11, 2005
    Many thanks for weighing in gents. Hadn't even factored CSS into consideration. Will give it some serious thinking over the holidays and see if I can get something up and running.

    Best.

    PS - Lamour - you're banned - :D
     
  9. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 6, 2003
    26,001
    Las Vegas, NV
    Full Name:
    Ryan Alexander
    #9 ryalex, Dec 12, 2005
    What will you do that autotrader, cars.com, vehix and others don't provide?

    It's a sort of oligopoly I would think would be hard to crack without some sort of new technology, angle or competitive edge that would make you an attractive alternative to the big boys.
     
  10. ghost

    ghost F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Dec 10, 2003
    10,046
    Singapore
    #10 ghost, Dec 12, 2005
    Wait and watch brother - ;)

    Just a couple of ideas that I don't think are currently being implemented by any of the above. Like I said earlier, I'm not quitting my job and putting my all into this one, nor trying to displace the "big boys." Just a side-hobby that I'm hoping will gain some traction.

    Too busy with the job that actually pays the bills to focus on now. Will likely implement over the holidays.
     

Share This Page