Comments on: DriverSide Raises $5.3 Million To Help Keep Your Car Running Through The Recession http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:07:48 -0800 hourly 1 By: Opportunity Spotted. DriverSide Raises $8.4 Million… | Entrepreneur Enclave http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2663199 Opportunity Spotted. DriverSide Raises $8.4 Million… | Entrepreneur Enclave Sat, 21 Mar 2009 09:07:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2663199 [...] Source: http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-thro... [...] [...] Source: http://www.tech...ar-running-thro... [...]

]]> By: H.K. http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2656166 H.K. Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:33:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2656166 I like these concepts because they are fairly concrete and the average joe would actually use them. Maybe even pay $10 a year or donate a few bucks to the site if it actually helps. Right now you have to search a model specific, often quite technical, forum database to learn about an issue your car has. <a href="http://www.justaskgemalto.com/" rel="nofollow">justaskgemalto</a> is forming a similar model around digital security, an easy to use but thorough head quarters of sorts for privacy/data/security needs. I like these concepts because they are fairly concrete and the average joe would actually use them. Maybe even pay $10 a year or donate a few bucks to the site if it actually helps. Right now you have to search a model specific, often quite technical, forum database to learn about an issue your car has. justaskgemalto is forming a similar model around digital security, an easy to use but thorough head quarters of sorts for privacy/data/security needs.

]]> By: Stephanie Fierman http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2655991 Stephanie Fierman Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:26:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2655991 Good idea, though the site is still very light on content; this could easily be attributed to its age. Repairpal.com, which a number of folks have remarked on here, is also not all that helpful (yet), given that so few mechanics/shops are truly rated. On the heels of what the Web did for car buying years ago, this could be the next big deal re. the Internet forcing transparency on a historically opaque and inefficient industry. Ratings on a decent sample of mechanics, dealers, shops, etc. in most zips is the next important step. Once these sites allow mechanics within a user-specified geographic range to bid on jobs in real-time (or close to it) - a la eBay auctions - we'll start seeing significant consumer value for which users (and/or advertisers) may well be willing to pay. Good idea, though the site is still very light on content; this could easily be attributed to its age. Repairpal.com, which a number of folks have remarked on here, is also not all that helpful (yet), given that so few mechanics/shops are truly rated.

On the heels of what the Web did for car buying years ago, this could be the next big deal re. the Internet forcing transparency on a historically opaque and inefficient industry. Ratings on a decent sample of mechanics, dealers, shops, etc. in most zips is the next important step. Once these sites allow mechanics within a user-specified geographic range to bid on jobs in real-time (or close to it) – a la eBay auctions – we’ll start seeing significant consumer value for which users (and/or advertisers) may well be willing to pay.

]]> By: Technology news for 2009-03-12 | Technology News http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2655522 Technology news for 2009-03-12 | Technology News Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:44:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2655522 [...] Posted an item Brent: DriverSide Raises $5.3 Million To Help Keep Your Car Running Through The Recession (via Googl... [...] [...] Posted an item Brent: DriverSide Raises $5.3 Million To Help Keep Your Car Running Through The Recession (via Googl… [...]

]]> By: Chris http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2654826 Chris Sat, 14 Mar 2009 01:40:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2654826 Repairpal.com is a much better site. Driverside doesnt have a fraction of the quality data. Repairpal.com is a much better site. Driverside doesnt have a fraction of the quality data.

]]> By: links for 2009-03-13 « Clint’s blog http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2654237 links for 2009-03-13 « Clint’s blog Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:03:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2654237 [...] VEHICLES: DriverSide Raises $5.3 Million To Help Keep Your Car Running Through The Recession I told the tow truck guy that he was in the right business. With the economy being what it is, people wont buy cars as much, cars will break down more, and being a roadside-assistance dude at least guarantees steady work. [...] [...] VEHICLES: DriverSide Raises $5.3 Million To Help Keep Your Car Running Through The Recession I told the tow truck guy that he was in the right business. With the economy being what it is, people wont buy cars as much, cars will break down more, and being a roadside-assistance dude at least guarantees steady work. [...]

]]> By: curtain http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2654059 curtain Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:53:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2654059 Best of luck to them. Nice to see some businesses thriving during the general downturn. Best of luck to them. Nice to see some businesses thriving during the general downturn.

]]> By: DriverSide Closes $5.3 Million Series B Funding Round | TechStartups.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2653885 DriverSide Closes $5.3 Million Series B Funding Round | TechStartups.com Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:55:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2653885 [...] wants you to keep your current car in excellent working condition using its online information [...] [...] wants you to keep your current car in excellent working condition using its online information [...]

]]> By: Andrew http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2653583 Andrew Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:42:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2653583 Did Techcrunch forget this space already has someone for the past year called RepairPal? They even have it profiled on their site, no mention in this article, surprising. http://www.crunchbase.com/company/repairpal Did Techcrunch forget this space already has someone for the past year called RepairPal? They even have it profiled on their site, no mention in this article, surprising.

http://www.crun...mpany/repairpal

]]> By: yup http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2653277 yup Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2653277 haha- happy to see that they were smart enough not to put Adam on the Board. haha- happy to see that they were smart enough not to put Adam on the Board.

]]> By: Jim http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2653111 Jim Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:50:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2653111 Nice idea but the repair quotes weren't accurate for me. Tried RepairPal.com and it seemed to be closer. Like the concept, but they need better, more accurate data to be helpful. Nice idea but the repair quotes weren’t accurate for me. Tried RepairPal.com and it seemed to be closer. Like the concept, but they need better, more accurate data to be helpful.

]]> By: Hercules http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2652955 Hercules Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:57:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2652955 I never actually thought this would fly, but after a few friends of mine had car problems, they would search online and forms... this could be a good niche and the go to place to get car help... I never actually thought this would fly, but after a few friends of mine had car problems, they would search online and forms… this could be a good niche and the go to place to get car help…

]]> By: DiverSide Auto Advice Community Raises $5.3M | Business 2.0 Press http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2652953 DiverSide Auto Advice Community Raises $5.3M | Business 2.0 Press Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:56:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2652953 [...] Welcome! You seem to be new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for the best in daily business and tech news.DriverSide is a new start-up aimed and developing a community of people who will help each other when it comes to car repairs and questions. The company has just raised $5.3 million from Allegis Capital, and Catamount Ventures. The company says it has 250,000 registered users to date since its June 2008 launch. The company has certified mechanics, among other professionals, who will provide free estimates on repairs and other information to users. The company has now raised $8.4 million to date in funding. Via [...] [...] Welcome! You seem to be new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for the best in daily business and tech news.DriverSide is a new start-up aimed and developing a community of people who will help each other when it comes to car repairs and questions. The company has just raised $5.3 million from Allegis Capital, and Catamount Ventures. The company says it has 250,000 registered users to date since its June 2008 launch. The company has certified mechanics, among other professionals, who will provide free estimates on repairs and other information to users. The company has now raised $8.4 million to date in funding. Via [...]

]]> By: Erich http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2652867 Erich Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:01:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2652867 Agree, the start of the article says: "DriverSide, a startup that is taking the unique approach of helping users maintain their cars rather than buy or sell them" I have a '99 MB SLK230. Went to the site see about a front-right fog light that is half burned to see how much does it cost and order one to replace it. After I specifically entered the year, brand, and model number, the system provided me with a lot of parts for other cars! And the list was pitifully samall. Nothing for my car! The concept for the site is OK, but needs a huge database for parts and the program needs to stick to the car in question. After all it did ask me for the year, brand and model. I can just as easy call the dealer and get a price. Agree, the start of the article says:

“DriverSide, a startup that is taking the unique approach of helping users maintain their cars rather than buy or sell them”

I have a ‘99 MB SLK230. Went to the site see about a front-right fog light that is half burned to see how much does it cost and order one to replace it.
After I specifically entered the year, brand, and model number, the system provided me with a lot of parts for other cars! And the list was pitifully samall. Nothing for my car!

The concept for the site is OK, but needs a huge database for parts and the program needs to stick to the car in question. After all it did ask me for the year, brand and model.

I can just as easy call the dealer and get a price.

]]> By: serg http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2652820 serg Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:10:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2652820 thats just the cost of living in NY, nothing surprising. take a shit hole city like Vancouver, WA ... most mechanics will be happy for $20/hr thats just the cost of living in NY, nothing surprising. take a shit hole city like Vancouver, WA … most mechanics will be happy for $20/hr

]]> By: zed http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2652809 zed Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:01:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2652809 at least one mature well-capitalized company doing this: repairpal.com at least one mature well-capitalized company doing this:
repairpal.com

]]> By: some dummy http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2652735 some dummy Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:51:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2652735 I believe 1800Radiator is already doing this too. I believe 1800Radiator is already doing this too.

]]> By: Gunga http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2652663 Gunga Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:04:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2652663 Right. We, the slum dwellers fix cars, then we go back and spam Techcrunch... Right. We, the slum dwellers fix cars, then we go back and spam Techcrunch…

]]> By: courtney benson http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2652656 courtney benson Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:00:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2652656 Got to admit this is a great idea. In the metro NY area the hourly rate for the most auto dealers is $100 to $130 an hour - non dealers are anywhere from $95 - $125 to do maintenance. This is nuts. I recently went to the dealer and watched as they told almost every person that they needed to do xxx at a cost of $$$$. I noticed that it was the same gibberish for almost everyone. Hopefully, Driverside or someone else can get some real info out to the public. Got to admit this is a great idea. In the metro NY area the hourly rate for the most auto dealers is $100 to $130 an hour – non dealers are anywhere from $95 – $125 to do maintenance. This is nuts. I recently went to the dealer and watched as they told almost every person that they needed to do xxx at a cost of $$$$. I noticed that it was the same gibberish for almost everyone. Hopefully, Driverside or someone else can get some real info out to the public.

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="1493556606">Ngg Work</fb:name> http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2652650 Ngg Work Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:56:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2652650 Test Test

]]> By: LocalDriver.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2652641 LocalDriver.com Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:45:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2652641 decent domain name kinda catchy. still if its just for maintenance its not enough. remember most people can do there own maintenance and will when they have no money or a job. and aaa can if it dont already offer the same thing. CarsLocator.com - start your engines decent domain name kinda catchy. still if its just for maintenance its not enough. remember most people can do there own maintenance and will when they have no money or a job. and aaa can if it dont already offer the same thing.

CarsLocator.com – start your engines

]]> By: Curry Babes Are Sexy Blog http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2652639 Curry Babes Are Sexy Blog Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:44:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2652639 Here in India, we in the upper casts don't need a site like this because it is nickles and dimes to simply drop our cars off in the slum parts of town for repair. In fact, the slum dwellers are willing to come to our houses to do regular maintanence on a weekly basis. Here in India, we in the upper casts don’t need a site like this because it is nickles and dimes to simply drop our cars off in the slum parts of town for repair. In fact, the slum dwellers are willing to come to our houses to do regular maintanence on a weekly basis.

]]> By: 小老虎 http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2652620 小老虎 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:26:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2652620 i want to know ，if here have many chinese~~~~ i am a little chinese boy~~~~~~~ i want to know ，if here have many chinese~~~~
i am a little chinese boy~~~~~~~

]]> By: Nat http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2652606 Nat Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:04:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2652606 Nicely design site and clean look, even the domain name is easy to remember. i'm pretty sure it will go a long tail success. Nat Nicely design site and clean look, even the domain name is easy to remember. i’m pretty sure it will go a long tail success.

Nat

]]> By: George http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/12/driverside-raises-53-million-to-help-keep-your-car-running-through-the-recession/comment-page-1/#comment-2652577 George Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:31:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=49249#comment-2652577 Very Smart! I'm always felt that mechanics have historically been able to take advantage of the regular users because most like myself are ignorant about the cost of repairs. This can definitely decrease uncertainty in the space. Very Smart! I’m always felt that mechanics have historically been able to take advantage of the regular users because most like myself are ignorant about the cost of repairs. This can definitely decrease uncertainty in the space.

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