new AUTOTRADER website - what do you think of it?

[Matt1959]

www.autotrader.co.uk

just interested in peoples opinions on Autotraders new website. I think its been around for quite a few months now and supersedes their old site.

What are peoples opinions on

1. ease of use
2. loading speeds etc

techy views would be interesting as well.

I'm just asking as a typical vehicle buying customer (their target market). I have my opinion on how it compares with with their old site but would be interested to hear what others think.

 

[PhoneTrader1221]

I like the new design better and It loads very quickly

 

[ADW]

I prefered the old one personally. A few more articles and just seemed a bit more "friendly". Didn't have a problem with the search facility before. I know they have video uploads etc but don't see massive benefit in the new..... not that I have used it much.

Off subject, I've used ebay a few more times lately (not a fan) and wish they had a facility added to the search filter where you can remove individual sellers. Some sellers list the same item and cover over 50% of the listings with the same item. If they already do this pretend I didn't say anything.

 

[CKG]

I've been using Autotrader a lot lately trying to find a new car.

It does a few annoying things like when you change the car search details and you have to press the update listings button - it always seems to send me to the bottom of a long blank page before I can scroll back up and click the button.

And when it loads the listings it can take a few seconds and the listings jump down the page as you are reading them.

Much prefer the new site over the old one. It just has a nicer feel to it over the old one which I guess makes it more useable.

It seems to have been around for quite a while now. And you seem to get randomly sent to either the new or old site. Maybe they are split testing?

 

[mikesossy]

Keeps crashing for me, my business relies on unto date dealer information lists and it can't even provide this! And it couldn't before! it does even advertise a dealer list lookup on there home page too.....not impressed!

 

[Matt1959]

I like the new design better and It loads very quickly

interesting observation - for me its slow, slow, slow. Images take too long to load. Every click you make ends up waiting 5 secs for something to happen.

The reason for my posting is that this updated website is pi$$ing so many people off its unbelievable. I am currently looking for a newer van so obviously Autotrader is my first port of call. Having used the previous version (which was a joy to use) the newer version for me is almost unusable.

Talking to a van dealer today, he told me he and every other trader he'd spoken with, hate the new site with a passion.

In fact, these dealers have seen a significant drop off on enquiries since the new site went live. The Autotrader rep (apparently) won't show his face now due to the embarrasment the site is now creating.

Seems to me to be a classic case of mending something that didnt need fixing in the first place.

Finally, talking to customer service, they told me that if you have anything less than IE 7 or 8, it wont work too well. Duh!!! with regard to my own website, 40% of my visits in the last 12 months used an earlier IE version so why alienate so many potential customers:|

 

[OptiRick]

Everytime AutoTrader 'improve' their website it becomes more frustrating to use.
It used to be great (years ago), now it involves much more clicking, waiting and option menus seem to bounce about.

 

[Matt1959]

there seems to be this perception amongst web designers that websites need to have gizmos and stuff that looks nifty - at the end of the day, all the people that use websites like this want is SPEED and EASE OF USE

The autotrader website has a feature whereby you can select minimum and maximum mileages etc - this feature operates by way of a slidy thing that you drag the mouse over except that when you try doing this, the pointer doesnt drag so you have to keep on trying until it works - whats wrong with clicking on a specfic mileage figure (like it used to be like):|

 

[OptiRick]

The trouble is that the people who enjoy using a simple but effective website are the silent majority.

In my experience the web designers, programmers and photographers are the ones who are most vocal and do a good job of convincing people and companies that their websites are shizzle and need this that and the other to bring them up to date.

 

[Allan123]

2 thing's I've noticed recently (as I'm looking for a car and van).

1 there's a hell of alot of spam. From finance deals to scammers. Secondly ''Back to search results'' only works if you wait until the whole page has loaded. Might just be my computer that second 1 though?

Other than that I like it, nice and modern looking, no probs which search functionality.

 

[Deleted member 54079]

Just been on looking at vans after reading this post earlier this morning. Every time I try to filter vans available by distance it keeps coming back with vans all over the country which is no use at all.

 

[Bewdy]

I think the new autorader site is just dreadful. Whoever thought it was a good idea to have an update button needs firing. Of course you want it to update, you've changed your selection havn't you!!! I found the site slow and buggy when I was using it extensively when it first came online.

 

[WarbyGK]

Phew! I thought it was just me....... If I'm going on Autotrader then I'll make sure I have a coffee and nothing pressing planned as it slows the computer right down, takes ages to load and wose still I can never afford the car I want!!

 

[FLAUK]

I much preferred the old site.

The new one looks cheap and is very slow.