What Is The Point of a Search Function If Everyone Is Using Fake Search Paramaters

"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
03/13/2014 at 17:02 • Filed to: None

I love Craigslist. I mean who doesn't? It's the best place online to find free grammar lessons. It also happens to be the premier marketplace for cheap, older, garage mechanic wrecked, duct tape racing stripped vehicles. But there is one reason I truly dislike Craigslist; and this is it:

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No, this is not some ancient ritual to bring Miles Davis back, nor is it the latest PC virus coding. This, is the seemingly infinite gibberish dealers use at the bottom of their Craigslist posting to encompass nearly any search terms to display their listing for a 300,000 mi 1988 Toyota Camry for the low low payment of just $199 / mo for the next 84 months.

This becomes quite annoying when you're looking for something specific, say like, a Miata:

You see, the problem is, instead of having to search for a Miata through a mess of both private and dealer listings, all the search feature is doing is removing private listings that don't say "Miata", leaving you to search through a sea of squares, triangles, arrows, and asterisks.

I suggest Craigslist just change this to a 'randomize' button. You enter in a price range, press the 'randomize' button, and a full page of listings that are no longer active and include items that are valued exactly, no where between the to price points you set.

Anyone have any better suggestions?

DISCUSSION (36)

For Sweden > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:05

Kinja'd!!!

Up here you can select "Title"

crowmolly > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:05

Limit it to 5 search terms per ad. Or get off their ass and use basic code to force the car into a classification like e-bay or Rock auto.

CAR_IS_MI > For Sweden
03/13/2014 at 17:06

Too much work... And what if I wanted to search for "Miata manual"? most titles wont include transmission type.

For Sweden > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:07

Then you're just going to have to ride a bicycle

McMike > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:08

Just flag it. I hate those assholes.

Sometimes when I'm angry, I'll search my local craigslist for "jdm integra slammed gsxr stance harley cbr civic evo" to find some.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:08

Too bad, deal with it. It narrows down your search and saves you time.

alexotics > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:08

How many Miatas can possible be for sale within your immediate vicinity? Just sort through all of them, most are manuals anyways.

CAR_IS_MI > For Sweden
03/13/2014 at 17:08

But I already do that...

For Sweden > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:09

Then why did you even post your question?

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:10

Lol, it's because you are in Las Vegas. Mine isn't nearly as bad, haha. But seriously, this shit has got to stop. Perhaps search for $500 or $1000 and up to weed out ads that only list the monthly payment. Searching for "by owner" only helps, although you may miss out on a few dealer options.

CAR_IS_MI > alexotics
03/13/2014 at 17:10

Quite a few actually. Thats the fun part about living in a city with over 2 million other people and no other cities around for miles on end.

CAR_IS_MI > For Sweden
03/13/2014 at 17:10

rhetorical

Doug DeMuro > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:16

Remember, you can always use a minus sign in front of a parameter if you want to get rid of it. So for instance if you find one of those stupid keyword things always features the word "hyundai" and you're looking for a "miata," search for "miata -hyundai". Might help narrow your listings.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:17

Autotempest.com it makes your life much easier

CAR_IS_MI > Doug DeMuro
03/13/2014 at 17:19

Wonder if I can fit a "-" that whole sub script in a search bar...

CAR_IS_MI > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
03/13/2014 at 17:20

I usually use Auto Tempest, but I also have seen a few times where it misses things.

Doug DeMuro > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:21

Hah! But you don't need to — as long as you minus ONE of the words from that script, you won't see the ad.

Trunk Impaired 318 > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:22

I just search owner ads and say fuck it to dealers period because of this

Takuro Spirit > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:22

Top Tip: Don't search dealers. You'll get some Integra swapped Civics in there though, with the whole 'JDM TEGGY BOOST TURBO D18 B18 C18 G18 G-SPOT HELLAFLUSH HELLATRASHED SENTRA NEON FOCUS MIATA 240 180 DORIFTOOOO SEX' tag words.

CAR_IS_MI > Doug DeMuro
03/13/2014 at 17:24

For REAL! If so this is a great pro-tip.

McMike > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:25

Here's one.

Why the FUCK would you think people searching for:

"toyota celica camry avalon scion tc xb honda civic si accord crx fit s2000 nissan sentra altima maxima mazda 3 mazda 6 miata infiniti g35 g37 mitsubishi lancer evo eclipse talon jdm mugen trd nismo flush stance slammed lowered vip euro volkswagon vw r32 subaru wrx sti evo evolution lancer type s turbo boosted carbon carbonfiber hydro dip bags air ride airride airlift airtekk shocks custom shop ex xb2 tc2 frs brz subaru wrx sti scoop stanced coilovers lowlife watertransferprinting hydrographics hydro coating splitters 350z acura ilx rlx tl tsx rsx maxima altima cadillac corvette chevy cobalt monte carlo ss caprice fusion ford lightning truck awd 4x4 4wd fitted fitment raptor titan tundra ridgeline passport tahoe escalade legacy gt rs hatchback"

.....would want your Honda valve cover?

CAR_IS_MI > McMike
03/13/2014 at 17:27

I would totally put that Honda valve cover on my air lifted Ford Lightning...

CAR_IS_MI > Doug DeMuro
03/13/2014 at 17:30

Holy shit! Doug DeMuro is a Craigslist god!

(I guess that's what happens when your job does not require wearing pants)

Doug DeMuro > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:31

Haha. I love Craigslist, but I must admit I'm an OBSESSIVELY good Googler/finder out of information. This trick works on Google too.

McLarry > Doug DeMuro
03/13/2014 at 17:32

Good writer, Ferrari owner, AND craigslist ninja? Your resume continues to astound

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:33

These things make it so hard to find all the genuine 1992 2007 Lincoln Scion Skyhawk Avalanches.

CAR_IS_MI > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
03/13/2014 at 17:35

Kinja'd!!!

ThunderCougarFalconBird

ksmay71 > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:40

OK. Craigslist how-to time. Click "Title" and "Picture", put in the make/model in the "make/model" portion, put "manual" in the first box, and then (this is important) hit "Gallery". You get the cars you want, you get to look at them, and you can see which ones are irrelevant/duplicates. Also, put the min price above $600. That way, you won't get a lot of the stupid ads that are talking about "Oh, only $500 down gets you this Chevy Spark!"

Bandit > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:40

Search by owner. You won't get those annoying dealer listings.

CAR_IS_MI > Bandit
03/13/2014 at 17:47

but then you miss out an what a dealer may have available.

Bandit > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 17:49

But I don't like dealers. Why should I trust someone who wants to sell me a 1.8 2.0 Lr2 002 1St 001 bMw SkY MdX kIa aMg?

CAR_IS_MI > Bandit
03/13/2014 at 17:50

because the government said so...

Axial > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 18:24

Craigslist is the worst-organized classifieds site, ever. If they would simply let me search an item and then narrow down the scope, I'd be happy. But no, I have to manually search each sub-site until I find what I want.

protodad > CAR_IS_MI
03/13/2014 at 21:53

Like this

Miata -auto -automatic -automatico

Of course, you should include those in every search.

protodad > alexotics
03/13/2014 at 21:54

Sadly I checked for my area yesterday (300k people, 30 minutes from LA)

Just 2

dogisbadob > CAR_IS_MI
08/16/2016 at 16:03

flag them