Blog or Community?

For my latest web project, I'm having trouble on deciding whether or not to make it a blog or a forum. Here is what the site will basically be about.

Sports Car Source Site that is generally about sports cars however will focus on sports cars under $15,000 Articles about specific cars; basic facts and modification Articles about specific engines Articles about professional drivers racing cars we drive on the street Articles about different driving techniques/styles Etc, basically just a resource haven for high school/college/enthusiasts who want to go fast on a shoe string budget.

I would really like to adopt the Web 2.0 thought of user generated content by using a forum, however I have zero experience with running forums. Also, do you think there is room for another car forum? I would also like to use a blog system because I have a lot of experience with them, but I will not be able to interact with my users as much, and I feel the forum would have much more potential.

Cost wise the forum would run to be about 2 to 3 times as much as the blog, however the satisfaction of building a successful forum is thought to be unmatched. Which would you choose for my particular application?

Depends man, Are you dedicated enough to start a community. Are you ready to stick tiring hours on your forum? Then a forum is good. Blogging is more simple but not much joy compared to a forum.

Why not do a mix of both? One site that does a good job at this is sitepoint.com, where they have featured articles (and blogs) on the front page of the site as well as forums.

it depend on your time and the cost also..maybe yo can try to develop both of it. More over you can drive traffic from blog to your forum and vice versa.

I've decided to take the root of developing the blog first. Then, if the blog becomes successful I will build a forum. If I have a lot of traffic coming in, I should be more successful in building up the forum, right?

Originally Posted by JamesH I've decided to take the root of developing the blog first. Then, if the blog becomes successful I will build a forum. If I have a lot of traffic coming in, I should be more successful in building up the forum, right?

great idea

Forums they are so hard to get started up. But blogs are easy once you add a few articles at your blog to technati and then tell people about the articles, people trackback the articles and you end up getting a big blog.

Three words for blogging, easy and fast.

I have alot of trouble getting a community going but I find blogs are easier.

Originally Posted by Coldfusion I have alot of trouble getting a community going but I find blogs are easier.

that's completely true, it takes a time to build up a community. A blog is easyier to get some traffic.

regards

What's more beneficial for you blogs or forums?