Lotus 7 Club - is it worth it?
Discussion
I joined during my first year of ownership. Posted a few Tech Talk threads and got helpful answers. Had someone lend me an engine crane and also come and trailer my car to a local garage for me when the head gasket went pop.
So useful bunch. I also attended one or two meets.
Am I a member now, no I'm not. I still browse it and use the search at times.
I've not attended another meet as I seemed to be the youngest by quite a margin but that's not their fault!
I resort to posting on this subsection of PH if my googling and Blatchat searching turns me up blank.
I seem to notice more and more names over here from Blatchat.
So useful bunch. I also attended one or two meets.
Am I a member now, no I'm not. I still browse it and use the search at times.
I've not attended another meet as I seemed to be the youngest by quite a margin but that's not their fault!
I resort to posting on this subsection of PH if my googling and Blatchat searching turns me up blank.
I seem to notice more and more names over here from Blatchat.
I'm currently an ex-Blatchater. Like Gingerbreadman, I'm younger and my interest is more towards racing than road use so the regional meets probably wouldn't suit me.
Also like Gingerbreadman, I received a lot of help and advice from the community. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Would I go back? Well I let my membership lapse because at the end of last season I was literally skint and the £45 odd quid invoice for 2013 membership came at the wrong time. I owed dad £400 for an engine etc etc.
However, I feel like I owe the community a bit of a debt after it helped me so much... I still see threads I would've contributed to were I a member and the 'classifieds' section is fantastic. So yeah I'll probably be back.
Also like Gingerbreadman, I received a lot of help and advice from the community. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Would I go back? Well I let my membership lapse because at the end of last season I was literally skint and the £45 odd quid invoice for 2013 membership came at the wrong time. I owed dad £400 for an engine etc etc.
However, I feel like I owe the community a bit of a debt after it helped me so much... I still see threads I would've contributed to were I a member and the 'classifieds' section is fantastic. So yeah I'll probably be back.
Gingerbread Man said:
I joined during my first year of ownership. Posted a few Tech Talk threads and got helpful answers. Had someone lend me an engine crane and also come and trailer my car to a local garage for me when the head gasket went pop.
Sounds like you had fantastic value for £45.50.If you take advantage of the discounts available you'll save the £45.50 each year. Also access to blatchat is helpful and Low Flying is a good read. However I think most value are the local meetings and events organised. Discounted tickets for Silverstone Classic, Cholmondley POP etc. and the presence of the ESV at events.
Like any club, the more you put in the more you get out.
Lets put it in perspective Less than £ 1 a week.............. Now tell me it is expensive
In my time as a member I have Travel all across europe a whole number of times with the club on touring adventures, attended motorsports events like 24hrs Le Mans, Done track events, passengered in the R500 around a race track with a racing driver at the wheel, Passenger ride in Rock Legioned Chris Rea's Caterham 7 around Brands Hatch, received technical help for my Caterham a whole number of times, Bailed out of the dodo when I had car troubles miles from home, meet some of my now best friends, received business advice from people in other fields of business to me FOC, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.....
Worth every penny in my honest opinion.... But it is like everything you do.... You only get out what you put in... It is up to you but if you join in on events and make a little effort with others you will get so much out of the club that it is not an issue what it costs.
I have never seen age as being an issue and I don't car if I am on a drive out with people of 18 or 80... They all have something to offer in the form of experience....
Being self employed and in a recession I don't currently have a 7 which is a real b
h... But I am still a member and I also spend time putting something back into the club by being on the clubs management team.....
What have you got to lose?
In my time as a member I have Travel all across europe a whole number of times with the club on touring adventures, attended motorsports events like 24hrs Le Mans, Done track events, passengered in the R500 around a race track with a racing driver at the wheel, Passenger ride in Rock Legioned Chris Rea's Caterham 7 around Brands Hatch, received technical help for my Caterham a whole number of times, Bailed out of the dodo when I had car troubles miles from home, meet some of my now best friends, received business advice from people in other fields of business to me FOC, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.....
Worth every penny in my honest opinion.... But it is like everything you do.... You only get out what you put in... It is up to you but if you join in on events and make a little effort with others you will get so much out of the club that it is not an issue what it costs.
I have never seen age as being an issue and I don't car if I am on a drive out with people of 18 or 80... They all have something to offer in the form of experience....
Being self employed and in a recession I don't currently have a 7 which is a real b
h... But I am still a member and I also spend time putting something back into the club by being on the clubs management team..... What have you got to lose?
I live in Denmark, so I miss out of most of the discounts, meets ect., but I still think it is worth it.
Never have I met a nicer bunch of people, yes they may seem a bit grumpy a times and yes they may not all be 18 years old and into big stereos and blue led lights, but you can be sure that if you participate they will go out of their way to help you!
Never have I met a nicer bunch of people, yes they may seem a bit grumpy a times and yes they may not all be 18 years old and into big stereos and blue led lights, but you can be sure that if you participate they will go out of their way to help you!
Snapper7 said:
Lets put it in perspective Less than £ 1 a week.............. Now tell me it is expensive
If you want to look at it like that and no it isn't expensive, but i like to weigh things up to make sure I get something for my money - nevertheless, from your replies it seems like the best thing is access to the club membership and knowledge, helpfulness and expertise that you get with it + something to read on the loo!Seeing as though I'm knew to caterham's and I have lots of little jobs to do Im sure il need all the help I can get.
Cheers,
O.K
I am not usually a Club person but have been in the L7C for many years;I've made many friends in the club , done trackdays, tours etc .I have had lots of advice and help and latterly have put a reasonable amount back.
I wouldn't approach the question simply from the stance of 'am I getting my money's worth?' - the Club is not selling a commercial product and isn't competing with other clubs really . What it does do is rely on volunteers to keep something going which most members seem very much to appreciate judging by the feedback . Age - yes average owner is north of 40 but so what- I've met owners from their early twenties to late seventies and I hope got on with them all.
I wouldn't approach the question simply from the stance of 'am I getting my money's worth?' - the Club is not selling a commercial product and isn't competing with other clubs really . What it does do is rely on volunteers to keep something going which most members seem very much to appreciate judging by the feedback . Age - yes average owner is north of 40 but so what- I've met owners from their early twenties to late seventies and I hope got on with them all.
I was wondering the same thing.
I'm 28 and bought my Caterham from a 24 year old. He said he'd gone to a few meets and generally felt a bit out of it because he was much younger than the rest of the crowd.
I have to be honest, I don't really have much of a need to go to meets in pubs and talk about the car. I've never done that before and it's just not really my sort of thing.
I was however thinking of joining Lotus on Track once I've gotten use to the car properly. Anyone have any feedback on these guys?
I'm 28 and bought my Caterham from a 24 year old. He said he'd gone to a few meets and generally felt a bit out of it because he was much younger than the rest of the crowd.
I have to be honest, I don't really have much of a need to go to meets in pubs and talk about the car. I've never done that before and it's just not really my sort of thing.
I was however thinking of joining Lotus on Track once I've gotten use to the car properly. Anyone have any feedback on these guys?
Letting mine lapse this year. Just doesn't do it for me any more.
It has a few good aspects, although I suspect Facebook and the like is killing it off, right or wrong though that may seem.
All the people I met through the Club are now linked through FB to the extent I know of more than one occasion when non-members have attended club events/blats and nothing has been said or even noticed.
For me, the question that swung it was "If I wasn't a member what would change?", and the answer was, not much.
Not being able to post on BlatChat? Gave up on that long ago. Can still dip in for tech advice, however morally wrong thtight be, or just post on PH instead!
Low Flying?......yeah s'alright. Like any mag there are good editions and poor ones and before anyone says anything I've contributed on many occasions, one of which was described by more than a few people as "the best thing they've ever read in LF", but the list of authors is the same old names every month.
Club events? What exactly is a "club" event? If it's one involving club members see my earlier point ref Facebook.
And unless you're self-employed/small business prepare to be labelled as some sort of work-shy sponging layabout.
It has a few good aspects, although I suspect Facebook and the like is killing it off, right or wrong though that may seem.
All the people I met through the Club are now linked through FB to the extent I know of more than one occasion when non-members have attended club events/blats and nothing has been said or even noticed.
For me, the question that swung it was "If I wasn't a member what would change?", and the answer was, not much.
Not being able to post on BlatChat? Gave up on that long ago. Can still dip in for tech advice, however morally wrong thtight be, or just post on PH instead!
Low Flying?......yeah s'alright. Like any mag there are good editions and poor ones and before anyone says anything I've contributed on many occasions, one of which was described by more than a few people as "the best thing they've ever read in LF", but the list of authors is the same old names every month.
Club events? What exactly is a "club" event? If it's one involving club members see my earlier point ref Facebook.
And unless you're self-employed/small business prepare to be labelled as some sort of work-shy sponging layabout.
It must certainly be down to how much value you get out and how much you need for the £50. I don't have a 7 any more, only scan LF, don't go to events, don't use any discounts. I normally use BC for posting completely OT questions - they are a good bunch for that. However, all in all. I really ought to stop paying!
Bert
Bert
I used to be a member, but I do not see much point anymore.
I have had far more enjoyment from the PH Sunday Services in 2012 than the whole of the L7C events, which were thin on the ground.
Discounts, not really. I get the deals by shopping around.
Mag, wouldn't buy it so not missed.
Club meets, not that good.
Free choice, it is up to you. However make sure you enjoy the car and there are more than enough good folks around either way if you need any help.
I have had far more enjoyment from the PH Sunday Services in 2012 than the whole of the L7C events, which were thin on the ground.
Discounts, not really. I get the deals by shopping around.
Mag, wouldn't buy it so not missed.
Club meets, not that good.
Free choice, it is up to you. However make sure you enjoy the car and there are more than enough good folks around either way if you need any help.
For me the £45 membership fee is well worth the value.
From a monitory value I save more than that in insurance and discounts.
From a enjoyment point of view, I never thought of myself as sitting round in a pub, but since going to both local meets and other area meets i've deffinatly change my thinking. Meets have an age range of 18 to 60, all interest in kicking tyres and general talking petrol.
Can't praise the members enough, had problems when touring as a newbie and asked for advice, not only got advice but a friendly hand and coffee to sort the problems out.
Low Flying, great read, but as any club mag, you only get out what you put in.
Been on organised blats including the Graham Nearn Blat, and local club blat's, can't fault them and enjoyed every single one.
, and not to mention the SpeedChampionship, if you have never tried it it's worth a go, no matter how good you think you are, you will probably in for either a rude awakening or a pleasant surprise.
Been a member for 4 years now and while ever I have a 7 I can't see why I would not be in the club.
As to facebook, there's even a facebook page now.
From a monitory value I save more than that in insurance and discounts.
From a enjoyment point of view, I never thought of myself as sitting round in a pub, but since going to both local meets and other area meets i've deffinatly change my thinking. Meets have an age range of 18 to 60, all interest in kicking tyres and general talking petrol.
Can't praise the members enough, had problems when touring as a newbie and asked for advice, not only got advice but a friendly hand and coffee to sort the problems out.
Low Flying, great read, but as any club mag, you only get out what you put in.
Been on organised blats including the Graham Nearn Blat, and local club blat's, can't fault them and enjoyed every single one.
, and not to mention the SpeedChampionship, if you have never tried it it's worth a go, no matter how good you think you are, you will probably in for either a rude awakening or a pleasant surprise.
Been a member for 4 years now and while ever I have a 7 I can't see why I would not be in the club.
As to facebook, there's even a facebook page now.
CaterBram Jnr said:
For me the £45 membership fee is well worth the value.
From a monitory value I save more than that in insurance and discounts.
From a enjoyment point of view, I never thought of myself as sitting round in a pub, but since going to both local meets and other area meets i've deffinatly change my thinking. Meets have an age range of 18 to 60, all interest in kicking tyres and general talking petrol.
Can't praise the members enough, had problems when touring as a newbie and asked for advice, not only got advice but a friendly hand and coffee to sort the problems out.
Low Flying, great read, but as any club mag, you only get out what you put in.
Been on organised blats including the Graham Nearn Blat, and local club blat's, can't fault them and enjoyed every single one.
, and not to mention the SpeedChampionship, if you have never tried it it's worth a go, no matter how good you think you are, you will probably in for either a rude awakening or a pleasant surprise.
Been a member for 4 years now and while ever I have a 7 I can't see why I would not be in the club.
As to facebook, there's even a facebook page now.
I can go to the same pub, on the same night, and sit at the same table, for free.From a monitory value I save more than that in insurance and discounts.
From a enjoyment point of view, I never thought of myself as sitting round in a pub, but since going to both local meets and other area meets i've deffinatly change my thinking. Meets have an age range of 18 to 60, all interest in kicking tyres and general talking petrol.
Can't praise the members enough, had problems when touring as a newbie and asked for advice, not only got advice but a friendly hand and coffee to sort the problems out.
Low Flying, great read, but as any club mag, you only get out what you put in.
Been on organised blats including the Graham Nearn Blat, and local club blat's, can't fault them and enjoyed every single one.
, and not to mention the SpeedChampionship, if you have never tried it it's worth a go, no matter how good you think you are, you will probably in for either a rude awakening or a pleasant surprise.
Been a member for 4 years now and while ever I have a 7 I can't see why I would not be in the club.
As to facebook, there's even a facebook page now.
I can go on the same blats, on the same day, to the same cafe, for free.
"Club events" are something of a mystery to me in terms of justifying a membership fee.
As you say, there's even a club FB page now, which if managed correctly would serve many of the functions of BlatChat....for free.
The insurance thing is also over-worked.
"Discount" club premium with A**rian Fl*x......nearly £500.
Premium with Fr*nk P*ckl*s.....£170.
"D'you do club discount?"..."What?! On top of that?!" which was a fair point.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 7th January 20:35
Low Flying is the only club magazine I've ever bothered to read and they are open to contributions. They even printed an article I sent in.
I've got on well with everyone I've met through the club, and there are some events that are very good value.
I went to the Dunsfold handling day last year and it was great fun. Donut/freestyle area, slalom, time your 0-60 and a chance to drive the Top Gear track.
Marshaling in the morning was a good laugh and I even got a couple of free coffees, what more could you want
OK there is the odd unpleasant comment on blatchat, but if you've got a thin skin, you don't have to post there.
Give it a go, I'm sure you'll think it was money well spent, and you don't have to rejoin after the first year.
I've got on well with everyone I've met through the club, and there are some events that are very good value.
I went to the Dunsfold handling day last year and it was great fun. Donut/freestyle area, slalom, time your 0-60 and a chance to drive the Top Gear track.
Marshaling in the morning was a good laugh and I even got a couple of free coffees, what more could you want
OK there is the odd unpleasant comment on blatchat, but if you've got a thin skin, you don't have to post there.
Give it a go, I'm sure you'll think it was money well spent, and you don't have to rejoin after the first year.
interesting to read peoples views on membership or L7C and also othe clubs. Membership costs normally get broken down to - 'its less than a quid a week', but the sad thing is as a non Cat owner where does one stop in terms of joining clubs: for me it was nice to pop the odd reply onto Blatchat, and the same on the westie site - add the two together and thats close to £100 just to join in the odd discussion.
as a non Cat owner the discounts were indeed there - but anything club related: track days etc were not allowable, sorry i mean wasn't allowed to take my little 'kit' along..so no value in that respect.
It's a pity that the forum isn't fully accessible to non members who can sometimes contribute......
anyway, without wishing to cause offence by going off at a slight tangent, if anyone is more into driving than 'meets' and doesnt mind driving/bantering with a variety of 7esque cars - have a look at SKCC. Aimed at helping folks across the south east buddy up for run outs, road trips etc....and yep, free.
( Bob - hope all is well with you - long time since that 1st Rallye in France!)
as a non Cat owner the discounts were indeed there - but anything club related: track days etc were not allowable, sorry i mean wasn't allowed to take my little 'kit' along..so no value in that respect.
It's a pity that the forum isn't fully accessible to non members who can sometimes contribute......
anyway, without wishing to cause offence by going off at a slight tangent, if anyone is more into driving than 'meets' and doesnt mind driving/bantering with a variety of 7esque cars - have a look at SKCC. Aimed at helping folks across the south east buddy up for run outs, road trips etc....and yep, free.
( Bob - hope all is well with you - long time since that 1st Rallye in France!)
Mark, your SKCC inspired forum is an active group of folks who actually get out and do stuff. That is a rare find these days, keep it up.
And it's free, and did I mention you all do stuff. Oh I did.
I realise that different people like different things, so it is great that folks have a choice of forums / clubs.
Take your pick I suppose.
And it's free, and did I mention you all do stuff. Oh I did.
I realise that different people like different things, so it is great that folks have a choice of forums / clubs.
Take your pick I suppose.
Crossflow Kid said:
.And unless you're self-employed/small business prepare to be labelled as some sort of work-shy sponging layabout.
You've got that right 
. And reading anything left of the Daily Mail makes you a pinko. But I've been a member for nearly 10 years anyway and rate that the best £400 or so I've ever spent for the friends I've met. People who "get" Sevens are a pretty weird bunch, the club is good in that it brings them all together so in a well-attended local meet you've a good chance of meeting at least one like mind. It may take a few visits to find your way in but you'll have a source of advice, help and tools as well as new friends.Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff