RE: Classic Car Club
Discussion
daffers said:
Just a quick update for you all...... Thanks for all your input. It's been very resourceful.
After much deliberation and after coming clean to my husband about his b'day 'surprise' we decided to join Parc Ferme.
A number of reasons influenced our final descision. Location and the fact Classic Car Clubs branch at Woking didn't really impress my husband with their fleet, the London branch wasn't that easy for us to navigate too. There wasn't another company that offered a Ferrari Dino and DB6 Aston Martin to drive and the quality of all the cars are superb (My husband is a v.fussy bugger!) They have recently added another Ferrari and they seemed a throughly nice enthusiastic bunch of people.
So far I would recommend them, I'll let you know how we get on when really using the cars in earnest through the summer.
I wondered if there were any other Parc Ferme Experience members on PistonHeads, glad I spotted you Daffers !!
I'm a Parc Ferme member based down in the South West, but spend a lot of my time in Surrey, so Parc Ferme is ideal for me. It's the only place where I can drive my ideal cars - a Ferrai 328GTS and the sexy 246GT Dino, both of which are in superb condition. Daffers - your husband won't be dissapointed if he likes driving immaculate cars. I too am bit of a fussy bugger (!), when I was looking at alternative companies, the choice of cars wasn't that great and the vehicle conditions were pretty poor, most cars looked like they had had a really hard life.
I joined after seeing Parc Ferme at Goodwood with the Dino, and then reading a piece about them in the Sunday Times. I paid them a visit to see the fleet, and really just got on with them - They even got me a birthday card and a bottle of champagne when I picked up their E Type Roadster for a weekend birthday trip the other week !!
Maybe we will meet at the next Parc Ferme social event - are you and your husband going to the Morgan factory visit ?
I took the figaro out for a spin and it was great fun, sun was out, roof was off, and turbo charger was kicking in !! I let my wife drive, and we both looked uber cool, crusing around the West End, lots of celebs have them and I am sure she thought she was running from the OK magazine papparazzi !! or maybe thats just her driving !!
Whats great about Parc Ferme is that they have a diverse collection of cars, from old to new, sports to tourers, so depending on the planned trip there's always something that seems to be suitable.
>> Edited by John Jones on Friday 18th February 16:09
Whats great about Parc Ferme is that they have a diverse collection of cars, from old to new, sports to tourers, so depending on the planned trip there's always something that seems to be suitable.
>> Edited by John Jones on Friday 18th February 16:09
just found out there was a thread re Classic Car Club which is great, Ive been a member since 98 and have seen the club go from the early days in Kings Cross to the fairly large outfit they are now. Can't understand why anyone would be negative about either Classic Car Club or the other people mentioned (Parc-Ferme? - havent heard of them so not sure who they are, but I suspect they are a fairly small outfit). Looking after a Classic or anything daft is a complete nightmare (trust me I know!) so what these guys do, which is let a whole raft of people access otherwise unaccessible cars, is to my mind admirable. Having now driven probably in excess of 70 different cars throughout the years I can only say that anyone considering getting behind the wheel should look seriously at CCC, its a mugs game to consider anything else..in my humble opinion of course.
As to the Club itself, I find all concerned really helpful, havent really had issues booking cars and am constantly amazed at how the fleet is always being revamped. My one moan was the communication, but in the last 18 months things have improved considerably, theres a last minute availability system in place now whereby I get e-mails if cars become availaible, a monthly newsletter, members evenings and I am told they are to bring in a texting alert to help people who cant organise themselves get cars if they get cancelled.
I know I am convinced, but the future of old cars is going to be with things like Classic Car Club like it or lump it!
As to the Club itself, I find all concerned really helpful, havent really had issues booking cars and am constantly amazed at how the fleet is always being revamped. My one moan was the communication, but in the last 18 months things have improved considerably, theres a last minute availability system in place now whereby I get e-mails if cars become availaible, a monthly newsletter, members evenings and I am told they are to bring in a texting alert to help people who cant organise themselves get cars if they get cancelled.
I know I am convinced, but the future of old cars is going to be with things like Classic Car Club like it or lump it!
Hey Gon205 I'm totally impartial, apart from being a member of Parc Ferme, just as you are of CCC, I have no connection with them at all. Wouldn't it be nice though to have a job like that, that indulged my hobby ? Sadly I am stuck with boring legal work in the week and live for my fun at the weekends !
But, I thought the whole point of an internet forum was to discuss your experiences and views on a wider public level. I would have been equally happy to post something critical, if that had been my experience. Luckily for me that hasn't been the case. It seems a shame you are so cycnical, after all I'm just another motoring nut like you.
But, I thought the whole point of an internet forum was to discuss your experiences and views on a wider public level. I would have been equally happy to post something critical, if that had been my experience. Luckily for me that hasn't been the case. It seems a shame you are so cycnical, after all I'm just another motoring nut like you.
now now Gon205 and John Jones, stop arguing, clearly you are both having a great time playing with your respective Clubs cars.....
I of course agree that CCC are the better outfit (but then I would say that as a member wouldn't I!!!)
I think anyone considering membership, should not only look at the cars available, but also at the progress CCC seems to have made with branches elsewhere. I think (from what I was told some months back - so dont quote me) they have operations planned in the US as well as Europe. Personally I cant think of anything better than driving in the alps in summer or Route 66 in the spring in some daft little sports car???
this network of branches in different countries seems to be an amazing proposition....anyone got any thoughts on this aspect of usage?
I of course agree that CCC are the better outfit (but then I would say that as a member wouldn't I!!!)
I think anyone considering membership, should not only look at the cars available, but also at the progress CCC seems to have made with branches elsewhere. I think (from what I was told some months back - so dont quote me) they have operations planned in the US as well as Europe. Personally I cant think of anything better than driving in the alps in summer or Route 66 in the spring in some daft little sports car???
this network of branches in different countries seems to be an amazing proposition....anyone got any thoughts on this aspect of usage?
I decided to renew my membership with Birmingham CCC after their assurances that previous car unavailability is a thing of the past. Since re-joining, the cars have been unavailable so I asked for a refund but got fobbed off.
Today I have been informed they are now in receivership, is that just Birmingham/Manchester?
I paid by credit card, any advice on getting my money back?
Mark
Today I have been informed they are now in receivership, is that just Birmingham/Manchester?
I paid by credit card, any advice on getting my money back?
Mark
Im a member there and I only found out today when I rang and was diverted to London. As they are franchised, do we get to use those points at other clubs or are we just severely out of pocket. I have used less than a quarter of my points and am severely unhappy - lines of communication seem v poor...I was told to keep an eye on their website and my e-mail!?
Bristol went into receivership I believe...anyone have any knowledge of what happened there?
Bristol went into receivership I believe...anyone have any knowledge of what happened there?
It is with regret CCC Birmingham and Manchester branches did close last week.
This was due to the Franchisee unfortunately not being able to devote the required hours to the business due to numerous personal issues he has had to deal with over the last few months.
However, we will hopefully be in discussions with a new Franchisee shortly and we would like to reassure both Birmingham and Manchester members to bear with us during this time.
In the meantime, moving forward we will be writing to all members to explain the situation in more detail with some membership options.
If any PHer has any queries please contact the London Club on 020 7490 9090 or email info@classiccarclub.co.uk
This was due to the Franchisee unfortunately not being able to devote the required hours to the business due to numerous personal issues he has had to deal with over the last few months.
However, we will hopefully be in discussions with a new Franchisee shortly and we would like to reassure both Birmingham and Manchester members to bear with us during this time.
In the meantime, moving forward we will be writing to all members to explain the situation in more detail with some membership options.
If any PHer has any queries please contact the London Club on 020 7490 9090 or email info@classiccarclub.co.uk
I have spoken to two members this weekend. One lives overseas and one is UK resident and both members in London. Both could not fault the people, the service and love the whole idea of the club. Both have suffered a breakdown on every occasion they have used a car - 5 times between the 2 people. Both have owned and run classic and sportscars and were prepared for breakdowns etc. It did make me think if there was prehaps a case for more modern cars or completly modernised classics?
I've had two breakdown's - one a split radiator pipe on an E-Type and the other a snapped throttle cable on a Chesil Speedster.
However, all cars come with AA cover and on neither occassion was I stranded for more than half an hour. It did add some adventure as people were eager to pull over for a closer look - I'm sure they wouldn't have done if I'd been driving a new BMW!
I guess you just have to factor these things in - On the upside I've had lots of cars that have been totally reliable.
However, all cars come with AA cover and on neither occassion was I stranded for more than half an hour. It did add some adventure as people were eager to pull over for a closer look - I'm sure they wouldn't have done if I'd been driving a new BMW!
I guess you just have to factor these things in - On the upside I've had lots of cars that have been totally reliable.
CCC London said:
It is with regret CCC Birmingham and Manchester branches did close last week.
This was due to the Franchisee unfortunately not being able to devote the required hours to the business due to numerous personal issues he has had to deal with over the last few months.
However, we will hopefully be in discussions with a new Franchisee shortly and we would like to reassure both Birmingham and Manchester members to bear with us during this time.
In the meantime, moving forward we will be writing to all members to explain the situation in more detail with some membership options.
If any PHer has any queries please contact the London Club on 020 7490 9090 or email info@classiccarclub.co.uk
As a non member, has anyone else heard anything that may sugest that they may reopen these branches?
I will be opening a simular type club in Lincolnshire in the next 12 months...just a few more cars to buy. It will be geard more to entusiasts and be cheaper. I am only going to have maybe 3 or 4 members to the cars max. I am gearing more towards entusiasts rather than posers, as soon as I have the details sorted will talk to PH about banner advertising.
regards
marc
regards
marc
Thats interesting as I love the concept and idea but Lincolnshire is a distance from me!
I was going to join Woking Car club but it seems they are 'temporarily closed', in light of their other recent closures does anyone know if they have they shut up shop or closed down completely? If you call them a recorded message refers all new memberships to London or gives another number to call from which I received no answer.
I was going to join Woking Car club but it seems they are 'temporarily closed', in light of their other recent closures does anyone know if they have they shut up shop or closed down completely? If you call them a recorded message refers all new memberships to London or gives another number to call from which I received no answer.
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