AMOC - Worth Joining?

[Jonathank56]

Is it worth £135 to an average Jon who doesn’t live in a family pile? What more do you get than what’s here already?

J

[AdamV12V]

What is a family pile?

It rather depends on what you want and what you are expecting to get out of it.

AMOC is more focussed on classics than moderns, but the regular meets at pubs and such through the summer months (in a non-covid world) welcome all cars and its nice to chat to like minded brand enthusiasts. I've met some lovely and really interesting people at those meets, but depends on if that floats yer boat or not.

The AMOC mag is heavily focussed towards classics, so again depends on where your interest in Aston lies.

Locktons offer a AMOC insurance scheme which is a top notch policy, but its not as cheap as some lesser policies that offer lesser cover. Again depends on if what you want, and equally you dont actually have to be an AMOC member to get on the scheme, even though officially I think you are supposed to be.

[cornershop]

Not worth it in my opinion

Like many OC, the monthly magazine is largely full of people awarding each other trophies, and sat around tables (at least that was the case)

Insurance quote could not compete with Zurich PC

Nice tie pin (!)

[scampbird]

I haven't renewed. Covid for one thing stopped me going to any meets, but notwithstanding that I'd only been on one AMOC day trip in the 4 years or so I've been a member.

I imagine it could be good if you're in a lively area (and kudos to the Northampton lot, they're good fun), but if like me you fall between two areas you end up finding all the meets are miles away and I don't have the time to be doing 2 hour round trips on a Thursday evening.

The only thing I regularly used it for was discounted club area for Bicester Heritage, but I'm pretty much giving up on that now that they've turned it into yet another event for Porsche cronies or well monied influencers.

Edited by scampbird on Wednesday 10th February 12:05

[Dewi 2]

Under the present restricted circumstances, probably not.
Normally, yes.

A good way to meet like minded enthusiasts.
I had thought it might be majority NP owners, but not so in my area.
AMOC is divided into local areas, each arranging their own activities.
If you wish, you can choose the area you prefer.

Membership gives you an opportunity to have a factory tour, which otherwise is not easy to obtain.

[williamp]

If you want to suppot the marque but not the club, then you could join the Trust http://www.amht.org.uk/

You still get the factory tours as well

[ClassicV8]

I am an AMOC member and have been all the time I have owned Astons. Having restored a 'classic' Aston, the assistance I received through the Forum and through the contacts made through the club was invaluable. The monthly meetings in our area are generally pretty good (can be a bit cliquey but in the summer months much better due to being outside) and I have also been on UK tours arranged by the local area.

While the Forum is definitely more heavily used by classic owners, the area meets are populated by mostly Gaydon drivers.

The politics that surround all clubs is tiresome but I am happy I get value from my subs each year.

[V8V Pete]

williamp said:

If you want to support the marque but not the club, then you could join the Trust

Get the feeling I support the marque every time I pay for some OEM spare parts ..........

[Longers]

Dewi 2 said:

Under the present restricted circumstances, probably not.

Membership gives you an opportunity to have a factory tour, which otherwise is not easy to obtain.

As a new owner I thought about joining but decided not to due to the limited events which will be available this year. The opportunity to visit the factory would be a major attraction but I think this...

williamp said:

If you want to suppot the marque but not the club, then you could join the Trust http://www.amht.org.uk/

You still get the factory tours as well

...the PH forum and my subscription to Vantage magazine will do for me.

[Dewi 2]

Longers said:

The opportunity to visit the factory would be a major attraction ........

Obviously there are no factory tours at present, but if your purchase was from a main dealer, then they can arrange factory tours for their customers who want to visit Gaydon.

My AMOC area arranged an excellent visit last year to Vaughtons. We saw the lengthy process of manufacturing Aston Martin wings badges and even attempted enameling.
An interesting day.

Edited by Dewi 2 on Wednesday 10th February 13:45

[MarkM3Evoplus]

For me, as the owner of a NP Vanquish, yes.

The forum (which I think you need to be a member to gain full access (?)) has provided valuable information in caring for the car that has saved me multiples of the membership cost, plus met some nice people.

Don't get out to many events, but the one's I have been to, I have enjoyed. My wife has also come to several events and enjoyed herself.

Varied mix of people and certainly more focus on the moderns (Gaydon) than before.

[Phil74891]

I joined last year after five years of Aston ownership. It can depend on what Area you are in, some are not as active as others. I’m in Area 22 Gloucestershire, and it’s brilliant. Great people, a mix of cars, lots of meetings and tours. I have a Gaydon and classic Aston and both are well catered for. As with many things you get back what you put into it. Best thing I’ve done for ages.

[raceboy]

Dewi 2 said:

Membership gives you an opportunity to have a factory tour, which otherwise is not easy to obtain.

When I first bought my pre-loved Aston a few years ago I just contacted the Factory direct and had a tour sorted with no issues.

[LTP]

Like all clubs, depending what you want you'll get out of it what you put in. I'm an AMOC member after Lockton's insurance gave me complimentary first year membership and renewed for Year 2, adding my wife. I've only been to one meet - an informal gathering at a pub last New Year and met some very nice people with a range of cars. Membership currently gives membership of the Trust, so a visit to the museum is definitely on the cards once Covid restrictions lift. Some members appear to tour the world and make lasting friends wherever they go.

I don't find the magazines too focussed on NP or Feltham cars (e.g. a few months back there was a very good article in the AMHT mag on the development of the V12, dispelling the myth that it's two Duratec V6's welded together), although admittedly there are articles on the earlier cars; as a bit of a car nerd (but not full anorak with oak leaf cluster) I read them with interest. The quality of all of the magazines is first class, especially if you like "dead tree" stuff.

AMOC also organise some good podcasts or vlogs supported by knowledgeable contributors with audience Q&As on a selected model - the recent one on the VH Vantage was very good and, if missed, can be viewed on the AMOC YouTube website

I have found the forum useful and received some good advice on my V8V, but even they admit that the Gaydon cars can be better served here in PH (although, as a free forum, imho the percentage of dheads tends to be higher here - I'm sure there's those who think that of me). PH being better for the Gaydon cars has become a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy and I'm not sure the recent AMOC website access changes will help that, but as a subscription-based club I understand why it was done

The politics has improved when after a recent spat, with members who were allegedly barristers and who had a supporters' clique trying to throw their weight around and make claims of unconstitutional actions by the committee (it was a bit like Citizen Smith, but with blazers), some people resigned in a huff. There seems to be a lot of heat (and not much light) about the subscriptions also supporting the Aston Martin Heritage Trust , which I told the forum I find insane considering the monies involved wouldn't buy a tank of fuel; this was met with much harrumphing and mutterings of "...point of principle...".

In summary, I'm a member; it wouldn't take much for me to decide not to renew but I would miss the magazines and the forum (slightly). If you run a NP or Feltham Aston I'd think membership was essential.

edited to add
One thing I forgot to mention - AMOC apparently has a set of club tools. I can't believe that this just consists of a set of sockets and some ring spanners, but I'd guess is more likely to be specialist tools for the older cars (but I could be wrong). This may be another reason for UK-based pre-Gaydon car owners to consider membership. I'm sure if you wanted to know what was in the toolkit AMOC HQ would tell you.

Edited by LTP on Friday 19th February 20:48

[Speedraser]

I agree with the notion that for a pre-Gaydon car, the AMOC is a must. For Gaydon and later cars, IMO it's well worth it. I'm in the States, so the event calendar is obviously different, but the events I've done have been great and I've met many great people. I love Astons from all the eras, so it's a great way to see some great cars. The magazines are very nicely done, and IMO cover all the eras -- there's quite a bit on the newer cars as well as the older ones. This is definitely the better forum for Gaydon cars, but I really enjoy the AMOC.

[Loose_Cannon]

LTP said:

In summary, I'm a member; it wouldn't take much for me to decide not to review but I would miss the magazines and the forum (slightly).

A perfect write up and conclusion on the AMOC. Members often sell last year's magazines on Ebay for £30ish, plus the excellent "ASTON" annual is £20, so you could say the actual cost of memership is the annual renewal minus those!

Same profile here, freebie year one, first paid year this year. The constant bickering gets on your tits and the general tone is one of many decades old personal scores that remain unsettled. The technical knowledge amongst a select few members is second to none however, so I would miss the forum most of all.