AMOC - worth joining?
Discussion
You will probably find that a year’s free membership is given when you pick your car up so you can find out whether it works for you or not. Like all clubs, you get out of it what you put in - you’ll also get as many pro as con answers here as well! The DB12S is a fantastic looking car; only a little bit (lot) jealous.
I am a member and enjoy it, but I think I am in the minority on here
As a cost, I think it’s great value and I like the events and see being a member as part of the ownership experience
They do a hell of a lot of work and the events that are organised are always in my opinion done extremely well
Kevin
As a cost, I think it’s great value and I like the events and see being a member as part of the ownership experience
They do a hell of a lot of work and the events that are organised are always in my opinion done extremely well
Kevin
Q_Division_GT said:
Is anyone a member of the Aston Martin owners club? Is it worth joining? I am collecting my new DB12 S next week!
I think the answer is "It depends"I personally was a member (free with first year of Locktons insurance), renewed a couple of times but got sick of the CoM (Committee of Management) shenanigans and politics - even though I was just reading about them and not being directly involved personally. The straw for me was when one now ex-member and his little coterie of hangers-on decided to sue the Chairperson at the time over some perceived procedural irregularities (not the CoM; they actually sued the holder of the position of Chair personally - the coterie lost, at great cost to themselves). I believe the situation is not much improved, but could be wrong - many people just ignore the red-trouser brigade and get on with local activities, but as a member my view is whatever the
This all against a background of the meetings being nowhere near where I lived, and held at a time that work prevented me from attending. Plus the local events were infrequent and uninspiring. I now keep a relationship with the brand by being an Aston Martin Heritage Trust supporter.
Having said all of that, if the local area chapter has an active committee, puts on decent events and you ignore some sections of the website forums then many people find it worthwhile and fulfilling, as Kev says above. I think it can also help if you race - which Kev doesn't, I hasten to add, but a disproportionate slice of the fees seemed to support the racing habits of a few who did. Caveat emptor
edited to temporally and referentially clarify
Edited by LTP on Monday 19th October 12:53
I think LTP has summed it up pretty well.
I’ve been a member for probably 12 years or so across various models.
Their forum is generally not geared to the modem Astons and generally isn’t a patch on here.
The monthly mag is ok but not nearly as good as PCGB’s.
It’s the regional organiser of each area that can make a huge difference.
The CoM seem to run the club as though it’s a PLC though.
I’d say give it a go for 12 months and then decide.
I’ve been a member for probably 12 years or so across various models.
Their forum is generally not geared to the modem Astons and generally isn’t a patch on here.
The monthly mag is ok but not nearly as good as PCGB’s.
It’s the regional organiser of each area that can make a huge difference.
The CoM seem to run the club as though it’s a PLC though.
I’d say give it a go for 12 months and then decide.
If you look at the most recent accounts to end March 2026, expenditure on racing exceeded income by £1830, less than 0.5% of membership fee income or 0.2% of AMOC turnover
LTP you're way, way out of date
And if you look at the usual attendance at events, the majority of cars there are Gaydon era so reference to red trousers is really irrelevant now
LTP you're way, way out of date
And if you look at the usual attendance at events, the majority of cars there are Gaydon era so reference to red trousers is really irrelevant now
DB4DM said:
If you look at the most recent accounts to end March 2026, expenditure on racing exceeded income by £1830, less than 0.5% of membership fee income or 0.2% of AMOC turnover
LTP you're way, way out of date
And if you look at the usual attendance at events, the majority of cars there are Gaydon era so reference to red trousers is really irrelevant now
I accept your corrections as I did say I may be out of date. The "red trouser" remark specifically referred to senior^ members and not general attendees at meetings.LTP you're way, way out of date
And if you look at the usual attendance at events, the majority of cars there are Gaydon era so reference to red trousers is really irrelevant now
As far as the racing goes when I get a few minutes I'll find and have a look at the accounts - 1/200th of total fee income spent on what percentage of the total membership?
I stand by the rest
^longstanding members who acted as though they owned or ran the club even when they didn't
I've slightly clarified my original comment
I've also clarified this one
Edited by LTP on Monday 19th October 13:46
I think you might need to reprise the origin of the "red trouser" discussion on the AMOC Forum, because it had nothing to do with "HQ" as in the paid staff. It was all about the reactionary behaviour of the perceived "old guard" to the perhaps radical changes by AML with Ford and later Arab money behind them and the introduction of new models which attracted a new demographic
The discussion which ran for years was started by AMOC member Rxxxxxx who at the time had a wide body 6.3 Virage convertible with added bling, which attracted some disparagement. It was very quick on the runway at an RAF station though
When I joined AMOC in 1979, there was still a cadre in leadership roles who "had had a good war" and scorned the likes of me who bought rough old cars when they weren't worth much, and drove them hard. I soon got very tired of being called "dear boy" by this group and retreated "to the country"
for some years until I was elected to the COM in 1997
LTP, I'm very happy to meet at C&M to chew the fat one day
The discussion which ran for years was started by AMOC member Rxxxxxx who at the time had a wide body 6.3 Virage convertible with added bling, which attracted some disparagement. It was very quick on the runway at an RAF station though
When I joined AMOC in 1979, there was still a cadre in leadership roles who "had had a good war" and scorned the likes of me who bought rough old cars when they weren't worth much, and drove them hard. I soon got very tired of being called "dear boy" by this group and retreated "to the country"
for some years until I was elected to the COM in 1997
LTP, I'm very happy to meet at C&M to chew the fat one day
Edited by DB4DM on Sunday 18th October 19:43
French member here for years, great events organised by lovely people who became friends over time. Everyone makes sure any new member feels welcome! AMOC is a very large club with local and international sections and you can take part in any event, we have Belgians, Brits, Dutch attending our events in France.
Well worth joining in my opinion.
Well worth joining in my opinion.
Q_Division_GT said:
Is anyone a member of the Aston Martin owners club? Is it worth joining? I am collecting my new DB12 S next week!
I guess a lot will depend on your age group bracket and others have said local area group, how active they are and what kind of events they run, especially where they meet and when in terms of times / days.You can attend an area group meeting for free without being a member to get to know the regulars and see if you click with the group and if their events are what you’re looking for.
My personal take, I’ve been a member two years now (both paid - no information I could join free first year) and I likely won’t be renewing when time comes.
The event by my local group are mainly pub meets on Wednesday evening (too soon after work for me to get to or on a Sunday often breakfast when I am busy doing things around house, preparing for work travel that day or following week or visiting family.
I did go to a meeting before joining, I was looking for help and information before I purchased, I was originally after a 1970-1980’s AMV8 volante, ideally a vantage or X-Pack as a car that run but was also a project. Contrary to others experience, no “old guard” in terms of vehicle age they owned really at the meeting, There was only one owner of an AMV8, the rest all had “Much newer models”. Amusingly the one owner was one of the younger ones and was accompanied by his two sons, I’d guess they were in their 20’s and he was 50’s. He was helpful and friendly. Everyone else seemed 60’s-80’s accompanied by their wives, whilst they were all pleasant and friendly, no real common ground or connection for me. It has disincentivised me from attending local meets somewhat especially given other priorities. I guess I was hoping for more Caffeine & Machine type meets or going on road trips rather than just sit around chatting inside, it felt less about the cars and more the people, which is fine but depends on what you want out of it.
Now for the club side, I think the AMOC forum is pretty useless and mainly dead, I Have a VH2 Vantage (decided against AMV8 as couldn’t find one that wasn’t a complete ground up restoration or “overpriced” with a lot of hidden costs for work that needed doing). I introduced myself, no response in a week, so clearly not active at all. Far better info and advice from member here in my view.
The other major factor for me, I really don’t see what I get for my annual fee, “discount on insurance” that’ll be quoted higher you can get from comparison sites after discount applied, meh.
Constant emails of event they are running at the bargain price of only your arm and your leg at some fancy hoy polloy hotel with a soirée with canapés and champers to take and appease her indoors. I’m exaggerating but everything feels like it’s a sale or promotion and there’s just too many even with me attacking the notification settings.
The real latest kicker that aggravated me was an email to tell me the club has changed it official champagne partner from some brand I don’t know to Bollinger and how Bollinger is the official Aston Martin sponsor so it’s in line with corporate and how much better Bollinger is that previous partner (very taste subjective), I mean seriously who cares, it should be about the cars not an alcoholic beverage partner. I also don’t rate it that much, it’s same as any common supermarket variety, not as good as the small specialist producers or less common brands.
Rant over, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but this is mine and I stand by it.
I became a member this year as like others had it included in the purchase of a new to me Aston. I purchased in the sub £60k bracket so perhaps don't find my lifestyle in the same circles as some others. The Champagne email was a particularly email of note to me as well, again for the same "why are we discussing Champagne and why am i being told what to drink" thoughts.
Attended two event this year that were perfectly fine but it would be fair to say i have not really interacted with the local area much so need to correct that. For that i will renew for next year to see a) how i get on with the local elements and b) if i just repeat the same national events, then i will make a decision.
I am however a fan of the you get out what you put in notion, I was active in the Westfield club for years and starting to be more so in the local MX5 clubs....but i am not sure about the Aston club just yet.
Attended two event this year that were perfectly fine but it would be fair to say i have not really interacted with the local area much so need to correct that. For that i will renew for next year to see a) how i get on with the local elements and b) if i just repeat the same national events, then i will make a decision.
I am however a fan of the you get out what you put in notion, I was active in the Westfield club for years and starting to be more so in the local MX5 clubs....but i am not sure about the Aston club just yet.
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