ClubLotus etc ... are any worth joining?
Discussion
Club Lotus, Team Esprit etc etc ... are there any worth joining?
Is there any benifit to joining these clubs? I know they offer glossy mags and (supposedly) cheaper insurance but are they value for money?
The information I require is usually found through the knowledgeable great unwashed (you)
or through Kato or Karl's excellent sites. I think I would rather pay a yearly fee to one of these sites than an offical club.
What are your views on this?
Is there any benifit to joining these clubs? I know they offer glossy mags and (supposedly) cheaper insurance but are they value for money?
The information I require is usually found through the knowledgeable great unwashed (you)
or through Kato or Karl's excellent sites. I think I would rather pay a yearly fee to one of these sites than an offical club. What are your views on this?
Hi,
My jury is still out on the larger clubs. My impression is that they are more about politics and ego than the cars.
That having been said, my impressions of small local clubs is the complete opposite. Our local club the LOONs (Lotus Owners Oftha North - covering primarily Minnesota and Wisconsin) is an excellent cadre of local enthusiasts who band together to enjoy the cars and assist each other in repairing/maintaining members cars. I should note that we even have a couple of long distance members (sorry Jim Knowles).
As an example, last year, when I did my rebuild, no fewer than 10 members arrived to assist in pulling and re-installing the engine! One member spent at least 100 Hrs. working with me to do the rebuild. Also, earlier this year when my timing belt jumped while we were welcoming Jim Knowles to Lotus ownership, they would not let me attempt to drive the car, but instead went across town, picked up a trailer and trailered me to another member's garage so we could repair the damage. At least a half dozen members were on hand to complete the repairs. We are a very diverse group bound together by our love of these cars, similar to this forum, but I would say much stronger. We have even produced special tools to work on these cars and are in the process of producing adjustable upper rear links for the 'G' cars which are better and boast twice the adjustability of Lotus own links used on the >S4. Also, we have several other things in the works.
Similar clubs in Chicago (Lotus Corps), St. Louis, San Francisco (Golden Gate Lotus Club), L.A., Florida and such are much the same. If such a club exists in your area, you cannot own a Lotus w/o joining this local club. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE
My jury is still out on the larger clubs. My impression is that they are more about politics and ego than the cars.
That having been said, my impressions of small local clubs is the complete opposite. Our local club the LOONs (Lotus Owners Oftha North - covering primarily Minnesota and Wisconsin) is an excellent cadre of local enthusiasts who band together to enjoy the cars and assist each other in repairing/maintaining members cars. I should note that we even have a couple of long distance members (sorry Jim Knowles).
As an example, last year, when I did my rebuild, no fewer than 10 members arrived to assist in pulling and re-installing the engine! One member spent at least 100 Hrs. working with me to do the rebuild. Also, earlier this year when my timing belt jumped while we were welcoming Jim Knowles to Lotus ownership, they would not let me attempt to drive the car, but instead went across town, picked up a trailer and trailered me to another member's garage so we could repair the damage. At least a half dozen members were on hand to complete the repairs. We are a very diverse group bound together by our love of these cars, similar to this forum, but I would say much stronger. We have even produced special tools to work on these cars and are in the process of producing adjustable upper rear links for the 'G' cars which are better and boast twice the adjustability of Lotus own links used on the >S4. Also, we have several other things in the works.
Similar clubs in Chicago (Lotus Corps), St. Louis, San Francisco (Golden Gate Lotus Club), L.A., Florida and such are much the same. If such a club exists in your area, you cannot own a Lotus w/o joining this local club. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE
I am currently a member of Club Lotus, which I joined for the first time after buying an Esprit in August last year.
I probably will not bother renewing my subscrption.
The magazine is vaguely interesting, but doesn't offer much to the Esprit owner. The coverage of the end of Esprit production was pretty shameful.
The advantages are:
1. Excellent classified advertisements for someone looking to buy a Lotus.
2. Discount on classic car insurance with Footman James.
If I continue to subscribe it will only be to qualify for the discounted insurance.
In my view, this forum and Kato's site are far superior and much more valuable.
Pat
I probably will not bother renewing my subscrption.
The magazine is vaguely interesting, but doesn't offer much to the Esprit owner. The coverage of the end of Esprit production was pretty shameful.
The advantages are:
1. Excellent classified advertisements for someone looking to buy a Lotus.
2. Discount on classic car insurance with Footman James.
If I continue to subscribe it will only be to qualify for the discounted insurance.
In my view, this forum and Kato's site are far superior and much more valuable.
Pat
Sounds like you have already made your mind up.
The Esprit is not the only Lotus I like but the lack of coverage of the Esprit in the mag is shocking considering it has kept the company alive for so long (I reckon if it wasn't for the Bond connotations the company would have sunk after Chapman died).
As for Mr Arnold, he is definitely a character, and that doesn't bother me too much. He has always been willing to chat in the past, even when I wasn't a member, though I can understand why some people may find him hard work! I classify him as being as interesting/infuriating as the cars themselves, which is no bad thing, although I think his attitude to the growth of internet forums like these will eventually be the undoing of the club.
To be honest I joined for the insurance discounts when I was planning to buy an S1; now I have ended up with a GT3 and Footman James are not interested in this, so I may not renew next year.
Cheers
Mark
The Esprit is not the only Lotus I like but the lack of coverage of the Esprit in the mag is shocking considering it has kept the company alive for so long (I reckon if it wasn't for the Bond connotations the company would have sunk after Chapman died).
As for Mr Arnold, he is definitely a character, and that doesn't bother me too much. He has always been willing to chat in the past, even when I wasn't a member, though I can understand why some people may find him hard work! I classify him as being as interesting/infuriating as the cars themselves, which is no bad thing, although I think his attitude to the growth of internet forums like these will eventually be the undoing of the club.
To be honest I joined for the insurance discounts when I was planning to buy an S1; now I have ended up with a GT3 and Footman James are not interested in this, so I may not renew next year.
Cheers
Mark
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