SOC Membership. Is it for me ?.

[Guest]

Hello.



I am considering joining the SOC. Sorry for what appears to be slight nervousness but I have been a member of Car clubs in the past and have been somewhat unhappy with the experience with some of them. I rarely go to meetings and the like, partly because living in Plymouth most of the meetings mean that travelling some distance is required and partly meetings are not my thing. That does not mean if there was something happening close to me on a summer weekend I would not attend, I probably would. I would like to say I am not an anti-social old fart it’s just travelling some distance on a week day evening is not for me even if the company was very friendly. The main reason for me to join a Club is for the technical backup and discount on things like insurance although I have found what I pay at present ( £130 fully comp with breakdown cover and agreed value ) is reasonable. At a guess what would I pay for the equivalent cover through the SOC ? ( 57 year old ). Sorry if I sound like a mercenary old fart but I though I would advise the type of member I would be and so would joining the SOC be of benefit to me ?.



Opinions welcome.



Many thanks, Don Kennedy

http://www.donkennedy.co.uk/

[Giles]

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Hi Don

I assume you will get a number of differing opinions so here goes.

I am a member of the SOC. I think the club is worth joining - it should not be forgotten that you will be contributing to the tooling fund which helps with the commissioning of parts production. Also the mag has some good technical advice in it - although there is also a lot (too much) social. As regards discounts - I would not say there is enough to be a reason for joining. We should also remember that the club runs the forum.

You may find the social side appeals - get together with some local guys in Plymouth?

[StagManiac]

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^^ Agreed. It is agood wayto support the upkeep of the Stag in terms of the availability of parts, publicity at shows, events and in the media and in other ways. I haven't been to local meets for ages due to other projects, lack of time, etc., but I am prioritising getting back along to them; they are fun!

The magazine is good too.

Join! You won't be sorry. The SOC is definitelyone of the better car clubs I have been a member of over the years. Heck I have been a member for nearly19 years! :dude:

Paul

[V Mad]

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having just renewed my membership, I am a club supporter, but from past experiences I am not a fan of the magazine;maybe it will improve? I find a lot of it is irrelevant to me, and the forum is much more useful.

Its up to you Don.

[nib]

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I look forward to my magazine every month.

Where else would I get 95 pages of my favourite car.Certain articles appeal to me more than others which is only to be expected.

I think ÂŁ29 (I cant remember how much I pay each year?) is good value in this day and age,and until someone comes up with a superior monthly magazine of Triumph Stags I shall remain a member.

Mark

[grahamb]

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Don,

it doesnt matter to me if anyone is or is not a member of the SOC. However, you seem to like to use to services provided by this forum, which answers the question in my opinion.

[seaside bill]

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I wouldn't recommend joining for the insurance scheme or magazine, but if you've got ÂŁ32 worth of value from your various requests for advice here then you decide - if nobody joined the site wouldn't exist!

[stustag]

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Don there are a few members near Plymouth on this forum I'm sure you can all meet if you wish rather than have to travel far?

As for the Club I have been a member since 2004 and until last year did so to support the SOCTFL fund but since 2007 I got more involved with the Forum and the Club (Prescott, National Day, Local N&N) and have made loads of new friends on here and at the meets so ÂŁ32 I feel is nothing for the friends I have gained and the knowledge this forum gives me.

Stuart

[Andrew S]

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Don

Sign up for year and see what you think.As mentioned the forum is a fountain of knowledge and the guys on here know it allandsave such a lot of time and in most cases monies for those ever occurring repairs or problems.

Why not write something for the magazine as already mentioned, there appears to be an ever ending need for material.

I can understand what you say about attending meeting and distance.That would be a big factor to me when joining.I can assure you though that if and when you sign up and an event is down your way, then you will gain entry and will be able to meet most of the members on here, they're a good bunch.

Sign up and see what you think, its only ÂŁ32 andcheaper than the likes of other clubs.

[DJT]

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Hi Don,

There are a lot of keen members in the Plymouth area. Andy makes the effort to meet up with owners of other Triumphs andarranged a couple of good joint meetsat Trerulefootlast year.

Go on. Join! You know it makes sense.

Bill,

Looking at your new avatar, I guess it has been raining in Somerset today!

Dave

[Stag Beetle]

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“And so my fellow Stag owners, ask not what your club can do for you - ask what you can do for your club”

A famous speech from someplace. I Joined last year and personally at the moment I am happy to pay my yearly subscription if it goes to the couple of pages I read in the magazine or the upkeep costs of the forum, or if I ever go to a meeting a cup of tea in a tent, or the tooling fund, it all goes to the one important thing the preservation and promotion of the “Triumph Stag”.

Andrew

[Stevekid1]

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Hi Don,

This is a no brainer and you need to join! You should not pre judge local meetings on the basis of previous experiences and if you where to find it similar you cannot change things from the outside looking in. The local meetings are what you make them and you only get out what you are prepared to put in so to speak and all contributions are generally welcome. How will you find out aboutyour local groupsorganised events that you are prepared to go to if you don't join? This isn't to say that I sing the praises of local meetings as I have only been to 4 having had my car since May last year and have only seen one other Stag in the car park. For their part however, the regular members have made us extremely welcome and we look forward to supporting as many local events as possible this year.

The insurance cartel in my opinion are all much the same, I pay ÂŁ136 through the club scheme and had similar quotes from other companies. I also look forward to the magazine even if I don't read it all.

We used to have a TR6 up until 12 years ago and I can remember my initial impression of the local TR group being particularly "clicky" but we still have the good friends we made even though the car went ages ago. Perhaps your experiences are based on meeting the wrong people and you should at least give this club a go for a year to see if you meet the right ones. If this forum is anything to go by you soon will do!!

Above all, I intend to enjoy the Stag as I am sure you do and part of that enjoyment, for me anyway, is being part of the club and meeting other people with a common interest.

Kind regards, Steve

[singapore stag]

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Hi Don, I joined up in December, I have known about the Stag owners club from friends for a few years now, from their experience and the little I have of it I can honestly say that if you own a Stag and want technical info or any other helpthen this is the place to be, these guys know their onions.

The members are really helpful and quite passionate about the one thing this is all about theTRIUMPH STAG.

The Forumfor me is a lively social entity,helpful, full of advice information,and the best bitI enjoy is the micky taking sense of humour the members have for each other,.....and all this for under 3 quid amonth.

Regards..Sukhi.

[StagnJag]

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Your local area coordinator is David Taylor who just happens to be DJT on the Forum. You could contact him to find out what the local area meetings are like and where they are. His details are on the SOC website. http://www.stag.org.uk/index.aspx?pid=168

Rgds

Dave

[PaulT]

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Hi Don

With a post count of 45 at the time of writing - you are already receiving the wisdom and benefits of the SOC.

Without the SOC funding this forum would not exist - it's a 'no-brainer - join.

Paul