PCGB…Pros and Cons? - Page 2 - Porsche General - PistonHeads UK

Hi. Contemplating joining up but wondered what the general view was? Is it worth while? full of 911 owners who woukd turn their noses up at a mere 981 owner? Bedford based so any view of the local scene good or bad would be good… Thanks Andrew

My experience was (in 2014) that if you have a 911, you're quids in. If you have a Boxster, be prepared to be shunned like a leper. At a club meet, I ended up chatting to a chap about what a bargain Ducati Monster motorcycles were.

We've just come back from the local (Thames Valley) meet at West Berkshire Brewery. Great bunch of people and very welcoming to newcomers. We've been members for a few years and in the early days our first experience was somewhat similar to sixor8's but now it is a bunch of enthusiasts getting together for a chat and a coffee (or beer) and generally all models are represented and appreciated. Today we had a few Macans, a Panamera, lots of Boxsters and Caymans and a few 911s. I'd say it is worth it but I guess it depends on the people running your local area and how much effort you're happy putting in to talk to people at events/meets etc.. I'd be happy to help answer any other questions you might have either privately or through this thread.

Did not renew this year after 6 years; imho PCGB has become very corporate - too many sponsors and benefits that are largely irrelevant for me. Subs increase and spending a fortune on a new Clubhouse were the final straw. Joined another independent Porsche owners club with less than a tenth of the PCGB membership, at less than half the cost - which feels a lot more like a car club run for and by enthusiasts. Other opinions are available.

I joined this past year, one of the benefits i thought was worth the annual membership was the free valuation service. Seems they decided to abandon that service but still mention it on there " benefits of becoming a member " advertising. The Porsche post mag.... i can read that in 10 minutes. I don't really want to read what someone in the north of Scotland is doing on there club nights. Doubt i will renew this year. Free Porsche forums are much more interesting and there are plenty of shows to attend without PCGB involvement.

Thanks for the replies…esp Voodoo Blue….have to say looking at the events there seem to be a lot of track style days which i’m never going to be doing…not esp interested in a valuation…to me it’s priceless lol… Guess the discounted fuel might be but most of that’s going to be offset by buying elsewhere … Might give it a year and see…

I’ve been a member for circa 9 years. In that time I’ve never attended my local region’s monthly meet, however have attended another area following an invite. My subscription renews automatically & every year I think about cancelling but end up forgetting about it. The magazine can be read in about 5 minutes cover to cover & is great if you want to hear what Harry & Dorris had in their picnic when out on a drive with their local region. There isn’t anything of real value to a proper enthusiast in it. TIPEC magazines are much more enthusiast based in my opinion. But I guess it’s whatever floats your boat… Unfortunately my local region seems to be run by a someone who gives no consideration to anyone who doesn’t have a 911 or is not in a position to buy a new Porsche every year. The monthly meet is held on the very edge of the geography for the area which is over a 90 min drive from me & are held at inconsiderate times which usually benefit the ‘retired’ members. Group drives tend to be organised on week days which also benefit the ‘retired’ members. I’ve emailed the regional organiser to be included, didn’t get a response at all, says it all really. I’m going to cancel my subscription this year, to be honest it’s a waste of money. Actually, I did take advantage of a photography course that was run at Cornbury House a few years ago, that was really good, but came with additional cost.

elisered said: Did not renew this year after 6 years; imho PCGB has become very corporate - too many sponsors and benefits that are largely irrelevant for me. This. And the magazine is a joke. Add politics +++ at 'board' level. My local regional group were a decent bunch and I had a number of good trips away. But I'm dubious about car clubs generally: the only thing you have in common with the other members is that you both own the same make of car.

It's hardly expensive and like anything you get out of it whatever you put in. I'm in PCGB and TIPEC, plus a load of facebook pages where drive outs and meet-ups are arranged. PCGB gets you discounted insurance if you use a preferred company too. Never experienced any hint of snobbishness or the like, and I drive a 2.5 F4T GTS Cayman. Like everything, us Brits seem to tell 10 people if we have a bad experience, and tell 2 if we have good. It's just what we do. YMMV, yada yada.

These days PCGB is mostly Boxster and Caymans. Us 911owners, especially cooled ones, are dinosaurs It’s a Club go along with an open mind and be prepared to put some effort in rather than sitting back and expecting to be entertained and you will get something out of it. For me it’s all about local things, made so many friends and had so much fun in the last 16 years. Only once came across snobbery and that was from some southern bloke. Most members are just ordinary people from all walks of life and easy to get on with.

Car clubs are not for everyone. If your first experience is attending a regional meeting unannounced, you would probably never return. There are some long established friendship groups and it’s hard to roll out a red carpet for someone you have never met before when you are catching up with your best mates after a month or two. If you join, go on a run out or an event and start to build memories. The 911 snobbery allegations are very wide of the mark in my view. The biggest model register in PCGB by some margin is Boxster. My neighbouring region held an informal concours competition at Porsche Centre South Lakes yesterday. An excuse to smarten your car up (no obligation - 80% of people just came along but didn’t enter). It was a free event, with unlimited hot and cold drinks all day, free hog roast / salads for lunch. All competitors received £30 worth of gifts from the sponsoring detailer and a £40 key ring from the Porsche Centre. The winner got a £300 detailing kit and half a dozen people took home nice trophies and lovely prizes. Basically, many people there got more than their membership fee back at that one event alone. I’ve made lifelong friends - the Club’s all about people and all sorts of opportunities arise. Trackdays are great - drive your car surrounded by fellow enthusiasts who have the same skin in the game, not young lads proving their hot hatches are way quicker than the Porsche… Esso offer a discounted fuel card, Pirelli offer cash back on tyres, most Porsche Centres offer member discounts, Lockton offer a high end insurance policy with free trackday cover, there’s a free glossy magazine, opportunities to attend regional, national and international events, factory visits, the list goes on, to include a wide motorsport calendar. Going back to the start, regional offerings are not consistent but it would be pretty hard not to get value for money from membership. My Mum’s local flower club has subs that are broadly similar and the opportunities offered there are, erm, somewhat limited in comparison. Oh yes, the concours winner was a lad in his 20s with a 718 Cayman that his girlfriend uses to go to work in. That said, it’s really not for everyone. It can be fantastic though. Edited by rob.kellock on Sunday 26th June 23:14

I am a member because of the parts discount....run three cars which are serviced by OPC so get my money back there. Only times I have done anything event wise is when its been run by the register secretary. Attended a track/instruction day run by the GT3 register, did a Milbrook day run by 991 register etc.But those were a few years ago now.

I was at Wollaton Hall yesterday with the East Midlands PCGB, there was probably more Boxsters there than anything else. Since being in the club I have visited lots of nice places that I would not have otherwise been too.

Been a member for approx. 10 years, popped along to a few events, never had any hint of snobbishness whatsoever. Unlike some previous ones I’ve been a member of… Moved house last year and bumped into a previous RO from the neighbouring region, which meet closer to where we now live. So I’ve swapped regions as I know I’ll get along to more events as their meets are fairly nearby. The magazine is mostly adverts and regional news from previous months events…some decent articles every now and then. 10% parts discount if you service at OPC could easily get your money back from the subscription cost. The recent relocation of the HQ has been cancelled at last, they’ve finally seen sense. A vanity project if you’ve ever seen one and I’m glad it’s not going ahead. Still…I doubt it’ll stop the politics but generally manage to stay away from all of that.

There are politics everywhere ... try AMoC ... (Aston M..) The MMoC was great (Morris Minors) ... all about low cost running and restoration ... and events ... but no track days ! I have been a member of the Porsche Club for a long time and save far more than the cost of my membership on track days ... which are generally very well behaved and great fun. It's my experience that you can dip in as and where it suits ... and you generally get out of membership a little more than you put into it

It's worth it for the trackdays alone, can't wait for Oulton park later in the year.

Why do you feel the need to join a car club? There is a Porsche owners club local to me, I’d rather eat my own feet than take part in most of these organised events. I can enjoy my cars in my own way at my own time without the need for a group setting. I get a decent discount at Porsche Belfast, who have been wonderful, extremely helpful. It’s a pity the dealership closest to me aren’t so helpful it’s like they go out of their way to be as useless as is humanly possible, but their Jaguar dealership is the same, so I should have known. Each to their own when it comes to joining any club but they definitely aren’t for me.

Sounds good for the track days and organised events (if that's your thing). Since I do neither and I couldn't get the 10% discount to equal the subscription price I cancelled.

My local pcgb region - R19 - are a friendly enough bunch. I went to a pcgb track day at Castle Combe, earlier this year and it was very cliquey. There were some 'normal' people there. You know, approach them, smile a bit, intrduce yourself, chat a bit about cars, be self-deprecating. But they were a minority. The majority obvisouly felt they operated at the peak of an invisible hierarchy, and would only talk to their fellow platinum club members. Very odd. Also, top marks to the pcgb lifer who took pride in loudly correcting and humiliating the gentle, committed retired chap giving the briefing. Idiot! Anyway, in contrast, had a TD at Goodwood a few weeks later. Excellent - everybody was approachable, relaxed and - get this - there because everybody had a shared passion for cars. Imagine that! Overall - probably worth it (insurance discount alone?). Just be prepared for some mixed experiences. I prefer drives out with mates (clears throat in TDT's direction)

I'm a member, and really it was a good starting point for getting acquainted with people. Discounts for track-days, parts and insurance easily offset the annual fee. I don't get involved with the politics... I like some of the zoom events we had during lockdowns... I have been to a couple of regional meets at places that have interested me ... e.g. Workshop visit @ OPC. I'm possibly at a different stage of life than most members, that I have seen... but as CloudStuff says... you can quickly find who is 'normal'... and then also as he says.... drives out with mates is a lot of fun.

IME the track days are a nice 'safe' place to start out for Porsche owners. There are a good few events organised - the parking, grandstand and other facilities at Silverstone Classic being an excellent example. Parts discount, both at OPC and other vendors is also useful.

Many thanks for all the replies…food for thought…and i will look into the TIPEC option too…seems a bit more relaxed going by their website etc .