It's not written in any forum rules though that you're not allowed to meet the folks off there in real life though!

I think I've made my feelings about clubs crystal clear in so much as I think they're vital for the future survival of our cars. But, I think forums such as this can also play a very important role-take my dealings with Viking.

We'd never met/seen each other before yet Peter put himself out looking at Amis for me and then paid for it with his own money and trusted me to deliver the Bijou/collect the Ami and give him his cash.

And that all through a forum-you can still make "real" friends on them it seems.

Agreed, met some great people through forums, just as I have in day-to-day life, as Viking says, it's a modern invention like a lot of things the internet can be used for and a lot of 'old school' clubs, organisations and businesses should wake up to it as most of them are missing great opportunities.

Or to put it another way; if some bar steward hadn't set up this forum you'd get time to fit your kitchen, talk to the wife and you wouldn't have any welding burns

Well, I'm a non UK member and a member of the 2CVGB. I renew my membership every year at the 2CVGB-National. The magazin was one of the reasons to join the 2CVGB. And saying that the costs for the membership is too expensive / ineffective / a waste is just ridiculous!

As it happens, I don't think it is particularly expensive at £25. But if your girlfriend's been unemployed for six months and your mortgage payments alone take up two thirds of your suddenly reduced income, £25 is a lot of money to find. Certainly more than I can justify at the moment.

Its the same situation with myself, I'm new to 2CV ownership, I would have usually joined a club by now as I know very little about how to fix the car etc and am learning the hard way. I am on short time at the moment so my income has been reduce by a third and I simply cannot justify the £25 (a quarter of our weekly shop).
So I am extremely grateful to this Forum for providing the information I need and the banter to keep me sane and it helped save my project as if not for this Forum I would have scrapped the car.

regards

Colin

its a valid point,

alot of people (this isnt aimed at anyone so dont anyone take it personally) dont realise the "skint" way of life until theyve been there...

I avoid Citroën car clubs like the plaque. The clubs that I was a member of did not do anything other than getting my membership money and shipped the magazine. In both cases I met the ``inner circle´´ and always felt that it was hard to be accepted. To my surprise others, even long term members felt the same way but they enjoyed the social side of it and the camaraderie as long as nobody challenged the peace. All the political nonsense I could do without. It is to me nothing more than a monster I wasted time and money on but I do respect what the club was doing for the common good, like parts for members, raids and other meeting and so on. Today I feel no need to be part of any club. My movements are through forums and the friendships coming from these forums.

And Viking pretty much sums up how I feel. It's not the £25.00 I'm bothered about, although these days it all counts, it's the whole political back-biting and factions atmosphere that I walk away from. I'm happy enough to do my own thing without being part of an organised group.

The same thing exists in art clubs, which is why I don't join those either. It's not the fault of the clubs, just human nature.

Colinfoster. If you do join 2cvGB I think you'll enjoy it so don't get me wrong, but you can also learn all you need to know about your car right here amongst these virtual reprobates.

I think you will find most people have been there James.