What’s the best Jaguar car club?

[Matt99man]

I’m looking for a present for a Jaguar XJ owner, possible a future XK. What’s the best club to join?

[reddiesel]

Matt99man said:

I’m looking for a present for a Jaguar XJ owner, possible a future XK. What’s the best club to join?

Keep your money in your pocket they are both pretty crap . A Years Breakdown Cover could be more beneficial .

[Zumbruk]

I wish I could recall which one it was where the RO was rude to me; he wouldn't tell me where their local meeting was until I joined. That's the first time that's ever happened, and I belong, or have belonged, to 4 or 5 different car clubs. Needless to say, I didn't bother.

[Simpo Two]

I have no experience of Jaguar owner's clubs but it may come down to what he likes to do best, for example does he want a good magazine to read, or does he like events and social stuff? You may find that different clubs have different leanings.

[8bit]

I've been a member of both the JEC (Jaguar Enthusiast's Club) and XKEC (XK Enthusiast's Club), I didn't renew either one and wouldn't recommend.

[reddiesel]

I think that there is more going on Socially on these various Jaguar Forums especially now the Summer is here . The Jaguar Breakfast Club at Gaydon and Steve Sheldons South East Gathering are both worth visiting , there is also a big Jaguar Event coming up at Bicester Heritage . Personally I always enjoy the monthly Earls Barton Classic gatherings on a Wednesday evening throughout the Summer just ordinary People with a pride in their various Cars
The JDC in particular and I had been a member for many years always tends to be very status orientated where the various Jaguar Models are concerned " could you please leave that X Type by the Tradesmans entrance theres a good chap " I shudder to think what they think of all these Owners of Jaguar shopping trolley SUVs when they try to join , they probably assume its Deliveroo got the wrong address .

[V12 Migaloo]

I'm a member of the JEC and have just re-joined the JDC.
With the JEC I get a discount at several retailers that has more then paid for the membership itself. I also, through the magazine found several interesting vendors "up north" that sold me some great items at really good prices, again I wouldn't have found these if it wasn't for the clubs magazine. I've also used the JEC's online forum and have received good advice and feedback.
I re-joined the JDC this weekend at Syon Park, even though at the time I wasn't a member I was very warmly greeted and given the technical advice that I sought, was subsequently put in contact with several people local to me and hence I thought I'd join the club. The help and advice I received more then paid for the joining fee, plus I get another Jag mag 12 times a year.
I will from time to time, attend both clubs local/national events and take advantage of the various track days that they organise.
I find with these clubs you get out what you put in. If you attend these club events and then keep yourself to yourself then don't bother joining a club, you can do it all yourself without the clubs assistance, but enter in to the spirit of events and the clubs and you quickly make new friends and contacts.

[plasticpig]

I was a member of the JEC. The local branch met at a golf club once a month. Trundled up in my XJ6 SIII and pretty much found everyone was talking about golf rather than cars. I didn't go again.

[Simpo Two]

reddiesel said:

I shudder to think what they think of all these Owners of Jaguar shopping trolley SUVs when they try to join , they probably assume its Deliveroo got the wrong address .

I don't think owners of the current 'Jaguar' offerings would be much interested in a Jaguar club.

[reddiesel]

Simpo Two said:

I don't think owners of the current 'Jaguar' offerings would be much interested in a Jaguar club.

Sadly thats probably true , we have probably had the best of it as an old Jaguar driving mate is always telling me .

[EXKAY120]

There all old farts living in the past !! keep ya money take the Jag and have a nice meal out somewhere...
JEC and JDC = old farts club !

[Matt99man]

Well I’m no clearer haha!

Its for a older gent, unlikely to buy a new jag but also unlikely to get an e type - not into golf either

[Simpo Two]

What about an accessory or gadget for his car instead?

[reddiesel]

Simpo Two said:

What about an accessory or gadget for his car instead?

Thinking about it , adding an accessory or gadget to any Jaguar can be a process fraught with difficulty and often inviting ridicule from fellow Posters .
I remember years back some Bloke had come across an X350 with a Horses Head mounted half way up the Bonnet outside York Railway Station and posted the Pictures on a Jaguar Forum . Personally I always cringe when I see a Tow Bar on any Jaguar yet the Leaper I dont much mind .
I think you should nail your colours to the mast Simpo and give a recommendation A nice set of those Deep Wool Jaguar Car Mats has always appealed to me but with the X150 and now the F Type sadly they are totally pointless .

[Simpo Two]

reddiesel said:

I think you should nail your colours to the mast Simpo and give a recommendation.

No problem. My XK came with an 'R' gear knob fitted. I wouldn't have considered it myself but it's subtle and works so I'm happy to leave it.

But there's no point buying something if the recipient doesn't like it or isn't going to use it, so maybe the OP should ask first.

[Matt99man]

Hi all, just wanted to open this back up again as I’m about to pull the trigger on a jag club subscription for 12 months. It’s a present so want some advice as to what’s the best, it’s for a XJ owner and a monthly/quarterly mag would be nice. And up to date recommendations?

[Jaguar steve]

Matt99man said:

Hi all, just wanted to open this back up again as I’m about to pull the trigger on a jag club subscription for 12 months. It’s a present so want some advice as to what’s the best, it’s for a XJ owner and a monthly/quarterly mag would be nice. And up to date recommendations?

I belonged to the Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club for a while, which was formed as a result of a spat within the much older Jaguar Drivers Club.

On the face of it the monthly magazine was good, the club and various regions within were very active and there was always something Jaguar oriented going on but it always seemed to me a number of the committee members were running the club as their own little fiefdom whilst heavily promoting their own business interests and I wasn't keen at all on how some of the club's substantial income was spent to the benefit of committee members.

I found none of the member's special offers and discounts ever added up as you could always find a better deal outside the club and the response to technical questions, which was my main reason for joining was erratic and frequently a very sparse one or two liner when rather more detail was required.

Specialist tool hire was astonishingly expensive and carried a big mark up on postage too, both of which was to the benefit of one particular committee member and as just one example I actually bought some cam setting tools outright for my XJ8 for substantially less than the club would rent me theirs for a week.

I left some while ago and haven't rejoined. If you eat, sleep and breathe Jaguar then yes - otherwise spend the membership fee on petrol instead.

[florian]

Or maybe go for a nice accessory instead? Like a Brigg umbrella, you can specify them in a number of colours (e.g. green or match the color of the car). Would go nicely with an XJ.

https://www.swaineadeneybrigg.com/collections/brig...

[reddiesel]

Matt99man said:

Hi all, just wanted to open this back up again as I’m about to pull the trigger on a jag club subscription for 12 months. It’s a present so want some advice as to what’s the best, it’s for a XJ owner and a monthly/quarterly mag would be nice. And up to date recommendations?

Sadly its the same reply from me . If you must I would go for the JDC , but its my guess that once you buy it initially , your friend wont bother again come renewal time .