Younger Members

[steve_m]

Don't fret; if you miss the first one there will be another 7 along in a minute.

[franrca]

Such empathy...

[steve_m]

Serves you right for supporting Watford.

[franrca]

This is true - so many crosses to bear - old bangers, an unsavoury taste in early 80s music and a crappy little Herts football team - I'm the sum of my parts...and it doesn't add up to much

[DrSebWilkes]

I must admit if tasked with trying to "sell Classic cars" to a younger audience I wouldn't quite know how to do it, and especially specifically a Jag. There are only a few younguns with classic cars (of any state!) and then divide them by the range available and that's also hard.

And this is further made more difficult that all affordable Jags (in terms of initial outlay) are blighted by ridiculous insurance prices.

By the very nature of the special type of cars we own, Jags are not kids toys. And I am bothered? No, not really to be honest.

I'm crazy enough to keep going on this car, and I don't see my craziness changing anytime soon! It makes me a niche market and when, perhaps, another younger person arrives they can know they have company. People will keep having Jags, and XJSs, so the club will keep going. Having young people isn't strictly totally necessary, nor totally feasible as a goal.

That said, now that I'm back again ... I would like to do more around here, for the JEC. Exploit the fact I'm not old if you see what I mean.

(no offence guys )

[BigCatXJS]

....
Some of these youngsters are real flyers and have cash to spend!
....

I think the word "some" says it all. Both Rich and I have previous experience/exposure of/to the Investment Banking world and the various consultancy operations that gravitate towards that mature industry. There were younger "high flying" individuals of extreme net worth whose annual bonus could be 10 or 20 times my annual salary. I don't think that representative of the UK generally. The South East and London (especially the City) are quite different from northern towns and cities (and I do mean further north than Luton for the benefit of those living on the South coast ). Sure, the South East has its own set of challenges around over-population and poor infrastructure (lousy roads that have not developed since the 1950s in places) but its affluence compared to some northern towns and cities is quite a contrast.

I realise that I'm thread derailing with the above so I'll shut up now .

Cheers, Rich

[poprivet]

At what point are we defining as young becoming old?

I was 38 when I bought my Jaguar which I don't consider old. To be fair to the club I think they are doing a good job of balancing events which need to attract everyone. Just pick the ones that suit your own circumstances and ignore the others.

If someone isn't the club type person then just plan your own trip alone or with friends. I've has some fantastic trips all over the country without any club involvement.

[jonscales]

Like a number of individuals have commented there is a cost to some of the classics that younger individuals cannot afford. I remember when I got my first car many moons ago I saw a number of xjs' around the £750...I so wish I had got one of them while I was at Uni....lol...

But on another front in my mid 40's with a young family I have a cabriolet and it is a pride and joy! But so too for the kids who come out and help wash it and clean the inside out etc, although the youngest has to be supervised to ensure he has not picked up any grit, but the older one is usually with him keeping an eye out.

I have not been to many events other than when my father was alive and I was older, but they were more often or not aimed at the older generation, other than things like the Jaguar London to Brighton run where there was a huge mix of both famiies and couples with events that all could join in with and enjoy.

Also like others have said there are certain ages of Jaguar that some of the younger members could well get their teeth into and not a silly money. The limiting factor is obviously their age and what they put down for insurance etc. Having said thta if you look at the right insurance companies this is affordable given that that they put down a limited mileage etc.

Jon

[Tintin]

I'm sure cost is a factor but it's not the only one.

Many of the "older generation" join for the social side of membership - youngsters get their interaction from Facebook Twitter LinkedIn and other social media.

Many drivers today see their car as an unwanted but essential mode of transport - there is little interest in how it works or what it does. And then there is the company car issue - I don't know anyone with a Jaguar on their car list.

JEC events are generally well attended by the "younger generation" - they enjoy the day out - but they don't seem to be much interested in/see the benefit of joining up. "Nice to look at but I wouldn't want to have one".

Robbie

[Zennan101]

I think this is an important issue to bottom out by the club in particular as ‘Younger Members’ will more likely want to use Social Media to follow what the club is up to and communicate with the club in this way.

I was interested to see that a quick ‘old v new’ poll on the club’s Facebook page (still open) is showing (as I type this) a 27% response to the ‘new’. There’s no way of telling if it is ‘Younger Members’ voting for the ‘new’ (XE) but if it is it shows that either there is greater interest in new cars than the ‘Older Members’ like to admit or that the balance of ‘Younger Members’ using Facebook outnumber the ‘Older Members’ and their voting is skewing the poll. Or it could be something else......

Whatever the answer. The times they are a changing.....to quote a Mr Dylan.

Rod

[Tintin]

I was interested to see that a quick ‘old v new’ poll on the club’s Facebook page (still open) is showing (as I type this) a 27% response to the ‘new’. There’s no way of telling if it is ‘Younger Members’ voting for the ‘new’ (XE) but if it is it shows that either there is greater interest in new cars than the ‘Older Members’ like to admit or that the balance of ‘Younger Members’ using Facebook outnumber the ‘Older Members’ and their voting is skewing the poll. Or it could be something else......

I think that illustrates my point, Rod. I am not on Facebook Twitter or anything else, so I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about!!!

The club must be careful not to sideline the established older generation membership (who may like staying at Warner Leisure Hotels) as they move forward - it is after all this older generation(s) who are the backbone of the JEC.

A very good place to start with a "young members" initiative would be the local branches.

Robbie

[steve_m]

I think that I've heard of Facebook but I wouldn't swear to it.

[Tintin]

Steve - when I moved from Dorset to Wiltshire I felt I was leaving the abacus behind and was looking forward to the "white hot technology" (you will remember Harold Wilson?) of log tables and the slide rule. How many youngsters today can accurately balance a pair (or trio) of SU's? The skills and experience are dying out.....

My stepson has just bought a campervan for the family holidays (sons of 7 and 4) - to suggest that caravanning is a pursuit restricted to the older generation (see earlier post in this thread) is a tad stereo-typical.

Robbie

[Zennan101]

Robbie,

I don’t disagree with you. The needs of the existing majority has to be the priority. I just recognize that new members need to find what they want from the club while the majority still gets what they want if that makes sense. As no member is immortal, over time what is the majority view now will be replaced by a new majority view and this view has to be influenced by the new ‘Younger Members’. Change is inevitable. The challenge is how to manage it.

As to Facebook etc. Perhaps you should try it? It’s not going to go away and the excellent club offering is a good way to start. I am not a ‘Younger Member’ but I think life without Facebook is now as unlikely for me as life without a mobile phone. You can’t turn the clock back.

Rod

[Tintin]

I raise the point because we have heard before from the club management that the club must move forward or die out (in the context of posting rights on this forum for example). I have met many members on tours, shows and at other JEC events who rarely, if ever, visit this forum - let alone have a Facebook page; they rely on monthly regional meetings at the local pub and the JEC magazine for their news and information; they enjoy caravanning and Warner Leisure Hotels and tinkering with old cars - they are, by and large, the "older generation". I do see a threat to the traditional member from what may appear to be an unfavourable comparison between their values and lifestyle with those of a "younger" generation who the club wishes to attract. Let us hope there will be no traditional membership casualties in the clubs headlong rush to expand its membership base.

Robbie