x1/9 owners club...

[biggbn]

genuinely interested in feedback about this club....good, bad or indifferent...im a genuine italian car nut, owned loads of them and joined the club in order to gain some valuable knowledge about x1/9s and, hopefully find a good one to buy....i met a local member of the club who, it later transpired was a banned member, but as he is a fiat expert and mechanic and charges very reasonable rates, i class this as being the one good thing that happened to me as a result of my (brief) membership....i myself was subsequently banished from the club, ostensibly for being under suspicion of passing over club passwords..real james bond cloak and dagger stuff, crikey!!.., but in reality, i feel, for not distancing myself from the banned member....

seems strange and the whole experience has somewhat soured me towards becoming involvoed in car clubs, though not excellent forums like this one and all the other ones im a member of...always as biggbn, no clandestine nom de plume from me.....

anyhow, im not intending to start a slagging match, just genuinely interested in anyone elses experiences of this club...i even asked for my membership fee to be donated to cancer research so at least someone would benefit from this debacle, but never heard anything from them...strange, clandestine operation, but maybe this is an uncharacteristic incident and im just an unfortunate casualty of an ongoing situation???...cheers al, gbn

 

[timberbloke]

I'm not a member of the owners club, and have no intention of joining. My only contact with them was immediatly after i purchased my first X1/9 and I asked for some advice. At this point i intended to join. However i was told over the phone that until I joined they wouldn't give me any advice. I took the hump as I've found other classic car clubs really helpful in the past as the members have a love for the cars concerned, that wasn't the impression i got from this lot, so my money stays in my pocket.

 

[fiat abarth]

I'm not a member of the owners club, and have no intention of joining. My only contact with them was immediatly after i purchased my first X1/9 and I asked for some advice. At this point i intended to join. However i was told over the phone that until I joined they wouldn't give me any advice. I took the hump as I've found other classic car clubs really helpful in the past as the members have a love for the cars concerned, that wasn't the impression i got from this lot, so my money stays in my pocket.

hey guys!
what an intresting observation and intresting thread.
Been in the exact same position of buying a car, ending up calling for advice and being told that only paid members can get the info needed.
This was in Sweden. But looks like it's the same thing in diff countries.
I lived in UK between 1999-2004 and bought 3 Xys which has now been taken to Sweden and one of them was thru the Owners Club.

My general feeling about membersclubs are not the best.. feels like it's both freaks and nutcases in these clubs.. (am I one as a member?) LOL
some which have scared me
but which all have a an intrest in one thing.. i.e Fiat cars.
But there should be an open attitude to members and to new members, especially younger ones.. the X1/9 is not a new car but could be a perfect car for younger guys/girls.

there is a club in Sweden called Fiat Classic Club which I was a member in but the roof wasn't very high there.. and when I questioned about this I was told to go somewhere else.
in their matrix, the newerst cars were up until 1984. But nothing about Uno, Panda, Croma aso.
Fiat is not a big brand in Sweden and in my mind there should be an welcoming and open attitud to all.

Sorry got abit sidetracked LOL

 

[jimbro1000]

The X1/9 owners club used to be one of the biggest single model clubs in the country (a large percentage of X1/9s were sold in the UK) but it was still small-fry compared with the truely big clubs and ultimately of a limited life-expectancy.

In order to keep the club going the committee decided to take certain measures. 1) put the membership price up, 2) make the website restricted to members only and 3) keep the advice very much in house.

At the time I was technical advisor to the club and the club secretary. I didn't agree with the measures and left but I do still keep in touch with them and maintain a good relationship.

Mouthing off about them isn't going to do anyone any favours - they have their reasons for doing what they do, mostly in the name of keeping the club intact. As the club shrinks it will likely get worse as the more devoted, dedicated and potentially militant members are the ones that remain. If you want advice it might be better to go to CASCU/Eurosport provided you are going to buy something from them.

There are other X1/9 specific clubs but none of them are UK based, one of the largest is the X-web forum (originally Seattle X1/9). They are far more open and more importantly free to join, that is not to say that they don't have their foibles as well and not everyone gets along with them but largely they are a nice bunch of people.

The forum here doesn't get the same kind of readership or attract the same kind of specialist knowledge (I do my best but I'm getting very rusty on the subject - it's been about 8 years since I owned a standard spec car).

 

[fiat abarth]

Hey there!

The owners club in my opinion is shooting themselves in the foot by being "militant".
Only write from my own experience and that's what I base my opinion on.
And in all fairness, if you would come as a newbie to a club and are being met with that attitude wouldn't you wonder what kind of club that is?
Personally I think its a shame that it is like that.
Secondly bring in young blood in to the club by making it more attractive and availible. The X1/9 today is cheep fun to buy and it would attract a young crowd.

most of the car clubs I know meet and sometimes drive around on tracks/roads or whatever there is or meet up to show off the car on meetings.

however the Swedish X1/9 club seems to be a meet where the car is not in focus, more of a get together, go to museeums or other activitys.
The only thing in common is the Xy.. but not in focus.

 

[macmario]

First of all hello ,as it is my first post on this forum,Refering to the X19 club, which after purchasing my x19 i thought the sensible thing to do was to join in order to carry out a complete restoration of my delapitated fiat.
I promptly parted with my £25 ,posted three times on the forum and left the uk on overseas deployment.On my return some months later i endeavoured to log in to the forum only to find that i was "banned" and no longer able to view or post in the members forum,indeed there was and has never been any explanation forthcoming from the "ic SUNONOVE" mafia, and naturally they have not refunded my initial payment,but they did keep sending me the quaterly publication ,which along with the "jollies" that the commitee attend is where my £25 disappeared to.
What to do with the x19? ,i was advised to take it to a garage in dundee scotland which i did and after discussing my options with the proprietor,i settled on a reasonable amount for all the welding and mechanical work.
With no hidden extras on my bill the x19 was delivered to me complete with a new coat of paint and now serves as my wifes weekend "run about"
Additionally i am also a member of another car club and have never in my experience witnessed the bizarre and vindictive behavior forthcoming from the proported X19 owners club,i would ask any prospective members that they think again as the knowledge of xi9,s can easily be found else where and you will retain your hard earned £25.
(i did hear that if you are not a member of the x19 club that "they" will come and take the car from you)

 

[rachaeljf]

Dear biggbn,

You wanted feedback; as a long time member of the UK Owners Club, and for a short while the editor of Icsunonove I do agree that there are some oddball characters within the membership, but I have found all the forum members I have come across to be friendly and decent.

I am sad that you have been banned, I do not know why this has happened. What I will say is that bad behaviour will get you banned from any forum; the X1/9 OC forum is no different. However, whilst on many web forums you can get banned for upsetting just one moderator, the X1/9 OC forum only bans a member after much agonising by the committee; banning is not taken lightly. I read the abusive posts that led to the original banning and I can tell you they were of a nature that would make a hardened Usenet user blush.

Regarding new blood, there are many UK OC members who are not forum members. The forum is populated very much by a "hard core" of X1/9 fans, who devote much of their free time to running the forum and the wider club. New blood does indeed come into the club and the forum regularly. However, I would warn new members that if they treat the forum like Usenet they risk being banned.

Dear macmario,

I am intrigued as to what "bizarre and vindictive" behaviour you witnessed. Knowing what happened after the original banning referred to by biggbn, I don't believe you would have been banned without any communication from the club.

Instead of badmouthing, perhaps revealing the whole truth about these incidents might be fairer.

Cheers R

 

[cha40]

I found the owners club to be an excellent source of information, especially in the Faults and Fixes (Technical) Section. But, the problem is getting there without stumping up the now £30 membership fee before you receive the secret passwords.

Fair enough, keep postings on the Forum to fully paid up members, But where is the problem letting fellow x1/9 owners having a wee look on your site? Lets be honest here, the only people remotely interested in x1/9s are real italian fans.
Charlie

 

[cha40]

edit do not keep giving out passwords on here,
ff staff

 

[biggbn]

Dear biggbn,

You wanted feedback; as a long time member of the UK Owners Club, and for a short while the editor of Icsunonove I do agree that there are some oddball characters within the membership, but I have found all the forum members I have come across to be friendly and decent.

I am sad that you have been banned, I do not know why this has happened. What I will say is that bad behaviour will get you banned from any forum; the X1/9 OC forum is no different. However, whilst on many web forums you can get banned for upsetting just one moderator, the X1/9 OC forum only bans a member after much agonising by the committee; banning is not taken lightly. I read the abusive posts that led to the original banning and I can tell you they were of a nature that would make a hardened Usenet user blush.

Regarding new blood, there are many UK OC members who are not forum members. The forum is populated very much by a "hard core" of X1/9 fans, who devote much of their free time to running the forum and the wider club. New blood does indeed come into the club and the forum regularly. However, I would warn new members that if they treat the forum like Usenet they risk being banned.

Dear macmario,

I am intrigued as to what "bizarre and vindictive" behaviour you witnessed. Knowing what happened after the original banning referred to by biggbn, I don't believe you would have been banned without any communication from the club.

Instead of badmouthing, perhaps revealing the whole truth about these incidents might be fairer.

Cheers R

i was genuinely looking for feedback here...as for bad behaviour, my track record on the many forums im a member of surely speaks for itself...i saw no bad behaviour on my behalf, just accusatons thereof from the comitee...no court of appeal, no right to reply..draconian in the extreme...still, thats the way they do business....i found many of the forum users to be very friendly and enthusiastic, its just that, for me, the few bad apples that spoil this particular barrel were the ones in charge of the barrel itself...d'oh....

im not wanting a slagging match here, was just intrigued as to wether any other members had reveived short shrift from the club...iv informed several of the magazines i subscript to of this oddball beahviour too..i suppose to a certain extent this may be viewed as sour grapes, and i AM upset about this 'banning' as i genuinely feel that i had done nothing wrong but post pictures of x1/9s...on an x1/9 club....crime of the century, eh...

 

[rachaeljf]

Well, biggbn and macmario, I expect you will read the X1/9 OC chairman's explanation of the unfortunate circumstances in which you were apparently "banned."

Based on that explanation and my own experience of the club and its forum, it looks to me like you have either been taken for mugs by the original cause of the "trouble," i.e. Dallaraturbo as she is known, or you are sock puppets for the charming Dallaraturbo and/or her partner Cha40.

Whichever is the case, I am pretty sure your comments here and on other forums (example below) will win you little sympathy.

"...by happy coincidence, i just got banned from that very club today..i must say i found them the most suspicious, unhelpful, unwelcoming bunch its ever been my misfortune to deal with, with the odd exception. if the survival of these cars depends on those who are running the owners club now, i really fear for the cars haha."

All the best,

Rachael

 

[x19file]

I'd just like to say that I've been a member of the X1/9 Owners Club since 1987, and it's been worth every penny. This is a Very friendly Club ... it's a Wonderful blend of people and cars, and I've had many great times.

Cha40 says he found it to be an excellent source of information .... which it is ... but wonder how he found it as he's NEVER been a member

Also, I don't understand why he feels the need to give out the password / login details on various sites (including here)

I'm not into politics ... life's FAR too short! ...

All I know is :

I Love the X1/9

I Love meeting fellow enthusiasts

I feel my subscription is put to good use and resent "hackers" .... I'm very happy to subscribe to the Owners Club and reap the benefits .

You pays your money, you takes your choice ...

BUT.... I don't understand why the Club is receiving so much venom from 2 or 3 people

No matter ... I'm in for a good few years yet

 

[fiat abarth]

BUT.... I don't understand why the Club is receiving so much venom from 2 or 3 people

No matter ... I'm in for a good few years yet

Receiving so much venom?

Have you read all that has been written on her?
I'm finding to be a very healthy debate.
There are some criticism against the club from some members and funny enough.. it's more or less the same criticism.
Some members who feel they have been wrongly evicted from the club.

Also on the first post.. "I don't want to get into a sling match" was said.

if you can't take criticism then perhaps a forum where freedom of speech is vital, then it's not for you?

Sadly aswell, forums can be a place where words can be VERY easily misunderstood.

 

[markp38]

I’m a very active forum member and long time club member,
I love my X1/9s and really appreciate the on tap technical information support and also spare parts donated by other members (some times free of charge) to help fellow members out.

Yes the club has some loons (what club hasn’t?) I also saw the attempt at character assassination and personal vendettas ran by some of the Turbo powered Scottish members!
(Which I might add I defended their right to be able to comment without being slanderous)

But there are always two sides to any story, if you feel you have been hard done by I’m sorry and I’m sure the thread started on the owners club will resolve this.

12 months on and still the “Dallaraturbo” knife keeps turning she must be really proud of all her hard work!
:bang:

 

[jimbro1000]

Please also keep in mind that anyone running a forum has to tread very lightly.

The law on such matters makes the owner of the forum liable for any libelous comments made in addition to the individual making the comment. So once it gets down to a slanging match of any kind you tend to find people getting very quick to block such things.

The X19OC has the relatively comfortable position of being strictly members only and even if you are a member of the club you are not necessarily a member of the forum. As such the forum is not completely public so the odds of something libelous being visible is pretty slim but they will still wreak the wrath of the forum moderator on anyone they deem to be abusing the situation.

Internet forums are *not* a stage for free speech and there are an awful lot of people out there who've fallen foul of that illusion. Many of them are not the individual but rather the forum owner.

In terms of fair - people are always biased and well entrenched members are always going to have the upper hand, more so if they know how to frame their comments to cause maximum damage without actually saying anything nasty. These people are not the traditional troll of usenet days, they are a higher evolution of vindicitive, manipulative and downright viscious trolls who take delight in the abuse of others. Do enough hunting, especially on popular forums and you'll find there are hundreds of thousands of such sad cases who live for such things. They are commonly referred to as politicians...

If you rise to the bait - as invariably happens, you are going to come off worse. The answer is not to rise to it and if you feel someone is taking the **** that badly then take it up with the moderators and don't post your annoyance publically as that will just make it worse.

 

[ChrisPR]

I've been a member of the X1/9 OC for quite a few years now. I initially joined so I could get access to the forum, but later found that the events and trips the club organises were just as much of a pull as the techinical advice and banter on the forum.

My wife and I have made many friends through the club, and we'll be sticking around for a good many years too.

Don't let the views of one or two cloud your judgement about the club - it's well run and worth every penny.

 

[biggbn]

i always found chris above to be one of the good guys, in all fairness, i never actually fell foul, to my memory, of anyone on the forum section of the club....my inteest is in the draconian measures taken to my membership by a comitee i have never met, and who have never met me, on suspicion alone....

i have printed on at least one other forum that i have found the x1/9 'experience' to be less than satisfactory, and the phrase i used on fccuk is one i have repeated here. im not getting into a slagging match with individuals, but i suppose i am with the x1/9 mafia haha who decided to terminate my membership with immediate effect and little or no further explanation, other than accusations based upon suspicion...a very sad state of affairs i feel..

i was not a member of the club when the 'dallarawhatever...'situation reared its (ugly) head. i was actually introduced to cha40 through the club and have always found him to be a very good mechan ic who is passionate about fiats. many of the x1/9 owners club north of the border use cha to fettle their cars....subsequently, we were all placed under suspicion for the leaking of the holy grail passwords...guilt by association??...and banned.....

i cant folow the discussion on the owners club site as suggested, as, you may have realised, im a banned member. my advice to the owners club, if it is to continue to thrive, is to LISTEN to your members. accept that there are akways going to be strong characters involved in any club and that there will be spats and arguments. i sincerely hope, as chris says, that the club contnues to thrive and that its membership grows...because, above all, im a fiat fan. i do however fear for the club if my treatment is a fair reflection of how they conduct their affairs. i feel let down, disilutioned and alienated. im pretty sure that chris pr amongst others, whom i exchanged pm messages with, would confirm that my posting on the forum was genrally in a placatory manner, indeed i attempted on several occasions to pour oil on troubled waters, only to find whole threads deleted...(chris explained this on more than one occasion...)

as stated, i wish the owners club all the best, and hope that maybe one day us x1/9 peeps north of the border are once more accepted into the fold, regardless of who fixes our fiats!!!..who knows, maybe we will invit y'all to one of our forthcoming italian car meets...

 

[biggbn]

Please also keep in mind that anyone running a forum has to tread very lightly.

The law on such matters makes the owner of the forum liable for any libelous comments made in addition to the individual making the comment. So once it gets down to a slanging match of any kind you tend to find people getting very quick to block such things.

The X19OC has the relatively comfortable position of being strictly members only and even if you are a member of the club you are not necessarily a member of the forum. As such the forum is not completely public so the odds of something libelous being visible is pretty slim but they will still wreak the wrath of the forum moderator on anyone they deem to be abusing the situation.

Internet forums are *not* a stage for free speech and there are an awful lot of people out there who've fallen foul of that illusion. Many of them are not the individual but rather the forum owner.

In terms of fair - people are always biased and well entrenched members are always going to have the upper hand, more so if they know how to frame their comments to cause maximum damage without actually saying anything nasty. These people are not the traditional troll of usenet days, they are a higher evolution of vindicitive, manipulative and downright viscious trolls who take delight in the abuse of others. Do enough hunting, especially on popular forums and you'll find there are hundreds of thousands of such sad cases who live for such things. They are commonly referred to as politicians...

If you rise to the bait - as invariably happens, you are going to come off worse. The answer is not to rise to it and if you feel someone is taking the **** that badly then take it up with the moderators and don't post your annoyance publically as that will just make it worse.

best post on this thread..good advice...perhaps we can have an outbreak of good sense haha

 

[kikbak66]

I only want to say that I have had the membership form sat on the side for over 12 months now, with the wonder to join or not, I have met a few owners of the Xy either by chance or through buying parts, and have asked about the club, and the gen was that its ok but It depends on what you want from it.....

I have been a member of a few clubs as I am a car & bike-a-holic, some clubs have been a real deal, great people and all tipes of people, helpfull and approachable and a inexpensive membership.

Others have been a little selective and clicky, and a higher membership, more about them than the car..

Needless to say on the later I only stayed a member for 12 months, still enjoyed the car but with out the club, and still continued to go to shows but with a mixed club......

In my expereance I think that the more approachable you are as a club and the less selective you are,and a reasonable subscription, the greater the membership, and as more people join the more benerfits there are to each need or expectation of the club.

In many cases people stayed and renewed membership even though they no longer had the cars, just suport and friendships.

The X1/9 is a great car, its usable, it has interest from all age groups and all types of people, so you can have the car all as it was from new, or make it a real personal thing and change it to how you think it should be.
So a club should welcome all and it will find its self richer in membership and in many ways. ( I know there are some that are not always desirable)

Now.... I am not sure this club is the one for me ????

 

[rachaeljf]

Kikbak66,

I can tell you that there is nothing cliquey about the UK OC. All this stink has arisen from the actions of a particularly nasty troll on the forum just over a year ago. That troll nearly caused the meltdown of the forum at least, but the club remains as strong as ever. The three main complainants in this thread are from the same area of Scotland and are connected, innocently or otherwise, with the troll.

It is a great shame that this unpleasantness has lasted so long.

Cheers R