Robwsup

I wanted to look through PCA classifieds to see if they had some parts that I may need soon. They require that you be a PCA member to do this however. Membership cost $42.00 a year. What do you get for this $42.00. If access to their website is the sole benefit, I may pass.


Robert

User 462021

You get a magazine too (oh yippy ky ay...) You also get to go to their meetings and be a member of an elite group that looks down on "lesser" people, oh and other "Porsche" models.

You can also do PCA track events and autoX's as well, so it really is worth it.

(Warning: These views are not of Rennlist or people affiliated with Rennlist. Just some punk kid. )

Jim 944S

Some places give PCA members a discount on parts and/service. <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />

adrial

The biggest benefit of PCA membership is drivers ed events I think (haven't done those yet), next the autox events (done a bunch of those), somewhere at the end of the list is access to the website.

icat

10% discount at most Porsche dealer parts counters. A monthly full color magazine (Panorama). A local newsletter for your region showing upcomming events in your area - including but not limited to autocrosses, drivers ed events, concours, rallies, socials, charity events, and even club races. The rest of what "you" get out of the PCA depends on what "you" put into it. It's an organization of volunteers.

User 462021

[quote]Originally posted by icat:
<strong>The rest of what "you" get out of the PCA depends on what "you" put into it. It's an organization of volunteers. </strong><hr></blockquote>

Haha, yup...

brandon

Robert,

Good question about PCA. I joined & found their website wasn't worth the price of admission. That said, Panorama, their magazine is pretty good (some good tech articles, good history, new stuff etd), but by itself probably not worth the $42.

Joining the local chapter of the PCA, however, was absolutely worth it. We are dedicated Porsche junkies. Our club has pracically every kind of p-car represented (914s, 944s, 928s, 356s, boxsters, 911s, etc...no Cayennes...yet). They participate in everything from social events (e.g. drive your Porsche to a dinner outing) to racing.

That said, if you don't have the time or desire to get involved - you could probably find a willing PCA member to do a search for you.

Wachuko

Panorama magazine, 10% discount on parts, local chapter newsletter, DE, rally, different events. And yes, you do find people in the monthly meetings that are jerks, but most of the folks there are not. They are car enthusiasts that love the Porsche and any other performance cars.

I was please to see not only prestine, new car owners, but also many 924, 914, 944 owners with cars in a condition similar to mine. It felt good.

Bob S. 1984 Silver

PCA: I wish I could come up with an appropriate acronym, but basically it breaks down to "Misery likes company" For your $42 you might get other owners to commiserate with and sometimes even a pair of hands or two to assist when the inevitable repairs are required. You will also learn that other models also have problems inherent in heir design so if sometime in the future you are tempted to "move up" you won't be doing it blindly. Locals differ. Some are populated with 911 and 996 owners who don't even know which end of the car to open or many times how many cylinders they have. Other locals are down to earth and very helpful. It's the luck of the draw. Call the local, attend one of the meetings as a guest and see for yourself.

The magazine isn't bad..lots of good technical articles and sources for parts and accessories at far less than dealer prices.

Bob S.

Wachuko

"Call the local, attend one of the meetings as a guest and see for yourself."

Great idea!

Plus you find some cool photos in the site (not that you could not find them elsewhere):

Scott Mandell of Charlottesville, VA took his 2000 C2 Cabriolet across the country on his Drive Across America for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in April <a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~carrerascott/" target="_blank">http://home.earthlink.net/~carrerascott/</a>
Here's a fond memory!

Dave

I think I'm in the minority...but I like the PCA mag (Panorama) better than Excellence, which goes for $23 a year. My local region, Northern New Jersey, puts out a very good local newsletter that (while not as glossy and colorful) contains a LOT of good material. I've never used the parts discount (haven't bought parts from a dealer), but it's nice to know I could. I don't really use the PCA site much, but I do visit the NNJR site once or twice a week. The autocross events can be run without being a member, but after the first one, you'll WANT to join. When my car was totaled, the PCA Valueation Committee (sp?) helped supply documentation that added $2k to the ins. settlement.
At $42 per year, PCA is the second best deal in Porschedom... right after Rennlist!

Z-man

I too, am a member of NNJR PCA. IMO, the $42.00 for membership was the best $$ I've spent on my car! Besides DE!!!!! and autox, there's a wealth of technical info, and the ability to network with other Porsche nuts.

Monthly meeting and social events are fun too. At a monthly meeting last fall, enduro driver Hurley Haywood spoke: what an inspiration!

Before I bought my 944, I send to a tech session on "Buying a used Porsche." A wealth of information was presented. That one tech session alone probably saved me several hundred dollars, by showing me what cars to avoid!

I guess PCA opinion differs primarily because of the different local regions: I happen to be a member of one of the best ones around.

If you join, you can always cancel your membership after a year.
-Zoltan.

Sloth

[quote]Originally posted by Bob S.:
<strong>Some are populated with 911 and 996 owners who don't even know which end of the car to open or many times how many cylinders they have. Other locals are down to earth and very helpful. It's the luck of the draw. Call the local, attend one of the meetings as a guest and see for yourself.

The magazine isn't bad..lots of good technical articles and sources for parts and accessories at far less than dealer prices.

Bob S.</strong><hr></blockquote>

That describes it to a T. My <a href="http://vista.pca.org/evg/" target="_blank">local region in SW Florida</a> is the first description. They are pretty much defunct. However, I transferred my "local" membership to <a href="http://www.pcafcr.org/" target="_blank">Florida Crown Region, NE Florida.</a>They are a pretty active group, more like the second description.

Probably one of the best ways to determine the activity level of your local region is to look at their web site. How many activites are shown... when was the last time it was updated.

rpm's S2

Sort of depends on what you put into it, as many have already said. If you just get the magazine, newsletter, and the web site you probably did not get your $42 worth.
I got involved in my local region about 18 months ago and I am having a great time. Sure there are some posers, but they are few and far between. There are also lots of 944 owners in my region and a wealth of tech/wrench assistance.

One other benefit just announced: In an attempt by PCNA to forge a stronger bond with PCA each PCA member will recieve a $100 coupon for parts (with a minimum purchase of $200)! There is also a special $500/$1000 cash back deal on the purchase of a Boxster/Boxster S.

JonM..

PCA is great, but before I go on let me state clearly that when you become a member you are not doing it for the website! The website is such a insignificant part of the club to hear someone say that "it was not worth the price of admission" is laughable. PCA is not a WEB based club! So if you like to sit behind a computer all day then maybe it is not for you.

Most of the people above have already stated some perks, but here is my rundown: The magazine, Drivers Ed, time trials, autox, club Racing, concours, special dealer and PCNA tours, discounts, social events, fun runs, wine tours, RELIABLE tech support.

Some regions are less active and do different activities, but you can always join a different region, or better yet run for office in your local region and change it! The most important thing to remember is that it's a club not a business and as such you get out what you put in. PCA supports all Porsche models, and is no more biased or even less so than this board, just check out the Cayenne posts here on rennlist.

I also take Excellence magazine which I like, but find the articles and information to be more "sponsor based", and in the end it's just a magazine trying to make $$$, whereas with PCA you get participation by the members for the members. Rennlist is ok, but most of the information is just regurgitated from PCA sources.

PCA is a great way to add enjoyment to the Porsche ownership experience but you have PARTICIPATE, and get up off your butt and out from behind a keyboard or magazine.