Well let's get the thread back on topic then. . .
(Roly doesn't pay any attention to me Archie, he always gives as good as he gets.)
Now the Jaguar internet forum world is a slightly strange place. Because the two main clubs have such dire forums, there (of course) have been a number of internet forums spring up to cater for the modern Jaguar enthusiast.
I will speak as I find and i think this Jaguar World Monthly forum is. . .
the best Jaguar forum on the net, at least in the UK (by saying that I haven't found any better overseas-based ones though).
But the problem with Jaguar enthusiasts (as a sweeping 'in general' sort of way), is that they don't seem to be 'forum people'. I only say that as I observe that these are not very busy forums.
Now, the jaguarforum.co.uk is quite busy, but I think not kept busy by 'club' members, more by people who cannot afford to run a Jaguar and want to know where they can buy second-hand parts, and whinge about the quality when they spend their life savings on a £25 carpet set from eBay.
Sorry, I'm being sarcastic (again), it is a very good forum and there are lots of knowlegeable people on there. But it's not a 'Jaguar-person' type of forum and you don't get any sense of 'family' or club atmosphere.
But
this forum (although not as busy) is
better. Does that make sense? There are the large number of knowledgeable people on here and a genuine question is usually answered very quickly with the (correct) answer. And, it is a real 'family'.
There are more real enthusiasts on here, and thus the forum has almost become a 'club' itself.
It might be quieter over the past few weeks because the JEC has put a set of jump leads onto its forum and it has gasped and coughed itself back into life. No real explanation as to why it was put 'offline' for months and months on end, but yes, it's back. But it's just as it was before and it has very little traffic.
And I find all this quite bizarre for a marque like Jaguar? We should have the biggest, most exciting, thriving internet community on the net. The marque encompasses the most 'classic' of classic cars, right up to the most 'exciting' of modern and current cars. What is it about Jaguar people and internet forums?
Some of you are probably aware that I am the Administrator of the Jensen Owners' Club forum
http://www.joc.org.uk/phpBB2/index.phpThe JOC is a very small club, about 1450 members (what is the JEC, 70,000+?) but we have a very successful and thriving forum. It started (as this forum did) about six years ago, but has had more messages posted than this Jaguar forum.
Now to me, that is bizarre. Why are 'Jensen people' more willing to get involved and contribute to an internet forum than 'Jaguar people'? It's a strange one and I cannot answer it, but I would have thought any proper Jaguar forum would have run rings around a Jensen forum, with the number of members (and cars) involved.
So, to conclude, it is not only this JWM forum that has be quiet of late, it is a 'Jaguar' thing. And I still think this is the best Jaguar forum and we should all be quite proud of what has been achieved so far.
So far? Yes, get stuck in! This is
your forum, it is the key to a vast amount of knowledge, and the key to your enjoyment of you Jaguar and the Jaguar marque.
(Of course, if you also have a Jensen, you know where to go. . .)
Isn't that right, Alan?