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The worldwide credit crunch has had a dramatic effect on the number of supercar clubs operating worldwide. The United Kingdom was the crucible for the development of such clubs, and unsurprisingly, many have fallen victim to the downturn
. With most clubs targeting the well heeled in London and the home counties, and the dramatic falls in supercar prices between October 2008 and March 2009, many clubs and supercar hire operators have been wound up after demand for supercar hire crashed at the same time as the value as their underlying assets - the cars. Ironically, demand for fractional ownership and hire of these expensive vehicles appears to have increased, with some supercar hire fleets enjoying a late flurry of summer business, and even the values of the cars has made a dramatic recovery over the last 3 months. P1 International, which was the world's first supercar club founded by Damon Hill, is a good example of a company that has suffered recently from some less than helpful press and a general lack of confidence in the club model.
If you are thinking of joining a supercar club, here is our guide to chosing your the right one:
1. Find out how many cars they have, and if they own them. Pay a visit to their premises, and ask to see the supercars - mid-week is the best time, as they should be in getting prepared for the weekend.
2. Ask them about their future plans - a well though out strategy and obvious confidence is always a good sign.
3. Ask to attend one of their supercar club events - this should give you an idea of how well subscribed the club is, and also if they are able to organise a good event!
4. Payment plans - many supercar clubs now offer monthly payment plans. They might be a little more expensive, but if the business model is weak, you don't stand to lose so much if things go pear-shaped.
5. Ask what cars they have on order, and when they are due. Cars that don't ever appear on the fleet are always a bad sign.
6. Use web forums such as Pistonheads to try and get some background on the cllub, and how happy it's members are.
7. Supercar clubs can be quite competitive and keen to get your business - ask what they think of their competitors.
8. If the phone rings out a lo,t is diverted to a mobile or voice mail regularly, or they never answer emails - watch out.
9. If you can't make your mind up, why not consider supercar hire - you just pay as you go, and there are plenty of supercar hire companies out there.
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