Exhausts

All comments are of course constructive but from the different views we see each has it's own pros and cons. I understand what Tiff says and understand what my own views are and know both have flaws in them. Mmmmmmmm, I think the it is good to dicuss this but I think we all agree we need to do something this time and not just talk about it. Sure we can buy in bulk, we can also store some items so plenty to talk about.

Chris, one idea was to get a parts company such as Partco to stock parts for us and they would be our sole supplier. Can't remember what you thought of that idea Tiff but certainly would help with regards to the workload of packing and postage to members.

Just some thoughts after reading this very important aspect of keeping our cars on the road:

There have been a number of ways talked about to maintain a source of spares, each with different merits and drawbacks. But from my maybe niave viewpoint the best one depends upon the part in question (is it bulky, is it expensive, has it got a relatively short life) and the cost people are prepared to pay for them.

For example, exhausts - they are big (difficult/costly to store) and have a relatively short life. The short life (say 3-4 yrs) means that given 1000 exxies on the road (I've no idea if this is remotely correct), that there should be at least 200 exhausts needed annually. Surely this is just a question of the Owners Club lobbying a parts manufacturer to keep them on their stock list, and working with the supplier (publicity, discounts) to de-risk them keeping the supply of exhausts. 200 units might be too small for some manufacturers, but it is a question of exploring the price that is needed to make it viable. Obviously if it comes out at £200 per exhaust then custom made maybe the only option.

Other simpler, cheaper, longer life parts may warrant a different strategy - where working with a single parts supplier, tapping into overseas stocks, or even a Club stock might be the best/only solution. At the other end of the spectrum, there are some parts that are suitably interchangable with other cars (I have got a list from the old cuddles site on this).

Of course the "best" option is different for different people as well - some people don't mind spending £££ to keep their car on the road, whereas others run exxies as budget sports/classic cars and cost of spares might be the biggest issue thing. Personally, I would be willing to shell out extra for a longer life stainless steel exhaust - others might not.

So basically my thoughts are that for any vital and endangered parts, the various options should be considered for the parts by a group of members who know the parts industry and the needs of our cars. This would result in some sort of strategy - rather than prejudge things and start talking about or objecting to a parts department within the owners club.

The voice of reason and logic has spoken .....

PS - this thread is exactly the sort of thing that tends to get bogged down at meetings where time is precious and shows that the forum is a very useful vehicle for debating and exchanging ideas.

Lots of good ideas coming out,and great to hear everyone's point of view. I've been doing a bit behind the scenes for a wee while now,and am coming up against brick walls...My lone voice doesn't seem to be being heard,thats why we need to speak as a united club,with some clout behind us.Everyone seems to think its a good idea in theory,we just need a debate on how best to go about it.

If for exampe we managed to get a company to do a run of say 200 rear balljoints,then I would certainly buy at least a couple,and know that in the event of an MOT failure on this point,I would be OK. Hopefully most of you who are hoping for long term ownership and enjoyment of your cars would do the same. Its easy to get lulled into a false sense of security when your car is running well,and has a long MOT on it,but what about next year,and the year after?

Right then, how's this for a setup

1 Create a committee position under the banner "spare parts co-ordinator" and use the tech officers to advise the person chosen to be the vioice of the club, or maybe someone like Tiff, already a tech officer could take on the role.

2 List the items that are in short supply or in need of reproducing

3 Source a supply or manufacturer and make contact with them explaining the club wants one supplier and will direct anyone to them if they are willing & able to stock and produce the part in question

4 Create a database/web site page that carries a link for each part and guides members to a number to call, company web site link etc The web site may even include part numbers for each part which ties in with each individual manufacturer or supplier

That is of course a rough guide to something that could be implemented for at least some of the parts such as brake pads etc.

Tiff is correct in that we need one voice and not a bunch of individual car nuts phoning suppliers trying to track down one part becuase we will never get anywhere.

Out of interest, the new set of Cromodora's I bought from Germany don't seem to be alloy. I'm not entirely sure they were made by Cromodora but they are shiny as hell :lol: Instead of buying stuff like that on ebay would it not be much cheaper buying directly from the manufacutrer? Using the alloys is of course just an example but I'd like to thinkwe could cut out the middle man in eBay and get a decent price for one and all. Also cuting out the so called specialists who are quite frankly not interested in X1/9 spares anymore. To me they are dinosaurs who have played their part but now seem to be fading away. It's really bugging me reading out of date web sites when in reality the parts are just not available.

Also cuting out the so called specialists who are quite frankly not interested in X1/9 spares anymore. To me they are dinosaurs who have played their part but now seem to be fading away. It's really bugging me reading out of date web sites when in reality the parts are just not available

I think this is a very bad direction to go in,and a bit cheeky really to the guys who have kept us in supplies for years now,and are also advertisers with our magazine.I recall one company bought out another company a few years back,and now supplies parts and bodykits to order for the X1/9 owner.We should embrace these guys,they have the best idea on where to get stuff,and have the contacts.I think before anything is done,we should allow them to put across their point of view and if they are forthcoming,appoint them as "Official X1/9 club parts Supplier" to ensure parts for the future.They already give club members discount,and their prices are very competitive,even with trade prices avaliable to people in the motor trade.

Remember the saying " Never bite the hand that feeds you".....

We need their support,but ultimately they need ours to continue the X1/9 side of their businesses

This is where we have to agree to disagree.............when the profits from X1/9's go down the toilet then obviously the specialists move on. If not doing it ourselves and sourcing items then how do we move forward. Fair enough, if we can speak to them and make a deal but I have real doubts whether they will accomodate us. So, is it the fact we don't need a new position on the committee for this? Who talks to them? Do we get the secretary to write thema letter?

If we have one specialist stocking parts from the club, how do we make sure we don't get ripped off by the lack of competition. Do we choose one specialist or more than one which dilutes the market, again meaning that they don't get the business that allows them to keep the parts in stock. Is it fair to choose one supplier from another? They have all kept us and the cars going so how do you say to one yea and to another neh?

I'm not in this for the money but the specialists are. Sure they advertise but when I look up a web site that gives me a list of things that they don't stock then it becomes very frustrating. Add this to an attitude that seems to be more along the lines of, we don't really care. That is a personal thing I have encountered and a big difference from the times when parts were widely available.

Again I think Tiff you are partly right but again I think I also have part of finger on the pulse.

So Tiff, how do we go forward? If you were going to sort this how would you start?

I broke down the list there as a start to give us an idea what might be required. What does everyone else think? Lets see the ideas and take the best parts of each & combine them. I don't think one way forward is enough as we will probably need a different approach for different parts. If we don't like one paticular method then lets list what we do think should happen. Lets be constructive here and not go down the negative slippery slope.

I think our first task should be to approach the current X1/9 parts suppliers and see what their thoughts are towards future supply,avaliability of parts and where they see themselves in say, 5 years time.

If they are helpful,we should work with them far more closely,and we will all benefit.

If they are not forthcoming with information,we must then organise a few people within the club to each look into one area of parts. i.e Mechanical,body,modification and restoration...with each person reporting back to the group,who then can advise the membership on whats happening and gauge interest/orders etc.

To do this we need to do some sort of poll to find out which parts are causing problems,and why,then we can delegate to the proper section of the group to try and sort it out.

It will be a long process,but has been in the pipe line for many years,and if we had done this far earlier,we may not be in such a bad position now.

Thats my idea,obviously as I said we need to work as a club,so the way forward must be decided as a club..but no one can possibly disagree that in needs to be put into practice as soon as possible..

Someone mentioned before about the possibility of parts from the States..I have bought many parts from the US for my own and customers vehicles,and have found them to be very very helpful-and at the current exchange rate,parts are very cheap.This was the cars biggest market,so they will have the bulk of the supplies,some different I know,but there are a lot that are of use to us.I even looked into bringing over a container,filled with X1/9 parts- cars,rust free California doors etc. A huge undertaking,but that would mean running it like a business,and I don't want to go there!!

Do we,as a club, have any sort of relationship with US X1/9 clubs? If not its about time we extended a hand across the Atlantic..

The American connection is with FLU but as far as I know, we send them a magazine and get nothing in reply. Why not just locate the specialists that cater for their spares?

As a club going forward is the way to be. I think I've said enough on the subject, just getting bogged down. The idea is there, no point in looking back now becuase it's too late. Have to look forward from this moment on. I'll leave it to further discussion at the National or the AGM.

Ewen signing off this post.

wow!...this thread has taught me a valuable lesson....log on more frequently! :roll:

excellent stuff. hope it gets past the talking stage at the AGM, the likes of Tiff and Ewen keeping the seed alive.

Don't you think we should bring this to the attention of the widest possible audience? I would suggest putting this issue in the mag (sorry I'm part of the ex editor club!), let people know that there is not a bottomless well of parts.
If we could produce a list of endangered parts we could ask the membership to check that list, mark any parts they feel they would buy for their own stock and return it to a nominated "parts organiser". We could then go to the suppliers and say: Right we want 150 exhausts, 400 shocks etc what price can you give us. Its tempting for the supplier, we guarantee the best price and no stock is held, no commercial risk. Repeat the procedure every 6 months. We don't alienate the suppliers as we give them all a fair crack at the whip. Now thats a real club benefit.
Large orders like that may trigger the computerised systems to restock.
What you think?

Hi Jason, stuck on an oil rig :shock: I think that might work for some items but not for others. Numbers at the National indicate the club is not as big as it once was so getting 10, 20 or 30 orders for one item would be difficult and when you start talking about bulk buying large volume it becomes even harder.

We will bring this up at the AGM and with the new committee but I think it will be difficult for us whatever we do.

Hiya Ewen.
Wouldn't hurt to try and see what the response is, we are second guessing the silent majority, who knows. Lets try and get the endangered list together asap. If everyone throws in a few ideas we can knock something together before the mag deadline of the 9th. I'll volunteer to collate the info and write something up today/tomorrow. Lets act on this and move forward.
I'm not best placed to come up with the list as I only buy new parts if someone holds an extremely sharp knife to my throat. Lets get a list of 10 items to start: Please fill in the blanks chaps, whats on the wish list.

Rear Balljoints
Rear Struts
Rear Calipers
Brake Master Cylinder
Clutch Master Cylinder
Front track control arms
Handbrake cables
Speedo Cables
Bonnet cables
engine cover cables
boot cables
accelerator cables
sills
metal nosecones
doorskins
rear arch repair panels
rear "A" arm bushes
standard exhausts

etc
etc..

There's a few to start, we still can get some of the items,but not sure how long for,or if they are already out of production...

Hi
For my penny worth as a newish member to the club I'm in agrement with Jason. Going to each parts supplier and telling them what we 'desperately' need and seeing what they can do for us is an good way forward.

Like Ewen said it needs to be fully discused at the AGM, I will be there, with a definate plan at the end

If we are talking about essential spares that can't be repaired or fabricated can we reduce the list to Group A:
Rear Balljoints
Rear Struts
Rear Calipers
Brake Master Cylinder
Clutch Master Cylinder
Front track control arms
Handbrake cables
Speedo Cables
rear "A" arm bushes
standard exhausts

Bonnet cables - Motor cycle shops can make up to order
engine cover cables - same
boot cables - same
accelerator cables -same

sills - all can be repaired/welded
metal nosecones
doorskins
rear arch repair panels

Hey, nobody said a classic car was without effort but without group A the car isn't going anywhere. Anything else to add to the list?