Driving experience days

[EuropeanNC30R...]

I'm looking to get my Dad one of these driving experience days, along the Aston Martin theme.

Can anybody recommend a company to go with, or are they all much of muchness?

Cheers

[MattEMulsion]

I have no experience of these companies but I would suggest that in the current economic climate it may be wise to buy it using a credit card. That way if the firm does go belly up and fail to deliver the 'experience' you should have some comeback against the credit card company with a view to getting your money back.

Please note this applies only to Credit cards and not Debit cards.
____________________
Yamaha YZF-R6

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Do you mean track or road driving?

It it's track I'd imagine they are all pretty similar, much like trackdays. Bought my dad a Rally Experience day through Brands Hatch and they were brilliant.
____________________
My Flickr

[Clanger]

Look into Red Letter days, I think they have a website.
____________________
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[UnknownStuntm...]

I had a Ferrari / Mini experience with Everyman Racing in Prestwold Hall in Leicestershire. Excellent organisation, thoughtful instructors and very good facilities.

I bought the missus a track tuition day at Castle Combe circuit in a Formula Ford, we did that a couple of weeks back and I have to say I think I had more fun at Prestwold.

[Bendy]

I'd go and ask on Pistonheads.

There's often a better option for booking, lots of these companies are just a third party reseller and you can get better value going direct.

[LustyLew]

[MattHirst]

So these ferrari driving experiences to see in argos (just for example!) you get given the keys to a ferrari for an hour or so and let loose on a track?

Or do you have some miserable old codger that works for the company sit next to you and shout at you if you go above 70mph?
____________________
It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, then it's bloody hilarious!!!

[UnknownStuntm...]

The place I went are not agents, they run the events. I believe they had people there who booked through M&S stores and some bloke who swore he booked through Boots (the chemist) but I reckon he was a bit gone on...

Anyhoo- the idea is that you get your eye in with a couple others in a passenger ride in a normal car first. The bloke will tell you why he's doing what he's doing (steering, braking, and so on) then you all pile out and one by one you drive while he tells you what to do from the passenger seat. Then you get a go in the sporty car (be it an Aston, Ferrari, Porsche, Scoob etc) and if there's a passenger seat he'll sit in and tell you what to do. Which - honestly - is "go faster" or "don't brake yet". You actually get very sound advice, and my experience was very, very good.

Don't fuck about, get on to Everyman, your old man will enjoy every minute and you won't be disappointed. And I don't work for them, I just want to spread the love.

[mistergixer]

I got the wife one of these through driversdreamdays.co.uk.
Same format:
Tuition lap
Few laps in fast car of choice
Fast lap as passenger

She absolutely loved it, managed to get just over 140mph out of the 911 she was driving, and keeps on going on about it - earned me some serious brownie points!
____________________
Space Monkey #7
Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace. Or fight me and die!
Mistergixer's videos on YouTube

[Annabella]

If you buy a 4-pack of Cobra beer there's a £55 off voucher for an Exige experience at Silverstone (making it £100).

The experience is split into three 'sessions' with 4 laps, 5 laps then a fast lap with the instructor driving. The instructors are excellent and the cars awesome - they were flying past the Ferraris that were also out on track.

If you're unconvinced:
English built car (same as the Aston)
Super fast (same as the Aston)
Amazingly beautiful (same as the Aston)
Luxury (these things have a suede-covered dash!)
Affordable (one thing the Aston isn't, you can try one of these on the track and then actually consider buying one )
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[UnknownStuntm...]

Hmmm... Lotus, hey? I'll drive one as long as it's someone elses. Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious

[EuropeanNC30R...]

Thanks for all the suggestions/experience.

I went with the buyagift reseller in the end, as I found a 20% discount code for them and they did the Aston @ Silverstone experience.

Anna the Exige one does sound very good, although probably more for myself than my Dad! He normally drives a Z3 and likes a bit of luxury (suede dash, right ), so I think the V8 Vantage with that monster engine would be more up his street.