Supercar Terrible experience at Dunsfold Park

[PompeyM3]

My wife got me a McLaren MP4-12C drive at Dunsfold and that was with Everyman as a present. I was offered an upgrade to a 650S when I arrived, but wanted to drive the MP4, so stayed with that.

It must be who you get to drive with on the day as my instructor let drive at quite a quick pace. I really enjoyed it and would go back.

I guess with any of these places, they must have a wide range of drivers or varying experience and ability given the number of these that are given out as presents etc. (I know I'd prefer this to a pair of socks at Christmas !)

[jimbo2728]

There is a big difference between a track day and them using the track as the place to trundle around in the cars. If you think about it, it totally makes sense for them to use the cars at circuits. No main road traffic etc to think about, and the USP that the paying customer can say they have lapped Silverstone or the like in a Murci, 458, 12C etc.

Bottom line is that you would get a much bigger thrill in a cheaper car where there is less crazy value involved, being able to push it harder without the fear of writing off someone's pride and joy whilst sitting next to someone who has been told to keep you well within the limits of the car.

Give me a day in something light and rear wheel drive like an Elise and I can guarantee I would walk away absolutely buzzing from getting the car moving around and genuinely exploring its limits.

I LOVE supercars, but a sterile saunter around an airfield or circuit is never going to give you the buzz you think you are signing up for.

[wijit]

I got my son a Junior supercar driving experience (he was 12/3 then) at a place in Stafford. He drove a Gallardo and at one point reached over 100. I suppose they're hit and miss. As with everything car related, ph seems to be the place for sound words of advice.

[130R]

It's a bit more expensive but you can hire something like an R300 Caterham for a track day (or much cheaper, an evening session) and get some tuition included in the price. I'd much rather do that than cruise around in a supercar. Just don't crash because these things usually have quite a hefty insurance excess.

[mike01606]

130R said:

It's a bit more expensive but you can hire something like an R300 Caterham for a track day (or much cheaper, an evening session) and get some tuition included in the price. I'd much rather do that than cruise around in a supercar. Just don't crash because these things usually have quite a hefty insurance excess.

+1 on this. I hired a basic Caterham 150 Roadsport from Blue Sky near Preston. About £120 for the day and the most fantastic 150 miles around the Dales. Absolute bargain........ Far more fun on the single track roads than my 360.

[Rick101]

Also been a Blue Sky customer. Recommended.

[DannyScene]

I did a supercar driving day at elvington last week, gallardo, DBS and a tuned GTR, 3 laps in each car, over 100mph with the instructor still saying floor it right up to the braking zone, I loved it so much I'm booking another for next year with different cars

Mine was with everyman racing, even got a cheeky extra lap in the GTR because me and the instructor were discussing mk1 mx5's haha

Edited by DannyScene on Thursday 15th October 10:57

[jonby]

Dave R D said:

I bought a thrill ride in a Mclaren 12c MP4. for 120.00 pounds with one of the many companies there are selling this supercar thrill day experience.

When you arrive they ask you to pay 25 pounds more for insurance or you will have to pay for any damage to their car.

I arrived on time and was told only one driver was available. I had to wait one hour past my time slot as everyone else waiting went for their drive before me and by now another 10 people had arrived for their drive. No one checked in what order people were going for their drive. If I had not approached the driver in the car I would have been there for another hour.

Their rules are if you are late you loose your drive and your money.

When I got in the car I went to check my mirrors, my instructor said "they are not for you to use, they are for me to use", so they are positioned for the instructor in the passenger seat. He said "the car cost 350,000 pounds and he worked for Mclaren", so knows how to drive. He then told me to pull out at the same time as their mini bus was overtaking. Luckily I saw the mini bus.

When I got to the end of the pick up area I was driving at 20mph I touched the brakes a little and the brakes slammed on for no reason. I thought it was very strange that the brakes were really sensitive. I found out after that the instructor was braking with his dual controls.

They do not tell you their cars have dual controls.

I booked the Mclaren and paid extra because I wanted to feel the power of the Mclaren.

What a waste of money as the instructor does not allow you to drive over 50mph or 4500 rpm and made me drive the whole way round in sixth gear. All the instructor kept saying was "change up a gear" even going round a tight bend with the steering wheel upside down at 25 mph he said "change up" until I was in sixth gear. Then at 30mph in sixth gear he said "floor it".

I only found out about the dual controls when I was on the wide straight bit of the course and he said start to brake now, the end of the straight was so far away I could not see it yet. I just covered my brakes and did not apply brakes. All of a sudden the bonnet went down as the he braked hard.

I booked this day as a supercar thrill experience day and read that I would get 4 exhilarating driving laps in a Mclaren.

My friend who I booked this day with came away thinking Mclarens are slower than his diesel Jaguar, as his Jag felt faster on the way home.

It sounds like you had a miserable experience - I can understand why and I do sympathise. It also looks from other posts on this thread that there is an element of luck, even with the same company, of which instructor/track/day you are on

However I do think it worth pointing out that you do (hopefully) in most aspects of life, get what you pay for and this cost £120 or £145 with insurance

I've just come back from a very full on track day at Spa in my V12 Aston Vantage Roadster I did at the end of September - value of my car is not incomparable with the Mclaren. I'm guessing I did around 50 laps overall. It cost me £250 in fuel, £650 for the track day, £800 for a personal instructor for the day, £1,400 for a set of tyres (at discount), I needed new front brake pads by the end of the day (£950) although obviously that wasn't just from that one day, I will have picked up a few stone chips, I go for a new geo check/alignment after a track day, the car probably depreciates by 50p - £1 per mile and then there is insurance

There is as a result, a limit as to what you can expect for less than £150 for a few laps in a McLaren. Now I'd agree we are talking about two absolute extremes and you should have been able to push the car more than you describe. I also absolutely agree they have to at the very least, be clear in advertising what you are getting for your money. But I always use the adage that if it seems to good to be true, it probably is. When I see 3 laps for £120 in a McLaren, my automatic assumption is that it simply doesn't stack up. Put bluntly, these cars cost a ridiculous amount to run and if driven fast on track, those costs go up exponentially.

It's not comparing eggs with eggs, but for comparison see the prices here for you to hire a supercar for a day on track (without an instructor restricting your speed)
http://www.curbstone.net/en/offering/arrive-drive/
http://www.rmatrackdays.com/trackdays/carhire.asp
http://www.rsrspa.com/car-rentals/mclaren-mp4-12c

[jonby]

130R said:

It's a bit more expensive but you can hire something like an R300 Caterham for a track day (or much cheaper, an evening session) and get some tuition included in the price. I'd much rather do that than cruise around in a supercar. Just don't crash because these things usually have quite a hefty insurance excess.

Agree fully with you and Jimbo - these supercar experience jobbos seem like exactly that - an experience of driving a supercar, which happens to be on a track. Want a fun trackday experience but don't have the right car (or don't want to risk/spend the money taking your own supercar on track) - go for a caterham/lotus/etc and it's much better VFM. In fact, so would a Renaultsport Clio or Megane for that matter. I'm not sure a driver experienced in driving fast cars will ever get that much out of a supercar experience day unless they spend sufficient money that they will properly get to drive the car. As it happens, I have a good number of friends with multiple cars costing high 6 and even 7 figures per car, who buy cars for £30k - £60k to use as their track cars

[smithyithy]

I'm a bit tentative now, as I was planning on buying a 3 x supercar experience for my sister's 21st on Xmas day.

I think she'd really enjoy it and she is actually a good driver although not a 'Pistonhead'.

But I'm concerned now that we could end up with a boring parade lap rather than an actual thrilling experience.

Any suggestions for somewhere in the Midlands? Doesn't necessarily have to be a supercar one, just something fun and exciting for a couple £hundred.