The Ring - Rent a car or use my Clio?
Discussion
Planning on a Europe trip soon and really need to have a trip around the Ring.
The plan is to drive (in the 172) through France, Belgium (stopping in Brussels for a few days) continuing to the Nurburgring where I intend spending some time having a few laps. Finally returning via Paris for a day or two.
Now, do I rent a Clio Cup from RSRNurburg for 375 for 4 laps/2 hours which includes everything I need plus I don't have wear and tear on my car, not that I'll be getting carried away of course!
- or -
Take the 172 round (120k miles but in good mechanical condition) and risk mechanical damage that will scupper the rest of the Europa trip.
What do you think? The cost of renting a car is fine btw.
The plan is to drive (in the 172) through France, Belgium (stopping in Brussels for a few days) continuing to the Nurburgring where I intend spending some time having a few laps. Finally returning via Paris for a day or two.
Now, do I rent a Clio Cup from RSRNurburg for 375 for 4 laps/2 hours which includes everything I need plus I don't have wear and tear on my car, not that I'll be getting carried away of course!
- or -
Take the 172 round (120k miles but in good mechanical condition) and risk mechanical damage that will scupper the rest of the Europa trip.
What do you think? The cost of renting a car is fine btw.
If you plan on crashing, rent. If not, drive your own car. 
Renting is very expensive for what you get and I beleive the excess is also very high. Certainly €375 for 4 laps sounds a lot!
Worst case scenario if you use your own car; you cause an accident, someone is crippled/dies as a result and the courts take your house and all worldly possessions away from you.
But providing your car is mechanically fit (oil system/coolant isn't about to explode) and you don't drive like a dick but just drive it like a fast B road, you shouldn't have a problem.
There is no reason why you would damage your car unless it was in a poor state already, in which case you shouldn't be taking it on a euro-trip.
If you do crash it (and hopefully no one else is involved) then you'll obviously have the issue of no car to continue the trip, no insurance payout for the loss, plus the associated 'ring tax. But providing you are sensible, there is more reason to crash then any of the hundreds of other miles you'll be driving abroad.
I'd look into getting European cover from ADAC, as they'll recover your car from the 'ring as part of the cover (ie: not get charged €150 for a tow truck to the car park). They won't of course, for a € cash fee, tow your car about 30miles away from Adenau and push it into a ditch for you to then call the insurers and report your "accident"...
P.S. probably best to take the Karussell on the outside if you are concerned about breaking anything on your car. Worst I've had whlist out there is probably a snapped gear-stick, which after a bit of bodging, meant we had to drive home using only 2nd and 5th gears and a rear-shocked that snapped driving onto the ferry (most likely the horrendous state of the road at Dunkirk ferry port). Only had one write-off from my group when I've been and that was an ITR after about 2mins of his first lap in it. Sold the wreckage for about €2k to a guy we met in a bar later that evening. Think he lost about £6k on it.
Renting is very expensive for what you get and I beleive the excess is also very high. Certainly €375 for 4 laps sounds a lot!
Worst case scenario if you use your own car; you cause an accident, someone is crippled/dies as a result and the courts take your house and all worldly possessions away from you.
But providing your car is mechanically fit (oil system/coolant isn't about to explode) and you don't drive like a dick but just drive it like a fast B road, you shouldn't have a problem.
There is no reason why you would damage your car unless it was in a poor state already, in which case you shouldn't be taking it on a euro-trip.
If you do crash it (and hopefully no one else is involved) then you'll obviously have the issue of no car to continue the trip, no insurance payout for the loss, plus the associated 'ring tax. But providing you are sensible, there is more reason to crash then any of the hundreds of other miles you'll be driving abroad.
I'd look into getting European cover from ADAC, as they'll recover your car from the 'ring as part of the cover (ie: not get charged €150 for a tow truck to the car park). They won't of course, for a € cash fee, tow your car about 30miles away from Adenau and push it into a ditch for you to then call the insurers and report your "accident"...
P.S. probably best to take the Karussell on the outside if you are concerned about breaking anything on your car. Worst I've had whlist out there is probably a snapped gear-stick, which after a bit of bodging, meant we had to drive home using only 2nd and 5th gears and a rear-shocked that snapped driving onto the ferry (most likely the horrendous state of the road at Dunkirk ferry port). Only had one write-off from my group when I've been and that was an ITR after about 2mins of his first lap in it. Sold the wreckage for about €2k to a guy we met in a bar later that evening. Think he lost about £6k on it.
Edited by TEKNOPUG on Monday 19th March 13:33
4 laps for £375? Wow.
I'd drive my own car. If you're new, you'll presumably want to take it easy, and the mechanical wear & tear will be comparatively minimal. Yes, there's the risk of something going wrong, but if the car's well-maintained, I'd bet on it being fine, as long as you don't get carried away and crash.
Last time I was there, I saw a group of lads going round 4-up in a Metro, and another group taking a VW camper van around. In that light, I'm sure a 172 will be fine.
I'd drive my own car. If you're new, you'll presumably want to take it easy, and the mechanical wear & tear will be comparatively minimal. Yes, there's the risk of something going wrong, but if the car's well-maintained, I'd bet on it being fine, as long as you don't get carried away and crash.
Last time I was there, I saw a group of lads going round 4-up in a Metro, and another group taking a VW camper van around. In that light, I'm sure a 172 will be fine.
Which part of :-
Going into something like this with the naive assumption that "it will never happen to me" is insanely stupid, regardless of how well prepped your car is, how experienced you are behind the wheel, how slowly you think you'll be going or how many budda bellies you rub on the way onto the track.
TEKNOPUG said:
Worst case scenario if you use your own car; you cause an accident, someone is crippled/dies as a result and the courts take your house and all worldly possessions away from you.
do you people not understand?Going into something like this with the naive assumption that "it will never happen to me" is insanely stupid, regardless of how well prepped your car is, how experienced you are behind the wheel, how slowly you think you'll be going or how many budda bellies you rub on the way onto the track.
jonnyleroux said:
If you can afford it - RENT! Absolute no brainer.
Look at the actual costs:It's €375 for 4 laps or 2 hours - Weekday evening 5-7.30pm only.
€40 refunds for time/laps lost due to closer
In addition, you have to pay for your own laps and fuel.
Insurance does not cover yourself for health or losses.
€5000 excess for 3rd party claim
€8000 excess for damage to the car
Or €249 with no cover but still with the same excesses.
I don't see a lot of value over taking a 172 Clio with 100k on the clock for a few laps.
mft said:
4 laps for £375? Wow.
€375 = £310I'm kind of agreeing more with Jonny though. I'm paying £310 for an experience and when I return a second time then I'll probably do it in my own car.
I suppose £300 to some people is a lot, others not so. I'm in the middle (sorry for the 'worst £300 is pocket money thread') but I did some overtime at the weekend to cover that and it gives peace of mind.
TEKNOPUG said:
In addition, you have to pay for your own laps and fuel.
I believe that ticket prices are included and fuel definitely is.All Inclusive Rental Prices
TEKNOPUG said:
Look at the actual costs:
It's €375 for 4 laps or 2 hours - Weekday evening 5-7.30pm only.
€40 refunds for time/laps lost due to closer
In addition, you have to pay for your own laps and fuel.
Insurance does not cover yourself for health or losses.
€5000 excess for 3rd party claim
€8000 excess for damage to the car
Or €249 with no cover but still with the same excesses.
I don't see a lot of value over taking a 172 Clio with 100k on the clock for a few laps.
If the sum of all of the above figures is more than the value of your house and all your worldly possessions, then you are of course correct.It's €375 for 4 laps or 2 hours - Weekday evening 5-7.30pm only.
€40 refunds for time/laps lost due to closer
In addition, you have to pay for your own laps and fuel.
Insurance does not cover yourself for health or losses.
€5000 excess for 3rd party claim
€8000 excess for damage to the car
Or €249 with no cover but still with the same excesses.
I don't see a lot of value over taking a 172 Clio with 100k on the clock for a few laps.
I would never rent a Clio if I onwed a Clio, it's almost comical, unless yours is falling apart or the rental car somehow magically protects you from an accident. Just make sure your brakes are fine and fluid fresh and do take it easy (regardless of what you drive)
Edited by chris7676 on Monday 19th March 13:54
There are other rental options: http://www.rent4ring.de/en/info/rentals-for-the-no... For example.
I cannot stress that you should rent strongly enough. 1 minor lapse of concentration even in the best maintained most modern car, can result in you losing pretty much everything you own. I'd pay quite a lot not to risk going through that.
I cannot stress that you should rent strongly enough. 1 minor lapse of concentration even in the best maintained most modern car, can result in you losing pretty much everything you own. I'd pay quite a lot not to risk going through that.
jonnyleroux said:
do you people not understand?
Going into something like this with the naive assumption that "it will never happen to me" is insanely stupid, regardless of how well prepped your car is, how experienced you are behind the wheel, how slowly you think you'll be going or how many budda bellies you rub on the way onto the track.
In that case I can presume that you never leave the saftety of your house?Going into something like this with the naive assumption that "it will never happen to me" is insanely stupid, regardless of how well prepped your car is, how experienced you are behind the wheel, how slowly you think you'll be going or how many budda bellies you rub on the way onto the track.
OP - don't go, it's a well known fact that everyone that goes dies in a fiery ball of death and their relatives are consigned to the poor-house for many generations to come. When you are there, you'll see that for yourself. I've died 5 times myslef and have friends who have died on each and every one of their many hundreds of laps. Fortunately nothing else in life poses a risk so you'll be fine.
Personally, in your scenario, I'd take my own car. Given that you've never driven it before I'd suggest that it's better to do a few gentle sighting laps in a car that you are comfortable and familiar with, one that you know it's handling and tyre/braking limits, rather than driving a car that you've never driven, don't own and on 13miles of Eifel mountain road that you don't know & have never driven.
Other may disagree though.
TEKNOPUG said:
OP - don't go, it's a well known fact that everyone that goes dies in a fiery ball of death and their relatives are consigned to the poor-house for many generations to come. When you are there, you'll see that for yourself. I've died 5 times myslef and have friends who have died on each and every one of their many hundreds of laps. Fortunately nothing else in life poses a risk so you'll be fine.
Let's say you own a gun with 100 barrells and 1 bullet and you want to play russian roulette. At what price would consider it cost-effective to rent an identical gun from someone else with 100 barrells and *no* bullets?Nobody knows the exact figures we're talking about here, but on the basis that it's very rare to have a damage-free day at the Ring, let's assume there's an average of 1000 cars per day using the place and 1 crash per day. That would give a 1 in 1000 chance of damaging your car. There's probably a reasonably low chance of someone else being involved - let's say 1000 to 1. That would still give odds of 1,000,000 to 1 that you will involve someone else in your incident at the ring.
Out of interest - do you buy lottery tickets?
Edited by jonnyleroux on Monday 19th March 14:19
jonnyleroux said:
I'm sorry i'm confused - are you some kind of bell-end?
Let's say you own a gun with 100 barrells and 1 bullet and you want to play russian roulette. At what price would consider it cost-effective to rent an identical gun from someone else with 100 barrells and *no* bullets?
Nobody knows the exact figures we're talking about here, but on the basis that it's very rare to have a damage-free day at the Ring, let's assume there's an average of 1000 cars per day using the place and 1 crash per day. That would give a 1 in 1000 chance of damaging your car. There's probably a reasonably low chance of someone else being involved - let's say 1000 to 1. That would still give odds of 1,000,000 to 1 that you will involve someone else in your incident at the ring.
Out of interest - do you buy lottery tickets?
Has and is every purchase and activity you ever do/have been determined by what is the most cost effective v statistical risk?Let's say you own a gun with 100 barrells and 1 bullet and you want to play russian roulette. At what price would consider it cost-effective to rent an identical gun from someone else with 100 barrells and *no* bullets?
Nobody knows the exact figures we're talking about here, but on the basis that it's very rare to have a damage-free day at the Ring, let's assume there's an average of 1000 cars per day using the place and 1 crash per day. That would give a 1 in 1000 chance of damaging your car. There's probably a reasonably low chance of someone else being involved - let's say 1000 to 1. That would still give odds of 1,000,000 to 1 that you will involve someone else in your incident at the ring.
Out of interest - do you buy lottery tickets?
With your comments it’s as if you have some vested interested in the OP and others to rent cars for track days, almost as if that’s how you make your living
Of course I can only speak from the experience of being previously in OP’s position and by suggesting that he’s safer driving his own car on an unfamiliar road than someone’s else car that he’s never driven – I of course have no vested interest either way.
You might want to suggest he books a few track days first to hone his skills, maybe not with a company who have this kind of attitude emblazoned on their website though:
“When we (the BaT team) drive our own cars on track - we don't insure them. Like you, we want to drive in a safe environment and by driving our own cars without crash damage insurance it ensures we have the incentive required to keep driving standards high.”
TEKNOPUG said:
Has and is every purchase and activity you ever do/have been determined by what is the most cost effective v statistical risk?
Of course not. But before I do something that could ruin my life if it goes wrong I do tend to think about insurance and consequencesTEKNOPUG said:
With your comments it’s as if you have some vested interested in the OP and others to rent cars for track days, almost as if that’s how you make your living
That's right - I own every rental car on the planet.TEKNOPUG said:
suggesting that he’s safer driving his own car on an unfamiliar road than someone’s else car that he’s never driven
I agree 100% - he is of course safer in his own car. However, the issue here isn't how likely he is to have an incident - the issue is what happens IF he has one.TEKNOPUG said:
You might want to suggest he books a few track days first to hone his skills, maybe not with a company who have this kind of attitude emblazoned on their website though:
“When we (the BaT team) drive our own cars on track - we don't insure them. Like you, we want to drive in a safe environment and by driving our own cars without crash damage insurance it ensures we have the incentive required to keep driving standards high.”
Totally and utterly irrelevant. We're not talking about vehicle damage insurance here, nor are we talking about UK trackdays on privatetly hired race circuits. Thanks for the free plug though “When we (the BaT team) drive our own cars on track - we don't insure them. Like you, we want to drive in a safe environment and by driving our own cars without crash damage insurance it ensures we have the incentive required to keep driving standards high.”
TEKNOPUG said:
Of course I can only speak from the experience of being previously in OP’s position and by suggesting that he’s safer driving his own car on an unfamiliar road than someone’s else car that he’s never driven – I of course have no vested interest either way.
And when I speak from experience of being previously, and seeing the aftermath, and resulting 6 figure bill from a tiny lapse of concentration, I'd say in the OP's position he's safer driving a rental.Remember you are self insuring any car that might be near you on the 'ring. Anything from £2000 Golfs, to £100,000+ super cars. See a race prepared viper in the rear view, get nervous about closing speeds, clip a kerb (avoid kerbs btw!), spin, collect viper, proceed directly to bankruptcy do not pass go.
Or pay a few thousand in excess. Walk away going "feck me that was nasty. Now who's driving home?".
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