nurburgring rental companies
Discussion
rsr are probably the cheapest of the lot, they've got a fleet of old Alfa 75s they rent out amongst other stuff.
I think the only way you'll do cheap is if you rent a normal car from Hertz or some such, bit risky though if you bin it etc.
Cheapest option would be to buy a car for the trip then sell it when you get home.
In all honesty though cheap is not a word you can ascociate with the ring anymore, it's getting on fot 20 quid a lap as it is!
I think the only way you'll do cheap is if you rent a normal car from Hertz or some such, bit risky though if you bin it etc.
Cheapest option would be to buy a car for the trip then sell it when you get home.
In all honesty though cheap is not a word you can ascociate with the ring anymore, it's getting on fot 20 quid a lap as it is!
Im often out there for work & usually dont want to haul mine out & back so have looked & priced the various options.
Indeed not much around cheaper than the RSR old Alfas, although you can get a bit cheaper elsewhere if you dont plan on many laps, as RSRs cars have unlimited mileage which works out cheapest if you want to do a fair few laps, as most of the competition have milage limits & circa E1 per km after that.
These are about the cheapest alternative as long as you keep the miles down.
http://www.rent4ring.de/index.php?id=8&L=1
chrisr29 said:
I think the only way you'll do cheap is if you rent a normal car from Hertz or some such, bit risky though if you bin it etc.
Its not only risky if you crash it (in which case don't expect the insurance to bail you out, the rental company may hand you a bill for the whole car...)Rental companies have been known to find out about their cars used on the ring and issue large bills for wear and tear, in one example the guy had 2k EUR on his credit card for "tyre & brake wear".
Its believed some of them pay bounties to people in the area (maybe marshals or trackside photographers) to inform about rentals on track. And of course they can trawl the photographers websites if they are suspicious.
I'm sure you would get away with it if renting from the right company, and preferably from a country outside Germany (where the plates aren't so obvious as belonging to Hertz etc). And you don't shred the tyres...
Or you could go to the track rental companies for a car with a known limit on your liability, with track suspension and a cage plus some on site support if you have a problem.
chrisr29 said:
Cheapest option would be to buy a car for the trip then sell it when you get home.
But be careful, people have taken cheap bangers there with the approach "its only a few hundred quid, doesn't matter if its crashed or blown up". That is until you get the bill for the Armco, track stoppage, fluids clean up, plus the bills for the bikes & Porsches that went off on your boiled over coolant.If you're going to take a cheap car make damn sure its up to the job.
chrisr29 said:
In all honesty though cheap is not a word you can ascociate with the ring anymore, it's getting on fot 20 quid a lap as it is!
ding !with all the transport, accomodation, your time etc just do it properly and enjoy it.
SpeedyDave said:
chrisr29 said:
I think the only way you'll do cheap is if you rent a normal car from Hertz or some such, bit risky though if you bin it etc.
Its not only risky if you crash it (in which case don't expect the insurance to bail you out, the rental company may hand you a bill for the whole car...)Rental companies have been known to find out about their cars used on the ring and issue large bills for wear and tear, in one example the guy had 2k EUR on his credit card for "tyre & brake wear".
Its believed some of them pay bounties to people in the area (maybe marshals or trackside photographers) to inform about rentals on track. And of course they can trawl the photographers websites if they are suspicious.
I'm sure you would get away with it if renting from the right company, and preferably from a country outside Germany (where the plates aren't so obvious as belonging to Hertz etc). And you don't shred the tyres...
Or you could go to the track rental companies for a car with a known limit on your liability, with track suspension and a cage plus some on site support if you have a problem.
chrisr29 said:
Cheapest option would be to buy a car for the trip then sell it when you get home.
But be careful, people have taken cheap bangers there with the approach "its only a few hundred quid, doesn't matter if its crashed or blown up". That is until you get the bill for the Armco, track stoppage, fluids clean up, plus the bills for the bikes & Porsches that went off on your boiled over coolant.If you're going to take a cheap car make damn sure its up to the job.
chrisr29 said:
In all honesty though cheap is not a word you can ascociate with the ring anymore, it's getting on fot 20 quid a lap as it is!
ding !with all the transport, accomodation, your time etc just do it properly and enjoy it.
End of the day it's a risky and expensive place and if you're not prepared to take the risk or pay the price don't go.
If you want a sobering sight to temper your enthusiasm visit the local scrap yard and check out all the expensive machinery that never made it back home.
It's still a great place though, can't think of anywhere else I'd rather go for a long weekend away
chrisr29 said:
Didn't say take a cheap car.
Noted, ...but it seems thats the approach the great majority seem to take when buying a car just for this purpose (otherwise why not just take the daily driver)
Its become increasingly common see stag party groups & banger rallies there. Sometimes they are well guided by veteran ring goers who are keeping an eye on the fleet for leaks etc, Scumballers were good like that. Most are not and have a high attrition rate resulting in lots of closure time for everyone else and some big unexpected costs for the drivers.
I can see how buy-ring-sell could work but personally I'd rather just take appropriate care with my regular car, or rent a purpose built tool than all the faffing about with an unknown quantity which is going to be a bit s
t anyway.i would not consider hiring a car of avis or hertz to drive on the ring. and since i'll be spending at least 3 or 4 days ( week days, will never spend the weekend. just too busy!) around the area i will probably take my own car again. all these companies selling tuition and driving courses are just ripping people off!
i have been around the nordschleife b4 and i think it is all a scam! all this "stay away" of the most dangerous track (or one way toll road) on earth is all rubbish. it is a great experience and every one should try it. i remember the first day i was there. it had been raining all day and just stopped as i arrived. i tought this is no good! i was wrong. it is the best way to take it in (specially if u drive a 4 wheel drive car) no traffic,wet but good visibility. after 3 first laps i was hooked. i was lucky because it was april and the next 2 days the track was dry and then u can really enjoy it.
i have been around the nordschleife b4 and i think it is all a scam! all this "stay away" of the most dangerous track (or one way toll road) on earth is all rubbish. it is a great experience and every one should try it. i remember the first day i was there. it had been raining all day and just stopped as i arrived. i tought this is no good! i was wrong. it is the best way to take it in (specially if u drive a 4 wheel drive car) no traffic,wet but good visibility. after 3 first laps i was hooked. i was lucky because it was april and the next 2 days the track was dry and then u can really enjoy it.
mjrc said:
i would not consider hiring a car of avis or hertz to drive on the ring. and since i'll be spending at least 3 or 4 days ( week days, will never spend the weekend. just too busy!) around the area i will probably take my own car again. all these companies selling tuition and driving courses are just ripping people off!
i have been around the nordschleife b4 and i think it is all a scam! all this "stay away" of the most dangerous track (or one way toll road) on earth is all rubbish. it is a great experience and every one should try it. i remember the first day i was there. it had been raining all day and just stopped as i arrived. i tought this is no good! i was wrong. it is the best way to take it in (specially if u drive a 4 wheel drive car) no traffic,wet but good visibility. after 3 first laps i was hooked. i was lucky because it was april and the next 2 days the track was dry and then u can really enjoy it.
lol, wait until you get to certain corners and are starting to go faster. The usual 'wetline' sometimes doesn't apply and some corners are *extremely* slippery when wet.i have been around the nordschleife b4 and i think it is all a scam! all this "stay away" of the most dangerous track (or one way toll road) on earth is all rubbish. it is a great experience and every one should try it. i remember the first day i was there. it had been raining all day and just stopped as i arrived. i tought this is no good! i was wrong. it is the best way to take it in (specially if u drive a 4 wheel drive car) no traffic,wet but good visibility. after 3 first laps i was hooked. i was lucky because it was april and the next 2 days the track was dry and then u can really enjoy it.
mjrc said:
all these companies selling tuition and driving courses are just ripping people off!
i have been around the nordschleife b4 and i think it is all a scam!
Thats seems a bit harsh? There are several companies offering rentals of all sorts so there is plenty of healthy competition, its not like there is a monopoly operating.i have been around the nordschleife b4 and i think it is all a scam!
Regards tuition, rates are pretty normal compared to what you'd find for instruction at tracks elsewhere. No one has to take instruction but all of us can always learn something. I drove hundreds of laps before I first took some instruction and I still found it worthwhile as I'd got stuck in my ways about a few lines that weren't quite right.
mjrc said:
all this "stay away" of the most dangerous track (or one way toll road) on earth is all rubbish.
I don't think anyone is saying stay away? I see is people advising appropriate caution, seems fair enough given the huge number that come to grief there. 
mjrc said:
it is a great experience and every one should try it.
Agreed, its awesome 
/disclaimer, I'm mates with the RSR lot. My comments apply to the other operators equally though.
mjrc said:
i would not consider hiring a car of avis or hertz to drive on the ring. and since i'll be spending at least 3 or 4 days ( week days, will never spend the weekend. just too busy!) around the area i will probably take my own car again. all these companies selling tuition and driving courses are just ripping people off!
i have been around the nordschleife b4 and i think it is all a scam! all this "stay away" of the most dangerous track (or one way toll road) on earth is all rubbish. it is a great experience and every one should try it. i remember the first day i was there. it had been raining all day and just stopped as i arrived. i tought this is no good! i was wrong. it is the best way to take it in (specially if u drive a 4 wheel drive car) no traffic,wet but good visibility. after 3 first laps i was hooked. i was lucky because it was april and the next 2 days the track was dry and then u can really enjoy it.
Why ask for an opinion/advice if you've already made your mind up? Hardley a scam renting out cars. Can you imagine the costs involved in buying, prepping, maintaining and insuring cars to be ragged around the most demanding track in the world by joe public? Not to mention the cost of damages/write offs! I wouldn't like to try it.i have been around the nordschleife b4 and i think it is all a scam! all this "stay away" of the most dangerous track (or one way toll road) on earth is all rubbish. it is a great experience and every one should try it. i remember the first day i was there. it had been raining all day and just stopped as i arrived. i tought this is no good! i was wrong. it is the best way to take it in (specially if u drive a 4 wheel drive car) no traffic,wet but good visibility. after 3 first laps i was hooked. i was lucky because it was april and the next 2 days the track was dry and then u can really enjoy it.
No ones saying 'stay away'. Just advising on the dangers. Been going there for the past 15 years now and have seen hundreds of accidents, several on the same lap. Not to mention the odd dead biker being carted off!
Anyone who underestimates the place is a fool and an accident waiting to happen.
Anyway. I'll be going at half a dozen times next yesr as it is kinda adictive.
Cheers.
Funk said:
Seconded.I've used Theo several times. Definitely not the cheapest, but excellent, well-prepared cars and great service.
The RSR guys are also good, esp. for tuition.
to chrisr29 i had not made my mind b4.
but since i am computer literate i managed to check the sites recomended in no more than 5 minutes. i know! isnt the internet amazing!!!
and rsr charge you big excess if u bin it. clio 197 i think is 8000E.
if u bin a gt3 rs u have an excess of 50000E. so i rather bin my own metal!!
but since i am computer literate i managed to check the sites recomended in no more than 5 minutes. i know! isnt the internet amazing!!!
and rsr charge you big excess if u bin it. clio 197 i think is 8000E.
if u bin a gt3 rs u have an excess of 50000E. so i rather bin my own metal!!
I used Rent-RaceCar this year and was impressed with the service and the car (Golf GTi with DSG).
Ok, not cheap, but most of the guys I went with needed to replace tyres/brakes when they got home so taking your own car is not that cheap either.
Nice to collect, drive and drop off when I had done my laps.
Would consider renting again, and certainly using Rent-RaceCar again.
Ok, not cheap, but most of the guys I went with needed to replace tyres/brakes when they got home so taking your own car is not that cheap either.
Nice to collect, drive and drop off when I had done my laps.
Would consider renting again, and certainly using Rent-RaceCar again.
I think there are a number of considerations that actually make renting quite an attractive option:
1. you don't have to get your own car there - you can fly (very cheaply) and rent an airport runabout (very cheaply)
2. you save the time involved in driving to the Eifel mountains and back (e.g. I have been lapping at the ring 'til 6 pm (CET) and home by midnight (LDN) same day)
3. the slightly uncertain UK insurance position becomes irrelevant
4. the car is fully prepared and supported while you are there (e.g. last trip the rent-racecar BMW which I had for two days needed new pads by the end of Saturday - Sunday morning full set fitted all round)
5. no wear and tear on your own car: tyres, brakes, etc..
6. no worries about noise tests, TUV certification, etc..
On the downside:
1. it is expensive (though in reality its probably near enough a wash if you take all the costs into account)
2. the excess is quite high if you bin it, but at least its defined
3. you are driving a rental and sometimes the attitude of the other drivers shows - generally they seem to assume that all rentals are driven by (slow) novices
4. familiarity with the car is probably not the equal of your own car
As I said above I've rented sevral times from rent-racecar, usually for two days, usually shared with a friend. It works out pretty cost effective in those circumstances, even allowing for the fact that we normally blow the kilometerage limit to smithereens.
1. you don't have to get your own car there - you can fly (very cheaply) and rent an airport runabout (very cheaply)
2. you save the time involved in driving to the Eifel mountains and back (e.g. I have been lapping at the ring 'til 6 pm (CET) and home by midnight (LDN) same day)
3. the slightly uncertain UK insurance position becomes irrelevant
4. the car is fully prepared and supported while you are there (e.g. last trip the rent-racecar BMW which I had for two days needed new pads by the end of Saturday - Sunday morning full set fitted all round
)5. no wear and tear on your own car: tyres, brakes, etc..
6. no worries about noise tests, TUV certification, etc..
On the downside:
1. it is expensive (though in reality its probably near enough a wash if you take all the costs into account)
2. the excess is quite high if you bin it, but at least its defined
3. you are driving a rental and sometimes the attitude of the other drivers shows - generally they seem to assume that all rentals are driven by (slow) novices
4. familiarity with the car is probably not the equal of your own car
As I said above I've rented sevral times from rent-racecar, usually for two days, usually shared with a friend. It works out pretty cost effective in those circumstances, even allowing for the fact that we normally blow the kilometerage limit to smithereens.
Rentals are too expensive IMO. Also check out the excess payments in case of damage (they are usually approchaing 1/3 of the cars value or more). You'd be better off buying something from the classifieds and taking that over then selling it when you get back. Or dont be a wuss and drive over in your own car and take that on.
I think renting vs running a decent car there is a wash too. Once you factor in tyres, insurance, petrol+time+eurotunnel getting there it all adds up.
I had a tyre on my RS blow out coming off the eurotunnel in England and that sure made me think about going back to rental there! (yes I should have checked more often but it was the shoulder going on some toyos and when I'd checked the tyres 2 days before they were fine)
I then bought a road legal race prepped m3 as a ring tool as that seemed a cheap option. It wasn't as taking on a car someone else has prepped is a lottery (and I wanted to make it nice) and driving to the ring in it was a nightmare at night when the rain came down and I realised the heated screen didn't work, there was no fans/heater, the wipers were 15 years old and my satnav went flat because there was no lighter socket in the car...
Renting is the way forward!
p.s. no one is compelling you to rent the 996 RS!
I had a tyre on my RS blow out coming off the eurotunnel in England and that sure made me think about going back to rental there! (yes I should have checked more often but it was the shoulder going on some toyos and when I'd checked the tyres 2 days before they were fine)
I then bought a road legal race prepped m3 as a ring tool as that seemed a cheap option. It wasn't as taking on a car someone else has prepped is a lottery (and I wanted to make it nice) and driving to the ring in it was a nightmare at night when the rain came down and I realised the heated screen didn't work, there was no fans/heater, the wipers were 15 years old and my satnav went flat because there was no lighter socket in the car...
Renting is the way forward!
p.s. no one is compelling you to rent the 996 RS!
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