Experience day - excess

Experience day - excess

Author
Discussion

Brian Fantana

Original Poster:

241 posts

191 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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Not that I’m intending on flipping or denting anything, but I have a day in an Aston and a bit of off-roading thrown in too on Saturday. Just had an e-mail through from the “experience” company saying that although I’m fully covered for the cars on the day, however; if I pay £20, if there’s any damage whatsoever to the cars I will not be liable for any excess.

Just wondering if this is worth paying out for (having had to pay to get the slot later than 7.30am, and the petrol to get to Stafford and back…)? The cynic in me is saying to pay it as if I should tap a plastic cone or something and they’ve seen I’ve not paid the £20, they’ll charge me for damage.

I know I’ll be kicking myself for not paying it after going through a hedge backwards, on fire.

sherman

13,771 posts

221 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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Its £20. It could save you from paying out several thousands in repair costs. I would pay it.

blearyeyedboy

6,492 posts

185 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
quotequote all
What's the excess?

If it's £100, don't bother. If it's £25,000 then it's a bargain. Where the line is in between is a personal choice.


Edited by blearyeyedboy on Wednesday 4th April 13:06

Garlick

40,601 posts

246 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
quotequote all
You really need to ask?

For the price of a takeaway curry you could avoid paying whatever they feel like charging you 'should' the worst happen.

I would. But this is a very valid question

blearyeyedboy said:
What's the excess?

If it's £100, don't bother. If it's £25,000 then it's a bargain.

Gatsods

389 posts

174 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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Personally I would always do this as then you can push that extra little bit you might not otherwise for fear of crashing. Not saying I'd pay this extra and then think "Sod it, I'll write it off" but I would want to be able to have fun without that niggling doubt that I might have a huge bill should this go wrong.

Just my $0.02 smile

matthias73

2,883 posts

156 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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Good god man, I would pay twenty pounds for peace of mind alone!

CooperS

4,538 posts

225 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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matthias73 said:
Good god man, I would pay twenty pounds for peace of mind alone!
+1

sday12

5,054 posts

217 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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Brian Fantana said:
Just had an e-mail through from the “experience” company saying that although I’m fully covered for the cars on the day, however; if I pay £20, if there’s any damage whatsoever to the cars I will not be liable for any excess.
Got to love the last minute upsell.

Tell them to do one, and insure the excess through a broker for £3.34.

Motorrad

6,811 posts

193 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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Pay the execess and then crash it hard^. That'll teach 'em.




^don't actually do this.

Ikemi

8,483 posts

211 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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Has anyone crashed, or know of anyone who has crashed an experience day car?

.:ian:.

2,321 posts

209 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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If you intend going off-roading in an Aston, I`d pay the £20...


essayer

9,541 posts

200 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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Ikemi said:
Has anyone crashed, or know of anyone who has crashed an experience day car?
Aren't you supervised the whole time with an instructor who has his own brake pedal? If you crash, it's his responsibility.


k15tox

1,680 posts

187 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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Ikemi said:
Has anyone crashed, or know of anyone who has crashed an experience day car?
I did a generic M3, Atom, STI Day at Elvington.

Paid the 'accidental damage waiver' IIRC it was around £25.

Depends on the track really, Elvington is an old airfield with no barriers and a grass run off, so chances of hitting something are slim.

Another thing to note is the instructors will not let you push anywhere near the limits of the car i found.

Im not claiming to be a race driver or such but i suppose there mostly designed for your 'uncle Bob' who's always wanted to drive a ferrari.

steve singh

3,995 posts

179 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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Ikemi said:
Has anyone crashed, or know of anyone who has crashed an experience day car?
Saw someone bin the "GT03 OFF" number plated GT3 - poor old guy did it on his first lap and despite taking cover etc. was sent home as apparently it was the rule!

Saying that though, that experience day company were the worst in the world and I really dislike the entire day...a google search then revealed I wasn't alone in that type of feedback........


PS Depending on the experience day you might not even get close to your / car limit - I was told to change up at 4k revs in the 360 despite having a long-straight :s

CraigMST

9,080 posts

171 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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I paid it when I drove an R8 and then once again with a Gallardo and a 360.
It covers you for the first £50,000.
I didn't bin any of the three and probably will pay it again when I go on the Murcielago one soon.
Have fun. Drive it like you stole it, really hehe

Jimmy No Hands

5,018 posts

162 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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They sprung this on me when I went to one last year, no prior warning or anything, but fair enough.

It was £25 and I did say no but I genuinely had no cash or card on me at the time.


I didn't crash and don't owe them £90,000. So it's all good.


Edit: It was also Elvington and to crash into anything would have been a feat in itself. They also don't let you do power slides bouncing off the limiter in second around corners either, unfortunately.

Wills2

24,132 posts

181 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
quotequote all
k15tox said:
Another thing to note is the instructors will not let you push anywhere near the limits of the car i found.

Im not claiming to be a race driver or such but i suppose there mostly designed for your 'uncle Bob' who's always wanted to drive a ferrari.
You need to go to a Palmersport event at Bedford then.

ashleyqprw12

167 posts

153 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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Paid £10 recentllt for a GTR Thrill at silverstone.. As for some who said they didn't feel allowed to take the car to the limit.. I really enjoyed driving the GTR was suprised at the amount of times the instructor would encourage more power, was gutted on my first lap to see an aston a lotus and 360 pull out of the pits, i thought great stuck behind this lot getting used to there first lap.. nope the instructor said right stick close to the ferrari we will go past this lot in a moment.. round the corner off we go power power power he says! Loved it and would go again, great expierence in my opinion

essayer

9,541 posts

200 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
quotequote all
Do their terms and conditions say you will be liable for the excess if you crash?

e: checked one site -

The Racing School said:
A driver may be liable to pay for any damage caused whilst they are driving. The Racing School offers an optional ‘Damage Protection’ at an additional cost of £20, which can either be paid prior to taking part in the experience or on the day itself. This covers the driver for the first £5000 worth of damage to the vehicle as long as you are driving in line with the directions given by the instructor in a careful and controlled manner.
hmmmm.. seems a bit wishy washy


Edited by essayer on Wednesday 4th April 12:59

dave_s13

13,862 posts

275 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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I've done 2 "experiences" at elvington. One in a 360 spider and one in a Lambo LP640 thingy.

Neither had a rev limit but you were advised to take it steady if things started getting a bit squirmy. The experiences are not at all about finding the cars or your own limits though, it's literally just to have a go in a special motor.

If it's a proper day of being coached to go as fast as you dare then I would pay the insurance.