Millbrook Performance Driving Course
Discussion
Has anybody been on the Millbrook Performance Driving Course?
Was it fun? Worthwhile? Insightful?
It's £1,500 which I know is more than what you can normally expect to pay. But the lure of being able to choose any AM model (within reason) is a big temptation.
In a way, I should simply ask to drive a standard V8V so that I know what my car is capable of. But then you see a V12 Vantage S on the menu...
I wonder how many cars AM has sold on the back of such a experience?
Was it fun? Worthwhile? Insightful?
It's £1,500 which I know is more than what you can normally expect to pay. But the lure of being able to choose any AM model (within reason) is a big temptation.
In a way, I should simply ask to drive a standard V8V so that I know what my car is capable of. But then you see a V12 Vantage S on the menu...
I wonder how many cars AM has sold on the back of such a experience?
I've done one last year, I did it in a V12 Vantage S because I wanted to have the experience with the same car as mine (even though it was a hardtop and not the Roadster). Great day and I learnt a lot from it, probably saved me from a big crash when I went sideways on a wet motorway and I managed to get the car in a straight line again, £1,500 well spent, PDC is a must I'd say!
My friend who came with me did it in a Vanquish even though he drives a Rapide but he wanted to try the Vanquish out.
But I think the whole point of the PDC is to get to know your car better.
My friend who came with me did it in a Vanquish even though he drives a Rapide but he wanted to try the Vanquish out.
But I think the whole point of the PDC is to get to know your car better.
CSK1 said:
I've done one last year, I did it in a V12 Vantage S because I wanted to have the experience with the same car as mine (even though it was a hardtop and not the Roadster). Great day and I learnt a lot from it, probably saved me from a big crash when I went sideways on a wet motorway and I managed to get the car in a straight line again, £1,500 well spent, PDC is a must I'd say!
My friend who came with me did it in a Vanquish even though he drives a Rapide but he wanted to try the Vanquish out.
But I think the whole point of the PDC is to get to know your car better.
Thanks for the feedback!My friend who came with me did it in a Vanquish even though he drives a Rapide but he wanted to try the Vanquish out.
But I think the whole point of the PDC is to get to know your car better.
Are the ticket prices for two people effectively? (Although I doubt this if both get the same full experience...)
I'm also looking to get some skid control practice in a separate training with my own V8V. But first want to check the insurance situ in case I skid all the way through the perimeter fence
I have done it twice on the full time and once on the dealer course. Full course is much better and whilst it is a lot of money IMO it is well worth it. You learn so much about how the cars systems work and your driving skills undoubtedly improve as well. They generally ask you what you want from the day and customise it to meet your needs. Both my instructors were excellent.
Our first one was back in 2008 and we got picked up by the instructors from our hotel which just happened to be hosting a Porsche Driving course/meet of some sort. About 15 cars in the car park and these two Aston's came up the drive headlights ablaze! Just brilliant and they clearly knew who was there and how to arrive to make us feel very special!
By the way it is a much more tiring day than you would expect so if you have a bit of a drive there and back think about staying at a hotel - and then you can reflect with a glass of wine on what will have been a brilliant day!
Our first one was back in 2008 and we got picked up by the instructors from our hotel which just happened to be hosting a Porsche Driving course/meet of some sort. About 15 cars in the car park and these two Aston's came up the drive headlights ablaze! Just brilliant and they clearly knew who was there and how to arrive to make us feel very special!
By the way it is a much more tiring day than you would expect so if you have a bit of a drive there and back think about staying at a hotel - and then you can reflect with a glass of wine on what will have been a brilliant day!
Highly recommended, my wife and I attended the PDC in May and we both thought it great value. Our instructors Neville Foster and Andy Burgess were both first class. We both drove V12 Vantage S's and Rebecca drove ours home, would repeat the experience. Unless you are quite local to Millbrook suggest you stay overnight the night before so you arrive fresh and relaxed at the Proving Ground where you meet up at 10 o'clock.
When I did the course last year I had a V12 Vantage with a single instructor for the day, the new knowledge has definitely improved my understanding of car balance and confidence. I would agree with IanV12VR. It was a tiring day and I stayed the night before and after in a local hotel. Mainly I didn't want to be late as it's an early start and I was knackered after the day. It's an excellent investment and great fun.
I took part in a dealer course at Millbrook. I think there was a payment involved, but not very much.
The £1,500 deal sounds as though it involves tuition, whereas mine was more to experience driving all the different Aston Martin models.
Highlights;
The high speed hill course with blind brows, followed immediately by corners.
Need a few laps around there, to be more confident about whether the unseen corners are right or left.
The banked circle (think it might be 1 mile around).
At over 100 mph at the top of the banking, hands off the steering wheel, you can control the direction by throttle.
Run it up to 140 mph, and you have to hold the wheel tightly then.
1 mile straight from a standing start.
165 mph at the instructors braking point (3/4 mile mark). Quite cautious, because they want to be able to go home each night !
Repeat using 6th gear only, and you can reach 155 mph.
The V12s have so much torque, that the lower gears don't help much with acceleration.
Great fun. You will enjoy your day.
Edited by Dewi 1 on Monday 3rd July 19:43
Wow! Such positive responses. Thank you... as well as the advice regarding taking a hotel before/after.
This was all brought about by a change of plan with an exhaust upgrade which couldn't go through (unfortunately the V12VS exhaust does not fit a V8V manual). So it left some spare change in the pocket beyond the de-cat upgrade which I didn't want to turn sensible
AM Bristol suggested I could spend it on an Alcantara steering wheel with cruise control. But at present I wanted to really see what the Vantage is capable of. I have zero real experience of this power, real wheel drive setup, etc. 10 years of reading Evo Magazine does not actually help either in the real world! Whereas driving it never makes me doubt it's capabilities are way beyond my skill level, I am curious to experience beyond what a road can safely allow for.
I think what you all responded with answers that. A great experience (which sums up AM ownership to date) is what it's all about.
I appreciate everybody helping me on this one.
This was all brought about by a change of plan with an exhaust upgrade which couldn't go through (unfortunately the V12VS exhaust does not fit a V8V manual). So it left some spare change in the pocket beyond the de-cat upgrade which I didn't want to turn sensible
AM Bristol suggested I could spend it on an Alcantara steering wheel with cruise control. But at present I wanted to really see what the Vantage is capable of. I have zero real experience of this power, real wheel drive setup, etc. 10 years of reading Evo Magazine does not actually help either in the real world! Whereas driving it never makes me doubt it's capabilities are way beyond my skill level, I am curious to experience beyond what a road can safely allow for.
I think what you all responded with answers that. A great experience (which sums up AM ownership to date) is what it's all about.
I appreciate everybody helping me on this one.
Dewi 1 said:
That reminds me. Has anyone quoted the famous forum warning?
Somehow I have so far managed to resist, but it is said, that when a V8 owner drives a V12, they end up buying one.
Be very aware.
Enjoy.
I will be in Millbrook this coming Saturday testing the V12S Manual..would have loved to test both the V8 and V12 back-to-back.Somehow I have so far managed to resist, but it is said, that when a V8 owner drives a V12, they end up buying one.
Be very aware.
Enjoy.
I wasn't fully convinced when I test drove the V12S Roadster (as I clearly felt the weight moving across axles relative to the V8, albeit Coupe). Hopefully, testing the V12S Coupe will change my perceptions towards its handling capabilities..
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