My Italian Car review...
Discussion
Hi Guys,
Right. I got back from the track about 3-4 hours ago and I am going to state my views on the experience and cars:
When I arrived I was expecting it to be absolutely packed. I was also praying that the weather would hold up and to my unexpected surprise, it did! After the 8 minute briefing covering all the relevant health and safety aspects of the experience, I was then taken for a demo lap in a Ford Focus ST. The instructor (driver) was very clear in his instructions and knew what he was talking about. He then proceeded to show us how fast the ST was and I must admit, I was impressed with it. After the demo lap I wondered around and had a good old oggle and the cars I will be driving. Although I was excited and looking forward to it, at the same time I was slightly intimidated.
Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4: This was the first car I drove. Considering the fastest thing I had ever driven prior to this was a 2008 Mercedes Benz C Class 1.8 (No Supercharger), so I knew I was in for an experience. I had a little chat with the instructor before selecting first gear and I pulled away with a surprisingly amount of ease. No jerkiness what so ever. I pulled up ready to pull out on to the track and watched 2 Gallardo's tear past. I then pulled out and slipped it up to 2nd gear at about 30 mph. After the first bend, my instructor pushed me to juice it and I squeezed the accelerater pedal ever so gently and that told me this thing had extreme power. As the lap went on I started to get a feel for the car and track and gradually gained confidence.
Positive Points: Gripped as if it was on rails round the bends even though I wasnt really caining it. Straight line speed was truly impressive. The gearbox was absolutely brilliant, really smooth and felt solid. Interior felt well built and the Audi influence was obvious. Sounded very handsome and looked great in Baloon white with black calisto's!
Negative Points: To much Audi in there for me. The whole car felt a bit electronic and made you feel that everything that you were doing on the track was the car and not you! I can imagine it being like a really fast Audi TT.
Lamborghini Murciélago LP640: This is my favourite car of all time and I was hoping it would not dissapoint. People say you should not meet your hero's! This car seemed alot wider and bigger than the Gallardo and I am aware that it is and it really felt it. I know it is subjective, but to me, the LP640 felt savagely quick compared to the Gallardo... A contributor to this I feel was I was getting used to the bends and the track. It just piles the power on from such little revs and it sounded absolutely wonderful, especially on the downshifts. Things like the none existant head room, the awful visibility so instead of the instructor telling you when to pull out, you have to make the decision because he cannot physically see. The different driving position to the Gallardo (I prefered the LP650's) all contributed to the obvious differences in character. It was signs of a proper Lamborghini and that is what I loved!
Positive Points: Straight line speed was ridiculously good. Personally, I feel the LP640 sounded better than the Gallardo. The insanity was there. For Example: Crap headroom, poor visibilty etc... Felt like a proper Lamborghini and it felt exactly how I thought it would feel to drive except it was alot quicker. In comparison to the Gallardo, I personally would have the Murciélago but I definately see the appeal in the Gallardo as it is a great car. I was lost for words when I got out the LP640.
Negative Points: Extreme width was a pain manouvering it round the pits but for me, that was almost an attraction though! Lol. Still a little too electronic for me with the gearbox, I feel a Manual would sort this out!
Ferrari F430 (Manual): I bought the laps in this car and it was the best £65.00 I have ever spent. I was a bit nervous about the Gateshift gearbox but it turned out to be good. I did stall it though! The F430 is quite simply the best car I have ever driven. I understand I have not driven many cars but I feel the two Lamborghini's were more than competition. Infact, the F430 was the underdog. I dont know whether it was because of the Manual transmission but I fell in love with this car. It filled me with alot of confidence and egged me on to push it that bit harder and it showed. I was revving the car alot higher and cornering alot faster because I felt confident in the car. Just a real drivers car and allowed me to spend the best £65.00 of my life!
Positive Points: Sounded awesome! Gateshift was hard to get used to but once I got used to it, epic! Instant throttle response and felt like an absolute racer.
Negative Points: Interior quality was did not even touch the quality of either of Lamborghini's but it could of either been the sign of wear and tear on an 2005 plate car as appose to a 57 plate and an 2008 plate car of the Lamborghini's. Or I could of just got a bad one.
Overall I feel that all the travelling, money and effort that went it to this was really worth it and I had a truly great day. I recommend Everyman Racing for youngsters but the track lacks a challenge for experienced drivers.
I feel that the LP640 is still my favourite car and I would only own one if money was no object.
And most importantly, If I was in the market for a car like this.... I think I would have to buy an F430 and keep the change from the LP640.
I feel if I drove a Manual LP640, this would be a really tough choice!
Theres my view on the cars and sorry for boring you! I will get some pictures of the day up as soon as!
Thanks,
Baxter.
Edited Reason: Spelling mistakes.
Right. I got back from the track about 3-4 hours ago and I am going to state my views on the experience and cars:
When I arrived I was expecting it to be absolutely packed. I was also praying that the weather would hold up and to my unexpected surprise, it did! After the 8 minute briefing covering all the relevant health and safety aspects of the experience, I was then taken for a demo lap in a Ford Focus ST. The instructor (driver) was very clear in his instructions and knew what he was talking about. He then proceeded to show us how fast the ST was and I must admit, I was impressed with it. After the demo lap I wondered around and had a good old oggle and the cars I will be driving. Although I was excited and looking forward to it, at the same time I was slightly intimidated.
Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4: This was the first car I drove. Considering the fastest thing I had ever driven prior to this was a 2008 Mercedes Benz C Class 1.8 (No Supercharger), so I knew I was in for an experience. I had a little chat with the instructor before selecting first gear and I pulled away with a surprisingly amount of ease. No jerkiness what so ever. I pulled up ready to pull out on to the track and watched 2 Gallardo's tear past. I then pulled out and slipped it up to 2nd gear at about 30 mph. After the first bend, my instructor pushed me to juice it and I squeezed the accelerater pedal ever so gently and that told me this thing had extreme power. As the lap went on I started to get a feel for the car and track and gradually gained confidence.
Positive Points: Gripped as if it was on rails round the bends even though I wasnt really caining it. Straight line speed was truly impressive. The gearbox was absolutely brilliant, really smooth and felt solid. Interior felt well built and the Audi influence was obvious. Sounded very handsome and looked great in Baloon white with black calisto's!
Negative Points: To much Audi in there for me. The whole car felt a bit electronic and made you feel that everything that you were doing on the track was the car and not you! I can imagine it being like a really fast Audi TT.
Lamborghini Murciélago LP640: This is my favourite car of all time and I was hoping it would not dissapoint. People say you should not meet your hero's! This car seemed alot wider and bigger than the Gallardo and I am aware that it is and it really felt it. I know it is subjective, but to me, the LP640 felt savagely quick compared to the Gallardo... A contributor to this I feel was I was getting used to the bends and the track. It just piles the power on from such little revs and it sounded absolutely wonderful, especially on the downshifts. Things like the none existant head room, the awful visibility so instead of the instructor telling you when to pull out, you have to make the decision because he cannot physically see. The different driving position to the Gallardo (I prefered the LP650's) all contributed to the obvious differences in character. It was signs of a proper Lamborghini and that is what I loved!
Positive Points: Straight line speed was ridiculously good. Personally, I feel the LP640 sounded better than the Gallardo. The insanity was there. For Example: Crap headroom, poor visibilty etc... Felt like a proper Lamborghini and it felt exactly how I thought it would feel to drive except it was alot quicker. In comparison to the Gallardo, I personally would have the Murciélago but I definately see the appeal in the Gallardo as it is a great car. I was lost for words when I got out the LP640.
Negative Points: Extreme width was a pain manouvering it round the pits but for me, that was almost an attraction though! Lol. Still a little too electronic for me with the gearbox, I feel a Manual would sort this out!
Ferrari F430 (Manual): I bought the laps in this car and it was the best £65.00 I have ever spent. I was a bit nervous about the Gateshift gearbox but it turned out to be good. I did stall it though! The F430 is quite simply the best car I have ever driven. I understand I have not driven many cars but I feel the two Lamborghini's were more than competition. Infact, the F430 was the underdog. I dont know whether it was because of the Manual transmission but I fell in love with this car. It filled me with alot of confidence and egged me on to push it that bit harder and it showed. I was revving the car alot higher and cornering alot faster because I felt confident in the car. Just a real drivers car and allowed me to spend the best £65.00 of my life!
Positive Points: Sounded awesome! Gateshift was hard to get used to but once I got used to it, epic! Instant throttle response and felt like an absolute racer.
Negative Points: Interior quality was did not even touch the quality of either of Lamborghini's but it could of either been the sign of wear and tear on an 2005 plate car as appose to a 57 plate and an 2008 plate car of the Lamborghini's. Or I could of just got a bad one.
Overall I feel that all the travelling, money and effort that went it to this was really worth it and I had a truly great day. I recommend Everyman Racing for youngsters but the track lacks a challenge for experienced drivers.
I feel that the LP640 is still my favourite car and I would only own one if money was no object.
And most importantly, If I was in the market for a car like this.... I think I would have to buy an F430 and keep the change from the LP640.
I feel if I drove a Manual LP640, this would be a really tough choice!
Theres my view on the cars and sorry for boring you! I will get some pictures of the day up as soon as!
Thanks,
Baxter.
Edited Reason: Spelling mistakes.
Edited by Baxter 69 on Saturday 28th March 20:12
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