Anyone done the Lotus Driving Experience

[lavaman]

While I have to be patient while waiting for delivery of an Elise S2(Mar03), I thought it might be fun to do the Lotus Driving Experience this summer so I can learn how to handle a RWD Mid engine car. Is the LDE recommended?

Opinions please.

>>> Edited by lavaman on Monday 25th March 08:24

[Don]

I went on the Lotus Elise course at Thruxton and will be going on a Lotus Elise Experience at Silverstone on Sunday. I'll let you know how that was if you like.

The Thruxton was quite good as you got the most track-time for your money - as compared to driving their other "supercars".

I was very impressed with the Elise and left with a huge grin on my face. Worth doing for that at least.

Not sure which Lotus course you mean but any time spent using up someone else's tyres and brake pads has got to be a good thing.

[lavaman]

The Lotus Driving Experience which I was referring to is the one organised by Lotus at Hethel. There are 3 different courses you can participate: Skills 1, Skills 2 and Extreme Driving Experience.

I did the Ferrari 360 course at Thruxton last summer, I thought the actual driving time was a little short, while the MGF and Boxter S was ok, the 360 was superb even though 4 laps was a bit short. The best fun was definately the Formula Renault single seater, what a rush!

>> Edited by lavaman on Thursday 21st March 08:31

[Rik A]

I have done the level 1 course and it's top! Other people I spoke to on the course reckoned it was value for money but I have no opinion 'cos it was a raffle prize for me.
You get to learn heaps about car control on (and past!) the limit. It isn't a track day - you do steering, braking and under/oversteer exercises, then put them together in a few laps of the Hethel test track. Then the Lotus experts show you how it's really done. Cool.

[XPLOD]

I haven't done it but I am also considering it. A friend of mine has an Elise and he said it was brilliant and good value. Some days give you just a few laps in a car. He said with the LDE it is a whole day, most of it on the track. I am slowly adding to the piggy bank!

[sajberjens]

I did the level 1 course a couple of years ago, and it did my driving the world of good! Actually, right down to the driving position, there isn't much I haven't changed about the way I drive as a result of the course. I should have done it before I got my Elise, actually. I highly recommend it (even at the much higher prices I've seen recently).

[adamrthompson]

The Beginner lotus Driver Training day is excellent and is well worth the money. Not only do you learn a lot about the Elise itself, but more about understeer and oversteer etc. In fact I thought the course was so good I have put my name down for the intermediate course. I will let you know how that goes in the near future.

[Don]

Did the Lotus thing at Silverstone today. Good Instructor - very good in fact. Nice atmosphere and everyone was well looked after.

The amount of track time for your cash is, however, not as good as Thruxton. By quite a bit - it felt today, at least. In fact. I felt it wasn't enough for the money frankly - and I'd got it cheap.

Hmmmn. Perhaps I'm being unfair as I now want a lot more out of any visit to a track than these short things can offer. Might try this Hethel thing....

[Sheds]

I've done both the Hethel courses and would strongly recommend doing them for anyone getting an Elise, or indeed any mid-engined car after something front engined. The intermediate course is quite a bit harder (so I found) with much more refined control required, so I'd practice a bit before you go on to the intermediate in order to get the most out of it.

I also put my girlfriend through the Level 1 course, as she drives the car regularly too. The investment has already come good, as a few months later she avoided smashing the front clam. She says that she was only able to do so because of the cadence braking training that she had at Hethel...

Worth every penny.
cheers
Sheds