Nurburgring - rental / taxi experiences

[theoriginalpaul]

I’m heading to the ‘ring after at trip to Spa for the F1 in August.
Would like to get on the track but there’s no way I’m risking my own car so am thinking about either renting something for a couple of laps or just going for an M5 taxi lap (will have my son with me, so need 2 passenger seats).

I know the potential costs differ, as does the risk (ie significant excess on the rental), so just wondering what others think…
- will we come away disappointed with just a passenger lap?
- any recommendations for companies to use for both options?

Also local accommodation recommendations needed if anyone has experience.

Thanks guys.

[CarCrazyDad]

Did a lap with my Son a few weeks ago

Apex Taxi are probably the best bet.

As for whether you'll be happy or not that's for you to decide.

The circuit isn't very scary and no need to "risk" your own car , you can simply go for a TF lap and enjoy yourself.

[mmm-five]

Along with Apex for taxi laps and rentals (taxi laps are £250-£350 per lap) you could try RSR-Nurburg (rentals and taxi) or Rent4Ring, RingFreaks, Jacos-Paddock.

For example, an arrive & drive packages (for 8 laps, including fuel & lap tickets) can be had for about £750 for 8 laps in a track-ready Suzuki Swift or £1000 for a BMW 125i, more laps are at your own cost. Single lap packages start at about £200.

Don't forget the insurance excess and large deposit!!!

[paulmnz]

I've just come back from the 'ring and did 4 laps taking friends around who haven't been - the circuit was very quiet as it was only open 5pm-7:30pm so it most people didn't bother. I'd driven down with a couple of my cars on a road trip to Romania and decided to 'risk' the Mk1 MX5. It is a dangerous circuit - I've had a couple of major moments over the years caused by mixed-ability drivers - there are a lot of blind corners and crests, the average speed is very high (nothing lower than 3rd gear) and there is very limited run-off.

Nowadays I only do TF laps if it's quiet - weather conditions are less of an issue, but if there are 100s of people going around or there have been frequent track closures during the day then ringmiesters get anxious to get a 'quick lap' in before it closes and the traffic can get dangerous with drivers taking risks to beat the clock. I'm an experienced club racer so not phased by the traffic, but bearing in mind the mixed ability of the general public it can be worse than a full grid on the brands hatch indy

If you have not been, you should be pretty impressed by a ring taxi lap although I noticed they are going a LOT slower than the old e60 M5s used to - I think there have been a number of ring taxi crashes over the years and the cost of smokey-drift laps seem to have put a real damper on the taxi driving!

One cheap and easy option is just to ask for a passenger lap with someone in the carpark - usually most people there solo are happy to have someone come along - you just need to use your judgement on who you go with. I've done passenger rides for strangers in the past (I must look trust worthy!) and they certainly came away impressed by the experience. It's polite to buy the lap for them (just buy a card before you find someone to jump in with).

Plenty of places to stay - modern hotels by the GP circuit or older style in Adenau and you can get the biggest pizza I've ever seen at Pinocchios

Edited by paulmnz on Monday 18th July 16:06

[Chunkychucky]

Last visited in 2017, Rent4Ring were offering their 1.6 N/A Suzuki Swift Sports at the time. Having not driven one before I nabbed the purple RHD car for an evening of TF, racking up 4 laps and being billed £310 for the pleasure (although admittedly the UK chap who I dealt with cocked his mental arithmetic up and undercharged me).

Given how good the brakes/tyres were on the car, plus the fact it had a full cage/buckets etc., meant there wasn't any hesitation in using the car and track to the full. Would wholeheartedly recommend them or renting a car from elsewhere, even threw in a photo from 'T13' capturing my passenger holding on for grim death whilst working the stopwatch...

[And]

Thoroughly enjoyed my lap with Renn-Taxi.de in their Audi R8 V10 GT - mega.

[Steve H]

If you don’t have time to do a load of laps you will have more fun seeing the Ring from the passenger seat at proper speed for a fixed cost than from the drivers seat at a slower speed and with more risks.

[braddo]

CarCrazyDad said:

The circuit isn't very scary

.

What a stupid comment. This is someone visiting it for the first time with their child and a ring taxi lap is going to feel insane.

Fun though!

[Chunkychucky]

Steve H said:

If you don’t have time to do a load of laps you will have more fun seeing the Ring from the passenger seat at proper speed for a fixed cost than from the drivers seat at a slower speed and with more risks.

1 lap as a passenger with ApexTaxi, or 4 laps driving yourself in a Swift from R4R... Bit of a no-brainer given how much fun driving a slow car fast is tbh

[JP__FOX]

It depends on the budget to be honest. I'd suggest a taxi lap in the Hyundai i30N as it was only about £100 and fantastic fun and a lot quicker than expected! With the savings over a taxi lap in the M5, you could then afford to rent something life a swift for a lap or 2 to drive yourself and do both!

[2 GKC]

It was a long time ago , but when i did the Ring Taxi lap, booking it was a real ballache. Not sure if it’s changed but it will be very busy around the Spa wkd.

[VTECMatt]

Was around 8 years ago but rented a number of cars from RSR, whilst expensive and the excess eye watering i throughly enjoyed the experience's. I rented R26R, Exige S and 997Rs. The latter were on trackdays, all fuel and insurance covered.

[gassolinebonce]

I rented a Swift from Rent 4 Ring a few years ago for a full weekend day of TF (8 laps) and if you are new to the Ring then that's all the car you'll ever need. Huge fun, hugely capable chassis, lots of grip and very forgiving without doing crazy speeds.

R4R aren't the cheapest rental car company out there but they provide a great service. The website below has a list of all the 2022 Nurburgring rental car options with prices which is pretty handy:

https://www.oversteer48.com/nurburgring-car-rental...

For needing 2 passenger seats in a Nurburgring taxi there's a few options - a couple of companies offer an M5, Apex have their F80 M3 and GetSpeed have the Audi RS Etron GT thing which is meant to be amazing, but I think I'd rather have some internal combustion in my ears for the full affect. Same website also lists all Ring Taxi options:

https://www.oversteer48.com/nurburgring-taxi/

[Abacus21]

Definately worth doing a Ring Taxi. You will get a new level of appreciation for the formidable track.

I did a t Porsche GT3 Ring Taxi. The handling was sublime. I was so impressed. If only I had the guts to drive that way with my McLaren 12c.