Do you want a lap of LeMans in a '66 Aston Martin?
Discussion
This isn't a commercial post to the forum as I don't even break even on this, but I always take my 1966 Aston Martin to the 24 hour race Le Mans for the week, and people always ask me for a go in it - so this year I'm operating a rota system!
I'm charging for the cost of the lap and producing a DVD from the in-car camera - although if you've got an interesting car with you at Le Mans, I'm happy to swap a lap for a lap!
What better way to celebrate Aston's return to Le Mans than a go in one!
Further details at:
www.cars.robertsaerospace.com/LeMansExp
>> Edited by JamesBondMI5 on Wednesday 11th May 17:34
I'm charging for the cost of the lap and producing a DVD from the in-car camera - although if you've got an interesting car with you at Le Mans, I'm happy to swap a lap for a lap!
What better way to celebrate Aston's return to Le Mans than a go in one!
Further details at:
www.cars.robertsaerospace.com/LeMansExp
>> Edited by JamesBondMI5 on Wednesday 11th May 17:34
I only break even beacause it's eleven-odd miles round trip to where the pick-up point is, and around £4 a mile to run the thing, add in insurance and eBay's cut and that is that.
Have you never owned a 40-year-old supercar that needs a major service (including three gallons of decent oil!) every 1500 miles and its suspension completely rebuilding every 5000?
They're quite pricey, but oh so awesome!
If I was a great entrepreneur I'd be charging £100 a go...
Mike.
Have you never owned a 40-year-old supercar that needs a major service (including three gallons of decent oil!) every 1500 miles and its suspension completely rebuilding every 5000?
They're quite pricey, but oh so awesome!
If I was a great entrepreneur I'd be charging £100 a go...
Mike.
JamesBondMI5 said:
I only break even beacause it's eleven-odd miles round trip to where the pick-up point is, and around £4 a mile to run the thing, add in insurance and eBay's cut and that is that.
Have you never owned a 40-year-old supercar that needs a major service (including three gallons of decent oil!) every 1500 miles and its suspension completely rebuilding every 5000?
They're quite pricey, but oh so awesome!
If I was a great entrepreneur I'd be charging £100 a go...
Mike.
Well I don't know what to say, I am sure the Aston is not in need of a complete suspension rebuild every 5000 miles, but if it is you must live near some pretty shocking roads....
With regard to a 40 year old supercar, yes I have a lot of experience of one and it certainly doesn't cost £4 a mile to run, may I reocmmend you get yours looked at and ask the man to not change the suspension and get the thing running right...
I do wish you every success with your trips this year, as mentioned, see you on track, I won't be in the S1 E Type which we did the full circuit at Classic Le Mans last year but an Azure S1 Elise... I will keep my eye open for you and say hi!
Have a look at the service schedule and maintenance manual for an old Aston some time, and look at the Aston forum of this website and see what everyone is paying for running costs - it's shocking, but great fun!
Have fun in your Elise, I've got a Lotus 7 as well.
What 40 year old supercar did you own? The best description I've ever heard for this activity is like playing Russian Roulette where one chamber of the gun has a £20K bullet in it. Every spring you pull the trigger and hope for the best...
Have fun in your Elise, I've got a Lotus 7 as well.
What 40 year old supercar did you own? The best description I've ever heard for this activity is like playing Russian Roulette where one chamber of the gun has a £20K bullet in it. Every spring you pull the trigger and hope for the best...
JamesBondMI5 said:
The best description I've ever heard for this activity is like playing Russian Roulette where one chamber of the gun has a £20K bullet in it. Every spring you pull the trigger and hope for the best...
Surely the only reason your costs are this high per mile is because you are covering a tiny mileage per year?
If you covered twice as many miles, wouldn't your service costs be fairly similar (apart from a bit more oil)?
Insurance would be very similar - even taking account of low-mileage policies.
It is occasional use that is hard on cars (and bikes) and makes them look expensive.
An over simplistic example - Ducatis require a change of timing belts every 6000 miles or every 12 months. For the man who does 6000 miles pa this works out to around 7p per mile. To the man who only covers 1000 miles pa, this cost rises to 40p per mile. They both pay the same, though.
I was speaking metaphorically.
I try not to drive it during the winter due to the salt on the roads and Aston's rather minimalist approach to rust proofing (only red primer in places).
Although there are a couple of winter events I do take it to.
If you've never owned one of these cars or something similar, trying to explain trials and tribulations of ownership is like trying to describe colour to a blind man.
Although, it's so worth it - and I've never regretted buying it.
I try not to drive it during the winter due to the salt on the roads and Aston's rather minimalist approach to rust proofing (only red primer in places).
Although there are a couple of winter events I do take it to.
If you've never owned one of these cars or something similar, trying to explain trials and tribulations of ownership is like trying to describe colour to a blind man.
Although, it's so worth it - and I've never regretted buying it.
JamesBondMI5 said:
What 40 year old supercar did you own? The best description I've ever heard for this activity is like playing Russian Roulette where one chamber of the gun has a £20K bullet in it. Every spring you pull the trigger and hope for the best...
Not owned directly, my father has a 1961 E Type.... I spend many hours with him with the car, absolutley fantastic.
A recommendation for you, get yourself linked with a club and attend Classic Le Mans next year, driving the circuit at Le Mans as a public highway is one thing, driving the full circuit at your own pace is another thing..... Classic Le Mans, last year all cars entered into the Classic Parking had the opportunity to buy track laps, a fantastic experience.
By all means keep in touch in May/June next year, I would be more than happy to include you in our group for the classic parking with Club Houx Annexers!
JamesBondMI5 said:Hey, I've owned a Ducati. I know all about troublesome electrics, expensive servicing and trips home on the back of a flat-bed.
If you've never owned one of these cars or something similar, trying to explain trials and tribulations of ownership is like trying to describe colour to a blind man.
Although, it's so worth it - and I've never regretted buying it.
When they work they're great, though.
I love your AM, BTW. I'd love a trip around the circuit, but not at £50.
My point on the cost per mile is that doing a few extra miles around the circuit will only really cost you more in petrol. Your fixed costs and servicing will not really change.
I didn’t think you could drive a complete lap on Friday? IIRC last year you could do a good chunk of it but certainly not a full lap. If you book through AMOC you can do some parade laps on the full circuit on Sat am but it costs about £350 and I’ll still be drunk anyway! For what it’s worth my 31 year old costs me about £1 a mile on average (at 3K a year) on maint plus all the other junk. Good luck with the venture anyway, I’ll be burbling around whatever’s open on Friday morning so I’ll keep an eye out for you and try to say hello!
rsvmilly said:
If you've never owned one of these cars or something similar, trying to explain trials and tribulations of ownership is like trying to describe colour to a blind man.
Although, it's so worth it - and I've never regretted buying it.
Hey, I've owned a Ducati. I know all about troublesome electrics, expensive servicing and trips home on the back of a flat-bed.
When they work they're great, though.
I love your AM, BTW. I'd love a trip around the circuit, but not at £50.
My point on the cost per mile is that doing a few extra miles around the circuit will only really cost you more in petrol. Your fixed costs and servicing will not really change.
I'd happily pay £50 for a lap in that aston, no worries!
I absolutely love these cars and if I can get it sorted then there's £50 coming that chaps way!
ian d said:
i've given folk a spin round for free...who says scots are tight....and thats in a bentley at gallons per mile.
see ye at the arnage indy corners friday.
Ian are you the mad scotsman with the bag pipes, if you are, you're a legend at Le Mans!!!
Indeed, we will see you at some point during Friday!
a ledgend...i doubt it you know, jaguar, bentley, porsche...jackie I and derek bell...are ledgends.
i got my tickets today but i am in the process of selling/moving/buying a new house so le mans may not happen for me this year....though i want to go. its also getting so ###### expensive in petrol to feed that car over the journey to le mans and back, my pocket suffers for months afterwards...but i'll try my best and be there.
i got my tickets today but i am in the process of selling/moving/buying a new house so le mans may not happen for me this year....though i want to go. its also getting so ###### expensive in petrol to feed that car over the journey to le mans and back, my pocket suffers for months afterwards...but i'll try my best and be there.
Mark B said:
Not owned directly, my father has a 1961 E Type.... I spend many hours with him with the car, absolutley fantastic.
Ah - I see the confusion. A 1961 E-Type is a very nice car, but the difference between running that or any production sports car and an Aston or even something as mass-produced as a Ferrari or Maserati are massive. By the way you were talking I thought you had some personal experience.
Mark B said:
attend Classic Le Mans next year.
I shall do - I've been to the previous two.
Not a commercial...not sure mee self...
Whatever the age or cost of the vehicle, you either enjoy it yourself or share it joyfully...why does money come into it?
"not making money from this"...certainly spending less which amounts to the same thing...
...is it cheaper to grap a few miles in what is undoubtedly a lovely car a distance away from the rareified air of Le Mans 72000? Is Caen, or Le Havre or Cherbourg cheaper to sample?
Whatever the age or cost of the vehicle, you either enjoy it yourself or share it joyfully...why does money come into it?
"not making money from this"...certainly spending less which amounts to the same thing...
...is it cheaper to grap a few miles in what is undoubtedly a lovely car a distance away from the rareified air of Le Mans 72000? Is Caen, or Le Havre or Cherbourg cheaper to sample?
Just phoned a friend of mine, his dad has a silver DB5 (close to yours) and he pays no-where near in running costs like you do. Including shipping to the UK.
Must say though, I've been in the car several times and it is lovely. Have Fun.
>> Edited by up-the-dubs on Wednesday 11th May 23:40
Must say though, I've been in the car several times and it is lovely. Have Fun.
>> Edited by up-the-dubs on Wednesday 11th May 23:40
up-the-dubs said:
Just phoned a friend of mine, his dad has a silver DB5 (close to yours) and he pays no-where near in running costs like you do.
I'm not sure that going from "My Dad" to "My friend's Dad" is getting any better a comparison. Ask him after he's paid for his regular 20K miles engine rebuild.
One thing that is certain from all these posts is that you've really got to own one of these things and use it regularly for a long period of time to genuinely understand them. Nothing you get from magazines, a man in the pub, or a relative with a completely different type and class of car gives you any idea at all.
up-the-dubs said:
Must say though, I've been in the car several times and it is lovely.
Touring Astons aren't just lovely, they are awesome! And, if they were as cheap to run as all you guys think they are, you'd all have one...
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