Supercar Experience

[philshort]

I was lucky enough to get a Supercar Experience day for my, er, last birthday, which I did last weekend at Mallory. Though I might summarise the cars, in the order I got to drive them. Dodge Viper. Gruff, harsh, brash, non-communicative, fast but undeniably agricultural. Jaguar XKR. Thraping an automatic around a racetrack from the comfort of your favourite armchair. Pass the pipe and slippers love. Actually quite quick, but acres of body roll (in comparison to other cars there). Probably the most surreal experience of the day. Lamborghini Diablo. Frustratingly claustrophobic. And not the interior, the car felt like it needed a LOT more room than Mallory offered to give its best. Awesome noise. Fairly intimidating, but not as shatteringly quick as I had anticipated. Donnington, or preferably Silverstone, would be another matter ... Porsche Carrera. For some reason I just didn't feel at all comfortable with this car. Might have been quick, but not with me driving. Why is the gearbox the wrong way up? Maserati BiTurbo. Ho ho ho! This was a complete surprise. Most people have trouble with the hair trigger fly-by-wire throttle, but I thought it was a belter! Quiet, blisteringly quick, the only car I almost outbraked myself in as I genuinely surprised myself by how quick it went down the straights. Went round the bends fine too. Q-car extraordinaire! Licence loser without a doubt. Lotus Exige. If I had been offered the keys to any one of the six, I'd have taken the Lotus. Stormingly good fun, I got in this one and just took it by the scruff of the neck and went for it. Pin sharp handling. After one lap I was completely at one with the car and just looking for the best lines, like I'd been driving it for months. A go-kart on steroids. I have a TVR Chimaera 500, and the only car I'd swap it for of the six would be the Exige. I'd lose my licence in a month though, i'd just have to nail it every time I drove it!

[Tractorboy]

LUCKY B*****D!!!

[philshort]

James Yes, but it is really only a half day. Organisation was not perfect, but it was hugely enjoyable. Not long enough in the cars - try to savour every moment, and don't rush from one to the next. When all the driving is done you get a passenger ride in a race car, either Porsche Supercup or GT40. Unfortunately you only get one ride, I didn't know and got in the Porsche. Hold out for the GT40 if its there!

[craigw]

I've done the brands hatch leisure group day a couple of times at Snetterton. Viper - awesome, pretty good roadholding - very fast american sofa Lotus Esprit V8 - mental, fragile, we blew one up! Porsche 911 C2 - better than I expected, bit dull though. F355 - amazing, power, handling, sound. Couldn't fault it. Brilliant day, would recommend to anyone. not cheap mind £500ish (get the company to pay!)

[alisonh]

I did the one at Snetterton as well (corporate jolly!) - excellent fun :-)

[Nightmare]

me too.......cant agree about the 355 though - I was really dissapointed.....though to be fair I thin the thottle on the one I drove was sticking slightly, making it really tricky to feather properly coming out of tight bends....apart from that though I found it a bit shaky, dull inside and nothing like as fast as the esprit round the circuit.... just a personal thing I guess seeing as everyone else thinks its the best thing ever!

[dubbs]

I don't. I like the Ferrari for it's looks and noise but when getting out of the Esprit 350 and into my mate's 355 spider the difference was amazing. Quality and feel were better, noise MUCH better but handling, acceleration, torque and weight were all down compared to the Esprit which would be all over a 355 like a rash until the 355 pulled over to let it pass.