If you had an R8 for the weekend, what would you do?
Discussion
I've "won" a prize of the use of an Audi R8 V10 Spyder for the weekend, which I'm hoping to take advantage of sometime around Easter.
The grand plan is to take it away for the weekend and stay in a decent hotel, but of course I want to be able to get the most out of the drive there and back. The main question in my mind, is "where is there?!".
Immediate thoughts are somewhere on the south coast, somewhere in West Sussex perhaps (although very open to suggestion), where we will be able to find a hotel, either with it's own good restaurant, or one within walking distance nearby.
The finer details probably aren't relevant for discussion on this forum, however I would like advice on routes/destinations within 150-200 miles of Herefordshire.
I'm looking for routes, that aren't all motorway/dual carriageway but also roads that will be safe and comfortable to drive (at speed) but with little risk to both my driving licence and £120,000 worth of someone else's car.
Of course, from here, I expect the main bulk of any suggestions will involve Wales, which is virtually on the doorstep. My main issue with this is that I would like to find somewhere nice to stay and eat on the Saturday night, preferably somewhere new, that I wouldn't normally have the opportunity to go.
I've never really driven a proper supercar, so as you can probably imagine, I'd love to make the very most of it, therefore I welcome any suggestions anyone out there may have...
The grand plan is to take it away for the weekend and stay in a decent hotel, but of course I want to be able to get the most out of the drive there and back. The main question in my mind, is "where is there?!".
Immediate thoughts are somewhere on the south coast, somewhere in West Sussex perhaps (although very open to suggestion), where we will be able to find a hotel, either with it's own good restaurant, or one within walking distance nearby.
The finer details probably aren't relevant for discussion on this forum, however I would like advice on routes/destinations within 150-200 miles of Herefordshire.
I'm looking for routes, that aren't all motorway/dual carriageway but also roads that will be safe and comfortable to drive (at speed) but with little risk to both my driving licence and £120,000 worth of someone else's car.
Of course, from here, I expect the main bulk of any suggestions will involve Wales, which is virtually on the doorstep. My main issue with this is that I would like to find somewhere nice to stay and eat on the Saturday night, preferably somewhere new, that I wouldn't normally have the opportunity to go.
I've never really driven a proper supercar, so as you can probably imagine, I'd love to make the very most of it, therefore I welcome any suggestions anyone out there may have...
Is this one night or two?
Just putting the venue as the priority, we can thoroughly recommend http://www.littlebarwick.co.uk/ - it's near Yeovil so really hoping that all is OK there right now. Absolutely wonderful as a dinner with accommodation destination. Try to arrive early enough in the afternoon to enjoy tea!
I'd have to defer to those with local knowledge to find you some great roads that would qualify as a direct route.
But if you have a second night or don't mind a long day of driving to get you home, you could take a very looping trip across Exmoor.
Alternatively, this is not a recommendation purely because we haven't managed to visit yet: Would you care to try one of http://www.thepighotel.com venues and share your findings? That would be great as they at the top of our list of places of that nature to try! They look good although they do have that annoying two night minimum stay on a Friday/Saturday night. Again, deferring to those with local knowledge around the New Forest to find you some interesting drives.
Just putting the venue as the priority, we can thoroughly recommend http://www.littlebarwick.co.uk/ - it's near Yeovil so really hoping that all is OK there right now. Absolutely wonderful as a dinner with accommodation destination. Try to arrive early enough in the afternoon to enjoy tea!
I'd have to defer to those with local knowledge to find you some great roads that would qualify as a direct route.
But if you have a second night or don't mind a long day of driving to get you home, you could take a very looping trip across Exmoor.
Alternatively, this is not a recommendation purely because we haven't managed to visit yet: Would you care to try one of http://www.thepighotel.com venues and share your findings? That would be great as they at the top of our list of places of that nature to try! They look good although they do have that annoying two night minimum stay on a Friday/Saturday night. Again, deferring to those with local knowledge around the New Forest to find you some interesting drives.
Edited by Carbon Based on Wednesday 12th February 23:00
You have an R8, you're mileage is a little limited, you live very close to Wales. The answer is WALES! Short of Scotland, best driving roads in the UK & given you'll want to spend as much time as possible driving on good roads it's the only sensible option. Furthermore, you'll get more out of it driving roads you might be familiar with. Wales has loads of nice hotel options too. EVO Triangle, LLanberis, Crickhowell, and of course the most famous hairpin in the UK thanks to EVO, Chris Harris, Autocar, et al: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.857852,-3.853574...
Having owned an R8 and living in the north west highlands of Scotland, and asuming you can't get up here! .. I would also suggest a track day. Donington is well suited to the speed of the car, as is Castle Combe. Goodwood another option.
ETA ... If the prize precludes track days, then Wales.
ETA ... If the prize precludes track days, then Wales.
Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 13th February 11:58
There's no way he'll be allowed a trackday.
Head over to wales. Enjoy some roads. Stay here:
http://www.harbour-master.com/
Have some nice food / wine.
Drive back.
Head over to wales. Enjoy some roads. Stay here:
http://www.harbour-master.com/
Have some nice food / wine.
Drive back.
Rather liking yell's suggestion
Aberaeron's lovely and so is their ice-cream - even at this time of year
Short of having further crazy weather you can take in the Abergwesyn Pass and take in a run alongside Llyn Brianne.
Further north is the Yswyth and Elan valleys - i just hope i am around when you go by as they do sound rather lovely
Aberaeron's lovely and so is their ice-cream - even at this time of year
Short of having further crazy weather you can take in the Abergwesyn Pass and take in a run alongside Llyn Brianne.
Further north is the Yswyth and Elan valleys - i just hope i am around when you go by as they do sound rather lovely
If I had an R8 for a weekend... I'd be careful!
A mate who's a fireman had to cut the roof off one a few weeks ago. It'd had a smallish prang and the passenger (girlfriend was complaining of back/neck pain and wouldn't/couldn't move,so they had no choice to get the back board in. Driver wasn't happy.
A mate who's a fireman had to cut the roof off one a few weeks ago. It'd had a smallish prang and the passenger (girlfriend was complaining of back/neck pain and wouldn't/couldn't move,so they had no choice to get the back board in. Driver wasn't happy.
AdiT said:
If I had an R8 for a weekend... I'd be careful!
A mate who's a fireman had to cut the roof off one a few weeks ago. It'd had a smallish prang and the passenger (girlfriend was complaining of back/neck pain and wouldn't/couldn't move,so they had no choice to get the back board in. Driver wasn't happy.
Soon to feature in a specialist dealership wearing a carbon roof. A mate who's a fireman had to cut the roof off one a few weeks ago. It'd had a smallish prang and the passenger (girlfriend was complaining of back/neck pain and wouldn't/couldn't move,so they had no choice to get the back board in. Driver wasn't happy.
The Evo Triangle!
http://www.greatestdrivingroads.com/great_roads.ht...
I'd just head in to Wales
Early morning or late evenings best time for a hoon :-)
http://www.greatestdrivingroads.com/great_roads.ht...
I'd just head in to Wales
Early morning or late evenings best time for a hoon :-)
AdiT said:
If I had an R8 for a weekend... I'd be careful!
A mate who's a fireman had to cut the roof off one a few weeks ago. It'd had a smallish prang and the passenger (girlfriend was complaining of back/neck pain and wouldn't/couldn't move,so they had no choice to get the back board in. Driver wasn't happy.
They are pussy cats. You'd have to be very, very silly to trash one.A mate who's a fireman had to cut the roof off one a few weeks ago. It'd had a smallish prang and the passenger (girlfriend was complaining of back/neck pain and wouldn't/couldn't move,so they had no choice to get the back board in. Driver wasn't happy.
Audi gave me a spyder for 5 days after my RS's engine lunched itself with 5k on the clock
I took it to the Lake District (put 1000 miles on it)
I got up at 6am every day and took it for spin, loads of fantastic twisty roads, almost no traffic at that time and I didn't see a speed camera or police car the whole time, stunning scenery, then during the day used it to touristy stuff with the OH
Bliss , saving up for one
I took it to the Lake District (put 1000 miles on it)
I got up at 6am every day and took it for spin, loads of fantastic twisty roads, almost no traffic at that time and I didn't see a speed camera or police car the whole time, stunning scenery, then during the day used it to touristy stuff with the OH
Bliss , saving up for one
Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Thursday 13th February 20:18
GetCarter said:
AdiT said:
If I had an R8 for a weekend... I'd be careful!
A mate who's a fireman had to cut the roof off one a few weeks ago. It'd had a smallish prang and the passenger (girlfriend was complaining of back/neck pain and wouldn't/couldn't move,so they had no choice to get the back board in. Driver wasn't happy.
They are pussy cats. You'd have to be very, very silly to trash one.A mate who's a fireman had to cut the roof off one a few weeks ago. It'd had a smallish prang and the passenger (girlfriend was complaining of back/neck pain and wouldn't/couldn't move,so they had no choice to get the back board in. Driver wasn't happy.
I'd be very conservative as per the earlier comment - North Wales would be ideal for a scenic drive, possibly the triangle/roads around Bala and the B4391 but obeying all speed limits/driving with due care etc.
Worth considering that it's also likely the car would have a black box/ telemetry fitted if regularly loaned out over and above the default electronics..
Agree about R8 comments, cracking car.
GetCarter said:
AdiT said:
If I had an R8 for a weekend... I'd be careful!
A mate who's a fireman had to cut the roof off one a few weeks ago. It'd had a smallish prang and the passenger (girlfriend was complaining of back/neck pain and wouldn't/couldn't move,so they had no choice to get the back board in. Driver wasn't happy.
They are pussy cats. You'd have to be very, very silly to trash one.A mate who's a fireman had to cut the roof off one a few weeks ago. It'd had a smallish prang and the passenger (girlfriend was complaining of back/neck pain and wouldn't/couldn't move,so they had no choice to get the back board in. Driver wasn't happy.
That said - lucky bastid! Enjoy.
And, another vote for (north) Wales from me too. Plenty of nice places to stay up there too if you know where to look.
Trefy5 said:
Rather liking yell's suggestion
Aberaeron's lovely and so is their ice-cream - even at this time of year
Short of having further crazy weather you can take in the Abergwesyn Pass and take in a run alongside Llyn Brianne.
Further north is the Yswyth and Elan valleys - i just hope i am around when you go by as they do sound rather lovely
Must admit I'm rather liking this idea. Quite regularly do the Abergwesyn/Elan route, although that's usually with oldies who complain about speed (father in law drove at 80mph once!!!). Last car I did Llyn Brianne in on my own was a Golf R cab on a day off last August. Epic. (Incidentally, that is the quickest road car I have ever "properly" driven - be interesting to experience that in the R8)Aberaeron's lovely and so is their ice-cream - even at this time of year
Short of having further crazy weather you can take in the Abergwesyn Pass and take in a run alongside Llyn Brianne.
Further north is the Yswyth and Elan valleys - i just hope i am around when you go by as they do sound rather lovely
Yell's hotel suggestion also looks rather good too - you've pretty much summed up the intention of the weekend - drive, eat, drink, sleep, drive more!
As appealing as Donington would be, I really don't think my job is worth risking for that!!
Thanks for all the input so far - I'd be interested to hear more suggestions if there is anything that could top these!
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