Hi all. A bit stuck on a nice gift for someone, they traditionally get me a few hours in a proper flight simulator, so I was thinking of a nice driving experience gift. He is 30, not a full on petrol head but is my son, so has a bit of interest thank god. Budget £200-300. Live N London area so anywhere within a couple of hours max. Always tricky buying a gift voucher blind, so I thought I would ask here as this is the best forum ever. TIA and a Merry Christmas to you all.
The Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone do a great day. It’s a few years since I was there. Booked my son one for his 21st. Can’t remember what it cost but it wasn’t the cheapest day out… But definitely a great, memorable day.
Yeah I would second the PEC Could do say a 90 min in a boxster cayman as the cheaper option or a 911 of any description .. the more power the more cost …
I am not being cruel but 911 power more than enough for him. I am hoping it might stop him driving in 3rd gear at 20mph and wonder why the engine feels strange?!
This is the Virgin version, https://www.virginexperiencedays.co...eIFcxXCgSwWUy9O0L6zrrQPbj_DT_BHxoCzzwQAvD_BwE and this, https://www.silverstone.co.uk/drive, is the Silverstone version. Just bought Billie Eilish tickets at the O2 through Virgin Red for my girlfriend’s daughter, an easy experience. Andy
Be very careful buying one of these at the cheap end of the market. I did one once, over 20yrs ago, a £99 track day experience at Goodwood Circuit. It was to cover a classroom session, laps of Goodwood circuit in a performance saloon with an instructor, laps on my own in a single seater, then some laps driven round the track in a Ferrari by an instructor. Sounds great doesn't it? I queued for an hour to take my turn in a 5min classroom session. I queued for over an hour to take my turn in a Vectra SRi with an instructor and 2 other guys. We each got to do 2 laps of the circuit driving ourselves, one lap out, one in, with no flying lap in the middle. I then queued for over 3hrs, yes 3hrs, to take my turn in an old Formula Ford, which was brilliant fun for the three laps I was allowed but over as soon as I got the hang of it. We were then told that the wait to driven round the track in the Ferrari was too long and the circuit would be shut before our time. So we were given a voucher to come back another day for just that bit. I didn't bother. It could have been a great 3 or 4 hours if organised better, but turned into a frustrating disappointment.
Someone bought a cheap one for me. I had to ring to book the day. They advised me to buy their insurance for £25 for the day The experience consisted of the owner of the car driving me round the circuit if I recall for 5 laps one of which i could drive. The insurance was to cover me if I crashed the car but also if the owner crashed with me in it. As if I was going to pay for his/her/it's bad driving. To top it off the only car vaguely interesting was a Crossbow I decided not to bother
992 911 is more power than a 718 so more expensive 718 is cheaper for a 90 min session. He gets a 121 with a coach for that time on a variety of facility looking at vehicle control and maintaining stability including two circuits for him to develop on. No issue or extra cost with insurance Would probably have to pay extra for food but tea coffee included
My son bought me that package for my birthday and the instructor was First Class from start to finish.. The whole 90 mins was something to remember, well recommended.
Well I would like to thank you all for your amazing input. However my other boys tell me not to wast my money as he is not that into driving. He might more use of some cash for his upcoming Amsterdam trip. Merry Christmas to you all.
