Ferrari Driving Experience

Innervision

Hi all,

I'm looking to get some sort of Ferrari driving experience for my boyfriend's birthday in the summer. I know it's something he's always wanted to do. I've seen the Golden Moments one on Groupon a few times but from comments he's made I gather the 348 isn't really what he's looking for (I'm clueless about these things by the way!).

Has anyone got any recommendations at all? I'd be willing to combine it with a weekend away somewhere if that would be best, would anyone recommend going to the UK to do it for example?

Thanks a lot!

TheBazman

Thruxton is good - you can drive the 458 which is by far and away the best car I have driven. Might have to fly into Southampton though.
http://www.thruxtonracing.co.uk/experiences/ferrari458.html

Oral Surgeon

Innervision wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm looking to get some sort of Ferrari driving experience for my boyfriend's birthday in the summer. I know it's something he's always wanted to do. I've seen the Golden Moments one on Groupon a few times but from comments he's made I gather the 348 isn't really what he's looking for (I'm clueless about these things by the way!).

Has anyone got any recommendations at all? I'd be willing to combine it with a weekend away somewhere if that would be best, would anyone recommend going to the UK to do it for example?

Thanks a lot!

The 348 is grand but certainly not the best ferrari experience... its a 20 year old car on public roads.... If you get it for the groupon price then it's ok but not if paying full price (like my parents when getting it for me as a present...)

Up to me, I'd look at doing a ferrari day in the uk on one of their tracks. You'd easily get to drive a 430 or even a 458 (v v nice).

Good luck

PrettyBoy

Get him a real driving experience in the UK, driving an old 348 on main roads in Dublin is not what comes to mind when you hear "Ferrari experience". The 458 experience in Thruxton is probably the best way to spend your money, driving the latest, modern Ferrari around a racing track, more details here: http://www.thruxtonracing.co.uk/experiences/ferrari458.html

Tim the Enchanter

He's a lucky man to have a girlfried like you!!

qz

OP it's my birthday this day next week. Just saying.

fletch

Or try this...I've not driven a 458 so can't compare but I guarantee he would love a drive in a GT-R.

The Tyre Dude

Recently went with my dad to Rockingham via Luton. Went with these guys as there are no speed restrictions as applied by some driving experience places.

http://www.racing-school.co.uk/index.asp

It was amazing, we went for the Ferrari/Porsche, awesome cars driven flat out with the option of buying drives in a host of other cars on the day. Very slick operation and could not recommend them highly enough.

Innervision

Thanks a lot for the help guys some great links there.

Here's hoping it buys me some brownie points alright!

PrettyBoy

The Tyre Dude wrote: »

Recently went with my dad to Rockingham via Luton. Went with these guys as there are no speed restrictions as applied by some driving experience places.

http://www.racing-school.co.uk/index.asp

It was amazing, we went for the Ferrari/Porsche, awesome cars driven flat out with the option of buying drives in a host of other cars on the day. Very slick operation and could not recommend them highly enough.

Their track is ridiculously small though.

The Tyre Dude

PrettyBoy wrote: »

Their track is ridiculously small though.

It's not huge, but at most venues the experience is dictated my mileage, not laps so it does not matter. The inner track at Rockingham is quite challenging at speed and beats any converted airstrip hands down. Your speed is not limited either, as some experiences are. I nearly had the 911 off the track yet the instructor was egging me on the whole time, great stuff.

whippet

this is what you want to be doing ... a full day with a load of different cars

Palmer Sport

it's pricy but well worth it.

I did it about 5 years ago and have been hankering after it since.

deadlast

Have a look at www.trackdays.co.uk
I got a voucher for Xmas, you get to drive two supercars for 4 laps each, on a choice 4 uk tracks.
Gonna go do mine in may but any reviews I've seen look good.
They seem to have plenty of options depending on budget, think herself paid £150 for mine.

101sean

http://www.heritagesportscars.com/our_classic_cars.htm near Adare have a Ferrari Mondial listed for hire. Have no idea if it's what he's looking for.

PrettyBoy

101sean wrote: »

Ferrari Mondial listed for hire. Have no idea if it's what he's looking for.

Probably not :pac: Really, the newer the Ferrari, the better. Try to find a place that has a 360, 430 or 458.

Relatively speaking the 348 and Mondial are at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to Ferrari's.

101sean

Fair enough, no nothing about them other than they are no good off road!

pmurphy7

I received this gift from my wife and 5yr old son as a 39yr old birthday gift.

Having turned up at the Lucan Spa Hotel for the meeting on a Saturday 1pm, 15 minutes early the driver failed to show. I waited in the car park till 13:20 and contacted both the uk/ ireland landlines leaving messages.

The company eventually contacted me on the Tuesday to apologise and offered no explanation. There pathetic offer was 10 min additional in the ferrari. If it had been with the owner strapped to the bonnet I would have accepted in an instance.

I had turned up with my wife and two kids under 6yrs, the 5yr old was v excited and basically the day was ruined. To compound the situation the cast from my fat gypsy wedding appeared to be the primary users of the hotel. I had no choice but to use the hotel and my god it was awful.

My tip is dont use this company.

No Pants

I don't see the point in driving a Ferrari on the M50 for 20 minutes anyway. Sure, it's a reasonable road surface-wise and has the 100km/h limit, but it's soulless.

Henry Ford III

Fly to Parma and drive one near Maranello.