Audi Driving Experience
- Thread starter KRL
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Yes, I did it last year. It was great fun and very informative. My driving improved on the day, and I have been driving fast cars of different stripes for about 10 years.
I heartily recommend it.
Dan
I heartily recommend it.
Dan
Why not just go to any driving school ?
Silverstone is fairly close to me, within 1.5 hours.
Why the Audi one in particular ?
I own an Audi and I like them.
Have you been on any other courses that are better? I would be interested to find out about them
Silverstone is fairly close to me, within 1.5 hours.
Why the Audi one in particular ?
I own an Audi and I like them.
Have you been on any other courses that are better? I would be interested to find out about them
Don't Silverstone do car schools featuring proper race cars ?
No offence,but pretty much any Audi is going to be boring as hell on a track.
That's not being unfair to Audi,it applies to any road-legal car.
What seems sporty on a road is a wibbly-wobbly understeering jelly on a track.
Formula Fords are a right laugh,even if the right hand gearchange took me hours to get used to !
No offence,but pretty much any Audi is going to be boring as hell on a track.
That's not being unfair to Audi,it applies to any road-legal car.
What seems sporty on a road is a wibbly-wobbly understeering jelly on a track.
Formula Fords are a right laugh,even if the right hand gearchange took me hours to get used to !
Depends on what you want to get out of the day.
Ragging a single seater or a proper sports car around a track with some tuition is great fun, but I went on 2 Audi days about 18 months ago for 1) to enjoy being taught how to drive a similar car to my own (4wd, similar or more power, familiar set up) quickly but also how to react in emergency / extreme situations e.g. understeer, oversteer, ABS, aquaplaning, high speed lane changing, using someone else's car. It is designed to be educational as much as anything. The first one I went on was the original driving experience of TT, S4 and RS6 then the second was the first ever RS4 day (using german RS4s) all day, ending with open lapping of the southern part of Silverstone on my own. I really enjoyed them both.
I could go to Brand Hatch and spend £100 on an open pit lane afternoon with another £100 on insurance, helmet hire etc and god knows what towards another set of tyres (and will be soon hopefully), but each to their own and with £400 to spare but I would recommend the Audi driving days if you are looking for a course that will help you to improve your on-road driving skills as well as being good fun.
Ragging a single seater or a proper sports car around a track with some tuition is great fun, but I went on 2 Audi days about 18 months ago for 1) to enjoy being taught how to drive a similar car to my own (4wd, similar or more power, familiar set up) quickly but also how to react in emergency / extreme situations e.g. understeer, oversteer, ABS, aquaplaning, high speed lane changing, using someone else's car. It is designed to be educational as much as anything. The first one I went on was the original driving experience of TT, S4 and RS6 then the second was the first ever RS4 day (using german RS4s) all day, ending with open lapping of the southern part of Silverstone on my own. I really enjoyed them both.
I could go to Brand Hatch and spend £100 on an open pit lane afternoon with another £100 on insurance, helmet hire etc and god knows what towards another set of tyres (and will be soon hopefully), but each to their own and with £400 to spare but I would recommend the Audi driving days if you are looking for a course that will help you to improve your on-road driving skills as well as being good fun.
bowfer said:
And I bet you "owned" everyone on those track days even in a slower car eh Bowf...silly people for not using 100 percent of their power all of the time...lol
Clearly you don't know much about the Audi driving day you are slating, as most of it is not doing circuits of the track, but valuable lessons in how to react safely in various emergency situations, the fact that they use generally performance versions of their cars justs add a little sweetener to each lesson...
The reasons I want to go on the course are pretty much the reasons RobB has already given - to learn how to drive a car similar to my own better.
All feedback from people that have been on the course sounds good so I will get myself booked onto it and write a review up once I've been on it.
Formula Fords sounds fun, this is something else I will have to try in the future...
All feedback from people that have been on the course sounds good so I will get myself booked onto it and write a review up once I've been on it.
Formula Fords sounds fun, this is something else I will have to try in the future...
Spin140
Registered User
Think its £399 for the standard driving experience. It's on the Audi website with all the details of what you will do and the cars you use.
I did the driving experience last year had great fun, but I was lucky my dealer took me.
Started in the 3.2 DSG TT, the old version as the new one had only just been launched and they hadn't had delivery. We did slaloming (spl) to start off with which was good fun, first with ESP on then off.
Moved on to understeering correction in a A6 4.2 Quattro, then cornering at speed in a RS4, then a brake for lunch.
In the afternoon it was emergency stopping and skid control in the RS4, then emergency braking and lange changing in the A6, finished off with lapping in the TT.
We were slightly unlucky as the main track was being used by a F1 team so we couldn't use the full circuit.
Would I pay 400 notes to do......... probably !
Oh you get a nice sliver pen set as well, not to mention a spin in the RS4 with the instructors around the lap with and without ESP on.
Started in the 3.2 DSG TT, the old version as the new one had only just been launched and they hadn't had delivery. We did slaloming (spl) to start off with which was good fun, first with ESP on then off.
Moved on to understeering correction in a A6 4.2 Quattro, then cornering at speed in a RS4, then a brake for lunch.
In the afternoon it was emergency stopping and skid control in the RS4, then emergency braking and lange changing in the A6, finished off with lapping in the TT.
We were slightly unlucky as the main track was being used by a F1 team so we couldn't use the full circuit.
Would I pay 400 notes to do......... probably !
Oh you get a nice sliver pen set as well, not to mention a spin in the RS4 with the instructors around the lap with and without ESP on.
bowfer said:
For example, Silverstone do a Ferrari experience. You get to drive only 8 laps of the southern circuit - 4 in an Exige, 4 in a 360, plus some other bits of non-driving tuition. £220, total time at event 3 hours.
They also do other experiences, but they are all over in about 2-3 hours - one is only 30 mins and cost between £100 and £155 for a handful of laps. The supercar one for £100 gives you only 3 laps. That's about 4 minutes of driving on the small circuit (less than 6 miles).
The Audi day is from 9am to about 4.30 on the same southern circuit (Hangar straight and Stowe) and you are in the car either as a passenger or driver (2 per car) all day with the exception of 45 min lunch and toilet breaks. You have an instructor for each group of 8 people and there is minimal waiting around for your go. When I did the RS4 day, I did about 10 laps on my own in the RS4 just at the end of the day after all the other activities.
Comes down to what you want from the day - full on single seater uniqueness and speed to high end performance car taster to a pretty comprehensive educational and fun day in a car you can (kind of) relate to. It also comes down to cost. Having proper tuition by Lotus for example will be about £700 for a day.
Agree with RobB - the cost is all relative to the time spent. I've done several driving experiences over the years, and £399 for an all-day event seems quite good value.
For example, for around £150, my missus bought me a rally experience at Brands Hatch. It was absolutely fantastic, thoroughly enjoyed it, but it was all done in about two hours. Ditto a circuit experience at Silverstone in a race-prepared Peugeot 306 (also on the southern circuit), plus supercar drives (Porsche 911 and Ferrari 360) at Bruntingthorpe two years ago.
For example, for around £150, my missus bought me a rally experience at Brands Hatch. It was absolutely fantastic, thoroughly enjoyed it, but it was all done in about two hours. Ditto a circuit experience at Silverstone in a race-prepared Peugeot 306 (also on the southern circuit), plus supercar drives (Porsche 911 and Ferrari 360) at Bruntingthorpe two years ago.
d3fy
Registered User
I did one a couple of months back http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/oulton-park/ - few laps in a New Clio 197 and then a few laps in a single seater. It was alright, but not really good value for money. I personal prefered Karting. The single seaters where rev limited so that you could not kill yourself, which was **** really, because I was bouncing of the limiter on most of the straights.
normski said:
Dry your eyes Normski,I'm not 'knocking' it as such.
Just stating that,IMO,driving around in cars I could test drive at any dealer seems like a complete waste of money and track time.
So you can learn to swerve and brake...whoopee !
Take your own car into a deserted car park and teach yourself !
If I'm going to take a day off work and spend hundreds of pounds,I'm going to drive something I've got zero chance of driving on the road.
d3fy
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RedSportback said:
Now those two are in detention, back to the thread...
I did this for my birthday back in April. We drove the new 3.2 TTs, RS4s and S6s. The "events" were much as you described, but we did the overstear control in the RS4, sideways at 80MPH, now that was fun.
I was surprised that the instructors are not in the cars with you, just you and your buddy for the day. The instructors watch you then pass on any comments as you complete each run through the various stages. During the TT lapping everyone was given a radio for "live" comments from the instructors.
At the end of the day the instructors took us around the stowe circuit in the RS4s, those guys can drive!!
For me it was a great day out. I did hear Audi are using R8s on the Nurburgring experience. But you have to do a Silverstone day first.
Regards, John.
I have read this thread with a big smile, but I do kind of agree with bowfer.
If you want a track day then great, but use a track car. If you want to be a better driver in a road car then use the IAM (thats free).
The way I see it, it's horses for courses. I have done both an enjoyed both for very different reasons, but what do I know...
If you want a track day then great, but use a track car. If you want to be a better driver in a road car then use the IAM (thats free).
The way I see it, it's horses for courses. I have done both an enjoyed both for very different reasons, but what do I know...
I think the (obvious) difference between road and track, no matter what you're driving, is that you can drive a little bit faster on a track or closed course than you can on the road.
While driving a 911 on my Supercar experience, the max speed readout on the computer topped 141.5mph on the back straight at Bruntingthorpe. Try going to a Porsche dealer and blagging a test drive to do that! Not going to happen.
While driving a 911 on my Supercar experience, the max speed readout on the computer topped 141.5mph on the back straight at Bruntingthorpe. Try going to a Porsche dealer and blagging a test drive to do that! Not going to happen.
dkelly said:
Does the IAM or ROSPA teach you how to react and get out of the ***** when you are in it? Or a normal track day for that matter?
I think JohnS3's post says it all (he has been on the experience - unlike the knockers).
If you are enthusiastic about Audis, fancy a full day at the track learning things that are useful on the road, plus getting to rag and be ragged in cars you like, then surely that's okay?
JohnS3 said:
I keep in regular touch with the lady who organises the Audi UK experiences, and last time I spoke with her Audi UK hadn't been able book any days for the Nurburgring this year. Gutted.
Dan
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Hi Dan,
I'm gutted too, I'd love to blast round the ring in an R8.
I'm told that they may run some advanced experiences at Silverstone later this year if they can get some track time. I'd love to do that too, but I might just hold out for the ring next year!!
Regards, John.
I'm gutted too, I'd love to blast round the ring in an R8.
I'm told that they may run some advanced experiences at Silverstone later this year if they can get some track time. I'd love to do that too, but I might just hold out for the ring next year!!
Regards, John.
dbm said:
I might be doing another ring trip in a few weeks so hopefully I'll see them do the laps. When I overtake them.
Well I went on the ADE yesterday and thought it was absolutely brilliant 
.
It is the most fun I've ever had whilst driving, I also learned very much from the day about both the cars and driving techniques.
I won't go into a big run down of all the exercises we did (would take me all day), I will talk a little about the cars and the day in general.
The Day
The day started at 0830 at Silverstone. It was very well organised with a nice friendly atmosphere. The instructors were extremely knowledgeable and incredible drivers. We had two German instructors and one Swede. The Germans were complete crazy nutters and kept telling people off when they did not drive fast enough. The Swede was probably the best driver of the 3 though. He took us for a couple of laps at the end of the day in the RS4 going sideways round every corner
The Cars
3.2 TT Sport S tronic - handled very nicely (much more feedback and feeling than you would get from the old TT), got given a massive amount of punishment and coped admirably. The sound from the 3.2 was not quite as good as I was expecting although that may be something to do with the awesome sound of the of the 4.2 V8 in the RS4 or the 5.2 V10 in the S6. Did not really feel any quicker than my 2.0T, not a bad thing though as it still felt quick!
RS4 -
:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Need I say any more? It was just fantastic. When being pushed to its limits you could really feel what was going on and hence had very good idea of the inputs you need to give the car to gain your desired result. It was my favorite car of the day, no surprise there really.
There were a couple of guys on the day who owned RS4s - a cabrio and a saloon. They were on the fast lane change RS4 exercise with me. The exercise provoked some oversteer at speed you had to learn to bring the car under control again. I kid you not when I say they were the only people who could not bring the RS4s back under control, they were spinning out every time while the others (me included) were able to master it. Made me chuckle anyway.
S6 - Really impressed. I did not get the S6 before yesterday, I saw it as a direct rival to the M5 which it is not (RS6 will sort the M5 out). The S6 is all about cruising down the motorway in copious amounts of comfort, luxury and refinement in a sporty way. Should you need a little power to progress there is 5.2 V10 sitting under the bonnet which just makes the greatest sound and is stonkingly quick. It was the best sounding engine on the day. The car handled pretty well too although its extra bulk and weight did put it at a disadvantage to the TT and RS4. The DRLs looked very cool and at the end of the day I would have loved to have been able to complete my 2 hour drive home in the S6.
So I had a great day, learned a lot and would not hesitate in recommending it to others. Worth every penny in my opinion. Oh and I can now tell people I have been sideways in an RS4, S6 and 3.2 TT
.It is the most fun I've ever had whilst driving, I also learned very much from the day about both the cars and driving techniques.
I won't go into a big run down of all the exercises we did (would take me all day), I will talk a little about the cars and the day in general.
The Day
The day started at 0830 at Silverstone. It was very well organised with a nice friendly atmosphere. The instructors were extremely knowledgeable and incredible drivers. We had two German instructors and one Swede. The Germans were complete crazy nutters and kept telling people off when they did not drive fast enough. The Swede was probably the best driver of the 3 though. He took us for a couple of laps at the end of the day in the RS4 going sideways round every corner
The Cars
3.2 TT Sport S tronic - handled very nicely (much more feedback and feeling than you would get from the old TT), got given a massive amount of punishment and coped admirably. The sound from the 3.2 was not quite as good as I was expecting although that may be something to do with the awesome sound of the of the 4.2 V8 in the RS4 or the 5.2 V10 in the S6. Did not really feel any quicker than my 2.0T, not a bad thing though as it still felt quick!
RS4 -
:thumbsup::thumbsup:Need I say any more? It was just fantastic. When being pushed to its limits you could really feel what was going on and hence had very good idea of the inputs you need to give the car to gain your desired result. It was my favorite car of the day, no surprise there really.
There were a couple of guys on the day who owned RS4s - a cabrio and a saloon. They were on the fast lane change RS4 exercise with me. The exercise provoked some oversteer at speed you had to learn to bring the car under control again. I kid you not when I say they were the only people who could not bring the RS4s back under control, they were spinning out every time while the others (me included) were able to master it. Made me chuckle anyway.
S6 - Really impressed. I did not get the S6 before yesterday, I saw it as a direct rival to the M5 which it is not (RS6 will sort the M5 out). The S6 is all about cruising down the motorway in copious amounts of comfort, luxury and refinement in a sporty way. Should you need a little power to progress there is 5.2 V10 sitting under the bonnet which just makes the greatest sound and is stonkingly quick. It was the best sounding engine on the day. The car handled pretty well too although its extra bulk and weight did put it at a disadvantage to the TT and RS4. The DRLs looked very cool and at the end of the day I would have loved to have been able to complete my 2 hour drive home in the S6.
So I had a great day, learned a lot and would not hesitate in recommending it to others. Worth every penny in my opinion. Oh and I can now tell people I have been sideways in an RS4, S6 and 3.2 TT
wigginer
Registered User
KRL said:Well I went on the ADE yesterday and thought it was absolutely brilliant
It is the most fun I've ever had whilst driving, I also learned very much from the day about both the cars and driving techniques.
I won't go into a big run down of all the exercises we did (would take me all day), I will talk a little about the cars and the day in general.
The Day
The day started at 0830 at Silverstone. It was very well organised with a nice friendly atmosphere. The instructors were extremely knowledgeable and incredible drivers. We had two German instructors and one Swede. The Germans were complete crazy nutters and kept telling people off when they did not drive fast enough. The Swede was probably the best driver of the 3 though. He took us for a couple of laps at the end of the day in the RS4 going sideways round every corner
The Cars
3.2 TT Sport S tronic - handled very nicely (much more feedback and feeling than you would get from the old TT), got given a massive amount of punishment and coped admirably. The sound from the 3.2 was not quite as good as I was expecting although that may be something to do with the awesome sound of the of the 4.2 V8 in the RS4 or the 5.2 V10 in the S6. Did not really feel any quicker than my 2.0T, not a bad thing though as it still felt quick!
RS4 -
Need I say any more? It was just fantastic. When being pushed to its limits you could really feel what was going on and hence had very good idea of the inputs you need to give the car to gain your desired result. It was my favorite car of the day, no surprise there really.
There were a couple of guys on the day who owned RS4s - a cabrio and a saloon. They were on the fast lane change RS4 exercise with me. The exercise provoked some oversteer at speed you had to learn to bring the car under control again. I kid you not when I say they were the only people who could not bring the RS4s back under control, they were spinning out every time while the others (me included) were able to master it. Made me chuckle anyway.
S6 - Really impressed. I did not get the S6 before yesterday, I saw it as a direct rival to the M5 which it is not (RS6 will sort the M5 out). The S6 is all about cruising down the motorway in copious amounts of comfort, luxury and refinement in a sporty way. Should you need a little power to progress there is 5.2 V10 sitting under the bonnet which just makes the greatest sound and is stonkingly quick. It was the best sounding engine on the day. The car handled pretty well too although its extra bulk and weight did put it at a disadvantage to the TT and RS4. The DRLs looked very cool and at the end of the day I would have loved to have been able to complete my 2 hour drive home in the S6.
So I had a great day, learned a lot and would not hesitate in recommending it to others. Worth every penny in my opinion. Oh and I can now tell people I have been sideways in an RS4, S6 and 3.2 TT
That about sums up my experience on Fri (31/8), but this time two germans and an excellent lady-driver instructor from Belgium ... I'm up for the advanced UK course when it materialised in due course.
