markp4200
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As mentioned in a previous thread, I took part in a track day on Friday at Longcross Proving Ground in Cobham.
Never too late at 60 is it?
Some pix are attached for your delectation.
OK, so we have the three cars - Black DBS, Red(of course) 458 Italia and the White Murcielago.
Demo lap in a Range Rover followed by the three own-drives. Finally a 'hot-lap' in a Focus RS.
First up – the Aston Martin DBS.
Wonderful sound on start-up.
A full manual car but naturally hardly any use of gears other than 3rd and 4th with a little use of 2nd for sharp corners.
Pretty unresponsive steering but I was still getting to grips with the circuit.
It felt heavy and indeed is a hefty car for track use – clearly the car for Britain's open roads.
A Ferrari 599 which I was due to drive was ‘broken' so upgraded/downgraded (you choose) to a 458 Italia.
What a difference.
This car was sublime.
A brand new car but nicely run-in. Also a very accomplished instructor for this one who encouraged me to make the most of it ..and I did.
The gearbox is identical to the Maserati so easy to use for me. Steering perfect and very direct with super-quick gearchanges made this the ultimate drive and I could have kept going all day just getting faster and faster.
I reluctantly left it in the pits by which time the white Murcielago was ready.
What a **** of a car.
Huge sound and the big doors had to be kept open whilst driving in the pits to keep cool.
Incredibly horrible gearbox and gear stick which made changes almost impossible (maybe the car rather than the marque). It meant driving around in 4th gear for most of the time – the massive torque helped to make up for the lack of decent gear-shift. A very clunky drive – I think a heavily thrashed car which had heavy steering (but it is a huge piece of metal). The V12 didn't lack for punch though – along the straights it flew – Megan (my 'eye-candy')commented that she couldn't even photograph it properly as it was just too fast.
At the end of the day I came back to earth in the 4200 ...and you know what? I'd take the Maserati pretty much every time (though the 458 is superb). I can honestly say that in my opinion the 4200 seems quicker than the DBS and sharper too.
I loved my drive home and whilst I loved the drives in such supercars, it made me love my own car that little bit more.
The 458 was the most forgiving too, adaptable and light.
Interesting alos to see a couple of Gallardos sporting Audi wheels with Audi logos. Says it all doesn't it!
As an aside, I had my car back from Emblem the day before after the big 31K service, MOT and full valet. They produced for me a fabulous car which appears as new - even down to the repainted mesh grille that I had mentioned to them that I would like seen to.
I would welcome others' opinions on these three cars and perhaps I was just a little too biased to the 'm' brand but I have tried to be even-handed.
Oh yes and the Focus RS. You can keep it. If I were in that market I'd have the Megane 250 every time for a better environment and drive. The Focus was plain ordinary!
Never too late at 60 is it?
Some pix are attached for your delectation.
OK, so we have the three cars - Black DBS, Red(of course) 458 Italia and the White Murcielago.
Demo lap in a Range Rover followed by the three own-drives. Finally a 'hot-lap' in a Focus RS.
First up – the Aston Martin DBS.
Wonderful sound on start-up.
A full manual car but naturally hardly any use of gears other than 3rd and 4th with a little use of 2nd for sharp corners.
Pretty unresponsive steering but I was still getting to grips with the circuit.
It felt heavy and indeed is a hefty car for track use – clearly the car for Britain's open roads.
A Ferrari 599 which I was due to drive was ‘broken' so upgraded/downgraded (you choose) to a 458 Italia.
What a difference.
This car was sublime.
A brand new car but nicely run-in. Also a very accomplished instructor for this one who encouraged me to make the most of it ..and I did.
The gearbox is identical to the Maserati so easy to use for me. Steering perfect and very direct with super-quick gearchanges made this the ultimate drive and I could have kept going all day just getting faster and faster.
I reluctantly left it in the pits by which time the white Murcielago was ready.
What a **** of a car.
Huge sound and the big doors had to be kept open whilst driving in the pits to keep cool.
Incredibly horrible gearbox and gear stick which made changes almost impossible (maybe the car rather than the marque). It meant driving around in 4th gear for most of the time – the massive torque helped to make up for the lack of decent gear-shift. A very clunky drive – I think a heavily thrashed car which had heavy steering (but it is a huge piece of metal). The V12 didn't lack for punch though – along the straights it flew – Megan (my 'eye-candy')commented that she couldn't even photograph it properly as it was just too fast.
At the end of the day I came back to earth in the 4200 ...and you know what? I'd take the Maserati pretty much every time (though the 458 is superb). I can honestly say that in my opinion the 4200 seems quicker than the DBS and sharper too.
I loved my drive home and whilst I loved the drives in such supercars, it made me love my own car that little bit more.
The 458 was the most forgiving too, adaptable and light.
Interesting alos to see a couple of Gallardos sporting Audi wheels with Audi logos. Says it all doesn't it!
As an aside, I had my car back from Emblem the day before after the big 31K service, MOT and full valet. They produced for me a fabulous car which appears as new - even down to the repainted mesh grille that I had mentioned to them that I would like seen to.
I would welcome others' opinions on these three cars and perhaps I was just a little too biased to the 'm' brand but I have tried to be even-handed.
Oh yes and the Focus RS. You can keep it. If I were in that market I'd have the Megane 250 every time for a better environment and drive. The Focus was plain ordinary!
