phil121081

I cashed in an xmas present on friday at Castle Combe and had a few laps in some pretty impressive machinery.

We were booked in for the 'budget' cars of a 360 and Gallardo and sort of pushed to pay an upgrade on the day to drive the next band up, F430 was £25 extra, 458 was £50 extra. It's only 6 miles (3 laps) in each and to be honest I was happy with what we had.

Anway, into the gallardo (which felt VERY tired) and the interior is pretty dismal for a £60k car. Halfway round first lap, the E-gear threw a wobbler and that was that, we coasted back to the pits. Various apologies later (I really wasnt fussed and knew I would just go out again), they upgraded me on both drives to the 430 and 458. Went out in the 458 first, WOW, what a car that is. I've driven a few fast motors (my golf being one - any bites?) on road and track, but my oh my, this thing was actually quite intimidating. It's 'only' 560 bhp but I really struggle to see how any car can be any faster (I know they are and some quite considerably!). I'm also pretty familiar with CC, having driven numerous trackdays there in all sorts, but it was a totally different track in a car like this, quite incredible really. Took me 2 laps to get anything like used to the car, then had a decent 3rd lap but had to come in.

10 minutes later it was into the 430 spyder. Again, what a car! Not as fast as the 458, but the experience was probably better as I'd adjusted my understanding on the track with the speed of the cars and was much smoother and probably quicker. It was a standard car with standard exhaust, but with the roof down, anything above 5k rpm, the instructor was as good as mute. SO loud and SO good.

Cracking day out, was about £150 I think via buyagift.

The aventador sounded pap by comparison to the ferrari's

Nottm_S2

I did something similar a few years ago. E gear is so shit next to the 458 box.

I reached a similar conclusion, that i wanted a 458

phil121081

Christ no, I realy DON'T want one...

It was amazing, but something would give very quickly indeed, either my license, or my life

It has no place on the roads

But that's much like my attitudes to fast bikes, i guess I just don't trust myself.

An incredible bit of kit. God knows how that 675 Macca must go. oh lordy!

Nottm_S2

They are stunning to look at imo but drive as good as they look.

I would have one in a heartbeat but would need to black out the windows given the attention it would get haha

Nick Graves

Interesting write-up & sounds like a lot of experience for £150.

I tend to agree - it's the nut on the wheel that's the danger, at least in my case.

Add that they are too fat-arsed and have no windows, they sound like a recipe for frustration away from the track.

No wonder all the owners can do is burp & fart a bit down the high street and put them back in the garage.

Maybe it's a lot different if one doesn't live in Hong Ko..I mean, The South East of England.

Nottm_S2

i call Judas

they look stunning to my eye



OK, it will generate huge amounts of jealousy and ill feeling if driven near any heathens (of which 75% of the population are paid members probably) but that in my garage, i could just stare at it for hours

Nick Graves

You'd probably have to stare at it for hours. With most garages, you'd not be able to get out of the fucker and they're impossible to reverse out.

Nottm_S2

Deal

That is a crap example in my pic too. I'm sure that carbon flick is off Max Power.

Or Revs.

It would fit in my double single.

Nick Graves

Perhaps he's run over a seal or shark or something?

Nottm_S2

Skateboarder. Had it coming the little f@#k.