Guide to Aston Martin Driving Days
Aston Martin, two words that will conjure up images of pristine looks and prestigious design. These cars are some of the most beautiful around, and it is easy to see why. Combining sleek looks with excellent handing and feisty speeds, driving an Aston Martin is a remarkable challenge and something Brits can truly be proud of.
Every driver, regardless of how fast or slow they want to go, can’t help but admire at least something about the Aston Martin brand. For some, it’s the spectacular curves of the bodywork. For others, it’s the rip-roaring sound of the engine and the sound of the wheels spinning.
What do you get for your money?
On offer are the three most noteworthy modern Astons; the V8 Vantage (175mph/380hp), the Vanquish (189mph/450hp) and the DB9 (190mph/469hp). For men this is a chance to be like Bond; suave and a little bit dangerous. For women it’s the opportunity to drive in luxurious comfort and still thunder around the track.
Prices start at under £70 for juniors and just over for the adult thrill ride. Prices increase significantly with some of the sessions because they tend to be supercar day experiences. The specific Aston Martin sessions cost at most around the £130 mark, but prices continue up past £200 up to around £400 for the multi-car sessions, which include cars like the Lamborghini Murcielago and the Gallardo, the Audi R8 and the Ferrari 360.
For under £500 you can take part in the Aston Martin Adventure, which gives you the opportunity to drive a DB7 Volante, a V8 Vantage, a Vanquish and a DB9 convertible out on the open road. It might seem a hefty fee, but these are some rare and remarkable cars. You get significantly more than the standard experience and the thrill of driving Aston Martins through towns and villages as admirers look on is one you'll never forget.
The maximum price for any session involving an Aston is just shy of £900, which is for a ten-car super session across a whole day, the ultimate for supercar fans.
So what do the Aston Martin experiences involve?
While no Aston Martin experience can be described as typical, a standard session comprises of:
- Introductory Briefing
This session provides you with everything you’d want from an introduction: a run through of what you’ll get up to during the day, extensive safety tips and an insight into driving theory.
- Demonstration Laps
The expert instructor who accompanies you will take you around the circuit, combining elements of racing for an exciting blast round the track. Your companion is also tasked with being informative and demonstrating how to drive in such an exuberant style.
- Your Turn
The moment you’ve been waiting for; getting to drive the Aston Martin you hand-picked. Feel the power flow through the car as you accelerate, the G-forces as you take bends and the adrenaline rush through your veins
The cars...
Aston Martin has produced some of the best cars that money can buy and these experiences will give you the chance to drive in one of their most classic of cars. All cars are not available at all locations, so if you are after the opportunity to drive a specific car then it is worth checking your chosen location to ensure that the car is available. The Aston Martin experience days will allow you to choose from such cars as the Vantage, Vanquish, DBS, DB4, DB6, DB7 Volante and DB9. If these car names make no sense to you, then perhaps these explanations will help you choose between the many scintillating options available.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage - The V8 Vantage was originally produced between 1977 and 1989 and its' arrival was well publicised as the car was called Britain’s first supercar. The car’s 5.3-litre V8 engine made it powerful and sophisticated. Such was its' popularity that it was used in the Bond film ‘The Living Daylights’ (starring Timothy Dalton). Driving in one of these cars is like driving in a piece of British history. In 2005 Aston Martin introduced a new V8 Vantage which is the car featured in most of our driving experiences and is capable of 0-60 in a neck snapping 4.7 seconds. The latest V8 Vantage offers sporty and agile handling as well as the customary Aston Martin luxury.
Aston Martin DB9 - The coolest car on Top Gear’s ‘Cool Wall’, the DB9 began production in 2004 until 2011. The car boasts a 5.9-litre V12 engine, allowing it to reach speeds of 190mph. The car can do 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds, allowing it to zip effortlessly to top speed. To buy this car would cost over £100,000, but to push it to its limits during an experience day will cost nearer £100, making the experience worth every penny. Offering slightly more civilised handling than its' smaller sister, the Vantage, the DB9 is the iconic Aston that everyone asks for.
Aston Martin DBS - The DBS was produced between 1967 and 1972 and was one of the best and most popular cars of its day. The four-litre engine and classy look made it perfect for a Bond movie too, for the film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ starring George Lazenby. The classic car has seen something of a resurgence recently, as a new DBS (DBS V12) began production in 2007, hoping to emulate the success of its predecessor.
Aston Martin Vanquish - The Vanquish carried on Aston Martin’s proud James Bond tradition by being picked for the 2002 film ‘Die Another Day’. The car itself was produced between 2001 and 2007 and holds a 5.9-litre V12 engine, making it one of Aston Martin’s most powerful cars. With a top speed of 190mph and blistering acceleration of 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds, this car will prove to be more than a match for any thrill-seekers or adrenaline junkies! However, as this sophisticated machine is an Aston Martin, car enthusiasts should also jump at the chance to get behind the wheel of this classic car.
Location:
Aston Martin experiences are available in Rockingham (Northamptonshire), Lincolnshire, and at the Three Sisters (Lancashire). Other centres running the track days include Brands Hatch in Kent, Bedford Autodrome and Oulton Park (Cheshire). The largest experiences, featuring the biggest variety of Aston Martins, take place at the best known tracks, including Silverstone, Donington and Goodwood. These cars can also be driven at test tracks and airfields across the UK giving everyone the chance to climb into an Aston Martin.
Overall Verdict:
Driving an Aston Martin is a top class experience and with the range of models and locations available it's no wonder it's one of ExperienceMad's most popular experience days. There is a reason that Aston Martins are so renowned around the world; they are purely fantastic cars. If you haven’t had the opportunity to drive one yet, then make sure you don’t wait any longer. With such an abundance of Aston Martin experience days on offer, the hardest choice you’ll face is picking just one!
Location Information
East: Hertfordshire
Midlands: Derbyshire (Castle Donington -
Donington Park), Leicestershire (Kirkby Mallory, Kirkby Mallory -
Mallory Park, Loughborough -
Prestwold Hall, Lutterworth -
Bruntingthorpe), Lincolnshire (Gainsborough - Blyton), Northamptonshire (Corby -
Rockingham, Towcester -
Silverstone), Staffordshire (Seighford), Warwickshire (Kenilworth -
Prodrive Test Facility, Stratford-upon-Avon - Long Marston)
North East: North Yorkshire (York -
Elvington)
North West: Lancashire (Wigan, Wigan -
Three Sisters)
South East: Buckinghamshire (Milton Keynes), Hampshire (Andover -
Thruxton), Kent (Lydden ), Oxfordshire (Chipping Norton - Enstone, Upper Heyford - Heyford Park), Surrey (Chertsey, Chobham - Longcross, Cranleigh), West Sussex (Chichester -
Goodwood)
Wales: Glamorganshire (Llandow)
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