Volkswagen Driver Training

[Tim]

I noticed on the survey at the end it asked "would you pay for an experience like this one?" or something to that effect.

I have to say though it was fun to get out on the track and see what the cars can do. (or what I cant do)
Personally I think I was more impressed with the GTD. For a diesel that car was awesome. Quieter on the road than my old mk5 GTI as well. Just not quite enough poke but that could be easily fixed.

The tricky diff was certainly noticeable in my opinion. Makes a substantial difference compared to the MK5 as well. Would be great if VW could continue the support for the enthusiast crowd and keep up events like this. Although i can see it getting expensive if people keep on crashing the cars

[Jayse]

Although i can see it getting expensive if people keep on crashing the cars

Have people crashed cars with this event?

I was impressed with the lack of noise so to speak of the GTD and it would be a nice daily driver.

Tim, what did you think of the R?

Yeah i hope this event continues and remains free.

Cheers,
Jayse.

[Tim]

Not only was the GTD quiet as far as road noise goes but it also had a pretty nice induction noise! It was quite a charismatic car. I just found it running out of puff a bit on the straight though.

the R was pretty awesome. Although I think it was the driver we were with. Lucas was stirring him up saying he was slow and he started pushing the car pretty hard!

And yeah we were in the 12:30 session. Not sure who it was but someone crashed one of the cars at turn 1!

[Jayse]

bad crash? bugger!!

[whoalse]

I noticed on the survey at the end it asked "would you pay for an experience like this one?" or something to that effect.

I have to say though it was fun to get out on the track and see what the cars can do. (or what I cant do)
Personally I think I was more impressed with the GTD. For a diesel that car was awesome. Quieter on the road than my old mk5 GTI as well. Just not quite enough poke but that could be easily fixed.

The tricky diff was certainly noticeable in my opinion. Makes a substantial difference compared to the MK5 as well. Would be great if VW could continue the support for the enthusiast crowd and keep up events like this. Although i can see it getting expensive if people keep on crashing the cars

It was a great experience for sure...however didn't get a chance in the GTD. No doubt it would be long distance cruiser.

If it's a paid event, the group needs to be smaller and session longer.

[hanson8]

Totally agree that the GTD on all comments of the GTD. Absolutely brilliant car! plenty of low end torque. More suited to a long cruise than on the Race Track. But agree that there is absolutely no noise from that deisel engine. didn't know it was turned on inside the car.

To Jayse, Someone just crashed it on todays 12:30pm session.

[Big Yellow]

man i had a blast today!!! first time ever on a track and i think i am hooked on a new obsession now HAHAHAHA. i got to drive the GTI and was very impressed with it! Lucas was behind me in the GTD and was all over me in the corners LOL but the GTI pulled away fairly easy on the straights.

agree if its a paid event next time, that longer sessions and smaller groups is a must!!

[blaast]

I was in the session where the GTI was crashed (31-08-10).
Two stories...
Instructor: Driver slammed the brakes on too hard and it pulled to the right into the barrier.
Driver: Braked hard and it pulled to the right. ABS and ESC should have kicked in but didn't feel it!

Not sure if he has to cough up the $1000 excess!

It was a great day but we didn't get a second run on the track due to the crash...!
The hot lap in the R was great too.
I haven't driven these types of cars before, but I felt very confident with the vehicles ability (GTD) to push it pretty hard.

[Buller_Scott]

yeah, yesterday was awesome!!!!!!!

i was lucky in that, although i should have been in the yellow group with my fellow asians, i managed to get in the blue group which was quite a bit smaller- everyone got to drive both the GTD and the GTI.

i have to say, although the GTD has oodles of torque, i DID find myself liking the upper end go of the GTI. it was great to really get out there and let 'er rip, though, because it really highlighted the fact that even the standard cars would need some decent suspension work, and at least pads+rotors+fluid [modest but effective] brake upgrade in order for them to be more effective in the corners, given their already decent power/ torque [for both cars].

the skidpan part was awesome too, i found it really educational- particularly the swerve and recover. and talking to James Brock about recover in corners etc in a FWD car- he really simplified how it all works with his explanations.

we were over in the skidpan when we heard the off- there was a bit of banter and all that, but i feel sorry for the guy who had the off- apart from feeling sheepish, the fact that he had it at the end of the straight, where we were clipping AT LEAST 170kmh would have been pretty terrifying- you could tell that he was a little shaken. lucky it was in a controlled environment, though.

and i agree with terence- yeah, i think i just found myself a potential new hobby. that was so much fun, so safe, and even though im sure to get laughed at when i rock up to the track in my little diesel girls car, it'd be great to get to know my own car a little better.

cheers guys- that was awesome!

[Big Yellow]

if the the brakes were working properly theres no way that it could have just snapped right into the wall.

the brakes were used much harder during the R hotlaps.

word on the street is that VW have denied any mechanical fault and no excess was needed.