Hi
Does anyone know anything about the free day with Mazda at a test track in Coventry (or nearer your home if you chose). I was told by the salesman that there was such a treat after buying the RX-8, but didn\'t get any more information. Is this just a thing my specific dealer (McKay Mazda) are doing, or is it a nationwide deal. If so has anyone done it and is it worth me travelling to their test track (from Edinburgh) to do? I\'d be really interested to know any news at all.
thanks
Adam :D
my brother mentioned this but has not done it, he is away at the mo, will ask when he gets back, madza also promised several other things to him of which none have been delivered, just be pleased you got the car.
There was an article in the last Mazda mag about how a day\'s performance car training is included - either at a local track, or they\'ll send an instructor out to you.
Obviously an extension of the fleet driver training thing - better drivers means fewer accidents, which has to be of significant value to Mazda!
Sean
few accidents is good but surely less spares and replacement cars for mazda?
where in Cov was mentionned then MIRA is just north of Cov but i doubt they would let people use this ?(http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/mittelgrosse/medium-smiley-100.gif)
Si
This is the Prodrive instruction day which I understand is offerred to all RX-8 purchesers. (I am still waiting for invite from Mazda to mine).
As mentioned in last Mazda magazine the day consists of a morning session where your roadcraft/observation is checked and commented on. In the afternoon you get a chance to try RX-8 on skid pan and test track. I was under the impression that you have to use your own car on track however the road test article in this weeks Autocar seems to suggest that there is a fleet of cars available.
I understand that there is a limit of upto about 20 people a day so it may take some time to get all purchasers through.
Dave
Cheers Dave
I\'ll ask tomorrow afternoon when I pick it up what happens, and let you all know where we stand. If mazda are just deciding themselves when to ask people to attend i\'ll not hold my breath. By the way if anyone owns an Xbox .. get Project Gotham Racing ... loely model of an RX-8 and you get to do a virtual test drive in some of the most beautiful cities in the world. Beating a Z3, TT and a 350Z in one race with your RX-8 is sooooo satisfying. Maybe i\'m biased because I used to drive through Edinburgh ( one of the tracks ) to work and back.
I\'ll let you all know how happy I am tomorrow and post some nice pictures once I get round to it over the weekend. By the way you wouldn\'t believe how many people in my office are jealous, and some of them have Porsches, FTO\'s and Imprezas ! I think we\'re all in a pretty happy place right now.
yea i have PGR2 anf the RX8 is beatiful in it...i have like 50 something miles on it..hehe
The pro-drive day will (sadly?) be done in your own car.
1/2 day on normal roads, 1/2 day on track - more skid pan/safety at limit stuff than actual \'racing\' - your standard insurance -should- cover it.
I think cars need at least 400 miles on the clock to take part(?).
Rob,
Yes I must admit I expected to use my car. I guess they provided a fleet of cars for the press hacks to use.
No problem with the mileage as I will probably be upto about 4000 before I get the call. Anyway it may be we can do it on a nice spring day rather than a horrible winter one so that afternoon goes on longer before it gets dark!
Dave
Driving Development do a wet weather handling course at MIRA\'s test track. Lots of fun, the only drawback is that cameras are banned on the MIRA site, since it\'s used for prototype testing as well.
Sean
RE PRODRIVE
Phoned mazda uk direct re this and I spoke direct to a prodrive staff member ( after 118118 put me through to a DSA instructor using same name who was very confused)
Briefly( past my bedtime you see)
1 Own car
2 Can take active or observant passenger ( Ideal if partners want a go each)
3 Prodrive say they are contacting all owners but they didn\'t have me on database yet!
4 Courses start mid Jan
5 Not marketed as a track day " We understand some customers will not want to drive their cars hard" Is he right or wrong ?
6 They have list of local hotels though no mention of discounts
7 No mention re insurance CHECK THIS WITH YOUR COMPANY AND OR PRODRIVE TO AVOID TEARS
Not sure what I will do 3 days involved if travelling up one day course 2nd day and home 3rd day 830-430 . Don\'t fancy myself on a track if been driving since 4am and dont fancy nodding off on way home! Looks fun but have family life too. 3 nights hotel 20 gallons and 4-500 miles on my car - Not a free day. wonder if they\'ll do some alternative venues in south
Details supposedly in post to me will post any more here.
Off to bed ( "what time do you call this? ")
AW8
EXCELLENT !!!!11 .. I was thinking of doing the same as i hadn\'t heard anything yet. I might give them a call ... and i\'ll post any news i get too !
They started ringing around - I got a call and they have some free days around end of Feb. It is quite far though, however I quite like the idea of seeing how far the rx-8 will go. Already I find it delivers quite a lot of G-s into my ribs when I go round corners - the only sign that it does so though.
Anyway - expect to receive the calls. And have fun
Teo