96redLT4

I was going to try and get down there in the next few months. Does anyone know if you are supposed to tip your driving instructor after the session?
Jim

ipse dixit

no tips necessary

Fred R. C4S

At roughly $300 per hour, I hardly think a tip is necessary.

96redLT4

Thanks for saving me some money guys!
J

bossboy302

Great, detailed write-up.
Curious as to why the PDK is "semiautomatic"?

Fred R. C4S

It's merely a question of semantics. The transmission can shift for itself automatically. It can also be controlled as a sequential manual transmission. I guess my use of the term dates back to my F430 with their F1 transmission. It could be operated in both manual and automatic modes as well. Call it want you want, they use it on the cars at PECLA to prevent customers from regularly burning up clutches.

aggie57

I was there on December 23rd. Christmas present - drove the Turbo and GT3. I did that low friction track in both cars, it was fun the first time but you tend to catch other cars pretty quickly so it's a bit stop start. For me it and the launch straight were the least enjoyable parts. We "launched" the Turbo a couple of times. Been there, done that now.

The handling circuit is good, tight with not much runoff but the instructors encourage you to not hold back and it's got a few interesting corners. We were regularly hitting 9k in the GT3.

Overall lots of fun and frankly amazing value. I'm going back to try the GT4 manual.

Leader

Santa Barbara Region took a group to PEC/LA last weekend. Weather was perfect and everyone had a great time. Lots to see and do there...and many photo ops, so bring your camera. Be sure to grab a "selfie" out front, too.

mdkrp

Leader- LOVE your Club Blau!
Thanks to all for the nice write up. I am looking to head out to LA for a guys golf trip and would love to add this on as a "bonus" day. I have done the one in Alabama many years ago and it was a blast.

96redLT4

Interesting that the same 'experiences' are slightly more expensive in LA. LA is always more of an experience I guess
Jim

96redLT4

I just booked an experience for April online. I spent about 30 minutes on hold over the last few days trying unsuccessfully to get someone from LA on the phone to answer a few questions. Hopefully there will be enough staff when I get there.
J

rcusick

Went today. Did turbo versus gt3. Had an awesome coach - Kyle Mohan - a very experienced drift driver. Great experience! The experience is geared to having both technical training and track time. Really demonstrates capability of the cars.

Turbo was a beast. Would recommend in a second. Gt3 was nice but definitely not a daily driver.

If I did it a second time - I would choose a regular Carrera s. the capability of the car far outweighs my capabilities.

Do it!

Werks 1

HERE IS MY CAR IN FRONT OF PELA......

Manual991

Did the GT4 yesterday. Impressive car. Brakes were amazing. I didn't come close to the limit of that car. The instructor took me on a couple of laps at the end so I got a sense of what that car can really do. That would be a fun track car. Wish I had an extra 100k laying around.

Most of the cars in the show room are the same but here's a new one from the good old days of open wheel racing in the US.

96redLT4

Just went to the PEC yesterday and thought I would share my thoughts. I did 2 experiences- GT3/turbo and 'master the manual'. I'll try to add some thoughts that have not been mentioned above
GT3/turbo. Probably the more exciting of the 2. It is the most expensive, I think at around $950, but arguably worth it. For the GT3 portion I actually got to drive an Ultraviolet colored RS. Phenomenal car and I was actually a tiny bit queasy after flinging this and the turbo around the small track for 90 minutes. I noticed that they put air-sickness bags in the cars but fortunately did not have to use mine. Even thought the session is from 11 to 1, you only get to drive the cars for 90 min so they have a chance to 'cool off'. Some might complain about this. Its 90 minutes of serious thrashing if you want to, however with an instructor, who I think are all P factory drivers, at your side. Instruction overall is excellent. I loved the RS much more than I thought I would and thought it would be a great car for my weekend drives on back country roads.
Master the manual. Much less expensive, but was not quite as enjoyable as I thought. Drove a GT4 for the whole time. Great car but I just felt I was not picking up the heel toe and rev matching (without pushing the button to cheat like I can in my car) like the instructor wanted me to.
I just ate at the cafe where I thought the sandwich was good. People were very nice and obviously enjoyed working there. LA traffic was,. as expected, somewhat unpredictable and mostly bad. We stayed in Marina Del Rey at the Ritz which has a connection that we did not know about beforehand to transport you to PEC and even to do limited test drives.
I'm not sure I would do it again, but awesome to try once especially if you have a gift certificate like I had from my lovely wife.

Jim