went to GM's "The Drive" in Las Vegas
#1
08-17-2006, 10:51 PM
went to GM's "The Drive" in Las Vegas
So I went set out for las vegas with last saturday morning for 4 days of fun (I didn't lose much in the casinos, thank God). anyway, for $10 at the Sahara there is a course that GM set up that lets you drive either 2 sets of 2 laps on a road course, or 2 sets of 1 lap on the off road course.
I like fast cars an aweful lot, so I ended up driving 9 laps on the road course (2 in a manual c6, 2 in a manual z51 package c6, 3 laps in a CTS-V because the instructor was really really happy to have somebody that knew how to drive on a track, and 2 laps in a solstice).
-----------if you don't care about sports cars, by all means, skip this section-------
base corvette: not nearly as exciting as I had anticipated, in my opinion (and the guys that I was with) it wasn't very fast or impressive, I'm sure it had heatsoak from hell because it was always on the track though, so I'll cut it some slack. more understeer than I'd have liked to see in a vette. very easy to drive fast none the less. the course was geared for 2nd gear, which it felt like it was coming alive in as the rpm rose. this car definately wanted to strech its legs, but the course wouldn't let it.
z51 corvette: everything the same as the base, except the slalom section was notably easier to go faster in with less drama, brakes were better too. quicker turn in and less understeer really set this apart from the base package. I wouldn't buy a vette without the z51 package!!!!
CTS-V: I never thought that a sedan could move like this - felt nearly as fast as the vette through the turns, with 2 of my friends in the back. great seats, the alcantara inserts on the seats really help keep you in place.
Solstice: I can't believe that I had fun driving something this slow. seriously. its a complete dog in the straights, but maybe thats relative to me? this car was a complete blast to drive because of how nimble the short wheelbase, tight chassis and quick steering made it. went through all of the turns faster than the vette, especially the slalom where it felt like there was more left in it.
ok now for the HUMMER driving:
the course was awesome and set up to the H2 and H3 limits I assume. they had a 'baby' course where you could drive an escalade or a new tahoe on, but it really pales in comparrison next to the towering HUMMER course.
the course started with a 16" (?) step up to get onto the course, then was followed by 2 back to back 45 degree side slopes, then a big ditch about 2 or 3 feet long, then 2 more 45 degree angled side slopes, but this time they were both on turns, one banked like a nascar turn, the other so that the truck was on the exterior radius of the mound. this was followed by a 60 degree ramp up onto a slight flat spot then followed by a 60 degree ramp down followed by a heap of railroad ties, another banked turn, and a slight rock mound, then a very short road course with tight turns.
H2: damn it is this one nice truck! I really wish that it were in my budget (or a friend of mines budget) because this truck just kicks so much ***. I've taken an offroading tour in an H1 back in '96 and was amazed at what the truck could do, but was really dissapointed in the actual vehicle. with the H2, yeah, it might not be as good off road, but its still a freaking monster, one lined in leather at that. I don't know what to say other than I'm going to try to talk my dad out of a range rover sport and into the H2 now hahaha. Its my new favorite truck, I don't know what else to say! it rode over everything that the H3 did, only it didn't shake you around or make you feel like it was strained at all in the process.
H3 same truck that I drive everyday, so its a much shorter review/experience for me... I was really impressed that it could do everything its big brother could! most of the time it felt alot stiffer and rougher, but there were some transitions that it felt like it was clearly
I like fast cars an aweful lot, so I ended up driving 9 laps on the road course (2 in a manual c6, 2 in a manual z51 package c6, 3 laps in a CTS-V because the instructor was really really happy to have somebody that knew how to drive on a track, and 2 laps in a solstice).
-----------if you don't care about sports cars, by all means, skip this section-------
base corvette: not nearly as exciting as I had anticipated, in my opinion (and the guys that I was with) it wasn't very fast or impressive, I'm sure it had heatsoak from hell because it was always on the track though, so I'll cut it some slack. more understeer than I'd have liked to see in a vette. very easy to drive fast none the less. the course was geared for 2nd gear, which it felt like it was coming alive in as the rpm rose. this car definately wanted to strech its legs, but the course wouldn't let it.
z51 corvette: everything the same as the base, except the slalom section was notably easier to go faster in with less drama, brakes were better too. quicker turn in and less understeer really set this apart from the base package. I wouldn't buy a vette without the z51 package!!!!
CTS-V: I never thought that a sedan could move like this - felt nearly as fast as the vette through the turns, with 2 of my friends in the back. great seats, the alcantara inserts on the seats really help keep you in place.
Solstice: I can't believe that I had fun driving something this slow. seriously. its a complete dog in the straights, but maybe thats relative to me? this car was a complete blast to drive because of how nimble the short wheelbase, tight chassis and quick steering made it. went through all of the turns faster than the vette, especially the slalom where it felt like there was more left in it.
ok now for the HUMMER driving:
the course was awesome and set up to the H2 and H3 limits I assume. they had a 'baby' course where you could drive an escalade or a new tahoe on, but it really pales in comparrison next to the towering HUMMER course.
the course started with a 16" (?) step up to get onto the course, then was followed by 2 back to back 45 degree side slopes, then a big ditch about 2 or 3 feet long, then 2 more 45 degree angled side slopes, but this time they were both on turns, one banked like a nascar turn, the other so that the truck was on the exterior radius of the mound. this was followed by a 60 degree ramp up onto a slight flat spot then followed by a 60 degree ramp down followed by a heap of railroad ties, another banked turn, and a slight rock mound, then a very short road course with tight turns.
H2: damn it is this one nice truck! I really wish that it were in my budget (or a friend of mines budget) because this truck just kicks so much ***. I've taken an offroading tour in an H1 back in '96 and was amazed at what the truck could do, but was really dissapointed in the actual vehicle. with the H2, yeah, it might not be as good off road, but its still a freaking monster, one lined in leather at that. I don't know what to say other than I'm going to try to talk my dad out of a range rover sport and into the H2 now hahaha. Its my new favorite truck, I don't know what else to say! it rode over everything that the H3 did, only it didn't shake you around or make you feel like it was strained at all in the process.
H3 same truck that I drive everyday, so its a much shorter review/experience for me... I was really impressed that it could do everything its big brother could! most of the time it felt alot stiffer and rougher, but there were some transitions that it felt like it was clearly
#2
08-17-2006, 11:43 PM
RE: went to GM's "The Drive" in Las Vegas
Sounds like a lot of fun. Although I have taken a H3 off road (and was very impressed), I have not got my H2 off road yet. Hate the thoughts of cleaning it after.
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