September 9, 2009 - Nearly every man dreams of getting behind the wheel of a supercar. But these machines are unlike your average road car, to say the least. If you plan on joining the thousands of people who rent a Ferrari or Lamborghini for the day, here are 10 tips on handling the beast safely and with maximum enjoyment.
5. Be careful when braking
Supercars come equipped with super brakes – just a tap on the high-tech carbon-ceramic brakes normally found in F1 cars can be enough to bring the beast to an abrupt stop and have you pitching forward toward the dashboard. Practise makes perfect, and it takes a while to get used to the incredible responsiveness. Proceed with caution, because the brakes on the truck behind you aren’t in the same class.
6. Watch where you sit
Seating position in a supercar is very important and will differ depending on the car. With such high-tech designs, the seating position is factored in and the driver’s ability to adequately drive the vehicle may be hampered. Anyone who is very tall, very short or very wide should do their research on the car beforehand to ensure they a) can fit in it, b) will be able to drive it adequately.
7. Don’t be afraid
Supercars are powerful and to a certain extent frighteningly quick, but they need to be brought to heel. If you do not assert yourself and become the master of the beast, it will be the master of you. You can’t be intimidated by the car. Make driving decisions firmly, and understand that you are in complete control. Keep a calm head. As with any kind of driving, ease off the accelerator at the earliest sign of a situation ahead. Avoid jerky movements on the steering wheel.
8. Respect the ride
Be confident, but don’t be cocky! The car requires an assertive driver, but an over-assertive one who disrespects the power may put the car, other road users and himself in mortal danger.
9. Eyes on the road, not the badge
Because the driving position in an exotic car is typically a lot lower/ closer to the road, there is a tendency for inexperienced drivers to look at the road directly in front of the car rather than scanning the road ahead. Stop admiring that Lamborghini badge on the bonnet and keep watch ahead for the changing situation on the road.
10. Enjoy it!
Let’s face it: unless you are incredibly rich, incredibly lucky or the price of a Ferrai F430 Spider (above) falls to that of a loaf of bread, chances are you are not going to be spending much of your life behind the wheel of a bona fide supercar. If you rent one for the day or the weekend, try to enjoy every minute of what should be a thrilling experience.
You can find Ferrari hire and Lamborghini hire options on the erento website.
