1 day, 5 cars. It’s more fun than socks, guaranteed

If you know someone who is impossible to buy Christmas gifts for, or you are that person, we may have the solution. And it doesn’t involve socks or knitwear.

A Great Escape Classic Car Hire Driving Day gift voucher gets you, or someone you know, behind the wheel of at least 5 different classic cars for a full day’s driving on some of our favourite roads.  Each day includes at least 7 hours driving, lunch, fuel and insurance – and we guarantee no more than 16 people on each event.  So everyone gets maximum driving time. 

Save £80 now - all this for just £199 when booked before December 10th (normal price £279). 

Driving Day Christmas Gift Vouchers now available – limited places

We have been running Driving Days for customers for several years.  In 2013 we will be running 5 different Driving Days every year from our Cotswolds and Yorkshire sites – each gift voucher is valid for 12 months and can be used to attend any one of the rallies, just check the schedule and call us up to book your place.

To find out more and view our 2013 Driving Day calendar, click here 

Places on the Great Escape Driving Days are strictly limited – when they’re gone they’re gone.  The special low price of £199 is available until 10th December – just buy a gift voucher online or by phone 01527 893733 by then to secure this low price.

Drive 5 classic cars in one day

If you’re not sure which car you want to drive or you want to sample a cross-section of our fleet then our Driving Days solve the problem.  Each day is carefully planned to give you an interest route driving some of our most popular cars.  The cars include Jaguar E Types and Jensen Interceptors as well as MGs, Alfas and Triumphs. 

Don’t just take our word for it

Click here to view testimonials and articles from customers who have taken part in previous Driving Days.

Book before 10th December and save £80

The special £199 price is available for all online and phone bookings made by 10th December.  You can choose your Driving Day now or buy a voucher and choose later. 

To book online visit our online shop click here 

To book by phone call 01527 893733. 

One day, 5 classic cars. The perfect Christmas present?

It’s every schoolboy’s dream.  Standing on a wet and windy airfield somewhere near Derby waiting for 3 laps in a Lamborghini.  Such, according to a recent article on speedmonkey.co.uk, is the reality of a Drive the Dream supercar day.

I read that article with interest because I run a classic car hire company.  We don’t work with the big experience day providers because they take too big a slice of the income.  This leaves even less to provide customers with a good day out.  And that is what I think we do, for £199.

So here’s the flipside of those supercar days.  For roughly the same price as 3 laps in a Lambo Great Escape Classic Car Hire offers a full day out driving at least 5 classic cars on some of our favourite roads.  We are running 5 Great Escape classic car rallies in 2013 from our Yorkshire and Cotswolds sites and the format is simple and proven.  Each rally includes a selection of cars from our local fleet – usually E Types, Jensen, MG and Mk2 with maybe a DeLorean or Aston thrown in for good measure. 

Our main business at Great Escape is hiring classic cars for 24 hour periods.  But I devised the rally idea after realising that lots of customers don’t want to spend 24 hrs in one car – often an hour or two is enough to say ‘I did it.’  Providing the chance to drive several cars in one day adds a lot of variety to the experience without boredom.  Couple that with a specially chosen route on some great driving roads and you have a pre-planned day that means you just turn up, turn the key and drive off.

We allow no more than 16 people on each rally, with two people per car, in order to keep the day flowing smoothly and maximise time in the cars.  Each route is hand-picked by us to provide real variety and interest and covers at least 120 miles.  This means that everyone gets around 60 minutes driving each car – more than enough time to get to grips with each model.  We stop regularly for driver and car changeovers and refreshments.  The £199 price includes insurance, fuel, lunch and the help of our support crew who follow the cars – and sort out problems if they occur.

The rally idea originated with our corporate clients.  Since we started offering the same package to individual customers in 2011 it has been hugely popular.  The feedback is always extremely positive, with some claiming it’s the best driving experience day they’ve ever done.  

Great Escape Classic Car Hire rally days will always be fairly low key because we don’t want to sell them through activity providers.  If we did, the price would have to virtually double or we’d have to cut a lot of corners.  By selling direct to enthusiasts we can provide a unique and personal service that we think provides decent value for money.  Far better, I think, than 3 laps of a dreary airfield in a tired Lamborghini.

You can find out more about our rallies on our website at http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk or call 01527 893733.  Mention this blog and we’ll knock 10% off the £199 price.

Drive 5 classics in a day for just £199

Our classic car rallies are consistently the most popular part of our year, giving customers the chance to drive at least 5 different classic cars on some of our favourite driving roads in Yorkshire and the Midlands.  

For 2013 Great Escape Classic Car Hire is running 5 classic car rallies for customers from its Yorkshrie and Cotswolds sites. Places are available at a new low price of just £199 per person.  This all-in price includes the chance to drive at least 5 different classic cars, a minimum 120 mile drive, insurance, fuel for the route, touring notes and lunch.  

Great Escape has been organising classic car rallies for corporate and private clients for several years, so you can be confident that each event will be well organised and benefit from our experience.  Each trip is accompanied by Great Escape staff in support vehicles and there are regular rest stops throughout the day.  Each classic car rally is limited to a maximum of 16 people so that everyone gets the maximum amount of time in the cars with minimal hanging around.

"A Great Escape rally is the perfect way to sample a range of classic cars," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape.  "if you're not sure which car you prefer, this is a great introduction.  

"And everything is done for you - route, timings and even lunch.  You also get to meet a great bunch of fellow enthusiasts during the day."

The Great Escape classic car rallies are available to book online now through the Great Escape shop or by calling  01527 893733.  For more details on the rallies, click here or click on the link on the left of the website. 

View external link

Claim 10% off classic car hire during November

Great Escape Classic Car Hire is offering 10% off the cost of hiring its complete fleet of classic cars to hire across the UK.  The discount only applies during November but covers all gift vouchers and bookings confirmed during the month.

The 10% discount applies to the complete cost of classic car hire, including any extra drivers, and can be used online or by phone. Great Escape is the only classic car hire company with a complete, secure online booking system for gift vouchers and car bookings - just use discount code '10' when prompted by the system.  Alternatively call  01527 893733 to book securely by phone.

Great Escape operates the largest classic car hire fleet in the UK, covering classic and vintage cars from the 1950s to 2000s from a huge range of marques such as Jaguar, Jensen, Aston Martin, MGB, Morris, Triumph and Porsche.  

In line with Great Escape's policy of transparency, there are no hidden charges when you book online or by phone - the price advertised includes VAT, insurance, breakdown cover, 24 hours use per day and in many cases unlimited mileage.  Gift vouchers can be bought for individual cars, specific amounts or particular price bands of cars.  All gift vouchers are valid for 12 months.

"We realise that times are still tough for people so we have decided to start our Christmas discount early," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape.  "We haven't increased our prices since 2009 so this 10% discount means a real bargain on a complete package of classic car hire with no hidden costs."

To find out more visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk or call  01527 893733 for more details.  Offer ends 30th November 2012.   

Win a dream drive in a Porsche 911

Great Escape Classic Car Hire is offering the chance to be like Steve McQueen for the day with its new competition to win a drive in the company's 1969 Porsche 911 coupe.

The classic Porsche 911 will be on display at on the GT Porsche and Retro Cars magazine stand at the NEC Classic Car Show in Birmingham from 16th to 18th November 2012.  Visitors to the stand will have the chance to win 24 hours use of the car just by entering the on-stand competition.  The winner will receive a voucher for 24 hours use of the car - or any other car from Great Escape Classic Car Hire's fleet of 80 cars to hire in the UK and France.

The 1969 Porsche 911 for hire has been specially restored as a faithful replica of the car actor Steve McQueen owned in the late 60s and early 70s and which recently sold for a six figure sum in the USA.  The same car featured in the opening sequences of iconic film Le Mans directed by Steve McQueen.  It features slate grey paintwork, stylish Fuchs alloy wheels and a 2.2 litre version of the superb Boxer flat 6 cylinder Porsche engine.

"The Porsche 911 captures the essence of Great Escape," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape, "which is about being Steve McQueen for the day - just enjoying the fun and style that comes with being behind the wheel of an iconic classic car."

To enter the competition just visit the GT Porsche and Retro Cars magazine stand at the NEC Classic Car Show between Friday 16th and Sunday 18th November 2012.  For more details visit the National Exhibition Centre website here http://www.necclassicmotorshow.com/.

For more details on the Great Escape Classic Car Hire Porsche 911 for self drive rental in the Cotswolds call 01527 893733 or visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk. Great Escape has 80 cars available to hire from 10 locations. 

Buy online and save 10%

Buying online with Great Escape Classic Car Hire is simple and easy and available 24 hours a day. Now there is another reason to book car hire dates or buy gift vouchers and experiences online - you get 10% off your total order.

Great Escape is the only classic car hire company with a full online booking system that enables you to check and book available dates and make full payment securely through the website, or buy any of Great Escape's wide range of gift vouchers and driving experiences.  The system is safe, secure and easy to use.

To take advantage of the 10% off promotion simply enter discount code '10' when prompted.  The discount applies to the total cost and is deducted before payment.  This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other special promotion run by Great Escape.  

Great Escape Cars is the UK's largest classic car hire company with a fleet of over 80 classic cars for hire from 10 locations.  The special online discount applies to all cars.

"More and more people are taking advantage of our online booking system which enables anyone in the world to book one of our cars 24 hours a day," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape.  "Online bookings are simpler and easier for us to process so we want to pass on that saving to our customers."

You can find out more by visiting http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk or call 01527 893733.  

View external link

Is this the best classic car in the world?

Classic cars are great. They press the nostalgia button and they turn heads. But the downside to all this, as we know only too well here at Great Escape Classic Car Hire, is that they take a lot of work (and money) to keep them roadworthy and reliable.
Step forward the HMC Healey. It looks like a classic but it does everything like a modern because it was built in 1999. Now this retro stunt is nothing knew - Panther did it with the Kallista and Lima, Morgan does and countless kit cars companies have tried it. Where the HMC is a little different is that deliberately blends old and new. And succeeds.
Unlike Morgans and Panthers, the HMC is a thoroughly modern car with a TVR-like spaceframe chassis and a GRP body. It was designed as an updated version of the original Austin Healey, a car that could compete alongside modern TVRs and Morgans on its own merits. It is known as a 'continuation car' much like recent AC Cobras and would have been badged as a Healey until a trademark dispute at the 11th hour put paid to that.
That heritage means that it adopts an updated version of one of the most beautiful British sports cars ever made. The Big Healey defined post was Never Had It So Good Britain, proving hugely popular Stateside too. 
So the HMC looks fantastic, particularly in the blue and cream colour scheme of our example. It is a major head turner. And 9 out of 10 assume it is a 1960s version. 
But this car is more, much more, than a car show queen. It is utterly brilliant to drive. Anyone who has driven an original Healey will have considerable respect for all those American servicemen who piloted them in their heyday. The Big Healey is heavy, extremely cramped, noisy, hot and frankly really rather demanding. 
The HMC is none of those things. Settle into the heated leather Recaro seats (which will be familiar to Capri 2.8 fans) and everything falls to hand - meaty gear lever, small wheel, lovely Smiths style dials within a wood veneer dashboard. Some of the minor switchgear is inevitably parts bin, but then that's a problem shared with Aston Martins...
Fire up the motor and the sensory explosion begins. The HMC is powered by the Land Rover version of the venerable Buick-Rover 3.9 litre V8, churning out a figure north of 200 bhp. Lest we forget, original Healeys used Austin engines so there is some tenuous continuity in this British Leyland parts bin raid.
The Rover v8 is a burbling, sonorous thing but in the HMC sounds particularly good. In fact, just like a British classic should. The twin pipe exhaust exits just behind your ears about 2 inches off the ground. 
Snick the stubby lever into first, release the handbrake (handily located in the passenger footwell) and feed out the light clutch. The HMC's brakes and clutch are up to modern standards and the steering is power assisted, meaning you can concentrate on enjoying the car rather than the mechanics of moving it. 
Which is just as well because the HMC is an absolute hoot. It is quick, obviously, and that engine is a joy - tractable, torquey and smooth. But it is the handling that really delights. Original Healeys are hard to exploit because of the sheer physical effort of doing so. Not so with the HMC. It is light and fluid with direct, communicative steering that signals the progressive departure of the rear end early on. Which is just as well. Because with a light GRP body, huge v8 power and precious little weight over the rear wheels (even with a svelte, some might say debonair pilot in place), it is very, very easy to kick out the back. 
The HMC makes a very strong case for a modern car with classic looks. It is a personal thing but for me it blends the best of both worlds, a great looking car with proper classic car heritage with modern engineering and reliability. 
I loved it. You can buy one of the 167 HMCs for about £30,000, similar to the price of an original car. I know which one I'd rather have to drive and enjoy.
You can hire this car from our Shropshire site at www.greatescapecars.co.uk or call 01527 893733.