Travelling to Germany
03-04-2003, 11:36 AM
#1
Track Day
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Travelling to Germany
Hi all,
I know its short notice but I'll be going to Germany next week and plan to be in both Stuttgart and Nurenberg. Does anybody know the inside scoop on getting a good look at the Porsche facillities? I heard that PCA members can get a vip tour, does anybody know about this? Thanks for any input,
Chris
I know its short notice but I'll be going to Germany next week and plan to be in both Stuttgart and Nurenberg. Does anybody know the inside scoop on getting a good look at the Porsche facillities? I heard that PCA members can get a vip tour, does anybody know about this? Thanks for any input,
Chris
03-04-2003, 12:11 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
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Chris,
You can visit the Porsche museum, but I doubt you can get a VIP tour to the factory .....except, you are something special ......but don't give-up on forehand.
I got it once, but I think I was extremely lucky -I simply sent a fax telling about my old dreams has become reality, and I was now a Porsche owner, ect. ect., and then after few days, I got a message telling I was welcome to come that day at that time -
I went there, and the rest of the group was most Americans, coming for collecting there brand new car - A kind of packet tour where they after getting there new car drove a trip in Europe ending up in Marseille (South of France)from where the cars was shipped to America.
So yes, you go to the nearest Porsche dealer and order a new Porsche, then I think you must have a change
Good luck! <img border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" title="" src="graemlins/bigok.gif" />
You can visit the Porsche museum, but I doubt you can get a VIP tour to the factory .....except, you are something special ......but don't give-up on forehand.
I got it once, but I think I was extremely lucky -I simply sent a fax telling about my old dreams has become reality, and I was now a Porsche owner, ect. ect., and then after few days, I got a message telling I was welcome to come that day at that time -
I went there, and the rest of the group was most Americans, coming for collecting there brand new car - A kind of packet tour where they after getting there new car drove a trip in Europe ending up in Marseille (South of France)from where the cars was shipped to America.
So yes, you go to the nearest Porsche dealer and order a new Porsche, then I think you must have a change
Good luck! <img border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" title="" src="graemlins/bigok.gif" />
03-04-2003, 10:39 PM
#3
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Glad you are visiting my home town. Say "hi" for me, will you?
Porsche used to offer guided tours through the factory, but you had to make reservations in advance. I once took a cousin (who grew up and lived in the US) to the Porsche museum, and they just had an English language tour starting. Since the tour was not fully booked, he got lucky, and he loved it!
I would not bet on luck, though. They have someone at the factory, who oversees those tours. If I were you, I'd call the factory in advance and make a reservation. Yes, they do speak English there...
Here is the factory's number:
From US: 011-49-711-911-0
From Germany: 0711-911-0
Note that "911" is NOT an emergency number in Germany - unless you need to own a new sports car immediately, of course...
Mercedes also has a big museum in Stuttgart. And there is one about an hour or so outside at Langenburg.
You might want to stroll through the Königstrasse in Stuttgart - the main shopping strip that is only open to pedestrians. If you like model cars, check out the model car shop in the Marienstrasse, in the passage behind McDonalds. Other great shopping is at "Breuninger" - Stuttgart's premier department store.
Ride the "Paternoster" a unique elevator system in the Stuttgart city hall (I hope they have not replaced it, as was discussed some years ago)
Look at the Stiftskirche, old castle, new castle (now government building), and maybe visit the Staatsgalerie's modern art wing - a modern, architecturally very interesting building.
Like modern design? You'll see a lot of it. One place to go is "The Magazine" - a glass building near the main railroad station. If I could only think of the street name...
Then there are lots of neat little towns around, with old city centers (a lot of Stuttgart was destroyed in the 2nd world war, so it's a very modern town).
On the East side you have Esslingen, which has a nice old fort-like castle overlooking the old part of the city. Over 300 steps to walk up there...
On the Zuffenhausen side, you can drive to Ludwigsburg and see the old castle, or visit any of the smaller towns from Bietigheim up until Heilbronn.
On the SouthWest side you have "Schloß Soitude", as smaller castle/mansion built as a summer residence, from which you have a straight view to the Ludwigsburg castle.
I grew up on the South side of Stuttgart, near the airport, in a town that is now known as one with the most photo radar systems per resident in Germany.
Cities like to install these "boxes" at red lights or places where people speed (not necessarily places where accidents happen). It's a money thing - cities get to keep the fines paid... Ok, I'm getting side tracked.
Lanugage: Expect most Germans of our generation or younger to speak at least basic English. English classes are mandatory in all German schools from 5th or 7th grade on (some elementary schools even teach it nowadays). Many people don't use the language much and forget, or are too shy to try, but overall you should get by.
I hope you don't mind cigarette smoke too much (I do - it was one of the things that drove me nuts over there). There is virtually no non-smoker protection. People smoke pretty much anywhere they want, except some food places.
And please don't expect the same level of customer service you are used to over here - some supermarket cashiers make you feel like you need to apologize for interrupting their day by buying something - don't ever take that personal! If you don't bring your own bags to the supermarket, plastic bags are usually about 5 cents each.
How much time are you going to have? Email me (nicole@mossinger.com), if you need some more ideas what to do there...
Porsche used to offer guided tours through the factory, but you had to make reservations in advance. I once took a cousin (who grew up and lived in the US) to the Porsche museum, and they just had an English language tour starting. Since the tour was not fully booked, he got lucky, and he loved it!
I would not bet on luck, though. They have someone at the factory, who oversees those tours. If I were you, I'd call the factory in advance and make a reservation. Yes, they do speak English there...
Here is the factory's number:
From US: 011-49-711-911-0
From Germany: 0711-911-0
Note that "911" is NOT an emergency number in Germany - unless you need to own a new sports car immediately, of course...
Mercedes also has a big museum in Stuttgart. And there is one about an hour or so outside at Langenburg.
You might want to stroll through the Königstrasse in Stuttgart - the main shopping strip that is only open to pedestrians. If you like model cars, check out the model car shop in the Marienstrasse, in the passage behind McDonalds. Other great shopping is at "Breuninger" - Stuttgart's premier department store.
Ride the "Paternoster" a unique elevator system in the Stuttgart city hall (I hope they have not replaced it, as was discussed some years ago)
Look at the Stiftskirche, old castle, new castle (now government building), and maybe visit the Staatsgalerie's modern art wing - a modern, architecturally very interesting building.
Like modern design? You'll see a lot of it. One place to go is "The Magazine" - a glass building near the main railroad station. If I could only think of the street name...
Then there are lots of neat little towns around, with old city centers (a lot of Stuttgart was destroyed in the 2nd world war, so it's a very modern town).
On the East side you have Esslingen, which has a nice old fort-like castle overlooking the old part of the city. Over 300 steps to walk up there...
On the Zuffenhausen side, you can drive to Ludwigsburg and see the old castle, or visit any of the smaller towns from Bietigheim up until Heilbronn.
On the SouthWest side you have "Schloß Soitude", as smaller castle/mansion built as a summer residence, from which you have a straight view to the Ludwigsburg castle.
I grew up on the South side of Stuttgart, near the airport, in a town that is now known as one with the most photo radar systems per resident in Germany.
Cities like to install these "boxes" at red lights or places where people speed (not necessarily places where accidents happen). It's a money thing - cities get to keep the fines paid... Ok, I'm getting side tracked.
Lanugage: Expect most Germans of our generation or younger to speak at least basic English. English classes are mandatory in all German schools from 5th or 7th grade on (some elementary schools even teach it nowadays). Many people don't use the language much and forget, or are too shy to try, but overall you should get by.
I hope you don't mind cigarette smoke too much (I do - it was one of the things that drove me nuts over there). There is virtually no non-smoker protection. People smoke pretty much anywhere they want, except some food places.
And please don't expect the same level of customer service you are used to over here - some supermarket cashiers make you feel like you need to apologize for interrupting their day by buying something - don't ever take that personal! If you don't bring your own bags to the supermarket, plastic bags are usually about 5 cents each.
How much time are you going to have? Email me (nicole@mossinger.com), if you need some more ideas what to do there...
Last edited by Nicole; 01-19-2005 at 02:52 AM.
03-04-2003, 11:42 PM
#5
When in Nuremburg, take some time to see the old city and the castle. There is a church in town that was built in the 10th century that has pipe organs that will blow your socks off.
03-05-2003, 05:01 AM
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Burning Brakes
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Hi,
visit the Mercedes Museum if you can It is a fantastic place. I have been lucky to have visited there many times since 1968 - a great place
Enjoy and try as many beers as you can - great stuff
Regards
visit the Mercedes Museum if you can It is a fantastic place. I have been lucky to have visited there many times since 1968 - a great place
Enjoy and try as many beers as you can - great stuff
Regards
03-05-2003, 10:28 AM
#7
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Yes, I agree with Doug. The Mercedes Museum is a great side trip. It is in the town of Unterturkheim (sp?) just outside of Stuttgart. And the beer is fantastic. Have fun.
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
JF
'88 S4 A/T Black/Cashmere (Her driver)
'83S Euro 5sp Pewter/Black(my project) <img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
JF
'88 S4 A/T Black/Cashmere (Her driver)
'83S Euro 5sp Pewter/Black(my project) <img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />