My sisters boyfriend is in germany and can ship anything in 5 days for $15. Would parts be cheaper there? Thought I could save some money if so.

 

I doubt you would save anything over buying your parts from any of the big three here in the US. Keep in mind that the VAT in Germany is very high (16 or 17%), and unless your purchase is properly processed as an export, you are paying for the VAT.

The only thing I would shop for over there is if I wanted some used parts from the Porsche Exclusive program, as these are really rare here in the US. A nice rootwood console and door inserts would look unique in my all classic grey interior...

 

Nicole, you are correct with one exception. If someone has a grey market (i.e. Euro/ROW imported 928 or Euro-hybrid engine) there are some items that the big three may not be able to order from PCNA or their other sources. In this case getting parts from a European source could be the only way to get them stateside.

During my Euro-928-2002 factory tour, we visited the factory parts department in Zuffenhausen-Stuttgart. Anyone can purchase parts from them. For example, the manager says he can get the Factory Workshop Manuals with about two weeks lead-time, he runs batch orders with the printers. However, the price is about 600 Euros (ouch, that is about $600 US).

BTW, that Exclusive Sales is unbelievable. They showed us a few cars that were completed and waiting for delivery. They were fantastic. You can have any paint color and any interior color. The trim items also can be custom fabricated. Special spoilers can be fitted. They even leather wrap the A/C vents if you desire. I can't imagine the cost, though.

Rich

 

I am surprised that the guy at the factory parts department told you he would ship to the US. When my friend was the manger of the parts department at the factory repair facility in Werk 1, they had a policy of not shipping internationally, because that would upset the authorized parts dealers in the affected countries.

Of course, some things have changed since, and by law they must sell to anybody in the European Community. However, I would be surprised if they "backstab" their parts organizations in other countries.

 

I didn't say anything about shipping.

I said that you can buy the parts there (in Zuffenhausen-Stuttgart). They probably won't ship to the US, but he didn't say they wouldn't.

If you can afford a Porsche, you can afford to fly to Germany to pick up the parts from the factory.

Fact: The king of Spain and Bill Gates flew to the factory to pick up their 959 Porsches.

Rich

 

LOL, the only two people in the world that can afford one. Well, since it turns out ole Bill Gates is a Porschephile. Not just everyone knows what a 959 is and even less know that they were not exported to the US by the boatload. Hell, most people still pronounce it porsh and recognize a 911 as a Porsche but have no idea that it is a 911. BTW, I am very jealous of that factory tour my friend! Oh to be able to sit down and visit with one of the 928's designers or builders.

 

[quote]Originally posted by pilotshark:
<strong>LOL, the only two people in the world that can afford one.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I heard Rowan Atkinson (Blackadder, Mr. Bean) has a one. Apparently, he picked a 959 over a new Aston Martin, though he has several original Zagatos.

 

Speaking of 959's, the December issue of Road & Track has a 959 vs. F40 vs. McLaren F1 comparison. Three brave souls loaned out their rare cars so Steve Millen could thrash them at Buttonwillow Raceway. The comparison was subjective rather than based on lap times. Not surprisingly, the McLaren was favored most. The Porsche faired well considering it's a much older design than the others. It was said to be "civillised but fast" while the F40 the most racecar-like.

The article is worth a read.