Originally Posted by the-missile

The answer is NO because the factory is on the ''city side'' of the road and it is not allowed by law to run the factory during the night time. nothing can be done for this particular point. same apply for the sunday if I remember correctly.

Originally Posted by Just in time

I asked about additional GT production. The answer was that some cars take longer to assemble. Thus if you add GT production that would be at the expense of volume. If I understood correctly that means less cars overall and potentiallty reduced sales. I asked about a third shift but got no answer.

Originally Posted by dark knight

if you notice at the factory all the cars are produced in the exact same number of steps over the around 150 or so stations. A GT car takes no fewer or less assembly stations at the plant. the exceptions were targas as the roof install is different and RS models with plexiglass windows which took longer to install. i have not seen them but I presume the GT3 rating models that are built on the line would also be anomalies

Originally Posted by Just in time

I came out with the impression that there were several limiting factors some related to the motors others to the cars complexity. Each GT3/RS motor is live bench tested for 30 minutes ( I assume it means dynoed among other things) . All other engines are not, only a few per day are tested. I agree that steps to assembly are all the same but came out with the impression that the time each step takes in different cars is not the same, more complex cars use more time. That is the explanation given as to why the line is a constant mixture of cabs, coupes, boxsters, GT3s etc. He stated the goal was to be able to come up with the 250 cars per day. Maybe I am wrong on some of this as there was some much info coming my way that I may have misinterpreted some of it.

Originally Posted by dark knight

what your saying makes sense, GT3 production may be limited by the time to build the parts/sub assemblies/motors but motor produciton is also a set number of stations however the suppliers may not be able to rapidly produce the sub assemblies. Hot testing each motor would certainly slow the process down, and it would also be a big deal as it would be a return to the "good ole days" At the factory each station has the exact same amount of time, thats the amazing thing, each car in the mix is built in the same amount of time on the factory floor. also keep in mind that the tour guide, if a young person is often a relatively new hire from PR, if you do something like eurodelivery you usually get someone with more experience or even semi retired, like Herr Spannagel from the days of Porsche clubs, I do miss the days when it was so much less "corporate"

Originally Posted by Just in time

Right before the tour I took the time to visit the museum. The abundance of important cars is overwhelming, look at this beauty.

Originally Posted by Just in time

Yesterday I had the chance of doing the factory tour. The tour is fascinating. I was surprised to see how smallish the factory looks in comparison to other car plants I have been to.

While touring (it takes about one hour and 45 minutes ) I saw at least eight GT3s.

Three of those were finished and parked at the exit ramp, apparently ready to be loaded on the transports. A red one (looked like GR), a white , and one that looked like black. On the production line itself I counted another five. One Miami blue with black wheels that was just about to be finished. I think I saw a black or very deep blue with the red stripe while /tire combo that was very close to completion, a guards red one that was in the process of getting the wing installed. Also saw a white one and another black in very early stages of assembly.

I saw all these cars in a little over 100 minutes. The tour guide said the factory is currently working two shifts per day. If I saw so many .2 3s in such a short time to me it means that GT3 production is in full swing.

BTW he indicated Cayman demand is through the roof and they are unable to keep up and have contracted for more parts from vendors to meet demand.

Those waiting will soon see their cars!

An interesting nugget that did I not know about is that of all motors produced each day only a handful are pulled out and tested. He said, however, every single GT3 engine is bench tested. IIRC the test is live and for about 30 mins.

The myth that every car produced is road tested was dispelled. The guide stated only a few cars get to the road per day.

Originally Posted by dark knight

if you notice at the factory all the cars are produced in the exact same number of steps over the around 150 or so stations.

A GT car takes no fewer or less assembly stations at the plant.

the exceptions were targas as the roof install is different and RS models with plexiglass windows which took longer to install. i have not seen them but I presume the GT3 rating models that are built on the line would also be anomalies

Originally Posted by CAlexio

You don't even understand how hard it was to leave... especially when family and friends are there. I am looking for excuses with myself to head back in late summer but as my fiancée works for an employer who isn't herself and doesn't have vacation let over.. she might pre-divorce me. We're going to head up to Lake Tahoe for July 4 weekend and hoping to replicate some of the magic… Lake Tahoe really looks like what Lake Como might have looked like many thousands of years ago before humans started building there

Originally Posted by doubleurx

Be prepared for the craziness! I live in the Tahoe area and the 4th is our second busiest holiday as you probably know. I think the backdrop will do fine as a replacement!