Factory Visit
10-13-2004, 07:52 PM
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Factory Visit
Well, I would like to tell you all about my recent visit to Stuttgart while in Germany a few weeks ago. I was driving up from Munich to Frankfurt and decided to stop off at the factory on the way.
Unfortunately, I didn't arrive until about 4:45 pm and the museum was closed (it closes at 4 pm for those that might be interested). However, I walked into one of the offices and met a gentleman leaving for the day. I stopped him and told him I was visiting from the US and asked if there was anything I could see at the factory. He then went into a backroom and brought out a salesman in charge of "Tourist Delivery" - which I will get to later.
This gentleman was very nice, spoke perfect English and proceeded to give me a one-on-one back lot tour of the plant. All I can say is "Unbelievable!" He showed me many 996’s (that they are trying to sell off) and then about 70 or so brand new 997's, right off the assembly line. We looked at every possible color and interior combination. I have to say, the Carrera S is a remarkable automobile. He took me through various buildings, garages and lots and all in all spent over an hour with me, showing me cars and talking about all things Porsche. He also took me to a back lot and when he saw another employee there he said to himself “Maybe I shouldn’t be taking you here.” But in any case, he showed me the cars in that lot as well. They were several factory test models, mostly 997’s but also a brand new Boxster that they were experimenting with. The new Boxster exterior is very impressive in person.
When I told him I owned a 928 he smiled and said “Oh, that is a collector now!” He also commented that they were very expensive to repair but I told him I try to do as much myself to keep costs down. We also talked about Porsche getting back into racing in the near future and he said that he felt it was a necessity to do so. I asked him about the possibility of a new platform for the Cayenne V8, maybe a new 928 but he wouldn’t reveal anything. He then gave me several pieces of literature and his business card. He explained that Tourist Delivery is when you order your car directly from the factory, go to Zuffenhausen to pick the car up and drive it for as long as you are in the country. Then, when you leave they ship the car to the US for you.
It really was an amazing experience to visit the birthplace of our cars and if you are ever in Germany for any reason, I would strongly suggest a visit.
Unfortunately, I didn't arrive until about 4:45 pm and the museum was closed (it closes at 4 pm for those that might be interested). However, I walked into one of the offices and met a gentleman leaving for the day. I stopped him and told him I was visiting from the US and asked if there was anything I could see at the factory. He then went into a backroom and brought out a salesman in charge of "Tourist Delivery" - which I will get to later.
This gentleman was very nice, spoke perfect English and proceeded to give me a one-on-one back lot tour of the plant. All I can say is "Unbelievable!" He showed me many 996’s (that they are trying to sell off) and then about 70 or so brand new 997's, right off the assembly line. We looked at every possible color and interior combination. I have to say, the Carrera S is a remarkable automobile. He took me through various buildings, garages and lots and all in all spent over an hour with me, showing me cars and talking about all things Porsche. He also took me to a back lot and when he saw another employee there he said to himself “Maybe I shouldn’t be taking you here.” But in any case, he showed me the cars in that lot as well. They were several factory test models, mostly 997’s but also a brand new Boxster that they were experimenting with. The new Boxster exterior is very impressive in person.
When I told him I owned a 928 he smiled and said “Oh, that is a collector now!” He also commented that they were very expensive to repair but I told him I try to do as much myself to keep costs down. We also talked about Porsche getting back into racing in the near future and he said that he felt it was a necessity to do so. I asked him about the possibility of a new platform for the Cayenne V8, maybe a new 928 but he wouldn’t reveal anything. He then gave me several pieces of literature and his business card. He explained that Tourist Delivery is when you order your car directly from the factory, go to Zuffenhausen to pick the car up and drive it for as long as you are in the country. Then, when you leave they ship the car to the US for you.
It really was an amazing experience to visit the birthplace of our cars and if you are ever in Germany for any reason, I would strongly suggest a visit.
Last edited by Flott Leben; 10-14-2004 at 10:47 AM.
10-13-2004, 10:31 PM
#3
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you didn't have a camera?
10-14-2004, 12:58 PM
#5
I did the tour about a year ago, and had a blast. Even when we visited the factory (October 2003), there were 997 parts boxes along the assembly line.
This is a common sight in Zuffenhausen: new Porsches out for their maiden test drive.
The dealership across the street had a few notable cars.
Lunch in the Gastekasino was memorable:
The Mother of all Racing Porsches was in the factory museum.
This is a common sight in Zuffenhausen: new Porsches out for their maiden test drive.
The dealership across the street had a few notable cars.
Lunch in the Gastekasino was memorable:
The Mother of all Racing Porsches was in the factory museum.
10-14-2004, 04:37 PM
#7
Your dealer can set one up for you. You are supposed to book reservations, but at this post illustrates, it's sometimes possible to walk up and get a tour. It's really a must pilgrimage for any Porsche nut. Highly recommended!
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10-14-2004, 06:55 PM
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Nice write up.
Regarding a "new 928", I sincerely hope that they only use the engine from the Cayenne, not the platform! If they do, we're likely to end up with an overweight pig of a car that is more akin to a the new Bentley coupe than a true sporting GT. It's no wonder that so many modern GTs need V12s, superchargers, and the like to get 500+ HP when they weigh 4000 lbs. or more! That's just plain stupid, and compared to any modern GT even the heaviest of the 928s was a lightweight.
There's no reason why a 928 successor needs to weigh more than 3600 lbs., which is about what a 997 stretched by a foot or so would weigh. Come on Porsche, build a lightweight GT and make up for the fat pig of a SUV that you foisted on the world!
Regarding a "new 928", I sincerely hope that they only use the engine from the Cayenne, not the platform! If they do, we're likely to end up with an overweight pig of a car that is more akin to a the new Bentley coupe than a true sporting GT. It's no wonder that so many modern GTs need V12s, superchargers, and the like to get 500+ HP when they weigh 4000 lbs. or more! That's just plain stupid, and compared to any modern GT even the heaviest of the 928s was a lightweight.
There's no reason why a 928 successor needs to weigh more than 3600 lbs., which is about what a 997 stretched by a foot or so would weigh. Come on Porsche, build a lightweight GT and make up for the fat pig of a SUV that you foisted on the world!
10-18-2004, 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by fokker
What do you have to do to get a factory visit?
Do you book it or is it just to visit at daytime and people there show you around?
Anyone?
I would really like doing a visit!
Dave
Do you book it or is it just to visit at daytime and people there show you around?
Anyone?
I would really like doing a visit!
Dave
When you order a new Porsche in the UK (or anywhere else in Europe), you can opt for the factory collection package which I have done. Basically they provide me with 2 flight tickets to Stuttgart, overnight accomodation, collect me next morning for factory and museum tours followed by lunch in the restaurant and then the handover of my new 997S. I then get a night in a hotel half way back to the channel tunnel and a channel tunnel ticket to get me back to Blighty.
All in all should be a memorable trip even if I can't try the 997's full autobahn potential straight out the factory gates. Good news should be that the trip home will deal with the running in time!
10-18-2004, 05:54 PM
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Mark S.: Sorry. I am upset as well. 
Now that is service!!!!
Skip: Right on! I could not agree more. Although I would love to see a new 928 I would rather see them pull up the old blueprints and just modernize the GTS. I could definitely put up with a re-tuned Cayenne TT V8 engine in that platform!!
they provide me with 2 flight tickets to Stuttgart, overnight accomodation, collect me next morning for factory and museum tours followed by lunch in the restaurant and then the handover of my new 997S. I then get a night in a hotel half way back to the channel tunnel and a channel tunnel ticket to get me back to Blighty.
Skip: Right on! I could not agree more. Although I would love to see a new 928 I would rather see them pull up the old blueprints and just modernize the GTS. I could definitely put up with a re-tuned Cayenne TT V8 engine in that platform!!