By Way of Recap and Opening...

As some of you know and others of you will no doubt find out, I took European Delivery of my 2025 Cayman GTS 4.0 6MT back in October. A buddy joined and we drove from Leipzig all the way down to Andorra and Spain. We headed south to Munich, over the Alps, across Italy, down along the Riviera and up into the Pyrenees, eventually hitting Andorra. We sprinted back across France, hitting Michelin restaurant after Michelin restaurant to get to the Nurburgring for touristenfahrten before a quick jaunt to Stuttgart for turn in. When I initially specced the car, I asked for European Delivery and PEC Atlanta Delivery as a backup, because I wanted a road trip to get acquainted and fall in love with the car. Upon arriving for ED in Leipzig, I noticed they had the shipping of the car slated for Jacksonville and to PECATL. They must not have changed it. Germans being Germans, this could not be shifted, so I was given the option of the rare double delivery or them trucking the car across the country. Naturally, I chose double delivery! The car was dropped off on November 10 and arrived in Jacksonville in late January. It was released from the port in early February and I scheduled delivery for Friday, February 20th.

Special thanks to Sean (ED specialist) and Zohair (PEC delivery specialist) for coordinating all the logistics. Very much super helpful and I'd highly encourage direct outreach to them to set up your delivery experience.

The ED Thread

Some opener photos below...

 

My buddy Chris, who joined me for ED (who truly was a trooper for all that time in the Cayman) couldn’t join me for redelivery despite living in the Atlanta area due to a death in the family. So, my buddy Jim, another BMW M track event buddy, flew in from Baton Rouge to join me for dinner the night before and then track time. Unfortunately, dinner was not to be as my Delta flight out of LAX was delayed nearly 6 hours and I got in around midnight. Jim still picked me up and we drove back to the Kimpton Hotel right next to Porsche. We shared memories and the same great stories at breakfast before heading next door to the PEC. Delivery was up first, as they had two cars to deliver that morning. Normally they do just two per day, one am and one PM but they had a regular who was getting car number 10 plus via PEC, a GT3 Touring in Lugano and he was heading up to a track event and wanted the car.

Redelivery was incredible, as I had forgotten how much I loved the car and the spec. I also forgot the sound and the smell of the leather interior. Ryan Anderson was my delivery specialist and Garrett was our track guy. Both were incredible. Both were also patient, as I spent the whole time modifying the car a bit. Clears went back on, Bluetooth dongle installed, aluminum starter switch installed, and Carbon Fiber gear **** installed. I was the first gear shift **** change at delivery they had seen. My car was supposed to come with the CF ****, but there was an issue right as production was starting and it got eliminated. Thankfully, I found one here. Below are the pro shots Ryan took. He did a great job.

























Once delivery was done, I signed the wall and we headed out for track time. Car was as it was in Leipzig, a blast on the track. Was very happy with the wet skidpad in that I could easly get and hold a drift, which Garrett said not many people can do in the mid-engined cars. All that money spent on the Sweden Ice driving coming in handy! Jim got the body of the 718 really leaning!





After the track time, we had a brief walking tour followed by lunch at the 356 restaurant. The lunch here was much better than the German one. The lamb was sensational. Also had German beer! After that, it was a quick stop by the gift shop, a goodbye to Jim (until tomorrow) and then time to hit the road. I had a 5-hour drive down to the Gulf of America/Florida panhandle. Drive was uneventful with some showers. Arrived at Camp Creek Inn in Florida just in time for a quick workout and a burger. The inn is part of a country club development and is an amazing property. Highly recommend.

 

Had a nice breakfast and a 2-mile swim in the great lap pool before hitting the road. Got the desired photos of the car on the Redneck Riviera, having taken photos on the real Riviera last fall. Stayed on the coast until Pensacola and then it was interstate to Baton Rouge. Stayed overnight at the Cook Hotel on the LSU campus and had a great dinner with Jim and his wife Cathy at their favorite Mexican place!

 

This was the longest day in the car of the whole trip. Had to get all the way to Dallas-Fort Worth for the night with family. Had a great run in the morning around the lakes by the LSU Campus, then hit the road. Roads in Louisiana leave lots to be desired, but it was easy going. Some long looks in the rural parts on the country roads. Got into Fort Worth (Dallas goes on forever) around 4:15 and had time to give my 18-yo second cousin a stick-shift lesson in a nearby parking lot. Crazy, right? He did okay. Started to get the hang of it toward the end. Car survived without issue. Can you imagine telling your friends your stick shift cherry was a 718 CGTS 4.0? I told him only downhill from here! He made us a great steak dinner and we watched a movie.

 

Hit the road just before 9, as my cousin had to get to work and her son off to school. Shorter drive on mostly old US highways into West Texas en route to Lubbock. Got some great shots of the car on a red dirt road (side road, didn’t really drive on it)! Got to Lubbock before 3, blasted some bugs and goo from a truck off the car and checked in. Ran around the Texas Tech campus before a chill dinner at the hotel. Couldn’t believe the hand formed 10 oz burger the hotel had fo me. Amazing quality and taste. Must be those Texas cows.







Red Dirt Road!!!

 

Another run around the Texas Tech campus in the cold morning winds. Then the drive through West Texas Wind hell and on to New Mexico for more wind hell. Probably took several hits, at least one good little one, but won’t know until a proper wash. Mountain roads into Taos area were spectacular as was the canyon into the ski valley. Arrived in time to rent the demo skis, and have a hot tub session before an incredible dinner at my Hotel, The Blake. Great hotel. Here for 2 nights.

 

Skied Taos. 40k vert feet over 28 chairs. Hot tub. Dinner. No driving!

 

Another great ski day. 23 chairs and 30k vertical before 1 pm. Hit the road around 1:30 pm, down to Taos, along the Rio Grande and on to the Four Seasons Santa Fe. Spectacular drive along the river. Stopped in Espanola for coffee and to blast the car again with a pressure washer at the self car wash. NM salts their roads and I had to try to get as much of the remnats from the most recent storm off. I had an amazing casita at the Four Seasons. Had a nice 2km swim in the pool before a great dinner. Even at the Four Seasons the food is drastically cheaper than in California.

 

I started with a great breakfast and another swim for workout in the pool before departing around 10. Almost all interstate today. 425 miles to Williams, AZ, just past Flagstaff. Got some cool shots at the Continental Divide and by the Route 66 sign in Williams. Probably the best meal of the trip at the TripAdvisor top-rated Red Raven restaurant in Williams. The Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel is a far cry from The Blake Taos or the Four Seasons Santa Fe, but it will have to do!

 

Started the day with a leisurely but bitterly cold run around Williams before hitting the road around 9. Had to get to Lake Havasu area for a relatively early lunch with a client who retired there. Haven’t seen him in person in ages, so it was good to catch up. He has a 996 Ruf Turbo and he loved the car. After lunch, I finally crossed the border into California before getting to La Quinta for the night. Dipped into the pool for a short swim and then had a quick dinner. Almost there.

 

Got up relatively early, had some coffee, a longer swim in the pool and hit the road. Got home by midday for photos in front of the pacific and then the long needed and much earned true first wash.

 

The car is still as phenomenal or better than I could have expected. It's such a treat and a blast to drive. It sounds lie a boat at idle but screams up to nearly 8k. It's also quite comfortable. It went in and got the windshield replaced supposedly with ED insurance...we'll see if they send the wire. The dealer contractor didn't do a 100% perfect job and likely scuffed the paint. My guy should be able to get that out. But on inspection, I got out my paint meter and there's a bit of a plot twist developing now. The entire car reads between basically 9-13 mils. I couldn't believe it. Recalibrated the meter and compared with my BMW 230i. It's 9-13 mils. I'm not sure if it was repainted at the port - but why would they do the whole car or if the thing was repainted at the factory or even painted by hand at the factory. There are minimal to no signs of a repaint....only one roughish inside lip on the front right fender which may tie into the light scratches in that headlight. However, I don't believe the bumper was removed or repainted because the ED plate velcro strip was still on the car. If they had to blend the bumper, that surely would have been removed. Interestingly Racing yellow was mostly out of production by the time this car was made...and not even in the PTS catalog. I think I've read PTS plus cars are hand paints. So could it be they were past the point when they were making the yellow and they had to whip out hand sprayers? Who knows. I need to ask PCNA for more info. More to come. I'm either very happy with thick factory paint or going to be very annoyed. Few more shots from Europe for good measure.

 

Epic trip! Great write up and photos.
Love the fact you skied Taos. Mic drop.

 

Thanks! I was definitely the first ever person to show up to their PECATL (probably LA too) delivery with his boot/helmet bag, much less for delivery of a sports car w summer tires!

 

Great story and pictures. Living in the West, I have driven most of the roads taken on your tour. Your color choice was appreciated too!