The Annual Factory Visits to the Porsche Production sites in Stuttgart and Leipzig

One of the most sought after events in the Porsche Club GB year is a visit to the plants where Porsches are made. For more than 25 years now the club has organised tours of the factories in Stuttgart and more recently Leipzig, the new home for the Cayenne and Panamera.

Visiting the factories

During the tour you get to see how they build and test engines for all the different models with all the care and attention that you would expect for such well engineered cars. In Stuttgart you see the whole intricate assembly process for the 911 series including the famous marriage process where the powertrain is brought together with the right body to create the famous iconic shapes. Leipzig is a model of quiet efficiency with significantly greater space and a largely assembly operation.

The visit to the assembly lines is just one part of the whole experience. We usually get to see a number of other areas – the customisation studio and workshop area for example where Porsche invite their customers to create and collect their own unique variation on the standard designs. Sometimes we go to the restoration workshops where there is always a fascinating array of classic models being restored to former glories. Usually there is a group of 959s returning for service but occasionally you will see in close-up a racing 904 or 356 Carrera with a Fuhrmann engine like a Swiss watch.

The day in Stuttgart starts at the new Museum where we are led around the constantly changing exhibits seeing some of the 450 models in the classic collection – the Rolling Museum. We have lunch either in the factory canteen itself which is always a hive of activity or in the very elegant VIP suite at the top of the factory buildings with a great overview of the site. The highlight for most people is the visit to the private track on the Leipzig campus where we are able to drive the latest sports models and from time to time we also book the off road circuit to experience the extraordinary ability of the Cayenne. The day often ends with two high speed laps in the Panamera demonstrating its extraordinary agility and power. We always have a dinner with the Porsche team in the evenings.

Sightseeing and excursions

There are normally two visits a year – in the spring, usually in April we go to Stuttgart and in the autumn, usually in September, we start in Leipzig and then return through Stuttgart. The visits last from 3/4 to 5/7 days and during that time other events are organised to take advantage of the wonderful roads and countryside that are found in Germany and the abundance of interesting places to visit. Stuttgart is fortunate in being close to the Black Forest where we sometimes meet staying at a spa resort and driving through some of the most attractive scenery in Germany. We often visit car museums of course but also take time out to go to a stately home and have lunch in special surroundings before heading for home. The food is always good and we try out local German wines at the dinners and receptions. Meeting other enthusiasts is an enjoyable part of the whole experience as the social side is as important as everything else. We try to show you the best that Germany has to offer. Each trip is a little different from the last and new places and experiences are always being added. Over the past few years we have visited Dresden and the Swiss Saxony area seeing watch manufacturing and the wonderful scenery of the Elbe valleys as well as the reconstructed city. During a visit to the Black Forest we visited the Schlumpf collection of the finest array of Bugattis in the world in Mulhouse and stayed in a very old hunting lodge high in the hills nearby. Colditz is always a favourite when we go to Leipzig but new sites are always being added. This year when we stopped off on the way to Leipzig on the Rhine near Bonn we visited the famous bridge crossing point at Remagen. Most of those who go on the trips (and some go regularly) enjoy the historic side and we are always on the look-out for the opportunity to see classic cars – especially the racers of the past. We have visited the Mercedes classic collection in Stuttgart as well as viewing car production at Audi and VW in Wolfsburg and Dresden at the famous “Glass Factory”. On more than one occasion we have stopped off in Nurnberg which is always a favourite and breaks the journey nicely to Stuttgart from the East.

Porsche Legends

We are never far from the roots of Porsche and its racing successes and this year we were very pleased to welcome two former Le Mans winners in the form of Richard Attwood who delivered the first ever outright win for Porsche. Earlier in the same trip we welcomed Gijs van Lennep who won in 1971 and 1976 and he regaled us with his career exploits during a wonderful dinner at a famous beer keller in Leipzig. I expect to do more of this kind of event in the future with the legends of Porsches history.

Arranging the Visit

About forty people come on each trip and frequently members will bring their spouse or a son or daughter or a friend. They are always very social events and there are lots of times to get to know your fellow members. The trips are open to all members who can bring one other who may not be a member ( but may become so afterwards!) all applicants must have passed their 16 birthday to be able to make the factory visit. It is possible to arrange groups from a region or register and if this is of interest then you should get in touch well in advance so that this can be built into the planning.

The trips vary from year to year but the April visit is usually arranged so that members can fly out, whereas the September one is always a driving event. For those who fly I ask them to organise their own flights and then depending on numbers organise local transport or encourage them to hire a suitable vehicle. I usually meet several flights that arrive in a given time window.

Budgetting Costs

The costs vary according to the plan each year but are always inclusive of hotels and most meals with wine and beer as well as track and entry fees to the excursions. You really only need to budget for the extras as well as the travel out and back. In 2011 the September costs varied from £525 for the half tour without stopover on the way out to £1700 per person for the full tour ending with a night at the Spa circuit and whether the room was shared or single. In April 2011 the costs varied between £625 and £695, but much depends on the exact itinerary and of course the price of the Euro. However there are usually a variety of options and the trips are invariably seen as very good value for money. We stay in a very comfortable family hotel – the Adler in Asperg on the northern fringes of Stuttgart and in Leipzig we use the 5-star Westin Hotel which is very central for local sightseeing and driving to the plant.

Booking your place

Places are strictly limited so early booking is essential. The dates are usually published at the turn of the year so you would be wise to get in touch well in time and get the early information.

Please call 01483 894585 or e-mail factoryvisit@porscheclubgb.com if you are interested and I will send you the details as soon as I have the dates around the New Year time.

Richard Watling
Factory Visits