Visits to the Porsche plants in Germany

One of the most interesting benefits of your membership is the chance it provides to visit the place where your Porsche has probably been made. Each year we organise a trip to the Zuffenhausen plant near Stuttgart where you can view both engine build and 997 assembly. Most years another, longer visit takes place to Leipzig as well, where the Cayenne is assembled and the Panamera is being prepared for introduction.
The focus is on seeing from the inside how these intricate and beautiful machines are put together and we see all aspects of production from very close quarters. We also get the chance to drive different models for ourselves and sometimes there is the exhilarating experience of a chauffeur driven ride around the Weissach test track in the latest 997 Turbo or Carrera S.
Being in Germany though also gives opportunities to enjoy many other aspects of motoring life so visits are arranged during these events to automotive museums, stately homes and many other places to admire some of the most valuable and interesting road and race cars you will see anywhere in Europe. You get plenty of opportunity to try out your car on some of the finest roads in Europe including the spectacular countryside of the Black Forest and the Schwabian “alps”.
The trips generally take place in April to Stuttgart and September to Stuttgart and Leipzig. The groups are no more than 40 people so you can get to know everyone and places are open to members and their guests over the age of 16.

Itineraries

The April Tour

Usually in April I organise a shorter visit to Stuttgart so that people who do not have so much time can fly out and back within 3-4 days. The factory visit to the main plant at Zuffenhausen takes place on a Friday so we fly out on Thursday and take in a visit in the local area such as to the ultra modern Mercedes museum and visitor centre which is full of unique models of all kinds of cars lorries and busses.
The day at Porsche consists of a short visit to the museum, two hours touring the plant and then visits to other areas such as the restoration and customisation studios. We have in the past visited the research and development site at Weissach to be driven on the test track although for the moment that remains closed to accommodate the Panamera testing programme. In 2009 we shall have the first opportunity to visit the new Porsche visitor centre which is taking shape now and promises to be the best there is, including a constantly changing set of historic race and road cars from the collection. On Saturday we might travel to Sinsheim where the finest automotive visitor centre in Europe contains every form of race and road car, trains and aircraft from famous WW2 fighters to both Concordes which you can go inside.
Sunday is the day to return home although if you take an evening flight there is the time to visit Ludwigsburg the beautiful town near the hotel and wander round the stately home or take in the shopping. In the early evening we head for the airport to be back in the UK by 1930 or so and be able to get home that night.

The September Tour

The first part of the tour is similar to April but we stay in Germany for several more days to visit the new assembly plant in Leipzig. Over the weekend I arrange time to exercise your Porsche perhaps into the Black Forest or down to the South of the country where the roads swoop and turn through the hills ; we meet at a lunchtime venue before an exhilarating drive back. Once in Leipzig we travel in convoy to the factory to view the assembly lines then after lunch we try out the cars for ourselves on the private FIA approved circuit and very often the off road course where the Cayennes are put through their paces, which frankly are awesome. On occasions we will put our own cars on the track, each corner of which replicates a famous race track. Great, safe fun and a chance to see what your car is made of under the watchful eye of the instructors. That night we have a farewell supper in an old fashioned bierkeller restaurant before tackling the journey home.

Travel

You can take your own Porsche on either tour but the April one is organised so that you can fly and be driven around locally by coach. September is always a driven event. Many people take the opportunity to stop off in France on the way down or to explore Germany or Switzerland after the event. I always take care to organise good safe parking wherever we go together to make sure your precious car is not put at risk.
The journey to Stuttgart is about 300 miles each way, then Leipzig is another 300 miles and the return trip to Calais an easy 500 miles.

Accommodation

We always stay in good accommodation – the Adler in Asperg to the north of Stuttgart is an excellent family run hotel where we have been staying for nearly 25 years. The Ottenbacher family see lots of Porsche addicts and know how to make us feel comfortable and welcome.
In Leipzig we stay at the Westin which is an international style luxury style hotel with all the facilities you would expect of a five star establishment. It was recently voted into the top 10 city hotels in Germany. It has ample parking and is just 15 minutes from the plant.
Single, double or twin rooms are usually available, with shared rooms being the best value.

Food and wine

I make it a point to offer only high quality food and, as far as possible, interesting local wines and of course the famous German beers. The Adler has a Michelin starred restaurant and the Westin is good quality with more international food. Elsewhere we have tried the top quality Traube Tonbach restaurant in the Black Forest, the most awarded in Germany, and also more everyday but characterful “stubes” and bierkellers especially in Leipzig, including the renowned Auerbach where Goethe wrote his famous play Dr Faustus. You will not go hungry and hopefully will never be disappointed with the quality.

Add-on extras.

Some of the highlights of previous trips have been the chance to stop on the way down or back to visit an interesting site. We have met in Mulhouse at the famous Schlumpf Collection of Bugattis on the way down and been to Colditz Castle on the way back or for the more adventurous carried on to the Audi plant in Ingolstadt or the Horch Museum in Zwickau. It is my intention always to have something extra for those who have the time and inclination – these are optional trips for smaller groups and will vary each year. I plan to arrange more time to exercise your Porsche in the future off the autobahns with more time in the hills – after all you have come a long way and you might as well take advantage of being away on some of the best roads and countryside in Europe.
Some of the best roads are in the Black Forest and in future trips I want to explore these further (we now have all the special Porsche maps!) doing the hill climbs not marked on the public guides or heading for the Rhine Falls on the Swiss border. There is also the interesting area of Lake Constance and the Austrian border area to explore as well as Alsace on the way down being studied for a future year

Costs

It is difficult to be precise about the cost of the trips as each one is different and will vary considerably depending for example on the kind of track time we take. At the moment we have the problem of a falling pound which is not helping either. Typically though the April cost is around £500 per person and the September one from £775 -895 although I stress this will vary on each occasion according to the number of days and the events included.
To this you have to add the flight cost in April – usually no more than £100 on a budget airline such as German Wings our recommended company from Stansted. When you drive you have to add on the cost of crossing the Channel which varies tremendously whether you go on the Eurotunnel or a ferry plus the cost of driving to Leipzig and back. The good news is that the price is inclusive of all hotels, meals with wine, local transport where appropriate, entry fees, and track time. You just have to add on the usual extras of telephone, laundry and bar bills and of course parking, petrol and insurance.

Applications

I treat all applications on a first come first served basis upon receipt of an application and deposit of £100 per person. Places are very limited and usually go quickly. To improve your chances of going on the event of your choice you should write to me, preferably by e-mail, well in advance, to register your interest. I will then send you the information and timings first before the general applications through Porsche Post. I do not know the dates usually until December but aim to publish them early in the New Year so that you can plan your year. You should apply to me, Richard Watling, at factoryvisit@porscheclubgb.com or by calling or faxing me on 01483 894585.
Visits are open to all current members who may bring a partner with them. You must be over the age of 16. We can, with reasonable notice manage disabled or less mobile travellers. The groups are always varied but I stress these trips are not just for the petrol head community. You will have more than enough cars to see and try but also several good social occasions and some sightseeing so wives and girlfriends are usually very happy to come along as well. I hope to see you on a future trip.