Silverstone Experience

[dereksharpuk]

Popped up to Silverstone today to drive the Macan. Truly incredibly impressive on track and amazing that I was overtaking just about all 911s and Caymans. True, the drivers were almost certainly there for the very first time, thus driving rather gingerly, but I was well impressed with the handling of my Macan.

However, what was a major disappointment was the fact that no one is allowed off-road in the Macan! Cayenne yes, Macan no. For heavens sake, I thought the Macan was an off-roader. Maybe it is the ultimate Chelsea Tractor.

 

[dpoynton]

Derek I'm up there tomorrow morning. Any tips, hints, advice to get the best out of the day? Kick plate worth doing or better to spend more time on ice hill? Did 4x4 make low friction surface a waste of time or did it give a good indication of 4x4 ability? Other? Thanks David

 

[dereksharpuk]

Hi David, I have been 11 times at least! Great experience, even just for the food! You can take a partner, but they will not normally be able to share your driving. If you do, they (like you) will need both parts of the driving licence. It's your day so they will do what you want. I split it into two. Me driving (on both courses), the instructor driving also, but as fast as he could safely do so... I would not have kept up with him even if I have been driving a 911! Take a camera. It is tiring! Take their advice on what to do, but I preferred the high speed! Ice hill better than kick plate, but do all.

 

[dpoynton]

ORIGINAL: dereksharpuk the instructor driving also, but as fast as he could safely do so... Take their advice on what to do,

Derek I like these two ideas the most. Carole has passed on it this time (we both did the experience in loan Caymans a few years back, the first time Carole had driven a Porsche (we've had three, others were lhd) I can't get the keys off her these days!). Anticipation building. David

 

[kevinnunn]

Hi Derek & David How did you get you invite to Silverstone as I have had my details with my dealership for a long time but only have received Brochures & invite to launch evening which I attended. It maybe because I'm waiting for the 2.0 litre Diesel over the petrol vision to be released before I put my money down. Yours sincerely Kevin. []

 

[dpoynton]

Kevin I believe that I received mine after placing a deposit and confirming an initial specification with the OPC which was then input to the Porsche computer system. I booked the experience several weeks after receiving the invitation and, as it worked out, the timing is great, Silverstone tomorrow, Leipzig next Thursday. David

 

[dereksharpuk]

ORIGINAL: kevinnunn Hi Derek & David How did you get you invite to Silverstone as I have had my details with my dealership for a long time but only have received Brochures & invite to launch evening which I attended. It maybe because I'm waiting for the 2.0 litre Diesel over the petrol vision to be released before I put my money down. Yours sincerely Kevin. []

You won't get an invite until you place a deposit! After all, it costs!

 

[tigertrout]

Paid my deposit on 2nd april and my build date is november but still no silverstone invite. Have chased several times and still got no answer.The wife spoke to some guy who told her once you get your car you get a voucher to use with in 12 months.

 

[dpoynton]

Maybe the procedure has recently changed? Could check with HO reading.

 

[tigertrout]

Reading is where the car is coming from.

 

[dpoynton]

I meant Porsche Cars GB, whose office is upstairs at the OPC Reading. D

 

[dereksharpuk]

ORIGINAL: tigertrout Paid my deposit on 2nd april and my build date is november but still no silverstone invite. Have chased several times and still got no answer.The wife spoke to some guy who told her once you get your car you get a voucher to use with in 12 months.

Andy, do not accept that. The whole part of Silverstone initially was for you to go up before you firm up your specification for you to try various options, ie 18" wheels v 21" wheels + PASM or Air. I had to push for my Silverstone day. Once you have your vehicle it is too late, you know how it drives. And there is no such thing as a voucher, you just get a number to ring to book a date.

 

[mnk303]

ORIGINAL: tigertrout Paid my deposit on 2nd april and my build date is november but still no silverstone invite. Have chased several times and still got no answer.The wife spoke to some guy who told her once you get your car you get a voucher to use with in 12 months.

Hell I ha e had 3 invites in 2 years and could never make the stated date (always because they were only a week away) , when I moaned to the girl on the phone she gave me date for yet again a Week later sadly which I could not do, but she said I can't book , I have to take a date given a bit peed off really happy to take my money for cars but can't give me a little treat . Luckily my dealers are always happy to let me demo a car

 

[dereksharpuk]

ORIGINAL: mnk303 Hell I have had 3 invites in 2 years and could never make the stated date (always because they were only a week away) , when I moaned to the girl on the phone she gave me date for yet again a Week later sadly which I could not do, but she said I can't book , I have to take a date given a bit peed off really happy to take my money for cars but can't give me a little treat .

This is not a treat! It is incorporated within the cost of the car. You get a lunch, but there is no such thing as a free lunch!. It is an expensive event if you wish to just book and pay. It is a great experience, but there in lies the rub. Far too many non-buyers have decided to book, to take their own cars there or merely pay for the experience. So it is over booked! So we Porsche buyers lose out. Typical of Porsche. I had to push hard to get my slot, even after buying 11 new Porsches! Even then had to wait months and accept an inconvenient day [] Far better for Porsche to reduce the price of the car by the five hundred pounds or so that the experience costs. Better too for us purchasers as then we will have purchasing power if we wished to attend.

 

[mnk303]

ORIGINAL: dereksharpuk

ORIGINAL: mnk303 Hell I have had 3 invites in 2 years and could never make the stated date (always because they were only a week away) , when I moaned to the girl on the phone she gave me date for yet again a Week later sadly which I could not do, but she said I can't book , I have to take a date given a bit peed off really happy to take my money for cars but can't give me a little treat .

I had to push hard to get my slot, even after buying 11 new Porsches! Even then had to wait months and accept an inconvenient day [] Far better for Porsche to reduce the price of the car by the five hundred pounds or so that the experience costs. Better too for us purchasers as then we will have purchasing power if we wished to attend.

Same here I started making a fuss and then the dealer themselves moaned to HQ and in the end said , "sod it you come down here , we will pay for a tank of fuel and you do what you want" , a really good dealer (not local to me BTW) but not quite the same as a track day, and snap I took have had 11 Porsches, dam it Ferrari flew me out to Modena to the factory and TBH there is hardly any difference in a 458 to a Turbo now so what's a matter Porsche

 

[dpoynton]

Push for it! I've just got back, pleased to have remembered how do tackle ice hill and kick plate. Like Derek, I was overtaking lots of Cayman, Boxster and the odd 911 in a Macan petrol. One guy clearly didn't like it but in the end his instructor told him to let me pass! Amusingly, the Cayman S was pulling away on the straights (to be expected, any idiot can floot it!) and I was catching him up in the bends! What great craic! I see Richard Attwood is one of the instructors, not mine today though. Two circuits now and new lanes for emergency stop practice and launch control playtime. Porsche need to strike a balance and buyers need to shout at Reading HQ (not OPC) I think. David

 

[tigertrout]

I spoke to my dealer yesterday and they are going to chase my silverstone experience. They are saying because i have received an earlier build slot the computer doesn't recognise this.

 

[Charliebobba]

I went up to Silverstone for the Macan Turbo experience before taking delivery in March and had a fabulous day. Lovely breakfast, and lunch - nice mooch around the cars and then to the drive itself. This car is nothing short of awesome. My only couple of disappointments were that there was no where to reeeeaaaaalllllyyyyyy floor the car to its potential 165mph or at least faster than i could ever really imagine on the roads. Over a ton would have been cool. I also was disappointed not to go off road in the vehicle given that its a 4x4 and the reality is i'm not likely to take my car off road so would have been nice to have done it in this safe controlled environment. great car, can't wait - i have a cayenne s hybrid up for grabs if anyone is interested - 60 plate nov 2010. 65k miles. in white.

 

[BigCat]

Just because the Macan is 4WD doesn't mean it's designed for off-road use, the approach angle and ground clearance of the Macan is not enough to be able to drive on the off-road course at Silverstone PEC. If you wanted to go off-road the Macan is the wrong vehicle, it's ride height and ground clearance are the limiting factors.