Factory collection, worth it?
Discussion
Yep definitely. I think it is actually pretty good value - two flights from UK, overnight in decent hotel with dinner and breakfast, factory tour, very good lunch at factory, museum tour and flexible Eurotunnel to get back to UK. I did it just recently, stayed over in Spa, did a day's track day then drove home and by the time was half way to France the motor passed the magic 1000k / 600 mile mark.
Definitely do it.
Definitely do it.
I've just ordered a Cayman Black Edition and thinking about the Factory Collection too.
How did you get on driving back to the UK? I've driven on European roads before but I will have to do this trip alone and a bit bothered about seeing to overtake etc... Are the roads back near all motorway?
Cheers
How did you get on driving back to the UK? I've driven on European roads before but I will have to do this trip alone and a bit bothered about seeing to overtake etc... Are the roads back near all motorway?
Cheers
I occasionally regret not knowing about it when I bought new in 2002 but then again, my Boxster was made in Finland and I live in Switzerland so it didn't quite feel right paying to pick it up from Stuttgart (even if the engine was built there).
In terms of 'value for money' it's been a while since a looked into it and it surely is a personal thing but what you get for your money can include 2x one way flights to Germany, a night's hotel accomodation, some hospitality and I would assume that you avoid the cost of the delivery/preparation charge that your dealer would have levied. You may also get a period of insurance thrown in to get you home but I would expect that you'd have to pay for your own Channel crossing!
In terms of 'value for money' it's been a while since a looked into it and it surely is a personal thing but what you get for your money can include 2x one way flights to Germany, a night's hotel accomodation, some hospitality and I would assume that you avoid the cost of the delivery/preparation charge that your dealer would have levied. You may also get a period of insurance thrown in to get you home but I would expect that you'd have to pay for your own Channel crossing!
khushy said:
unless you have money to burn/or (literally) flush down the toilet/or its a keeper/or its a brand new model - why oh why oh why would anyone buy a brand new Porsche - when there are mega-deals to be had on a nearly-new one from your OPC?
khushy
Because it is all yours... no ones had their hands on it before you.khushy
Everything specced as you want it, you know everything about the cars history, the satisfaction and simply the pleasure of it.
Along the original path of the post. I wish I had done factory collection. Time restraints getting the last one meant i just took delivery instead.
Do it, you can never regret not doing that way. And it is always going to be more special than calling into the dealer to collect.
After owning several Porsche purchased secondhand I decided to order a 997 GT3RS and 5OD the expense. Whilst doing this we paid for factory collection. Two flights from London City airport to Stuttgart, taxi to hotel, decent hotel, taxi in the morning to Porsche. Factory tour and the museum followed by a superb lunch. We met Andreus Preuniger (not sure if spelt correctly) the GT3 project manager and got him to sign and date the car under the boot lid.
Extended our stay with an extra night in hotel and in the morning headed North from Stuttgart up to Spa-Francorchamps for two days on track before driving home. Porsche even covered the eurotunnel ticket which provided us with a hamper just in-case we got the munchies on the way back.
It's one of those things that all car enthusiasts should aim to do once in their lifetime.
Regrets....NONE. Memories....loads of them....all good. Would I do it again...yes asap
Extended our stay with an extra night in hotel and in the morning headed North from Stuttgart up to Spa-Francorchamps for two days on track before driving home. Porsche even covered the eurotunnel ticket which provided us with a hamper just in-case we got the munchies on the way back.
It's one of those things that all car enthusiasts should aim to do once in their lifetime.
Regrets....NONE. Memories....loads of them....all good. Would I do it again...yes asap
Factory tour is interesting, museum is stunning and the tunnels on the autobahn just outside Stuttgart heading towards Ulm are great (windows down, sport on) plus its an autobahn which quickly changes to being, um, unrestricted ...
Then you can head through the black forest or down to Italy before hacking back home.
What's not to like?!
khushy said:
unless you have money to burn/or (literally) flush down the toilet/or its a keeper/or its a brand new model - why oh why oh why would anyone buy a brand new Porsche - when there are mega-deals to be had on a nearly-new one from your OPC?
khushy
Where do these nearly-new cars come from if not from the people you're disparaging?khushy
The only time I ever specced up a new car (boxster spyder) it was the first thing I put on the list.
Buying a brand new Porsche is something that may be a once in a lifetime experience & I'd like to make the most of it. Plus, I do buy into the whole Porsche history thing (you should see my garage
) & to feel part of any cars history would be a grand well spent IMHO, & even more so if it was a keeper.
if I ever do buy a spyder in the future it will be in the knowledge that even though financially cheaper, a little bit of the experience would be missing.
Buying a brand new Porsche is something that may be a once in a lifetime experience & I'd like to make the most of it. Plus, I do buy into the whole Porsche history thing (you should see my garage
) & to feel part of any cars history would be a grand well spent IMHO, & even more so if it was a keeper.if I ever do buy a spyder in the future it will be in the knowledge that even though financially cheaper, a little bit of the experience would be missing.
khushy said:
Durzel said:
Where do these nearly-new cars come from if not from the people you're disparaging?
Demonstrators!
I wanted to do a factory pick up with the Alpina but they've stopped doing them now
I think with any European built marque it would be a great experience.
Just ordered a Cayenne and am thinking about factory collection. Just a few questions:
Does the car have temporary plates - if so how long do they last?
Is the return crossing open? Can it be changed to another port.
We're thinking of picking up the car in Germany then having a tour of Europe ending up in our place in Brittany, spending two weeks there then back to blighty.
Does the car have temporary plates - if so how long do they last?
Is the return crossing open? Can it be changed to another port.
We're thinking of picking up the car in Germany then having a tour of Europe ending up in our place in Brittany, spending two weeks there then back to blighty.
Zp said:
That'll be the demonstrators that the salesman has told the customer '...go on, give it some welly. Right into red-line territory...' to each and every prospective purchaser.
I wanted to do a factory pick up with the Alpina but they've stopped doing them now
I think with any European built marque it would be a great experience.
LOL - sorry but with savings up to almost a third on new prices - its a no brainer for me (unless of course you have more money than god) - it also comes with 2 years OPC warranty so whats to worry about - how many people's car purchases are "keepers" - not many I am certain of that - but each to their own.I wanted to do a factory pick up with the Alpina but they've stopped doing them now
I think with any European built marque it would be a great experience.
cragswinter said:
The only time I ever specced up a new car (boxster spyder) it was the first thing I put on the list.
Buying a brand new Porsche is something that may be a once in a lifetime experience & I'd like to make the most of it. Plus, I do buy into the whole Porsche history thing (you should see my garage ) & to feel part of any cars history would be a grand well spent IMHO, & even more so if it was a keeper.
if I ever do buy a spyder in the future it will be in the knowledge that even though financially cheaper, a little bit of the experience would be missing.
what exactly is the experience - I am sorry but I dont get it and definitely wont for the saving I can make buying a used one.Buying a brand new Porsche is something that may be a once in a lifetime experience & I'd like to make the most of it. Plus, I do buy into the whole Porsche history thing (you should see my garage
) & to feel part of any cars history would be a grand well spent IMHO, & even more so if it was a keeper.if I ever do buy a spyder in the future it will be in the knowledge that even though financially cheaper, a little bit of the experience would be missing.
Dont Porsche do factory tours for mere mortals anyway - if you are that desperate to go?
Just add my tuppence worth.
I opted to collect my 996 GT3 mk2 from Zuffenhausen and its something anyone who has the opportunity should do.The picture of me and my mate standing next to it in the handover area, parked next to McNish's Le Mans winning GT1 !!! is one of my most treasured mementos.
The drive back gets the annoying early running in out of the way but because you are running it in, its not quite the blast it might be. You get to know what your car has done from the moment it left its birthplaceas as well which I liked.
In 2003 it cost £745 as an option. Quite why it should be £500 more now is beyond me. 2 flights, 1 eurotunnel and 1 twin room in a 4* Hotel for £1250. Mmmm.Ideally I'd arrange the flights, hotel, eurotunnel myself. The tour is great and nowadays the museum is on a completely different level to 2003 but its the passion of the people thats the most impressive thing. They do all seem to love working for the company and totally love the cars.
For those who are worried about driving abroad on their own, dont, its no problem at all (Except peage toll booths! )
I opted to collect my 996 GT3 mk2 from Zuffenhausen and its something anyone who has the opportunity should do.The picture of me and my mate standing next to it in the handover area, parked next to McNish's Le Mans winning GT1 !!! is one of my most treasured mementos.
The drive back gets the annoying early running in out of the way but because you are running it in, its not quite the blast it might be. You get to know what your car has done from the moment it left its birthplaceas as well which I liked.
In 2003 it cost £745 as an option. Quite why it should be £500 more now is beyond me. 2 flights, 1 eurotunnel and 1 twin room in a 4* Hotel for £1250. Mmmm.Ideally I'd arrange the flights, hotel, eurotunnel myself. The tour is great and nowadays the museum is on a completely different level to 2003 but its the passion of the people thats the most impressive thing. They do all seem to love working for the company and totally love the cars.
For those who are worried about driving abroad on their own, dont, its no problem at all (Except peage toll booths! )
khushy said:
unless you have money to burn/or (literally) flush down the toilet/or its a keeper/or its a brand new model - why oh why oh why would anyone buy a brand new Porsche - when there are mega-deals to be had on a nearly-new one from your OPC?
khushy
Ive had 6 second hand Porsches, even though I have had very little trouble with any of them I always feel its got a past that I know nothing about and its never really my car.khushy
A bit like going out with a hot girl and then finding out she was a hooker before you met her!
The way I see it a new Cayman Black is a good new car buy. Its got £7000 worth of extras as standard for only £4000 more that the list price of an ordinary Cayman S.
I also got a £4000 discount from the dealer.......no brainer really
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