factory collection

[prostang]

is the factory collection worth doing, what does it consist off

[anglebox10]

I did it 8 years ago and thought it was well worth it.
Basically you fly to Stutgart and overnight in hotel, then off to the Factory first for 9am with your UK number plates.
Tour of the factory which is pretty interesting, then time to look around museum - quite small - a slap up lunch, the chance to spend money in the 'shop', then get your hands on the actual car keys - the best bit !!
Everthing was well organised, and was even given deutchmarks for taxis, plus meal and wine vouchers for hotel.
Not sure if it's changed much since then, I know some people go a day early and look round the Merc museum which is supposed to be excellent.

Hope that helps.

[lowndes]

Am going this Thursday and will post brief review when I get back

[pugsey]

anglebox10 said:

I did it 8 years ago and thought it was well worth it.
Basically you fly to Stutgart and overnight in hotel, then off to the Factory first for 9am with your UK number plates.
Tour of the factory which is pretty interesting, then time to look around museum - quite small - a slap up lunch, the chance to spend money in the 'shop', then get your hands on the actual car keys - the best bit !!
Everthing was well organised, and was even given deutchmarks for taxis, plus meal and wine vouchers for hotel.
Not sure if it's changed much since then, I know some people go a day early and look round the Merc museum which is supposed to be excellent.

Hope that helps.

Been a couple of times over last two years and going soon for GT3 - only difference from above is that you now take delivery of car on special German export plates - which look quite cool. You then have fourteen days to get back to your UK OPC who registers the car in this country and puts new plates on.Whole experience well worth doing IMO and don't forget option cost covers two people.

[rjl]

pugsey said:

anglebox10 said:

I did it 8 years ago and thought it was well worth it.
Basically you fly to Stutgart and overnight in hotel, then off to the Factory first for 9am with your UK number plates.
Tour of the factory which is pretty interesting, then time to look around museum - quite small - a slap up lunch, the chance to spend money in the 'shop', then get your hands on the actual car keys - the best bit !!
Everthing was well organised, and was even given deutchmarks for taxis, plus meal and wine vouchers for hotel.
Not sure if it's changed much since then, I know some people go a day early and look round the Merc museum which is supposed to be excellent.

Hope that helps.

Been a couple of times over last two years and going soon for GT3 - only difference from above is that you now take delivery of car on special German export plates - which look quite cool. You then have fourteen days to get back to your UK OPC who registers the car in this country and puts new plates on.Whole experience well worth doing IMO and don't forget option cost covers two people.

Hi pugsey,
If poss I would like a peek at GT3 when at OPC.
Sat with you at Thruxton and would be good to see one in red as undecided upon colour.
When are you collecting ? and are you taking on the ring on way back ??

Russell

[pugsey]

rjl said:

pugsey said:

anglebox10 said:

I did it 8 years ago and thought it was well worth it.
Basically you fly to Stutgart and overnight in hotel, then off to the Factory first for 9am with your UK number plates.
Tour of the factory which is pretty interesting, then time to look around museum - quite small - a slap up lunch, the chance to spend money in the 'shop', then get your hands on the actual car keys - the best bit !!
Everthing was well organised, and was even given deutchmarks for taxis, plus meal and wine vouchers for hotel.
Not sure if it's changed much since then, I know some people go a day early and look round the Merc museum which is supposed to be excellent.

Hope that helps.

Been a couple of times over last two years and going soon for GT3 - only difference from above is that you now take delivery of car on special German export plates - which look quite cool. You then have fourteen days to get back to your UK OPC who registers the car in this country and puts new plates on.Whole experience well worth doing IMO and don't forget option cost covers two people.

Hi pugsey,
If poss I would like a peek at GT3 when at OPC.
Sat with you at Thruxton and would be good to see one in red as undecided upon colour.
When are you collecting ? and are you taking on the ring on way back ??

Russell

Hi mate. No probs - you can do more than take a peek. Last I heard it was looking hopefull for collection last week of Oct. I'll e.mail you when I know. You get a couple of weeks grace on the import plates so if all goes to plan I'll prob drop down to Devon early Nov. Prob. give 'Ring a miss 'till she's loosened a bit but it's tempting!

Cheers.

[gpm3d]

I did a trip last weekend to pick up my Turbo . Absolutely brill - both the car and the factory collection experience. Museum takes about 10 mins, whilst the factory tour is hour & half. No cameras allowed inside the factory, but lots of interesting stuff knocking around - such as new GT3 RS looking v sexy!
The German plates are valid for 9 days and include insurance cover.
Do it - its well worth the cost.
Graham

[lowndes]

Hi gpm3d.

I have a similar trip this Friday. Any suggestions on the route back to the Chunnel?

[gpm3d]

We stayed at the 'Le Tulipier Hotel'
www.letulipier.com/default.html
part of the Logis de France group. Right off the beaten track about 10 miles from the auto-route. The traffic on Friday afternoon getting out of Stuttgart was horrendous, took an hour to do 20 miles. 4 hour later (300 miles) we got there. Nice but basic (much better than Formula 1 or Camponile)quiet and clean - good restaurant and no worries about leaving the car outside.
Left there next morning at 8.30 and got to the tunnel, after a trip to a Hypermarket for wine & beer at 12.30.
Back home in Cheshire for 5.00pm
Good luck and do enjoy - its brill! (Face still hurts from smiling driving the new car!)
Graham

[Globulator]

Sounds like the factory pickup is the biz. Not least because you can try out the top speed, legally, down a german autobahn. Not sure about GT3s but the Boxter S I'm after should top 160 which would be completely wicked!!
I suppose the next best thing is to just buy a car over there, and use the money saved to have a holiday and a tour of the alps thrown in!

[triple7]

Its just under a grand for two, but I heard 80% of the cost is for the insurance to cover the 9 days. However money aside, if you are buying 911 it is the only way to do it.

G