Factory Collection - is it worth it?
Discussion
Playing with the 981 configurator the other day got me thinking again about something I've often wondered about... is factory collection worth the privilege of having to actually pay for it?!
Current price for Boxster factory collection is £1,160 - not checked if it is more on a more expensive model. Add in one-way flights and a hotel for a night and I guess you're talking £1,500. Then there is fuel and ferry etc. But I guess there must be something quite special about picking it up from its place of birth. So, a couple of questions for anyone who has actually done this..
1. The sensible question first - Can you net anything off that £1,160? ie are there things like UK delivery costs that you would be credited for by picking it up yourself?
2. What I'm more interested in - What actually happens? I've read the blurb on the configurator but curious to hear what it's really like, in particular the actual handover bit. Is the car presented under a sheet on a rotating carousel under mood lighting with a trumpet fanfare or is more 'zat is your car over zthere sir, second on ze left. Good bye'
Don't think I'd ever pay for it but maybe someone has had such an amazing experience doing so that I would reconsider.
Current price for Boxster factory collection is £1,160 - not checked if it is more on a more expensive model. Add in one-way flights and a hotel for a night and I guess you're talking £1,500. Then there is fuel and ferry etc. But I guess there must be something quite special about picking it up from its place of birth. So, a couple of questions for anyone who has actually done this..
1. The sensible question first - Can you net anything off that £1,160? ie are there things like UK delivery costs that you would be credited for by picking it up yourself?
2. What I'm more interested in - What actually happens? I've read the blurb on the configurator but curious to hear what it's really like, in particular the actual handover bit. Is the car presented under a sheet on a rotating carousel under mood lighting with a trumpet fanfare or is more 'zat is your car over zthere sir, second on ze left. Good bye'
Don't think I'd ever pay for it but maybe someone has had such an amazing experience doing so that I would reconsider.
I think the cost of factory collection includes the 1 way flight and the hotel.
You can visit the Porsche Museum and the Zuffenghausen factory without having to buy a new car. You can also eat at Christophorus (I think), the fancy restaurant at the top of the Porsche Museum without buying a new car ...
You can visit the Porsche Museum and the Zuffenghausen factory without having to buy a new car. You can also eat at Christophorus (I think), the fancy restaurant at the top of the Porsche Museum without buying a new car ...
If I were ever in the fortunate position of ordering a new Porker, then factory collection would almost certainly be the first box I'd tick. Maybe only for the first new Porsche I'd buy (assuming there would be more, of course!), but it's a special marque with a bit of history and so I'd love to have that experience. It might even make up for the incredible depreciation I'd suffer as I drove away from the factory! 
In terms of percentage cost of the overall vehicle, it's almost inconsequential. Unless your budget was that tight that it was either factory collection or sport chrono or whatever, of course.
In terms of percentage cost of the overall vehicle, it's almost inconsequential. Unless your budget was that tight that it was either factory collection or sport chrono or whatever, of course.
Well worth it, did it for a 997GT2.
Two flights, hotel and Eurotunnel ticket included, so that the best part of half of it covered. You also get a proper factory tour and also a very good lunch in the Christopherous restaurant at the factory (we dined with a US chef also collecting a GT2 and he took photos of the pudding, so it's good food!). Then you get a weeks insurance to drive her home and they provide photos of the collection.
I'd say do it once if you can.
Two flights, hotel and Eurotunnel ticket included, so that the best part of half of it covered. You also get a proper factory tour and also a very good lunch in the Christopherous restaurant at the factory (we dined with a US chef also collecting a GT2 and he took photos of the pudding, so it's good food!). Then you get a weeks insurance to drive her home and they provide photos of the collection.
I'd say do it once if you can.
MrCooke said:
Uusikaupunki?
Some Boxsters are made elsewhere (wasn't there talk of them changing from Finland to Austria?) but some do still roll off the line at the Stuttgart plant. I had assumed that speccing factory collection ensured that yours would be one of those?Regardless - if I were ever to buy a porker brand new I would certainly do factory collection, though I doubt I would do it again if I subsequently bought another new one. I don't see that as being any time soon, but one day - just maybe.
Magic919 said:
Stuttgart is stud farm, isn't it? Hence the horse.
That's what I always thought and wikipedia agrees so it must be correct.As to collecting from the factory - I'd like to, but what's the drill with registering it in England? Strikes me as hassle I wouldn't want or need...
Actus Reus said:
That's what I always thought and wikipedia agrees so it must be correct.
As to collecting from the factory - I'd like to, but what's the drill with registering it in England? Strikes me as hassle I wouldn't want or need...
I would think it would already be registered in England before you collect it, or whatever country it is going to live in, I dare say someone will be along to confirm. As to collecting from the factory - I'd like to, but what's the drill with registering it in England? Strikes me as hassle I wouldn't want or need...
Actus Reus said:
As to collecting from the factory - I'd like to, but what's the drill with registering it in England? Strikes me as hassle I wouldn't want or need...
No hassle at all, that's the point.You collect it from Stuttgart factory on German temporary plates which provide insurance throughout Europe for 10 days. You then drive it home at your own choice of pace and drive it to your dealer. They then take a couple of days to clean it, register it and sort all the paperwork, then you collect it on UK plates as you would a new car.
Simples!
Guyr said:
No hassle at all, that's the point.
You collect it from Stuttgart factory on German temporary plates which provide insurance throughout Europe for 10 days. You then drive it home at your own choice of pace and drive it to your dealer. They then take a couple of days to clean it, register it and sort all the paperwork, then you collect it on UK plates as you would a new car.
Simples!
Sounds even better, enjoy it in Germany for 10 days and then get it cleaned as new again, win win.You collect it from Stuttgart factory on German temporary plates which provide insurance throughout Europe for 10 days. You then drive it home at your own choice of pace and drive it to your dealer. They then take a couple of days to clean it, register it and sort all the paperwork, then you collect it on UK plates as you would a new car.
Simples!
It might seem expensive initially but as said before when you consider 2 x flights to Stuttgart, overnight in hotel with dinner and breakfast, museum entry, factory tour, lunch in the restaurant, premium return on Eurostar and the insurance it is actually okay value.
My Dad and I went over to collect my car on his 70th and we had a blast. If you're a complete Porsche nut and have been looking forward to the day of buying your new Porsche since you had the poster of whatever model on your wall, why wouldn't you do it?
By the time you get home the car is almost run in - especially if you go via Spa
. No paperwork to fill in upon entry to UK, just drive to the OPC, they do the paperwork, put some UK plates on it and a tax disc, clean the thing, give it a once over and off you go. What is not to like?
And you get the opportunity to take a few photos of the car outside Stuttgart as well as the ones given to you upon collection.
As Ferris Bueller said " If ever you have the chance, I would highly recommend it."
My Dad and I went over to collect my car on his 70th and we had a blast. If you're a complete Porsche nut and have been looking forward to the day of buying your new Porsche since you had the poster of whatever model on your wall, why wouldn't you do it?
By the time you get home the car is almost run in - especially if you go via Spa
. No paperwork to fill in upon entry to UK, just drive to the OPC, they do the paperwork, put some UK plates on it and a tax disc, clean the thing, give it a once over and off you go. What is not to like?And you get the opportunity to take a few photos of the car outside Stuttgart as well as the ones given to you upon collection.
As Ferris Bueller said " If ever you have the chance, I would highly recommend it."
Thanks for the responses. Seems many more people have done than I might have guessed and if much of the logistics costs are covered in the price then seems much more attractive. Might just give it a go one day as, costs aside, the idea of taking it straight from the factory was always appealing.
BTW - Was also under the impression that where Boxsters are concerned they allocate you a Stuttgart-built one if you were doing the collection. But would only seem to right to be picking up a 911 if you were making all that effort.
BTW - Was also under the impression that where Boxsters are concerned they allocate you a Stuttgart-built one if you were doing the collection. But would only seem to right to be picking up a 911 if you were making all that effort.
gl20 said:
BTW - Was also under the impression that where Boxsters are concerned they allocate you a Stuttgart-built one if you were doing the collection.
They stopped building Boxster/Cayman in Finland about 2 years ago. When they were built in Finland, they were sent back to Stuttgart for final inspection anyway.I think 981s will be built somewhere else eventually -- been announced, just can't remember who or where.
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