PHers visit RUF on MiniHoon
PHers visit RUF on MiniHoon
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dazren

Original Poster:

22,612 posts

288 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
As some of you maybe aware, through Adamt, those of us on the recent minihoon trip, were kindly invited to visit RUF. Following someones suggestion, I've copied my post from another thread onto it's own thread. Perhaps those who also attended may care to add their thoughts or photos etc:



Being a Porsche and Nurburgring nut, going to RUF was always going to be a bit of a religious pilgrimmage for me. We had the full tour of both the workshops and the story behind each of the cars in for work/building, we met Alois and Estonia and the team and saw Herr Ruf's restored 901.

A few of us stayed around later, to take Adam out for dinner on the evening, as a thank you for arranging the invitation. At which point Mr R finished his meetings etc, strolled into the showroom, sat down at "The Table" and continued to talk shop/ruf/porsche for about an hour over drinks (bit like a sitdown with the GodFather ). When it came time for him to leave he asked Adam to make sure that when HP got back from filming the blue car with some American journalists, that he took all of us (ie the four that had stayed behind (Rods, TonyHetherington, GregE240 and myself)) out in the Rturbo which had the Nardo engine, with further upgrades.

Having seen the look on rods face when he got back from the run I wasn't going to go out in the car (I'm a nervous passenger having suffered various injuries with a barrel rolled car 6 years ago). Luckily for me Adam or Greg had a quiet word and and later on HP strolled over and said are we going out then, I'll take it easy on the corners. Let's just say it didn't take long for me to change my mind. We went out the gates and turned left.............................

20 seconds later I had found the answer to the question where do you go after an X50. Next step, back to the real world and who knows when or if I'll ever have a spare £200k to buy a full Nardo+++ spec RTurbo.

DAZ

Edited to add the website:

www.ruf-automobiles.com/

johnny senna

4,073 posts

299 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
That sounds brilliant Daz. I would have loved to have been there. Maybe next year.

I would love the opportunity (and money) to have a bespoke Ruf built for me.

jeremyc

27,702 posts

311 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
There are pictures from the visit on this thread.

It is probably best summed up by Alison's comment to me: "I don't really like Porsches, but you can have a Ruf".

>> Edited by jeremyc on Thursday 21st April 09:40

adamt

2,825 posts

279 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
jeremyc said:
There are pictures from the visit on this thread.

It is probably best summed up by Alison's comment to me: "I don't really like Porsches, but you can have a Ruf".

>> Edited by jeremyc on Thursday 21st April 09:40


Jeremy, thats a fantastic quote!

all the best
adam

GregE240

10,857 posts

294 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
It was a real case of "pinch me, this can't be happening."

I strolled into the showroom and a well dressed gentleman came out of an office, bidding me good afternoon. I introduced myself as Greg, a mate of Adams, and co-organiser of the VMAX events in England. The gentleman said "Ah Greg! My name is Alois Ruf. I'm honoured to meet you."



And so it went on....a no holes barred tour of the Ruf operation, a real breath of fresh air, particularly after the "no photos" attitude of AMG earlier on the day. Both Alois and Estonia were so friendly and so enthusiastic about their business, they made us feel like prodigal sons and daughters.

The passenger run in the R-Turbo was incredible.

A VMAX veteran, I've been in some fast cars, but never one this fast, yet driven so confidently. As Daz mentioned, he was initially reluctant to go out, but I had a word with HP (the driver) and explained Dazs accident, and basically told him "Go easy on the corners, but open it up on the straights, would you?" "Not a problem, Greg," came the immediate response. Well, I thought, sod it, Daz has driven me over here to a motoring Mecca, I'm damned if he isn't going out in this amazing car.

And so it happened.

A truly unforgettable day, with new friends made and an open invitation to return.

rods

1,798 posts

280 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
Hardly "pinch me" punch me in the face 10 times.
This was a truly unforgettable trip.
The whole Ruf team made us feel like part of their family,"go where ever you want and ask as many questions as you like,would you like a beer and come on why not go for a spin on the Rturbo(630bhp)"
Awesome,awesome i shall return...............

GregE240

10,857 posts

294 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
Fair enough Rob, I was just concenred an open invitation to punch me in the face ten times might cause queues round the block, not unlike the opening of an NHS dentist....

hobo

6,533 posts

273 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
Wish I'd have gone. The RUF's sound awesome.

All you need now is for the Euro to weaken.

rods

1,798 posts

280 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
hobo said:
Wish I'd have gone. The RUF's sound awesome.

All you need now is for the Euro to weaken.


Checking daily at the moment........

GuyR

2,535 posts

309 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all

Glad to hear you enjoyed it. It's an amazing place and the friendliness and enthusiasm of all the people there is amazing and refreshing.

Oddly enough, whilst both HP and Alois have driven my car to the rev-limiter, I have yet to try any of their cars.

Next VMax you guys should have a ride in my car to compare, the blue RTurbo has some more power than mine due to special extras, but mine is much lighter.....

Podie

46,649 posts

302 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
rods said:

hobo said:
Wish I'd have gone. The RUF's sound awesome.

All you need now is for the Euro to weaken.



Checking daily at the moment........


Marki

15,763 posts

297 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
Did some one say they took a video of the test drive , or was that just wishfull thinking on my part

dazren

Original Poster:

22,612 posts

288 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
Marki said:
Did some one say they took a video of the test drive , or was that just wishfull thinking on my part

Wishful thinking............ Can't imagine if someone did, that they'd put it on the net.

DAZ

clubsport

7,408 posts

285 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
After your experience Greg, will some form of blown Pork be residing in the garage at Thomas towers in the near future?

Marki

15,763 posts

297 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
dazren said:

Marki said:
Did some one say they took a video of the test drive , or was that just wishfull thinking on my part


Wishful thinking............ Can't imagine if someone did, that they'd put it on the net.

DAZ


Ahh so i guess they would just email it about

rods

1,798 posts

280 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
GuyR said:

Glad to hear you enjoyed it. It's an amazing place and the friendliness and enthusiasm of all the people there is amazing and refreshing.

Oddly enough, whilst both HP and Alois have driven my car to the rev-limiter, I have yet to try any of their cars.

Next VMax you guys should have a ride in my car to compare, the blue RTurbo has some more power than mine due to special extras, but mine is much lighter.....

Must get round to that Guy,i have a million questions i'd like your opinion on.

rods

1,798 posts

280 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
Marki said:

dazren said:


Marki said:
Did some one say they took a video of the test drive , or was that just wishfull thinking on my part



Wishful thinking............ Can't imagine if someone did, that they'd put it on the net.

DAZ



Ahh so i guess they would just email it about

Mail me your address Marki.

Podie

46,649 posts

302 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
Must admit the RUF variant of the Boxster looks

Kinda get the impression that if I have to ask the price, I can't afford it…

Spare kidney, anyone..?

tonyhetherington

32,091 posts

277 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
I can only agree wholeheartedly with Robs/Daz's/Greg's thoughts above.

Mr Ruf...a beer...a chat...the blue car...the 901...the speedster...the enthusiasm...the sheer quality.

I doubt very much I will ever be in a position to buy a Ruf, but you can all be certain as soon as I am, I'll be getting on a plane...

Possibly the most fantastic day I have ever had.

GregE240

10,857 posts

294 months

Thursday 21st April 2005
quotequote all
clubsport said:
After your experience Greg, will some form of blown Pork be residing in the garage at Thomas towers in the near future?
On my pitiful salary, I doubt that very much.