Zuffenhausen Factory Tour

[DC1960]

Just finished the 2 hour factory 911 factory tour. 10 Euros, meet at museum follow guide across the road and enter the factory. No body in white and paint shop (due to avoiding contamination), then all around assembly, trim, but not engine (this is another tour you need to book). Those familiar with large scale manufacturing there is nothing spectacular, other than it is not as modern as you might expect. Factory is constrained by size and legacy 80's buildings so if you are looking for latest go to Leipzig. Lots of all sorts going down the line, T's, GTS, S and GT3 RS. Saw a UK GTS in chalk, with blue roof and grey interior, if its yours it's finished! If your visiting the museum, then make sure to book up the factory tour early and then for dinner head to the Christophus restaurant above the museum.

[DC1960]

Nuttcase said:

Porsche factory on my bucket list; already ticked off Ferrari and Ducati although both more than 20 years ago. I'm sure the conditions are better than the leaky roofs and standing water at the TVR production line in Blackpool in the nineties - if I'd been to that factory before purchase I doubt I'd have bought one!

As you are into motorcycles I did the Triumph factory in Hinkley a few years back. Enjoyed it - it is a modularised factory with very little manufacture on site other than a few CNC machines. Parts in and assembled. Seems to be the way for a lot of manufacturing now and it means that being located in one site for decades is no longer assured. As a side I was raised near the original Triumph factories, both cars and motorcycles. If you go on YouTube and search Triumph Meriden factory you can see why the motorcycles from Japan swept the British bikes aside. On the same theme there are videos of Zuffenhausen in the mid 80's and you can see why Porsche also almost went out of business.

[DC1960]

Armitage.Shanks said:

I take it the staff are still allowed a drink on their lunch and 5 mins off every hour at the Porsche factory?

Went several years ago and had full access all areas passed many ‘drinking stations’ along the way.

The Mercedes Museum leaves other museums lagging well behind.

Yes - 5 mins every hour. Like the cars, they are considered high value and have pay and T&Cs of employment accordingly.

[DC1960]

Yes - living in Germany is fantastic and we are loving it. There are some things though which remind me of my engineering apprenticeship with Massey-Ferguson 77 to 83, if you remember or have read about those times. Banking, shopping, Sundays and people smoking, supposedly outside, regularly make us feel nostalgic!