Anyone been to Stuttgart?

jkcrewsn · jkcrewsn's Garage

I am planning a trip to Europe in Jan '02. I would like to visit the Porsche factory, has anyone been? Can a guy get a tour or at least see the factory? Does it help if you own a Porsche? If they don't let the average porsche owning enthusiast in....does anyone know where I can get falsified press credentials?

------------------
Jeff

'79 930

Doug Zielke · 06-05-2001, 01:52 PM

You need to make an appointment well in advance to take the tour. They also have a gift shop that is open to all visitors.
I'm sure Roland can give the specifics.

------------------
Doug
'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
members.home.net/zielke/911SC.htm

911racer · 06-05-2001, 02:27 PM

Hi Jeff,
I can get you in on a Factory Tour. Just give me a time-window.
Regards
Stef

Ronbo · 06-05-2001, 04:31 PM

While you're there, a visit to the Mercedes museum is a MUST! It's not far from the Porsche factory.

------------------
Ron
'88 Coupe

Christian Stewart · 06-06-2001, 02:18 AM

Jeff

I'm off on a tour of Europe next week - from here in Scotland to France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and then Germany. My Carrera is booked into the factory for a full service in three weeks time - I'm staying in Stuttgart for two nights at least and will be packing a camera so I'll try and build up a list of recommendations for your trip next year.

Stef, can you pull any strings to arrange a factory tour for me 27th-28th this month?? I'm pretty sure that our local dealers up here wouldn't be that helpful as I haven't bought a £70,000 new model recently!! Or should I try and arrange one through the customer centre?

Many thanks

------------------
Christian Stewart
'87 Carrera Cabriolet

christian.stewart@dmstewart.com

Roland Kunz · 06-06-2001, 06:32 AM

Hello

factory tours are normaly bocked out but you allways can join a group as a single or pair. Be prepared to walk some km´s.

Best is you pic up the phone and call Mr Schneider or Mr.Schneiderhahn at factory repair and ask for a factory tour and a testdrive in a new gen car.

If someone is so nuts to drive to Porsche for an oilchange he also can afford a new car. But as we know the scottish and the schwabian sit on there money and as long the car drives they will use it. Steward is always a good name for a cardriver :-)

Factory tours can be reached under 0711 / 911 5384, the museum has 911 5985.
Hope you know the prefix for germany.

Well step does make inhouse calls but it is allways better to make the arangements yourself. So the information flows direct and you can ask things I would never consider and have to reask at the factory.

As far I think is sSef in Weissach ( and maybe makes the new 911 ? ). Thats some 30 minute trip to Zuffenhausen.

The mercedes museum can be found in the net: http://www.daimlerchrysler.de/classic/index.html

Porsche.com has also a online factory tour.

Grüsse

Christian Stewart · 06-06-2001, 02:32 PM

Thanks for the info Roland, I'll get in touch with the Customer Service centre directly and see what I can arrange.

Glad to hear that any suggestion that i might want to visit your fair city and get my car serviced by someone who knows the right end of a spanner reflects well on my sanity. ;-)

Completely crazy to feel quite excited about visiting the place where they make the cars I love, I know - but what can I say??

As for our national reputation re sitting on money, don't get me started, there's nothing I would like more than to be able to write that cheque...... And yes Stewart is a good name for a driver, although I'm thinking of the first as opposed to the second who you are perhaps thinking of. Both of them did quite well at the Nurburgring, somewhere else I'm hoping to visit for the first time.

Kind Regards

------------------
Christian Stewart
'87 Carrera Cabriolet

christian.stewart@dmstewart.com

firecall999 · 06-07-2001, 05:25 AM

Roland,

Are you saying that if its just two people we should be able to get on a tour?

Im hoping to arrange a visit in the next couple of weeks.

Will the people in Stutgart speak English, or can my local Porsche dealer sort it out for me?

Are there different types of tour? Or do I just ask for the factory tour?

I wonder, is it usual for individuals to want to tour a factory? Or are we all just obsessed?

Thanks, Alex.

cds72911 · 06-07-2001, 05:59 AM

We're all obsessed.

When my wife (actually she was my girlfriend at that time) and I were visiting her family in Holland two years ago I requested a small trip to Germany.

We rented a car (Opel Astra, yuck!) and guess what we did - drove to the Nurburgring and drove it (passed in a heartbeat by at least one blazingly fast Porsche), hopped on an autobahn (obsessing about all the sweet Audis, BMWs, Mercedes and the ocassional Porsche passing us) and headed North. Stayed over night, next day we went to Wolfsburg and went to the VW museum and went on a factory tour then back to Utrecht.

Normal people go sight seeing at historical sights, we car nuts do the strangest things.

BTW - I was racing a VW at the time and she drove a VW so the VW factory was a natural fit. I didn't own a Porsche at the time (but have always wanted one), but I told her next time we are going to try to get to the Porsche factory.

We always joke that if we win the lottery we'll order a new Porsche from the factory, pick it up in Stuttgart, drive around Europe for a month and then have it shipped back here. Funny thing is I've never even purchased a lottery ticket... Oh well, we need to have fantasies.

Have a great time and if you can try to get to the Nurburgring, it is a blast driving the nordschleiffe, even if you are in a crappy Opel (for like 20dm you can drive a lap in your own car). They also have a bus, but I can't imagine not being able to drive...

The only hassle is the boy racers on motorcycles, they are so fast and the can come out of nowhere. When we were there they were just scraping up one that had crashed so the were not letting bikes on the ring for a little while. We had a whole lap unmolested by motorcycles.

Charlie
'72 911

PS. Had to add this - No offense to motorcycle folks. I like bikes and have owned several. It was the blatant disregard by these motorcyclists for other drivers on the 'ring that has me biased against them. Please do not take offense at my comments, they are not meant to offend. Thanks. CS

[This message has been edited by cds72911 (edited 06-07-2001).]

Roland Kunz · 06-07-2001, 06:40 AM

Hello

Try to stay on the right side and keep relaxed. Germans do drive a bit confusing but you know that from british highways. Also germans are used to speed a bit more then others but still some overdoo it while others own the road. Some 90% from the Autbohn is speed restrictet and the police has special equiped camara cars. Keeping not distance on high speeds is very expensive. Using the flashlight and the turning signal can be een as punishing and gets billed too.

On Autobahn is "Rechtsfahrgebot" say you have to keep in the right lane ( I know the brits love that ) and are only allowed to change the lane to overset. Now to avoid jumping from truck to truck you can stay on the left lane as long you think it is usable to your own. There had been some suits about that and as long you see an other slower car you can stay on the left lane. Some people use binakulares and think that a speeddifference from 1 km/h is enough to overset.

If you hit one of those he knows he will get a maximum fine from 20 DM while you risk some more for driving up to close, using lightsignals and overseting on the free right lane.

There are some sites about the "Ring". One is runed by a brit and has a "born to be free" lettering. Easy to find with a good searchengine. ( I have a bookmark somewhere but can´t find it now and it is out of the history ). There are also some Pages about german highway use and traffic rules.

Well I think your Porsche is in good shape and there isnt much more then turning the wrench for an oilchange. For a maintance with valvelash they need to cool down the car
Factory repair has some niche cars parking in front of the boxes ( Recalling two real RS on SCRS some 356 and the usuall 959 crowd ).
You also can visit the parts sale or the Exclusive branch. The salespersons do have duty on saturday and on that day there isn´t to much buisiness ( If you go to the mercedes parts sale on the same time you think you are in the rush hour ). So they have time to find the immpossible and if it isn´t in the cataloge you might get a "PicK Up" trip in the cellar or repair store to find the missing item.

Stuttgart itself has some very interessting areas and buildings ( Staatsgalerie, Solitude ). Also the Troja Exebition is still running. Nightlife has some special places that change over the time. Stuttgart has some very active musicians, german Hipp Hop and some Techno stuff comes from the Stuttgart area. All to much to pack in in a weekend.

But it isn´t a "world city"
It´s daimler town. If you wear your quilt you would be a sensation in Berlin or Hamburg some might look maybe ask witch boutique has that fashion.

Grüsse

Christian Stewart · 06-07-2001, 08:29 AM

Thanks for the tips Roland. Luckily I've driven through most of Europe on various holiday / business trips over the last few years so I've got a fair idea of what to expect - no question about it the Germans and French drive a whole lot better than we Brits - most noticeable on motorbikes in France last year - nearly every other car we came up behind on normal A-Roads moved over an extra foot just to help us past (probably regretting it as they spotted the "GB" plates !!). If the guy ahead of you in the UK even looks in their rearview mirror, you're lucky.....

This will be the first major "dealer service" the car has had for several years according to the history that came with it. I bought it last year from London, it having been imported from Dusseldorf in '98. It spent from'87 to '96 living in Osnabruck and having a full dealer service history. It has had work done by AFN in London since then and by a specialist who no longer seems to exist called Nick Faure.

I've had the oil changed, valves adjusted and numerous other things looked at over the last year as well as tackling smaller jobs that I feel confident with myself, but I'm looking forward to the customer service department at Stuttgart giving it a complete going over including stuff like brake fluid change and any technical updates that may have been missed. The've asked for the car to be delivered the afternoon /evening before so that they can start work cold the next morning.

The car seems in good condition, but even so, if nothing else having them do the work will give me peace of mind and make up for any loss of value in the service book where the dealer service stamps tail off. If I was living in the South of England then an AFN service would be a simpler option - however up here in Scotland London and Stuttgart both look the same distance!!

And you and the rest of Stuttgart can relax - I'm not planning to bring or wear my kilt!!

Cheers

------------------
Christian Stewart
'87 Carrera Cabriolet

christian.stewart@dmstewart.com

911racer · 06-07-2001, 08:48 AM

regarding cds72911's comment: "The only hassle is the boy racers on motorcycles, they are so fast and the can come out of nowhere."
Here is the same problem seen from a different angle. Every summer I spend several enjoyable weekends at the 'Ring with my 964RS, racing (and beating) those fast bikes around the track. When you close up to a slow Opel Astra, doing warp-speed yourself, you have to have faith that the Opel driver have seen you and will not do something stupid that will certainly get you and a few other people killed. That's the time when we think: "wish they would not let those friggin tourists on the track".
Moral of the story is: although the Ring is for everybody, it is still a (public) racetrack. Everybody knows what they let themselves in for, which means slower traffic should watch their mirrors, rather than complain.
Regards
Stef

Oh, and despite what Roland thinks of Stuttgart, the place sucks when compared with "real" nice cities like Munich etc.

Jack Seed · 06-07-2001, 09:12 AM

You might want to think about the BMW museum in Munich. They offer a first class tour and the museum is great.
The last time I was in the area I drove to Stuttgart on a Sunday and found the factory museum closed. I felt like Clark Griswold being shut out of Wally World!

cds72911 · 06-07-2001, 09:25 AM

Rest assured, at the time I would have rather been driving my Audi or even my gravel spec rally car, but we must do the best we can given the circumstances. The Hertz agency in Utrecht didn't give me the 964RS option...

Christian, wear your kilt with pride! I wore a Kilt/formal Prince Charlie outfit at my own wedding. Not real common in the US, but I am proud of my Scottish heritage.

As a "tourist" I still stand by the statement that "The only hassle is the boy racers on motorcycles". Just fair warning.

Next time I'll ring you up for a ride in the 964...

Cheers,
Charlie

PS. This touris happens to hold a national level rally license and is a seed 4 national driver. I have also spent a fair amount of time on fast bikes as well as doing a fiar amount of track time in BMWs. I assure you I was holding the best line the tires on that little Opel could manage.

Christian Stewart · 06-07-2001, 10:06 AM

Charlie, worry not, I wear the various tartans I qualify for with great pride - I'm just slightly cautious as to where and when..... :-)

Nothing better at weddings, especially when there's a good turnout of the opposite sex and the usual debate as to how real a Scotsman you are.....

Glad to hear of your heritage - we get around for a small nation - we really ought to start something alongside the English Cars thread pointing out how many of the world's most famous scientists have been Scots, not to mention the best drivers in the world........ (head down waiting for the explosions)

Yours aye

------------------
Christian Stewart
'87 Carrera Cabriolet

christian.stewart@dmstewart.com

Roland Kunz · 06-07-2001, 06:49 PM

Hello

Got it:

http://www.born-free.net/

Bikers on the ring need an other line then cars and they are faster on the straights but in the way if you hit them in a curve. Motorcyclers have no ABS or any chance to change there line in a curve and they use there skin as airbags. The Ring has some areas where you fly on the "Leitplanke" or in the woods.

Just respect there lives and keep a friendly line or fall back. Some people out there seem to fight a war on the ring..

Also be aware to run in trucks and buses on the ring.

Also get a Sierra Grand Prix Legend game and give youself some practice on the old ring.
( They had been on sale last year got it for 5$ )

After you made several virtual practice laps you will know 90% from the ring in your head. You even can learn to find the correct line. ( Well Stewards have a natural talent in that )

BTW have to ask 911racer if he knows the inhouse record from GPL racers. Heard last year they had cracked the 8 min barrier.

I do live in Stuttgart but I know only a handfull places like the Librarys the Universitys (FSKS) and some Fine Art relatet.
Not to much interesstet in nightlife and chickenfarming.

Stuttgart is a small town like many other small citys and yes Munich, Hamburg, Colone are more interssting. Or Düsseldorf.

I think Detroit has also some interessting places but isn´t a world city.

Stuttgarters are used to scotish people don´t you know that scotish were banned schwabians ? they wastet to much money.

Every vear Mercedes makes a hughe F1 fest and some yeras ago they had the Rhine Pipers and David Coulthard in traditional outfit.

Well I herd the pipers but can´t see David. Maybe he went puping off at Willi´s Andechser Stube ?

The Porsche museum is 7 days open but in the last years thy had it closed due to some rnovations. Mainly the but a puplic store beside the museum and made a new entrance so you didn´t had the seperate weekend entrance.

Museum is not very large but intimate and has mostly interessting cutaways or historic racecars. Also the new Video about Porsche history is very interessting. A bit to modern but some quates from FA, Piech; Giogario, Esslinger, Bott are worth the damn comercial attetude. Even the 914 deserved are very good review.

Porsche is a international company. I think 50% from the workmen are not native germans.

You will also find brits and americans employed at Porsche. I think Olaf Lang is the highest ranking American at Porsche. See factory cardex is in the right hands, well he is also one of the best race drivers.

Contrary to the french most germans have basical english in shool and we are a bit more anglizized (sp?). Stuttgart had some 15 US baracks and a large comunity.

The factory tours are given in several languages.

Like i said joining a group is possible but not garantieed.

Grüsse

jkcrewsn · jkcrewsn's Garage

Wow, you guys are fast. I just wrote that a couple of days ago. No wonder I have so many postings to look through when I have been out to sea for a month. Thank you Stef for the offer, I will let you know when I finalize a schedule. It sounds like it will be a fun time. I just hope they have the museum pieces roped off so I don't get kicked out for fondling...and drooling. And get a drive in a new gen car? Oh my....don't tease me like that. I think I will be going to Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Hungary and then back to Germany. That is the plan anyway. But as we all know..."the best laid plans of mice and men"..and all that. Thanks for all the feedback, as usuall it's great.

------------------
Jeff

'79 930

oemexp · 10-05-2011, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland Kunz

Hello

Try to stay on the right side and keep relaxed. Germans do drive a bit confusing but you know that from british highways. Also germans are used to speed a bit more then others but still some overdoo it while others own the road. Some 90% from the Autbohn is speed restrictet and the police has special equiped camara cars. Keeping not distance on high speeds is very expensive. Using the flashlight and the turning signal can be een as punishing and gets billed too.

On Autobahn is "Rechtsfahrgebot" say you have to keep in the right lane ( I know the brits love that ) and are only allowed to change the lane to overset. Now to avoid jumping from truck to truck you can stay on the left lane as long you think it is usable to your own. There had been some suits about that and as long you see an other slower car you can stay on the left lane. Some people use binakulares and think that a speeddifference from 1 km/h is enough to overset.

If you hit one of those he knows he will get a maximum fine from 20 DM while you risk some more for driving up to close, using lightsignals and overseting on the free right lane.

There are some sites about the "Ring". One is runed by a brit and has a "born to be free" lettering. Easy to find with a good searchengine. ( I have a bookmark somewhere but can´t find it now and it is out of the history ). There are also some Pages about german highway use and traffic rules.

Well I think your Porsche is in good shape and there isnt much more then turning the wrench for an oilchange. For a maintance with valvelash they need to cool down the car
Factory repair has some niche cars parking in front of the boxes ( Recalling two real RS on SCRS some 356 and the usuall 959 crowd ).
You also can visit the parts sale or the Exclusive branch. The salespersons do have duty on saturday and on that day there isn´t to much buisiness ( If you go to the mercedes parts sale on the same time you think you are in the rush hour ). So they have time to find the immpossible and if it isn´t in the cataloge you might get a "PicK Up" trip in the cellar or repair store to find the missing item.

Stuttgart itself has some very interessting areas and buildings ( Staatsgalerie, Solitude ). Also the Troja Exebition is still running. Nightlife has some special places that change over the time. Stuttgart has some very active musicians, german Hipp Hop and some Techno stuff comes from the Stuttgart area. All to much to pack in in a weekend.

But it isn´t a "world city"
It´s daimler town. If you wear your quilt you would be a sensation in Berlin or Hamburg some might look maybe ask witch boutique has that fashion.

Grüsse

Roland,

Is it possible to get a copy of the cardex for a US car if I visit the factory or museum while in germany? In the US we can order a certificate through Porsche US but they are often completely wrong including the model names etc. I'm over there a lot. Who should I contact?

Thanks
Mark Mathis

dad911 · 10-05-2011, 04:34 AM

Mark,
This thread is over 10 years old.

Also, Roland was a tremendous asset to this site, but has not posted since 2003. Don't know what happened, but it was sudden and can only assume.

not_hans_stuck · 10-05-2011, 02:35 PM

The Audi museum in Ingolstadt and the BMW museum in Munich are also must-see's. And I don't even like Audi's or BMW's. They're not that far from Stuttgart either. A couple of hours or so. You can googlemap them.

The Audi museum in particular was really cool. The Horches are unbelievable. There's nothing else like them. They're like big Mercedes SSK's. If you can imagine that...

I did the factory tour in the 80's so I can't help there but also be sure to visit the delivery center across the street from the factory.

And if you're headed north after you're done, there's another museum called the Sinnsheim that has some really cool stuff. It's on the a-bahn between Stuttgart and Frankfurt. It's an industry museum so there's lots of cars, motorcycles, airplanes and military vehicles.

H