[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I've done a number of these courses of one sort or another, including the ones Porsche offers, as a car writer--for free, natch--and although they're amusing, you really retain little of what you learn in a single day. It's like drinking out of a fire hose. It's really intended to be "an experience," not educational. It's like going to a one-day Ivy League philosophy class, or working out at a great gym for one day. If you think that's worth it, go for it.

What does work is regular DE's. You don't have to do one a week, but one a month during the spring/summer is great, in terms of learning.

As for whether or not your car is "up to the DE challenge," if it's a Porsche and isn't weeping oil and doesn't haves bald tires, it is up to the "challenge." These aren't racecars. My wife took her bone-stock Boxster to a DE. (I don't think she ever went over 80.) If tech inspection (not the superficial one at the track, the one you need to attend to have your car signed off in advance) turns up anything lacking, it'll be something like a loose wheel bearing, which the tech inspector can quickly correct. At most PCA DEs, you don't even need a helmet (they'll lend you one) or stuff like a fire extinguisher for your initial DE.

The only way you'll crash your car is if you're insane, and if you are, your instructor will immediately spot it and send you home. At worst, you might spin, and you'll probably be doing a moderate speed. Racetracks are designed to allow safe spins in the kinds of situations you'll find yourself. And besides, DE instructors don't volunteer to ride in order to be a passenger in a crash.