Trip to Germany

All Looking for some help. We've booked a family vacation to Europe this summer and my son and I would like to go to Stuttgart to visit the Porsche Museum. Have any of you visited the museum or do you have other Porsche related experiences you can share while in Germany? Do you know if they still do the factory tour (I've found conflicting information online)? thanks in advance

I didn't make it to the Porsche Museum, but the BMW factory near Munich is a pretty great experience, which I would recommend. Also, I understand that the N�rburgring is now a tourist attraction of some kind, might be fun to visit.

I visited the Porsche muesum while visiting family near Stuttgart over new years 2010 and had a great time. Its a fantastic museum, but you can get through it in a few hours with only something like 100 cars on display. IIRC it was 10 Euro for admission. I was more interested in a factor tour but they were not available. If you do make it, the museum, the factory, and an indoor P-car dealership all sit in a triangle around a big roundabout. Also, the Mercedes-Benz museum is also in Stuttgart if you're looking for a full day. +1 to Spender on the BMW factory too if you plan to get to Munich. They have a huge tour area on the 1972 olympics grounds, and you can go grab a drink at the legendary hofbrauhaus brewery across town. +2 to Spender on Nurburgring between Frankfurt & Dusseldorf. I've been twice while in the EU on business, but seems like its always in the winter when I go so I've yet to be there while the track surface is open . But, it also has a museum and a couple factory stores (Aston Martin/Ferrari) on the indoor section of the paddock as well as a rollercoaster. This museum was VERY geared towards small children even though it did have 10 or 12 interesting cars. Also, it does not have english-translated tour headphones if you're German is lacking. If you're there during nice weather, you can either rent a race car or book a ride-along in an M5 with a pro driver. Try to book in advance if you want to do either of these. Like most US race tracks, Nurburgring is off the beaten path & not really in a "city" type area. There is a Subway on the paddock mall for quick lunch and an excellent steak house across the street. Feel free to PM me if you have additonal questions.

No experience with the factory but word is you can rent a Porsche at the Frankfurt airport. You can't take the car on any race tracks (or toll roads like the 'ring) and there are mileage limits (was 200km per day). But you get to drive whatever Porsche you can afford from a Boxster to a 996, err 997, on German roads. IIRC, the car rental agency is AVIS and you can call and reserve a car, etc, and get an english speaking person too. Sincerely, Macster.

Send an email to Sigrid: [email removed] and ask if you can get an English language tour of the factory and give her the specific date you would like to visit, and the number of people. I set up a tour for the wife and myself three years ago, and Sigrid s the one we contacted to schedule it. One caveat: Check whether they have any age limitations. Three years ago you had to be a minimum of 18 years old for the factory tour (insurance reasons), so if your son isn't old enough he can only do the museum tour.

Here is a helpful link on the Porsche Museum: http://www.porsche.com/usa/aboutpors...isitorservice/ From that link you can also find out how to get a factory tour. Nurburgring is not only a tourist attraction, but is still an active race course. It has events all the time. Also, race teams and factories rent the course on a regular basis. Check online for a schedule of events there before showing up with expectations. +996 on the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart (Unterturkheim), the BWM museum in Munich (last time I was there, the pool across the street at the Olympic grounds was open to the public - they rented suits and caps and towels, and let you swim in the same pool as Mark Spitz), and Volkswagen has an entire campus of 8 individual museums (each architecturally interesting) dedicated to each of their major brands - including VW, Bugatti, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, etc (SEAT -if you care - LOL). http://maureenandrichineurope.blogsp...autostadt.html King Ludwigs castle (think Cinderella and Disney) in Ludwigsburg is an easy day trip from Stuttgart with a rental car and some autobahn time. I can never remember how to spell Schloss Neuschwanstein - whatever. http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...hwanstein.html

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Lots of great info here Mark! Although, King Ludwig's castle is not actually in Ludwigsburg (which is a suburb of Stuttgart and also happens to be a Porsche distribution center). Neuschwanstein is in Bavaria, and the weblink you provided has all the pertinent info. There does happen to be a palace in Ludwigsburg, and we toured that in 2008. It's pretty impressive and people actually LIVED there for an extended period - unlike the Neuschwanstein castle. But Neuschwanstein really is Fantasyland, and well worth the trip!

was there last year for a conference, highly recommend the BWM tour, the castles are amazing regardless of which one you see. i rented a car and getting around germany on the autobahn is super quick and easy. HIT UP THE NURBURGRING! I did 5 laps with a golf GTI, first time having track time and scared the you know what outta me, but was super fun as well. we stayed in Adenau, great little town. rent-race car was the outfit i used. not cheap, but well worth it! Have a great time!

I've been on the autobahn in a lousy 320 series BMW, passed by 911's going 150+. Made me look into shipping my p-car to Germany. But - hey, did you know Hertz/Avis Germany rents 911's? Close to THE RING in fact.

I was in Germany for 4 months and did the Porsche Museum and Factory tour as well. For the Factory tour, you have to book at least a month in advance I believe. But you can still do it 100%

I visited Germany last year and I did visit the Porsche museum. It's awesome. I stayed at the V8 Hotel in Stuttgart, which I would highly recommend. You'll love the trip.

Dad and I are also going to Germany in September. I emailed the PR Manager for Porsche Canada (Laurance Yap) and he just asked me to tell him which date we wanted to go for the factory tour and that he'd arrange it. Apparently we also get a slight discount at the museum for being PCA members. So it factory and museum one day...tour for a bit...then finish the trip at the Frankfurt Autoshow for the unveiling of the new 991! Can't wait

Many thanks to everyone for the wonderful amount of information! I'll keep you posted.

Best piece of advice I can give is to visit Munich in September - for Oktoberfest!

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+1. Prost! Good luck!