A Once-in-a-Lifetime Porsche European Delivery Experience
About this episode
Dive into the unique Porsche European delivery program with guest Michael Myers, who shares his personal journey from ordering a 911 Carrera T to experiencing delivery in Leipzig, Germany. The discussion covers the challenges of securing limited delivery slots, the appeal of factory tours, and the cultural contrasts between Leipzig and Stuttgart. Listeners get insights into the planning, spec choices, and the immersive experience of taking delivery abroad, including track driving and exploring Porsche’s manufacturing heritage. The episode also touches on the evolution of European delivery from a cost-saving option to a coveted lifestyle experience.
On this episode we welcome PCA member Michael Myers, who not only purchased his first Porsche but decided to do European Delivery. If you’re not aware, you can pick up your Porsche at the factory in Germany and tour Europe. Michael shares his experience from the initial attempt to purchase a 911 to picking it up in Germany to touring Europe and then shipping it to the US. If you’ve wondered what this bucket-list experience is like, this is the episode for you. Be sure to check out the sponsor of this podcast, Pirelli Tire: https://www.pirelli.com/
Porsche European delivery program
"Before we get into it, we're going to talk about kind of a best kept secret, which is the Porsche European delivery program."
This program lets you get your new Porsche car right from the factory in Europe, so you can visit the factory and drive the car there before it gets sent to your home country.
The Porsche European delivery program allows customers to pick up their new Porsche directly from the factory in Europe, often in Germany, combining the delivery with a travel experience. It typically includes factory tours, special pricing, and a chance to drive the car in Europe before shipping it home.
Pirelli
"But before we get into it, let's thank our presenting sponsor, Pirelli. Pirelli tires have to achieve the highest levels of performance, safety,"
Pirelli is a company that makes tires, especially for fast and fancy cars. Their tires help cars stick to the road and keep you safe.
Pirelli is a renowned Italian tire manufacturer known for producing high-performance tires used on sports cars, luxury vehicles, and in motorsports. They focus on delivering tires that combine safety, performance, and comfort.
PCA
"If you aren't currently a PCA member and own a Porsche, what are you waiting for? Grab that VIN, head over to PCA.org and make yourself a member."
PCA is a club for people who own Porsche cars. They help members with events and information about their cars.
PCA stands for Porsche Club of America, an organization for Porsche owners and enthusiasts that offers resources, events, and community support.
BMW M2
"... delivery back in 2017. And so after getting the M2, I was thinking, what's next? So Porsche seems t..."
The BMW M2 is a small, fast car made to be fun to drive. It has a strong engine and handles well around corners. People like it because it gives a sporty feeling without being too expensive.
The BMW M2 is a compact high-performance sports coupe from BMW's M division, known for its sharp handling and powerful turbocharged engine. The 2017 model year marked the introduction of the M2, which quickly became popular among enthusiasts as a more affordable yet thrilling M car. It is often discussed as a benchmark for sporty compact cars.
Porsche 911
"So I told them right off the bat, I wanted 911,"
The Porsche 911 is a famous sports car that has been made for many years. It's known for being fun to drive and having a unique shape with the engine in the back.
The Porsche 911 is a legendary sports car known for its distinctive design and rear-engine layout. It has been in continuous production since the 1960s and is highly regarded for its performance and driving dynamics.
Porsche 911 Carrera T
"So I just waited till the 992 Carrera T came out. But when I went to the dealer in 21, the Carrera T wasn't out yet."
The Carrera T is a special version of the Porsche 911 made to be light and fun to drive. It has a manual gearbox and fewer extra features to keep it simple.
The Porsche 911 Carrera T is a lightweight, driver-focused variant of the 911 Carrera in the 992 generation. It emphasizes driving purity with features like manual transmission and reduced weight.
demand order
"So they had me do a demand order for a Carrera S. Oh, so I had to take an allocation for an S or a T."
A demand order means you ask the dealer to get a car made just for you because they don't have it ready to buy. You have to wait for it to be built and sent to the dealer.
A demand order is a special order placed by a customer for a car that is not currently in stock at the dealership. It often requires waiting for the manufacturer to build and deliver the vehicle.
allocation
"Oh, so I had to take an allocation for an S or a T."
Allocation means the dealer only gets a certain number of cars from the factory. So, you might have to pick from what they have been given instead of choosing any car you want.
Allocation refers to the limited number of cars assigned to each dealership by the manufacturer. Customers may have to accept the available options within that allocation when ordering.
PTS
"And, you know, I originally wanted to get PTS, but when that came around, you know, I wanted to agree. When that came around, they weren't taking any more PTS orders."
PTS means you can pick special paint colors for your Porsche that are not usually available.
PTS stands for Paint to Sample, a Porsche program that allows customers to choose unique or custom paint colors beyond the standard options.
factory delivery
""And so when you mentioned that you wanted to do the factory delivery, did the dealer know all the different options, or did you do the research yourself and said, this is what I want to do? I did the research myself. So they have to sign off on the European delivery, obviously,""
Factory delivery means you pick up your new car right at the place where it's made, usually in Europe. It's a special way to get your car and can come with extra benefits.
Factory delivery is a program where a customer takes delivery of their new car directly from the manufacturer's factory, often in Europe, allowing for a unique experience and sometimes special perks.
Stuttgart delivery
""And as far as the track driving experience of Leipzig, that's not available at a Stuttgart delivery.""
Stuttgart delivery means you go to the Porsche factory in Germany to get your new car. You can see how the car is made and sometimes drive it on special tracks.
A Stuttgart delivery is a program offered by Porsche where customers can pick up their new car directly from the factory in Stuttgart, Germany, often including a factory tour and sometimes special driving experiences.
Porsche Carrera GT
"...d I'm going to start off with one. It wasn't the Carrera GT built in Leipzig? I think so."
The Porsche Carrera GT is a very special and fast car made in small numbers a long time ago. It has a powerful engine and uses light materials to go really fast. People talk about it because it's rare and shows how good Porsche can make cars.
The Porsche Carrera GT is a limited-production supercar produced in the early 2000s, renowned for its V10 engine and advanced carbon fiber construction. While often associated with Leipzig production, it is a highly collectible and iconic model representing Porsche's engineering prowess. It is frequently discussed due to its rarity and performance heritage.
Porsche Panamera
"...the four doors I believe are. The McCann and the Panamera. Yeah."
The Porsche Panamera is a fancy car with four doors, so more people can ride inside comfortably. It drives fast like a sports car but also feels nice and smooth, making it good for everyday use. It's Porsche's way of making a car that's both sporty and practical.
The Porsche Panamera is a luxury four-door sedan that blends Porsche's sports car performance with the comfort and practicality of a saloon. It represents Porsche's entry into the luxury sedan market, offering powerful engines and advanced technology. The Panamera is often compared with other high-end four-door cars for its unique combination of speed and luxury.
Porsche Cayenne
"Yeah. Cayenne is built in Slovenia. Yeah."
The Porsche Cayenne is a big car that looks fancy and can carry more people or stuff than a sports car. Even though Porsche is a German company, this particular car is made in a country called Slovenia. It's popular because it drives well but is also useful for everyday things.
The Porsche Cayenne is a luxury mid-size SUV known for combining Porsche's sports car performance with the practicality of an SUV. Interestingly, it is manufactured in Slovenia, which is notable as Porsche production is often associated with Germany. The Cayenne helped Porsche expand its market by appealing to SUV buyers who still want sporty driving dynamics.
Porsche Boxster
"It was a Porsche, but it was like a PDK Boxster. Not there's anything wrong with that."
The Porsche Boxster is a small sports car with two seats and an engine placed in the middle. It's fun to drive and has a roof that can be opened, making it great for sunny days.
The Porsche Boxster is a mid-engine two-seater sports car known for its balanced handling and open-top driving experience. It is a popular model for enthusiasts looking for a sporty yet practical Porsche.
PPF
"Did you have the front end PPF or whatever to protect it? So no, I didn't want to, I drove it uncovered."
PPF is like a clear sticker on your car's paint that keeps it safe from little scratches and rocks while driving.
PPF stands for Paint Protection Film, a clear protective layer applied to a car's exterior surfaces to guard against scratches, stone chips, and other minor damage.
breaking in the car
""And so you're breaking in the car on the German roads. So does that put a damper on things a little bit because you're not winding it out or were you not, you're okay with that?""
When you get a new car, you have to drive it gently at first so the engine and parts get used to working together and last longer.
Breaking in a car refers to the initial period of driving a new vehicle carefully to allow its engine and components to settle and wear in properly, which can improve longevity and performance.
break-in period
"Because there's no formal break-in period. It's people debate it online all over the place. So you kind of just make up your own break-in schedule."
When you get a new car, there's a time at the start when you need to be careful with how you drive it so the engine and parts last longer. This is called the break-in period.
A break-in period is an initial phase after purchasing a new car during which the engine and other components are treated gently to ensure proper wear and longevity.
revving
"But even on the first day, they generally recommend not going above like 4,000 or 4,500, something like that. Yeah. But with the sixth and seventh gear, I was doing 140 on the first day and the revs were too high. So like every 500 kilometers, I would add like another 500 revs. So eventually, I was able to rev it up all the way. It is a lot of discipline."
Revving means making the engine spin faster. When a car is new, you have to be careful not to make the engine spin too fast right away to keep it healthy.
Revving refers to increasing the engine's revolutions per minute (RPM), which indicates how fast the engine is running. Managing revs carefully is important during break-in periods to ensure engine longevity.
break-in process
"But definitely different views on the break-in process, I guess."
When you get a new car, you have to drive it gently at first so the parts fit together well and last longer. This is called the break-in process.
The break-in process refers to the initial period of driving a new car or engine carefully to ensure proper seating of components and to avoid premature wear.
press car
"Don't buy press cars is what you're saying. I would definitely buy a press car, actually. Those things have been taken care of and have, in fact, like the clutch has probably already been replaced at 10 miles. Most press cars are European specs."
A press car is a car that reporters use to test and write about. These cars might be driven a lot and sometimes hard to see how they really perform.
A press car is a vehicle provided to automotive journalists for testing and review purposes, often driven hard and with high mileage in a short time.
insurance
"So the tags and the insurance is European specific. Like your insurance and the stateside didn't apply to the car. You know, the US insurance company wouldn't insure the car when it was overseas."
Insurance is like a safety plan that helps pay for damage if your car gets hurt or stolen. But insurance from one country often doesn't work in another.
Car insurance is a contract that protects the vehicle owner financially in case of accidents, theft, or damage. Insurance policies vary by country, and coverage in one country (like the US) may not apply when the car is driven overseas, such as in Europe.
tourist plates
"You get the tourist plates. They're good right up until your scheduled drop off date."
Tourist plates are special temporary license plates that let you drive a car legally in another country for a short time, like when you pick up a new car in Europe.
Tourist plates are temporary license plates issued to vehicles for use by visitors or tourists. They allow legal driving in a country for a limited time, often used in programs like European delivery to cover the period before permanent registration.
Porsche Cayman
"...love it. So the first 911, I had driven my dad's Cayman S, 17 Cayman S. That's the only Porsche I had dr..."
The Porsche Cayman is a small, sporty car with two doors and a roof that doesn't open. It's known for being fun to drive because its engine is placed in the middle, which helps it stay balanced on the road. People like it because it's a good way to enjoy a Porsche without spending too much.
The Porsche Cayman is a two-door sports coupe that shares many components with the Porsche Boxster but features a fixed roof for enhanced rigidity and handling. The Cayman S, particularly the 2017 model, is praised for its balanced mid-engine layout and engaging driving experience. It is often discussed as an accessible entry point into Porsche's sports car lineup.
PDK
"The first 911 I ever drove was literally the PDK Carrera S around the Leipzig test track."
PDK is a special type of automatic transmission made by Porsche that changes gears very quickly and smoothly, making the car faster and easier to drive.
PDK stands for Porsche Doppelkupplung, which is Porsche's dual-clutch transmission system. It enables extremely fast and smooth gear shifts without interrupting power delivery.
toll sticker
""It's a toll sticker, yeah. It's a toll sticker from Germany on your trip. Expired toll sticker, that had to go.""
A toll sticker is like a special pass you put on your car's window so you can drive on certain roads without paying money each time. You need to have a valid one to avoid fines.
A toll sticker is a prepaid permit that allows vehicles to use certain toll roads or highways without stopping to pay at toll booths. In some countries like Germany, these stickers are required and must be displayed on the vehicle's windshield to show payment.
footprint
"But my 2018 M2 versus my 2023 911 Carrera T, the footprint is identical. Yeah, they're both 73 inches wide. The Porsche is a couple inches longer. Wheelbase is a little shorter. But the footprint in the garage, they take up pretty much almost exactly the same space."
Footprint means how much space a car takes up on the ground. It helps you know if the car will fit in your garage or parking spot.
In automotive terms, 'footprint' refers to the amount of ground space a vehicle occupies, typically measured by its width and length. It affects parking, garage space, and maneuverability.
wheelbase
"The Porsche is a couple inches longer. Wheelbase is a little shorter. But the footprint in the garage, they take up pretty much almost exactly the same space."
Wheelbase means how far apart the front and back wheels of a car are. It affects how smooth the ride is and how much room is inside the car.
Wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear axles of a vehicle. It influences ride quality, handling, and interior space.
Autobahn
""It's all fun and games going triple digits on the Autobahn until we go a lot.""
The Autobahn is a famous highway in Germany where cars can drive really fast because some parts don't have speed limits.
The Autobahn is Germany's federal controlled-access highway system known for sections without speed limits, allowing vehicles to travel at very high speeds legally.
manual transmission
"I rented this little Citroen 1.1 liter manual just to get me from Stugart to Frankfurt."
A manual transmission means you have to change the car's gears yourself using a stick and a pedal, which some drivers like because it feels more involved.
A manual transmission requires the driver to manually shift gears using a clutch pedal and gear stick. It offers more driver engagement and control compared to automatic transmissions.
Porsche Taycan
"...n RS, but their media is starting to call it the Taycan Turbo GT. They're building another one because i..."
The Porsche Taycan is a fast car that runs only on electricity, so it doesn't use gas and doesn't make pollution. It still feels sporty and fun to drive, just like other Porsches, but it's better for the environment. It's Porsche's new kind of car for the future.
The Porsche Taycan is Porsche's first fully electric sports car, combining high performance with zero emissions. Variants like the Taycan Turbo GT showcase Porsche's commitment to electric vehicle technology without sacrificing driving dynamics. It marks a significant shift for Porsche into the electric future.
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