We began this adventure by selecting and purchasing a Porsche Macan S for our road trip of a lifetime; developing an inspired travel itinerary for the entire month of September; and hanging out in Stuttgart, Germany before the trip begins.
This installment of the series is focused on actually picking up the car at the Porsche factory in Zuffenhausen. This is where the plan meets reality.
The Big Day – Meeting Max
We had a very early breakfast and hailed a taxi around 8:00 AM to get us to our 8:30 appointment. They suggested we be there around 8:15, so we had a few minutes to spare. Our taxi took the long way around and even found road construction delays, and so we arrived just after 8:30.
The Planned Event
Upon arrival we were to complete some paperwork / insurance documents.
Next step was a guided tour of the factory (1½ hours), where guests witness what Porsche calls "the most emotional moment," the so called “marriage” of the drive-train and chassis with the body. We anticipated it to be a very impressive presentation.
Following that, a culinary three-course feast in the VIP restaurant. The intent was to take a moment to… “relax – after all, you are soon to be handed the keys to your new Porsche”.
Then the grand finale, enter the “Delivery Hall” and meet your new car for the first time - a moment to be documented by a professional photographer. We were also to receive a special gift from Porsche.
The Reality
Upon arrival we completed some paperwork / insurance documents.
The un-grand finale: we entered the “Delivery Hall” and met our new car for the first time. It all happened a bit sooner than anticipated! We met the car around 9:30 AM and began our orientation session with a product expert. We were very fortunate to have been assigned Herr Tilmann Hancke. He has been with Porsche for over 26 years and is even featured in the publication Factory Collection at Zuffenhausen.
At 10 AM, we were told that the factory tour was about to begin and that we would have to catch the shuttle if we planned on attending.
But here we are facing a computer encased in a metal car body with a sea of buttons and switches with less than a half an hour of education. So we opted to stay with Tilmann and Max for about two hours as he patiently continued the education process.
Then tightly clutching our six pounds of owner’s manuals, we drove Max for the first time, for a brief and unceremonious trip into the customer parking lot next to the delivery hall building. A bit of a deflation of the enthusiasm balloon!
Still, though…most importantly we now have MAX, he is magnificent, and we even have an idea how to drive him. Add the photograph and gift - we are OK. Porsche offered us an afternoon factory tour, albeit in German, but at this point we just wanted to drive our new car and get the road trip underway.
We continued on to the VIP restaurant for the “relaxing” luncheon and since we skipped the factory tour, we were the first people in the place. We watched as other people entered the dining area and assumed that they had been on the tour, and we smiled at each other and said…bet they can't sync their iPhone via Bluetooth to their new car… HA… we can and did.
Prepping Max for the Road Trip
German law requires license tags to be permanently affixed to the front and rear of any car registered in the country. Being from California, we did not need to attach a front tag - which would, after all, mar the aesthetics of the car.
Because of this variance, we had to sign at least three documents acknowledging the German law, and taking full responsibly for that decision as well as any liability that we may face… such as fines or penalties.
So here we are in the delivery hall with two tags, a front bracket with four screws, and four zip ties. A Porsche person took care of the rear tag but we had to attach the front tag. We used the four zip ties that Porsche provided and mounted the front tag in the center of the grill.
Oh, you may ask, what about the bracket? We were actually told that in Switzerland they can make you attach the plate right there on the spot at the border crossing. So we received the bracket and four metal screws, just in case. No, seriously.
Side note: nothing happened and the Swiss Border Guard only wanted to see the road tax decal on the windshield, which we had in place.
The Road Trip Finally Begins
After lunch, we returned to the conveniently located gift shop at the delivery hall and loaded up on stuff… hats, sunglasses and key chain for the car fob. We were now “officially” ready.
Max had a full tank of gas and an odometer reading of ten miles when we left Zuffenhausen.
We returned our car four weeks later with 2,150 on it! Fun filled, exciting miles - think Autobahn and no speed limits in some areas.
When we returned the car, Tilmann actually met and greeted us. He even helped to prepare the car for the shipment home.
Coincidence or the Porsche way?
Dropping Max off for the shipment home
In summary
Our procurement complete, all paperwork signed off, we are about to embark on our long-planned road trip. We are driving an amazing piece of engineering that is loaded with some of Porsche’s most advanced technology. This is not a “baby” or “small version” of anything… this beast is a large version of a 911… complete with a twin turbo six cylinder power plant.
We are now heading to Salzburg for the first leg of our adventure as we drive through eight cities in four countries in pursuit of the "Ultimate Road Trip" of a lifetime!
Please follow us for Part Five of the series… Driving through Austria in Max.
After all, what is the hurry… be inspired.
© 2015 Inspired Travel Itineraries with Bob and Janice Kollar
© 2015 Photo Credits: Bob & Janice Kollar
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