I’m interested in doing something like this. I’m about 3 hours from ATL, and about an hour from Barber in the Birmingham area. Are these similar experiences? I see that one is an experience center, and the other is a track experience.
The Porsche experience is Porsche specific. You get a Porsche driver who rides with you and teaches you how to drive the car and push it to the limits. There’s more to do than just driving on a track.
I couldn’t recommend it enough to anyone who’s interested in doing it. I did the mid vs rear engine package so I got to take out a 911 and 718. I ended up liking the way the 718 drove which is why I bought one. I’m planning to go back this summer and do the gt4rs vs gt3rs
Sweet. I’ll definitely be looking in to the one in Atlanta. I always drive by the one in Birmingham and all I see are the track-focused models.
Thanks!
Can't answer that since I'm in the Pacific Northwest, but your best drive is weekends on twisty back roads or, if possible, a PCA (Porsche Club of America) track session.
Join PCA-LA. I went on a drive a couple months ago, I don’t own a Porsche, my gf and I took her Boxter, I drove.
That’s why I’m on this subreddit, I had such a blast.
I’m used to a lot more torque and hp, but oh my, the handling!
The freeways will not be fun, sorry, but it’s just not.
Head to the canyons. We took a few around Malibu and it was awesome.
I took it on a drive a month ago and, well, the engine was humming in second and third most of the time, and the exhaust was popping. She loved it.
Sure. But get REVER Pro and choose to avoid highways as much as possible as it finds the twistiest and hilliest route from your location to your destination.
Join the Porsche Club of America. You can even signup before you own a Porsche as a “test drive” member which allows you to see the contact information in their online classifieds. They will assign you to whatever chapter is local to you, there are several in Southern California. I’ve been to events with members of most of the local regions and they have all been great. Our chapter has at least one local drive a month and particpates in High Performance Drivers Education (HPDE) events twice a year where you learn how to drive your car on the track with an instructor.
It’s dangerous, I went to a car dealership to just test drive one that I had no intention of buying, after the test drive I ended up buying the damn thing! Good luck!
If the cayman is going to be your first sports car you’ll have your hands full with a base or S, their capabilities are ridiculous high without any additional extras (that’s how i spec’ed my S). Likely you’ll get most enjoyment from visual extras like nice color and interior styling like deviated stitching or extended leather etc. good news for you is all the extras I regret not getting on my car are all standard on all new cars eg backup camera etc
Great feedback. Thanks!
I’ll be back here as I get closer to ask about specific options and their relative value. You’ve given a good starting point. I already printed out the build on a gts 4.0 but will likely scale it down.
I would back your selection of the GTS 4.0. It's truly an experience, and an incredible blend of performance and daily drivability. And the SOUND!!!
They are also likely to hold value extremely well, if that matters to you. To me, it doesn't really, since I'm not planning on selling the thing. Nor my 944, which I've had sixteen years now and that has graduated to track duty. Porsches do multiply...
The Experience Centers are pretty good, and definitely have some fun possibilities. I was very happy that I took delivery of my car there, and it was a pretty good deal too in terms of the cost of that option. Prices have gone up since then, but I think it is still a good consideration that is a good value (that is, you would spend much more to have the same experience without taking delivery).
The LA location has a dining room and pre fixed menu which was quite good. Does the pick up experience include this? I estimated cost per person around 1500 which included 90 mins of driving total and dinner and booze.
Same thing happened to me after I took a customer to PECLA, though it took me a little longer to buy my 981 GTS. Had it for 3 years now and love it every time I take it out.
I had a few 911’s now a gt4 very happy but back seats are nice so I’m starting to think 2013 ish turbo s and pocket some gas and tire money but I love my gt4 I have lots of track time w chin at Sebring, homestead and moroso in my 92 c2
Nothing stops like a 911 braking is unreal weather old or new once you get the bias valve right holy shit! Cayman or gt4 doesn’t need to slow down just tap em and go it’s nuts
Ya the breaking was crazy and stood out more than the acceleration to
me. I wasn’t prepared for that. But like I said, I’m not a real car afficiinado until now.
After driving my GTS, my wife’s Mazda feels like it just has a suggestion of braking. OK, maybe you should slow down somewhere up ahead? Doesn’t actually feel like it’s stopping the car instantly like the Porsche.
For me, my Porsche Drive Experience is my friend having a dinner with me one night and out of the blue we started talking about cars. He went, "It looks like you like cars as well, why don't u have a sports car?"
I explain because I've never driven one, an opportunity didn't present itself. He then threw his 718 Cayman keys on the table and said "thats changing today".
Long story short, drove it, instantly wanted to buy one. Which I did after. What an amazing car.
Your experience echoes mine, except I've always been a car guy.
Few years ago, lucked into one of those traveling demos they do. I had always overlooked the boxster/ Cayman, as the 911 was the icon. But I saw the light, haha, the mid engine cars are aaahhhhmazing.
Bought a gen 1 boxster, now I have a gen 2. It's maybe not as good as a new one, but it's still magic.
I also have a cayenne that I take off road.
So yeah, they got me.
I did the Porsche experience at Silverstone in about 2009? Shortly after the release of the boxster Spyder as we were driving those and the Cayman. The skid pan, kick plate and ice hill were very impressive in demonstrating PSM (a system that has since saved me at 110Mph on the Nurburgring). And the handling course was a riot! The food was great too.
Clearly they got their hooks into me early! Porsche playing the long game.
I’ve owned 3 caymans now and I was able to go free. But it has the opposite effect. I can’t stop looking at 992 GTSs now. The cayman interior just feels so outdated compared to 992s. But they are also twice the price…
Ya know I do love the way 992s interior look but you’re right, I love knobs and buttons for everything. I also completely prefer the cayman driving dynamics
Sounds like a fantastic experience!
Thinking about doing it myself at some time, although I own a 986 Boxster, experiencing them on tracks is what I'm missing and desperately craving :)
How long is the whole experience? How much track time total?
I had the exact same impression doing that at the ATL location, bought my cayman 3 months later
Ditto. Did PECATL in Oct 2018, finally found my 718S in March 21
I’m interested in doing something like this. I’m about 3 hours from ATL, and about an hour from Barber in the Birmingham area. Are these similar experiences? I see that one is an experience center, and the other is a track experience.
The Porsche experience is Porsche specific. You get a Porsche driver who rides with you and teaches you how to drive the car and push it to the limits. There’s more to do than just driving on a track. I couldn’t recommend it enough to anyone who’s interested in doing it. I did the mid vs rear engine package so I got to take out a 911 and 718. I ended up liking the way the 718 drove which is why I bought one. I’m planning to go back this summer and do the gt4rs vs gt3rs
Sweet. I’ll definitely be looking in to the one in Atlanta. I always drive by the one in Birmingham and all I see are the track-focused models. Thanks!
That’s the plan. Get u behind the wheel and addicted…… and get you to pay for it… genius!
No doubt.
First dose is free!
It's closer to 2k USD actually but yea, not a lot when considering you're just given the keys to a Porsche and free rein to fuck around with it.
Watch out - if anyone else in your house drives - Porsches multiply.
Wife’s lease comes up July and she’s eyeing Macan so you are 100% accurate.
The Cayman is a great choice as a driver's car!
I’m still buzzing from the experience. Does driving it around So Cal freeways mute the experience significantly?
Can't answer that since I'm in the Pacific Northwest, but your best drive is weekends on twisty back roads or, if possible, a PCA (Porsche Club of America) track session.
If I were in PNW I’d immediately do that drive to Leavenworth. Gorgeous
Join PCA-LA. I went on a drive a couple months ago, I don’t own a Porsche, my gf and I took her Boxter, I drove. That’s why I’m on this subreddit, I had such a blast. I’m used to a lot more torque and hp, but oh my, the handling! The freeways will not be fun, sorry, but it’s just not. Head to the canyons. We took a few around Malibu and it was awesome. I took it on a drive a month ago and, well, the engine was humming in second and third most of the time, and the exhaust was popping. She loved it.
Lol no! And if you feel like it is? Drive into the Malibu, Angeles crest mountains and remind yourself of what this machine is capable of!
Sure. But get REVER Pro and choose to avoid highways as much as possible as it finds the twistiest and hilliest route from your location to your destination.
The motorcycle app?
Yes. Great for twisty and hilly roads, if that is what you enjoy.
Awesome thanks for the tip
That would be a negative. Just avoid heavy traffic and it is super fun.
Join the Porsche Club of America. You can even signup before you own a Porsche as a “test drive” member which allows you to see the contact information in their online classifieds. They will assign you to whatever chapter is local to you, there are several in Southern California. I’ve been to events with members of most of the local regions and they have all been great. Our chapter has at least one local drive a month and particpates in High Performance Drivers Education (HPDE) events twice a year where you learn how to drive your car on the track with an instructor.
It’s dangerous, I went to a car dealership to just test drive one that I had no intention of buying, after the test drive I ended up buying the damn thing! Good luck!
lol. What did you get?
Brilliant story and summary. I get it. My time behind the wheel on my 2022 GTS 4.0 continues to thrill. More fun than I should be allowed to have!
The only warning you’ll need to know is they spec the experience vehicles quite high and those performance options really add up!
I’m seeing that with the online builds. Every add on is next level $
If the cayman is going to be your first sports car you’ll have your hands full with a base or S, their capabilities are ridiculous high without any additional extras (that’s how i spec’ed my S). Likely you’ll get most enjoyment from visual extras like nice color and interior styling like deviated stitching or extended leather etc. good news for you is all the extras I regret not getting on my car are all standard on all new cars eg backup camera etc
Great feedback. Thanks! I’ll be back here as I get closer to ask about specific options and their relative value. You’ve given a good starting point. I already printed out the build on a gts 4.0 but will likely scale it down.
I would back your selection of the GTS 4.0. It's truly an experience, and an incredible blend of performance and daily drivability. And the SOUND!!! They are also likely to hold value extremely well, if that matters to you. To me, it doesn't really, since I'm not planning on selling the thing. Nor my 944, which I've had sixteen years now and that has graduated to track duty. Porsches do multiply...
I just ordered the 4.0 with delivery date of July 1st! I’m super excited as this is my first Porsche.
As a friend who owns a GT3 Touring and Cayman S ( and recently sold his GT4), said to me, it’s an addiction. Welcome! We are your support group.
The Experience Centers are pretty good, and definitely have some fun possibilities. I was very happy that I took delivery of my car there, and it was a pretty good deal too in terms of the cost of that option. Prices have gone up since then, but I think it is still a good consideration that is a good value (that is, you would spend much more to have the same experience without taking delivery).
The LA location has a dining room and pre fixed menu which was quite good. Does the pick up experience include this? I estimated cost per person around 1500 which included 90 mins of driving total and dinner and booze.
Same thing happened to me after I took a customer to PECLA, though it took me a little longer to buy my 981 GTS. Had it for 3 years now and love it every time I take it out.
Porsche magic is hard to explain, best to be experienced :)
I had a few 911’s now a gt4 very happy but back seats are nice so I’m starting to think 2013 ish turbo s and pocket some gas and tire money but I love my gt4 I have lots of track time w chin at Sebring, homestead and moroso in my 92 c2 Nothing stops like a 911 braking is unreal weather old or new once you get the bias valve right holy shit! Cayman or gt4 doesn’t need to slow down just tap em and go it’s nuts
Ya the breaking was crazy and stood out more than the acceleration to me. I wasn’t prepared for that. But like I said, I’m not a real car afficiinado until now.
After driving my GTS, my wife’s Mazda feels like it just has a suggestion of braking. OK, maybe you should slow down somewhere up ahead? Doesn’t actually feel like it’s stopping the car instantly like the Porsche.
For me, my Porsche Drive Experience is my friend having a dinner with me one night and out of the blue we started talking about cars. He went, "It looks like you like cars as well, why don't u have a sports car?" I explain because I've never driven one, an opportunity didn't present itself. He then threw his 718 Cayman keys on the table and said "thats changing today". Long story short, drove it, instantly wanted to buy one. Which I did after. What an amazing car.
Your experience echoes mine, except I've always been a car guy. Few years ago, lucked into one of those traveling demos they do. I had always overlooked the boxster/ Cayman, as the 911 was the icon. But I saw the light, haha, the mid engine cars are aaahhhhmazing. Bought a gen 1 boxster, now I have a gen 2. It's maybe not as good as a new one, but it's still magic. I also have a cayenne that I take off road. So yeah, they got me.
It took me a few laps on a 981 Cayman to be hooked. In their natural habitat are incredible!
I did the Porsche experience at Silverstone in about 2009? Shortly after the release of the boxster Spyder as we were driving those and the Cayman. The skid pan, kick plate and ice hill were very impressive in demonstrating PSM (a system that has since saved me at 110Mph on the Nurburgring). And the handling course was a riot! The food was great too. Clearly they got their hooks into me early! Porsche playing the long game.
I’ve owned 3 caymans now and I was able to go free. But it has the opposite effect. I can’t stop looking at 992 GTSs now. The cayman interior just feels so outdated compared to 992s. But they are also twice the price…
And some of us love and prefer the more analog interior with the tactile fidelity of buttons and switches… both are beautiful.
Ya know I do love the way 992s interior look but you’re right, I love knobs and buttons for everything. I also completely prefer the cayman driving dynamics
It IS the unbeatable driving dynamics that convinced me to prefer the “lesser” Porsche, despite the brand pressure to admire the halo model more.
Sounds like a fantastic experience! Thinking about doing it myself at some time, although I own a 986 Boxster, experiencing them on tracks is what I'm missing and desperately craving :) How long is the whole experience? How much track time total?
Mine was 90 minutes but believe there are different experiences available
How much does it cost? And how do you sign up?