Porsche 911 European Delivery Part 1: The Delivery
I've read so many incredible European delivery reports on Rennlist,and I wanted to share my own experience. I was fortunate enough to secure a July 3rd European delivery slot for my new Porsche 992.1 Carrera 4 GTS. Initially, I was told there were no available slots, but by checking back each week, I eventually managed to get that July 3rd date. I was thrilled, though I had a moment of doubt, wondering if it would be worth waiting for the delivery, considering the extra time it would take for the car to return to the U.S. I even started a Rennlist thread about it here—spoiler alert, I couldn’t be happier that I went through with it!
As an entrepreneur, I was able to take a full month to really immerse myself in the experience, while working remotely. In hindsight, though, I might have shortened it to three weeks since, by the end, I was pushing the mileage limits set for the delivery program. Still, the extended time gave me a chance to fully enjoy and explore everything Europe had to offer behind the wheel of my new Porsche.
My European delivery experience started in Zuffenhausen, Germany, although I initially hoped for a delivery in Leipzig. Leipzig offers the unique opportunity to get on the track with your car, which I thought would be an exciting touch. However, my time at Zuffenhausen turned out to be great. Being at the birthplace of Porsche was nice opportunity to dive deep into the brand's history.
The day began with a cab ride from my hotel to the delivery center. Surprisingly, you're left to arrange this yourself, which caught me off guard. When I asked the hotel front desk for guidance, they simply told me to mention "Porsche" to the cab driver, and they'd know where to take me. While that worked, it didn’t feel as seamless as, say, BMW’s experience.
Once I arrived at the delivery center, though, everything was smooth and polished. I was warmly welcomed by two incredibly friendly Porsche employees who took my bags and invited me to relax at the café. The initial morning experience is well-documented elsewhere, so I won’t go into too much detail, but it was handled beautifully.
My advisor, Julian, then introduced himself and guided me through the process leading up to my car. Porsche has really perfected this experience down to a science. Looking back, I wish I had dressed a bit nicer for the photos—but the excitement of getting my car was all that truly mattered in that moment.
When you’re taken upstairs to see your car waiting under a curtain, the experience feels surreal. But I’ll be honest—after spending countless hours in the configurator, when the cover was finally pulled back, I felt a bit underwhelmed. It looked exactly how I had imagined it, which was both gratifying and oddly anticlimactic. Still, seeing the car in person was a thrill. Minor detail: the car was on the front axle lift, so the wheel gap wasn’t the best for photos. But that was easy to overlook in the moment.
After the delivery, it was time to head (in your car) to the museum. Again, you're largely left to explore on your own—they basically pointed me in the right direction and told me to follow the path. Sure enough, I found my way, and even the process of leaving had a sense of occasion, with small touches Porsche adds to make everything feel special. I don’t want to spoil these moments, but they truly add to the experience.
At the museum, we joined a factory tour with a group that included some folks picking up a Macan GTS. They were keen to see Taycan production, while I was eager to witness the 911 production line. Our guide was accommodating, giving us a glimpse of everything. The Taycan line, however, was moving surprisingly slowly—almost at a standstill—so there wasn’t much to see there. But the 911 line was buzzing with activity, with everything from GT3 RSs and STs to the new 992.2 models rolling through. It was exhilarating, especially when we encountered prototypes, which required us to step aside as they moved along.
After the tour, we had lunch and then some free time to explore the museum. By that point, though, I was itching to get out on the road, so I was more than ready to leave.
After leaving the delivery area with my car, it felt surreal to suddenly be on my own in Germany, ready to explore. For anyone preparing for European delivery, I’d strongly recommend setting up Apple CarPlay in advance and downloading offline maps on Google Maps just in case cell coverage is spotty. Overall, though, I found that Waze, Google Maps, and Apple Maps worked without issue.
Keep in mind that many features in a North American Porsche won’t be functional in Europe—no SiriusXM, no built-in navigation, and no app access. It’s pretty bare-bones, so make sure you don’t lose your key and have CarPlay set up and ready to go. I personally found wired CarPlay more reliable than wireless, so I’d suggest sticking with a wired connection for this trip.
Reflecting on the trip now, the experience feels like a blur. I spent a total of 27 days in Europe with the car, so instead of a day-by-day account, I’ll just share some highlights.
I divided my month in Europe into three phases. The first week was all about breaking in the car and enjoying some incredible drives. I headed west from Stuttgart toward Baden-Baden, where I drove the famous B500 road. It was a thrilling experience; while I’d heard a lot about it and maybe had sky-high expectations, it still delivered a fantastic drive.
The journey then took me south into Switzerland, where I began exploring the mountain passes, and that’s where things really started to feel epic.
Traveling during the peak of summer meant everything was pretty busy, but the trade-off was flawless weather—warm and sunny nearly every day. It was the perfect setting to take in the countryside and the Alpine views. My route took me from Baden-Baden down through Switzerland, then into the Alps, and eventually heading east. My aim was to get through the break-in mileage by the end of the first week so that I’d be ready for Motorsport Week in the second week.
To be continued in Part II: Motorsport Week