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What is it about Driving a Porsche in Germany?

Driving a Porsche in Germany

Do the words “Driving a Porsche in Germany” pique your interest? Market research indicates that we probably have, as Porsche appears to be the overwhelmingly preferred car brand by people all over the world when looking for driving experiences in Germany. More popular than other German luxury cars such as the profit oozing empires of BMW, Audi and Mercedes - and not by a small margin either.  

So, after what I thought would be an intense process of investigation to determine a complex host of reasons as to why this phenomenon might be the case, a simple answer became very apparent, very quickly: The Porsche is FAST. Technically speaking, the Porsche is one very fast racing combustion engine. Considering the ease with which I came to this answer, it may well seem like a discovery of an obvious truth to many of you. To those less adept, let me explain. While other brands of German manufactured cars have their super fast cars, such as the R8 from Audi, the AMG GT from Mercedes and the Z4 or the M5 & the M6 from BMW, the overall brands are not considered to be fleets of racing machines. The more varied and versatile range of these brands, that include family SUVs, executive sedans and quick and nimble city slickers, appeals to a greater number of people to whom they sell a greater number of cars. But ultimately it compromises the brand’s edge as the producer of daredevilish super cars. In contrast, Porsche really just narrows in on one market, and that is producing really fast and expensive cars for a target audience of self-acclaimed petrol heads.

Why Germany, more so than anywhere else? That, so my favourite petrol heads tell me, is due to the Autobahn. Germany’s famous Autobahn consists of over 11,000 kilometers of highway of which at many parts there are “suggested” highway speeds, that the public has unanimously appeared to have accepted, and then duly ignored. The uncapped limit gives motorists the rare chance to pick up speed as they push the pedal to the metal.

Germany is also home to the Porsche Museum, one exit off the Autobahn will get you there, with its location in the district of Stuttgart. A visit feels like a pilgrimage to the Mecca of Porsche lovers everywhere. A temple dedicated to addressing humanity’s need for speed.

Thus, when driving on the Autobahn, the Porsche becomes the obvious preferred weapon of choice. If you have the opportunity to push a car to its limit, the Porsche is the car to do it in, with many of its models capable of pushing speeds in excess of 300km/h. Additionally, the Porsche is a light car, many of its models weigh in at around 1,400kg, where other supercars would weigh in at 1,800kg plus, thereby making it a swift car that is remarkably smooth to drive. There is also no denying that it’s a great car for posing, and if you’re going to be seen driving a Porsche, make sure that it is on one of the world’s rare public and populated roads that allows for limitless speeds.

So to help you prepare for that once-in-a-lifetime experience of driving a Porsche along Germany’s Autobahn we’ve gathered a few tips;

Choosing the ideal Porsche for the occasion is not as easy as it seems, but for a good reason - they all look so damn awesome. The selection from our Porsche driving experts came down to a few options, that they identified as being ideal for the opportunity:

The Porsche 911 Carrera S, a compact 2 door, 3.8 liter coupé that from its rear engine pushes out a massive 400 hp of energy.

The 4-door Porsche Panamera Turbo that looks smokin’ in black and is capable of pushing the speedometer over the 300km/h mark was also picked as a top choice. It is unique in that it comfortably fits 4 people without compromising on speed or comfort.

The Porsche 911 Turbo, was selected for being the preferred driver-oriented car. With an impressive console, intelligent operating features and comfortable ergonomics, it has the perfect cumulative effect that ensures you will enjoy any long haul travel on the Autobahn.

Once on the road, tips came in from our experts about driving on the Autobahn. German drivers can be aggressive on the road and you’re probably best off avoiding that and keeping to the rules, something that Germans are known to be rather fond of.

The Autobahn under the city lights
Shutterstock / Sean Pavone

Rule No 1: No passing on the right

The free-for-all speeds on the Autobahn work because of this critical rule, passing on the right is strictly verboten! If you want to overtake another vehicle you must do so by moving into a left lane. There are exceptions to this rule, such as when traffic has come to a slow and you’re going to have to travel the snail trail in all lanes anyway.

Rule No 2: Double check your side view mirror before moving into the left lane!

On the Autobahn you can be travelling at the “recommended” 130km/h and cars will whizz past you as if you are standing still. In cases like this, checking your side view mirror can help keep your body and soul intact that little bit longer. Cars and even trucks can appear suddenly, therefore it becomes critical to indicate and check your side view mirror again just before changing lanes, especially to your left!

Germany’s famous Autobahn consists of over 11,000 kilom
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Rule no 3: Travel out of peak hour traffic

The Autobahn is extremely popular in Germany. Unlike Austria and Switzerland, it is not tolled and is used as a primary transportation artery between German cities. The result unfortunately is that traffic jams are common and happen fairly regularly. To really maximise on the experience of driving a Porsche on the Autobahn, drive out of peak hour when there are fewer commuters. As like anywhere else in the world, best times are midday and late at night.

Driving on the Autobahn at hair raising speeds in a brand spanking new Porsche, often worth the better half of a million dollars, could send waves of terror into the nerve endings of many of us. But the worst thing you can do is give into your fear. Go with the flow, if you’re feeling cautious stick to the speed “recommendations” and the right lane where traffic is slower. Tick driving a Porsche in Germany off your bucket list, and know that you have really lived.

Editor’s note: While no animals were harmed in the writing of this article, our Editor-in-Chief has kindly requested that potential clients keep to all recommended speed limits, in order to ensure that no humans will be harmed whilst driving our cars.

Laura

After graduating from Nottingham University with a BA Honours in Industrial Economics in 1999, Laura relocated to Marbella to fulfill her dream of living and working in Spain. Laura has a proven track record in real estate, business and financial administration. Her finesse in dealing with high net worth individuals and the luxury end of the market, has seen a remarkable track record in developing...(Read More)

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