going to germany/ trip advice

[robmog]

going to visit my son (rotary foreign exchange) in wupperthal (by cologne).
starting in munich, driving NW.
is it worth detouring to stuttgart for the p car museum?
is there a factory tour?
any thing else to do in stuttgart (wife is hesitant to detour)?
suggestions welcome.
bob

[BAPhotowerks]

If you are near Koln, you are maybe two hours from the Nurburgring, definitely worth a lap or three, I think it's around 15 euro per lap. The F1 circuit host lots of events as well, check their website for info and opening times of the Nordschleife. Weekends are nuts there.

http://www.nuerburgring.de/index.html?L=1

Never been to the factory museum, it closed early the day I was in town, but I believe it was recently improved, I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed. Mercedes has a pretty comprehensive museum in Stuttgart too.

Have a good trip!

[Bummler]

In Munich the Deutsches Museum is a must see for any gearhead, airplane nut, tech freak. Hit BMW as well.

The Schlumpf collection in Mulhouse just over the border in France is not to be missed

[carnut]

Hi,

IMHO the current porsche museum is not worth the trip. The new one will open late 2008 and it is going to be wonderful.
If you go to Stuutgart, you must do the Mercedes Benz museum. No comparison anywhere!!! Just wonderful.
Near Cologne, check out the "Meilenwerk" in Dusseldorf. Very tateful "Classic Car Mall".
Hope you have fun!
Jurgen

going to visit my son (rotary foreign exchange) in wupperthal (by cologne).
starting in munich, driving NW.
is it worth detouring to stuttgart for the p car museum?
is there a factory tour?
any thing else to do in stuttgart (wife is hesitant to detour)?
suggestions welcome.
bob

[rexav8r]

Personally, I think the Porsche Museum IS worth it, especially if you are expecting the small size, and I'm really looking forward to the new one. I do agree however, that the Mercedes Museum is, hands down, a FAR superior museum and if you have the time, you really shouldn't miss it !! Also, there are 2 Technological Museums on the way up from Stuttgart toward Frankfurt. One is at Speyere, at least I believe that's how you spell it, I forget the other one, but I'm sure you can Google it, and they are wonderful.

I also second the Nurburgring visit, up north, just south of Koln. Nothing like it in the world.

[pgxif]

After a couple of weeks in Germany, my thoughts are:
- Prototyp Museum in Hamburg, great ... especially if you're up in the North (see separate thread for pics)
- VW Museum at Wolfsburg .. wow ... well worth a trip. With advance notice, one can book on a factory tour reasonably easily. This is a 40 minute 'bus tour' around the plant where they're making VW Golfs among other cars. It's more 'assembly' as the bodies come in whole ... but get totally fitted up from then on. They have a number of exhibitions often, this month included a number of porsches (i do love Burgundy ... should probably add to the Heidi thread!)... and some emotional moments with a signal orange scirocco (what a car !), and one gets a great view of the famous cylindrical stacks from which new cars are delivered to customers (factory delivery) ... an amazingly clever and special touch !
- Porsche museum ... Stuttgart ... is a good 2 or 3 hours. I prefer the intimacy of the original really ... but the architecture and range of cars is superb in the new one. Easy to get to (even without SatNav) and well worth it (see separate thread for pics)
- Mercedes Museum ... can be done on the same day as Porsche as it is in Stuttgart. This museum was awesome - very very highly recommended. Probably 4 hours needed ... it's also a history lesson !

A few pictures attached, VW and exhibition first

[pgxif]

VW museum and plant

[pgxif]

and lastly from VW