Sharing Readers’ Comments

Thank you, as always, for reading the blog. For this ninth installment of our reader-comment roundup, we’re sharing some of the comments that caught our eye. Since we’re featuring them in an article, we’ve made a few edits to help the comments make sense without their original context. Thanks for understanding.

Driving a GT3 in the Rain

【1】I drive mine to work even when it’s raining, and sometimes I do worry that “puddles in the wheel ruts could be trouble.” But in ordinary wet conditions, I’ve found it’s no problem at all, just as the owner of the car in the original post did. The other day, during a torrential downpour, a low section of a limited-access road that normally doesn’t seem particularly low had turned into a lake—the worst I’d ever seen. There was no way to detour, so I had no choice but to drive through it.

I spent the next few days worrying, but thankfully the car seems to be fine. With such low ground clearance, take extra care in a sudden downpour. (991.2 GT3 manual-transmission owner)

【2】I’m loving the joy of driving again, just like I did with my 993. I covered 3,000 km in the first month after delivery and changed the oil at 4,000 km. Most of my driving has been long-distance trips, including Tokyo–Aomori and Tokyo–Nagano–Niigata–Koriyama–Tokyo. I’ve driven through some unbelievable rain on the Tohoku Expressway, but visibility ahead was so poor that I kept to 100 km/h. (Owner of a Touring Package with nearly the same spec)

Driving a Porsche in Germany

【3】The year before last, I also rented a 991.2 Carrera 2 GTS for 24 hours through the Porsche Drive program at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. My route took me to the spa town of Baden-Baden for an overnight stay, then through the Black Forest and back to Stuttgart.

Driving etiquette in Germany is excellent, and Germans are very strict about the rules. It was exhilarating to see cars ahead move over as I came up behind them in the far-left passing lane at 200 km/h. Of course, let your guard down and a hypercar might appear behind you at 300 km/h, forcing you to move over.

Germany’s approach to speed limits is extremely practical. The basic principle is that there’s no speed limit; instead, appropriate limits are imposed where there’s a real risk of an accident, such as in towns, on curves, or near roadworks.

As a result, people are very good about obeying speed limits—and it can be dangerous not to. Then, once a restricted section ends, it’s full throttle up to 180 km/h. The contrast is striking. It made me think that a Porsche really belongs on German roads. (Tetsu)

【4】I recently traveled to Germany and France. I drove from Munich to Stuttgart and Frankfurt on the Autobahn. My rental wasn’t a Porsche, but a Volkswagen Touareg.

I drove at 200 km/h on unrestricted sections, and the car was astonishingly stable. It gave me a real sense of the capability of German cars—and of the level they’re expected to deliver. A Porsche might have taken me even faster. (SN)

Mazda Roadster

【5】When I test-drove a manual Mazda Roadster, the first thing I noticed was that the accelerator pedal was positioned unusually far to the right. I usually drive cars such as the FIAT 500 and Boxster—models originally designed for left-hand drive and converted to right-hand drive for Japan. They’re often criticized for having pedals offset to the left and feeling unnatural.

Those cars were my first manual-transmission experiences, so the pedal layout never felt strange to me. I’d grown used to what most people consider an unnatural pedal position, and I clearly remember being surprised by the Roadster’s supposedly more natural pedal placement.

I haven’t test-driven the automatic, but with the accelerator positioned that far to the right, it seems like it would be difficult to confuse it with the brake. Rather than adding electronic components to prevent pedal mix-ups, I wish manufacturers would offer a part that moves the accelerator to the right, or set a minimum required distance between the brake and accelerator pedals. (Ishi)

【6】I test-drove the ND and found it fun even with modest power. That said, the positions of the accelerator, brake, and clutch pedals just didn’t suit me. I think I’d get used to them over time, but it seems they’re the result of fitting right-hand-drive pedals into a car designed for left-hand drive. Even the seating position makes you face slightly outward. (neo)

Abarth 124 Spider

【7】My Abarth 124 Spider has an Abarth-tuned engine and a Record Monza exhaust, and both the acceleration and engine sound are fantastic. The exhaust design is the same as Porsche’s Sport Exhaust system. Production is scheduled to end by the end of next year, so why not take one for a test drive? (hurtloker)

Royu Driveway

【8】I’m not sure when these started or who came up with them, but Royu has a few local customs and unwritten rules:
・From the toll booth to the lookout, take it easy. Don’t open the exhaust valves or speed, and be considerate of nearby residents. (If someone reports you, the police will come straight to the lookout.)
・If you’re heading down after 10 or 11 a.m., watch out for speed enforcement near the Okuike police box.
・Sunday mornings from 8 to 11 are the busiest, but those who don’t like crowds and are there mainly to drive actually show up around 6 and head home by 8.
・The toll booth staff and Royu maintenance crew are often car enthusiasts. Some own Japanese sports cars, while others drive classics or supercars.

So, there are all sorts of local customs! lol (Kurumania)

Manual-Transmission Cars

【9】The clutch in my car (991 C4S) is heavy too, and my leg starts to go numb after 30 minutes in Tokyo traffic. But on the highway or a winding road, it’s so much fun it genuinely blows me away. This blog was the first place I heard about Royu Driveway. I hope to take a drive there someday. (Ao)

Cleaning BMW and Porsche Wheels

【10】Comparing Porsche and Alpina (which uses BMW brake pads), I’ve always thought BMWs suffer more from brake dust. I couldn’t take it anymore with my Alpina, so I switched to aftermarket low-dust pads. Maybe the difference in wheel design makes it seem worse than it is, though. (Woopah)

【11】I think wheels on imported cars get dirty easily—not just BMWs. Porsche wheels probably do too. Compared with Japanese cars, it feels like the pads and rotors are designed to wear down as they bring the car to a stop. In addition to everyone’s advice, I’d say the most effective fix is to switch to low-dust brake pads. The brake feel may change slightly, but it makes cleaning so much easier. If you’re interested, I hope that helps. (yone0531)

【12】BMWs produce so much brake dust—it’s a real pain. The wheels get dirty before the body does. And when you clean them, black stains splatter all over your clothes. It’s pretty upsetting, and they won’t come out in the wash.

Low-dust brake pads are well worth considering. They help keep the wheels cleaner, and any dust that does build up is easier to remove. The brake feel may change slightly, but I don’t think there’s a major difference in stopping power. (That said, these are for street use.)

Quite a few BMW owners switch to low-dust brake pads. They make wheel cleaning much easier, so give them a try! (wrp930 suga)

【13】Cleaning wheels is a pain, isn’t it? My Panamera has 21-inch Sport Design wheels with lots of narrow openings, so I thought cleaning out all the dust would be a real chore. But the other day, I couldn’t stand how dirty they’d gotten, so I finally gave them a thorough rinse and a quick wipe with a sponge. To my surprise, they came up shining like new.

I’m starting to look for a gas station with one of the newer types of automatic car washes. Does anyone know where I can find one? (How to Support a Life)

Porsche Cruise Control

【14】Of course, unlike Mercedes-Benz, Porsche is first and foremost a sports-car maker, with comfort added to that foundation. I understand the brand’s history and approach to its cars perfectly well, but I really wish Porsche would replace the cruise-control stalk with buttons.

I’m currently considering a purchase and have test-driven cars from several manufacturers. Porsche is by far the best to drive, but I worry the cruise-control stalk might get in the way when I use the turn signal. Compared with Mercedes and BMW, where cruise control can be activated with a single touch, Porsche’s setup just feels inconvenient. I suppose you could say that if you drive a Porsche, you should be doing the driving yourself! lol (4e)

Taycan

【15】The timing worked out perfectly yesterday, and I was able to watch the livestream. One of the locations was in China, which came through in the subtitles too, and it reminded me just how much Porsche values the Chinese market.

I was also looking closely at the Taycan’s headlights, which reminded me of the taillights on a Japanese car. The promise of 100 km of range from a five-minute charge is appealing, but I assume that’s not possible with a standard 200-volt home outlet. Some details, like the headlights and white wheels, felt a little unusual to me. But the car might look different in person, so I’m looking forward to Porsche bringing a test-drive vehicle to Japan. (Ishi)

【16】The Taycan is finally here. Somehow, it looks a little awkward unless it sits low to the ground (with that road-hugging stance). I’m more excited about the wagon version.

When it comes to EVs, I love engines, but I’m still looking forward to them. For trips where I’m not driving for the pleasure of it, I’ve recently started thinking that I’d be perfectly happy to travel in an EV with autonomous driving. lol (Kurumania)

【17】The Taycan is here! The U.S. website lists the Turbo at $150,000 and the Turbo S at $185,000. I wonder if prices in Japan will start just under ¥20 million.

I thought it might look a lot like the Panamera if you swapped out the front lights. The cut of the headlights also reminded me of the Lexus LC. I agree that “the Panamera looks better.”

I’m not sure the claimed 450 km of range is realistic unless you’re very careful with the accelerator. Keep your foot down, and the battery drains quickly.

Around here, you see the Tesla Model S and Model X, and lately there have been plenty of Tesla Model 3s too. There seems to be a lot of demand from Tesla owners switching over. I’m looking forward to seeing the Taycan around town before long. (SN)

【19】Someone at the Porsche Center told me the charging voltage is 800 V, and that installing the equipment requires a certified high-voltage electrician as well as the appropriate facilities. That’s quite a hurdle. For general use, I suppose the first step will be setting up chargers in apartment buildings and other shared housing. (Tetsu)

Panamera

【19】My Panamera was delivered recently, and I’m already appreciating what makes it special. I’m still running it in, so I haven’t pushed it yet, but the car itself is truly wonderful! Mine is the base Panamera, but the excitement starts the moment the engine fires up. It really is a joy to drive.

I was amazed all over again by just how big it is! You don’t notice it much while driving, but when you pull into a parking space, you think, “Wow, this thing is huge!” I still get nervous every time I park it. I’m thinking of going for a drive over the three-day weekend in September while I run it in, but I’m a little concerned about parking at the hotel. (J11050)

【20】My Panamera has finally passed 8,000 km, and I feel like the engine has moved up a notch. It seems more responsive—rather than building speed with a smooth “whoosh,” it now gets to the target speed in every rev range almost instantly. I’m looking forward to seeing how it changes as the mileage increases.

I still haven’t figured out how to use the navigation system properly (I can’t set a destination by selecting a point on the map), but I’m enjoying life with the Panamera so far. (How to Support a Life)

Mimasaka Yamanami Road

【21】Today I drove the road recommended in the article, from Route 29 to Forest Station Haga. What a fantastic climb! I wish it had been longer. Thanks for showing us such a great road—I think I’ll be hooked for a while.

Here’s one I recommend in return: Mimasaka Yamanami Road, a regional farm road in Okayama. Give it a try sometime. It offers about 30 km of uninterrupted, fast-flowing curves, and it’s usually quiet—perhaps because navigation systems don’t guide you along farm roads. You may already know it, but I thought I’d mention it. (Kazu Kogane Hills)

Cayenne

I’ll never forget how stunned I was when I test-drove the first-generation Cayenne Turbo, some time after buying a Range Rover Vogue based on what I’d read in car magazines. Its incredible rigidity and acceleration were electrifying. The Cayenne Turbo’s extraordinary performance made everything else seem far away.

Even now, every time I drive it, I’m transported back to that moment. It comes down to the sheer solidity of this massive vehicle being propelled by immense power. (Cayenne Turbo 958.1 owner)

A Porsche Blog Where Owners Share Their Stories

Thank you so much to everyone who reads the blog regularly, and to everyone visiting this Porsche blog for the first time. We hope to keep growing—not only by sharing stories from our life with cars, but also as a place where Porsche owners from across Japan can share their firsthand experiences. Thanks for being part of the journey.