The Porsche “PTS” You Hear About Lately

Recently, I’ve been seeing reports on social media like “I ordered the new Porsche 911 GT3!” or “I got allocated a production slot!” Among these, there are occasional mentions of ordering with “PTS.”

The 1-millionth 911 adorned in Irish Green

It seems that previously, ordering with this “PTS” option from Japan was not possible, but since the 992 generation came out, it’s been heard about here and there. This time, I’d like to explain what this “PTS” is all about.

What is Porsche’s “PTS”?

PTS stands for “Paint to Sample.” It’s a Porsche option that lets you choose from a special palette of colors not normally available in standard orders, and have your car painted in that color.

Originally, customers would send Porsche a sample of their desired color (sometimes from other manufacturers’ cars), and if approved, Porsche would paint the car in that color—hence the name PTS. Nowadays, since you mostly choose from colors already approved by Porsche, strictly speaking, it’s no longer true “Paint to Sample,” but the term has stuck as a convention.

By the way, on Porsche Japan’s website, there are currently two categories: “Custom Colors” and “Sample Colors.” The “Custom Colors” correspond to the commonly referred-to “PTS” mentioned above, while the “Sample Colors” are the true “PTS” where you send a color sample to get your preferred shade.

Example from the new Macan

It’s a bit confusing, but to sum it up, this is how it breaks down.

What Colors Are Available in Porsche’s PTS?

If you want to check out the color lineup, this site is highly recommended:

https://www.ptsexplorer.com/

Here you can see about 57 colors, each linked to photos of actual cars on Instagram, which is very handy.

Personally, some colors I’m interested in are:

Ruby Red Metallic. The Cherry Metallic on the 992 Targa is nice, but I also love this color.

Irish Green. Used on the 1-millionth 911. I’d love to order this someday.

Gulf Blue. A GT3 in the iconic Gulf colors would look amazing.

How to Order a Porsche with PTS

Basically, PTS orders can only be placed after you have been allocated a production slot. So if you’re thinking about ordering, it’s best to place your order early when a new model is released to secure a production spot. Also, some dealers may require you to have a solid purchase history before accepting a PTS order.

As for cost, it’s naturally expensive: about 1,644,000 yen for the GT3 and 1,466,000 yen for the Macan. This applies to the “Custom Colors” option where you select from the approved color list. If you go for the true “PTS” option, the “Sample Colors,” the cost doubles.

That means roughly around 3 million yen.

Though pricey, if you want to create a one-of-a-kind Porsche with a color that means a lot to you, choosing PTS is definitely worth considering.