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<\/strong>. (991.2 GT3 manual-transmission owner)<\/span><\/p>\n \u30102\u3011I\u2019m 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\u2013Aomori and Tokyo\u2013Nagano\u2013Niigata\u2013Koriyama\u2013Tokyo. I\u2019ve 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)<\/span><\/p>\n \u30103\u3011The 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<\/strong>. My route took me to the spa town of Baden-Baden for an overnight stay, then through the Black Forest and back to Stuttgart.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Germany\u2019s approach to speed limits is extremely practical<\/strong>. The basic principle is that there\u2019s no speed limit; instead, appropriate limits are imposed where there\u2019s a real risk of an accident, such as in towns, on curves, or near roadworks.<\/p>\n As a result, people are very good about obeying speed limits\u2014and it can be dangerous not to. Then, once a restricted section ends, it\u2019s full throttle up to 180 km\/h<\/strong>. The contrast is striking. It made me think that a Porsche really belongs on German roads. (Tetsu)<\/span><\/p>\n \u30104\u3011I recently traveled to Germany and France. I drove from Munich to Stuttgart and Frankfurt on the Autobahn. My rental wasn\u2019t a Porsche, but a Volkswagen Touareg<\/strong>.<\/p>\n 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\u2014and of the level they\u2019re expected to deliver. A Porsche might have taken me even faster. (SN)<\/span><\/p>\n \u30105\u3011When I test-drove a manual Mazda Roadster, the first thing I noticed was that the accelerator pedal was positioned unusually far to the right<\/strong>. I usually drive cars such as the FIAT 500 and Boxster\u2014models originally designed for left-hand drive and converted to right-hand drive for Japan. They\u2019re often criticized for having pedals offset to the left and feeling unnatural.<\/p>\n Those cars were my first manual-transmission experiences, so the pedal layout never felt strange to me. I\u2019d grown used to what most people consider an unnatural pedal position, and I clearly remember being surprised by the Roadster\u2019s supposedly more natural pedal placement<\/strong>.<\/p>\n I haven\u2019t 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)<\/span><\/p>\n \u30106\u3011I test-drove the ND and found it fun even with modest power<\/strong>. That said, the positions of the accelerator, brake, and clutch pedals just didn\u2019t suit me. I think I\u2019d get used to them over time, but it seems they\u2019re 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)<\/span><\/p>\n \u30107\u3011My 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\u2019s Sport Exhaust system. Production is scheduled to end by the end of next year<\/strong>, so why not take one for a test drive? (hurtloker)<\/span><\/p>\n \u30108\u3011I\u2019m not sure when these started or who came up with them, but Royu has a few local customs and unwritten rules: So, there are all sorts of local customs! lol (Kurumania)<\/span><\/p>\n \u30109\u3011The 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\u2019s so much fun it genuinely blows me away<\/strong>. This blog was the first place I heard about Royu Driveway. I hope to take a drive there someday. (Ao)<\/span><\/p>\n \u301010\u3011Comparing Porsche and Alpina (which uses BMW brake pads)<\/span>, I\u2019ve always thought BMWs suffer more from brake dust. I couldn\u2019t take it anymore with my Alpina, so I switched to aftermarket low-dust pads<\/strong>. Maybe the difference in wheel design makes it seem worse than it is, though. (Woopah)<\/span><\/p>\n \u301011\u3011I think wheels on imported cars get dirty easily\u2014not just BMWs<\/strong>. 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\u2019s advice, I\u2019d say the most effective fix is to switch to low-dust brake pads<\/strong>. The brake feel may change slightly, but it makes cleaning so much easier. If you\u2019re interested, I hope that helps. (yone0531)<\/span><\/p>\n \u301012\u3011BMWs produce so much brake dust\u2014it\u2019s a real pain. The wheels get dirty before the body does. And when you clean them, black stains splatter all over your clothes. It\u2019s pretty upsetting, and they won\u2019t come out in the wash.<\/p>\n Low-dust brake pads are well worth considering<\/strong>. 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\u2019t think there\u2019s a major difference in stopping power<\/strong>. (That said, these are for street use.)<\/span><\/p>\n Quite a few BMW owners switch to low-dust brake pads. They make wheel cleaning much easier, so give them a try! (wrp930 suga)<\/span><\/p>\n \u301013\u3011Cleaning wheels is a pain, isn\u2019t 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\u2019t stand how dirty they\u2019d 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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n I\u2019m 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)<\/span><\/p>\n \u301014\u3011Of course, unlike Mercedes-Benz, Porsche is first and foremost a sports-car maker, with comfort added to that foundation. I understand the brand\u2019s history and approach to its cars perfectly well, but I really wish Porsche would replace the cruise-control stalk with buttons<\/strong>.<\/p>\n I\u2019m 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\u2019s setup just feels inconvenient. I suppose you could say that if you drive a Porsche, you should be doing the driving yourself! lol (4e)<\/span><\/p>\n \u301015\u3011The 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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n I was also looking closely at the Taycan\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019m looking forward to Porsche bringing a test-drive vehicle to Japan. (Ishi)<\/span><\/p>\n \u301016\u3011The Taycan is finally here. Somehow, it looks a little awkward unless it sits low to the ground (with that road-hugging stance)<\/span>. I\u2019m more excited about the wagon version.<\/p>\n When it comes to EVs, I love engines, but I\u2019m still looking forward to them. For trips where I\u2019m not driving for the pleasure of it, I\u2019ve recently started thinking that I\u2019d be perfectly happy to travel in an EV with autonomous driving. lol (Kurumania)<\/span><\/p>\n \u301017\u3011The 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 \u00a520 million.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cthe Panamera looks better.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m not sure the claimed 450 km of range is realistic unless you\u2019re very careful with the accelerator. Keep your foot down, and the battery drains quickly.<\/p>\n 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<\/strong>. I\u2019m looking forward to seeing the Taycan around town before long. (SN)<\/span><\/p>\n \u301019\u3011Someone 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\u2019s quite a hurdle. For general use, I suppose the first step will be setting up chargers in apartment buildings and other shared housing. (Tetsu)<\/span><\/p>\n \u301019\u3011My Panamera was delivered recently, and I\u2019m already appreciating what makes it special. I\u2019m still running it in, so I haven\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n I was amazed all over again by just how big it is<\/strong>! You don\u2019t notice it much while driving, but when you pull into a parking space, you think, \u201cWow, this thing is huge!\u201d I still get nervous every time I park it. I\u2019m thinking of going for a drive over the three-day weekend in September while I run it in, but I\u2019m a little concerned about parking at the hotel. (J11050)<\/span><\/p>\n \u301020\u3011My Panamera has finally passed 8,000 km, and I feel like the engine has moved up a notch. It seems more responsive\u2014rather than building speed with a smooth \u201cwhoosh,\u201d it now gets to the target speed in every rev range almost instantly. I\u2019m looking forward to seeing how it changes as the mileage increases.<\/p>\n I still haven\u2019t figured out how to use the navigation system properly (I can\u2019t set a destination by selecting a point on the map)<\/span>, but I\u2019m enjoying life with the Panamera so far. (How to Support a Life)<\/span><\/p>\n \u301021\u3011Today 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\u2014I think I\u2019ll be hooked for a while.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s one I recommend in return: Mimasaka Yamanami Road<\/strong>, a regional farm road in Okayama. Give it a try sometime. It offers about 30 km of uninterrupted, fast-flowing curves, and it\u2019s usually quiet\u2014perhaps because navigation systems don\u2019t guide you along farm roads. You may already know it, but I thought I\u2019d mention it. (Kazu Kogane Hills)<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ll 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\u2019d read in car magazines. Its incredible rigidity and acceleration were electrifying. The Cayenne Turbo\u2019s extraordinary performance made everything else seem far away.<\/p>\n Even now, every time I drive it, I\u2019m 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)<\/span><\/p>\n 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\u2014not 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u3053\u306e\u30dd\u30eb\u30b7\u30a7\u30d6\u30ed\u30b0\u306b\u9802\u3044\u305f\u30dd\u30eb\u30b7\u30a7\u30aa\u30fc\u30ca\u30fc\u306e\u30ea\u30a2\u30eb\u306a\u58f0\uff08\u30b3\u30e1\u30f3\u30c8\uff09\u3092\u307e\u3068\u3081\u3066\u5171\u6709\u3059\u308b\u7b2c9\u5f3e\u8a18\u4e8b\u3002\u30ed\u30fc\u30c9\u30b9\u30bf\u30fc\u3001\u30dd\u30eb\u30b7\u30a7911GT3\u3001\u30bf\u30a4\u30ab\u30f3\u3001\u30db\u30a4\u30fc\u30eb\u6d17\u6d44etc\u2026","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":14262,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=13958","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[183,201,232],"class_list":["post-37611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nocar-nolife","tag-porsche-911","tag-porsche-gt3","tag-232","en-US"],"yoast_head":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/IMG_0640-800x533.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDriving a Porsche in Germany<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/IMG_0087-800x600-800x600.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nMazda Roadster<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/IMG_4195-800x600.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAbarth 124 Spider<\/h4>\n
Royu Driveway<\/h4>\n
\n\u30fbFrom the toll booth to the lookout, take it easy. Don\u2019t open the exhaust valves or speed, and be considerate of nearby residents. (If someone reports you, the police will come straight to the lookout.)<\/span>
\n\u30fbIf you\u2019re heading down after 10 or 11 a.m., watch out for speed enforcement near the Okuike police box.
\n\u30fbSunday mornings from 8 to 11 are the busiest, but those who don\u2019t like crowds and are there mainly to drive actually show up around 6 and head home by 8.
\n\u30fbThe toll booth staff and Royu maintenance crew are often car enthusiasts. Some own Japanese sports cars, while others drive classics or supercars.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_4094-800x600.jpg\")
<\/p>\nManual-Transmission Cars<\/h4>\n
Cleaning BMW and Porsche Wheels<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/IMG_4314-800x600.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPorsche Cruise Control<\/h4>\n
Taycan<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/high_world_premiere_of_the_new_porsche_taycan_in_north_america_2019_porsche_ag-800x450.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPanamera<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/IMG_4913-800x533.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMimasaka Yamanami Road<\/h4>\n
Cayenne<\/h4>\n
A Porsche Blog Where Owners Share Their Stories<\/h3>\n