[8833]

What is the experience with local Porsche clubs? Are they inclusive, or are they 911 oriented? I've never joined a Porsche club, maybe because I owned a 944 Turbo for decades.

Is the Porsche club a rich guys boasting experience? Showing off riches is just not for me. Car talk is. I have no idea of what to expect. I do have a Miata if the Porsche guys are too high brow for ordinary guys like me.

 

[XK4]

You should give your local chapter of the PCA a try. I'm a first time Porsche owner and was also a little wary. But I found my local PCA chapter to be very welcoming and open. There was a little bit of everything: 911's, Boxsters, Caymans, even the SUV's. It was definitely about the cars, not how much cash you might have. Very casual and easy going. Lots of car talk.

The PCA group was perhaps a little more "wine and cheese" than the "beer and burgers" of a Miata club meeting. Same kind of folks, just a little nicer eating places. I speak from some experience since when we lived in the DFW area I was a member of the Lone Star Miata Club... a very fun group.

 

[Semitone]

There is nothing highbrow about my CT based PCA (CVR). The crowd depends on which events you attend, IMO. I don’t think they discriminate against 718 owners. On the other hand, my skin is so thick, I probably wouldn’t even notice.

Monthly meeting is full of old guys, some probably confused by a water pump. HPDE crowd seems younger. I’m frequently the only Boxster or Cayman on coffee runs. ( I own both). Guys typicallly oogle over the usual suspects....spyders, GT cars, some nicely appointed air cooled...not my cars but I don’t feel like a second class citizen. Maybe just average but I know why I own the cars I do so if others don’t find them as interesting as I do, doesn’t matter to me.

Overall, the people are very friendly and helpful. Makes owning the cars a bit more fun since I don’t use them as daily drivers.

I have owned a Boxster for over ten years. Never joined PCA. When I bought my Macan, I felt I should join. Not sure why, maybe to try to get more use out of the car. I went to my first meeting with my Macan. I drive up, there must have been over 100 Porsche sports cars, mostly 911 variants. The parking attendants waived me out of my parking spot 200 yards away and gave me a VIP spot right in front.

 

[RussellHodgson]

I'm part of the CVR PCA group and also do DE events with NER and Metro. They all love the 718. I've had instructors ask to do ride alongs just so they can be in the car.


It doesn't matter what car you own. Everyone is there for the same reason - they love cars and love Porsches.

 

[Lakespeed]

Our PCA club is welcoming to everyone. In fact the 718’s are some of the newer ones and we have all models at our events. They even let the 914’s in. Go and enjoy.

 

[JakiChan]

I went on a drive with PCA. Boxsters/Caymans outnumbered 911s. And I wasn't the only 718.

 

[Porsche2018]

Our Hill Country PCA in Austin area is both inclusive and very friendly. No one cares what flavor of Porsche you drive but are just interested in the Porsche camaraderie.

 

[timlaw]

pretty similar experience of the crowd at my local chapter of PCGB

 

[8833]

Thanks guys. Much appreciated.

 

[aeronca65tl]

Coming in late here, but let me add my experience as a first-time Porsche owner and new club member:

Our local PCA is an excellent club and has been very welcoming to us and our 718 Cayman.

https://nnjr-pca.com/

Any notion that owning a new Cayman or Boxter is a "problem" isn't even close to true in my experience. I've made a number of new friends this year as a result and I we have enjoyed spending time with all of them.

Our club has lots of diverse activities which really helps: there are concourse events, road rallies, auto-cross events, track days, cruise night/car shows, "destination" trips, tech lectures, charity events and off road events (really, more of a very mild cruise in approved dirt roads in local forests).

And the events are open to current members no matter what kind of car they own. It's not unusual to see a Miata or Mustang at some of our PCA road rallies or auto-cross events. And I was invited to bring our Honda CRV to their off-road event....no problem.

Literally all of these events also end up as social events too. So there is something for everyone.

It helps that our local PCA is one of the older US PCA clubs. We have a large and loyal membership. One of the founders of our club was Lake Underwood, who is pretty well-known in American Porsche lore.

I initially joined because I felt the road rallies would be another car-oriented activity that my wife and I could easily do together. We might do even more with our local PCA but we already spend 40+ days a year on the road at SCCA and vintage races. We've done two PCA road rallies so far and they were great fun.

But we have also done some of the PCA destination events to interesting places and well as a concourse, car show and club lectures (I just went to see Judy Stropus speak at one of our PCA lectures....I chatted with her for at least 10 minutes afterwards).

 

[Luke718]

All those 911 guys are just jealous cuz we have the better car

 

[Porsche2018]

All those 911 guys are just jealous cuz we have the better car

Absolutely.......oh, BTW, would you be open for an even trade.

 

[rooster]

Same experience as stated above numerous times. Nothing but friendly folks wanting to talk about Porsches and other car related stuff at the local PCA events. I’m still getting used to being thirty years younger than just about everyone at the meetings but no one treats me any different for being younger or driving a 718.

I did not have the same experience with the Corvette crowd who I found arrogant. Maybe I was just unlucky in my interactions but I didn’t get involved after a few poor interactions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Grozk17]

As a long time BMWCCA member and more recently a PCA member I think most of above is true but anecdotal (as all of our individual experiences). My only negative (kinda of) experience was at the annual regional gathering in Eureka AR (Porsche Polooza). One of the events toward the end of the gathering is a “shine and show” that encompasses all models that are assigned a section by chassis/model (i.e. 356 way, 991 ave, etc). I kept looking for the “718” (or even Cayman) section. I was eventually directed to “go up there” (on the other parking lot significantly remote from all the “cool kids”). I felt like I was the last pick on the school yard baseball team. (I had the only 718 at this gathering of over 300 Porsches). I don’t think this is a reflection of the members in any way (and my other experiences have been positive) but just a story.

 

[901]

As a long time BMWCCA member and more recently a PCA member I think most of above is true but anecdotal (as all of our individual experiences). My only negative (kinda of) experience was at the annual regional gathering in Eureka AR (Porsche Polooza). One of the events toward the end of the gathering is a “shine and show” that encompasses all models that are assigned a section by chassis/model (i.e. 356 way, 991 ave, etc). I kept looking for the “718” (or even Cayman) section. I was eventually directed to “go up there” (on the other parking lot significantly remote from all the “cool kids”). I felt like I was the last pick on the school yard baseball team. (I had the only 718 at this gathering of over 300 Porsches). I don’t think this is a reflection of the members in any way (and my other experiences have been positive) but just a story.

Interesting. I am 300 miles from Eureka Springs and am contemplating going to Palooza this year. I doubt I’d enter the shine and show though. I’m more interested in participating in some of the drives. How did you enjoy the event, outside of the show?

 

[Baka1969]

I'd be the one ogling the bone stock 944s. Or even a 968.

 

[ArchiProf]

Interesting. I am 300 miles from Eureka Springs and am contemplating going to Palooza this year. I doubt I’d enter the shine and show though. I’m more interested in participating in some of the drives. How did you enjoy the event, outside of the show?

I am farther away but have visited that area and found numerous wonderful roads for driving. On topic, I have always felt welcome at PCA events in my 944 many years ago or more recently in my 2014 Cayman and now in my 2018 Cayman.

 

[Lakespeed]

Palooza is a great event for Porsche fans. I have been multiple times and always felt welcome. I’ve entered the fan favorite show each time in either a 951, 996T, or 74 911. However, I didn’t go this past year when I had a 718BS. I have always felt the show is a great opportunity to see a wide array of different models. You would enjoy many of the different drives thru the Ozarks.

 

[901]

I am farther away but have visited that area and found numerous wonderful roads for driving. On topic, I have always felt welcome at PCA events in my 944 many years ago or more recently in my 2014 Cayman and now in my 2018 Cayman.

I am familiar with the area, have toured there on motorcycles, a p-car, and other cars. It indeed has many great roads.

I have been a PCA member for 9 years and my local region is great. Our region’s social calendar is pretty busy. We have a diverse membership representing a diverse selection of models and afaik no one is treated as unwelcome for whatever model they drive.

My question was a bit off topic as I was wondering about Palooza in general from the perspective of @Grozk17.

 

[Malcolm E Cay]

Never had a problem. A Porsche owner is a Porsche owner be it a GT2 RS or a 1981 924.


Having a Miami Blue car helps attract new acquaintances at Porsche gatherings.