Help! Porsche Experience center LA

[Carguy87]

Hey guys my wife recently posited the idea of going to LA for my birthday in ‘25 and booking a driving experience at the Porsche Experience Center. I had the pleasure of doing some track driving at SpeedVegas in ‘21 and it was an absolute joy, so the idea of doing a track day again sounds like a blast!

My questions for my esteemed TRF brethren are: Anyone done it before? Recommendations on which cars / packages to drive? The experiences vary in price from several hundred to several thousand based on car(s) selected and duration. Would love any input anyone has as truthfully while I’ve always admired Porsches I honestly don’t have a deep knowledge of the difference in models and don’t know what would be the most fun/ best value to book.

Also for anyone that has been there would it be child friendly for my wife to hang out with our young son while I drive?

Thanks everyone!!

[BraveBold]

Couple questions to inform a recommendation:

1) Is this purely for the fun of the experience or do you have any interest in picking up a Porsche soon?

2) How experienced are you on tracks? Is it just the vegas session?

If purely for the fun of it and with limited track experience I’d suggest one of the 718 or GT4 options, up to the GT3.

With more prior track experience I’d suggest the GT4 RS or GT3 RS.

I’d avoid any 911 turbos (model name turbos), larger cars or the standard carreras. I’d only consider those cars if I was exploring options to purchase.

[superdog]

I’ve done it. It was glorious. Loads of fun.

It was part of a rally, so I don’t know the package.

But it was the panamera turbo S 0-100 ish. Fast. Neck breaking.

718’s through the cones.

911’s on the track like environment.

And 911’s on the skid pads where you practice drifting.

I highly recommend doing this. As you’d imagine they are extremely professional. And the cars are all awesome.

I smiled the entire time I was there. So. Much. Fun.

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by superdog

I’ve done it. It was glorious. Loads of fun.

It was part of a rally, so I don’t know the package.

But it was the panamera turbo S 0-100 ish. Fast. Neck breaking.

718’s through the cones.

911’s on the track like environment.

And 911’s on the skid pads where you practice drifting.

I highly recommend doing this. As you’d imagine they are extremely professional. And the cars are all awesome.

I smiled the entire time I was there. So. Much. Fun.

I'm thinking of doing this with the missus for our anniversary next year. Do you know if they have an age limit (we are older than dirt)?

[Carguy87]

Originally Posted by BraveBold

Couple questions to inform a recommendation:

1) Is this purely for the fun of the experience or do you have any interest in picking up a Porsche soon?

2) How experienced are you on tracks? Is it just the vegas session?

If purely for the fun of it and with limited track experience I’d suggest one of the 718 or GT4 options, up to the GT3.

With more prior track experience I’d suggest the GT4 RS or GT3 RS.

I’d avoid any 911 turbos (model name turbos), larger cars or the standard carreras. I’d only consider those cars if I was exploring options to purchase.

Purely for fun; as much as I admire Porsches I don’t have any intentions of purchasing one in the foreseeable future, so driving a certain model because of a purchase interest won’t factor into which car(s) I chose to drive.

Limited track experience; done a couple other track drives but would definitely classify myself as a beginner for the purposes of selecting a certain driving experience.

Thanks!!

[Carguy87]

Originally Posted by superdog

I’ve done it. It was glorious. Loads of fun.

It was part of a rally, so I don’t know the package.

But it was the panamera turbo S 0-100 ish. Fast. Neck breaking.

718’s through the cones.

911’s on the track like environment.

And 911’s on the skid pads where you practice drifting.

I highly recommend doing this. As you’d imagine they are extremely professional. And the cars are all awesome.

I smiled the entire time I was there. So. Much. Fun.

Thanks Seth!! That was my experience in Vegas; had so much fun so it got my wheels turning when my wife suggested it.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Maleg

I'm thinking of doing this with the missus for our anniversary next year. Do you know if they have an age limit (we are older than dirt)?

Lmao. That’s funny.

I don’t know.

But I doubt it. I hope you do it. It so much fun.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Carguy87

Thanks Seth!! That was my experience in Vegas; had so much fun so it got my wheels turning when my wife suggested it.

Do it!

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by superdog

Lmao. That’s funny.

I don’t know.

But I doubt it. I hope you do it. It so much fun.

We did Cedar Point this year. Rollercoaster capital of the world. One vomit comet after another for two days straight. I'm looking forward to a tamer rush next year. Driving fast cars on the track looks like a blast.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Maleg

We did Cedar Point this year. Rollercoaster capital of the world. One vomit comet after another for two days straight. I'm looking forward to a tamer rush next year. Driving fast cars on the track looks like a blast.

It’s very tame. Definitely not a racetrack.

All very regulated. Still fun though.

[7sins]

I've gone a few times, best bang for buck was the GT4 IMO. Make sure you pick the package where you get to drive as some packages only the instructor drives. Have lunch at 917 when you are done. IMO would skip the simulators. Haven't been in a few years but it will be a very different experience than SpeedVegas.

[Carguy87]

Originally Posted by 7sins

I've gone a few times, best bang for buck was the GT4 IMO. Make sure you pick the package where you get to drive as some packages only the instructor drives. Have lunch at 917 when you are done. IMO would skip the simulators. Haven't been in a few years but it will be a very different experience than SpeedVegas.

Awesome thanks B! Lol it’s funny you mention 917 my wife saw a TikTok about it and was like “we should go have lunch at this place next time we’re in LA; I guess it’s attached to some car thing?”

That’s how we got started on it. Thanks for the tip I definitely want to pick an experience where I drive. Have been on a few hot laps with professional drivers and while it’s a thrill, driving myself (albeit with a much worse lap time) is far more enjoyable.

You mentioned it’ll be much different; is that due to it being considerably “up market” from the Vegas experiences or something unique to the brand?

[Carguy87]

Originally Posted by Maleg

We did Cedar Point this year. Rollercoaster capital of the world. One vomit comet after another for two days straight. I'm looking forward to a tamer rush next year. Driving fast cars on the track looks like a blast.

Funny enough that’s a place I want to go back to so bad! Haven’t been since I was about 6. When my son is old enough / tall enough I want to fly him out there for a roller coaster weekend with his old man.

[sampelligrino]

I went to PEC LA when it first opened, great place but small and makes sense only as part of a much broader "LA" itinerary, wouldn't suggest anyone to visit solely for it..PEC ATL on the other hand is massive and can spend a whole day there

That being said I'd highly highly *highly* encourage a visit to the Petersen Automotive museum as part of an LA stop. Also it is now insane to get reservations at Restaurant 917 at PEC LA (2nd level), but if you can plan ahead of time and find a slot, encourage that as well! The cafe on the main level didn't do much for me

[sampelligrino]

Originally Posted by 7sins

I've gone a few times, best bang for buck was the GT4 IMO. Make sure you pick the package where you get to drive as some packages only the instructor drives. Have lunch at 917 when you are done. IMO would skip the simulators. Haven't been in a few years but it will be a very different experience than SpeedVegas.

x2 to this as well, I've done SpeedVegas as well where the instructors want you to push push push on a bigger track, there's outright speed, and broad selection of true supercars

PEC LA felt like a rollercoaster ride that ended in 30 seconds because the "track" if you can call it that is small, and mainly twisty aside from 1 (?) straight and launch point, but still very fun.. as for car choice definitely anything of the GT-line if possible (3, 3RS, 4, 4RS)

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by Carguy87

Funny enough that’s a place I want to go back to so bad! Haven’t been since I was about 6. When my son is old enough / tall enough I want to fly him out there for a roller coaster weekend with his old man.

You'll both love it. We stayed on property. It was very affordable and we walked from our rooms right into the park. Way better than our Disney experience, both in thrills and costs.

[Carguy87]

Originally Posted by sampelligrino

x2 to this as well, I've done SpeedVegas as well where the instructors want you to push push push on a bigger track, there's outright speed, and broad selection of true supercars

PEC LA felt like a rollercoaster ride that ended in 30 seconds because the "track" if you can call it that is small, and mainly twisty aside from 1 (?) straight and launch point, but still very fun.. as for car choice definitely anything of the GT-line if possible (3, 3RS, 4, 4RS)

Thanks!

[Carguy87]

Originally Posted by sampelligrino

I went to PEC LA when it first opened, great place but small and makes sense only as part of a much broader "LA" itinerary, wouldn't suggest anyone to visit solely for it..PEC ATL on the other hand is massive and can spend a whole day there

That being said I'd highly highly *highly* encourage a visit to the Petersen Automotive museum as part of an LA stop. Also it is now insane to get reservations at Restaurant 917 at PEC LA (2nd level), but if you can plan ahead of time and find a slot, encourage that as well! The cafe on the main level didn't do much for me

Hmmm…. Maybe just go to the ATL instead….wheels are turning lol.

[sampelligrino]

Originally Posted by Carguy87

Hmmm…. Maybe just go to the ATL instead….wheels are turning lol.

If you're really looking to center your experience around a Porsche Experience Center, 1000x for PEC ATL

If you're looking at visiting LA for a myriad of reasons (traffic, amazing restaurants, shopping, nature/scenery, etc) then adding PEC LA to the list would definitely not hurt, but I wouldn't form a trip to LA mainly for the Porsche Experience Center here because it's tiny and honestly after a few different track options and a meal if you can get into 917, you'd be done in half a day