How one fan exported a Porsche 911 from New York to Germany

A car making memories both sides of the Atlantic

10 March 2023

Carmine Red Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS by fishing nets

When John Pressman and his partner moved from the United States to Germany, it meant leaving behind his beloved 911 Carrera 4 GTS. But as he recounts, it was merely a case of we’ll meet again

Stick or twist, export or shift

A couple of years ago, John Pressman was faced with a dilemma. He and his girlfriend were moving from New York City to Hamburg in Germany. The contents of the house were sorted – but there was something bright red and four-wheeled outside his house that required a decision. And quickly. What was he going to do with his car? “But this wasn’t just any car,” says John. “It was my first Porsche – a manual 2018 Carrera 4 GTS in Carmine Red – and the car that helped me get through cancer earlier that year.” Just how do you export a Porsche 911 that already means so much to you, back to where it was born, he began to ponder.

There were differences of opinion among family and friends. “Sell it and buy another in Germany,” some people said. Exporting a car can prove to be an expensive business, so selling it might have been the best financial decision. But for John, a car like a 911 means much more than that. “In this era of YouTube car bloggers, it’s easy to view these machines as replaceable or as entities to be traded in for the next latest and greatest product,” he says.

“I just couldn’t wrap my head around that option,” he continues. “In the time that I had owned the car, I had developed an attachment to it, putting thousands of miles on the clock. We travelled to the coast of Maine, Pittsburgh, the Long Island peninsula, Saratoga Springs [in upstate New York] and on countless day trips in the tri-state area.” When it came to whether to export a Porsche 911 or not, recalling these memories ensured that it soon didn’t feel like much of a dilemma at all.

Carmine Red Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS rear three-quarter view — John’s 911 Carrera 4 GTS, just before it headed from New York state to northern Germany

Export a Porsche 911: a decision is made

“The rims have been scuffed and repaired, the windshield cracked by an errant rock and replaced – so the car and I had already been through some ordeals,” John recalls, “but that just added more personal value to me. Every time I got in it, there was such a sense of occasion that I had to pinch myself to make sure it was not a dream.” This was his car and he decided it needed to stay that way. So he contacted the team at Manhattan Motorcars, the Porsche dealership in downtown New York City, and made arrangements to send the 911 to their new home in Germany.

Carmine Red Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS side rear view — “Every time I got in it, I had to pinch myself to make sure it was not a dream”

The process of clearing customs in the port of Hamburg to export his Porsche 911 took over a month. How did John feel about a whole month without driving it? It was a challenge to say the least. But those memories he created with the 911 were so vivid, they kept him going. “Every time I saw the spare key in my bedroom, I get a jolt of adrenaline in anticipation of the next time I’d turn on the ignition and hear that glorious twin-turbocharged boxer six come to life.” Having made that journey back across the Atlantic to its spiritual home came with the promise of a whole new set of adventures in their new country.

“It may not be my last 911,” says John, “but this one is certainly in for the long haul.”

Carmine Red Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS front three-quarter view — Exporting your 911 may seem daunting, but it brings along ready-made memories with it

1972 Porsche 914 in Signal Orange on California beach

What is the Porsche 914?

From its unusual history to its intriguing design and enduring legacy, here’s everything you need to know about the charming Porsche 914

YouTuber Karl Conrad and Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo

What’s the new Taycan like to drive? Content creator Karl Conrad takes the wheel

With a love of sportscars and technology, Karl Conrad was the perfect choice to test drive the new Taycan in Germany – with some special Porsche behind-the-scenes access thrown in

Close-up of red 2024 Porsche Panamera GTS driving

First look: the new 2024 Panamera GTS and Turbo S E-Hybrid

The new Panamera GTS and Turbo S E-Hybrid have been launched, slotting in at the top of the model range. Find all about these sporty and luxurious models