You don’t need a Porsche Taycan roof tent. But you want one

I’ve never camped in my life, so when someone at Porsche asked me if I slept in a roof tent in the Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo during the Petit Le Mans race, I naturally said yes. First, because I thought it might be funny; Two, because I’m really curious about camping.

Camping at the racetrack has practical benefits: it saves money and time. Your only cost is the one-time cost of your equipment, and once you’re on the trail, you’re on the trail. You can stay and hang out as late as you want, avoiding the traffic the next morning. Winning.

So, I thought, “Why not?” Try camping with someone else’s fancy gear, and if it goes poorly, I’ll make a great story out of it. If all goes well, there are new possibilities.

The first thing you should know when you attend one of America’s biggest sports car races with a Porsche-branded tent atop a Porsche station wagon is that you’re going to get a lot of attention. Rooftop tents have been around for a few years now, and there are plenty of tents dotted around Road Atlanta, but as far as I can tell, nothing tops the Taycan Turbo S. And nothing with Porsche 911 R logos on the sides.

You get a mixture of fascination and astonishment. Many will come and ask you who you are, what your deal is, and if this is really what Porsche is selling. More will want to climb the ladder and see what’s inside once the canopy opens. People will want to know more about the car and also how much it all costs. They will refuse when you tell them.

For better or worse, me and this crazy machine were the center of attention. I enjoyed it, but I saw it getting old.

Porsche Tequipment started selling rooftop tents in 2022, and compared to others on the market, they are quite expensive. Suncoast Porsche He sells it for about $6,400. This does not include shipping from Germany. The most expensive rooftop tent in Thule, which is much larger than this one, costs $3,199. But it says “Porsche” so that is.

I can’t compare this to any other tent I’ve slept in, because, you know. But I can say I was reasonably comfortable. This tent is designed for two people, and in my case, I slept here alone and had room for my overnight bag, backpack, and lots of other gear. It comes with a mattress pad, which was a bit firm, so I’ll probably upgrade to something a little thicker. Or an air mattress. But I can sleep almost anywhere as long as it’s flat, so the hard floor didn’t bother me too much.

There is also a beautiful skylight and side windows, all with mosquito nets. So you can enjoy the view or squeeze everything in for privacy. On one of the interior sides of the tent, an illustration of mountains is printed on the surface. With a good sleeping bag, I was warm, and the tent did a good job of blocking out the huge floodlights that illuminate the trail at night. Some cheap 3M earplugs took care of the noise.

Funnily enough, I’ve never driven a Taycan with the roof tent attached, Porsche brought it to the track for me. I’m told you notice the extra weight, around 123 pounds, and there’s a little extra wind noise. But the Taycan Turbo S’s low center of gravity, ferocious power, and active suspension make it as uncompromising a hauler as can be.

Going for the Cross Turismo allowed us to fit a massive Yeti cooler into the trunk, as well as six folding chairs, a fire pit, logs, and s’mores-making supplies. (Side note, introducing some Germans to the wonders of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate was invaluable. They were horrified.)

Perhaps that is the true joy of camping. Sitting by the fire, beer in one hand, toasted marshmallow in the other, with friends old and new, model race cars hurtling along the Atlanta back straight. The roof tent turns this Taycan from a means of transportation into a shelter and social channel.

Do you need a Porsche branded tent? Of course not, but it’s cool, and putting it on a Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo of all things makes it even cooler. It’s a great conversation starter, and if you’re camping at the racetrack alone, it’s not a bad thing.

Everyone, including me, thought this whole gambit was funny, but other than interest, it was fairly uneventful. Almost so disappointing. It was just a fun time.