TAOD goes COMO - Six Cars, One Lake, Our Road Trip

Some weekends are made for staying close to home. This one was not. From May 14th to May 17th, 2026, our crew loaded up six cars and pointed them south, toward Lake Como, for a few days of car culture, dolce vita, and the kind of road trip that stays with you long after the engines have cooled.

The Lineup

Half the fun of a trip like this is looking around the meeting point and seeing what everyone brought. Our convoy this time was a proper mix of German performance across two generations and two brands: a Porsche 996, a Porsche GT4 RS, a Porsche 997,  Mercedes SL, rounding out a six-car lineup that had a bit of everything — analog and digital, classic curves and modern aero and open-top cruisers. Six very different characters, one shared destination.

Snow on the San Bernardino

The plan was to cross into Italy via the San Bernardino Pass — one of those alpine routes that turns a simple drive into an event in itself. Reality had other ideas. What should have been a scenic mountain crossing turned into a snowy one, with flakes coming down over the pass and turning the drive into something a lot more dramatic than we'd bargained for. Not exactly what you want with a GT4 RS on semis, but it made for a road trip story none of us will forget — and a good reminder that the journey is rarely as predictable as the plan.

Arriving at the Lake

All the more reason the arrival felt so good. We rolled down out of the mountains and into a completely different world: mild air, blue water, and a house with a view straight out over Lake Como. By evening, all six cars were lined up in the driveway, framed by the lake behind them — one of those moments where you just stand there for a minute before going inside, because the view is too good not to.

Concorso d'Eleganza and Fuori Concorso

The days that followed were exactly what we'd come for. We spent time at both the Concorso d'Eleganza and Fuori Concorso, wandering between some of the most beautiful cars in the world, on lawns and along lakeside promenades that make Como such a perfect stage for events like these. Whether it was pre-war coachbuilt classics or the latest hypercar reveals, there was something new to admire at every turn — and no shortage of conversation with fellow enthusiasts who'd made the same pilgrimage from all over Europe.

Pizza, Dolce Vita, and Cars on Every Corner

Between the official events, we did what you're supposed to do in Como: slow down and enjoy it. One evening took us to Race Service in Como for pizza —  exactly the kind of place that fits the weekend's spirit. We wandered the town, sat by the water, and generally leaned into the dolce vita as much as possible. And everywhere we looked, there was another interesting car parked on another beautiful street — Como in Concorso week has a way of turning every corner into its own small car show.

Heading Home

By Sunday, it was time to point the six cars north again and head home, tired in the best way and already talking about who we'd bring next time. Snow on the pass, sunshine on the lake, incredible cars at every turn, and a group of friends who make the whole thing worth it — that's a road trip we'll be replaying for a long time.

Until the next Concorso, Como.