So true. I'm on my third 911 with PCM and it is still surely trailing the modern UX, especially iOS, by a decade or more. Pathetic. Especially considering the cost.
Most annoying, and frankly dangerous, is the number of steps required to do anything: 2, 3 times the number of steps to achieve the same results in iOS, such as selecting music via an iPod.
Porsche has one of the most outdated infotainment interfaces on the market. I've been car shopping for the past year and have considered a pre-owned 991 many times.. but the infotainment system is one of the reasons I've continued to look elsewhere. MB Command, BMW iDrive, Audi MMI.. hell even Chryler's Uconnect system available in $20K Dodge vehicles all seem generations ahead of Porsche PCM. The ridiculously outdated tech makes it hard sell on a $60K preowned vehicle.
So, despite years of trying, no auto maker offers CarPlay at this time, correct?
I believe Ferrari has had CarPlay in vehicles for the past year. Lambroghini or some other very expensive maker also offers.
Hyundai will be the first mass market maker to offer it. 2016 Sonata's (and other Hyundai vehicles) are supposed to support both Apple Carplay and Google's Android Auto. Look for 2016's to hit the lot in a couple of months.
Porsche has historically been a low volume brand, and still makes fewer than 200K cars/year. They have to pick and choose where to invest their R&D $$, and they have a limited ability to amortize their investments across their various models. Their emphasis has been and will continue to be on performance, which is a priority that their core customers agree with in principle. Stripping a car down to the minimum that is required to go fast safely is a core Porsche value dating back to the original 356 Speedster, so the lack of Bluetooth audio streaming in a $100K + car isn't so egregious, even if it is standard equipment in a Hyundai Elantra. Of course, Ferrari operates under many of the same restrictions and has adopted CarPlay, but they have more profit per car to work with when making these tradeoffs.
Infotainment systems weren't historically a priority for Porsche, with design usually outsourced to Becker, maybe with some Bose co-branding. Now that SUVs and "sports sedans" constitute the majority of their sales and profits, Porsche is paying more attention to creature comforts, and this will undoubtedly trickle down to the Carrera, Cayman, and Boxster models.
FWIW, I have a later model 911, and find the PCM 3.1 in my car to be entirely adequate. I have iPhone integration, good enough Nav, Bluetooth phone integration, and OK sound. With the power plant right behind me and the Sport exhaust engaged, there isn't much opportunity for critical listening.
Comments
Steve used to drive two powder blue Porsche Boxters to work.
At the same time? Steve was truly capable of miracles!
He rode them like dolphins, and steered them with an iPad.
So true. I'm on my third 911 with PCM and it is still surely trailing the modern UX, especially iOS, by a decade or more. Pathetic. Especially considering the cost.
Most annoying, and frankly dangerous, is the number of steps required to do anything: 2, 3 times the number of steps to achieve the same results in iOS, such as selecting music via an iPod.
I'll believe when I see it.
Porsche has one of the most outdated infotainment interfaces on the market. I've been car shopping for the past year and have considered a pre-owned 991 many times.. but the infotainment system is one of the reasons I've continued to look elsewhere. MB Command, BMW iDrive, Audi MMI.. hell even Chryler's Uconnect system available in $20K Dodge vehicles all seem generations ahead of Porsche PCM. The ridiculously outdated tech makes it hard sell on a $60K preowned vehicle.
So, despite years of trying, no auto maker offers CarPlay at this time, correct?
I believe Ferrari has had CarPlay in vehicles for the past year. Lambroghini or some other very expensive maker also offers.
Hyundai will be the first mass market maker to offer it. 2016 Sonata's (and other Hyundai vehicles) are supposed to support both Apple Carplay and Google's Android Auto. Look for 2016's to hit the lot in a couple of months.
....speaking for myself, the next car I buy will have CarPlay or I will hold on to my current vehicle until that happens.
That's me too. I never even looked at a Ford b/c of MS Sync. I would be hard pressed to get a Tesla b/c of Android, too.
If they don't have CarPlay, I'll either wait or get a model that does.
Best.
Some interesting comments about Porsche here.
Porsche has historically been a low volume brand, and still makes fewer than 200K cars/year. They have to pick and choose where to invest their R&D $$, and they have a limited ability to amortize their investments across their various models. Their emphasis has been and will continue to be on performance, which is a priority that their core customers agree with in principle. Stripping a car down to the minimum that is required to go fast safely is a core Porsche value dating back to the original 356 Speedster, so the lack of Bluetooth audio streaming in a $100K + car isn't so egregious, even if it is standard equipment in a Hyundai Elantra. Of course, Ferrari operates under many of the same restrictions and has adopted CarPlay, but they have more profit per car to work with when making these tradeoffs.
Infotainment systems weren't historically a priority for Porsche, with design usually outsourced to Becker, maybe with some Bose co-branding. Now that SUVs and "sports sedans" constitute the majority of their sales and profits, Porsche is paying more attention to creature comforts, and this will undoubtedly trickle down to the Carrera, Cayman, and Boxster models.
FWIW, I have a later model 911, and find the PCM 3.1 in my car to be entirely adequate. I have iPhone integration, good enough Nav, Bluetooth phone integration, and OK sound. With the power plant right behind me and the Sport exhaust engaged, there isn't much opportunity for critical listening.