981 options you wish you had (not) specced and why?

981 options you wish you had (not) specced and why?

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Discussion

bcr5784

7,181 posts

151 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
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koorby said:
bks! You're not riding any clutch sitting on the brakes at lights with a PDK, where in earth did you get that idea? It's a DC automatic gearbox and they are designed to sit at lights for many minutes at a time with your foot on the brake.

As for not wanting to put your foot on the brakes at lights, that just does not make sense at all.... You really think you're annoying people behind you with your brake lights? What would you rather do, use the handbrake? This is 2015, not 1955.
I'm afraid you need to get your facts straight. A dual clutch box has (surprise, surprise) two MECHANICAL friction clutches - in the Porsche case two wet multiplate clutches of different sizes, but operated by a computer. In order to provide creep they slightly engage one of them (the larger one on first gear). I'm sure they have done the sums and the clutch will last quite a long time - but it will INEVITABLY wear the clutch to a degree. Friction clutches have undoubtedly got better since 1955 - but the laws of physics haven't. I personally wouldn't want to use creep continuously if the car was used for a great deal of traffic work. There is no NEED for creep (it was inevitable on torque converter boxes - just that those used to it have come to rely on it). I believe the latest GT3 doesn't do it - and I wish the Cayman didn't either.

As nsm3 does I prefer to put the box in neutral at longish stops - and if the handbrake wasn't in such as silly place and worked better I would do it all the time.

You may be happy blinding the guy behind at traffic lights - I just think it is inconsiderate. I'd rather people didn't do it to me, so I think it only right not to do it them.

Mario149

Original Poster:

7,774 posts

184 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
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supersport said:
People who sit at lights with their foot on the brake lights are complete nobs :roll eyes: There is nothing worse than having the high level brake light boring into your brain for minutes whilst sat at lights, they are very blinding. Just the same as fog lights are.
I think you guys might have delicate eyes silly I've never felt this was a problem when sat behind someone at lights and I live in London where we spend quite a bit of time doing it! hehe Brake lights are no where near comparable in brightness to rear fog lights otherwise they would be illegal as brake lights!

TDT

5,360 posts

125 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
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bcr5784 said:
I believe the latest GT3 doesn't do it - and I wish the Cayman didn't either.
This is correct - PDK-S on the 991 GT3 doesn't have any creep, and I too wish that the normal PDK didn't creep also.

Mario149

Original Poster:

7,774 posts

184 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
quotequote all
TDT said:
bcr5784 said:
I believe the latest GT3 doesn't do it - and I wish the Cayman didn't either.
This is correct - PDK-S on the 991 GT3 doesn't have any creep, and I too wish that the normal PDK didn't creep also.
Would it just be a software change to fix do we think? Or is it a mechanical difference?

ilduce

485 posts

133 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
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maxpower5 said:
ilduce said:
It's amazing that Porsche can still get away with making you pay extra for many things that are standard on cars half the price.
+1.

Its pathetic you get manual aircon in a car at this price point. The most basic of hatch backs come with climate control, auto lights and wipers etc.

Almost every Porsche has a minimum of 5k of options just to get the car to a usable spec.
I remember the salesman trying to get me to pay £150 just to have the headlamp washer covers colour-coded. I should have run away at that point.

My Golf has climate, radar cruise control, DAB radio, iphone connection, parking sensors front and rear, a rear wiper, led and cornering lights, alcantara sports seats, sports steering wheel, phone package, auto wipers, auto dim mirrors, four wheel drive... all standard and it cost half the price of a Cayman. Porsche really need to sort themselves out.


Adam B

27,899 posts

260 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
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Why? Your all still bought a Porsche and spent the extra on tight arsed options. So Porsche made more profit which is managements aim.

It's annoying but this will only change if people start buying other brands which offer better value

FrankCayman

2,132 posts

219 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
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Adam B said:
Why? Your all still bought a Porsche and spent the extra on tight arsed options. So Porsche made more profit which is managements aim.

It's annoying but this will only change if people start buying other brands which offer better value
I like the fact that Porsche give you the option to build your spec. I see it as better value.

I'd rather have a lightly spec'd Cayman at £44K than one the Porsche build with all the options on that I don't want and sell for a list price of £50K. Base Caymans are a massive bargain when you consider they are less than some 2 series BMW's.

Let's face it, trying to compare a Golf with a Porsche is pretty silly really. It's rather like saying 'My new build 3 bedroom detached property has 3 ensuite bathrooms and only cost £250,000, when there's a Barn conversion up the road made out of old wood for £600,000 that doesn't'

Hmmm, probably not a great analogy, but you get my point!

J12KJR

2,860 posts

249 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
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Mario149 said:
supersport said:
People who sit at lights with their foot on the brake lights are complete nobs :roll eyes: There is nothing worse than having the high level brake light boring into your brain for minutes whilst sat at lights, they are very blinding. Just the same as fog lights are.
I think you guys might have delicate eyes silly I've never felt this was a problem when sat behind someone at lights and I live in London where we spend quite a bit of time doing it! hehe Brake lights are no where near comparable in brightness to rear fog lights otherwise they would be illegal as brake lights!
As one of those poor souls with the sensitive eyes I do find this trait to be a pain.As brake lights are limited by wattage rather than lumens(brightness) it is more apparent that manufacturers putting LED brake lights in (Merc) don't worry about the brightness.
Some of the latest cars are stupidly bright and whether this is the case or not why has the practice of putting on a handbrake disappeared?

maxpower5

30 posts

117 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
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It is poor form sitting with the brakes on while stationary. At night it is dazzling.

The only time I do it is when an attractive female is behind and I press the brakes to illuminate her face to enjoy in the rear view mirror!

You would also fail your driving test if you didn't apply the handbrake when stopped.

Mario149

Original Poster:

7,774 posts

184 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
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maxpower5 said:
You would also fail your driving test if you didn't apply the handbrake when stopped.
True, but there are quite a number of things you would fail your driving test on which aren't strictly applicable to the real world. And I say this after going out with my gf's instructor for a test (I passed in 1999) on a proper route and everything the other day for a bit of a laugh - we took the Ferrari hehe I passed btw, 3 minors party

cibble10

722 posts

125 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
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koorby said:
Only thing I skimped on in the options list was PCCB and heated steering wheel - both which I should have included because with the roof down in winter the leather steering wheel is damn cold and the Porsche brake disc pads really generate a LOT of brake dust.
I went for the heated multifunctional steering wheel which I am pleased with EXCEPT for the bloody gear change buttons (PDK). Thought I would adapt but they are just not intuitive! Agree re PCCBs. I might have splashed out JUST to avoid the quantity of brake dust which I have never experienced before... frown

cibble10

722 posts

125 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
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miskalachi said:
Called my OPC on Friday to discuss this whole climate control disguised as dual zone etc. and I asked if it was possible to add it to my car as its not gone to build yet but was locked in on their system. They emailed Porsche and they have said I have a few days to add any additional options / remove options.

So would you all advise that I add dual zone climate? Is it much better than the standard ac system and will I notice I huge difference?

Also, I didn't add PTV to my original spec because I wouldn't be tracking the car a lot but the more I've read about it, people seem to say it helps traction in the wet and at low speed cornering. For people that have PTV, would you tick the option box again or leave it out and save £900? I've got quite a sporty spec: Manual, x73, sports buckets
I have the dual zone climate control in my BGTS and it works well. A pity there is nothing in between this and the basic system. I would not be happy without it.


koorby

175 posts

152 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
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I've been driving for 34 years and never once have I engaged the handbrake at a red light nor was I taught to do so. In fact none of my friends or family do either so there seems to be a vocal minority here.

Neither have I ever once been 'blinded' by brake lights from the car in front; some folks must have very very sensitive eyes.

Most drivers in Asia, USA, Australia and NZ drive automatics and trust me, they hold their feet on the foot brake at lights, it would be illogical not to do so in an automatic. It's only when I moved over to the UK three years ago that I realised just how old school and stuck in the 1950's this country has become with a vast number of people still holding onto the antiquated belief that driving a manual is more sporty or gives you more 'control'. First thing I did was get my Brit wife an automatic and convince most of her family to do the same; no more dreary and tiresome family arguments about the pros and cons since none of them would ever go back to a manual now.

Incidentally if you have PDK and are driving in the city or motorway slow traffic, the stop/start function of the engine would negate any supposed wear on the clutches since drive is disengaged when the engine is stopped. I guess a moot point then?

maxpower5

30 posts

117 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
quotequote all
koorby said:
I've been driving for 34 years and never once have I engaged the handbrake at a red light nor was I taught to do so.
Did you learn in an automatic?

bcr5784

7,181 posts

151 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
quotequote all
koorby said:
Incidentally if you have PDK and are driving in the city or motorway slow traffic, the stop/start function of the engine would negate any supposed wear on the clutches since drive is disengaged when the engine is stopped. I guess a moot point then?
While that is true, that function is also a PITA. It requires you to brake to a standstill, which is not comfortable for passengers (and in the absence of creep wouldn't be necessary). And in slow moving traffic the constant starting and stopping of the engine irritates the hell out of my other half - and grates on me a bit too.

Adam B

27,899 posts

260 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
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FrankCayman said:
I like the fact that Porsche give you the option to build your spec. I see it as better value.

I'd rather have a lightly spec'd Cayman at £44K than one the Porsche build with all the options on that I don't want and sell for a list price of £50K. Base Caymans are a massive bargain when you consider they are less than some 2 series BMW's.

Let's face it, trying to compare a Golf with a Porsche is pretty silly really. It's rather like saying 'My new build 3 bedroom detached property has 3 ensuite bathrooms and only cost £250,000, when there's a Barn conversion up the road made out of old wood for £600,000 that doesn't'

Hmmm, probably not a great analogy, but you get my point!
Agree up to a point but some options just take the piss, having non-automatic aircon rather than automatic climate control was possible in this day and age, until Porsche went backwards on this from the 987/997

For example metallic paint and rear wiper should be NCO, floor mats should be included, and the cost of leather interiors is a joke

J12KJR

2,860 posts

249 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
quotequote all
koorby said:
I've been driving for 34 years and never once have I engaged the handbrake at a red light nor was I taught to do so. In fact none of my friends or family do either so there seems to be a vocal minority here.

Neither have I ever once been 'blinded' by brake lights from the car in front; some folks must have very very sensitive eyes.

Most drivers in Asia, USA, Australia and NZ drive automatics and trust me, they hold their feet on the foot brake at lights, it would be illogical not to do so in an automatic. It's only when I moved over to the UK three years ago that I realised just how old school and stuck in the 1950's this country has become with a vast number of people still holding onto the antiquated belief that driving a manual is more sporty or gives you more 'control'. First thing I did was get my Brit wife an automatic and convince most of her family to do the same; no more dreary and tiresome family arguments about the pros and cons since none of them would ever go back to a manual now.

Incidentally if you have PDK and are driving in the city or motorway slow traffic, the stop/start function of the engine would negate any supposed wear on the clutches since drive is disengaged when the engine is stopped. I guess a moot point then?
Well obviously as you have been driving for 1 more year than me you must know best. I was taught to use the handbrake and continue to do so whether I am in a manual or an auto.
You won't change my stuck in the 50's antiquated view that it is better for the transmission and shows common courtesy to other drivers.

FrankCayman

2,132 posts

219 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
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J12KJR said:
it is better for the transmission and shows common courtesy to other drivers.
agree

FrankCayman

2,132 posts

219 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
quotequote all
cibble10 said:
I went for the heated multifunctional steering wheel which I am pleased with EXCEPT for the bloody gear change buttons (PDK). Thought I would adapt but they are just not intuitive! Agree re PCCBs. I might have splashed out JUST to avoid the quantity of brake dust which I have never experienced before... frown
I have a manual so the issue doesn't effect me, but I do feel your predicament.

I've just returned a loner today which had PDK with the Paddles rather than buttons. The paddles are a far more logical and superior way to change gear with a PDK.....but I did miss the multifunction steering wheel terribly....plus you end up with 2 paddles and 4 stalks...it looked a right mess!!

Do you think you may change the steering wheel? Such a shame you're not totally happy with the spec.

J12KJR

2,860 posts

249 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
quotequote all
FrankCayman said:
cibble10 said:
I went for the heated multifunctional steering wheel which I am pleased with EXCEPT for the bloody gear change buttons (PDK). Thought I would adapt but they are just not intuitive! Agree re PCCBs. I might have splashed out JUST to avoid the quantity of brake dust which I have never experienced before... frown
I have a manual so the issue doesn't effect me, but I do feel your predicament.

I've just returned a loner today which had PDK with the Paddles rather than buttons. The paddles are a far more logical and superior way to change gear with a PDK.....but I did miss the multifunction steering wheel terribly....plus you end up with 2 paddles and 4 stalks...it looked a right mess!!

Do you think you may change the steering wheel? Such a shame you're not totally happy with the spec.
whilst I am no auto electrician logic suggests that as they are just switches you should be able to change round the wiring so that the push becomes a down shift and the pull becomes an up shift. I realise that the buttons would be engraved incorrectly but it would be a small price to pay for an intuitive solution.
Someone will probably be along soon to say it isn't that simple.