PCM on Boxster S - worth it?
Discussion
I had the use of PCM for a few days on a car Porsche Gb were kind enough to lend me & was impressed for about an hour,then turned it off for the rest of my time with the car.
If you go over to the Tuscan S forum,they are discussing this issue at mom.from what I have read I would be inclined to buy an after market system,you could use in any car & keep if you sell.Pcm is desirable but you would not get the money spent back at time to sell.the reason you see so many import / dealer cars fitted with it,is that they get more margin on higher specced cars.
If you go over to the Tuscan S forum,they are discussing this issue at mom.from what I have read I would be inclined to buy an after market system,you could use in any car & keep if you sell.Pcm is desirable but you would not get the money spent back at time to sell.the reason you see so many import / dealer cars fitted with it,is that they get more margin on higher specced cars.
Just a point - if that's a new Boxster S you're getting then the only Sat Nav system sir will be fitting will be PCM.
I wanted to go down the route of having a third party Becker system. Cheaper and for the most part just as good. After all..Becker make Porsche's stereos and so on.
BUT! I have it on good authority that the 03 model year changed over the wiring loom to use some sort of fibre-optic communications (!?!?!)
Anyway - the simple upshot is it will be more difficult than usual to fit a non-Porsche item to fit the slot.
As to the virtues of Sat Nav..well...you either know you need it...or you know you don't.
I am seriously considering a retro-fit of the system if they're prepared to do it. Touring with my wife reading the maps is just too awful a thing to contemplate.
Save yer marriage - get Sat Nav!
Of course - if your Missus doesn't get stressed, lose her way etc whilst giving you directions then you don't need it..do you.
I wanted to go down the route of having a third party Becker system. Cheaper and for the most part just as good. After all..Becker make Porsche's stereos and so on.
BUT! I have it on good authority that the 03 model year changed over the wiring loom to use some sort of fibre-optic communications (!?!?!)
Anyway - the simple upshot is it will be more difficult than usual to fit a non-Porsche item to fit the slot.
As to the virtues of Sat Nav..well...you either know you need it...or you know you don't.
I am seriously considering a retro-fit of the system if they're prepared to do it. Touring with my wife reading the maps is just too awful a thing to contemplate.
Save yer marriage - get Sat Nav!

Of course - if your Missus doesn't get stressed, lose her way etc whilst giving you directions then you don't need it..do you.
alanp said: thanks Herman! er, think I'll give it a miss
???????????????????????????????
I think you may have misunderstood me or do you really not want to read what we've all said about PCM in the past ? I was merely pointing out to you that there are
11 previous threads in which PCM has been discussed.
Apologies for trying to help !
Yeah, I think he meant that he had already decided to give PSM a miss, so therefore didn't need to review the earlier threads.
Searching the forum before asking a question is always a good idea, and if you hadn't mentioned an search, I would have done so myself.
LOL, you always seem to get a bit of friendly fire, like when you started that entertaining Our 'Enry discussion
Searching the forum before asking a question is always a good idea, and if you hadn't mentioned an search, I would have done so myself.
LOL, you always seem to get a bit of friendly fire, like when you started that entertaining Our 'Enry discussion

I think you may have misunderstood me or do you really not want to read what we've all said about PCM in the past?
Herman, I think you and others are getting your abbreviations mixed up - Alan was asking for opinions on PCM (Porsche Communication Management - i.e. Sat Nav), not PSM (Porsche Stability Management)!
...now, IMHO - PSM is essential, PCM waste of money.
>> Edited by argonaut on Saturday 25th January 23:14
PCM is worth it for me because I do a lot of business travelling in areas that I don't know.
But there are better aftermarket systems out there, especially if they're called "Becker" - if you can get them fitted.
If you do all your motoring in an area where you know your way around it is definitely nOT worth it.
Rgds, WalterU
>> Edited by WalterU on Sunday 26th January 15:13
But there are better aftermarket systems out there, especially if they're called "Becker" - if you can get them fitted.
If you do all your motoring in an area where you know your way around it is definitely nOT worth it.
Rgds, WalterU
>> Edited by WalterU on Sunday 26th January 15:13
argonaut said:
I think you may have misunderstood me or do you really not want to read what we've all said about PCM in the past?
Herman, I think you and others are getting your abbreviations mixed up - Alan was asking for opinions on PCM (Porsche Communication Management - i.e. Sat Nav), not PSM (Porsche Stability Management)!
...now, IMHO - PSM is essential, PCM waste of money.
>> Edited by argonaut on Saturday 25th January 23:14
With all due respect Argo

I agree with your sentiments on the two however. I have both and if you can only have one, then PSM is the one to go for.
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