Porsche's Owner Tracker System Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Discussion
My new GT3 came with Porsche's own version of Tracker - can't remember what they call it. Porsche have, quite rightly I suppose, addressed the problem inherent in existing systems, namely that if someone nicks your keys and then your car you won't know it's stolen until you discover it's missing, which could be a long time after the theft. With the Porsche system you get a seperate card which the car recognises. If you drive off without this card - even though you are using the keys - the system reports the car as stolen. So, if some whatsit breaks into your house, nicks your keys and then your car he's going to get caught. Trouble is obviously the card is specifically designed not to fit on your key ring so now in addition to the morning 'where's my car keys' pantomime there's the extra 'where's my card thingy' dance aswell! Apparently some owners are getting round this by leaving the card in the car but, if your insurance company have adjusted your premium to take into account a tracker system doing this will probably invalidate your insurance not to mention making having the system fairly pointless. Blxxxy thing doesn't fit in cheque card holder either!
Probably the best Porsche in the world! 
fieldl said:
Does the car not fit in your wallet ?
Local dealer gives a little porsche key holder/wallet thingy with the card in it and the key attached to a velcro loop thing so you can remove it. £35 from the dealer.....
Bloody hell, how big's your wallet - I'd have to at least snap the rear spoiler off!Local dealer gives a little porsche key holder/wallet thingy with the card in it and the key attached to a velcro loop thing so you can remove it. £35 from the dealer.....
The card is quite thick too - if you stuff it tightly in your wallet there's every chance that the 'off' button will be depressed. Yes the key holder/wallet thing is v.nice but pointless as you're meant to keep key and card apart. I'm being picky I know. Edited by Pugsey on Monday 27th November 22:38
Pugsey said:
fieldl said:
Does the car not fit in your wallet ?
Local dealer gives a little porsche key holder/wallet thingy with the card in it and the key attached to a velcro loop thing so you can remove it. £35 from the dealer.....
Bloody hell, how big's your wallet - I'd have to at least snap the rear spoiler off!Local dealer gives a little porsche key holder/wallet thingy with the card in it and the key attached to a velcro loop thing so you can remove it. £35 from the dealer.....
The card is quite thick too - if you stuff it tightly in your wallet there's every chance that the 'off' button will be depressed. Yes the key holder/wallet thing is v.nice but pointless as you're meant to keep key and card apart. I'm being picky I know. Edited by Pugsey on Monday 27th November 22:38
Aha but the key is attached by a velcro leather loop so when you get home you can remove it easily.......
Or so the logic goes
Pugsey,
So what's the best practical solution here ??
Having just spec'd up my GT3, my wallet will be completely empty when it arrives so should have plenty room in it !!
Alternatively I've still got one of these plastic pouches with neck strap from a grand prix a few years ago, would this solve the problem - not that I'm a medallion man in any way !!
So what's the best practical solution here ??
Having just spec'd up my GT3, my wallet will be completely empty when it arrives so should have plenty room in it !!
Alternatively I've still got one of these plastic pouches with neck strap from a grand prix a few years ago, would this solve the problem - not that I'm a medallion man in any way !!
I've just been working out which immobiliser to fit on my new car and I've decided to go for a system called i-Mob.
The problem I have with both Tracker and the Porsche VTS system is that you don't have control of the information about the car. For example, if you are called by the call centre with an alert, they will NOT activate the GPS unit to identify where the car is or if it is moving until you have called the police and obtained a crime reference. This happened to me with a Tracker Horizon a few months back. I get a call at 3am, telling me my Gallardo has an alert. The car is, in fact, in for service. I tell the nice lady this, and ask her just to confirm that the car is where it is supposed to be. My thinking is that the garage have disconnected the battery, and this has, after a while, caused the Tracker system to raise an alert (which is what, in fact, had happened). She flat refuses, saying I must call the police. Despite strenuous protestations (such as it's 3am
and I don't want to waste police time) she insists because that is the protocal one signs up to. If the car had been stolen, valuable time would have been lost.
The VTS system works in exactly the same way - I know because I asked this specific question and got hold of the dealer material on the product. However, it is probably superior to the Tracker (minus card) systems from a security perspective because the card does act as a further control.
In contrast, i-Mob alerts you, the owner and provides information (position, speed etc) direct to your mobile phone (or if you are not contactable your designated proxies). There is even a GPS phone link hidden away which can relay the sounds from inside the car. From there, so I understand, you can decide what to do and key in commands from your phone (or any phone to hand), such as to turn off the engine (even if it has been started already). Of course, there is a call centre as well to help co-ordinate recovery with the police. But the key difference is that you can take immediate control of the situation, and decide whether it is a false alarm or whether action has to be taken.
I have to be honest and say that as the new car has not arrived yet, I've not yet had a chance to test this system in real life, but from my research to date it seems well worth a look. And there is no card to carry!
Kind regards
Steve
The problem I have with both Tracker and the Porsche VTS system is that you don't have control of the information about the car. For example, if you are called by the call centre with an alert, they will NOT activate the GPS unit to identify where the car is or if it is moving until you have called the police and obtained a crime reference. This happened to me with a Tracker Horizon a few months back. I get a call at 3am, telling me my Gallardo has an alert. The car is, in fact, in for service. I tell the nice lady this, and ask her just to confirm that the car is where it is supposed to be. My thinking is that the garage have disconnected the battery, and this has, after a while, caused the Tracker system to raise an alert (which is what, in fact, had happened). She flat refuses, saying I must call the police. Despite strenuous protestations (such as it's 3am
and I don't want to waste police time) she insists because that is the protocal one signs up to. If the car had been stolen, valuable time would have been lost. The VTS system works in exactly the same way - I know because I asked this specific question and got hold of the dealer material on the product. However, it is probably superior to the Tracker (minus card) systems from a security perspective because the card does act as a further control.
In contrast, i-Mob alerts you, the owner and provides information (position, speed etc) direct to your mobile phone (or if you are not contactable your designated proxies). There is even a GPS phone link hidden away which can relay the sounds from inside the car. From there, so I understand, you can decide what to do and key in commands from your phone (or any phone to hand), such as to turn off the engine (even if it has been started already). Of course, there is a call centre as well to help co-ordinate recovery with the police. But the key difference is that you can take immediate control of the situation, and decide whether it is a false alarm or whether action has to be taken.
I have to be honest and say that as the new car has not arrived yet, I've not yet had a chance to test this system in real life, but from my research to date it seems well worth a look. And there is no card to carry!
Kind regards
Steve
Maverick73 said:
I've just ordered a poor mans C2S, I presume I wont have this card malarkey problem as its for GT3 owners only????. Otherwise I'll just have to use my man bag.........
If you have ordered the Porsche VTS tracker than it is the same. I have nearly left the house twice already without the infuriating card... some habit adjustment is required.
Maverick73 said:
Nice - just how big is this card? Clearly not credit card sized and just how much will Porsche charge me monthly for the pleasure? anyone know? Thanks
Similar to a credit card - but thicker. This means that if you wedge it in to a credit card holder the 'off' button will be depressed. Trying to forget but £700 plus £200 p.a. subs. rings a bell!As independent systems go i think Navtrak are qute good. It came recommended when i bought a Noble and their system has changed so that it is similar to the Porsche system but the card is smaller and has no off button. You can put it in your wallet and the system detects your card. Haven't had any problems with it and actually set it off a few times when i left the engine running and walked off with the card in my wallet(called within 10 minutes and discretely asked if everything was okay).
Just one question about the i-Mob system though, if you can turn the engine off remotely is that not a bit dangerous as you don't know what is happening with the car at that moment e.g car thief driving at 100mph!
Cho
Just one question about the i-Mob system though, if you can turn the engine off remotely is that not a bit dangerous as you don't know what is happening with the car at that moment e.g car thief driving at 100mph!
Cho
997gt3 said:
What's the £700 for?? The cost of the unit is already built into the car's value of £79540 before options.
You're right - however when I specced my car Porsche hadn't decided that that was how they were going to do it so my invoice shows the car as being £700 cheaper with the compulsory tracker added in as an option. Either way you pay for it!cho said:
As independent systems go i think Navtrak are qute good. It came recommended when i bought a Noble and their system has changed so that it is similar to the Porsche system but the card is smaller and has no off button. You can put it in your wallet and the system detects your card. Haven't had any problems with it and actually set it off a few times when i left the engine running and walked off with the card in my wallet(called within 10 minutes and discretely asked if everything was okay).
Just one question about the i-Mob system though, if you can turn the engine off remotely is that not a bit dangerous as you don't know what is happening with the car at that moment e.g car thief driving at 100mph!
Cho
The off facility on the Porsche card just turns the tracker off - not the car! Just one question about the i-Mob system though, if you can turn the engine off remotely is that not a bit dangerous as you don't know what is happening with the car at that moment e.g car thief driving at 100mph!
Cho
Edited by Pugsey on Tuesday 28th November 13:43
I was actually talking about the off button you mentioned on the Porsche system and then went on to ask about the i-Mob which someone else mentioned where apparently you could turn the engine off remotely (by mobile?). I mentioned Navtrak because they don't have an off button to turn the tracker off. Sorry for any confusion!!!
As I understand it, the i-Mob system will respond to a request to shut down the engine only when the car has been stationary for a short period of time - eg, at traffic lights, roundabout.
It's main purpose is as an anti-hijack tool - ie, you let the car be driven away, then send the signal and hopefully the thief will only get a mile or two at most - particularly as most car jacks occur in busy towns and cities.
It's main purpose is as an anti-hijack tool - ie, you let the car be driven away, then send the signal and hopefully the thief will only get a mile or two at most - particularly as most car jacks occur in busy towns and cities.
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