Thursday 23rd April 2020

Porsche offers new infotainment for classics

Add another acronym into your glossary - Porsche Classic Communication Management

---

You know how it is with even the most modern of modern classic. No matter how joyous the response from a naturally aspirated engine or spellbinding the feedback from hydraulic steering, sometimes you'll be stuck on a long, tedious journey. There's only FM radio in the car, and it'll be boring. How are you going to get 6Music then?

Now there's a solution, or at least there is from Porsche, for Porsches. Called Porsche Classic Communication Management, it brings all the tech we've come to expect from a modern car - DAB+, CarPlay, Bluetooth - into the old single-DIN format. There's a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, two rotary knobs and six buttons, so it mostly looks like an old stereo, but functions like a new one. Moreover, there is USB connectivity, aux input and an SD slot. It costs 1439.89 euros (UK prices to be confirmed), and will fit everything from a 60s 911 right up to a 993. Porsche also says that "use in earlier front- and mid-engine models is also available", as if shamed to say them; presumably that means at least the transaxle cars of 924, 944, 968 and 928.

There's more than just PCCM, however - Porsche has previously done new radio systems for old cars (this one being a hearty update of that idea) - but it has never done Porsche Classic Communication Management Plus. This is a double-din system, designed for the 996 911 and 986 Boxster. Don't forget both are rapidly approaching their respective 25th birthdays and so, yes, the Classic tag is certainly appropriate. The upgrade puts a seven-inch touchscreen in where the old media system used to be, with the design "based on the adjacent components such as air vents or push button switches"; it shouldn't jar too much with the 90s architecture, basically, in the same way that the regular PCCM is also meant to seamlessly blend in with its surroundings.

Again customers will get CarPlay, Bluetooth, DAB and so on, but also Android Auto compatibility. Both PCCM and PCCM Plus can be updated via memory card, so you'll have no excuse not to finally embark on that European road trip you've been planning. When such activities are allowed again, of course.

PCCM Plus is a little more expensive than PCCM, at 1,606 euros including tax. Perhaps when 996s and 986s were dirt cheap that would have looked like lot to invest for an infotainment upgrade; as the market wakes up to their importance, however, and you'll need £15k for a nice 911 and approaching £10k for a decent Boxster S, it makes a lot more sense. Best get the podcast bank topped up now...

[acme]

Let me be the first to say; 'how much'?!

Think I'd rather listen to the engine on an air cooled for circa £1500!

Plus Continental have been doing a DAB standard DIN for a few years which looks pretty OEM, at least on the latter 964/993's for circa £150.

[acme]

Police State said:

Do you have a Model/Ref No for the unit you are talking about?

Yep, CDD7418 - if you go onto 911UK it's been talked about various times over the years - I have one in my 993. Only issue is dash cameras interfere with the DAB signal, and inevitably you need to put the DAB aerial somewhere. With the orange it looks very OEM.

ToreB on the forum use to sell them.

[acme]

Police State said:

Thanks for that. I don't have a dashcam in my 993, but is something I should consider; is your dashcam WiFi? hence the interference with dab, or is it another issue?

No problem. No it's wired, I have the same camera in another two cars (with built in DAB) and it's fine. I've tried various cameras and they all impact it, I think it's do with the charging via the cigarette lighter, but it also had problems when I bought a hardwire kit which plugged into the ODB.

A pain as before fitting the camera it worked really well.

[acme]

browngt3 said:

For me part of the appeal of the classics is an escape from all this tech. It's so refreshing to not be told I've forgotten my mobile when I leave my car! Or to be pinged emails when you're supposed to be concentrating on driving. There's screens and apps everywhere in life. Don't need them in my air cooled 911.
Spend it on maintenance instead

This!

Despite having DAB in mine I rarely listen to it, why bother when you have that air cooled engine!

[acme]

tommy1973s said:

Becker had an equivalent to this a few years ago; cost more than this too. I wouldn't put a £150 unit in any car; but each to his own.

The Becker’s are very hard to get hold of.

Plus when you’ve got an air cooled 911 who really listens to the radio anyway!

PH never fails does it.