I am at about ready to buy a lightly used Cayman S in Germany and I am deciding on the options I want in the car. I thought about the PCM mainly because I think the CDR24 looks kind of cheapo for such a expensive car, I also think the handsfree system offered in the Cayman is not one of the best in the market (I would prefer having a bluetooth hansfree system). I haven't tried the Navigation system in the Porsche, but right now I own a 2005 CLK with Comand (navigation) and it sucks compared to the TomTom software in my PocketPC, so I was thinking, only if I could put a PocketPC integrated in the Porsche... and something similar already exits, but with miniPcs. has anyone ever taken a view on this? Apparently is way cheaper than the PCM, and if well made, can be much more expandable (features wise) mp3/CD/iPod player, DVD Video Player, Picture viewer, Internet/mail, Navigation, Telephone, FM+Sat Radio, Vehicle Performance Diagnostics
If interested take a look at
http://www.mp3car.com/features.html
'DVD Video Player, Picture viewer, Internet/mail, ' I would kindly suggest that if these things are really important to you than a drivers car like the Cayman is probably not the right car for you. If nav is you can always go after market with something like the Garmin Nuvi. Telephone, well don't get me started.
The folks that run mp3car.com actually sell a product called
streetdeck
that does a pretty good job of combining a multi-function car PC with a 'happy' user interface.
While the PCM is lacking in features in the general computing sense it does expose quite a few more options around locking types, air conditioning presets, etc. The navigation system is also well integrated into the Porsche because of additional data from accelerometers. It seems the PCM has a pretty good dead reckoning system when driving through tunnels and the like as well. I've found that most PC based navigation systems aren't that good because there is no easy way to get additional input from other sources.
The other issue is that I quite enjoy the dials and knobs on a factory head unit. A touch screen just doesn't quite have the tactile feel.
Anyways, I've juggled the idea of ripping out the head unit and installing a custom computer quite a few times. What's more tempting is the fact that there's just enough mounting room for a mini-itx machine up in the front where the CD changer is located.
But in the end Santa Fe is right -- the Porsche is best enjoyed driving, not reading email
Thanks SantaFe. You are probably right, I should end up buying a Geo something, but I still think I will buy this car, that, of course is, if you don't mind.
My point of view on this subject is that if I buy a Porsche worth roughly65.000 € (w/o extras) I am expecting a really nice drivers car, whereas if I am paying 2.931,20 € on aP Communication Management (read computer) + 844,80 €for the telephone module+ 1.388,80 € on a BOSE system I expect all this to be damn good, at least the best that was available in the year the car was launched, which aparently from what I read in here is not.
I didn't get the factory navigation system, but bought a Garmin Nuvi since I travel quite frequently.
The Nuvi works so well, that 2 of my co-workers have bought them after playing with mine. I've not had any experience with the OEM Nav system, so I can't comment on it..
But the Nuvi for GPS units is the equivalent of the iPod for mp3 players. Compact size, easy to use software, and pretty customizable...
I would highly recommend it to anyone considering a Navigation system.
