Porsche Classic Navigation Radio Review

[ReconTrojan]

First let me say the review is going to be biased because I spent 1200 dollars and I was going to love it or lie about it regardless.

Luckily I really do like it. ( not lying)

The install is very straightforward. I have a aftermarket amplifier and Boston speakers fore and aft. I bought on Ebay for 11 dollars the RCA plug adapter from Blau.That was all I needed that did not come in the box. ( other than optional XM tuner)

The Packaging people must have been paying attention to the Apple people as it was well boxed and pretty. Unlike everyone else in tech, Apple or even Kenwood, Pioneer or anyone else Porsche provides several manuals that are comprehensive. I didn't need one of them in either installation or use and setting up as it is very easy.

I did buy the optional XM tuner ( universal) and since I have 6 accounts on other cars adding another was simple and relatively inexpensive.

The unit has a daughter port that I installed in the glovebox for connecting a iPod/iphone and a USB jack. I plugged in a USB drive loaded with FLAC files and plugged in my iPhone in the other. There are dual SD cards up front ( micro) one is for the maps the other is for media. I have not used that yet and they supply a 4GB one but it supports 128GB.

The unit has a AM/FM tuner but sadly no HD tuner which is unfortunate.

I have listened albeit briefly to FLAC, iPhone and XM. Obviously the FLAC sounds great but was surprised how well the other formats sounded. Album Art and information displays depending on your preferences. I love the fact you can control everything with the two knobs or you can use the touch screen. Porsche also provides a touch pen for those inclined not to touching the screen.

I have yet to take off the screen protector it comes with as it looks pretty sharp as is.

The Bluetooth took 20 seconds to pair and download my very large address book. I made one call to my wife and she said it sounded fine although she could hear my engine as I rowed through the gears ( grin)

The Navigation screen is surprisingly useful and adequate for its purpose. Is it as good as a 7 inch, no but I didn't want that look in the car. The OS is identical to the latest PCM software and scrolling etc is very quick. I entered an address and let it route select and it took about 45 seconds from typing to go...not too bad. You get very large indicators and the Map is 3D if you select it.

All in all I am very happy with it and I absolutely love the look...which is why I bought it.

[DRACO A5OG]

Congrats!, Can you zoom out so we can see how it looks with the rest of the car?

[billh1963]

I like your taste in music and XM channels!

Thank you for the review. I've been contemplating one of these. Hoping the prices will drop after they've been out for a while.

[Franks89-911]

Too bad it doesn't have HD radio capability. For that steep a price tag it should. HD OTA radio with its enhanced sound and Multicasts lessen my desire to get XM radio in any car. IMHO.

[ReconTrojan]

I will take further pictures this week and add them.

As far as HD Radio, I agree. That said this was adapted from the European model to save money and not a feature there so I understand the reason why. In my other cars HD Radio is listened to far more than the play list generated XM.

But for this car, more than enough options and I could not find a better looking radio elsewhere.

[tirwin]

Glad to see a review. Does it have RCA outputs for an external amp?

[ReconTrojan]

As I mentioned in my review, RCA outputs can be had for 11 dollars on Ebay.

Here is a picture from further back as requested.

[ReconTrojan]

One more.

[dporsche74]

Nice i was wanting one of these too..
I would like someone to figure out how to replace the clock with the LED screen and throw it over like the 991 does..

Can you read the NAV??

[DRACO A5OG]

Hmmm, That looks pretty good and it is touch screen too?

[deputydog95]

How would you rate the sound quality as compared to a new alpine or pioneer head unit? You can get the latest greatest alpine for 300 dollars that literally does everything. I'd hate to spend 4x the price just for the look. Seems odd that Porsche bothered with the nav considering we have such good systems on our phones. Wish there was a with nav and without version.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[aread]

Hey Recon, where did you mount the GPS antenna and the media port? And your aftermarket amp plugged right in? I am seriously considering this for mine

[ejp]

Does it come with a wiring harness kit, or is that a separate part?

[carreradpt]

bump

[deputydog95]

I bought this unit too. Sucks...

So many things I don't like about it...


A $300 alpine would have been a far better value even though it doesn't look as nice.

[MARISOL78sc]

I never listened to the radio in any of my 911's 2 993's and my SC. The flat six is enough for me. That being said for navigation/GPS my iPhone sits perfect in the ashtray when opened and in my opinion the Beckers 210 and 220? look more original than the classic. IMHO

[Nick Triesch]

What?? The flat six sounds like a 67 VW with a huge hairdryer inside!! I bet you don't have a cup holder and took your clock out!!! The main problem I see with the unit is that the GPS screen is just too small from where you sit! I bought a nice black Kenwood and use my phone.

[ejp]

Originally Posted by deputydog95

I bought this unit too. Sucks...

So many things I don't like about it...


A $300 alpine would have been a far better value even though it doesn't look as nice.

Hey Deputydog, it would be really helpful to me if you can go into detail about what you don't like about it - maybe help me from making the same mistake. I've had two different Kenwood Excelons and hated them both. I can't seem to find anything that looks as good as the Porsche unit while duplicating its functionality.

With regard to wanting to hear flat-six noise, that's all well and good for a fun drive, but I daily drive my car. I really do like the added functionality of a well integrated stereo system.

[deputydog95]

Originally Posted by ejp

Hey Deputydog, it would be really helpful to me if you can go into detail about what you don't like about it - maybe help me from making the same mistake. I've had two different Kenwood Excelons and hated them both. I can't seem to find anything that looks as good as the Porsche unit while duplicating its functionality.

With regard to wanting to hear flat-six noise, that's all well and good for a fun drive, but I daily drive my car. I really do like the added functionality of a well integrated stereo system.

The nav is goofy. My Google maps is light years better.
The screen layout sucks.
It's hard to read, and the fonts are small.
They give you a stylus to enter in your selections. Seriously?
It doesn't auto pair with my phone.
It doesn't have Pandora or iheartradio control. You can plug your phone into the USB port but it doesn't do anything but slow charge the phone.
The song data is hard to read.
The phone control on screen buttons are tiny and hard to read.
The Bluetooth phone quality is terrible.
The USB port flat side puts the writing on the ports upside down if you mount the flat side under the dash.
There's a horrible beeping noise when you make selections that is incredibly loud. I'm hoping there is a way to turn that down as it's obnoxious.
No traditional rca outputs.
No sub out or sub control.
Limited audio control, basically base, mid, and treble.

As you can tell, I don't like this radio. It's a riddiculous product at this price point. This should be a 300 dollar radio at best..

Only saving grace is that it may add value to my car as a genuine Porsche product.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[ejp]

Originally Posted by deputydog95

The nav is goofy. My Google maps is light years better.
The screen layout sucks.
It's hard to read, and the fonts are small.
They give you a stylus to enter in your selections. Seriously?
It doesn't auto pair with my phone.
It doesn't have Pandora or iheartradio control. You can plug your phone into the USB port but it doesn't do anything but slow charge the phone.
The song data is hard to read.
The phone control on screen buttons are tiny and hard to read.
The Bluetooth phone quality is terrible.
The USB port flat side puts the writing on the ports upside down if you mount the flat side under the dash.
There's a horrible beeping noise when you make selections that is incredibly loud. I'm hoping there is a way to turn that down as it's obnoxious.
No traditional rca outputs.
No sub out or sub control.
Limited audio control, basically base, mid, and treble.

As you can tell, I don't like this radio. It's a riddiculous product at this price point. This should be a 300 dollar radio at best..

Only saving grace is that it may add value to my car as a genuine Porsche product.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

Thanks for the clarification. Most of these are basically all of the complaints that I have about my Kenwood XD-998, which I can't stand...but I wonder if it's an improvement on that. E.g. the bluetooth phone quality isn't just bad, it's literally unusable. Also, the screen glare on the Kenwood isn't just bad, it's literally unreadable in daylight. I'm a bit more on the fence with such an expensive purchase, but given what you've said, I still have a feeling like the overpriced Porsche unit might be a compromise, but an improvement in every way.

I guess that I can look into a Blaupunkt Toronto 420 (out of production), which is a downgrade in every way from my Kenwood...but at least it will be visible. The $300 Alpine looks wrong in the car, and is likely as hard to use and bad as my Kenwood. Ugh, I wish that this were an easier decision.