Porsche Classic Navigation Radio Review

[deputydog95]

Originally Posted by ejp

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.

If the Porsche radio was 500 dollars or less it would be a no brainer. At almost triple that... Meh.

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[kanuck]

I'm with ReconTrojan in that I am happy with my purchase and did primarily buy the unit for "the look."

My expectations on function were mildly low as I was a little skeptical about the screen size and the ability for any sort of blue tooth to be functional in my fire blowing, zork tubed, 930 cab but....

After a very easy and issue free installation, I am very happy with the product.

- It looks great.

- It connected to my phone immediately and does consistently without issue. I curse my wife's A7 that seems to have a personal vendetta against my phone and even when it does connect, it does not read my playlists well in my iphone. The classic nav has connected flawlessly to date and I actually find that navigating through my tunes and playlists is easier than my other cars.

- The bluetooth/phone connection works as well as any I have used and the fact that I can have a normal conversation in my loud cockpit (its a cab) without people asking me if I'm under water is more than I anticipated. The bluetooth is good.

- I have not actually entered anything into the Nav yet, but I have used it to verify where some streets are in relation to where I am. I typically use my iphone for nav in the past as well, but I can see some benefits to having a screen right there in front of me at all times and there is not that much size difference between my phone and the classic nav screen either.

I agree that the price is high, but I would recommend it anyway.

[deputydog95]

Originally Posted by kanuck

I'm with ReconTrojan in that I am happy with my purchase and did primarily buy the unit for "the look."

My expectations on function were mildly low as I was a little skeptical about the screen size and the ability for any sort of blue tooth to be functional in my fire blowing, zork tubed, 930 cab but....

After a very easy and issue free installation, I am very happy with the product.

- It looks great.

- It connected to my phone immediately and does consistently without issue. I curse my wife's A7 that seems to have a personal vendetta against my phone and even when it does connect, it does not read my playlists well in my iphone. The classic nav has connected flawlessly to date and I actually find that navigating through my tunes and playlists is easier than my other cars.

- The bluetooth/phone connection works as well as any I have used and the fact that I can have a normal conversation in my loud cockpit (its a cab) without people asking me if I'm under water is more than I anticipated. The bluetooth is good.

- I have not actually entered anything into the Nav yet, but I have used it to verify where some streets are in relation to where I am. I typically use my iphone for nav in the past as well, but I can see some benefits to having a screen right there in front of me at all times and there is not that much size difference between my phone and the classic nav screen either.

I agree that the price is high, but I would recommend it anyway.

Your iPhone and Porsche classic screen are almost the same size? Are you using an iPhone from 19 years ago? Lol. The Porsche classic is 3.5 inches if I'm not mistaken. Tiny.

I think your friends are just being polite if no one asks if you're you're on a car blue tooth system when you speak to them over the Porsche classic system. My guess is that it's pretty painfully obvious where you're calling from and you obviously aren't going to likely change the handset if you're shifting gears so they don't bother bringing it up.

You may have a different experience with an iPhone with an android regarding music and scrolling. Either way, between the size of the screen and the font selection and the location of the unit, it's very hard to read. At least at my old age of 46 lol.

I really wanted to like this radio but even the system in my daily vw golf blows it away for functionality.

I'm curious to know if it was Becker or blaupunkt who made the radio. Either way, nether are particularly reputable for making awesome audio equipment which is why I guess we have this overpriced steaming pile of mediocrity....

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[kanuck]

iphones are smaller in Canada because we're on the metric system!

[deputydog95]

Originally Posted by kanuck

iphones are smaller in Canada because we're on the metric system!

Lol

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[Nick Triesch]

There are two types of classic 911 owners, regular guys like me who bought their 911 dream car before the great price surge and rich guys. Only rich guys would buy a terrible tiny screen Porsche radio for $1200 that looks like it came from JC Whitney.

[aread]

Originally Posted by Nick Triesch

There are two types of classic 911 owners, regular guys like me who bought their 911 dream car before the great price surge and rich guys. Only rich guys would buy a terrible tiny screen Porsche radio for $1200 that looks like it came from JC Whitney.

See, Idon't thinks the asthetics are all that bad. If the nav interface and the Bluetooth connectivity were better, I wouldnt mind spending the money for a genuine Porsche system.

Also, not a rich guy.

[MrBonus]

I'm on the fence about these. Currently, I have a hideous but functional Alpine unit that is an eye sore in the interior. I want something that looks close to OEM but have a really hard time stomaching $1200 for a head unit with no more functionality than a $150 unit from Crutchfield.

Is there anything else that looks like it belongs in our cars that offers Bluetooth music streaming and doesn't cost over a grand?

[PabloX]

Originally Posted by MrBonus

Is there anything else that looks like it belongs in our cars that offers Bluetooth music streaming and doesn't cost over a grand?

Search this forum for "Kienzle".

[deputydog95]

They have in line Bluetooth adapters so you can use an older radio and stream. Not sure about sound quality.

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[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by PabloX

Search this forum for "Kienzle".

I've looked for a while and hadn't found anything but these are perfect. Thank you!

Originally Posted by deputydog95

They have in line Bluetooth adapters so you can use an older radio and stream. Not sure about sound quality.

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Unfortunately don't have my original head unit. The only OEM part I'm missing for my car unfortunately.

[deputydog95]

The have devices that will allow you to stream through older units that don't have an aux in. Such as:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003PPGOC0/?tag=thewire06-20&linkCode=xm2&ascsubtag=WC28042


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[1979-930]

You can upgrade the older units to bluetooth. But the speaker wiring is all wrong for amplifiers if you want good sound and fade control. I'm not sure if you can even hook a common ground system to an amp. Maybe there is another adapter for that? A mid 80's deck would be the oldest style that would have good 4 channel wiring.

I went with a modern Pioneer because of the iphone compatibility and hands free phone use. Too many bad reviews on the Porsche unit. I'm hoping it gets revised over the next few years. $1,200. is fine if it works properly.

[pc100porsche]

Originally Posted by kanuck

iphones are smaller in Canada because we're on the metric system!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^

[universeman]

kanuck - in the picture you posted, the protective shipping film is still on your screen (the tab to remove it is in the upper right.) Your screen will look clearer once you remove that!

[ReconTrojan]

Originally Posted by Nick Triesch

There are two types of classic 911 owners, regular guys like me who bought their 911 dream car before the great price surge and rich guys. Only rich guys would buy a terrible tiny screen Porsche radio for $1200 that looks like it came from JC Whitney.

Comical.

Generalize much? So you bought one and returned it? Otherwise, how did you arrive at your broad statement this was terrible?

LOL @ "regular guys" I served this nation for over 20 years of which the last 8 were combat deployments, never thought of myself as a " rich guy"...of course the Marine Corps is known as a haven for the rich and famous.

[RDM]

Originally Posted by ReconTrojan

LOL @ "regular guys" I served this nation for over 20 years of which the last 8 were combat deployments, never thought of myself as a " rich guy"...of course the Marine Corps is known as a haven for the rich and famous.

Well said. Thank you for your service. I hope my son will make it in the Marines when he's old enough.

[Nick Triesch]

It's terrible because it has a 3 and a half inch screen in the radio slot. that would be like looking at a iPhone 4 from far away. The iPhone 4 was hard enough to read up close!

[deputydog95]

I'm repeating myself but I wish I had bought something else.... Looks right at home in the dash but is way behind tjr performance of 300 units. They should have ditched the gps altogether and brought the price down.. It's no match for even the cheapest phone with Google maps installed.

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[ReconTrojan]

Originally Posted by deputydog95

I'm repeating myself but I wish I had bought something else.... Looks right at home in the dash but is way behind tjr performance of 300 units. They should have ditched the gps altogether and brought the price down.. It's no match for even the cheapest phone with Google maps installed.

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Did you not understand the screen size before you bought it? I had a very clear understanding of exactly what I was getting before I bought it. I don't understand all this whining when it was available for a year in Europe before it got here and I perused the European boards for reviews and videos as well as the very comprehensive PCA review on their board.

I have a AVIC NEX in my FJ and my Spyder, this unit compares very well in sound quality and BT operation. I knew from the very first glance that the screen was small and adjusted my expectations accordingly. Did you think this unit was suddenly going to grow to a double DIN?