Is it just me, or did your Taycan come with an unrequested, always-on tracking device called StarGard?

[A.Mayor]

Sounds like a 'scam' to me. Porsche offer their Porsche Vehicle Tracking System (PVTS+) on a subscription basis and each car whether it has the subscription or not comes with two tracker fobs which require activation if you intend to use the service. The service can help with reducing insurance premiums and has a couple of useful features but if you don't want it you don't want it.

StarGard will have no integration with the PCM and is likely to be similar to the legacy tracker fitted to a car independent of the PCM (PVTS+ is largely integrated).

I would ask Porsche NA for their position on this as it seems a little forced / unwarranted to me.

He’s not the legal owner of the car. In such cases, especially with high-value cars, lessors or banks often require a tracking device. He mentioned it was a 3-year lease.

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[W1NGE]

He’s not the legal owner of the car. In such cases, especially with high-value cars, lessors or banks often require a tracking device. He mentioned it was a 3-year lease.

Shouldn't make any odds. If a requirement then it should be a choice - PVTS+ or alternatives. Same in UK if the insurance company require it.

 

[whitex]

He’s not the legal owner of the car. In such cases, especially with high-value cars, lessors or banks often require a tracking device. He mentioned it was a 3-year lease.

Then the cost of this equipment should be billed to the bank or lessor, right?

 

[Jasper4S]

Then the cost of this equipment should be billed to the bank or lessor, right?

Why?

 

[A.Mayor]

Shouldn't make any odds. If a requirement then it should be a choice - PVTS+ or alternatives. Same in UK if the insurance company require it.

I understand you, but from the lessor/lenders risk management perspective, the option would be either take it or leave it.

 

[W1NGE]

I understand you, but from the lessor/lenders risk management perspective, the option would be either take it or leave it.

Different laws / requirements in different regions.

Question remains why force the non-Porsche option as the default mandatory one or leave it to collection day before such a 'revelation' is made?

 

[A.Mayor]

Different laws / requirements in different regions.

Question remains why force the non-Porsche option as the default mandatory one or leave it to collection day before such a 'revelation' is made?

Whether it was such a revelation as you posit remains an open question for the OP. It could be that OP was too excited and didn’t peruse the documents in the first place.

As an example, I received an unsolicited generic financing proposal from the Porsche dealer and the non-negotiable tracking add-on was along other minor optional add-ons were separately disclosed in the proposal.

But, I could be wrong, and it may indeed have been a gross omission on the part of the dealership.

 

[whitex]

Why?

Because it's something they require, so they should pay for it and its maintenance. Part of lessor costs, so should be baked into the lease fees. No different than the salary of lessor employees. Imagine seeing a lease payment where there is an item for "Lessor CEO bonus fee" .

As a side note, why would lease company care? I can see insurance company migth give you a discount for tracked car, but lease company will get its money from insurance, they probably don't want the stolen and likely damaged car recovered, so it becomes a repaired car when they get it back.

 

[Jasper4S]

Because it's something they require, so they should pay for it and its maintenance. Part of lessor costs, so should be baked into the lease fees. No different than the salary of lessor employees. Imagine seeing a lease payment where there is an item for "Lessor CEO bonus fee" .

As a side note, why would lease company care? I can see insurance company migth give you a discount for tracked car, but lease company will get its money from insurance, they probably don't want the stolen and likely damaged car recovered, so it becomes a repaired car when they get it back.

A lease is not there for you, but for a good profit. Mitigating risks with a tracker is nice, and of course I would let the customer pay for that. The customer should be happy with me offering a lease: Reasonable and fair? No. But leasing is not reasonable and fair, but a service to make a profit.

 

[W1NGE]

Because it's something they require, so they should pay for it and its maintenance. Part of lessor costs, so should be baked into the lease fees. No different than the salary of lessor employees. Imagine seeing a lease payment where there is an item for "Lessor CEO bonus fee" .

As a side note, why would lease company care? I can see insurance company migth give you a discount for tracked car, but lease company will get its money from insurance, they probably don't want the stolen and likely damaged car recovered, so it becomes a repaired car when they get it back.

Agreed but the fact is the car has NAV and always online and arguably no need for any additional tracking device.

 

[whitex]

Agreed but the fact is the car has NAV and always online and arguably no need for any additional tracking device.

No argument there. Insurance stats for recovery of Taycans should reflect if Porsche always online helps - more cars would be recovered than unconnected cars.

 

[A.Mayor]

Agreed but the fact is the car has NAV and always online and arguably no need for any additional tracking device.

No argument there. Insurance stats for recovery of Taycans should reflect if Porsche always online helps - more cars would be recovered than unconnected cars.

Gentlemen, the system is far more sophisticated than the car’s always-on onboard GPS. As I mentioned before, for certain high-end models, the tracking device is considered necessary by insurance companies to be underwritten, at least in continental Europe. Therefore, it is mandatory for lessors and lenders to include this add-on.

 

[violuma]

My understanding is that in California, it is illegal to use these devices to track people without the consent of the registered owner of the vehicle. I would assume this also would mean that insurance companies may not require it as a condition of underwriting.

 

[A.Mayor]

[/QUOTE]

My understanding is that in California, it is illegal to use these devices to track people without the consent of the registered owner of the vehicle. I would assume this also would mean that insurance companies may not require it as a condition of underwriting.

While I’m not at all versed in California statutory laws, the law regarding GPS tracking of persons is not clear-cut. Still, legal owners (lessors/lenders) are allowed to track the vehicle without prior consent of the lessee/borrower.

 

[PDACPA]

My dealer, also in the US, tried to add this extra cost at the last minute, and also insisted that it was already installed and implied that it was not optional. But of course it is optional, since it's added by the dealer, not Porsche. I responded that I didn't ask for it, didn't want it, would not pay for it. Then I shut up until the agreed to do so. My car does not have StarGard.

I love these dealers who think because they installed something that it is not optional and must be paid for. Your fault for installing it and the customer not wanting it. Go take it out before I take delivery. I would NEVER have conceded to it at the paperwork signing. The deal is off until you take it off the paperwork.

I would demand a refund and rip that crap out of my car.

My $30 airtag hidden in my car tells me where my car is when I need to know if it gets stolen.

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