Porsche Connect Update!

[Rob Porsche Chester]

Do you know why UK cars don’t have wireless charging either?

Never been sure of that one (same for Macan) I had a VW Golf R previous and VW removed the wireless charger on safety grounds. I've never really worried about it as its just habit to plug it in, although in the future with Apple looking to go portless it seems like it may be the only way to charge.

There was talk of wireless Taycan charging in the future that will certainly be interesting!

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[evanevery]

Wireless charging is convenient if you simply want to CHARGE your phone. However, you can't get the same power as you could from a high current hardwired USB port. Wireless charging delivers much less power (typically 0.6 - 1.0A) than a good USB port (2.1A). It will also needlessly heat up your phone.

If you actually want to USE your phone while in a car then you absolutely need to plug it in to a USB port. If you really want to see this in action, try running a high demand app (data + screen + GPS + frequent comms) like WAZE while your phone is sitting in a wireless charger. The wireless charger simply won't be able to keep up with the demand. (Ask me how I know...)

 

[Scandinavian]

If you actually want to USE your phone while in a car then you absolutely need to plug it in to a USB port. If you really want to see this in action, try running a high demand app (data + screen + GPS + frequent comms) like WAZE while your phone is sitting in a wireless charger. The wireless charger simply won't be able to keep up with the demand. (Ask me how I know...)

I do that all the time with an aftermarket wireless charger in my other car. Waze, Google maps, Bluetooth music etc and absolutely no problems. It charges slower than with a cable that is for sure, but it it certainly charges up the phone with all the other systems running.

I also have a Qi charger in my Taycan and I believe there is some kind of antenna coupling included as well to get a better reception. Also works a treat but of course I can not run Apple Car Play without plugging the phone in. Plugging the phone in and holding it in place with the clip, for the antenna, gets a little bit tight though.

 

[Genau]

I also have a Qi charger in my Taycan and I believe there is some kind of antenna coupling included as well to get a better reception. Also works a treat but of course I can not run Apple Car Play without plugging the phone in. Plugging the phone I; and holding it in place with the clip for the antenna, gets a little bit tight though.

Here's what the Good to Know guide says about mobile phone antenna coupling. Since I don't have my Taycan yet, I can't verify.

The smartphone tray in the armrest is used to connect to the vehicle's external antenna and has a USB port for charging the mobile phone and for connecting to the PCM. Using the external antenna ensures less radiation in the vehicle and better reception quality for a mobile phone connected via Bluetooth®.

• Keypad/code lock on the mobile phone is activated.
• Insert the mobile phone into the smartphone holder with its back facing the side wall.
• Please refer to chapter "Interfaces" on page 102.

 

[evanevery]

...and holding it in place with the clip for the antenna, gets a little bit tight though.

Would a right angle USB-C cable help alleviate the fitment? Like one of these:

(Single right angle)
https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Charger-Compatible-Matebook-Nintendo/dp/B07PLYW6R7

(double right angle)
https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Delivery-Charging-Compatible-Nintendo/dp/B07V6PBRYG

 

[Scandinavian]

Would a right angle USB-C cable help alleviate the fitment? Like one of these:

Thanks! Yes that would certainly improve the use of cable a lot! Need to find something here locally.

 

[SFEVER]

You might what to try one of these

You might what to try one of these

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QGZ9W1D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have wireless Apple Car play in some cars but not all. I find this device works great in the cars without that feature In fact its better than some of the cars with the option built in...

I agree the PCM needs some work even the layout looks like a beta version where its display info is larger than the screen so the bottom row of buttons are all cut in half....

 

[Johnc33458]

Yes let Porsche know but do not forget to file your problems with Porsche Connect! You can find their contact details in the app under Services and Support. If you send them emails they do respond.

I have done this a couple of times with problems in my car and a very nice person from Connect in Berlin responded and rang me. After our call they confirmed by mail about the issues and I even got a case number to ring and enquire if needed.

I have now understood that there is some kind of recall, which they have promised will rectify most of the issues I have. The car is now booked in for a full day for a Software update on the 19 August. Seems Porsche from either Germany or France will send down a specialist. I have no idea what surgery the car will have but will see later on.

These updates, rectifications could also be the reason for the long “quality inspection” delays that some have experienced at the port. They may just not have enough equipment and resources to carry out this quickly.

I have ‘lost’ all of my favorite destinations which i entered into my Porsche Taycan Turbo. Anyone have any idea why this occurred or how i can ‘restore’ them? Frustrating!!

 

[Scooter]

My sales person all but told me not to buy the car because of all of the software issues. He could have made a $150k sale but he didn’t want to sell me something he knew I would be unhappy with.

 

[UroDoc]

On purpose, meaning the distortion you see isn't likely a bug, but the way they intend it to work. Questioning whether or not that's a good design choice is valid.
[/Q

I agree with the OP 100% and not with the second post as to why people buy a Porsche.

I think the reason someone buys a specific car is very personal. I love driver orientated cars and therefore love the way the Taycan drives over my Panamera Turbo or a Tesla as example.

But I am also a technologist and was looking forward to Porsche’s version of the future. I wanted to love the end-user technology of the Taycan.

But I don't. It’s badly designed and implemented. You really have to turn a blind eye or focus 100% on driving the car to love it. And thats possible but it can be so much more. Why not?

So for me, I bought the car hoping technology and driver experience will intersect in a unique package that I will love.

Right now the user experience of technology in the Taycan is disappointing. There is a lot of non visible technology doing incredible work and one cannot ignore that but I will list a handful of things below that is disappointing and frustrating.

I know that there will be users on the forum who didn’t buy the Taycan for these reasons but please understand you are not the only buyers of with expectations:
- My Mercedes GL from 2012 could auto-park. There are videos of the Cayenne doing this but no USA dealer can tell you when the car will be able to do this. I was really hoping the Taycan would have this and am disappointed that you cannot get any insight from Porsche as to what the plan is.
- I know Apple wireless CarPlay is new but the user manual refers to connecting CarPlay wirelessly and then never say anything about this again. Nobody at Porsche can provide any insight into this.
- I cannot remote lock, unlock or open windows using the Porsche App on my iPhone. My 2016 Ford F-150 can do this, including remote start, which doesnt apply to an EV. Porsche has indicators for the status of these things which leads me to believe they were half implemented and might evolve, but try to get an answer from anyone at Porsche on this and they stare at you blankly.
- In my Panamera I could connect Amazon music to the in car system. None of those slightly more than basic services are available in the Taycan.
- As for the user experience of the PCM: the scrolling and touch screen experience is terrible and reminds me of the first Android phones released in 2008 (or an Amazon kindle tablet). Its jerky and many times when you try to scroll a list it will open the item you touched rather than scroll the list itself. How is it possible to have such a bad UI design and jerky stuttering implementation on a car this new? Sync 3 on my Ford Raptor scrolls and rubber bands exponentially better than a 2020 Porsche Taycan. It’s frankly embarrassing.
- There are a lot of bugs. A lot. Sometimes they pop up, sometimes not. Sudden restarts, CarPlay not working and plugging and unplugging your phone just to get it to connect are all standard occurrences in the Taycan. Why? Why should I not have an expectation that a $170 000 car will just work with a phone in 2020?

Look there are a lot of great things about the car and I absolutely love driving it.

Will I buy it again with all of its issues? Yes. But that doesnt give Porsche a pass on doing the end-user tech side of this so badly.

For some buyers the technology is a big part of why we buy. When that falls as flat as it did in the Taycan its disappointing.

I can live with all of this if someone can just tell me if and when we will get OTAs. If the answer is we wont then thats fine as well. At least it shows that someone knows something.

The reality is right now not a single person can tell me if the Taycan will get OTA updates and when and if it does what it will include. Not a single person.

Thats simply not good enough in 2020.

Well said!

 

[jimithing]

Isn’t the mystery why not one review I’ve read or watched has highlighted how bad the PCM is. Yes it may look great at first glance - but the second you use it it’s evident how poorly implemented it’s been.

Conversely I watched a couple of Polestar 2 reviews and they have used the Android Auto system natively and you can see how well that’s been done and how slick the interface is.

I fought this battle (on the pro-tech side) for years on the Macan Forum. The main moderator's position was "Porsche doesn't do fancy electronics, period."

The bottom line is that most Porsche customers haven't cared for years so Porsche hasn't cared. But their business changed with the Cayenne, changed even more with the Macan, & will change again with the Taycan. My 2015 Macan's backup camera is so bad it makes me laugh. And it's "to spec." While some on here think the Taycan's is bad, it's WAY better than what they were using a few years ago.

There's no question they're still behind but they're at least trying now, and these bugs are part of what you signed up for in buying a brand new model. It'll get better but it'll never be great.

 

[Dlurker20]

The PCM in the Taycan is like no other Porsche that's one of the reasons I expect, in my personal car (BMW M135i) it has wireless Carplay and wireless charging although it's great when it works it can be a pain when it doesn't.

Also where at one time everyone was going wireless people are moving away from that now, the 2.4GHz band is very busy even in home networks people are going wired as it is faster and more secure and in the case of wired Carplay it will charge your phone as well.

Right there with you on the BMW problems with CarPlay. When it doesn’t connect it’s extremely frustrating and the car experience drops significantly. When it does connect it’s usually pretty good but a bit laggy. Every rental I’ve had that has CarPlay suppport has been wired, and they’ve all worked perfectly. I like the fact I don’t have to take the phone out of my pocket when I get in the car, but for greater consistency and performance, I’m OK with plugging it in. For a while at least...

 

[Scandinavian]

You might what to try one of these

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QGZ9W1D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have wireless Apple Car play in some cars but not all. I find this device works great in the cars without that feature In fact its better than some of the cars with the option built in...

I agree the PCM needs some work even the layout looks like a beta version where its display info is larger than the screen so the bottom row of buttons are all cut in half....

Yes I think I will look for one of these. So far I have not been able to find one with a USB C connector though. I am sceptical of installing a number of converters etc. USB A to USB C etc. May not be a problem at all but would look nicer without. For now I have ordered one of the angled iPhone connectors so that should make it possible to use CarPlay with cable.

I now also understand that wireless CarPlay has some challenges to be implemented, both HW and SW!
https://www.cars.com/articles/wireless-apple-carplay-and-android-auto-where-are-they-now-407297/

Seems also to involve Bluetooth, WiFi, and potential interference with GPS ?

If Porsche can not even get the log in for car and MyPorsche sorted out at delivery, what hope have we got to get Apple CarPlay sorted? Between Slim and None. And Slim just moved out of town last week!

 

[awharton]

Yes I think I will look for one of these. So far I have not been able to find one with a USB C connector though. I am sceptical of installing a number of converters etc. USB A to USB C etc. May not be a problem at all but would look nicer without. For now I have ordered one of the angled iPhone connectors so that should make it possible to use CarPlay with cable.

I now also understand that wireless CarPlay has some challenges to be implemented, both HW and SW!
https://www.cars.com/articles/wireless-apple-carplay-and-android-auto-where-are-they-now-407297/

Seems also to involve Bluetooth, WiFi, and potential interference with GPS ?

If Porsche can not even get the log in for car and MyPorsche sorted out at delivery, what hope have we got to get Apple CarPlay sorted? Between Slim and None. And Slim just moved out of town last week!

I’ve ordered the V2.0 which is natively USB-C. Apparently is a big upgrade on the original version and works a lot smoother and quicker. Wouldn’t hold out any hope Wireless CarPlay is coming natively to the Taycan anytime soon!

https://a.aliexpress.com/_dVrN5MT

 

[Scandinavian]

Interesting because I just found the same unit on the Amazon UK site. However they will not ship outside of UK? Will continue to look for that.

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