Are Porsches Over-Engineered?

[PhilNotHill]

I know this sounds like heresy and some may even say that there is no such thing as "over-engineering." But I respectfully disagree.

For instance, if I use the remote to open the trunk, after a minute or so the doors automatically lock. So then I have to unlock the doors again. This is annoying especially if your hands are full of what you took out of the trunk. I understand that you can go to the dealer and have the car "reprogrammed" to avoid this issue.

Also, I question the wisdom of no dipstick on my car. The only way you can check the oil is to run the car for several minutes to see what the oil level is electronically. What a hassle. In my 2004 we had a dipstick and the electronic readout. Much better IMVHO.

After a week of not opening the car, the remote won't work. You have to stick the key in the driver's door, unlock and then hit the remote open within 10 seconds to keep the alarm from going off and bothering your neighbors. Since I keep my covered in the garage the cover has to be removed or partially removed before you can unlock the car properly. So you have to get out your keys again and if your hands are full it's annoying.

Some of the functions of the Nav system are annoying. I am a newbie so maybe I will get the hang of this with more use. And perhaps I should have gotten the voice activated version rather than trying to find the correct screen.

The "hillholder" feature only works for 2 seconds. Which can be aproblem if the car ahead is pokey. the hillholder on our subarus stay on until the clutch is engaged.

The ventilated seats won't work if the outside temperature is under 58F (or is it 48F?) which means it won't work on normal days in the winter here. So when my wife cranks up the heat I can't keep cool? I am sure P has a reason for this feature but I haven't figured it out yet.

Did I miss any? LOL

[jmatta]

Not any more...I love the make and their designs have been raced through very tough conditions, but I feel most of that is gone these days; the accountants have won over the past decade, at least on most street models. My old 911s have seen thousands of track miles, but after an exhibition run in the Box S, I wonder if the M96 will survive another lap?

(Calling Jake!)

[thstone]

I would use a different term than over-engineered, I'd say that Porsche's, like all modern cars, are over-FEATURED.

Instead of adding features that simplify or enhance the driving or ownership experience, all car makers (Porsche included) have been on a 10-year binge of adding as many features to a car as possible.

And for every person who wants a real dipstick to check the oil, there is someone like my wife who hates getting her hands oily and loves the electronic gauge.

Unfortunately, there seems to be no end in sight in the race for an auto maker to have more features than the competition. A good example is the 2010 BMW 750i that I drove last fall. It was more complicated than a space shuttle.

[PhilNotHill]

Originally Posted by thstone

I would use a different term than over-engineered, I'd say that Porsche's, like all modern cars, are over-FEATURED.

Instead of adding features that simplify or enhance the driving or ownership experience, all car makers (Porsche included) have been on a 10-year binge of adding as many features to a car as possible.

And for every person who wants a real dipstick to check the oil, there is someone like my wife who hates getting her hands oily and loves the electronic gauge.

Unfortunately, there seems to be no end in sight in the race for an auto maker to have more features than the competition. A good example is the 2010 BMW 750i that I drove last fall. It was more complicated than a space shuttle.

Dipstick. My point was that my 2004 986 S had both. I also had a (hinky dinky) spare tire. This is progress??

[SeaNile31]

Whew, so it's not me. I opened the trunk to open check the oil and didn't see a dipstick. Thought I was going crazy so I closed the trunk and thought to myself.....now what car wouldn't have a dipstick? Glad to know it wasn't me not seeing the obvious.

[ekam]

Everybody says their alarm goes off when they haven't driven the car for a week.

Guys, it's not that hard to figure out.

Put the key in the keyhole in the door, turn right.

Hit unlock on key. Pull door handle.

Viola.

[stateofidleness]

Originally Posted by PhilNotHill

Did I miss any? LOL

They certainly over-engineered:
- the console armrest
- the position of the ignition switch set screws
- the plastic window requiring a chop by the owner

..all sarcasm of course

just some stuff I've encountered on my Box recently, so they're fresh in my mind!

oh oh, and on my MY, no remote entry for the front trunk! ahhh i wish i had that.