drcollie

I find the GPS routing on my factory PCM from Porsche really isn't nearly as good as many of the Garmin units I own - the direction routing is actually fairly poor on it. That made me wonder who does the software for the Porsche units? Anyone know? Tom-Tom? Navitech?

BlackBeauty

German cars for some reason are notoriously bad here. I've had the same issue with our Mercedes. They must have a common supplier.

John 996 TT Cab

Same issue with my BMW and Audi. Not sure but I think it's Navitech but always a couple of years out of date by the time the software is downloaded by Porsche into the PCM. Some of the directions are so bad it's a good thing that most of the time I know where and how to get to my house 'cause the software doesn't like certain streets/directions.
Be interesting to see how current is on my Macan that I'm picking up in 45 minutes.

maxpowers

I still can't figure out how to search for a POI by name if it's not within a couple miles of me. It won't even show my grocery store that's 3 miles away.

So if I'm with my friends and they say let's meet at XYZ resturant 3 miles away it won't show any results. Or if I'm going on a roadtrip and want to see places along the way it's completely useless.

All I've been able to figure out is search by type of POI then scroll through hundreds in all directions or if I know the zip code I have to put all kinds of info starting with the state.

Surely there's got to be a way to update this to work with such a basic navigation function. Is there someone at Porsche I can contact? This drives me crazy

scatkins

I've never seen a Auto OEM GPS system worth using.. I've never understood why they put such horrible systems. Luckily for me, I rarely need to use mine for routing when at home. Mainly just use the map aspect.

Garmin is by far my favorite, and I carry a portable with me whenever I travel. I really wish they did OEM software.

scatkins

Not sure it is just german.. Even toyota/Lexus suck.. and they seem to get worse.. I've got a forerunner and it is more or less a joke. Pretty unusable..

chuck911

NSA

drcollie

I punched in my home address from my office on the way home yesterday. I'm been making that 12 mile drive for 28 years now and know every route possible. The Porsche PCM had me doing U-Turns for as long as 2 miles beyond the shortest way home to go its way...which was an extremely long way adding 10 minutes on a 25 minute drive.

The Garmin units I run on my motorcycles get it right, every time. So does Google Maps on my phone.

MarcusG

I've noticed the same thing.

In fact, I believe every route I have entered in the Porsche NAV that I actually knew the route beforehand always got it wrong. After a few tests I asked myself how far out of my way it would take me if I really didn't know where I was going and haven't used it since. iPhone now.

lol, I think there's a joke in there somewhere.

What a shame really. Having that NAV screen there for that purpose to be able to rely on it. Sh**ty.

MarcusG

Collie,


Maybe it's just all a conspiracy like Chuck thinks and Porsche wants us all to accumulate more miles on our cars more quickly so we purchase a CPO extended warranty. ? Not a total joke. :/

Ski Porsche

When I sold M-B's (ending in 2005) their navigation software came from Alpine. Compared to the Garmin units I've used for years while traveling the OEM units lag far behind in both ease of use and database. How Garmin can do it and only charge a few hundred dollars while the auto manufacturers with all their might can't is a mystery. If only they would eat a little humble pie and contract with Garmin.
I wonder if you could run a Garmin unit but use the car's screen. Maybe even integrate the Garmin antenna and electronics into the car and use the PCM screen.

Cheekymonkeyman

At least the turbos will stop you increasing your fuel usage whilst on the scenic route....

MarcusG

True!

rnl

According to Porsche the GPS software is of Japanese origin. While it's user intern is pokey and awkward it seems to work. I didn't buy the car for the GPS however.

Dalema

With the pace of change in technology I think the real answer should be interoperability with our portable devices - iPhone or android. Seriously, paying hundreds of dollars for map upgrades on a system that doesn't even work adequately!

Give me Waze that I can control from my in car screen and I'd be a happy camper.

Oh wait - that would be Apple CarPlay.