The tiny control wheels are surprising (for Porsche) in their difficulty to see and operate. The setting numbers are almost impossible to read while driving. No backlight? Didn't find any mention in the manual.

Sorry its so trivial...but its the most serious issue I've encountered so far

 

Nope. Dumb design IMHO.

There are so many other ways to do it better (the multi-press button that BMW has, now being copied by KIA and others) works great, with LEDs to indicate the power/heat level. Don't feel bad though - my new Lexus has them located under the armrest, you have to slide it back and work them by feel, or else look down and back to see them. Dunno if they're illuminated, but a light does come on when they're on.

Gotta wonder what's taught in engineering schools sometimes..

 

Those exact switches seem really VAG to me.

 

Mine illuminate when the parking / headlamps turn on.

Brightness adjustment via the dashboard dimmer control.

 

Mine do too when the parking or headlights are turned on.

 

Mine don't turn on when my lights are on. Mine is an 06 S. The other thing that bothers me is the key hole. Being on the left side of the steering wheel and NOT being illuminated really stinks too. Especially when every other car I'v owned in 25 years have the key hole on the right side. If the left handed key hole was illuminated, I would easily remember to put the key in the right place. EVERY time I get in the P!G I go to put the key on the right side of the steering wheel. LOL

 

The left side key location is a legacy of the "Le Mans start" of the 50s and 60s when the drivers lined up and ran to their car from across the track. Putting the ignition switch on the left allowed the driver to start and shift into 1st simultaneously in the critical first second. Alas this Le Mans start was ended many years ago...but Porsche thinks owners enjoy the quaint but irritating legacy of a LH key.

I also hate that the d**m key blade is oriented for the left hand and won't flip open the right way unless held just so too!

 

You use a key?

 

I got used to the Porsches, but when I had my Saab, I'd sometimes forget that the ignition was in the center console after driving normal cars all day at work.

 

Yesterday discovered the passenger seat heater has been on since the last time the wife was in the car (about 2 weeks). What a dumb *** design (I too like the BMW arrangement).

 

I agree...if the heat's inadvertently left on, its got to be hell on the leather. My Jetta has a brightly-lit push button for each seat showing which of the 3 heat levels is on.

 

Guess Porsche hired new engineers.....the 958 Cayennes have a multi-press button with LED's for the seat heaters.

 

It's a party when the rear seat heaters are left on

 

Wow! Same thing back there? You have to be in the rear seats to see they are left on? If so, supremely idiotic design.

 

Every car has these sort of dumb things.. (except mebbe my M-Coupe.. but it's a very simple car.)

New Lexus RX-350 SWMBO is driving.. the overhead console isn't illuminated. So the Homelink buttons are a guess in the dark, as are the buttons for reading or interior lights, plus - really stupid - the Lexus SOS button. Bet they saved an easy $0.50 on that. Seat controls are illuminated, once you slide the console lid back so they're exposed (and you have to look down and back to see them.) Memory seat buttons - no night lighting (another $0.10 saved!) Radio *****/buttons - guess what - no lighting.

Manufacturers really should have a check list of "good features" that the engineers have to use in designing the interior. I think the way BMW did it - where there are three levels toggled through with a simple push button, and that automatically toggle off when the ignition is turned on is the intelligent way to do this. But whadda we know? We just drive them..