Porsche’s new in-dash navigation system. Photo courtesy Porsche.
Recently, Porsche Classic announced an available navigation system for pre-1998 models using a DIN-1 sized original radio, which includes the 911, the 912, the 914, the 924, the 928 and the 944. As a selling point, the system includes a choice of control knobs to more closely match the original design of the car’s interior, but the DIN-1 size limits the display screen to a mere 3.5 inches, measured diagonally.
That makes it potentially hard to see, particularly when positioned to the right of the HVAC controls. On the plus side, the system does provide Bluetooth connectivity, meaning that owners of vintage Porsche models can now enjoy hands free phone conversations and, presumably, audio streaming, all with a genuine Porsche product that requires no cutting of the dash to fit.
Porsche Classic is clear that the navigation system (which retails for 1,184 euros in Germany, or roughly $1,250) was created to address customer demand, so perhaps the product is a testament to how many Porsche models are still on the road as regular, if not daily, drivers. On the other hand, it raises a valid question: Does modern technology like this have a place in classic cars? Isn’t the point of driving a classic to immerse oneself in the experience, and to appreciate the associated sights, sounds and smells?
What’s your take on this? Is Porsche making the roads safer by allowing owners of earlier models to go hands-free with their mobile phones (which could also be accomplished with a low-cost Bluetooth earpiece), while providing voice-guided navigation? Is Porsche diluting the classic car experience, and perhaps even partially negating the reasons for buying such a car in the first place? Is there middle ground for those who want to use classic cars as more than fair weather weekend drivers?
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