While the full version of PCCM may sound like a business seminar, it’s actually a line of infotainment systems that’s been around for a minute. Previously, these factory-looking upgrades added some very modern flourishes to various classic P-cars. Now, these new head units will also bolt right up to your 2005 to 2008 911, 2005 to 2008 Boxster, or 2003 to 2008 Cayenne and look properly OEM. From carefully-chosen fonts to physical volume knobs, these units are carefully crafted to blend in while offering all the latest tech. I’m talking about Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity, Android Auto on PCCM Plus units, and available SiriusXM satellite radio and modern native navigation on both PCCM and PCCM Plus units. Formats like CD, DVD, DAT, and Hit Clips aren’t supported, but that feels like a small price to pay for modernity.
In addition to working with all your devices, these systems maintain full car-side functionality, meaning a trip computer, vehicle setting adjustment, and even being able to beam navigation directions up to the gauge cluster. Plus, everything’s displayed on a beautiful seven-inch touchscreen, more inches than a lot of us 2000s German car owners are used to having.
With a list price of $1,475.99 plus fitting for the PCCM Plus system, these latest PCCM units aren’t cheap. However, they’re not much more money than many high-end double-DIN aftermarket head units and are a hell of a lot less expensive than a brand-new Porsche. That last one may sound like a silly comparison, but hear me out.
If you don’t care much for driving aids and are willing to shrug off small-overlap impact protection, infotainment and driver engagement are the only real differences between 2000s cars and new cars. Buy just about any enthusiast car from 2006 and you’ll realize that it has just about all the toys you’d want, won’t overheat in traffic, and is still plenty quick. While it’s hard to add steering feel and manual gearboxes to new cars, putting OEM-like modern infotainment in older cars should give you a daily driver that’s the best of both worlds.
Ultimately, I’d love to see carmakers capitalize on a circular economy for vehicles. I’m talking about factory-authorized refurbishment services so that customers can keep driving their old cars. Really rotten examples can be stripped for parts, decent ones can be partially disassembled, have the rust blasted off, get some fresh paint, and be sent right back out on the road. In a way, Porsche already pays mind to older car owners with continued parts support and in-dealer restoration programs, but I want to see other automakers get with the program and then take it further. Plus, why not offer financing so that continuing to drive an old enthusiast car isn’t just for rich idiots and idiots who can wrench, but for all idiots? Of course, interest rates would likely be astronomical and approval rates would likely be low given that these loans would essentially be unsecured, but still. A guy can dream, right?
Anyway, the line of Porsche Classic Communication Management systems for the 2005 to 2008 911, 2005 to 2008 Boxster and Cayman, and 2003 to 2008 Cayenne are available now. Part numbers in North America are 99764259100 for 997s and 987s, and 95564259100 for Cayennes. Now if Porsche would put the Roof Transport System for the 986 Boxster back into production, modern water-cooled owners on a budget would really be cooking with gas. (Photo credits: Porsche) Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.
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Oooooof. This is genius, and I’d argue reasonable for a Porsche. Pardon me while I check AutoTempest for a Cayman… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKCPVuKAkfQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg5M6R6lvZU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHvMuWKCgzQ I like Porsche but their prices are batshit. Suncoast waiting list: https://www.suncoastparts.com/product/sku997pccm.html https://rennlist.com/forums/audio-and-video-forum/1332269-official-997-porsche-pcm-classic-upgrade-thread.html The 997+ PCM3.0 replacement has not yet been released, which is why you can’t buy it. It’s a very different beast. My suspicion is that delays are software related, as PCM3.0 must have 30-pin iPod support due to the factory interface. (There’s also an already factory integrated line-in and USB when optioned with that.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGwilpM3izM Doesn’t look like a tough install at all. This paragraph got me thinking. It sounds like a really good idea, but how does it truly differ from the current system of used cars being fixed up and resold (other than the OEM involvement)? If a car is desirable enough, someone will fix what needs fixing, replace what needs replacing, and someone will buy it. If too much work needs to be done, the value of the work will exceed what anyone would be willing to pay for the car, and it wouldn’t be economically viable. The concept of “refurbishment” sounds nice, but replacing more components than is necessary is just overmaintenance and would result in an inflated purchase price. And I wouldn’t necessarily expect most OEMs to want to get in on the action. They’re set up for mass production — not individual restoration. Such a venture would be a big change to their operations. Some higher-end OEMs might do it. I’m pretty sure McLaren already does. But I wouldn’t expect a company like Toyota to jump on the train. And that’s too bad because I’d really like to pick up a car type that’s just not made anymore — say, a personal luxury coupe from the ’90s with the peace of mind that the mechanicals are new and the niceties aren’t worn out. I just don’t expect it to be worth FoMoCo’s time and effort to make me a Lincoln Mark VIII whose seats have never been farted in for a reasonable price. It’s not Anti-Lock Brake System (it’s missing an L) it’s Antiblockiersystem.
