My Porsche App - Porsche Car Connect - Security Services (PVTS)

[P_Coastal]

In North America the 718 comes with Porsche Car Connect and PVTS (see attached).

There was a dedicated app, the features are supposed to be rolled into the My Porsche App.

The backend is still from Vodaphone, and you have to sign up with them first and provide a code to the dealer for activation. It is very messy.

This is all separate from the Porsche Connect features packaged with Nav which I am not getting.

Supposedly the package of services is included for 1 Year.

Seems many Porsche dealerships do not even tell 718 buyers about it, or offer to enable it.

There are several versions of PVTS, in the UK you get these Diver Cards, not so in NA from my research. GTK screenshot attached.

Who in North America is actively using this, and what is your experience?

https://pcc.automotive.vodafone.com/cwp ... welcome.do

[blueline]

It's horrid imo which is why so many dealers and sales reps bypass it completely. Worthless might be a better description. Let me stress that's from my experience and is an opinion, so please don't let that bias detract from what you or any others want or need to do regarding 718 PCMs and related.

I can easily pass off the mess because the PCM and related systems on my GT4 are not important to me since I never even turn on the radio, much less the PCM. My screen is always off. When I configured the car, I didn't configure amenities of that sort since it was primarily built for track use and getting back and forth from the track, or just to be out driving for the pleasure of driving. For my wonderful little 718, I don't want a PCM or other distractions.

However, I did attempt PCM/Connect/etc. configurations shortly after I took delivery two years ago. I dutifully registered with Vodaphone, attempting to figure out exactly what could be done and what was going on. Turns out, not much and it only got worse from there. It's a confusing mishmash of different software systems as you've pointed out.

I think Porsche knew that an electrified, entirely new platform for the Boxters/Caymans was on the way and made the decision to just go with what they had until the all-new cars are produced. They probably decided to stick with the ancient, creaky, legacy platforms just like so many companies still do to this day with their broken down 50-year-old mainframes, Win XP (or earlier!) PCs, etc. Regarding Porsche and the 718 platform, that's all just a wild presumption and guess on my part but it's entirely plausible.

Anyway, back to my GT4, after the initial several weeks of frustration trying to figure it all out through various sources (help from the dealer, online searches, a call to support, many hours fiddling with the system, etc.) I finally had an inspiration realizing that I didn't need or want any of it. I decided to forget about the entire mess and move forward, completely forgetting about it entirely, wiping all memories from my mind. Refreshing!!!!

PS - The system on the '22 911 Turbo S is very good in comparison - so much better. With a bit of time and study, configuring it and using what parts I want has been easy.

[P_Coastal]

Thanks @blueline, unfortunate that it is so bad.

[blueline]

Thanks @blueline, unfortunate that it is so bad.

I agree that it's unfortunate but I do want to stress again that what I wrote was my experience and that others with more patience might have a better time of it. Also, my car is a 2021 and maybe the newer 718's have been given improvements in that regard. (However, your discovery of Vodaphone's software apparently still being part of the 718 setup is not encouraging regarding software improvements.)