Anyone like the sport chrono dash clock?

[yan]

Why take an aesthestically designed dashboard, cut a hole in the middle and plump a clock on it that might be better placed on a mantlepiece? As far as as I can see the clock has little to no functional place in such a vehicle : it's far from the driving line so is not going to be checked whilst doing circuits; it has no background lighting (correct me if I am wrong) so can't be used in the dark; it doesn't compare with a digital screen that can display a mine of statistics should one care.

Some drivers will like the benefits of the Sport Chrono programming but why can't the clock be something that can be de-opted? I can't imagine this is difficult for Porsche to integrate in its sophisticated production line...

So far I have found no one who claims to like the clock including track drivers.

Is Porsche not listening to its customers or maybe there are really so many people out there that like it? Pls comment particularly if you like the clock.

 

[snarf]

The "wart" does seem to raise some strong emotions. While I agree with your comments on the utility of the clock I don't find it unpleasant to look at, I like the programming benefits that come with it and by Porsche standards it is a low cost option.

 

[THX911]

...isn't it the case that if the market across the pond or the birth country on the mainland don't have a problem with it then it is a feature liked by rest of the world? [8|]

 

[Rodney Naghar]

A friend looking for a 997 for the sole purpose of 'being seen in a Porsche' realy likes the clock.
IMO it looks nasty.

 

[Guest]

I agree wholeheartedly with the view that the clock is somehow "naff", a source of embarrassment, and that it spoils the look of the dashboard. The hidden benefits of the associated programming may be worth having but for someone who is not a track day afficionado, and therefore has very little use for the clock, the disbenefits outweigh the benefits.

I have asked if it can be de-specified but in reality knew what the answer would be and so, having had it in one car, it will not be in the next. I had also come to realise that with enough other things to concentrate in normal day to day driving it was very rarely that I remembered to push the Sport button (and unset the sport suspension setting) even when the circumstances were suitable. Having said that (and this is veering off the question of the clock) it seems to me that the best use of the Sport settings is to set them at the beginning of the journey and to leave them set and enjoy the enhanced accelerator response.

Thanks for raising the issue because it has been a source of irritation to me and is unfortunately also symptomatic of Porsche's "we know best" attitude to its customers.

 

[Rotorhead]

No, sadly it looks like an ugly after-thought.

Fortunately, on the new 997 GT3, you get the 'Sport' button as standard, so there is no need to order the 'wart'.

 

[Guest]

Someone at Porsche told me that in future models it may be dropped.

In the event of a crash/claim, apparently it could be possible for an insurance company to argue that the car was being "timed/raced", thereby invalidating any claim. I have no idea, but it didn't sound completely implausible.

 

[Sunil]

It's ugly. The reason it's part of the Sport Chrono pack is that they knew nobody would want it so they packaged it!

 

[snarf]

ORIGINAL: bluffield

Someone at Porsche told me that in future models it may be dropped.

In the event of a crash/claim, apparently it could be possible for an insurance company to argue that the car was being "timed/raced", thereby invalidating any claim. I have no idea, but it didn't sound completely implausible.

Does any one know if the Porsche diagnostic kit can identify if/when the chrono was active? So if necessary it might be possible to prove that this was not a contributing factor to any road accident.

Drifting off topic slightly - I have had my car for four weeks and have really only been able to get behind the wheel for three of those but having completed nearly 2000 miles I am just beginning to get comfortable with all the PCM and on-board computer controls, I can't help thinking that this must be a high-risk period sports chrono or not for any one new to the car.

 

[Guest]

I've never used mine.

It would be better if it actually worked as an analogue clock or at least was lit up at night

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: dwhatley

I've never used mine.

It would be better if it actually worked as an analogue clock or at least was lit up at night

It lights up if you activate it. I agree, though - why couldn't they have done it so it could be used as an analogue clock - at least then it would have had soome use for the 99.9% of the time one's not lapping a racetrack (or 100% in my case!).
If I'd have bought my car new there's no way I'd have specced it - the smooth dash looks much better IMO.
And to add insult to injury, mine broke and had to be replaced!

 

[pvernham]

I hate the look of the clock and therefore did not specify, although the other features of the package did appeal and the cost was relatively modest.

 

[Guest]

You are all bad people. It is a Porsche quirk. If they got it all right it wouldn't be a Porsche. These enginners try very hard to build the best possible car, leave them their foibles.

 

[Sunil]

ORIGINAL: henkus

You are all bad people. It is a Porsche quirk. If they got it all right it wouldn't be a Porsche. These enginners try very hard to build the best possible car, leave them their foibles.

I don't believe the engineers are responsible. It's down to their sales and marketing people.

 

[Mark Elder]

If the engineers don't create it the S&M folk can't add it to the options list.
Clock?, on top of the dash?, no mate, technically impossible, think of another idea....

 

[m33Porsche]

I think that henkus is right - it looks like classic porsche engineer thinking of function first, form second. You want a stop watch, that either the passenger or driver can see, then make it look like a stopwatch and raise as close to the eyeline as possible - it not nestled in down amongst the buttons/PCM.

I kind of admire this trait although I agree it looks a bit chav, funnily enough I think it looks OK in the Cayman as it adds symmetry in the middel of the two circular air vents

m33porcshe

 

[Sunil]

ORIGINAL: m33Porsche
You want a stop watch, that either the passenger or driver can see, then make it look like a stopwatch and raise as close to the eyeline as possible - it not nestled in down amongst the buttons/PCM.

I think it makes a lot more sense to integrate it into the multi-purpose display in the instrument cluster which is right in front of the driver. The passenger can still see the times on the PCM.

 

[YvesD]

Fine by me.

A lot of fuss about nothing. You dont have to look if you dont like it after all.

Yves.

 

[graham m]

It's not that bad really - it's a talking point and another Porsche gadget. Haven't used it yet though - and trying to think when I would!?
Graham

 

[graham m]

ORIGINAL: snarf

ORIGINAL: bluffield


Drifting off topic slightly - I have had my car for four weeks and have really only been able to get behind the wheel for three of those but having completed nearly 2000 miles I am just beginning to get comfortable with all the PCM and on-board computer controls, I can't help thinking that this must be a high-risk period sports chrono or not for any one new to the car.

If you think the Porsche system is a distraction, you should try the I Drive in the BMW. Now that gives distraction a whole new meaning!