Anyone else find reversing a Taycan in the dark almost impossible

[Freeewilly]

Can't agree more, more specifically reverse into parallel parking in the dark. I can't see the distance between the wheels and the curb.
Since the invention of backup camera, I don't trust myself and has to rely on backup camera. Taycan is my first car with front camera, I'm using it way too often, too. ?

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[whitex]

Totally I agree. I got used to the strange warped view. But in the dark the reverse camera (including top down view) is indeed barely usable. On my old Plaid it was definitely better. The Fiat 500E of my wife also does better in the dark.

The front camera in comparison is great though. Thats something I missed on the Plaid.

LOL, front camera same as back on the Taycan (except you can't auto wash it), but you're right, comparison wise, Plaid rear cam better than Taycan rear. Plaid no front camera worse than Taycan front.

For me a bigger Plaid screen for the camera display also beats Taycan. On the other hand, Taycan HUD beats Plaid no HUD. I also like the ability to spray the back Taycan camera, works ok 70% of the time. My Tesla rear cam used to get wet and unusable in rain.

 

[slothinker]

It's unfortunate that the backup lights cannot be replaced with higher wattage units.

 

[4sCT21]

My dad's S class (with 360 cams) was impossible to reverse or manoeuvre at night, the camera display was just useless as it was too dark. I read online about a software update (from nearly 10 years ago) and the local merc independent applied it last week.

The difference is literally night and day. All of a sudden the camera displays are bright and clear.

Just from a software update.

I wonder if Porsche could potentially do similar.

 

[Warren]

I was wrong. Just left a late night meeting. Back up lights sub par. Dang.

 

[paul010]

I used the rear fog the other day, it seemed to help a fair bit.

 

[Snirpo]

LOL, front camera same as back on the Taycan (except you can't auto wash it), but you're right, comparison wise, Plaid rear cam better than Taycan rear. Plaid no front camera worse than Taycan front.

For me a bigger Plaid screen for the camera display also beats Taycan. On the other hand, Taycan HUD beats Plaid no HUD. I also like the ability to spray the back Taycan camera, works ok 70% of the time. My Tesla rear cam used to get wet and unusable in rain.

Yeah, I understand the front camera is the same as the rear camera (although mode usable in the dark because of the headlights), but it's lovely to have one. Especially since the charge ports are at the front, to not accidently bump into a curb.

 

[whitex]

Yeah, I understand the front camera is the same as the rear camera (although mode usable in the dark because of the headlights), but it's lovely to have one. Especially since the charge ports are at the front, to not accidently bump into a curb.

Taycan front camera is useful, definitely better than no camera. I'm still not crazy about the fisheye or changing angles (I care about my bumper position, which obviously is not moving with steering wheel angle). The question is, is it better, same, or worse than other cars' front cameras. I hear Tesla is adding front cameras now too (Cybertruck and new Model Y supposedly have them - haven't tried either of them yet).

 

[timc3]

Yeah it’s difficult. More times than I like I have to get out and view the area I am reversing into.

 

[F1Ruaraidh]

Is it just me, or is the Taycan the hardest car in the world to reverse at night?

If it's dark and there's no street lighting, my reversing light turns on but doesn't project enough light so I can clearly see where I'm going. It's about as useful as a tiny candle!
The only way I can get enough light to see obstacles is to press the brake peddle.
And the very expensive surround view camera gets a 1 out of 10 for nighttime use, so offers no additional help.

Given its size and value I find this to be a real PITA.

Laughably bad reversing camera. My 6 year old Model S puts it to shame.

 

[whitex]

Laughably bad reversing camera. My 6 year old Model S puts it to shame.

Not just 6 years old, 12 year old Model S had almost the same camera (same view, slightly lower resolution).

That said, after nearly 2 years of driving a Taycan, I did find an interesting usecase where Taycan backup camera was better than the Model S (and I have a decade of ownership with those). I was in a rare situation where I had to drive backwards with the Taycan, I don't mean back up into a parking, I mean drive backwards, navigate some turns, even cross a road. I gotta tell you, Taycan's pivoting rear view with the radar cross traffic alerts was great, it was almost like driving in a video game. None of my 4 Model S'es had cross traffic alerts, nor the pivoting POV (which I usually find annoying, but in that case I actually found it useful).

PS> The other thing that makes the Model S backup camera better is simply the size of the screen - this is a hardware choice on Porsche's part. My wire's Q8 eTron has a bigger screen, I like it. IIRC A Cayenne I drove few months back also had a larger screen. Maybe Porsche should consider making it an option for the Taycan.

 

[F1Ruaraidh]

Not just 6 years old, 12 year old Model S had almost the same camera (same view, slightly lower resolution).

That said, after nearly 2 years of driving a Taycan, I did find an interesting usecase where Taycan backup camera was better than the Model S (and I have a decade of ownership with those). I was in a rare situation where I had to drive backwards with the Taycan, I don't mean back up into a parking, I mean drive backwards, navigate some turns, even cross a road. I gotta tell you, Taycan's pivoting rear view with the radar cross traffic alerts was great, it was almost like driving in a video game. None of my 4 Model S'es had cross traffic alerts, nor the pivoting POV (which I usually find annoying, but in that case I actually found it useful).

PS> The other thing that makes the Model S backup camera better is simply the size of the screen - this is a hardware choice on Porsche's part. My wire's Q8 eTron has a bigger screen, I like it. IIRC A Cayenne I drove few months back also had a larger screen. Maybe Porsche should consider making it an option for the Taycan.

It's the darkness quality as well. Very very grainy and poor resolution. Older Ss were like that too (mine was) but all the cameras were upgraded when Zi went from MCU1->2 and the latest OTA has a sorta cross traffic alert.

I like the pivoting too, it's the lack of cleaning, goldfish bowl view by default (why can't I set it to default to normal?!) and dreadful view in low light that's the problem.

It's one of two real niggles with the car, phone reception in car (WTAF?!) being the other.

 

[whitex]

It's the darkness quality as well. Very very grainy and poor resolution. Older Ss were like that too (mine was) but all the cameras were upgraded when Zi went from MCU1->2 and the latest OTA has a sorta cross traffic alert.

I like the pivoting too, it's the lack of cleaning, goldfish bowl view by default (why can't I set it to default to normal?!) and dreadful view in low light that's the problem.

It's one of two real niggles with the car, phone reception in car (WTAF?!) being the other.

Interesting that my Taycan defaults to non-fishbowl view (the one with guide lines) for both front and back. My wife's sTron on the other hand defaults to non-fishbowl on the rear (same as Taycan), but fishbawl on the front (I keep having to manually switch it when I drive that car). As for camera cleaning, at least my Taycan (and Audi) can spray the rear camera, which works 85% of the time (sometimes takes multiple sprays). Tesla rear camera on the other hand turned useless after driving the rain/mist.

 

[F1Ruaraidh]

Interesting that my Taycan defaults to non-fishbowl view (the one with guide lines) for both front and back. My wife's sTron on the other hand defaults to non-fishbowl on the rear (same as Taycan), but fishbawl on the front (I keep having to manually switch it when I drive that car). As for camera cleaning, at least my Taycan (and Audi) can spray the rear camera, which works 85% of the time (sometimes takes multiple sprays). Tesla rear camera on the other hand turned useless after driving the rain/mist.

Cross Turismo doesn't have a rear camera wash. It's also mounted much lower down than the Model S so picks up massively more road dirt.

The main issue is the camera in low light is grainy and basically useless unless you keep a foot on the brake pedal to get more light on the subject!!

 

[asiviero]

Cross Turismo doesn't have a rear camera wash. It's also mounted much lower down than the Model S so picks up massively more road dirt.

The main issue is the camera in low light is grainy and basically useless unless you keep a foot on the brake pedal to get more light on the subject!!

it does have a camera wash. there is a little pin nearby the camera, to activate it you have to push the rear washer... still useless ?

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