CT custom order - group wisdom requested

[SergeyIndy]

I can chime in on a few being a recent Turbo non-CT owner but in the US:

1. Leather Package vs. Olea: Leather Package is standard on a Turbo and you can go 2-tone, which I did. I looked at Olea leather cars and the leather was very soft, not very durable, looked worn out everywhere, so eliminated that right away.

2. HUD: OP correctly noted that it adds a gob of plastic on top of the instrument cluster that most dislike. I agree that info is too redundant to be useful, but I optioned it as part of a Tech Package because it is such a deal in the US. The benefit is that you can have additional information displayed there vs. what you see in the instrument cluster and it is more comfortable at night to just look at the HUD display.

3. VLC: I originally thought that this would be a must since there is no electric shade but when I saw one in person, it did not block the sun, the owner of that GTS did not like the milky look of it, and attempted to tint over it, then the roof malfunctioned (one panel would not turn off), that turned into a nightmare to replace it. That was a big NO for me so I am glad I caught it in time. I discovered Groovey removable shade and it is just perfect.

4. Pillar Plastic vs. Race-tex vs. Leather: I did not want the standard plastic as it is a really bad kind having driven loaners for multiple days. Race-tex pillar is a sensible option, but I went for leather B-Pillar and Door Sill and could not be happier with that choice. There is so much leather that removes all 4 door sills, 2 pillars, and contrast stitching especially with 2-tone is no additional cost. My most enjoyable everyday option I could have selected as it deals with ugly plastic head on.

5. InnoDrive: This would be my first driver assistance tech so cannot compare to anything, but it works as expected on well-marked and mapped roads with speed limits and I can see it useful in stop/go and long journeys. My bet is that they will release some updates to it to make it more useful. Currently, the only issue with it, is that it speeds up way too fast when it sees open road.

5. 22kW charging would be something region specific and I have not known of a public charger that would provide it, home charger setup with that much output is also uncommon and expensive on top of this option to be very expensive, so I can only see this being useful for a very specific and limited case and return on investment. 11kW standard AC charging overnight is the intended charging procedure then anything faster should be DC charging.

Please share your updated build code to see what changes you ended up making.

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[UKPerson]

Re. charging options being expensive... you are about to select VLC you barely if ever will use. Skip VLC, and get all the charging options. It is about being able to charge the fastest available way anywhere you charge. I would not have ordered US 19.2kW version... but it came with the car and to my pleasant surprise, some of the places I park, I can utilize that at full capacity. Nice... especially since those are free charging spots.

HUD - I have speed, ACC, etc info on the left side and navigation on the right side. Love it!

Massage - have your wife actually sit in a demo car for 5 minutes with it on. When I got the Volvo with it, it was just part of the package. I thought my wife would love it... she tried it 3 times and, in what is now 4 years, never used it again. Most of those massage functions are just too rough and monotonous.

Offroad package - from what I understood - just a bunch of plastic bits and Gravel mode height as default. You can get to ground clearance by selecting Gravel mode in a standard CT. There is a very good post somewhere here with a graphic comparing ground clearance between modes in ST vs CT.

Heated back seats! Fronts are standard. Are back ones standard too?

Oh, you know what else I skipped - 4-zone climate. I have kids. Touchscreen controls for vents in the back - bad idea. Physical buttons any day, every day. Same for the ability to move vents manually.

Thanks again! ?

I'll keep 22kW option in for now. I'm still keen on VLC but it's definitely a nice to have rather than a must.

HUD comments are interesting. I'll definitely take a look at this in the dealership and come to a decision then. I had a Merc S500e (awful car) for a while and thought I'd love HUD but actually wasn't bothered about it. But I'm definitely open to this if implemented well.

Massage. Wife loves massage seats. She had them on constantly in the Merc, even though they were pretty rubbish. So this is definitely something I'd want to keep.

Offroad. I have 2 key aims and I assumed this would help. First is the most comfortable ride possible when driving in a relaxed way (which for me is going to be the vast majority of the time). Second is avoiding damage on speed bumps, pot holes etc - both of which are in ample supply in my area. So if the offroad package improves either of these then I'll go for it. If it would be a purely cosmetic option then I'm not bothered.

Heated seats front and read are standard on UK CT Turbo.

4-Zone - hmm. I don't have young kids. I'll have to look at how it's controlled. Will take a look at this at dealership before ordering.

 

[UKPerson]

The offroad plastic package does not bring additional clearance; it defaults to a higher setting than standard to compensate for the clearance lost to the extra plastic cladding.

HUD, like RAS, is one of those sharply dividing features, so I would recommend experiencing it yourself rather than relying on opinions of anonymous interneters.

Racetex on lower B pillar: I’ll say that unadorned plastic in the Taycan is one of the underwhelming aspects of its interior. It’s a hard, easily-scratched slab, particularly ill-fitting at the base of the pillar. If you don’t mind the extra expense, and if you are particular about the feel and look of obscure panels, go for it.

The base leather interior is perfectly fine for me; I do believe, though, that Porsche is not synonymous with luxury (and am aware not many share that view). The only problem, as far as i can see, is that you have to be careful cleaning/treating the leather where it adjoins a textile surface; the latter could become stained, and difficult to clean.

Re ORDP, key questions are will it protect from speed bumps? Does it offer any improvement to ride comfort. If no to both then I'll drop it.

HUD - thanks - will definitely check it myself.

B pillar covering. I think I'll probably want to cover this to get the most luxury feeling possible. Would constantly annoy me if I keep the car for a long time and have to notice crappy plastic every day. Will look at both RaceTex and leather options.

Thanks re leather. I don't think of Porsche as luxury compared to where you can spec an Audi A8 / Merc S etc. But I've long wanted a 911 but, now I'm old enoug to finally afford it ?, figure that I'd much prefer the combination of ride comfort, luxury and the practicality that a CT Turbo would offer. Coming back to topic, I'm now thinking I'll delete the Olea and go for 2-tone.

 

[UKPerson]

The way that I think it works in the UK is that orders can usually be placed with dealers at any time (even for new models that have yet to be officially announced)- on payment of a deposit- but until the dealer has been allocated a build slot that can be filled with the order, the contract with the customer isn't tied to a particular model year or price structure, they will align with that of the build slot when it is confirmed.

Thanks for this. I'll be talking to the local dealership when I'm back in the UK next week so I'll confirm this.

 

[UKPerson]

The standard CT has 20mm higher ride anyway and therefore more suspension travel. Adding the Offroad package increases this to 30mm. Whether that is because parts of the package stick down 10mm I don't know but I don't like the look of it anyway so didn't spec it and the ride/ body control handling on my CT 4S is exceptionally well judged IMO, and Sport and Sport+ are there too.

Thank you. I've just read the thread with the table of normal (sedan/saloon) Taycan vs. CT ride heights. From trying to digest that information my understanding (which may well not be correct - head spinning trying to manage all of the data!) is that with / without ORDP makes no difference in terms of the max. suspension height / travel. With ODRP only sets the ride height to a higher standard setting. But that setting height can be achieved without ODRP. Therefore, would presumably make no difference to the comfort of the ride. Have I got this right? You mention ODRP increases ride height to 30mm so I'm wondering if I've got the wrong end of the stick on this.

Bottom line - do you think adding ODRP would benefit either ride comfort or dealing with speed bumps / potholes?

 

[UKPerson]

I specced the 22kw. Never used it, though it did breakdown and had to be replaced all the same! Unless you’ve got 3-phase at home and can install a 22kw charger, I wouldnt bother with it. definitely get the 150kw dc thing (which I didn’t - poor advice). It’s good for the older fast chargers and also Tesla i think.

Thanks. Yes, 150kW is a must for me. I'm thinking 22kW is a nice to have for peace of mind. The car would be charged at home the vast majority of the time. But I have a vision of myself and my wife touring Europe in the future in the car and it would be nice to cover if this ever pans out! ?

 

[agurkas]

Bottom line - do you think adding ODRP would benefit either ride comfort or dealing with speed bumps / potholes?

You are paying for plastic bits and default ride height setting. You aren't getting a different suspension tune
Now, around here in New England, the roads are terrible. I still drive the car in Sport Plus suspension mode (I like to sit low), and I like it. Any time I get close to a speed bump, I do a suspension lift, save the location, and by now I have every local road I take mapped with those pre-sets. Such a useful feature!

 

[UKPerson]

I have a MY24 CT4. When I ordered it last year, it was a MY23. They will update the model year once the allocation is confirmed. Bear in mind this also means that the price will be updated too (whatever price increases occur during your waiting time). The price for mine was fixed once I got the allocation..

The ride on my 20" aero turbo s wheels is brilliant. I had a BMW X5 45e before and I would argue this is just as smooth.

I also like the extra ride height of the CT. I have a lot of sped bumps where I live, and some car parks with inclines, as well as my driveway being steep, means it has saved me a few times in my first 3 weeks of ownership...I particularly like the fact your car can memorise the location and automatically heighten the suspension when you go there again.

I have the standard sunroof which is fine, although not had a lot of sun to let in of late...

I didn't spec the 22kw charger, but this might be useful if you are doing a lot of on road charging. I charge mostly at home, so not an issue for me, but yesterday I went shopping and parked at a charger which was 22kw, and mine only charged at 11kw. It was only a short stay, so not an issue, but I would suggest researching the chargers you have on your regular routes.

Whatever you choose, I think you will enjoy the comfort and overall usefulness of the car. I am 3 weeks in and still love every minute of driving it.

Enjoy.

Thank you! Good to get a better understanding of the way the ordering process works.

Yes, 20 inch wheels are a must for me for ride comfort, range, and lower likelihood of curbing them with my clumsy driving!

Speed bumps a pain near me too. My son's school is a flipping vehicle proving ground. I like the sound of the location memorisation...

Definitely sunroof is essential for me. Whether to go for the VLC is the question.

Re 22kW - good info - thanks again!

 

[WasserGKuehlt]

Re ORDP, key questions are will it protect from speed bumps? Does it offer any improvement to ride comfort. If no to both then I'll drop it.

HUD - thanks - will definitely check it myself.

B pillar covering. I think I'll probably want to cover this to get the most luxury feeling possible. Would constantly annoy me if I keep the car for a long time and have to notice crappy plastic every day. Will look at both RaceTex and leather options.

Thanks re leather. I don't think of Porsche as luxury compared to where you can spec an Audi A8 / Merc S etc. But I've long wanted a 911 but, now I'm old enoug to finally afford it ?, figure that I'd much prefer the combination of ride comfort, luxury and the practicality that a CT Turbo would offer. Coming back to topic, I'm now thinking I'll delete the Olea and go for 2-tone.

Re: ORDP: the standard car is fairly well protected underneath, I can share a pic of mine if interested. As I understand, the package does add a bit more plastic underneath, but that would be more relevant on a proper offroad(ish); speed bumps would not be a problem in the standard CT. It’s really mostly a design package - with protection added around the wheel arches, and zero impact on comfort. There are several threads around here that analyze it in depth.

Re: B pillars: similarly, I can share pictures of mine to exemplify. The gist is that the plastic parts that wrap the pillar do not seem to join neatly, leaving a slight gap and feeling somewhat flimsy. They do scratch easily - my (tall) ski buddy made contact with the covering on the passenger side entering and exiting the car, and the panel got scratched from the rivets on the pants. It’s a hard, thin cover - I suspect chosen for its low weight. On the plus side, it’s not really visible unless one knows it’s there (which, of course, by now would be _the_ first thing you’d look at upon entering the car.

These are minor issues, though; I have obsessed over configuration for months, and then promptly forgot about it all after (even during) the first drive. It only comes up on threads such as this.

 

[UKPerson]

I will speak up for Innodrive which has had rather a bashing on this particular thread. It does give you one important thing, especially useful for UK roads. It will preemptively decellerate as you approach a speed limit change, so you are going at the correct speed at the moment you pass the sign. There are certain notorious places in the UK Including the M25 and M5, where there are speed cameras, exactly at the moment of a speed limit change. Without Innodrive, you will hit those cameras at 70 mph instead of 50/40/whatever. (Whether they will fine you or not is an another topic, but I prefer to drive legally where possible.)

Innodrive also, in principle, slows when it predicts sharp bends. I tend not to use it on roads like that anyway, so I agree it is not particularly essential. I do use ALK/Innodrive almost all the time on motorways - and especially in France where there are so many miles of empty autoroute cruising (with speed cameras). ALK/Innodrive gives me an extra pair of eyes for my safety (albeit not as cautious as Tesla Autopilot which looks for a far wider range of safety threats).

As others have said on this thread, Innodrive can be added as a trial option after purchase. However, I have heard that the post–purchase option is not fully featured because some hardware is needed. I have not been able to uncover the details on this.

On the 22kW charger: frankly, it is a disgrace that Porsche do not include this free of charge in Europe. Whether you need to spend the money on it depends on what sort of road trips you will do. We use our Sport Turismo for European road trips (for which it is excellent) as it is very common to encounter three phase power at hotels, car, parks, and street chargers. You will see the same in the UK from time to time, but not everywhere.

Note that you also need a 3-phase Type 2 cable to pull 22kW in UK/Europe. Porsche supplied a single phase cable with my (used) Taycan and I had to push them a bit.

You also need to spend money on the 400V/150kW option if you intend to use the Tesla charging network. Again Porsche, screws you for something which they really should include.

Thanks for feedback. Good to hear a positive perspective on Innodrive. I've had ACC on my A8 and it's a fabulous system. It is a must have for me. I use it a lot of the time, even in situations it's not designed for. I know the system inside out now and the few times when it doesn't handle things very well (e.g. a car is entering an exit slip road and it would overly slow down) I know what's about to happen and I can use the accelerator to override it for a second or two. I did test drive a normal Taycan 4S a year or two ago and tried Porsche's ACC - it was rubbish compared to the Audi. It cancelled every time you pressed the accelerator rather than just when you pressed the brake.

My brother-in-law had a Volvo and I was impressed with its automated driving capabilities. From the sounds of it the Porsche system is poor compared to the Volvo. I was planning to ditch Inno. However, I will have a conversation with the dealer to see if the post purchase option can be fully featured (assuming you have ACC which I will).

Off topic but my MG 4 also has ACC and that's nowhere near as good as the Audi system. Interesting that a lot of the newer competition has impressive hardware for the price but it's the softer systems that tend to be lacking.

Re 22kW, your comments on EU charging options makes a good case for inclusion. And totally agree pretty poor that it's not included as standard.

Definitely going for 150kW as a result of reading threads on this forum. ?

 

[UKPerson]

FWIW the most popular option on ours is probably the massage seats, they get plenty of use. I also like the ventilation since I hate hot seats, or being hot at all…

That is one of the several reasons why I didn’t choose a glass roof.
It may be it is a good enough radiation barrier compared to others I’ve hated but the double bubble ally roof looks a lot better to me as well.
I do think it is mainly a gain for back seat passengers.

I'm not bothered about the massage but got to get this purchase past the wife so including massage seats are politically expedient! ? I would have said I'm not bothered about the seat ventilation but I get the thought about sitting on hot leather seats.

I love light so having sunroof essential for me. I'm thinking the VLC would allow me to reduce heat intrusion on hot days. And also give me a toy that I'd enjoy playing with!

 

[UKPerson]

Configuration looks great @UKPerson . For my taste I would add HUD, Night Vision Assistant, and lose the Off Road plastics package (which actually lowers you maximum clearance by 10mm due to the plastics sticking down and actual max suspension height being identical with or without it). I got Innodrive but never use it, LCA + ACC would be what I would order if ordering again.

Thank you!

HUD will check out at dealership.

Don't want Night Vision - have it on the A8 and never use it. I could see a use case in heavy fog but that's about it for me.

Starting to think ODRP not worth having.

Will look further into Innodrive at dealership. Erring on the side of dropping it.

 

[WasserGKuehlt]

Here are a few pics; from top to bottom, you are looking at:
- underside front left - made contact with a too-tall parking border
- underside front right
- lower b pillar left, seen from rear seat and with the seatbelt removed
- (same)
- mid b pillar right, with signs of passenger ingress/egress

hth

 

[UKPerson]

I have owned a 2020 turbo and now own a 2023 GTS sport turismo . If I were ordering a car - full leather is a must as I don’t like the race Tex trim or partial leather. I don’t think OLEO leather is any better than the regular leather - it’s really only an option if you want the leather color that only comes in Oleo leather. If you’re talking about alacantra on the pillars and roof it looks very nice but is definitely not a must have: lucky for me it’s standard on the GTS and the Turbo in the US. Adaptive cruise is a great option and allows you to add further functionality (ie innodrive) by subscription. I had innodrive on the turbo and only have adaptive cruise on the GTS and don’t miss innodrive at all. Heads up display is great and it’s a must have for me. Wheel options are important and you need to look at them with the type of trim you have and the color of the car. Mission E wheels are awesome on white or silver cars but not so much on dark blue or black vehicles. Some of the Aero wheels don’t look good in my opinion- especially the standard 19 inch wheels. Air suspension and performance battery are standard I believe but if they are an option in the UK then they are a must have.
The optional charging upgrades are dependent on geography and personal use - the 150/400v charger is a must in the US for most people as it will be important for The NACS chargers. The 22kw AC option is a waste of money for most in the US because these chargers are almost non existent in the US but I have heard they are more common in Europe. The AC upgrade is also expensive unless you really believe you’ll need it.
some other options are also very much personal choice. Sports exhaust sound - some love it - many hate it or never use it. Passenger and rear seat displays - you won’t miss them if you don’t have them. Also the passenger display only works if you have a passenger in the seat. Noise insulated glass is great in my opinion and standard on the turbo and part of a desirable premium package on the GTS but I would get it if it were not standard. Bose radio option is a nice upgrade - the bermesister system is only worth it if your an audiophile. I had RWS on the Turbo and it is a nice to have but I can say I don’t miss it on the GTS. The Sport chrono is a must if it’s not standard. The other performance options and upgraded brakes are only needed if you’re going to track the car. Otherwise they’re a waste and you won’t even know you have them. Similar opinion on all the little customizations you can order like embossed Porsche crest or leather key holders etc. The Taycan is a very different car than the A8 but you will love it.

Thanks for such detailed feedback.

Definitely planning to drop the Olea. Thinking I will cover the B pillar, either with RT or leather. ACC is a must. Will probably leave out Inno. Will check into HUD at dealership.

I must be one of the few people that doesn't really appreciate the Mission E wheels. I don't like the 19s. Although I like some of the 21s, for me it has to be 20s (probably Turbo wheels) for range, ride comfort and reducing likelihood of curbing. Yes, I think air suspension and performance battery are standard on UK CT Turbo but I would spec them if not.

I am definitely going to include the 150kW. 22kW is an attractive addition, especially for EU usage.

I don't think I would want the sports sound. If I bought a car with it that would be fine but I suspect I'd keep it off for the vast majority of the time. No interest whatsoever in rear seat entertainment. I'm trying to spec a luxury 2 person car that can be super sporty when desired. I see rear seats as more occasional usage. However, I do like the thought of the passenger display. Would be good for my son / wife to be able to set Nav options, play with radio etc. And I just think it looks good! ?

I definitely want the noise insulated glass. Having that cocooned luxury feeling is very important to me. I'm not an audiophile (too much of a philistine to appreciate the differences!) so Burmester would not be something I would spec. I really want RWS having watched several reviews. I also once got stuck in a York car park in my A8 for about 20 minutes and was only saved by an angel in human form that stood next to the car for those 20 mins helping me with a 300 point turn! ?

Personally I'm not too bothered about Sports Chrono except that I like the little dial. Really wish there was an option to press for max power for a few seconds though when overtaking. This it was a Panamera hybrid that I test drove a few years ago that had that ability...

Thanks again for all the feedback!

 

[UKPerson]

In Arizona and wish I had a solid roof. Bought an aftermarket clip-in sun shade for under $100 and have never removed it. OEM glass in the Taycan is expensive, especially if laminated ($2,200 for windshield + installation and recalibration). Add VLC to the pano glass and it's anyone's guess what the price would be to replace (or how long to get the replacement glass).

A sensible person would definitely consider the maintenance / replacement implications of the VLC.

(But it's shiny and I wants it!) ??

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