Extras added by dealer after purchase

[Paul Pacey]

Apologies if this has been asked before, but I couldn't find any reference to it. I'm planning on buying a Taycan in the next few weeks, second hand of course, as the prices of the 24MY have dropped by around £35k on 6 month old cars. Having produced a spreadsheet to try and understand the range of extras on each car and their relative values to each other I have noticed for instance that more people have specced Passenger Display than Automatic Cruise Control, each to their own. However, my question is, is the hardware embodied in the car, could a dealer turn on the ACC and other electronic aids, if not detailed in the spec, for a price, obviously, it is a Porsche?

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[BigBob]

There was a function on demand service offered, but i think it may be/have been phased out. I think with ACC there also needs to be the relevant hardware as well, so it would depend on what other gizmos the car has installed.

 

[f1eng]

Generally not.
Hardware is often different.
I hate ACC and was delighted to find it was an option on my Taycan so I could avoid it (it has been imposed on me in most new cars for years and never works the way I want) and I was warned there is radar hardware fitted if you choose the option which a Taycan without won't have so Innodrive can't be added, but that suited me since I wanted neither..

 

[W1NGE]

Apologies if this has been asked before, but I couldn't find any reference to it. I'm planning on buying a Taycan in the next few weeks, second hand of course, as the prices of the 24MY have dropped by around £35k on 6 month old cars. Having produced a spreadsheet to try and understand the range of extras on each car and their relative values to each other I have noticed for instance that more people have specced Passenger Display than Automatic Cruise Control, each to their own. However, my question is, is the hardware embodied in the car, could a dealer turn on the ACC and other electronic aids, if not detailed in the spec, for a price, obviously, it is a Porsche?

ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) requires factory fit hardware (below bumper radar dome) and so unlikely that it can be economically retro-fitted. Better off without it IMHO - car already has two other speed control aids - regular cruise control (speed) and speed limit controlled (awful). If you have ACC and want the semi autonomous driving feature (InnoDrive) then you can pay for a subscription.

Power Steering Plus if not fitted is worth having and is a software switch - used to be available over the air (OTA) as a Function on Demand (FoD). PDLS+ (auto high beam) was another FoD option at the time too.

So basically, if the option can't be provided by a software tweak and requires hardware then don't expect to be able to add it.

If you want roof rails for a roof rack then you must ensure you have the panoramic roof - can't be retro-fitted.

If you want a rear cycle carrier then it must have the rear cycle preparation treatment - it can't be retro-fitted.

If you want a towbar, forget it and was never an option.

If you want 360 panoramic cameras (and you will!) then no dice here either.

22 kW AC onboard charger was once upon a time an upgrade option for J1.1 but withdrawn now although retro-fit (£1,900 option) at ludicrous cost may still be possible.

Many MY24 cars will have been specced by Porsche and some by dealers who then effectively dumped cars at dealerships and told them to shift the metal with an £8K incentive from Porsche and an incentive from the dealer. In Dec'24 it was possible to get a 4S ST (good spec) with a list of around £130K for < £110K and 10 miles on the clock.

Look at brand new J1.2 (facelift) cars currently in stock at dealerships and then click 'View on Configurator' to see the minimum discount already available before you haggle). £10K is the minimum.

Porsche make the deliberate step of not playing the IBM game of building everything equal and not enabling a feature but could be after delivery for a fee. Hardware is rarely incorporated on the off chance someone might pay to use it. Heated steering wheel is a low cost example of that.

The situation in December was such that my dealership told me that they would not be getting any new factory fresh Taycan's until March'25 (earliest, to coincide with the GTS release) until they had cleared their existing stock of at that time unreg'd cars which post Dec'24 were then reg'd and sold as 2nd hand.

The discounting on offer (to my mind) is devaluing the brand spearheaded by the Taycan which is now just too expensive given the competition out there and lack of buyers in the 2nd hand market. Great if buying your first one but second time around, not so much.

 

[ct4s]

I don't think there are any dealer / software updates that I'd pay for.
Everything I'd consider a necessity or very important is a paid for hardware option.

I love ACC when I'm on the motorway and would consider it a necessity. It's not flawless and I wouldn't reply on it, but find it very useful to keep within the speed limit.

For such a massive car, the rear axle steering is great too. If I were to buy another, I'd consider this a necessary option.

Taken as a given that you have a decent paint colour, Bose, full leather, pano roof, rear camera (as a minimum).

Happy shopping.

 

[Afrita]

Anyone know if the 150kW 400V charging option is a software upgrade? For me it’s essential - I am too accustomed to having access to Tesla Superchargers - and annoyingly it’s not in the filter on Porsche’s used car search (at least not in the UK). I see it is now standard on J1.2.

 

[f1eng]

Anyone know if the 150kW 400V charging option is a software upgrade? For me it’s essential - I am too accustomed to having access to Tesla Superchargers - and annoyingly it’s not in the filter on Porsche’s used car search (at least not in the UK). I see it is now standard on J1.2.

No it is a hardware addition.

 

[Teejeemmm]

Most things slready in former post explained

The Porsche dealer can tell what is possible for a specific car I presume. Via the Porsche Connect website you can see what functions can be bought OTA for your specific car (only the ones you don’t already have). I bought innodrive , active lane keeping, car security and Porsche Connect services(the later two are yearly). The only thing I can add via Porsche connect (OTA) is 8GB data bundle monthly.

 

[W1NGE]

Anyone know if the 150kW 400V charging option is a software upgrade? For me it’s essential - I am too accustomed to having access to Tesla Superchargers - and annoyingly it’s not in the filter on Porsche’s used car search (at least not in the UK). I see it is now standard on J1.2.

Nope it isn't, hardware I'm afraid.

Different implementation on J1.2.

 

[Cherryjock]

Apologies if this has been asked before, but I couldn't find any reference to it. I'm planning on buying a Taycan in the next few weeks, second hand of course, as the prices of the 24MY have dropped by around £35k on 6 month old cars. Having produced a spreadsheet to try and understand the range of extras on each car and their relative values to each other I have noticed for instance that more people have specced Passenger Display than Automatic Cruise Control, each to their own. However, my question is, is the hardware embodied in the car, could a dealer turn on the ACC and other electronic aids, if not detailed in the spec, for a price, obviously, it is a Porsche?

Some of the replies are not quite correct.
The function on demand is still available for j1.1 cars. The confusion is not surprising as it's difficult to find and you need a log-in. Since about October they stopped 3 month trials and subscriptions for all except the data.
Porsche do install hardware then hobble it if the full functionality is not standard on your model. If you don't pay them more for the 'optional' function of headlights and comfort access, then you can 'add' it with FoD.
Some hardware can be added by dealers - electric sport sound, for example.
All are overpriced in my opinion, good luck.

 

[Paul Pacey]

Some of the replies are not quite correct.
The function on demand is still available for j1.1 cars. The confusion is not surprising as it's difficult to find and you need a log-in. Since about October they stopped 3 month trials and subscriptions for all except the data.
Porsche do install hardware then hobble it if the full functionality is not standard on your model. If you don't pay them more for the 'optional' function of headlights and comfort access, then you can 'add' it with FoD.
Some hardware can be added by dealers - electric sport sound, for example.
All are overpriced in my opinion, good luck.

Thank you for your swift and helpful response. I’m still frightened by the cost, but it’s the car I want, regardless of the fact it will cost more than my first six homes added together

 

[W1NGE]

Some of the replies are not quite correct.
The function on demand is still available for j1.1 cars. The confusion is not surprising as it's difficult to find and you need a log-in. Since about October they stopped 3 month trials and subscriptions for all except the data.
Porsche do install hardware then hobble it if the full functionality is not standard on your model. If you don't pay them more for the 'optional' function of headlights and comfort access, then you can 'add' it with FoD.
Some hardware can be added by dealers - electric sport sound, for example.
All are overpriced in my opinion, good luck.

The data package is not really FoD and is simply a Porsche Connect subscription service with Vodafone (in UK) - available from the store for any Porsche model.

It is a totally pointless purchase given data can be shared from a mobile device for the same in car end result

99% of cars will more than likely already have FoD options as standard (Innodrive is a possible pick) which means the store is rather barren for anything new. Nothing new has been added to it in 4 years.

 

[Cherryjock]

Some 'extra' frightening costs.

The data package is not really FoD and is simply a Porsche Connect subscription service with Vodafone (in UK) - available from the store for any Porsche model.

It is a totally pointless purchase given data can be shared from a mobile device for the same in car end result

99% of cars will more than likely already have FoD options as standard (Innodrive is a possible pick) which means the store is rather barren for anything new. Nothing new has been added to it in 4 years.

The data package is not really FoD and is simply a Porsche Connect subscription service with Vodafone (in UK) - available from the store for any Porsche model.

It is a totally pointless purchase given data can be shared from a mobile device for the same in car end result

99% of cars will more than likely already have FoD options as standard (Innodrive is a possible pick) which means the store is rather barren for anything new. Nothing new has been added to it in 4 years.

The 1% club...

 

[W1NGE]

Some 'extra' frightening costs.



The 1% club...

Yeah but read what I said - most cars have all of these options already

PVTS is also not FoD but a subscription and may require the driver cards to be paired to the car so hardly FoD.

My guess is that you aren't seeing the distinction between FoD (via an OTA update) versus what you can purchase via subscription from the Porsche Connect store.

Innodrive I already explained.

 

[Cherryjock]

Yeah but read what I said - most cars have all of these options already

PVTS is also not FoD but a subscription and may require the driver cards to be paired to the car so hardly FoD.

My guess is that you aren't seeing the distinction between FoD (via an OTA update) versus what you can purchase via subscription from the Porsche Connect store.

Innodrive I already explained.

The OP wanted to know what was possible to add after purchase.

In the connect store, Porsche lists both available connect services and FoD together. Until a few months ago, sevetal FoD's were available by subscription.

This is close to the full set of what is possible to add after purchase.

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