After years of having cars with an auto headlight position (automatic on/off) I'm having a minor problem remembering to turn off the headlights. Possibly old age is assisting with this. Just curious if anyone knows why Porsche did not provide this option, or did they and I just don't have it?

 

Not provided, really don't know why. The usual speculation about the kind of driver who owns a P car would....

There have been a few rants in older threads about this missing feature, if you search.

 

Ditto!! (2nd for the old age influence)

 

this transitions so well into the "why do more expensive cars not..." I have never understood things like the auto headlights, yet headlight washers are standard kit. Dont think anyone will ever create the perfect car for everyone but some things just dont make sense. It is an interesting topic.

 

I miss not having passive auto lock/unlock like I had on my '06 Vette (however, that's about all about it I miss). If you walked away from the car with the key fob the car would automatically lock. Return and the car unlocked. That, and a small light to illuminate the ignition in the dash. Oh well, the pain and pleasure of owning an icon.

 

I feel your pain--I found out the hard way last week when I turned the key and the battery was dead. Porsche gave us cup holders and that is where they drew the line with convenience on the 997.

 

You didn't hear / ignored the nice little warning chime when you got out of the car?

 

I'm with you on this one. The worst part about the whole deal is that everything else needed to make these lights auto on/off is in the car with the exception of the relay that would make it happen. And having looked into it, in typical Porsche fashion, it can not be added after the fact due to, drum roll please, the wiring harness. And all of the old " Real Porsche drivers don't need this option because.... rationals don't really cut it for me. It's simple technology that's effective and should be standard on these cars.

 

Thanks everyone for your responses! I was only curious not complaining. My new ride is fantastic! With or without it! I will try to listen more carefully for that chime.

 

Just to add a voice from the other side - it's a sports car. Re old age - it helps old age, I'm told, to keep oneself sharp, being able to execute start/stop control checklists in complex machinery. I guess you do not fly airplanes - or are we also going to automate airplane checklists going forward?

My 997.2 has a Home light position. I do not even use that.

 

For a car that was Built as the Daily driver Porsche, You would think they'd add this feature as standard equipt item. Plus the fact that both Audi and VolksWagen have it as standard Equipt, It kind of makes you say HHumm???

 

I wonder how many people even use the home option. I don't use it cause I don't want my battery to drain any more than it does. The home option should be replaced by Auto...

 

I had the same gripe the other day...

Must the 911 carry such a strong heritage that you still have to manually turn on the lights?

I understand to follow racing traditions, the ignition location is where it is. However, when are you planning to go keyless like the rest of the luxury world?

Also, what's with the sunroof? Why is it one touch open and not one touch close?

Don't get me wrong, I love my 997 to death. However there are just a few things about the car that makes me think that on one cloudy day, one Porsche engineer just decided: "You know what? *shrugs* F*** them, I'm not going to give them the one touch close function. If they can afford to drive this car, they can afford to keep their stinking finger on the close button for an extra 5 seconds"

 

A new 911 can be equipped with a heated steering wheel, cooled seats, photochromic mirrors, headlights that turn into a bend and wipers that measure the rain, but apparently an automatic headlight switch like the type used on American cars for the last 30 years is out of the question...LOL

As of last year BMW started charging for high beam assist which turns down the high beams when an oncoming car approaches!!! Imagine that!

What's next for premium german cars? A fuel filler door release switch inside the car!!!

But seriously, I'd love an auto headlight switch so I could set it and forget it. My service advisor said a cayenne auto switch might be compatible, but I've never heard that confirmed?

DRP

 

I personally hate all auto switches and one of the reasons I got a Porsche is that it does still feel pretty manual, like I'm in control of the car and it's not doing everything for me.

I have no problem with auto headlights but I hope they make stuff like that optional.

I like the feeling of being like a pilot, you do your checklist when you get in, then stop and wait and check things off when you get out.