Unpimp The Auto

Aaron Miller

Fans may remember the highly popular Volkswagen ad campaign of the early aughts featuring a very Euro looking VW technician facing off against clueless owners of heavily (and tastelessly) modified Japanese cars which culminated with the catchphrase, “Un-pimp zee auto, say what?” The owner invariably responded with, “What??” And the car was immediately destroyed in an ingenious way before the pitch for a new Volkswagen took over. (Editor: I couldn’t remember the commercial, so here it is https://www.youtube.com/ watch? v=e1MNEqCr748 ) There was a time when I would salivate over potential modifications to our Porsches, and scheme about how to make it better, faster, stronger, or more potent. Now? I can say a bit of maturity has seeped in, coupled with the experience of living with aftermarket modifications which may make something better, but they likely made two things worse.

In a recent Patter article, I detailed our search and subsequent purchase of a beautiful, completely stock, 2003 996 C4S. And while I had (and still have) zero desire to modify the car, the sole area requiring immediate attention was the stereo. I’m sure the purists will decree a 911 doesn’t need a stereo, and just roll on the right pedal if you want a symphony, but then I’m sure they also discount the need to take an important phone call, or wanted to listen to something besides the two CDs in the glove box. After a few weeks of ownership, we collectively agreed we needed Bluetooth functionality, and we wanted navigation.

Unpimp The Auto (cont’d)

Fortunately, Porsche also recognized the deficiency and recently released an update to their highly popular Porsche Classic Communication Module (PCCM), in the form of the double-DIN sized PCCM+. Featuring a large touchscreen, Apple/Android CarPlay, and navigation information supplied by TomTom, the PCCM+ also has a unique capability making it highly desirable to the owners of 2002-2005 996 and 986 models; PCCM+ is plug-and-play with the fiber optic MOST audio system installed in the car. Prior to the PCCM+, owners were forced into three options: keep the original stereo, buy an expensive digital to analog converter to match their new stereo, or replace the stereo and all of the radio wiring in the car. To further advertise this new option, Porsche partnered with the popular Instagram 996 owner @996roadtrip (seriously, check him out) to highlight the radio’s capabilities and show off just how good it looks in a 996.

I contacted one of our region’s sponsoring dealerships to place my order. Besides the radio itself, Porsche specifies a number of ancillary parts to convert from the base single-DIN radio to the double-DIN ala PCM 1.0. The cost of the additional parts tacked on about $100, but it made the entire installation a straightforward affair. To be clear though, Porsche does not supply any instructions in the box, and includes a bright yellow label to “Schedule installation with your local Porsche Classic Partner or Authorized Porsche dealership.” It’s not a difficult job, but it is involved and required about two hours from start to finish. A seasoned pro could have everything done in under an hour. Fortunately, the Porsche After-Sales brochure detailing the installation instructions is readily available from multiple sources online, making the job easily within the reach of most DIY enthusiasts.

Unpimp The Auto (cont’d)