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Smokers Package or Not - Where Do You Put Your Phone

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21K views 91 replies 47 participants last post by  rspray2000  
#1 ·
Debating equipping the smokers package on my build. I like the clean look and power port. But I could also just use the power port in the footwell for the battery tender during winter. I like having a place to put my phone when driving. Is that cubby where most people put their phone without the smokers package? Looks like the cubby might also double as a place to put a small drink? Small bottle of water or cup of iced coffee?
 
#2 ·
My 981 had the cubby; I have the smokers package on my 718. Observations:
  • Never seen a phone other than the old flip phones that would fit in the cubby. No way.
  • I put my iPhone in the console of the 718, which is required if you use CarPlay unless you buy a third party wireless unit.
  • I used a phone mount in the 981
  • No drinks either - it's too small and shaped wrong. The only use I ever found for the cubby was for coins for parking
  • It's coming up on a year for the 718 and I haven't used the covered cubby (which has much less room than the open one) for anything.
  • My feeling is order whatever you think looks better - both are pretty much useless.
 
#50 ·
OttawaSteve said:
My 981 had the cubby; I have the smokers package on my 718. Observations:
  • Never seen a phone other than the old flip phones that would fit in the cubby. No way.
  • I put my iPhone in the console of the 718, which is required if you use CarPlay unless you buy a third party wireless unit.
  • I used a phone mount in the 981
  • No drinks either - it's too small and shaped wrong. The only use I ever found for the cubby was for coins for parking
  • It's coming up on a year for the 718 and I haven't used the covered cubby (which has much less room than the open one) for anything.
  • My feeling is order whatever you think looks better - both are pretty much useless.
Click to expand...
OMG, Steve, that's funny... seems like getting a 718 Boxster is like moving from a 3 bedroom house to a studio apartment - but a really nice apartment. They don't want phone distractions so it must go in the tiny console. They don't want beverage distractions so you get useless cupholders. It's funny they offer an ash tray though bc that's the biggest distraction of all, especially when a hot ash falls into your crotch then onto the seat.
 
#3 ·
I ordered my car with the smoker’s package but later on had to install the tray.
It arguably looks better with cover but there is so little interior storage that even this small tray makes some difference. Forget about storing phone or drink there. Just some coins, candy, gate remote control, etc. However mini versions of iphone fits there -ish.
 
#7 ·
I have the smoker's package, I wanted the lid to hide any clutter that might go in there. I use the power connector for my battery tender. I use the door pocket for glasses, etc and an old leather messenger bag behind the passenger seat for other stashable items. I use CarPlay so the phone plugs into smartphone connection in the console which works great, though I almost always get 10 steps away from the car and have to go back because I left it in there :)
 
#9 ·
Android user here, so no CarPlay to worry about, but I always put my phone and wallet in the door panel pocket. I don't have the smoker's package on my car, so my center console only has a 12v socket (which I use for the battery tender). The USB port is in the glove box, should I need to charge my phone.
 
#55 ·
Smokers cubby is my vote
  • looks cleaner to me when closed
  • store my used gum wrappers if I chew gum and drive (sometimes debatable if I can do that at the same time)
  • added a low profile USB charger (Aukey CC-Y11) that can stay installed and still close the lid for easy passenger access
  • phone goes in console for android auto (see thread on this forum by simaservis1108 - great to work with)

This brand is not on Amazon now (policy violations) but the full length is 1 11/16" with button, case only is 1 7/16", I imagine there are some others similar in dimensions.

I found it on walmart.com but looks to be OOS

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#12 ·
Just get the smoker's pack. That cubby holds nothing but lint, coins, or a few mints. I see some people with Entry and Drive toss their key fob in there but I keep mine in my pocket.
 
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#14 ·
I've had smoker's pack in the past, and I'm actually going the other direction this time around. I actually prefer the look with the tray. I'm like the only one who does, but I like the dip there before going up to the armrest.

And I have a similar tray or trays in other cars in the same place so I think I'm just used to having a place to put whatever is in my hand for a moment or two. Maybe the key to another car I just moved or whatever.
 
#16 ·
The cubby is too small for a phone, a drink, or anything useful bigger than coins, paper clips, and the like. I had the same thoughts as you about not getting the smoker’s package so I would have a place for the phone. But then I sat in a Cayman on the showroom floor and took note that the cubby was useless for that and immediately added the smoker’s package to my build.

I now use this mount for my phone: Porsche Phone Mount. At first I just used the driver side cup holder for my phone, since I never use it for drinks. It worked OK, but it could be tricky getting the phone placed in there just right, and I got concerned about wear and tear on the cup holder and having it out all the time, etc. So I ordered the phone mount, and I’m very satisfied with it, although it does add some unwanted clutter to the interior. Anyway, my advice is get the smoker‘s package since you get the benefit of the cleaner look and extra outlet, and you’re not giving up anything useful by not getting the cubby (unless maybe you use a lot of toll roads that still take coins).
 
#18 ·
early on in my ordering process I had the cubby, but switched to smoker’s package. There’s a couple reasons: 1) as stated by others, it’s just too small to be of practical use, 2) it’s a dust/junk collector (my wife’s bmw was exhibit 1 on this), 3) I really wanted another charging option, 4) it just looks better.

ymmv
 
#19 · (Edited)
Our BS had the smokers package, which has a cleaner look IMHO. Regardless, not much fits into that minute cubby.

On the other hand, I always placed an iphone, mask, and an unopened 500 ml bottle of Kirkland water in the console...amazingly, that all fits quite comfortably.

Edit: The iPhone, mask, and 500 ml water fit together in the console.
 
#22 ·
I ordered mine without the smokers pack thinking that the little tray would be fine for keys, etc.
Fast forward 6 months and I don't keep anything in it as it's toooooo small for anything other than loose change that rattles around. A couple of keys on a remote key fob keyring is too big for the tray (and rattles around as well).
First service and I'll be getting the smokers pack purely for looks and to remove a place that collects dust, etc.
 
#24 ·
Yes, they will - it's just another accessory from the Tech Accessories list. I've had other bits from the catalogue added to my last Macan during services (running boards for example).
As for paying for it, the smokers pack is a cost option here in Australia so not a 'free' option at build time vs pay for the kit later. The price has changed since I ordered my car but at the time it was about the same cost to do it after delivery as it was to order it hence it was easily a 50/50 call for me.
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#79 ·
That is exactly what I do. As you say, it just works and it is cleaar to any Officer that I can't operate it by hand.
Quite why it is OK to use Apple carPlay on the touch screen in the car and not on the phone eludes me!
 
#26 ·
Hmm. Or rather, hmph. I did not order my car. It does not have the smokers package. I'm pretty sure I would not have wanted it, since I dislike the look of a cigarette lighter or a blank hole. Occasionally I attach a battery tender to the socket in the footwell.

A decommissioned iPhone lives in the center console connected to the USB/CarPlay socket under the armrest. It gets data from my Android phone's WiFi hotspot. Lifting the armrest to touch the buttons to unlock the phone is inconvenient, not doable while driving. The phone has a setting to run CarPlay while locked, but it also has the annoying habit of forgetting that setting occasionally. That's the phone's fault, not Porsch's.

[The one thing I wished worked but doesn't is the PCM's Device Manager selection to choose between iPod and iPhone on the fly. Running it as iPhone takes the Android's Bluetooth connection offline. Once it is connected as an iPhone, if I try to re-assign it as an iPod the PCM connects to my Android's Bluetooth, but then immediately goes back to running CarPlay as iPhone and drops the Bluetooth connection. I have not found the right button sequence to make the iPod select stick once it starts as iPhone. Maybe if I stop CarPlay first... If I re-boot the PCM I can select iPod then use the Android, but that's inconvenient. This has nothing to do with this thread's subject except as a usage pattern detail.]

I can put the Android phone in the glove compartment with the USB plug there providing power. Or I can put it in one of the door pockets. The Otterbox clip holds it nicely on the outside of the upper pocket.

The little cubby (as y'all are calling it) in the center console sometimes gets my house key ring or change. An ashtray would have been less convenient, I suspect. If you are going to have a nearly unusable space it might as well be as convenient as possible. I wouldn't not say the cubby looks bad. I might as well complain about the blank button spaces in the console. It's just part of the package.

Just my opinion, of course.
 
#37 ·
My Galaxy S7 in an Otterbox case but out of the belt clip does not fit. The plain phone would probably fit. But if it did I'm pretty sure I would not want to put it there because it would stick up so high and my arm would bump into it quite often. If I drove a manual gearbox I am definitely sure I wouldn't put it there.
 
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