First Volkswagen Cars With CarPlay Support Arriving at Dealerships

[AFEPPL]

Yeah, but the stats disagree... VW are in the bottom third for 2015.
http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/honda-named-uks-reliable-used-car-manufacturer-2015/1342848

 

[8281]

I have to agree, I'd take the focus over the Golf everyday, its just too dull in every sense.

I don't mind the understated look of the Golf, but I would still take the Focus too. If the old European Focus RS is any indication, it will be a great car. That much power in such a small vehicle and AWD is lose-your-license type shenanigans.

 

[You are the One]

Unlock and start General Motors cars with a $100 box of tricks.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Finally got word back. My R left for America on the 24th. Dealer said end of the month it'll be here, and mine!! (August)

Too bad about the deposit...the new Focus RS will embarrass the Golf...

Seriously though it is neat that we have all these hot hatches to choose from. Can't wait to see some head to head battles between the Focus RS, Golf R, and the WRX STi.

No way. Focus just looks like some car a kids would get on his 16th birthday. Pretty nasty looking. I thought that before I'd even seen a new R, let alone wanted one. Stage 1 or 2 APR tune and this thing will be nearly 400 hp with nothing else done at all. Throw in the DSG tune and a few little bolt ons and this thing is insane. Plus, VW > Ford all day.

 

[billy the fish]

Plus, VW > Ford all day.

in the UK there's been a massive report just out on Warrenty claims per 1000 vehicles etc.. to give a good indication of reliability etc.. vw long with Audi and merc were in the bottom 6, ford were 6th.. gone are the day when German means unrivalled quality..

 

[2298754]

in the UK there's been a massive report just out on Warrenty claims per 1000 vehicles etc.. to give a good indication of reliability etc.. vw long with Audi and merc were in the bottom 6, ford were 6th.. gone are the day when German means unrivalled quality..

This goes both ways.

In the U.S., Ford has had some of the worst quality in the industry in the last few years. So many problems with their Eb engines, SYNC, and other things. The Escape is one of the most recalled cars out there right now.

 

[AFEPPL]

This goes both ways.

In the U.S., Ford has had some of the worst quality in the industry in the last few years. So many problems with their Eb engines, SYNC, and other things. The Escape is one of the most recalled cars out there right now.

Focus us built and designed in Germany.. maybe the screwdrivers used in the US are not the same

 

[randian]

Stage 1 or 2 APR tune and this thing will be nearly 400 hp with nothing else done at all. Throw in the DSG tune and a few little bolt ons and this thing is insane.

Yes, but according to the website you can't use even a lowly Stage 1 tune with pump fuel. Their charts show a minimum 98 RON but the best commonly available in the US is 93 RON. In some states (like California) the best is 91. That makes it rather impractical for a street car.

 

[AFEPPL]

US fuel and EU fuel is rated differently... 97/98 RON is 93 AKI.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

 

[Fortimir]

I put a CarPlay head unit in my car a couple weeks ago and I really like the idea and promise of it... but I really want to see more functionality. Siri needs some work, I still fight to find where I want to go in the nav, and a lot of apps I want to use (Waze) don't exist.

And I want would like to see a *basic* call-only implementation of wireless Air Play. I definitely don't need full functionality or battery drain, but it would be nice to jump in the car for a quick 5-10 minute drive, not have to plug in my phone, and make or take a phone call with the Apple interface.

 

[MysterMac]

Anyone know why tomtom and google maps don't do CarPlay? Has apple not allowed it or are those companies just not on the case?
IMO tomtom has badly needed a complete overhaul on the map ui front for years! What's wrong with these companies? Perhaps it's my lack of understanding the development issues, but meh - they should pull there finger out!

 

[8281]

Finally got word back. My R left for America on the 24th. Dealer said end of the month it'll be here, and mine!! (August)



No way. Focus just looks like some car a kids would get on his 16th birthday. Pretty nasty looking. I thought that before I'd even seen a new R, let alone wanted one. Stage 1 or 2 APR tune and this thing will be nearly 400 hp with nothing else done at all. Throw in the DSG tune and a few little bolt ons and this thing is insane. Plus, VW > Ford all day.

I really doubt squeezing an extra 100 HP out of that engine, while keeping your factory warrant intact, will be that easy. Anyway, stock car against stock car, the Ford will beat the VW. The looks could go either way...people have different tastes.

 

[cocky jeremy]

I really doubt squeezing an extra 100 HP out of that engine, while keeping your factory warrant intact, will be that easy. Anyway, stock car against stock car, the Ford will beat the VW. The looks could go either way...people have different tastes.

Yeah.. good taste and bad. Not really concerned about the warranty. 100 HP isn't going to be hard to make at all.

 

[adamjackson]

Anyone know why tomtom and google maps don't do CarPlay? Has apple not allowed it or are those companies just not on the case?
IMO tomtom has badly needed a complete overhaul on the map ui front for years! What's wrong with these companies? Perhaps it's my lack of understanding the development issues, but meh - they should pull there finger out!

I can't speak to those two companies specifically but if you're using CarPlay, the "Maps" application on the display will utilize TomTom Maps as one of their providers. So Apple Maps is in a way also using TomTom Maps.

Also, if you get a 2016 Volkswagen with Navigation built in, the maps in the VWs (at least in North America) use TomTom maps as the provider so really you have a options:

• Built in VW NAV = TomTom
• Apple Maps via CarPlay = TomTom
• TomTom app on iPhone / iOS in a window mounted dock = TomTom

Or you can use Google Maps on the iPhone also in a window mount and have Google's map data displayed.

 

[adamjackson]

As for the Focus RS, GTI, STI, Golf R discussion, there are so many pros and cons that flaming or argument about who the clear winner is really is a waste of time.

For me personally, the Golf R with a $700 ECU re-map from APR will essentially give me a 2016 Audi RS3 in power, interior design, all wheel drive, handling, etc. The Golf R is an S3 in almost every way except it's cheaper and has slightly less WHP at purchase (an easy fix with a software change. APR stage 1 will give you 50-70 HP more)

The Focus RS sounds awesome! I found the STI Exciting, thrilling, edgy and fun. The interior was cheap, the head room was small. I'm 6'3" so the RS felt tiny for me and the sound wasn't that great and it was zippy but off the line, meh.

The RS will improve a lot of those things. The STI is more of a GTI competitor. RS should compete with the Golf R. We'll see once reviewers have a chance to put the two against each other on a track and on a mountain-road.

WRX & WRX STI are both great cars. STI has an aging engine and needs more RPMs before the turbo spools and the fuel economy isn't great. The WRX is cheaper and has a lot of modern advantages.

I still think that Subaru, Ford are cars purchased by 'teenagers' or boys at heart. Yes, there are grown men and women who are petrol-heads driving STIs but when I drive my MK6 Golf R, other R & GTI and Audi S/RS people wave, are friendly and never 'rev' their engines. Guys in Mitsubishis, STIs and Focus cars (and Scion BRZ to a lesser extent) are always trying to race me.