To the author, why wouldn't the Tiguan R-line have it? All trims of Tiguan do. Pretty much every VW has App Connect, which is Car Play, Android auto and Mirrorlink.
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Many CarPlay Vehicles Debuting at Los Angeles Auto Show
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I have a 2017 BMW and paid extra to add the Apple CarPlay option, it was a total waste of money!
CARPLAY IS GARBAGE compared to BMW's own Bluetooth integration software. BMW maps make CarPlay maps look like something created by a 5 year old with a box of crayons.
As an iPhone and iPad user, I have no problem saying Apple has some great mobile devices and device software (IOS), but they don't know crap about the software needed for proper integration between a mobile device and a car. Companies like BMW have been working on their Bluetooth integration solution for over a decade, Apple is a complete noob in this area.
Thank goodness BMW had the foresight to give users the option to disable Apple CarPlay and use BMW's Bluetooth integration and mapping system.
For cars that don't have decent Bluetooth integration and mapping, fine, CarPlay might be your only option, but compared to auto companies that have excellent Bluetooth integration and mapping capability, like BMW, CarPlay is the worst piece of garbage software ever created by Apple.
CARPLAY IS GARBAGE compared to BMW's own Bluetooth integration software. BMW maps make CarPlay maps look like something created by a 5 year old with a box of crayons.
As an iPhone and iPad user, I have no problem saying Apple has some great mobile devices and device software (IOS), but they don't know crap about the software needed for proper integration between a mobile device and a car. Companies like BMW have been working on their Bluetooth integration solution for over a decade, Apple is a complete noob in this area.
Thank goodness BMW had the foresight to give users the option to disable Apple CarPlay and use BMW's Bluetooth integration and mapping system.
For cars that don't have decent Bluetooth integration and mapping, fine, CarPlay might be your only option, but compared to auto companies that have excellent Bluetooth integration and mapping capability, like BMW, CarPlay is the worst piece of garbage software ever created by Apple.
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The other problem with CarPlay in a BMW but I imagine any car with a HUD is that it doesn’t work with it. BMW’s own mapping for instance will show your next turn details right on the HUD but if you switch to Apple CarPlay you get nothing.
In my mind Apple CarPlay is probably a great option for lower end cars where you can avoid paying for inbuilt Sat Nav, etc. However get to a BMW and it’s got Sat Nav, wireless music streaming off its own SIM, etc. There’s nothing much CarPlay gives you that you’d want and I certainly don’t want to lose my HUD directions.
As someone else mentioned though BMW do wireless charging and wireless CarPlay to boot.
In my mind Apple CarPlay is probably a great option for lower end cars where you can avoid paying for inbuilt Sat Nav, etc. However get to a BMW and it’s got Sat Nav, wireless music streaming off its own SIM, etc. There’s nothing much CarPlay gives you that you’d want and I certainly don’t want to lose my HUD directions.
As someone else mentioned though BMW do wireless charging and wireless CarPlay to boot.
Completely agree it is rubbish. I have same issue with my BMW 2017 is utter crap this CarPlay, so I disconnected it as well -complete waste of money (not really sure why I paid for it in the first place when the was a BMW native system already -stupid I guess).
Yes, the CarPlay design simply looks terrible in a car - car integrations really what integration????, it is a design there is completely disconnected with anything in the car design and looks like an arcade game from the 80' in my 2017 car!!! I am pretty sure most cars native systems outmatch CarPlay in a heartbeat -and it is included so no extra charge and looks nice.
My best advice is, if it is for free go for it as who knows it may be upgraded one day, but you may disable the CarPlay and use the native system. If you have to pay extra for the CarPlay system, like with BMW, do not do it as it is waste of your money.
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
Nice, good info. It’s kinda unbelievable (and kinda not) how slow car companies are to adapt. Well luckily I don’t plan (unforeseen circumstances not included) to get a car for another 4-5 years, so by then I would assume most of these issues will be worked out. (And hopefully worked out for a slightly used 2-3 year old car!)
Sigh...Mazda. So I'm a little torn. I bought a '17 Mazda3 in May and the salesman told me that "in October you will get a letter from Mazda offering a free upgrade to CarPlay". While I took that with a huge grain of salt (I do work in software, so I know dates from marketing and sales are bullsh**), I would like to see it happen in my lifetime. However in the mean time I've gotten used to Mazda's system.
The system is better than some of I've seen, yet really mediocre at the same time. It's surprisingly functional - with IOS11 I can put the phone in DND-while-driving mode, and if someone texts me the Mazda system will notify me and read the text to me. I can't reply directly moving, however I can hit a steering wheel button and ask Siri to "send a text message to...". I can also control what's playing through my phone via the steering wheel (even move to the next story on the NPR ONE app with my phone). I did not get a Nav system with the car, so I use the phone on a holster. The drawback there is I have to change the Mazda system to Aux in order to hear it through the car, but then I'm typically listening to something on the phone anyways.
The drawback of the system is it's somewhat slow and buggy, and when backing up the interface becomes the rear camera, so you can't change anything while backing up. This is surprisingly annoying first thing in the morning backing the car out of the garage and being stuck for 8 seconds listening to the Nikki Manaj crap my wife left playing on the radio when she took the car last night.
Another reason, I think, NOT to want (wired) CarPlay is the ridiculous USB ports in the Mazda. On their own they are not powerful enough to charge a phone while accessing data at the same time. So currently I have an awesome little doohicky called a PortaPow Data Blocker USB Adaptor that cuts off the data connection in the USB, turning the port into a full power charging port. If I had to go to wired CarPlay in the current car I'd lose my ability to charge the phone while driving.
Long story short, I'm torn because the system isn't bad as it stands now, and I'm not sure if CarPlay would add much useful functionality that I don't already have. Plus everything I have is wireless via Bluetooth currently But being a Mac fan it would be nice to have that integration (as long as it's wireless).
The system is better than some of I've seen, yet really mediocre at the same time. It's surprisingly functional - with IOS11 I can put the phone in DND-while-driving mode, and if someone texts me the Mazda system will notify me and read the text to me. I can't reply directly moving, however I can hit a steering wheel button and ask Siri to "send a text message to...". I can also control what's playing through my phone via the steering wheel (even move to the next story on the NPR ONE app with my phone). I did not get a Nav system with the car, so I use the phone on a holster. The drawback there is I have to change the Mazda system to Aux in order to hear it through the car, but then I'm typically listening to something on the phone anyways.
The drawback of the system is it's somewhat slow and buggy, and when backing up the interface becomes the rear camera, so you can't change anything while backing up. This is surprisingly annoying first thing in the morning backing the car out of the garage and being stuck for 8 seconds listening to the Nikki Manaj crap my wife left playing on the radio when she took the car last night.
Another reason, I think, NOT to want (wired) CarPlay is the ridiculous USB ports in the Mazda. On their own they are not powerful enough to charge a phone while accessing data at the same time. So currently I have an awesome little doohicky called a PortaPow Data Blocker USB Adaptor that cuts off the data connection in the USB, turning the port into a full power charging port. If I had to go to wired CarPlay in the current car I'd lose my ability to charge the phone while driving.
Long story short, I'm torn because the system isn't bad as it stands now, and I'm not sure if CarPlay would add much useful functionality that I don't already have. Plus everything I have is wireless via Bluetooth currently But being a Mac fan it would be nice to have that integration (as long as it's wireless).
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I recently bought a new Audi A4 with Car Play.
I was very excited to try it all out. Within a week, I'd turned it off again. No album art being the main reason (don't know if this is an Apple or Audi limitation, but Audi displays it natively within it's MMI interface).
If album art was there I'd be more likely to use it. If they allowed Waze I'd definitely use it. Without those 2 things - I really don't see any benefit to it at all.
I was very excited to try it all out. Within a week, I'd turned it off again. No album art being the main reason (don't know if this is an Apple or Audi limitation, but Audi displays it natively within it's MMI interface).
If album art was there I'd be more likely to use it. If they allowed Waze I'd definitely use it. Without those 2 things - I really don't see any benefit to it at all.
If the car's user interface is really good, Carplay seems poorly redundant. It's certainly the case for Audi with their virtual cockpit and nav functions.
Kia offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on all MY2017 and newer... going forward every model will have Apple CarPlay! Standard on all trim levels if 2018 Stinger. Also since 7/19/2016 Kia offered a free upgrade on select 2016 and 2015 models with premium navigation.
That being in and out may be the difference. I can see that if I was in and out of the vehicle a lot and had very short drives where I knew where I was going, I would be less enthusiastic about CarPlay.
As it is I get in/out of my vehicle 3-5 times on a weekday. Average drive time is maybe 15 minutes.
BMW is now using underlying Nokia/Navteq data now? If so, Apple Maps can't touch that.
That's how CarPlay displays playing music. I also have an Audi and get the album artwork over the regular Bluetooth connection. Looks a lot better than what Apple is doing.
The only thing I can't stand in the Audi CarPlay interface is having to use the MMI controller to scroll, since there is no touch screen. What a pain.
That really depends on where you are. Everywhere I've been Apple Maps has performed just fine. But as always YMMV.
As for those saying it's crap compared to the systems in Audi/BMW...well yeah because they actually came up with great infotainment systems. If you had a Lexus I bet you would be much more excited about it, but they of course don't offer it
Get with the program, Toyota/Lexus. Or at least offer it as a dealer-installed optional (add-on) accessory.