Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Some 2018 Lexus Vehicles Eligible for $199 Software Update to Add CarPlay Support
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Sounds like the device I was looking at for my 2014 LS. Never owned a car with Car Play but I’d like to have it. Just not willing to upgrade to a new car to get it.
[doublepost=1558202148][/doublepost]
Wouldn’t mind newer tech but I like Toyota staying with the mindset of not upgrading a lot of new stuff. Creates less problems in reliability.
Lol. People complain about not getting CarPlay retroactively in their car. Car manufacturer gives them the option to do so. They complain about the price. There is no pleasing people.
If you buy a car and then keep it for 10-12 years you’ll likely come out ahead of someone who leased. Leasing just means committing to having a car payment forever. If you buy, you can not only go years without a car payment, but actually own something of value to trade for your next car. And if someone is tying to be financially savvy, they’ll buy a used car rather than lease one anyway.
As far as Toyota/Lexus goes, it took them long enough to get on the CarPlay train.
Incorrect, this can be installed without a dealer. Just need knowledge of how the system works.. it's actually extremely easy to do. 199.99 is absurb!
A one time fee is okay, albeit a little steep. But the BMW $300 annual subscription is just ludicrous.
I didn't have a source. If what you say is true, I guess I was wrong. I presumed. My apologies.
Having said that, what reason do this manufacturers have to NOT include something like this in their systems today? As I mentioned in a previous post, you can get brand name units for under $300. Seems odd to not use free software that is better than what you make in house. Meanwhile BMW is trying to charge a yearly usage fee?
Last edited:
Oh your in for a lot more than 199. I have now had two Lexus' a 2015 IS and a 2017 GS350 F Sport. Both "loaded" Both with the worst user interface on the planet. Lexus is in the business of ass ****ing their customers. Case in point, my car comes with a remote start that they charge you $350.00 per year to use after the first year. I will never own another one.
People complaining about the fee... I remember when Apple used to charge for iOS updates (for iPod Touch only?). Anyone else remember this? Seems so strange now.
They still have to do work to make sure it is integrated in the system software to allow control of the affected systems, so they have to put in some effort, usually a new larger screen, so most have waited until new models roll out. Also, it meant giving up on having control over that aspect of the customer relationship and information, (sound familiar with Apple Pay??), e.g., Toyota spent a lot of time and effort to make their Entune system the hub. Entune was horribly poorly designed, but they Toyota only reluctantly gave up on it in the last year or two and allowed CarPlay. Google wanted more information then Toyota was willing to let them suck off the car systems, so they didn't allow Android when they approved CarPlay, but it appears they may have worked that out.
Exactly, I got my Model 3 in June last year and have received 23 updates for free since then. A lot of the updates even added significant new features. I will never buy a car from a company that is not continually improving its software.
Want to talk about ridiculous? Lets talk about how Subaru (up until 2019 and only some models) doesn't have auto lock/unlock on it's car doors. I have a 2006 Ford Crown Vic. Auto lock and unlock.
Please explain that.
[doublepost=1558226780][/doublepost]
Not sure you've been keeping up with the new lately but Tesla can't even afford to eat its own lunch. Tesla isn't a mainstream car. It's a "luxury" brand. It still has huge growing pains to get through before it becomes mainstream. You can keep peddling all that nonsense but it's not going to help. As a tech company, they're great. As a car company, they suck.
I wouldn't own a Tesla if you gave me one.
[doublepost=1558226838][/doublepost]
Thanks for being a beta tester!
If they manage to stay in business in the next year.
https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/17/18629166/elon-musk-tesla-money-changes-cfo-employee-expenses
I think they won't go away, but they will change fundamentally as a company or be acquired.
Let's not forget, they are not without issues of their own
So you're saying you bought a car that didn't perform on day one; but you're happy the company you gave money to got around to it eventually via a software patch/update? Boy, you're a winner.
Yeah no, you clearly didn't read what he said. He was happy with the features he had already when he purchased the car. (Much like an iPhone with say iOS 12), but is happy new software has improved the experience he was already happy with (mush like an iOS update to iOS 13 and so on). Think before you post.
Better than the $500 AUD I had to pay to get the necessary parts and labour to add it to our Mazda 3.
But yes if it were just a software update it should be free.
I'm sure the car manufacturers had long discussions a couple years ago in collab about how to go about "utilizing" this upgrade path.
I'm wondering if this can flashed, especially if it's just done through a dongle. Does anyone know about this? Maybe that would be possible for Android Auto, but not Car Play?
Would be free and easy to do, if you could just download the software onto a stick, and then plug and flash software to replace, or add on to your existing interface. No dealer hassle, or cost.
I'm wondering if this can flashed, especially if it's just done through a dongle. Does anyone know about this? Maybe that would be possible for Android Auto, but not Car Play?
Would be free and easy to do, if you could just download the software onto a stick, and then plug and flash software to replace, or add on to your existing interface. No dealer hassle, or cost.
We want everything for free from everyone except Apple, but paying $1500 for an iPhone. Lexus IS an independent company than Apple. To sell you a product of Apple in the car, they will need to charge you to sell that update to you. It is not a scam, it’s called business. They’re not in charity business