Minor issue - sat nav/Apple Car Play - what to ask for

spitonmedickie

Very minor but I'd be interested in any ideas before I get back to a dealer later. Looking at 2015 VW. Dealer was going to throw in Apple Car Play/Android Auto etc which costs €260 to activate if it isn't installed.

As per earlier threads here, some 2015 units aren't compatible.

My old car has sat nav built in - don't see the value in that now as the maps date so quickly but Car Play was a neat suggestion to let me use google maps. But there is also the other functionality of car play.

Apart from dealer knocking off a few quid should I ask for them to give me a Garmin or something? Any inspired ideas welcome!

For those with Car Play is it as useful as it seems?

GustavoFring

Take a service maybe instead?

It's build week 22 2015 onwards had it, so mainly 152 cars unless they were old stocked regged later on.

JoeA3

Which VW is it? Have you a close up photo of the radio in it?

There's been threads on this before yes, and yes, it'll only work on certain radios. As a general guideline, it'll work if your car is newer than ~ June 2015 and it has NAV (i.e. the Discover Media or Discover Media Pro) unit.

Then are you an iPhone or an Android guy? The user experience is very different, depending on which.

I think it's only "ok" tbh. For Apple, you are forced to use Apple maps but the next iOS update is going to open it up to google maps, etc.

The feature I found best in it was the music / podcasts.

spitonmedickie

Thanks! It's a 152 Passat, sales rep said it could be done, then went to the workshop and as per the threads here, they said no. Don't have a close up pic unfortunately.

Main phone would be apple but if using it the odd time on work stuff it would be with an android. Mainly Apple though. Ease of access to Spotify was the main appeal after the maps really. I use my built in sat nav on my current car a fair bit, even on familiar routes just to give me an ETA (don't know why I like that!).

It's just annoying really but better to find out now I guess, not sure if it's a deal breaker but it might be. Dealer will reduce the asking price a bit, they suggested throwing in a Garmin or TomTom maybe if it would seal it. Think a phone holder is a bit naff. Might ask for a service too as suggested.

Also, sorry how unclear my thread title is!

omri

The apple carplay is usefull if you want to have imessage and whatnot. I was digging into it when looking at the BMW. I thought I needed it for spotify n stuff but turns out Spotify will work without carplay. I have the sat nav from bmw. So not really worth extra for imessage and apple map etc.

Not sure how it works in VW with their sat nav is it good or not. But I wouldnt pay extra to get spotify through carplay. So double check if spotify is integrated or will work off your phone if you pair it with the infotainment system.

JoeA3

spitonmedickie wrote: »

Thanks! It's a 152 Passat, sales rep said it could be done, then went to the workshop and as per the threads here, they said no. Don't have a close up pic unfortunately.

Main phone would be apple but if using it the odd time on work stuff it would be with an android. Mainly Apple though. Ease of access to Spotify was the main appeal after the maps really. I use my built in sat nav on my current car a fair bit, even on familiar routes just to give me an ETA (don't know why I like that!).

It's just annoying really but better to find out now I guess, not sure if it's a deal breaker but it might be. Dealer will reduce the asking price a bit, they suggested throwing in a Garmin or TomTom maybe if it would seal it. Think a phone holder is a bit naff. Might ask for a service too as suggested.

Also, sorry how unclear my thread title is!

A colleague has a 161 Passat and it couldn't be fitted in his car either. The version of the radio is very important. If its the non-Nav version (Composition media I think its called), then its unlikely to work.

It works on nearly all Golf's from post June '15 though because most of them came with the Discover Nav factory fitted.

Personally I don't like stick-on 3rd party nav units. A bit naff and ugly. Just use Google maps on the phone for the odd time you need it.

Ask for free first service instead.

You'll still be able to use Spotify and the likes via Bluetooth Audio and you can also connect the phone via USB and play music that way.

spitonmedickie

Bit annoying when I had asked if it could be activated to find out later after assurances to the contrary that it couldn't. To be fair the sales rep is being quite good about it. Think suggesting a free service is the way to go but see what they say about throwing in a stand alone sat nav unit or something.

Just do like the idea of having new-ish tech (even if I won't use it) and it does feel a bit like a downgrade going from a car with sat nav to one without.

Spotify via apple play would have been convenient but maybe not that necessary.