I would be more excited if I ever used it. I think I've used CarPlay once in the last five years. I don't even listen to the radio when I'm driving.
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I don't use it much either. Prefer built in Nav, but I'm not paying Ford $ to update Sync 3 navigation.
Maybe I just need to try it and see if there's an advantage to it.
I listen to music on a USB stick, and don't have any music apps on my phone.
Old habits die hard but there's a chance I move into the 21st. century at some point.
Maybe I just need to try it and see if there's an advantage to it.
I listen to music on a USB stick, and don't have any music apps on my phone.
Old habits die hard but there's a chance I move into the 21st. century at some point.
Since my ordered '25 has Sync 4 and wireless CarPlay, I may try it again. It would be nice if it had an option to auto-launch into CarPlay once the phone connects via BT.
I think the most driver-beneficial feature of that (or Android Auto) is that they get past the "handling a mobile device while operating a motor vehicle" laws. I don't touch my phone when driving anyway, but some of them are getting ridiculous. Apparently Pennsylvania's toughened theirs to where you can't even touch a phone at any time, even in a mount, unless you're fully parked. And don't even get me started about the UK and Australia. Which begs the obvious question: at what point do a phone mounted to the dash and a build-in screen become different legally or functionally? And do handheld radios count? I know sandwiches do:
But then legislators aren't the brightest creatures when it comes to solving problems.
I think the most driver-beneficial feature of that (or Android Auto) is that they get past the "handling a mobile device while operating a motor vehicle" laws. I don't touch my phone when driving anyway, but some of them are getting ridiculous. Apparently Pennsylvania's toughened theirs to where you can't even touch a phone at any time, even in a mount, unless you're fully parked. And don't even get me started about the UK and Australia. Which begs the obvious question: at what point do a phone mounted to the dash and a build-in screen become different legally or functionally? And do handheld radios count? I know sandwiches do:
But then legislators aren't the brightest creatures when it comes to solving problems.
I use CarPlay nearly every day
Voice recognition is better than Sync and more to what I need
And Google maps, Waze, Gaia all better than the built in Ford Nav I have
And I use a pretty quick solution to switch between the native SiriusXM (on Sync 3.4) - press VOICE CONTROL button on the steering wheel controls to check Google maps for 5 seconds (or any CarPlay App) then automatically returns to SiriusXM or whatever Audio source is playing. Works for me. Should work for Android Auto too.
Voice recognition is better than Sync and more to what I need
And Google maps, Waze, Gaia all better than the built in Ford Nav I have
And I use a pretty quick solution to switch between the native SiriusXM (on Sync 3.4) - press VOICE CONTROL button on the steering wheel controls to check Google maps for 5 seconds (or any CarPlay App) then automatically returns to SiriusXM or whatever Audio source is playing. Works for me. Should work for Android Auto too.
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I really like the new CarPlay interface and the compact incoming calls is such a nice touch now where it doesn't hijack the screen. Overall I'm not a huge fan of the liquid glass as they call it, but the CarPlay features and newer iOS 26 features in general are nice. If anyone is on the fence this first beta seems pretty stable on my iPhone 12 Pro Max
I'm with @wireman . I resisted changing, but the simple fact is the $149 map updates from Ford and the Sirius map/traffic function at $30 (minimum) per month make the built in system functionally dead after a year or so. I switched over to Android Auto just to avoid paying. By getting a $300 annual phone plan, I've over half paid for it just on the fact that Google maps are up to date and traffic data is included. I don't even need the nav for 95% of my driving. I just want to have the feature there when needed. It would be an even better value to someone that needs traffic reports 5+ times a week.
I would pay something for the Ford nav. Maybe $20-30 a year if it included annual or biannual map updates and the travel/traffic services. Am I cheap? Maybe. But I bought a Garmin GPS in 2012 and it includes free lifetime map updates and I think the device was $79 at the time. So based on that, $30 feels expensive to me.
I don't know what guy at Ford suggested $149. I think it's the same guy that used to work over at Whirlpool and told the execs that 'fridge owners are willing to pay $65 for a teeny tiny water filter that lasts like 3 months. I get a stash of knockoff filters for that price that last 1-2 years when I can find them. I don't need free things, I just need to not be ripped off.
I would pay something for the Ford nav. Maybe $20-30 a year if it included annual or biannual map updates and the travel/traffic services. Am I cheap? Maybe. But I bought a Garmin GPS in 2012 and it includes free lifetime map updates and I think the device was $79 at the time. So based on that, $30 feels expensive to me.
I don't know what guy at Ford suggested $149. I think it's the same guy that used to work over at Whirlpool and told the execs that 'fridge owners are willing to pay $65 for a teeny tiny water filter that lasts like 3 months. I get a stash of knockoff filters for that price that last 1-2 years when I can find them. I don't need free things, I just need to not be ripped off.
I think all the major auto manufacturer's built-in nav systems are on a par with what Hertz tacked on some of their rental fleet in in the 2000's. Geez, that was awful. And that was $20-$30 a day.
I ran nothing but Garmin's back then, probably worked my way through three or four of them over 17 years.
Now it's Google Maps. Don't really use Waze as much of that is baked into Google now except for the crowdsourced alerts (which I've never had much of a need for). Figure that'll end up in Google sooner or later anyway since they own Waze.
After Google added in the ability to report various conditions and continues to add more to Google Maps itself it's been much nicer. I still try and use Apple maps every once in a while because I do like the interface.
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Currently running apple 26 operating systems on all my apple device, iPhone, iPads, mini (desktop), laptop and apple TV’s. CarPlay changes showing on my Bronco info system ?
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I didn't get the nav and have the smaller 8" screen. I had the Motorola MA1 wireless dongle. It was good. However, with the new Google map enhancements, I could not see all if the new icons. I now have the AA wireless 2 and was able to change the screen resolution via the app. Now I can see all the icons to report traffic issues.
- First Name
- Ron
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- Apr 15, 2025
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- 164
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- Detroit MI
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