Here's a few more thoughts after a few days with CarPlay. There's often more to say about things that don't work than do, so I'll lead by saying I *do* like it. Siri and Maps are particular highlights for me. I don't mind having to plug in my phone but as of Monday, there's a glimmer of hope to gain wireless CarPlay. This Alpine unit, as I think I said above, is known to have a WiFi chipset inside, but Alpine has been coy about it. They've worked closely with Apple though (as signified by the "made for iPhone" label) so I'm crossing my fingers that an update will activate the ability to create the ad hoc wireless network.
Here are a few issues:
1. My phone gets REALLY hot. Not to the point of shutdown, but definitely uncomfortable to hold. I haven't seen much about this so maybe it is fairly unique or perhaps an iPhone 5S issues, but sometimes I cannot even put my phone in my pocket after I get out of the car. It seems the longer I have driven, the less hot it gets, if that makes sense. Short trips, the phone is hotter than long trips is what I mean.
2. This is specific to the Alpine unit. I can't figure out the magic formula for the right order to do things when I get in my car. Sometimes CarPlay will boot right up and my podcast or music will pick up where it left off. Other times, it goes to the radio and stays there. Still other times, it starts on radio and switches to CarPlay on it's own after a few seconds. I've tried plugging in before starting the car, as well as after. I'm really not sure why I'm seeing variable results.
3. In similar light, apps that play music or podcasts don't default on-screen to what's "Now Playing". They seem like they are going to the menu level right before whatever it is I'm listening to. So every time, I have to tap the arrow in the upper right corner to see the now playing screen itself.
4. Spotify is an unmitigated disaster on CarPlay. It is unusable and downright unsafe. The list of issues is long. I'll tap to shuffle a playlist and it'll show it's playing but there is no sound. Known issue. Playlists will not load. Known issue. When accessing Siri (or tapping pause), sometimes it'll cut off Siri and just start playing again on its own. Known issue. Unresponsiveness and crashing. Playing from my full library of songs rather than from the playlist I left off on. All of this--which has happened in less than a week of use--is enough to make me consider bailing after YEARS on Spotify, and try Apple Music when it debuts later this month, even if it means rebuilding all my playlists from scratch. (Coupled with a CarPlay unrelated issue of syncing with library items for offline play and their lack of support/usability for other devices.) I'm "all in" with the Apple ecosystem now, so as much as I have spent, I expect these things to work and if it doesn't, I'll find the application that does. Period.
5. I'm not hearing a sound when I get a message, but I think that may be because I have an Apple Watch and the notification is sending to my watch with the haptic tap, rather than a ping on my phone.
All in all I am very pleased with the product itself. The biggest complaint is born from a specific app developer. The other things are nuisances that you just have to chalk up to early adoption. The Alpine unit is a very classy addition to my car and it was an interesting experience installing it. I kept most functions in my car, a 2012 Chevy Sonic. Things I lost were some options dealing with locks and lights, which i haven't accessed since purchasing. Sirius XM radio which I never used past the free trial. Temperature display. Push to talk on the steering wheel, but all other buttons and controls work. Bluetooth, but it is unnecessary for CarPlay. And the car's built in chime for turning signal and key in ignition. This one is weird because apparently the data for these things was routed through the car's radio unit. It was a surprise when the job was done. My dash kit came with a new speaker that I stuck under the dash but it is entirely too soft to hear over the engine or road noise. I called Scosche but they said there is no way to increase the volume. So that will take getting used to.
Regrets? Nah, none. I enjoy it and look forward to the great integration that comes with living in the Apple ecosystem. It just works, indeed!