[jyl]

Don't myself have a car with CarPlay, but recently put an aftermarket head unit in wife's W211 that has CarPlay. Not a great implementation of CarPlay, because its a cheap Chinese head unit, and zero integration with the car itself, but even so she really likes it and so do I.

I really like using the same navigation, phone, messaging, music apps that I'm accustomed to, with a familiar interface, rather than learning some new automaker system that doesn't have my contacts, saved places, playlists, etc.

Would I nix a new car purchase if CarPlay isn't available? Probably not for a really unique, special car. For an appliance car up through a kind-of-cool-but-there-are-alternatives car, I probably would. For one thing, my wife would complain loudly if we spent the bucks that new cars cost and "It doesn't even have CarPlay?". For her, nav/entertainment and reverse camera are the #1 and #2 most important features of a car, with A/C #3, comfy seats #4, cupholders #5, and everything else starts at #10.