Carplay is far, far better than not having carplay. I have an aftermarket 10yo Pioneer 7" touch screen in the boxster. I used it without using carplay for a while. I could stream Pandora using the touch screen almost like the pandora app. I had to use the built in NAV if I wanted it on the screen or use it via the phone. I could make calls OK.
Carplay is like having a few useful phone apps integrated into the car, Waze (what I use) or Apple maps work great, calls (including zoom w/o video), texts read or dictated through the speakers and microphone, Pandora, and what's even better is at some point, the "multiple apps integrated into one screen" thing was added and works really well.
(something like this)
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Steve
'08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960
- never named a car before, but this is Charlotte.
'88 targa

SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten