Can 2017 owners review new stereo/touchscreen

[SubieSyncro]

As I weigh the option of buying a used BRZ and updating the stereo with new Apple Carplay model and a backup camera vs. putting out a little extra cash for the improvements in the 2017 model, I’m wondering how the revised multimedia touch screen system is working.

I’ve read such bad reviews of the 2013-16 units, that I’m a bit skeptical about the 2017 version.

What I really want is a backup camera, to stream audio from my phone, and to be able to mirror my smartphone screen to the touchscreen so I can use Google Maps or whatever. I DO NOT want to subscribe to Subaru’s Starlink service and pay a continuing additional fee.

Can you do that without subscribing to Subaru’s service?

On Subaru’s 2017 BRZ website it says that with the MySubaru app you can access your car remotely, access lights, horn, locks etc. Does anyone know if this works without a subscription?

Can the lucky owners of the 2017s give us a review?

[Zoh]

So not a full review, but a quick post on it:

It's OK. It does what I want it to do just fine. It connects to my Bluetooth automatically, plays music from my iPhone, and doesn't drop out on me or anything... But it also doesn't update the info of the currently playing song when I'm using Spotify. It just always shows me the name of the first song it played.

The interface isn't bad. It's not CarPlay, but it's not bad.
I haven't tried the old model to compare, but it does what it says on the tin.
I don't have the Starlink or anything, and the MySubaru app is rated awfully in the App Store (the app is pretty shitty), but I don't really care about it.

Overall, it's fine, but nothing to write home about.

[deejaylew]

Originally Posted by Zoh

So not a full review, but a quick post on it:

It's OK. It does what I want it to do just fine. It connects to my Bluetooth automatically, plays music from my iPhone, and doesn't drop out on me or anything... But it also doesn't update the info of the currently playing song when I'm using Spotify. It just always shows me the name of the first song it played.

The interface isn't bad. It's not CarPlay, but it's not bad.
I haven't tried the old model to compare, but it does what it says on the tin.
I don't have the Starlink or anything, and the MySubaru app is rated awfully in the App Store (the app is pretty shitty), but I don't really care about it.

Overall, it's fine, but nothing to write home about.

Have you tried the pandora integration at all? Just wondering if it's fully functional or not.

[Elleteeh]

Originally Posted by deejaylew

Have you tried the pandora integration at all? Just wondering if it's fully functional or not.

It works perfectly fine if you use BT, but for whatever reason when I'm using the USB cord it doesn't connect the pandora app on my phone to the car. I tried it on my wife's car and it works flawlessly on her unit. I previously had a '13 BRZ & '15 STi so imo this unit is better. It seems fluid to me, and I haven't had much time to play with the unit for too long. But I don't think anyone would be disappointed cause it sure is better than that awful nav unit in the original BRZ.

[Zoh]

Originally Posted by deejaylew

Have you tried the pandora integration at all? Just wondering if it's fully functional or not.

I have not. I use Spotify, so I don't really have much need for Pandora personally.
Sorry

[Elleteeh]

Originally Posted by Zoh

I have not. I use Spotify, so I don't really have much need for Pandora personally.

Sorry

Fellow '17 owners: Are any of you doing what I'm doing to stream music on this unit? Which is just solely relying on BT for Spotify/Pandora? I tried using the USB port and it doesn't charge nor detect the phone. I find this odd and inconvenient. If it doesn't work at all then what good is the USB port for?

[Zaku]

Originally Posted by Elleteeh

Fellow '17 owners: Are any of you doing what I'm doing to stream music on this unit? Which is just solely relying on BT for Spotify/Pandora? I tried using the USB port and it doesn't charge nor detect the phone. I find this odd and inconvenient. If it doesn't work at all then what good is the USB port for?

Sorry but what kind of phone do you have?

[Elleteeh]

Originally Posted by Zaku

Sorry but what kind of phone do you have?

iPhone 6 Plus

[Zaku]

Originally Posted by Elleteeh

iPhone 6 Plus

It's weird I found that sometimes iPhones have issues with car USB it's weird for example I have a SE which is the same internal as a 6 but it won't charge in my friend's 2016 Civic. I found that this effects some iPhone and that an update of sort was needed, try it and see if it works.

I don't have a 2017 but I heard of this problem before

[Elleteeh]

I think I may have just found the answer to why the USB port doesn't work.



Guess everyone will just have to use BT for audio streaming only. Oh well.

[Zaku]

Wonder if this is a problem for the 86 version

[ztrevs]

Can anyone confirm which system is in the Canadian spec 2017's?

Subaru.ca and Subaru.com are showing two diff pics. Wonder if thats intentional or??
It would suck to have the 2017 with 2016 info system...

[Sport-Tech]

Canada gets a version with nav, don't know if it's last year's US one but it is different from the new US one which does not have nav. Pretty sure it's a carryover from last year's Canadian car.

EDIT: Checked the 2016 and 2017 Canadian brochure - it is a carryover unit.

[ztrevs]

Originally Posted by Sport-Tech

Canada gets a version with nav, don't know if it's last year's US one but it is different from the new US one which does not have nav. Pretty sure it's a carryover from last year's Canadian car.

EDIT: Checked the 2016 and 2017 Canadian brochure - it is a carryover unit.

Looks like i'll be swapping my headunit ASAP when i receive my 2017.
Sorry, didnt mean to hijack this thread.