It's nice they changed the options to renew so you can renew just the remote start for $96/year. Our RX is a 2017 and I just renewed for $160 which includes some things I'll never use.

 

That's misleading because android has 89% of smartphone market share. So even though in third world countries almsot every smartphone is android, in first world countries most people use Android

 

DavidZ --

I just purchased my 2019 ES 350 UL on Thursday and my renewal offers are identical to yours. Seems strange. Dynamic Navigation is probably the only one I would renew.

But I expect to use Apple CarPlay and eventually Android Auto, so it may not be that big a deal for me.

 

The Lexus navigation can't even find the most efficient route without taking traffic into account. So, adding traffic to the calculation isn't going to help. To make matters worse, the traffic data Lexus uses is hopelessly obsolete by the time it arrives in your car.

Yes, Google Maps is the way to go.

 

I get the complaints about the nav system as I've also seen it behave erratically a few times - however for the most part, I find it works pretty darn fine. Did a test last night - had to make a 50 mile trip to a wedding on a route I rarely travel but one which has numerous alternates depending on traffic. Set up the route with the Lexus system as well as google maps and by golly, spot on same routes in both systems both there and back. Just my two cents. It works for me and sorry for those that have a much worse experience.

 

Were the arrival times the same?

 

Just after we picked up my wife's '19 FSport I called Lexus National to inquire about Android auto.
I was told that yes it would be coming but availability would depend on the radio in the vehicle. We have the M-L in both the '19 ES and our '20 RC-F and this radio will be upgradeable.

 

I didn't think that the radio had much or anything to do with the Android Auto upgrade. I thought it had to do with having navigation installed. So if you have the standard radio instead of the Mark Levinson system you're screwed? I don't believe that. So much misinformation out there regarding a retrofit for AA that may never even happen. Difficult to believe anyone until an official announcement. Especially car salesmen...

 

I don't know, it may be more a function of age. She asked me for the VIN and radio and gave me an answer.
Since it is a software update it sounds reasonable.
She didn't indicate where a cut-off might be

 

I don't pay attention to that.

 

Can you please provide the source for this statistic? I tend to be skeptical of statistics on mobile phones because it really depends on who is reporting the numbers and what conclusion they wish to bring the reader to. I had never heard the 89% number you were quoting and I wasn't able to find a single article reporting that high a percentage. I have seen reports of 40 - 45% Apple IOS usage in those countries where Lexus vehicles are sold in volume. I have seen numerous reports that match yours regarding less affluent countries where Android is clearly the operating system of choice, but few Lexus vehicles are sold there. Quoting those statistics on a forum for Lexus automobiles seems somewhat misleading...

 

I don't understand what's taking so long. They've been putting it in new cars for over a month now. Are they using it as a leverage factor to get people to buy 2020s?

As an android user, I decided to buy a refurbished iPhone 6s on Amazon for $180 about 3.5 months ago. Good decision. I've now had 3 months of Google Maps and Amazon music on the 12.3 inch screen and loving every minute of it. I'll probably have a few more months of enjoyment before they retrofit the 2019s with AA, if they ever do that.

 

It could be worse. Just ask a 2019 RDX owner. It was coming soon back when they were first introduced in June of '18. Just last month they started to roll it out.

 

https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market...bile/worldwide

 

https://www.idc.com/promo/smartphone-market-share/os

Even your stat of 45-45% iphone usage in countries where lexus are sold in volume means android is likely dominant in those countries, because other types of smart phones usually account for less than 1%. BTW, I would think in the US iphone has the majority as far as lexus buyers but still a decent amount use android. Also iphone is much more popular in the US than in other countries. Anyhow even if we can't nail down exactly how many lexus users use either, i think android is prevalent enough where it shouldn't be ignored by car makers of any type.