Is remote start worth $80/year?

And "Office 365"

 

Remove Connect isn't available with Entune 2.0 which Tacomas had through 2019. 3.0 which has Remote Connect didn't start until 20 (for Tacomas). Your dealer likely added an aftermarket one if you didn't. Since I also have 19 I did a lot of research on this before spending the cash on an N2 unit.

 

Bingo. I don't consider myself an extraordinarily rugged individual, but compared to some of my coworkers that need to run their vehicle up to temp for 10 mins and shudder at the thought of maybe deicing a windshield manually every once in a while here in northern Utah...I feel like Jeremiah Johnson over here.

I'll save that $80/yr and buy myself a bitchin pair of gloves, or a toasty carhartt jacket, or do what I usually do, and suck it up and use that money to buy a nice bottle of the good whiskey.

 

RE: the app, I have it but don't use it. By the time the app loads, I close the "we're experienceing problems," notification, I hold the button, and wait for the confirmation, I'm frustrated and don't care about the truck being warm (or cool) when I get to it.

RE: the keyfob, I haven't used to for remote start yet because I'm still in the free trial for the app.

 

I'm gonna try it on my 2021 Sport today after work...it should work.

Ed

****

 

I have remote start on my 2022 and I’ve used it once in the month I’ve owned it. I don’t really think it’s worth paying for it since I doubt I’ll ever use it more than once or twice a year. Plus my truck is garage kept so it doesn’t help much anyways.

 

I agree with the point you're making, but I'm not sure it applies here. If I'm reading this article correctly, as well as the threads that have cropped up here over the last year or so, this has nothing to do with cell service. Some owners (I say some because people have reported it both ways) who have the remote start hardware and the key fob lose the ability to use it when their free trial of the remote connect service ends. The key fob doesn't use cell service to start the vehicle, it uses the same RF technology that car key fobs have used for years. The only thing that is changing is that I'm now expected to pay a monthly fee to use it. That's where the outrage comes in.

 

I agree if the fob is cutoff that's bullshit. But as you know it looks like we can't say one way or another on that subject. My guess is the fob will continue to work and this article is purposely getting people up in arms for clicks. And it looks like its working...

There was another version of that chart floating around the specifically said the fob will continue to work after remote connect ends. Wonder if the peoples fob that doesn't work opted out of remote connect. Says that will be the case but the fob should still work if remote connect expires...

 

Super late to the game, but gotta say THANK YOU to everyone posting keyfob instructions and confirming that it works long-term without Remote Connect. I've been deliberately avoiding using it in the app since I've never had it before and don't want to miss it when I refuse to pay, but if I can start it with the keyfob and that'll keep working after the trial expires... looks like I got remote start as standard equipment and didn't even know it!

You guys made my day. Thank you!

 

Another annoying thing for me is that we’re already paying the phone service provider to TX/RX data. What service is Toyota adding that is an increased cost to them? A phone app? Even at $8/mo it’s kinda pricey for a phone app.

 

I've heard 50/50 responses on whether or not it stops working after the trial period. If it does stop working I recommend just installing the N2 designs module like I did. Then you can use your stock remote like normal and not have to pay anything beyond the cost of the module.

It sounds like getting the cell module is also cheaper in the long run as N2 doesn't charge as much. Personally, I'm good with just the key fob version. It's rare I'd have the need to start my truck from far away, let alone lock/unlock it. Plus with the engine shutting off as soon as you open the doors, I may as well load my belongings first (if I have a lot).

 

Waiting for tcBob to get in the game ... $0.01 to view a TW thread, 25 cents to subscribe. Unless it's an extra good thread (day trading, flagpole, etc) -- those are a buck a pop.

 

My wife's 2020 Acura RDX does this as well. Acura charges $120/yr for this service. Which her car is garaged 90 % of the time. Luckily the person who owned my truck prior installed a remote start from CompuStar. My FOB has a 3000' range. I've used a handful of times this year when it's gotten colder than I'd like.

 

Kind of silly but is what it is

 

If the key fob continues to work after the subscription period, then that isn’t too bad. I couldn’t tell for sure from the article, and it made it sound like the fob would not work at all, which is pretty crappy IMO. I also get the move to subscription based services, and while $7-8 a month isn’t much, tacked on to my Office 365, my Ring cameras, Netflix, and like 50 only fans subs, it starts to add up….
I would almost always opt for a “buy it” as opposed to “rent it” or “subscribe to it” for most things (Office 365 I get for really cheap through work, and I don’t think buying it is even an option anymore?) because I like just owning it and not worrying about it. I also wonder how Toyotas support for this stuff in 10 years will be.

 

I'm thinking you could kill 2 birds with one stone. Free to view threads, but $.50 to start a thread. $10 if its in the 3rd gen category, and $100 if the words "what tire size" are included in the OP's post.

TW gets more revenue, AND we can finally slay the dragon in the dumbgeon!

 

I don't understood the old guy mentality of "we've always done without, so why would I need it now" and similar style comments suggesting people aren't man enough if they like a warm truck.

Now, I haven't been driving vehicles in the winter for 100+ years in the arctic circle, so maybe I have no idea what I'm talking about, but I've dealt with enough days in my life below -20F where I'll gladly pay for something like N2 designs and the $100/3 year subscription fee to be comfortable instead of miserable in December-February in the midwest.

I'm not a fan of the subscription based direction that everything seems to be going in, but a remote starter is absolutely one of the exceptions that I will pay for until the end of time, after only having one installed for the last year. I'll wave to you guys when I climb in my warm truck that I started 15 minutes ago from my phone as you scrape your windows when the wind chill is -50F, muttering to yourselves about how remote starters are the devil's work and frostbite is a badge of honor.

For anyone that deals with temperature extremes, I'd say it's a no brainer. For those who don't, or simply don't see the point, that's just fine, remote starters aren't for you.

 

That has been my experience as well.

I didn't find the connected app to have any features I would pay a single extra cent for, let alone a monthly subscription.

And if the fob-based remote start stopped working, I wouldn't pay for that either. Even here in snowy Vermont, it's not that big of a deal to go out and start the truck myself. Especially since Toyota's remote start shuts off the truck the moment you open the door so you need to restart again, thus doubling the swear on your starter motor every time you use it.

 

Their egos are so fragile they that the invent things to make themselves more manly. And then get so upset about someone's else preference they call them names. It's actually quite fascinating.

 

I’m an old guy but not my intent to foist my “mentality” on anyone. Thread title asks a question and my answer/opinion is no. The extra verbiage in my posts is only for context. I don’t give a shit what anyone else does, I’m just annoyed with Toyota for the nickel and dime-ing.