Is remote start worth $80/year?

The Toyota remote starter starts and runs the engine for about 8-10 minutes, is it is not worth it for me, because where I live at it gets very cold. The average remote-start runs for locally installed remotes is 25 minutes. I had one of the local shops install a Compustar DSST remote starter, and it works quite well. As long as one does not open any of the Tacoma's doors, the engine runs for 25 minuets.

 

hell no.

 

I think this is true. My ‘23 worked via FOB before I opted out of all tracking and disabled the DCM. It will not start with the FOB now.

 

Reading the small print is non-specific but declining consent may be the reason it was disabled.

 

Nope. Fob will start your truck ONLY if you allow Toyota collect you driving data and location.
Beats me why location is needed for a radio controlled fob. It does not matter for remote starter, but it is needed for Toyota's own purposes.

 

Talk about fine print! lol

https://engage.toyota.com/static/ar...ces_Trial_Renewal_and_Applicability_Chart.pdf

 

So Remote Connect is available ONLY as a part of Safety Connect.
Page 7 of the above PDF "Remote Connect renewal will be included when Safety Connect renewal is selected. Remote Connect is not renewable as a standalone product."

https://www.toyota.com/privacyvts/
"Your vehicle’s precise location (within 1,850 feet) is required for Toyota to provide you with Connected Services."
"Like all modern vehicles, your Toyota vehicle collects and transmits a range of data to Toyota, including the vehicle’s location, driving data (such as acceleration, braking and engine sensor readings) and vehicle health information (such as odometer readings, oil life, and information from the onboard diagnostic system).

Toyota uses this data to provide you with your Connected Services, as well as to improve quality, support research and development, and assist with warranty or product recall issues."

"To provide consent for Toyota to use your vehicle’s precise location, accept the Master Data Consent for your vehicle in the Toyota app (click here to download - App Store, Google Play). To access the Master Data Consent in the Toyota app, please select the person icon in the top right of the main screen, then select “Account”, then “Data Privacy Portal”.

Declining the Master Data Consent will turn off all data transmission on your vehicle, and you will no longer have access to Connected Services, even if these services were included as part of your vehicle purchase.

If you do nothing, Toyota will continue to use your vehicle’s non-precise location, driving and vehicle health data for internal research and data analysis. You will not have access to Connected Services.

You can update your Master Data Consent status at any time in the Toyota app."

 

Ability to use the remote starter (fob or app, does not matter) is the carrot that Toyota uses to entice you into signing away your privacy rights.

 

I live in MN. We get extremely cold and can get pretty hot. My answer is yes, $80 is worth it.

 

8-10 minutes is enough to get the engine warming up and ready to drive. To run it for 25 minutes is just excessive. Even when it’s -40 I have never found a need to run my trucks for that long.

 

I know this issue is dragging on but...highlighted verbiage can be individually interpreted...and by the looks of the replies, that seems to be true. (Including me)

@jassco experienced non-functionality once he declined Master Data Consent and his remote start with FOB stopped working.

 

I declined master data consent also and remote start with the fob stopped working.

 

Any feature is worth the cost, but when a vehicle is equipped with remote start as an option you pay for it and it's there. Paying a subscription is rather petty when the remote start works with the fob that came from the vehicle. I find managing subscriptions more annoying than their fees. I can only remote start my truck via the fordpass app and there is no fee, I'm paying for it but there isn't any fee subject to change. Had that truck been equipped with remote start the fob would start the truck with or with out the app.

 

And sell your driving data to insurance companies. I drive normally, but no thanks. Some rates have been adjusted because of this intrusion.

 

Not disagreeing, just an honest question: At what price point would you consider just going aftermarket? I think remote starts can be bought for the $200-300 range? For some who only have the truck for a few years before trading it in again, I could see where the $80 is a better option. I have a 2019 SR, so I don’t think I even had the option? So my opinion really doesn’t count, but I’m curious.

I have the Compustar as well. Mine doesn’t shut off with the doors opening though. Might be the fact that I have a physical key? Mine will only shut off if I press the brake or open the hood.

 

True. A lot of apps will do this as well. Not just navigational either. So be sure you know what you’re using with CarPlay for sure if this is a concern

 

I lived for 20 years in AK (Anchorage, Eagle River, Mat-Su Valley, Panhandle). Plugged in at 20, ran for 25 minutes. Two way CompuStarts.

8-10 min is not enough time to warm the engine to get heat into the cab. Unless you live in Cordova. I am not riding on the seat that's feeling like a concrete slab. Even after a 25 min warm up I could feel my butt warm up the seat and sink into the cushion, if it was in the negative digits outside.

 

We have folks ranging from Key West all the way to Point Barrow chiming in on how long a remotely started engine should run before it cuts off.

 

Going aftermarket may be an option for me in the future.

For now, I'm keeping it as is.

 

I guess. I live in the interior where it’s colder and don’t feel the need for a 25 minute warm up.