Is remote start worth $80/year?

I never realized Toyota had started micro-transactions already. Glad I have the peasant model...

Toyota is going to make you pay to start your car with your key fob - The Verge

 

if you park outside in cold climates---yes

 

or very hot ones too

 

I have the n2designs cellular one. I pay yearly.

I live in Washington and ski regularly although I don’t use the remote start often.

I do use the unlock function from the app probably once a week as I always seem to never have my keys outside but always my phone. Yes I could go in and get my keys etc but it’s pretty nice to have. Not sure if the Toyota one has this or not.

 

Yes remote lock and unlock is part of Remote Connect, which includes the remote start feature as well.

 

After calculating 80/12 I’m going to say hell no. Maybe pay $81 per year

 

It also gives the option for $8 a month I guess? I can see paying for a service if I wanted to start my car from another city via my cell phone, but this article indicates you will have to pay to do it with your fob. That I couldn’t pay for. Especially not $80 a year. But I suppose soon you will own nothing, and like it….

 

The article caught my eye.

https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/12/22831105/toyota-subscription-remote-start-key-fob

Here is the Toyota PDF on models and services offered.

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

 

i dont know why this is just now being pushed on the internet.. but its been like this since 2018. depending on options you DO get like 10 years for free. the shitty system just only works 40% of the time due to the DCM being a shitty smartphone from LG or continental

my sisters car and my mothers car dont have active subscriptions and the fobs still start the cars.

if you completely opt out and effectively disable the DCM, you get nothing. but techstream has options to allow aftermarket remote starts to still work.

 

basically the way the system works is you have to pay for the cellular bill each month.. because the DCM is literally a cell phone and tied to all these systems.

 

I thought the remote will work with or without the subscription, but if you want to start from anywhere then you pay for the subscription.

Still, TBH, this whole "subscription" thing is beyond out of control. The whole point to most of these things used to be to save money somewhere else. Like, if paying for internet, instead of paying for cable too, just buy netflix and prime or something. I've always been into torrenting personally... But still, $80 a year for a feature that should be STOCK, yes, I said STOCK on any vehicle today is ridiculous. I remember seeing remote start on vehicles back when it was a luxury thing, then apparently it became an extra feature not included in features it should have been included with, and now it's an extra yearly fee on top of the extra package you already paid for.

No. It's not worth it.

I guess if my hidden feature on the key fob stops working after my free subscription ends I'll find out. I removed the app the second day I owned the truck anyways. Total trash and super invasive.

 

The remote start with key fob continues to work after trial subscription expires.

 

Another way to look at it, how many years do you plan to keep it. Around here an after market can run 400 + that's about a 5yr cost for the service and the dealers don't give anything on after market add ons.

 

Definitely go with N2 designs. 3 years is 100$ For the phone app

 

I pay for the few cold months, nice to use when you’re out of fob range and have a warm truck.

 

Oh man That's a saying we have heard before and I don't like it one bit.

Paying for remote start I mean I would pay for a device to start it if I was in a specific proximity of my truck if that was something of value to me. However I only have the slightly elevated peasant trim (Sr5) and I have no problem going out and warming it up with the key. I use de-icer washer fluid to make a fast getaway with light frost. if there's snow then it can warm up whilst I clean it off with my snow brush. No need for extra gizmos to break.

 

It’s probably just come to peoples attention since their 3 years free is expiring? I just found it interesting that it seems like the fob is totally dependent on cellular for remote start? I have an aftermarket system, and cellular is an option for me, but not a necessity. If I did do cellular, I believe it is right in that price range though. I personally just came across it and thought it was interesting. I bought the truck I have specifically because it didn’t come with a lot of these things from Toyota, because the aftermarket can do so many things better.

If that is the case (the article itself didn’t seem too sure either), I totally understand that. Paying for the “start anywhere” is a standard practice, I just don’t see paying if I want to use my fob to start my truck from 15’ away.
And subscriptions and micro transactions are getting carried away. I guess I am old school that way…

That is what I would hope.

 

I use it to remotely lock my doors from time-to-time. Tested it once to remotely start using my smartphone...I have not started it with the FOB key.

I like the:
Last Parked Location
Vehicle Health Report
Toyota Service
Drive Pulse
Recent Trip

plus you have access to Manuals & Warranties as well as Roadside Assistance and Find Parking.

My one-year point isn't until May of 2022...which is the time to either renew or delete the service. I'll enjoy it for the time being.

Ed

****

 

Pretty crappy that it’s not even an option on an SR5. But even if it was I’m not sure I would pay for it. Guess I’ll be sitting in the truck freezing with no remote start or heated seats when I finally get it in a couple months.

 

My wife does the same. Uses it December-ish to February/March when it's the coldest. She likes to be able to start it from inside her work where she is a long way from the parking lot.

No sense using it for the rest of the year. The rest of the features aren't really that useful.