Toyota Connected - anyone subscribe?

[maxx075]

I don't pay for it out of principle. That's it.

I'm not paying for features that I already either have or pay for through other means. I also am not paying you to hand over my driving information to 3rd parties (I know there are other means to get this info, but it's about limiting the spread).

Side note, you should really look into how much and what information these data brokers have on you. It's astounding.

Others are free to do as they wish, but in my opinion, doing so screws the rest of us as it further reinforces the idea that companies are allowed and should push the subscription model.

As the saying goes, you'll own nothing and you'll be happy.

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[HoptownBob]

Can’t you remote start with the keyfob? That’s how I remote start my truck.

Yep, the only time I use remote start is in the morning before work, winter months. I can use my key fob that I leave on the end table for that. I have my card key in my wallet and never have to take it out. I don’t have a use for their $15 a month subscription.

 

[828findadventure]

I don't pay for it out of principle. That's it.

I'm not paying for features that I already either have or pay for through other means. I also am not paying you to hand over my driving information to 3rd parties (I know there are other means to get this info, but it's about limiting the spread).

Side note, you should really look into how much and what information these data brokers have on you. It's astounding.

Others are free to do as they wish, but in my opinion, doing so screws the rest of us as it further reinforces the idea that companies are allowed and should push the subscription model.

As the saying goes, you'll own nothing and you'll be happy.

You are 100% correct on the information gathering from any website or subscription etc. I personally just like to use the app to warm up my truck while walking to it after my daily workout at the gym.

 

[Will721]

I will be subscribing for the remote start. 9You can use the FOB but my work parking is too far for it, or any other remote start to work without LTE.

Alot of whiners will say it's supposed to be "baked in", but LTE isn't free to Toyota. AT&T/VERIZON/T-MOBILE all charge to use their towers. For that matter neither is App maintenance, continuous updates for security and compatibility for new phones or the multitude of different versions of android and IOS. Almost everyone charges for LTE based features, every aftermarket company does and pricing at $15/month is industry standard.

People complain and call it a subscription for "features the car already has" and compare to BMW or other car makers requiring subscriptions for heated seats are just ignorant.

Figured I'd just quote myself since so many missed it the first time. Now there's 3 pages of people arguing that it's hardware not software and one guy even posted about BMWs heated seats.


But incase all those people did read it, a question. How is a team of software engineers who work to maintain app security and compatability protocols AFTER you buy the truck supposed to be paid for? How is the monthly fee Toyota has to pay for your trucks connection to a cellular network get paid for? Do you not pay for Spotify either with a subscription or Ads to maintain their software engineers? If you wanted to add a cellphone to your current plan, or a hot spot, does your phone carrier not charge you for it?

There is a huge disconnect for people clearly. They aren't locking you out of hardware you already own. BMWs heated seats does, and that law in New York might put a stop to that. But what's hilarious is that same law wouldn't make a difference for us in this case at all. The argument could be made their overcharging or mabey a worry about data rights but saying it should be free is just nonsense. Again, even the aftermarket don't do that. Check viper or compustar.

 

[yoloborz]

I will be subscribing for the remote start. 9You can use the FOB but my work parking is too far for it, or any other remote start to work without LTE.

Alot of whiners will say it's supposed to be "baked in", but LTE isn't free to Toyota. AT&T/VERIZON/T-MOBILE all charge to use their towers. For that matter neither is App maintenance, continuous updates for security and compatibility for new phones or the multitude of different versions of android and IOS. Almost everyone charges for LTE based features, every aftermarket company does and pricing at $15/month is industry standard.

People complain and call it a subscription for "features the car already has" and compare to BMW or other car makers requiring subscriptions for heated seats are just ignorant.

I'm planning a trip where I'll need wifi and was seriously considering solar + starlink. Then I remembered my truck used to have wifi -- and it's $15 a month. OK well I can do that or pay however many hundreds for starlink. Now, I forget what the truck's AT&T wifi speed is, but hey it's a nice option to have on the table.

Now, I will gripe about GPS. Truck has a GPS antenna, it ought to show me roughly where I am on a map -- don't need any subscriptions for that, GPS always works (I know, there's updating maps but still). You paid for the whole truck, you ought to use the whole truck. Anyway, that's why God invented the iPhone.

 

[Will721]

I'm planning a trip where I'll need wifi and was seriously considering solar + starlink. Then I remembered my truck used to have wifi -- and it's $15 a month. OK well I can do that or pay however many hundreds for starlink. Now, I forget what the truck's AT&T wifi speed is, but hey it's a nice option to have on the table.

Now, I will gripe about GPS. Truck has a GPS antenna, it ought to show me roughly where I am on a map -- don't need any subscriptions for that, GPS always works (I know, there's updating maps but still). You paid for the whole truck, you ought to use the whole truck. Anyway, that's why God invented the iPhone.

On the note of starlink, if you're already a customer they might send you a mini at a discounted rate. I got one for free, and it's $5 per month for low speed which is still good for music and web browsing. Plus I can unlock it for high speed at any time. It's getting mounted on my rig eventually

 

[av8tor]

Has anyone installed the N2 app with separate remote hardware?
There is a initial cost but the subscription depending on your needs is either $50.00 or $100.00 a year

 

[Crazy Mary’s Husband]

Has anyone installed the N2 app with separate remote hardware?
There is a initial cost but the subscription depending on your needs is either $50.00 or $100.00 a year

Aren't you following this thread? It has already been deemed by the all wise and knowing Flatlander that all you need is a key fob to start your truck. Subscriptions are for suckers.

 

[Will721]

Has anyone installed the N2 app with separate remote hardware?
There is a initial cost but the subscription depending on your needs is either $50.00 or $100.00 a year

Never heard of it, so I did a bit of research. There's nothing special about it, just generic aftermarket canbus based remote system. Same as you can buy from Viper or Compustar. However, they're very new. Can't find much online that isn't an ad and what I can appears to be no older than 2022.

While my experience with the newer canbus based remote systems is limited, I have quite a bit with the older hardwired stuff. I always recommend doing as much research as possible with newer companies. Viper and compustar are the "tried and true" and with these systems you tend to get what you pay for. (Problems down the road)

One of my favorites was my sisters car. Hers was why no one will touch a manual these days with these systems. Went to a chiro appointment, left keys on the table. Came out to a missing car. She called the cops to report it stolen. They found it a few hours later in a creek nearby. It had managed to start itself in gear, (parking brake cable broke typical in midwest) and drove across 4 lanes of traffic, through a field, and crashed into said creek. Made the local news.

 

[goin2drt]

There is a use case that the key does not work and what I was (not any longer) using the app for in winter.

When you have to park your truck a long distance away from your building the key doesn't work. Also doesn't work if you only carry the card like I do. It is nice to remote start and let it run 10 minutes. Usually then you never need to stand outside and scape your windshield.

Also to those that say you are paying for engineers etc etc to manage these capabilities AFTER PURCHASE I call BS. The cost of all of that is baked in. If literally no one bought the subscription those "engineers" would just start working on other projects.

My beef is several points.

• The truck is already very expensive then to nickel and dime post purchase just makes for a bad experience.
• The BS bundle of subscriptions is stupid and they know that. They "throw in" remote start with the other packages that no one wants. No one uses a cars nav any longer with cell phones and I bet most certainly do not use the music option for the same reason. Said "engineers" are spending time on crap no one wants.
• $15 a month for literally only remote start while not that expensive people like myself are getting fed up with $15 here, another $15 there, another $9 here and another $24 here for "subscriptions". It just gets old.

Give me the option for just remote start at $5.99 and I am in. If not then no problem, I will scape my windows. That is my pain price to pay.

 

[braaadyyota]

Let’s end this thread. Only suckers will pay $15 a month for a service that is not needed. Remote start with your keyfob and use Apple CarPlay or android. Keep feeding Toyota the subscription and they will be convinced the suckers are willing to pay for it and continue this crap with future cars.

Call me a sucker for wanting to not go out in the WELL below freezing(and not uncommonly below 0) to remote start my truck with the key fob because the range is garbage. Extremely convenient and worth it to me no matter if I'm at work, the gym, or anywhere else. That being said, I will only be using it in the winter.

 

[WKTJR1]

On a positive note, this thread has me going back through all my subscriptions.

But moving on from that, when we picked up our 2018 Lexus the remote start feature was $80 per year. I paid for two years and let it expire. We found in the end it really didn't get used that much.

 

[Will721]

If everyone stopped paying for the service the software engineers wouldn't "JusT GO tO OthEr ProJeCts". That statement shows a complete lack of any critical thought. No, if you quit paying them they wouldn't just move on. That isn't how cyber security and development works. Toyota would just stop offering LTE connectivity as an option. If they just released the app for free and didn't pay the carriers the app would stop. Without continuous compatibility updates it would stop as new versions of android or new phones came out. Without security updates we'd have people hacking the damn cars and if you're too ignorant to believe that too I'd point you to an article from wired magazine where they did it with chrysler:
https://www.wired.com/2015/07/hackers-remotely-kill-jeep-highway/

How long do you want your car to last? How many cars does Toyota sell per year? I'd bet you want your car to last atleast 10 years right? Toyota sold 10.8 million cars last year. Multiply that by how many years they've provided the service to and add every single car they sell in the future. Of course subtract those that end up in the wrecking yard/rentals. Point is that's millions of users. All with different phones, from different brands, with different versions of the various operating systems of their choosing that need to be maintained continuously as new models and updates hit the market. Security aside you'd be pitching a fit if when you bought a new phone it quit working. Or every time it updated it quit working. Everyone charges for this including the aftermarket. It's a full time job for a full team to maintain this portion alone. Not including the connection charges from carriers or the security updates.

Again you could argue the bundle is stupid. You could even argue that it's over priced even though it's about market standard. But to say they baked it all into the cost is just incorrect.

 

[lauren01]

Point is Toyota can communicate with their vehicles without the subscription price.

Let me elaborate on what I meant. We can opt out completely from having Toyota communicate with the vehicle.

https://support.toyota.com/s/article/Can-I-optout-of-Toyot-10235?language=en_US

Can I opt-out of Toyota Service Connect?

Yes, you can opt-out of Toyota Service Connect by pressing the SOS button in your vehicle or through your Account Settings in your Toyota app.

If you are having any difficulties, you may contact the Toyota Brand Engagement Center at 1-800-331-4331. 

Opting out of the Master Data Consent for Connected Services will prohibit data from being transmitted from the vehicle and disable all available Connected Services offerings.
—-
Google AI

You can opt out of Toyota Connected Services by using the Toyota app or the Data Privacy Portal, or by calling the customer support number. The method depends on the specific services you wish to cancel, such as canceling specific subscriptions from the app or managing Master Data Consent in the portal. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Through the Toyota App or Data Privacy Portal
1. Sign in to the Toyota app.
2. Navigate to your profile or account settings. This may be a profile icon in the corner.
3. Select "Data Privacy Portal" or a similar option.
4. Choose your vehicle and go to the "Subscriptions" or "Manage Consent" section.
5. Select the specific services you want to cancel, or choose "Master Data Consent" to disable all data transmission.
6. Follow the prompts to confirm the cancellation. [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
By phone
* Press the SOS button in your vehicle to speak with an agent who can help you cancel your subscription, notes Toyota Canada.
* Call a general Toyota support line for your region to request an opt-out. [1, 2, 7]
Other considerations
* Specific services: Some services are "co-dependent" and canceling one may affect others, as detailed in the Toyota Connected Services Privacy Policy.
* Toyota Insurance: For services like "Insure Connect," there may be a separate cancellation process within the Data Privacy Portal.
* Impact: Opting out of Master Data Consent will turn off all data transmission and you will lose access to Connected Services, though your car will still work for driving. [2, 3, 5]

AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://www.toyota.ca/en/discover/connected-services/help-centre/
[2] https://www.toyota.com.au/policies/privacy-connected
[3] https://www.toyota.com/privacyvts/
[4] https://support.toyota.com/s/article/Data-Privacy-Portal-10679
[5] https://support.toyota.com/s/article/How-do-I-optout-of-sh-10033
[6]
[7] https://support.toyota.com/s/article/How-can-I-optout-of-T-10470

 

[goin2drt]

Funny I went to do this and followed all the steps. I figured if they want to charge me for something that I want and I do not want to pay then why should I give them free data.

When I went to deactivate of course I got an error that said "error-an unexpected error occurred". I now I will have to go the SOS phone route.

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