One Year old Tacoma- Anyone paying $15 for remote features in the app?

[timetoeatpotatoes]

yeah I saw another thread on the topic of data collection, so went in to the app and "revoked all consent" for data:


..because of this, I'm now permanently a "guest" in the truck I just paid 60k for last week. I can't "save settings" or even create a local account on the truck. It's "YOU PAY US to hoover up all kinds of gross data and sell it, or screw you".

This is leaving a sour taste in my mouth, but it's the society we've allowed to be created. I feel better about giving them the finger now instead of waiting a year to find this is the case, but it's really slimy.

The infotainment system is subpar anyway, so I use android auto. Yes, the irony, I'm sure google is doing the same thing, but at the very least they aren't asking for money to do it. Toyota is having their cake and eating it too, which is disgusting.

something seems wrong. I disable everything too but i'm not stuck in guest mode.

Sponsored

 

[Limited Will Power]

My 8 year old 4Runner still has Navigation working. My 1 year old Tacoma no longer has Navigation unless I send them money every month. I can't use the app to start my truck, but they can still see whatever they want including driving habits. Oh, and they'll tell me my tire pressure, but can't keep that on my screen, lol. This has left a terrible taste in my mouth for Toyota. Been a fan for a LONG time. This is making me question my loyalty to them. Oh, and even when I don't pay for the connection, they still call me the moment I hit a service mileage. Including last week as I'm driving through a torrential downpour. (I know, I turned off the service communication in the app) But the fact they're trying to charge me for the connection, but then they're still connecting when it suits them just smells really stinky. I think someone, somewhere in Toyota has lost their moral compass and is just out to bleed us just much as they can. I'm sure it seems trivial to some, but this is really making me think twice about upgrading my 4Runner to another Toyota.

 

[Kielly]

My 8 year old 4Runner still has Navigation working. My 1 year old Tacoma no longer has Navigation unless I send them money every month. I can't use the app to start my truck, but they can still see whatever they want including driving habits. Oh, and they'll tell me my tire pressure, but can't keep that on my screen, lol. This has left a terrible taste in my mouth for Toyota. Been a fan for a LONG time. This is making me question my loyalty to them. Oh, and even when I don't pay for the connection, they still call me the moment I hit a service mileage. Including last week as I'm driving through a torrential downpour. (I know, I turned off the service communication in the app) But the fact they're trying to charge me for the connection, but then they're still connecting when it suits them just smells really stinky. I think someone, somewhere in Toyota has lost their moral compass and is just out to bleed us just much as they can. I'm sure it seems trivial to some, but this is really making me think twice about upgrading my 4Runner to another Toyota.

I don't mean to side with corporate scum here, but Toyota's really late in the game for subscriptions such as.

I drove a Camry before this Tacoma and never had any subscriptions but before that it was Chevy, and everything was subscription based.

Yeah it sucks, but it's the reality these days lol. Not sure if someone can speak on if Ford does the same? But I'd imagine so.

In the day and age of Car play and Android auto, built in navigation is kind've useless anyways, and remote start from the app I only found useful when at work and I wanted to start in the parking lot where the range wouldn't reach.

 

[Limited Will Power]

I don't mean to side with corporate scum here, but Toyota's really late in the game for subscriptions such as.

I drove a Camry before this Tacoma and never had any subscriptions but before that it was Chevy, and everything was subscription based.

Yeah it sucks, but it's the reality these days lol. Not sure if someone can speak on if Ford does the same? But I'd imagine so.

In the day and age of Car play and Android auto, built in navigation is kind've useless anyways, and remote start from the app I only found useful when at work and I wanted to start in the parking lot where the range wouldn't reach.

I hear you on the CarPlay, and use that most of the time. When I need GPS though, I need GPS. For instance, I took my family hiking last weekend. Lost signal on the way, but no problem, CarPlay had already downloaded the map and got me there just fine. Found the waterfall, finished the hike, got in truck, no cell service. So, no directions until I got cell service. That's when I realized the corners that were cut with GPS. Just rubbing me the wrong way this whole connection subscription. Especially when I consider what I paid for this truck. The words greedy and selfish and keep coming to mind. Hard to trust anyone I perceive as greedy and selfish. (Boy that's a loaded statement, LOL)

 

[gpburdell]

My 8 year old 4Runner still has Navigation working. My 1 year old Tacoma no longer has Navigation unless I send them money every month. I can't use the app to start my truck, but they can still see whatever they want including driving habits. Oh, and they'll tell me my tire pressure, but can't keep that on my screen, lol. This has left a terrible taste in my mouth for Toyota. Been a fan for a LONG time. This is making me question my loyalty to them. Oh, and even when I don't pay for the connection, they still call me the moment I hit a service mileage. Including last week as I'm driving through a torrential downpour. (I know, I turned off the service communication in the app) But the fact they're trying to charge me for the connection, but then they're still connecting when it suits them just smells really stinky. I think someone, somewhere in Toyota has lost their moral compass and is just out to bleed us just much as they can. I'm sure it seems trivial to some, but this is really making me think twice about upgrading my 4Runner to another Toyota.

Your 4Runner has the nav built into the head unit, with maps on a microsd card and likely still has the eight year old data. The nav you had with your new Tacoma was over-the-air data and would pretty much always be up to date.

I wouldn't mind so much if Toyota still offered Remote Connect for $8/mo or $80/yr as that's comparable to what I pay for third party app based remote start/lock/unlock on my 3rd gen Tacoma - which I use regularly. At $15/mo I'd consider installing the third party option - though pricing out equipment and service it's a bit over a 5 year breakeven if I do the install myself.

This is one of several reasons I'm still driving my 3rd gen. I like most of the 4th gen changes, but there's a few annoyances I'd love to see changed so I'm in no hurry right now.

Oh and you know what's really annoying about Toyota's $15/mo charge? Ford provides the app based remote info & start/lock/unlock completely free for as long as my wife has her Bronco Sport. Zero cost to her.

 

[gpburdell]

I hear you on the CarPlay, and use that most of the time. When I need GPS though, I need GPS. For instance, I took my family hiking last weekend. Lost signal on the way, but no problem, CarPlay had already downloaded the map and got me there just fine. Found the waterfall, finished the hike, got in truck, no cell service. So, no directions until I got cell service.

For next time, download offline maps on your phone before you go.

Since the GPS signals enabling your phone to know it's location are broadcast from the GPS satellites, you only need cell service to access map data. If you download that data in advance you're basically in the same situation as with your 4Runner which has the maps stored on the micro sd card in the head unit.

https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/download-offline-maps-iphcfb5f5bc6/ios

 

[Limited Will Power]

For next time, download offline maps on your phone before you go.

Since the GPS signals enabling your phone to know it's location are broadcast from the GPS satellites, you only need cell service to access map data. If you download that data in advance you're basically in the same situation as with your 4Runner which has the maps stored on the micro sd card in the head unit.

https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/download-offline-maps-iphcfb5f5bc6/ios

Luckily, my hiking kit is about as prepared as it can be, so I have backups to my backup when it comes to GPS. Just pulled my Garmin out of my pack, pulled up my street maps and got back to cell service. And I highly recommend anyone else taking kids into the wilderness to do your research and be prepared. Just kind of eye opening and in the same vein with my app subscription gripe. I knew the Cloud Based Nav would go away with the subscription, but I always enjoyed the convenience of the GPS in my 4Runner and didn't realize I would lose all Nav unless I pay them more every month. Totally agree on a small amount for the app too. I'd pay maybe $5/month to remote start my truck from the 18th green or my kitchen or even to get the notifications that I left my doors unlocked. But forcing a bloated package, still connecting for their convenience, etc, it just all seems greedy and has my heels dug in. Not that I'm stubborn.....

 

[Lando]

I laugh as my new 2012 Ram had nav, remote start, heated seats, heated steering wheel and built in trailer brakes and tpms. All with no subscription. My first Toyota and the dragon has been slain, I still like it and mostly happy with it, but it isn’t the mythical beast it once was. A truck with cheap plastics and no nav unless you pay.
This subscription bs is the ultimate middle finger to consumers. I don’t subscribe to own my own truck.

 

[gpburdell]

I laugh as my new 2012 Ram had nav, remote start, heated seats, heated steering wheel and built in trailer brakes and tpms. All with no subscription. My first Toyota and the dragon has been slain, I still like it and mostly happy with it, but it isn’t the mythical beast it once was. A truck with cheap plastics and no nav unless you pay.
This subscription bs is the ultimate middle finger to consumers. I don’t subscribe to own my own truck.

Your 2012 Ram had factory remote start over cellular from a phone app?

You sure about that?

Nav is immaterial since CarPlay and android auto provide that, just download maps if you will be in poor service areas.

Not sure what the other things you mention have to do with anything.

 

[Lando]

Your 2012 Ram had factory remote start over cellular from a phone app?

You sure about that?

Nav is immaterial since CarPlay and android auto provide that, just download maps if you will be in poor service areas.

Not sure what the other things you mention have to do with anything.

No phone app (obvious to most) point being it had remote start from the fob that worked and no subscription needed. Ever.

Yes for a new Tacoma you have to subscribe, download maps or use CarPlay, just demonstrating for a 13 year old truck you don’t have to do that, it has Nav so no phone and you still good.

The other items are just mentioned for context.

Glad to help.

 

[Dirt]

Your 2012 Ram had factory remote start over cellular from a phone app?

You sure about that?

Nav is immaterial since CarPlay and android auto provide that, just download maps if you will be in poor service areas.

Not sure what the other things you mention have to do with anything.

I was gonna sit this one out, but your lack of perspective is causing me to reply. Not all of us travel in areas where we have any service for smart phones. And we don't always know where things will take us once we get to where the smart phone runs out. Downloading maps ahead of time serves no purpose in many of those cases. The cloud service worked, but it is not needed often enough to pay $180 a year when a good Garmin with Xmaps can be purchased for less and serve needs for years to come. Not all of us need remote start; kinda like power windows, I can do it myself. The other things mentioned by Lando provided context to the rest of us unenlightened pilgrims. This forum serves a broad base of folks who don't ride a high horse. Just sayin'.

 

[rijc99]

View it this way. $15 is the cost of a cellular data line from AT&T for your truck.

Sponsored